Learn English through classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Oldport Days
Oldport Days

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of Oldport Days is here in full — 150 sentences across 30 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Oldport Days
Context Illustration Reading 1/30 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The October days grow rapidly shorter, and brighten with more concentrated light.
It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.
A tint of salmon-color, burnished into long undulations of lustre, overspreads the shallower waves; but a sober gray begins to steal in beneath the sunset rays, and will soon claim even the brilliant foreground for its own.
Pile a few more fragments of drift-wood upon the fire in the great chimney, little maiden, and then couch yourself before it, that I may have your glowing childhood as a foreground for those heaped relics of shipwreck and despair.
You seem, in your scarlet boating-dress, Annie, like some bright tropic bird, alit for a moment beside that other bird of the tropics, flame.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Oldport Days

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of Oldport Days is here in full — 150 sentences across 30 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/30 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The October days grow rapidly shorter, and brighten with more concentrated light.
/ðə ɑːkˈtoʊbər deɪz ɡroʊ ˈræpədli ˈʃɔːrtər ənd ˈbraɪtən wɪð mɔːr ˈkɑːnsəntreɪtɪd laɪt/
Line 2
It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.
Line 3
A tint of salmon-color, burnished into long undulations of lustre, overspreads the shallower waves; but a sober gray begins to steal in beneath the sunset rays, and will soon claim even the brilliant foreground for its own.
Line 4
Pile a few more fragments of drift-wood upon the fire in the great chimney, little maiden, and then couch yourself before it, that I may have your glowing childhood as a foreground for those heaped relics of shipwreck and despair.
Line 5
You seem, in your scarlet boating-dress, Annie, like some bright tropic bird, alit for a moment beside that other bird of the tropics, flame.

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.

booms noun US /buːmz/

plural of “boom” — a deep prolonged loud noise

From this reading “It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.”

dips noun US /dɪps/

plural of “dip” — a depression in an otherwise level surface

From this reading “It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.”

flickers noun US /ˈflɪkərz/

plural of “flicker” — a momentary flash of light

From this reading “It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.”

glides noun US /ɡlaɪdz/

plural of “glide” — a vowellike sound that serves as a consonant

From this reading “It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.”

neighbor's noun US /ˈneɪbərz/

possessive form of “neighbor” — a person who lives (or is located) near another

From this reading “It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.”

pennant noun US /ˈpenənt/

the award given to the champion

From this reading “It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.”

perches noun US /ˈpɜːrtʃɪz/

plural of “perch” — support consisting of a branch or rod that serves as a resting place (especially for a bird)

From this reading “It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.”

shallower adjective US /ˈʃæloʊər/

comparative of “shallow” — lacking physical depth; having little spatial extension downward or inward from an outer surface or backward or outward from a center

From this reading “A tint of salmon-color, burnished into long undulations of lustre, overspreads the shallower waves; but a sober gray begins to steal in beneath the sunset rays, and will soon claim even the brilliant foreground for its own.”

All words in this reading · 123

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 It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.

alit

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

From this reading You seem, in your scarlet boating-dress, Annie, like some bright tropic bird, alit for a moment beside that other bird of the tropics, flame.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The October days grow rapidly shorter, and brighten with more concentrated light.

Annie

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

From this reading You seem, in your scarlet boating-dress, Annie, like some bright tropic bird, alit for a moment beside that other bird of the tropics, flame.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Pile a few more fragments of drift-wood upon the fire in the great chimney, little maiden, and then couch yourself before it, that I may have your glowing childhood as a foreground for those heaped relics of shipwreck and despair.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Pile a few more fragments of drift-wood upon the fire in the great chimney, little maiden, and then couch yourself before it, that I may have your glowing childhood as a foreground for those heaped relics of shipwreck and despair.

beginsnounUS /bɪˈɡɪnz/

plural of “begin” — Israeli statesman (born in Russia) who (as prime minister of Israel) negotiated a peace treaty with Anwar Sadat (then the president of Egypt) (1913-1992)

