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On the Borderland
On the Borderland

Chapter V

Chapter 5 of On the Borderland is here in full — 416 sentences across 84 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for On the Borderland
Context Illustration Reading 1/83 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
“That man,” replied Captain Sergeantson, sententiously, “is Karl Wertheimer.
About the cutest spy the German Secret Service ever had.--I was going to tell Jimmy a story about him and brought his picture along with me,” he added in explanation.
“I sort of recognized him from your description.”
The girl stared at the photograph.
“Of course,” continued Sergeantson, “he made up over that scar.
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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.

On the Borderland

Chapter V

Chapter 5 of On the Borderland is here in full — 416 sentences across 84 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/83 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
“That man,” replied Captain Sergeantson, sententiously, “is Karl Wertheimer.
Line 2
About the cutest spy the German Secret Service ever had.--I was going to tell Jimmy a story about him and brought his picture along with me,” he added in explanation.
Line 3
“I sort of recognized him from your description.”
/aɪ sɔːrt ʌv ˈrekəɡnaɪzd hɪm frʌm jɔːr dɪˈskrɪpʃən/
Line 4
The girl stared at the photograph.
/ðə ɡɜːrl sterd æt ðə ˈfoʊtəɡræf/
Line 5
“Of course,” continued Sergeantson, “he made up over that scar.

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.

cutest adjective US /ˈkjuːtɪst/

superlative of “cute” — attractive especially by means of smallness or prettiness or quaintness

From this reading “About the cutest spy the German Secret Service ever had.--I was going to tell Jimmy a story about him and brought his picture along with me,” he added in explanation.”

description noun US /dɪˈskrɪpʃən/

a statement that represents something in words

From this reading ““I sort of recognized him from your description.””

explanation noun US /ˌekspləˈneɪʃən/

a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.

From this reading “About the cutest spy the German Secret Service ever had.--I was going to tell Jimmy a story about him and brought his picture along with me,” he added in explanation.”

Jimmy verb US /ˈdʒɪmi/

to move or force, especially in an effort to get something open

From this reading “About the cutest spy the German Secret Service ever had.--I was going to tell Jimmy a story about him and brought his picture along with me,” he added in explanation.”

photograph verb US /ˈfoʊtəɡræf/

record on photographic film

From this reading “The girl stared at the photograph.”

recognized adjective US /ˈrekəɡnaɪzd/

generally approved or compelling recognition

From this reading ““I sort of recognized him from your description.””

scar noun US /skɑːr/

a mark left (usually on the skin) by the healing of injured tissue

From this reading ““Of course,” continued Sergeantson, “he made up over that scar.”

spy verb US /spaɪ/

catch sight of

From this reading “About the cutest spy the German Secret Service ever had.--I was going to tell Jimmy a story about him and brought his picture along with me,” he added in explanation.”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

Secret Service noun + noun

the United States intelligence agency that protects current and former presidents and vice presidents and their immediate families and protects distinguished foreign visitors; detects and apprehends counterfeiters; suppresses forgery of government securities and documents

In this reading “About the cutest spy the German Secret Service ever had.--I was going to tell Jimmy a story about him and brought his picture along with me,” he added in explanation.”

stared at verb + particle counted as “stare at”

In this reading “The girl stared at the photograph.”

Of course preposition + noun

as might be expected

In this reading ““Of course,” continued Sergeantson, “he made up over that scar.”

All words in this reading · 54

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 About the cutest spy the German Secret Service ever had.--I was going to tell Jimmy a story about him and brought his picture along with me,” he added in explanation.

AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading About the cutest spy the German Secret Service ever had.--I was going to tell Jimmy a story about him and brought his picture along with me,” he added in explanation.

addedverbUS /ˈædəd/

past form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of

From this reading About the cutest spy the German Secret Service ever had.--I was going to tell Jimmy a story about him and brought his picture along with me,” he added in explanation.

