Chapter 5 of On Something is here in full — 452 sentences across 91 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter V
Chapter 5 of On Something is here in full — 452 sentences across 91 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
"No doubt," said I gravely, for I could not see why he should not bear that name. "My Christian name," he continued hurriedly. "Of course," said I, as sympathetically as I could. He seemed relieved that I had not even smiled at it. "Yes," he went on rather quickly, "Peter--my name is Peter.
Chapter 5 of On Something is here in full — 452 sentences across 91 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/90 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
relating to or characteristic of Christianity
From this reading “"My Christian name," he continued hurriedly.”
in a grave and sober manner
From this reading “"No doubt," said I gravely, for I could not see why he should not bear that name.”
in a hurried or hasty manner
From this reading “"My Christian name," he continued hurriedly.”
disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading “"Yes," he went on rather quickly, "Peter--my name is Peter.”
with speed
From this reading “"Yes," he went on rather quickly, "Peter--my name is Peter.”
(of pain or sorrow) made easier to bear
From this reading “He seemed relieved that I had not even smiled at it.”
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading “He seemed relieved that I had not even smiled at it.”
with respect to the sympathetic nervous system
From this reading “"Of course," said I, as sympathetically as I could.”
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.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Of course," said I, as sympathetically as I could.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He seemed relieved that I had not even smiled at it.
have
From this reading "No doubt," said I gravely, for I could not see why he should not bear that name.
relating to or characteristic of Christianity
From this reading "My Christian name," he continued hurriedly.
without stop or interruption
From this reading "My Christian name," he continued hurriedly.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "No doubt," said I gravely, for I could not see why he should not bear that name.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading "Of course," said I, as sympathetically as I could.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading "No doubt," said I gravely, for I could not see why he should not bear that name.
divisible by two
From this reading He seemed relieved that I had not even smiled at it.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "No doubt," said I gravely, for I could not see why he should not bear that name.
in a grave and sober manner
From this reading "No doubt," said I gravely, for I could not see why he should not bear that name.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He seemed relieved that I had not even smiled at it.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "No doubt," said I gravely, for I could not see why he should not bear that name.
in a hurried or hasty manner
From this reading "My Christian name," he continued hurriedly.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "No doubt," said I gravely, for I could not see why he should not bear that name.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Yes," he went on rather quickly, "Peter--my name is Peter.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He seemed relieved that I had not even smiled at it.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "My Christian name," he continued hurriedly.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "No doubt," said I gravely, for I could not see why he should not bear that name.
not any; not one
From this reading "No doubt," said I gravely, for I could not see why he should not bear that name.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "No doubt," said I gravely, for I could not see why he should not bear that name.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Of course," said I, as sympathetically as I could.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "Yes," he went on rather quickly, "Peter--my name is Peter.
disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading "Yes," he went on rather quickly, "Peter--my name is Peter.
with speed
From this reading "Yes," he went on rather quickly, "Peter--my name is Peter.
on the contrary
From this reading "Yes," he went on rather quickly, "Peter--my name is Peter.
(of pain or sorrow) made easier to bear
From this reading He seemed relieved that I had not even smiled at it.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "No doubt," said I gravely, for I could not see why he should not bear that name.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "No doubt," said I gravely, for I could not see why he should not bear that name.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He seemed relieved that I had not even smiled at it.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading "No doubt," said I gravely, for I could not see why he should not bear that name.
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading He seemed relieved that I had not even smiled at it.
with respect to the sympathetic nervous system
From this reading "Of course," said I, as sympathetically as I could.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "No doubt," said I gravely, for I could not see why he should not bear that name.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "Yes," he went on rather quickly, "Peter--my name is Peter.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "No doubt," said I gravely, for I could not see why he should not bear that name.
an affirmative
From this reading "Yes," he went on rather quickly, "Peter--my name is Peter.
Chapter 5 of On Something by Hilaire Belloc holds 452 sentences, grouped into 91 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.
Chapter 5 holds 452 sentences of On Something, unabridged, divided into 91 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 5 of On Something by Hilaire Belloc exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 452 sentences, grouped into 91 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.
Work through the 91 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 91 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.
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.
Common questions about reading On Something by Hilaire Belloc on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 2277 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #7354 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #7354, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 189 minutes of reading across 456 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through On Something section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 5 chapters of On Something to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in On Something, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