From this reading A tint of salmon-color, burnished into long undulations of lustre, overspreads the shallower waves; but a sober gray begins to steal in beneath the sunset rays, and will soon claim even the brilliant foreground for its own.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.

beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading A tint of salmon-color, burnished into long undulations of lustre, overspreads the shallower waves; but a sober gray begins to steal in beneath the sunset rays, and will soon claim even the brilliant foreground for its own.

besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/

next to; at the side of

From this reading You seem, in your scarlet boating-dress, Annie, like some bright tropic bird, alit for a moment beside that other bird of the tropics, flame.

birdnounUS /bɜːrd/

warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading You seem, in your scarlet boating-dress, Annie, like some bright tropic bird, alit for a moment beside that other bird of the tropics, flame.

boating-dress

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

From this reading You seem, in your scarlet boating-dress, Annie, like some bright tropic bird, alit for a moment beside that other bird of the tropics, flame.

boomsnounUS /buːmz/

plural of “boom” — a deep prolonged loud noise

From this reading It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.

brightadjectiveUS /braɪt/

emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts

From this reading You seem, in your scarlet boating-dress, Annie, like some bright tropic bird, alit for a moment beside that other bird of the tropics, flame.

brightenverbUS /ˈbraɪtən/

make more cheerful through the use of color

From this reading The October days grow rapidly shorter, and brighten with more concentrated light.

brilliantadjectiveUS /ˈbrɪljənt/

of surpassing excellence

From this reading A tint of salmon-color, burnished into long undulations of lustre, overspreads the shallower waves; but a sober gray begins to steal in beneath the sunset rays, and will soon claim even the brilliant foreground for its own.

burnishedadjectiveUS /ˈbɜːrnɪʃt/

made smooth and bright by or as if by rubbing; reflecting a sheen or glow

From this reading A tint of salmon-color, burnished into long undulations of lustre, overspreads the shallower waves; but a sober gray begins to steal in beneath the sunset rays, and will soon claim even the brilliant foreground for its own.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.

childhoodnounUS /ˈtʃaɪldhʊd/

the time of person's life when they are a child

From this reading Pile a few more fragments of drift-wood upon the fire in the great chimney, little maiden, and then couch yourself before it, that I may have your glowing childhood as a foreground for those heaped relics of shipwreck and despair.

chimneynounUS /ˈtʃɪmni/

a vertical flue that provides a path through which smoke from a fire is carried away through the wall or roof of a building

From this reading Pile a few more fragments of drift-wood upon the fire in the great chimney, little maiden, and then couch yourself before it, that I may have your glowing childhood as a foreground for those heaped relics of shipwreck and despair.

claimnounUS /kleɪm/

an assertion of a right (as to money or property)

From this reading A tint of salmon-color, burnished into long undulations of lustre, overspreads the shallower waves; but a sober gray begins to steal in beneath the sunset rays, and will soon claim even the brilliant foreground for its own.

Conanicut

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

From this reading It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.

concentratedadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːnsəntreɪtɪd/

gathered together or made less diffuse

From this reading The October days grow rapidly shorter, and brighten with more concentrated light.

couchnounUS /kaʊtʃ/

an upholstered seat for more than one person

From this reading Pile a few more fragments of drift-wood upon the fire in the great chimney, little maiden, and then couch yourself before it, that I may have your glowing childhood as a foreground for those heaped relics of shipwreck and despair.

daintyadjectiveUS /ˈdeɪnti/

delicately beautiful

From this reading It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.

dancesnounUS /ˈdænsəz/

plural of “dance” — an artistic form of nonverbal communication

From this reading It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.

daysnounUS /deɪz/

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading The October days grow rapidly shorter, and brighten with more concentrated light.

despairnounUS /dɪˈsper/

a state in which all hope is lost or absent

From this reading Pile a few more fragments of drift-wood upon the fire in the great chimney, little maiden, and then couch yourself before it, that I may have your glowing childhood as a foreground for those heaped relics of shipwreck and despair.

dipsnounUS /dɪps/

plural of “dip” — a depression in an otherwise level surface

From this reading It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.