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading About the cutest spy the German Secret Service ever had.--I was going to tell Jimmy a story about him and brought his picture along with me,” he added in explanation.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading About the cutest spy the German Secret Service ever had.--I was going to tell Jimmy a story about him and brought his picture along with me,” he added in explanation.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The girl stared at the photograph.

broughtverbUS /brɔːt/

inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading About the cutest spy the German Secret Service ever had.--I was going to tell Jimmy a story about him and brought his picture along with me,” he added in explanation.

CaptainnounUS /ˈkæptən/

an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant

From this reading “That man,” replied Captain Sergeantson, sententiously, “is Karl Wertheimer.

continuedadjectiveUS /kənˈtɪnjuːd/

without stop or interruption

From this reading “Of course,” continued Sergeantson, “he made up over that scar.

coursenounUS /kɔːrs/

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading “Of course,” continued Sergeantson, “he made up over that scar.

cutestadjectiveUS /ˈkjuːtɪst/

superlative of “cute” — attractive especially by means of smallness or prettiness or quaintness

From this reading About the cutest spy the German Secret Service ever had.--I was going to tell Jimmy a story about him and brought his picture along with me,” he added in explanation.

descriptionnounUS /dɪˈskrɪpʃən/

a statement that represents something in words

From this reading “I sort of recognized him from your description.”

everadverbUS /ˈevər/

at any time

From this reading About the cutest spy the German Secret Service ever had.--I was going to tell Jimmy a story about him and brought his picture along with me,” he added in explanation.

explanationnounUS /ˌekspləˈneɪʃən/

a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.

From this reading About the cutest spy the German Secret Service ever had.--I was going to tell Jimmy a story about him and brought his picture along with me,” he added in explanation.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading “I sort of recognized him from your description.”

GermannounUS /ˈdʒɜːrmən/

a person of German nationality

From this reading About the cutest spy the German Secret Service ever had.--I was going to tell Jimmy a story about him and brought his picture along with me,” he added in explanation.

girlnounUS /ɡɜːrl/

a young female

From this reading The girl stared at the photograph.

goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/

the act of departing

From this reading About the cutest spy the German Secret Service ever had.--I was going to tell Jimmy a story about him and brought his picture along with me,” he added in explanation.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading About the cutest spy the German Secret Service ever had.--I was going to tell Jimmy a story about him and brought his picture along with me,” he added in explanation.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading About the cutest spy the German Secret Service ever had.--I was going to tell Jimmy a story about him and brought his picture along with me,” he added in explanation.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading About the cutest spy the German Secret Service ever had.--I was going to tell Jimmy a story about him and brought his picture along with me,” he added in explanation.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading About the cutest spy the German Secret Service ever had.--I was going to tell Jimmy a story about him and brought his picture along with me,” he added in explanation.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading About the cutest spy the German Secret Service ever had.--I was going to tell Jimmy a story about him and brought his picture along with me,” he added in explanation.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading About the cutest spy the German Secret Service ever had.--I was going to tell Jimmy a story about him and brought his picture along with me,” he added in explanation.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading “That man,” replied Captain Sergeantson, sententiously, “is Karl Wertheimer.

JimmyverbUS /ˈdʒɪmi/

to move or force, especially in an effort to get something open

From this reading About the cutest spy the German Secret Service ever had.--I was going to tell Jimmy a story about him and brought his picture along with me,” he added in explanation.

Karl

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

From this reading “That man,” replied Captain Sergeantson, sententiously, “is Karl Wertheimer.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading “Of course,” continued Sergeantson, “he made up over that scar.

mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading “That man,” replied Captain Sergeantson, sententiously, “is Karl Wertheimer.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading About the cutest spy the German Secret Service ever had.--I was going to tell Jimmy a story about him and brought his picture along with me,” he added in explanation.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “I sort of recognized him from your description.”

