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Oak Openings
Oak Openings

Chapter XX · Chapter 20

Chapter 20 of Oak Openings is here in full — 256 sentences across 52 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Oak Openings
Context Illustration Reading 1/51 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
--Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.
Here he renewed his operations; Peter keeping nearest his person, in jealous watchfulness of the least movement he made.
Bees were caught, and scarce a minute elapsed ere the bee-hunter had two of them on the piece of comb, uncovered and at liberty.
The circumstance that the cap was momentarily placed over the insects, struck the savages as a piece of necromancy, in particular.
The reader will understand that this is done in order to darken the tumbler, and induce the bee to settle down on the honey so much the sooner.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Oak Openings

Chapter XX · Chapter 20

Chapter 20 of Oak Openings is here in full — 256 sentences across 52 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/51 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
--Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.
Line 2
Here he renewed his operations; Peter keeping nearest his person, in jealous watchfulness of the least movement he made.
Line 3
Bees were caught, and scarce a minute elapsed ere the bee-hunter had two of them on the piece of comb, uncovered and at liberty.
Line 4
The circumstance that the cap was momentarily placed over the insects, struck the savages as a piece of necromancy, in particular.
/ðə ˈsɜːrkəmstæns ðæt ðə kæp wɑːz ˌmoʊmənˈterəli pleɪst ˈoʊvər ðə ˈɪnsekts strʌk ðə ˈsævədʒəz æz ə piːs ʌv ˈnekrəmænsi ɪn pərˈtɪkjələr/
Line 5
The reader will understand that this is done in order to darken the tumbler, and induce the bee to settle down on the honey so much the sooner.
/ðə ˈriːdər wɪl ˌʌndərˈstænd ðæt ðɪs ɪz dʌn ɪn ˈɔːrdər tuː ˈdɑːrkən ðə ˈtʌmblər ənd ˌɪnˈduːs ðə biː tuː ˈsetəl daʊn ɑːn ðə ˈhʌni soʊ mʌtʃ ðə ˈsuːnər/

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

cobweb noun US /ˈkɑːbweb/

a fabric so delicate and transparent as to resemble a web of a spider

From this reading “--Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.”

comb verb US /koʊm/

straighten with a comb

From this reading “Bees were caught, and scarce a minute elapsed ere the bee-hunter had two of them on the piece of comb, uncovered and at liberty.”

darken verb US /ˈdɑːrkən/

become dark or darker

From this reading “The reader will understand that this is done in order to darken the tumbler, and induce the bee to settle down on the honey so much the sooner.”

momentarily adverb US /ˌmoʊmənˈterəli/

for an instant or moment

From this reading “The circumstance that the cap was momentarily placed over the insects, struck the savages as a piece of necromancy, in particular.”

moth noun US /mɔːθ/

typically crepuscular or nocturnal insect having a stout body and feathery or hairlike antennae

From this reading “--Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.”

necromancy noun US /ˈnekrəmænsi/

the belief in magical spells that harness occult forces or evil spirits to produce unnatural effects in the world

From this reading “The circumstance that the cap was momentarily placed over the insects, struck the savages as a piece of necromancy, in particular.”

tumbler noun US /ˈtʌmblər/

a gymnast who performs rolls and somersaults and twists etc.

From this reading “The reader will understand that this is done in order to darken the tumbler, and induce the bee to settle down on the honey so much the sooner.”

uncovered adjective US /ənˈkʌvərd/

not covered with clothing

From this reading “Bees were caught, and scarce a minute elapsed ere the bee-hunter had two of them on the piece of comb, uncovered and at liberty.”

All words in this reading · 111

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Bees were caught, and scarce a minute elapsed ere the bee-hunter had two of them on the piece of comb, uncovered and at liberty.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

againadverbUS /əˈɡen/

anew

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Bees were caught, and scarce a minute elapsed ere the bee-hunter had two of them on the piece of comb, uncovered and at liberty.

attendverbUS /əˈtend/

be present at (meetings, church services, university), etc.