drift-wood

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

From this reading Pile a few more fragments of drift-wood upon the fire in the great chimney, little maiden, and then couch yourself before it, that I may have your glowing childhood as a foreground for those heaped relics of shipwreck and despair.

evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/

divisible by two

From this reading A tint of salmon-color, burnished into long undulations of lustre, overspreads the shallower waves; but a sober gray begins to steal in beneath the sunset rays, and will soon claim even the brilliant foreground for its own.

fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading Pile a few more fragments of drift-wood upon the fire in the great chimney, little maiden, and then couch yourself before it, that I may have your glowing childhood as a foreground for those heaped relics of shipwreck and despair.

fireverbUS /ˈfaɪər/

start firing a weapon

From this reading Pile a few more fragments of drift-wood upon the fire in the great chimney, little maiden, and then couch yourself before it, that I may have your glowing childhood as a foreground for those heaped relics of shipwreck and despair.

fivenounUS /faɪv/

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.

flagnounUS /flæɡ/

emblem usually consisting of a rectangular piece of cloth of distinctive design

From this reading It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.

flamenounUS /fleɪm/

A hot glowing body of ignited gas produced by fire.

From this reading It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.

flickersnounUS /ˈflɪkərz/

plural of “flicker” — a momentary flash of light

From this reading It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading A tint of salmon-color, burnished into long undulations of lustre, overspreads the shallower waves; but a sober gray begins to steal in beneath the sunset rays, and will soon claim even the brilliant foreground for its own.

foregroundnounUS /ˈfɔːrɡraʊnd/

the part of a scene that is near the viewer

From this reading A tint of salmon-color, burnished into long undulations of lustre, overspreads the shallower waves; but a sober gray begins to steal in beneath the sunset rays, and will soon claim even the brilliant foreground for its own.

fragmentsnounUS /ˈfræɡmənts/

plural of “fragment” — a piece broken off or cut off of something else

From this reading Pile a few more fragments of drift-wood upon the fire in the great chimney, little maiden, and then couch yourself before it, that I may have your glowing childhood as a foreground for those heaped relics of shipwreck and despair.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.

glidesnounUS /ɡlaɪdz/

plural of “glide” — a vowellike sound that serves as a consonant

From this reading It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.

glowingadjectiveUS /ˈɡloʊɪŋ/

highly enthusiastic

From this reading Pile a few more fragments of drift-wood upon the fire in the great chimney, little maiden, and then couch yourself before it, that I may have your glowing childhood as a foreground for those heaped relics of shipwreck and despair.

graynounUS /ɡreɪ/

a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black

From this reading A tint of salmon-color, burnished into long undulations of lustre, overspreads the shallower waves; but a sober gray begins to steal in beneath the sunset rays, and will soon claim even the brilliant foreground for its own.

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading Pile a few more fragments of drift-wood upon the fire in the great chimney, little maiden, and then couch yourself before it, that I may have your glowing childhood as a foreground for those heaped relics of shipwreck and despair.

growverbUS /ɡroʊ/

pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading The October days grow rapidly shorter, and brighten with more concentrated light.

halfadjectiveUS /hæf/

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.

halyards

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

From this reading It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Pile a few more fragments of drift-wood upon the fire in the great chimney, little maiden, and then couch yourself before it, that I may have your glowing childhood as a foreground for those heaped relics of shipwreck and despair.

heapedverbUS /hiːpt/

past form of “heap” — bestow in large quantities

From this reading Pile a few more fragments of drift-wood upon the fire in the great chimney, little maiden, and then couch yourself before it, that I may have your glowing childhood as a foreground for those heaped relics of shipwreck and despair.

hesitationnounUS /ˌhezəˈteɪʃən/

indecision in speech or action

From this reading It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading Pile a few more fragments of drift-wood upon the fire in the great chimney, little maiden, and then couch yourself before it, that I may have your glowing childhood as a foreground for those heaped relics of shipwreck and despair.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading A tint of salmon-color, burnished into long undulations of lustre, overspreads the shallower waves; but a sober gray begins to steal in beneath the sunset rays, and will soon claim even the brilliant foreground for its own.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading A tint of salmon-color, burnished into long undulations of lustre, overspreads the shallower waves; but a sober gray begins to steal in beneath the sunset rays, and will soon claim even the brilliant foreground for its own.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading A tint of salmon-color, burnished into long undulations of lustre, overspreads the shallower waves; but a sober gray begins to steal in beneath the sunset rays, and will soon claim even the brilliant foreground for its own.

lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.

lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading The October days grow rapidly shorter, and brighten with more concentrated light.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Pile a few more fragments of drift-wood upon the fire in the great chimney, little maiden, and then couch yourself before it, that I may have your glowing childhood as a foreground for those heaped relics of shipwreck and despair.

longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading A tint of salmon-color, burnished into long undulations of lustre, overspreads the shallower waves; but a sober gray begins to steal in beneath the sunset rays, and will soon claim even the brilliant foreground for its own.

lustrenounUS /ˈlʌstər/

a surface coating for ceramics or porcelain

From this reading A tint of salmon-color, burnished into long undulations of lustre, overspreads the shallower waves; but a sober gray begins to steal in beneath the sunset rays, and will soon claim even the brilliant foreground for its own.

maidennounUS /ˈmeɪdən/

an unmarried girl (especially a virgin)

From this reading Pile a few more fragments of drift-wood upon the fire in the great chimney, little maiden, and then couch yourself before it, that I may have your glowing childhood as a foreground for those heaped relics of shipwreck and despair.

mainmastnoun

the chief mast of a sailing vessel with two or more masts

From this reading It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.

mast-head

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

From this reading It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading Pile a few more fragments of drift-wood upon the fire in the great chimney, little maiden, and then couch yourself before it, that I may have your glowing childhood as a foreground for those heaped relics of shipwreck and despair.

momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/

a particular point in time

From this reading You seem, in your scarlet boating-dress, Annie, like some bright tropic bird, alit for a moment beside that other bird of the tropics, flame.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading The October days grow rapidly shorter, and brighten with more concentrated light.

neighbor'snounUS /ˈneɪbərz/

possessive form of “neighbor” — a person who lives (or is located) near another

From this reading It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.

OctobernounUS /ɑːkˈtoʊbər/

the month following September and preceding November

From this reading The October days grow rapidly shorter, and brighten with more concentrated light.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A tint of salmon-color, burnished into long undulations of lustre, overspreads the shallower waves; but a sober gray begins to steal in beneath the sunset rays, and will soon claim even the brilliant foreground for its own.

oppositeadjectiveUS /ˈɑːpəzət/

being directly across from each other; facing

From this reading It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading You seem, in your scarlet boating-dress, Annie, like some bright tropic bird, alit for a moment beside that other bird of the tropics, flame.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.

overspreads

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

From this reading A tint of salmon-color, burnished into long undulations of lustre, overspreads the shallower waves; but a sober gray begins to steal in beneath the sunset rays, and will soon claim even the brilliant foreground for its own.

ownverbUS /oʊn/

have ownership or possession of

From this reading A tint of salmon-color, burnished into long undulations of lustre, overspreads the shallower waves; but a sober gray begins to steal in beneath the sunset rays, and will soon claim even the brilliant foreground for its own.

pastnounUS /pæst/

the time that has elapsed

From this reading It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.

pennantnounUS /ˈpenənt/

the award given to the champion

From this reading It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.

perchesnounUS /ˈpɜːrtʃɪz/

plural of “perch” — support consisting of a branch or rod that serves as a resting place (especially for a bird)

From this reading It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.