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “Of course,” continued Sergeantson, “he made up over that scar.

photographverbUS /ˈfoʊtəɡræf/

record on photographic film

From this reading The girl stared at the photograph.

picturenounUS /ˈpɪktʃər/

a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface

From this reading About the cutest spy the German Secret Service ever had.--I was going to tell Jimmy a story about him and brought his picture along with me,” he added in explanation.

recognizedadjectiveUS /ˈrekəɡnaɪzd/

generally approved or compelling recognition

From this reading “I sort of recognized him from your description.”

repliedverbUS /rɪˈplaɪd/

inflected form of “reply” — react verbally

From this reading “That man,” replied Captain Sergeantson, sententiously, “is Karl Wertheimer.

scarnounUS /skɑːr/

a mark left (usually on the skin) by the healing of injured tissue

From this reading “Of course,” continued Sergeantson, “he made up over that scar.

SecretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading About the cutest spy the German Secret Service ever had.--I was going to tell Jimmy a story about him and brought his picture along with me,” he added in explanation.

sententiouslyadverb

in a pithy sententious manner

From this reading “That man,” replied Captain Sergeantson, sententiously, “is Karl Wertheimer.

Sergeantson

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

From this reading “That man,” replied Captain Sergeantson, sententiously, “is Karl Wertheimer.

ServicenounUS /ˈsɜːrvəs/

work done by one person or group that benefits another

From this reading About the cutest spy the German Secret Service ever had.--I was going to tell Jimmy a story about him and brought his picture along with me,” he added in explanation.

sortnounUS /sɔːrt/

a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading “I sort of recognized him from your description.”

spyverbUS /spaɪ/

catch sight of

From this reading About the cutest spy the German Secret Service ever had.--I was going to tell Jimmy a story about him and brought his picture along with me,” he added in explanation.

staredverbUS /sterd/

past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes

From this reading The girl stared at the photograph.

storynounUS /ˈstɔːri/

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading About the cutest spy the German Secret Service ever had.--I was going to tell Jimmy a story about him and brought his picture along with me,” he added in explanation.

tellverbUS /tel/

express in words

From this reading About the cutest spy the German Secret Service ever had.--I was going to tell Jimmy a story about him and brought his picture along with me,” he added in explanation.

ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading “That man,” replied Captain Sergeantson, sententiously, “is Karl Wertheimer.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading About the cutest spy the German Secret Service ever had.--I was going to tell Jimmy a story about him and brought his picture along with me,” he added in explanation.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading About the cutest spy the German Secret Service ever had.--I was going to tell Jimmy a story about him and brought his picture along with me,” he added in explanation.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

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

From this reading “Of course,” continued Sergeantson, “he made up over that scar.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading About the cutest spy the German Secret Service ever had.--I was going to tell Jimmy a story about him and brought his picture along with me,” he added in explanation.

Wertheimer

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

From this reading “That man,” replied Captain Sergeantson, sententiously, “is Karl Wertheimer.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading About the cutest spy the German Secret Service ever had.--I was going to tell Jimmy a story about him and brought his picture along with me,” he added in explanation.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “I sort of recognized him from your description.”

Chapter 5 of On the Borderland by F. Britten (Frederick Britten) Austin holds 416 sentences, grouped into 84 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 On the Borderland contain?

Chapter 5 holds 416 sentences of On the Borderland, unabridged, divided into 84 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 5 of On the Borderland by F. Britten (Frederick Britten) Austin exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 416 sentences, grouped into 84 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 On the Borderland?

Work through the 84 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 84 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 On the Borderland

Common questions about reading On the Borderland by F. Britten (Frederick Britten) Austin on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of On the Borderland?

Yes. All 6737 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #65837 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of On the Borderland is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #65837, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does On the Borderland take to read?

About 561 minutes of reading across 1348 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read On the Borderland section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 16 chapters of On the Borderland 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 On the Borderland

Words and structures a reader meets early in On the Borderland, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Https
A word that appears in the opening chapter of On the Borderland; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Handle
A word that appears in the opening chapter of On the Borderland; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Garden
A word that appears in the opening chapter of On the Borderland; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Doubleday
A word that appears in the opening chapter of On the Borderland; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.