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

beenounUS /biː/

any of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species

From this reading The reader will understand that this is done in order to darken the tumbler, and induce the bee to settle down on the honey so much the sooner.

bee-hunter

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Bees were caught, and scarce a minute elapsed ere the bee-hunter had two of them on the piece of comb, uncovered and at liberty.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

BeesnounUS /biːz/

plural of “bee” — any of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species

From this reading Bees were caught, and scarce a minute elapsed ere the bee-hunter had two of them on the piece of comb, uncovered and at liberty.

Bourdonnoun

a pipe of the bagpipe that is tuned to produce a single continuous tone

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

capnounUS /kæp/

a tight-fitting headdress

From this reading The circumstance that the cap was momentarily placed over the insects, struck the savages as a piece of necromancy, in particular.

caughtverbUS /kɑːt/

inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state

From this reading Bees were caught, and scarce a minute elapsed ere the bee-hunter had two of them on the piece of comb, uncovered and at liberty.

chapternounUS /ˈtʃæptər/

a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

circumstancenounUS /ˈsɜːrkəmstæns/

a condition that accompanies or influences some event or activity

From this reading The circumstance that the cap was momentarily placed over the insects, struck the savages as a piece of necromancy, in particular.

cobwebnounUS /ˈkɑːbweb/

a fabric so delicate and transparent as to resemble a web of a spider

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

combverbUS /koʊm/

straighten with a comb

From this reading Bees were caught, and scarce a minute elapsed ere the bee-hunter had two of them on the piece of comb, uncovered and at liberty.

darkenverbUS /ˈdɑːrkən/

become dark or darker

From this reading The reader will understand that this is done in order to darken the tumbler, and induce the bee to settle down on the honey so much the sooner.

deepadjectiveUS /diːp/

relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

doneadjectiveUS /dʌn/

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading The reader will understand that this is done in order to darken the tumbler, and induce the bee to settle down on the honey so much the sooner.

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading The reader will understand that this is done in order to darken the tumbler, and induce the bee to settle down on the honey so much the sooner.

DreamnounUS /driːm/

A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

elapsedadjectiveUS /ɪˈlæpst/

(of time) having passed or slipped by

From this reading Bees were caught, and scarce a minute elapsed ere the bee-hunter had two of them on the piece of comb, uncovered and at liberty.

ereconjunctionUS /er/

an old word for “before”

From this reading Bees were caught, and scarce a minute elapsed ere the bee-hunter had two of them on the piece of comb, uncovered and at liberty.

fairiesnounUS /ˈferiz/

plural of “fairy” — a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

fetchverbUS /fetʃ/

go or come after and bring or take back

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

giveverbUS /ɡɪv/

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

goverbUS /ɡoʊ/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Bees were caught, and scarce a minute elapsed ere the bee-hunter had two of them on the piece of comb, uncovered and at liberty.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

HereadverbUS /hiːr/

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading Here he renewed his operations; Peter keeping nearest his person, in jealous watchfulness of the least movement he made.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

honeynounUS /ˈhʌni/

a sweet yellow liquid produced by bees

From this reading The reader will understand that this is done in order to darken the tumbler, and induce the bee to settle down on the honey so much the sooner.

I'll

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

induceverbUS /ˌɪnˈduːs/

cause to arise

From this reading The reader will understand that this is done in order to darken the tumbler, and induce the bee to settle down on the honey so much the sooner.

insectsnounUS /ˈɪnsekts/

plural of “insect” — small air-breathing arthropod

From this reading The circumstance that the cap was momentarily placed over the insects, struck the savages as a piece of necromancy, in particular.

intendedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtendɪd/

resulting from one's intentions

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The reader will understand that this is done in order to darken the tumbler, and induce the bee to settle down on the honey so much the sooner.

jealousadjectiveUS /ˈdʒeləs/

showing extreme cupidity; painfully desirous of another's advantages

From this reading Here he renewed his operations; Peter keeping nearest his person, in jealous watchfulness of the least movement he made.

jewelsnounUS /ˈdʒuːəlz/

plural of “jewel” — a precious or semiprecious stone incorporated into a piece of jewelry

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

keepingnounUS /ˈkiːpɪŋ/

conformity or harmony

From this reading Here he renewed his operations; Peter keeping nearest his person, in jealous watchfulness of the least movement he made.

keptadjectiveUS /kept/

(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

lenounUS /lə/

a chronic inflammatory collagen disease affecting connective tissue (skin or joints)

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

leastadjectiveUS /liːst/

the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree

From this reading Here he renewed his operations; Peter keeping nearest his person, in jealous watchfulness of the least movement he made.

libertynounUS /ˈlɪb.ər.ti/

The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions on one's way of life.