PilenounUS /paɪl/

a collection of objects laid on top of each other

From this reading Pile a few more fragments of drift-wood upon the fire in the great chimney, little maiden, and then couch yourself before it, that I may have your glowing childhood as a foreground for those heaped relics of shipwreck and despair.

rapidlyadverbUS /ˈræpədli/

with speed

From this reading The October days grow rapidly shorter, and brighten with more concentrated light.

raysnounUS /reɪz/

plural of “ray” — a column of light (as from a beacon)

From this reading A tint of salmon-color, burnished into long undulations of lustre, overspreads the shallower waves; but a sober gray begins to steal in beneath the sunset rays, and will soon claim even the brilliant foreground for its own.

redlyadverb

displaying a red color

From this reading It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.

relicsnounUS /ˈrelɪks/

plural of “relic” — an antiquity that has survived from the distant past

From this reading Pile a few more fragments of drift-wood upon the fire in the great chimney, little maiden, and then couch yourself before it, that I may have your glowing childhood as a foreground for those heaped relics of shipwreck and despair.

runningadjectiveUS /ˈrʌnɪŋ/

(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream

From this reading It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.

salmon-color

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

From this reading A tint of salmon-color, burnished into long undulations of lustre, overspreads the shallower waves; but a sober gray begins to steal in beneath the sunset rays, and will soon claim even the brilliant foreground for its own.

scarletnounUS /ˈskɑːrlət/

a variable color that is vivid red but sometimes with an orange tinge

From this reading You seem, in your scarlet boating-dress, Annie, like some bright tropic bird, alit for a moment beside that other bird of the tropics, flame.

seemverbUS /siːm/

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading You seem, in your scarlet boating-dress, Annie, like some bright tropic bird, alit for a moment beside that other bird of the tropics, flame.

shalloweradjectiveUS /ˈʃæloʊər/

comparative of “shallow” — lacking physical depth; having little spatial extension downward or inward from an outer surface or backward or outward from a center

From this reading A tint of salmon-color, burnished into long undulations of lustre, overspreads the shallower waves; but a sober gray begins to steal in beneath the sunset rays, and will soon claim even the brilliant foreground for its own.

shipwrecknounUS /ˈʃɪprek/

a wrecked ship (or a part of one)

From this reading Pile a few more fragments of drift-wood upon the fire in the great chimney, little maiden, and then couch yourself before it, that I may have your glowing childhood as a foreground for those heaped relics of shipwreck and despair.

shorteradjectiveUS /ˈʃɔːrtər/

comparative of “short” — primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading The October days grow rapidly shorter, and brighten with more concentrated light.

slenderadjectiveUS /ˈslendər/

being of delicate or slender build

From this reading It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.

soberadjectiveUS /ˈsoʊbər/

not affected by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)

From this reading A tint of salmon-color, burnished into long undulations of lustre, overspreads the shallower waves; but a sober gray begins to steal in beneath the sunset rays, and will soon claim even the brilliant foreground for its own.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading You seem, in your scarlet boating-dress, Annie, like some bright tropic bird, alit for a moment beside that other bird of the tropics, flame.

soonadverbUS /suːn/

in the near future

From this reading A tint of salmon-color, burnished into long undulations of lustre, overspreads the shallower waves; but a sober gray begins to steal in beneath the sunset rays, and will soon claim even the brilliant foreground for its own.

stealverbUS /stiːl/

take without the owner's consent

From this reading A tint of salmon-color, burnished into long undulations of lustre, overspreads the shallower waves; but a sober gray begins to steal in beneath the sunset rays, and will soon claim even the brilliant foreground for its own.

sunnounUS /sʌn/

the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system

From this reading It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.

sunsetnounUS /ˈsʌnset/

the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon

From this reading A tint of salmon-color, burnished into long undulations of lustre, overspreads the shallower waves; but a sober gray begins to steal in beneath the sunset rays, and will soon claim even the brilliant foreground for its own.

sunset-gun

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

From this reading It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.

swiftlyadverbUS /ˈswɪftli/

in a swift manner

From this reading It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Pile a few more fragments of drift-wood upon the fire in the great chimney, little maiden, and then couch yourself before it, that I may have your glowing childhood as a foreground for those heaped relics of shipwreck and despair.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The October days grow rapidly shorter, and brighten with more concentrated light.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Pile a few more fragments of drift-wood upon the fire in the great chimney, little maiden, and then couch yourself before it, that I may have your glowing childhood as a foreground for those heaped relics of shipwreck and despair.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading Pile a few more fragments of drift-wood upon the fire in the great chimney, little maiden, and then couch yourself before it, that I may have your glowing childhood as a foreground for those heaped relics of shipwreck and despair.

tintnounUS /tɪnt/

a quality of a given color that differs slightly from another color

From this reading A tint of salmon-color, burnished into long undulations of lustre, overspreads the shallower waves; but a sober gray begins to steal in beneath the sunset rays, and will soon claim even the brilliant foreground for its own.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading A tint of salmon-color, burnished into long undulations of lustre, overspreads the shallower waves; but a sober gray begins to steal in beneath the sunset rays, and will soon claim even the brilliant foreground for its own.

tropicadjectiveUS /ˈtrɑːpɪk/

relating to or situated in or characteristic of the tropics (the region on either side of the equator)

From this reading You seem, in your scarlet boating-dress, Annie, like some bright tropic bird, alit for a moment beside that other bird of the tropics, flame.

tropicsnounUS /ˈtrɑːpɪks/

the part of the Earth's surface between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn; characterized by a hot climate

From this reading You seem, in your scarlet boating-dress, Annie, like some bright tropic bird, alit for a moment beside that other bird of the tropics, flame.

undulations

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

From this reading A tint of salmon-color, burnished into long undulations of lustre, overspreads the shallower waves; but a sober gray begins to steal in beneath the sunset rays, and will soon claim even the brilliant foreground for its own.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

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

From this reading It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Pile a few more fragments of drift-wood upon the fire in the great chimney, little maiden, and then couch yourself before it, that I may have your glowing childhood as a foreground for those heaped relics of shipwreck and despair.

wavesnounUS /weɪvz/

plural of “wave” — one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)

From this reading A tint of salmon-color, burnished into long undulations of lustre, overspreads the shallower waves; but a sober gray begins to steal in beneath the sunset rays, and will soon claim even the brilliant foreground for its own.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading A tint of salmon-color, burnished into long undulations of lustre, overspreads the shallower waves; but a sober gray begins to steal in beneath the sunset rays, and will soon claim even the brilliant foreground for its own.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The October days grow rapidly shorter, and brighten with more concentrated light.

yachtnounUS /jɑːt/

an expensive vessel propelled by sail or power and used for cruising or racing

From this reading It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading It is but half past five, yet the sun dips redly behind Conanicut, the sunset-gun booms from our neighbor's yacht, the flag glides down from his mainmast, and the slender pennant, running swiftly up the opposite halyards, dances and flickers like a flame, and at last perches, with dainty hesitation, at the mast-head.

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading You seem, in your scarlet boating-dress, Annie, like some bright tropic bird, alit for a moment beside that other bird of the tropics, flame.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Pile a few more fragments of drift-wood upon the fire in the great chimney, little maiden, and then couch yourself before it, that I may have your glowing childhood as a foreground for those heaped relics of shipwreck and despair.

yourselfpronounUS /jərˈself/

used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action

From this reading Pile a few more fragments of drift-wood upon the fire in the great chimney, little maiden, and then couch yourself before it, that I may have your glowing childhood as a foreground for those heaped relics of shipwreck and despair.

Chapter 5 of Oldport Days by Thomas Wentworth Higginson holds 150 sentences, grouped into 30 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, 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 5 of Oldport Days contain?

Chapter 5 holds 150 sentences of Oldport Days, unabridged, divided into 30 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 5 of Oldport Days by Thomas Wentworth Higginson exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 150 sentences, grouped into 30 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 5 of Oldport Days?

Work through the 30 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 30 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 5 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 5 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 Oldport Days

Common questions about reading Oldport Days by Thomas Wentworth Higginson on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Oldport Days?

Yes. All 2003 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #2418 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Oldport Days is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #2418, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Oldport Days take to read?

About 166 minutes of reading across 401 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Oldport Days section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 14 chapters of Oldport Days 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 Oldport Days

Words and structures a reader meets early in Oldport Days, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Oldport
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Oldport Days; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Thomas
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Oldport Days; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Wentworth
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Oldport Days; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Higginson
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Oldport Days; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.