From this reading Bees were caught, and scarce a minute elapsed ere the bee-hunter had two of them on the piece of comb, uncovered and at liberty.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

Midsummer-Night's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

minutenounUS /ˈmɪnət/

a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour

From this reading Bees were caught, and scarce a minute elapsed ere the bee-hunter had two of them on the piece of comb, uncovered and at liberty.

momentarilyadverbUS /ˌmoʊmənˈterəli/

for an instant or moment

From this reading The circumstance that the cap was momentarily placed over the insects, struck the savages as a piece of necromancy, in particular.

mothnounUS /mɔːθ/

typically crepuscular or nocturnal insect having a stout body and feathery or hairlike antennae

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

movementnounUS /ˈmuːvmənt/

a change of position that does not entail a change of location

From this reading Here he renewed his operations; Peter keeping nearest his person, in jealous watchfulness of the least movement he made.

movingadjectiveUS /ˈmuːvɪŋ/

in motion

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading The reader will understand that this is done in order to darken the tumbler, and induce the bee to settle down on the honey so much the sooner.

mustard-seed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

nearestadverbUS /ˈnɪrəst/

(superlative of “near” or “close”) within the shortest distance

From this reading Here he renewed his operations; Peter keeping nearest his person, in jealous watchfulness of the least movement he made.

necromancynounUS /ˈnekrəmænsi/

the belief in magical spells that harness occult forces or evil spirits to produce unnatural effects in the world

From this reading The circumstance that the cap was momentarily placed over the insects, struck the savages as a piece of necromancy, in particular.

newadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Here he renewed his operations; Peter keeping nearest his person, in jealous watchfulness of the least movement he made.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

operationsnounUS /ˌɑːpərˈeɪʃənz/

financial transactions at a brokerage; having to do with the execution of trades and keeping customer records

From this reading Here he renewed his operations; Peter keeping nearest his person, in jealous watchfulness of the least movement he made.

ordernounUS /ˈɔːrdər/

(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed

From this reading The reader will understand that this is done in order to darken the tumbler, and induce the bee to settle down on the honey so much the sooner.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading The circumstance that the cap was momentarily placed over the insects, struck the savages as a piece of necromancy, in particular.

particularadjectiveUS /pərˈtɪkjələr/

unique or specific to a person or thing or category

From this reading The circumstance that the cap was momentarily placed over the insects, struck the savages as a piece of necromancy, in particular.

Peas-blossom

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

personnounUS /ˈpɜːrsən/

a human being

From this reading Here he renewed his operations; Peter keeping nearest his person, in jealous watchfulness of the least movement he made.

PeternounUS /ˈpiːtər/

disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope

From this reading Here he renewed his operations; Peter keeping nearest his person, in jealous watchfulness of the least movement he made.

piecenounUS /piːs/

a separate part of a whole

From this reading Bees were caught, and scarce a minute elapsed ere the bee-hunter had two of them on the piece of comb, uncovered and at liberty.

placedadjectiveUS /pleɪst/

situated in a particular spot or position

From this reading The circumstance that the cap was momentarily placed over the insects, struck the savages as a piece of necromancy, in particular.

positionnounUS /pəˈzɪʃən/

the particular portion of space occupied by something

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

prairienounUS /ˈpreri/

a treeless grassy plain

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

precedingadjectiveUS /priˈsiːdɪŋ/

existing or coming before

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

reachedverbUS /riːtʃt/

past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

readernounUS /ˈriːdər/

a person who enjoys reading

From this reading The reader will understand that this is done in order to darken the tumbler, and induce the bee to settle down on the honey so much the sooner.

recordedadjectiveUS /rəˈkɔːrdɪd/

set down or registered in a permanent form especially on film or tape for reproduction

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

remarksnounUS /rɪˈmɑːrks/

plural of “remark” — a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

renewedadjectiveUS /rɪˈnuːd/

restored to a new condition

From this reading Here he renewed his operations; Peter keeping nearest his person, in jealous watchfulness of the least movement he made.

savagesnounUS /ˈsævədʒəz/

plural of “savage” — a member of an uncivilized people

From this reading The circumstance that the cap was momentarily placed over the insects, struck the savages as a piece of necromancy, in particular.

scarceadverbUS /skers/

only a very short time before

From this reading Bees were caught, and scarce a minute elapsed ere the bee-hunter had two of them on the piece of comb, uncovered and at liberty.

setverbUS /set/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

settleverbUS /ˈsetəl/

settle into a position, usually on a surface or ground

From this reading The reader will understand that this is done in order to darken the tumbler, and induce the bee to settle down on the honey so much the sooner.

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The reader will understand that this is done in order to darken the tumbler, and induce the bee to settle down on the honey so much the sooner.

soonadverbUS /suːn/

in the near future

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

sooneradverbUS /ˈsuːnər/

comparatives of “soon” or “early”

From this reading The reader will understand that this is done in order to darken the tumbler, and induce the bee to settle down on the honey so much the sooner.

standverbUS /stænd/

be standing; be upright

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

struckadjectiveUS /strʌk/

(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming

From this reading The circumstance that the cap was momentarily placed over the insects, struck the savages as a piece of necromancy, in particular.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

theepronounUS /ðiː/

an old word for “you”, as the object, speaking to one person

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Bees were caught, and scarce a minute elapsed ere the bee-hunter had two of them on the piece of comb, uncovered and at liberty.

ThereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/

for that reason; as a result

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading The reader will understand that this is done in order to darken the tumbler, and induce the bee to settle down on the honey so much the sooner.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

tumblernounUS /ˈtʌmblər/

a gymnast who performs rolls and somersaults and twists etc.

From this reading The reader will understand that this is done in order to darken the tumbler, and induce the bee to settle down on the honey so much the sooner.

twonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading Bees were caught, and scarce a minute elapsed ere the bee-hunter had two of them on the piece of comb, uncovered and at liberty.

uncoveredadjectiveUS /ənˈkʌvərd/

not covered with clothing

From this reading Bees were caught, and scarce a minute elapsed ere the bee-hunter had two of them on the piece of comb, uncovered and at liberty.

understandverbUS /ˌʌndərˈstænd/

know and comprehend the nature or meaning of

From this reading The reader will understand that this is done in order to darken the tumbler, and induce the bee to settle down on the honey so much the sooner.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The circumstance that the cap was momentarily placed over the insects, struck the savages as a piece of necromancy, in particular.

watchfulnessnoun

the process of paying close and continuous attention

From this reading Here he renewed his operations; Peter keeping nearest his person, in jealous watchfulness of the least movement he made.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading The reader will understand that this is done in order to darken the tumbler, and induce the bee to settle down on the honey so much the sooner.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading --Therefore, go with me; I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, --Midsummer-Night's Dream As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached the new position where he intended to again set up his stand.

Chapter 20 of Oak Openings by James Fenimore Cooper holds 256 sentences, grouped into 52 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 20 of Oak Openings contain?

Chapter 20 holds 256 sentences of Oak Openings, unabridged, divided into 52 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 20 of Oak Openings by James Fenimore Cooper exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 256 sentences, grouped into 52 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 20 of Oak Openings?

Work through the 52 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 52 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 20 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 20 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading Oak Openings

Common questions about reading Oak Openings by James Fenimore Cooper on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Oak Openings?

Yes. All 7579 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #4215 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Oak Openings is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #4215, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Oak Openings take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1516 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Oak Openings section by section

How to work through Oak Openings section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 30 chapters of Oak Openings to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Oak Openings

Words and structures a reader meets early in Oak Openings, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Little
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Oak Openings; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Improve
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Oak Openings; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Shining
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Oak Openings; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Gather
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Oak Openings; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.