Chapter 2 of Operation Haystack is here in full — 380 sentences across 76 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter II
Chapter 2 of Operation Haystack is here in full — 380 sentences across 76 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
* * * * * Orne bent to his dinner as it came out of the bubble slot beside his plate: meat in an exotic sauce, _Sirik_ champagne, _paloika au semil_ ... more luxury. Presently, Polly returned, resumed her seat. "Anything important?" asked Bullone. "Only a cancellation for tomorrow night. Professor Wingard is ill."
Chapter 2 of Operation Haystack is here in full — 380 sentences across 76 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/76 · 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.
form, produce, or emit bubbles
From this reading “* * * * * Orne bent to his dinner as it came out of the bubble slot beside his plate: meat in an exotic sauce, _Sirik_ champagne, _paloika au semil_ ... more luxury.”
the act of cancelling; calling off some arrangement
From this reading “"Only a cancellation for tomorrow night.”
a white sparkling wine either produced in Champagne or resembling that produced there
From this reading “* * * * * Orne bent to his dinner as it came out of the bubble slot beside his plate: meat in an exotic sauce, _Sirik_ champagne, _paloika au semil_ ... more luxury.”
being or from or characteristic of another place or part of the world
From this reading “* * * * * Orne bent to his dinner as it came out of the bubble slot beside his plate: meat in an exotic sauce, _Sirik_ champagne, _paloika au semil_ ... more luxury.”
something that is an indulgence rather than a necessity
From this reading “* * * * * Orne bent to his dinner as it came out of the bubble slot beside his plate: meat in an exotic sauce, _Sirik_ champagne, _paloika au semil_ ... more luxury.”
flavorful relish or dressing or topping served as an accompaniment to food
From this reading “* * * * * Orne bent to his dinner as it came out of the bubble slot beside his plate: meat in an exotic sauce, _Sirik_ champagne, _paloika au semil_ ... more luxury.”
a position in a grammatical linguistic construction in which a variety of alternative units are interchangeable
From this reading “* * * * * Orne bent to his dinner as it came out of the bubble slot beside his plate: meat in an exotic sauce, _Sirik_ champagne, _paloika au semil_ ... more luxury.”
the day after today
From this reading “"Only a cancellation for tomorrow night.”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Only a cancellation for tomorrow night.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading * * * * * Orne bent to his dinner as it came out of the bubble slot beside his plate: meat in an exotic sauce, _Sirik_ champagne, _paloika au semil_ ... more luxury.
any thing at all
From this reading "Anything important?" asked Bullone.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading * * * * * Orne bent to his dinner as it came out of the bubble slot beside his plate: meat in an exotic sauce, _Sirik_ champagne, _paloika au semil_ ... more luxury.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Anything important?" asked Bullone.
a soft yellow malleable ductile (trivalent and univalent) metallic element; occurs mainly as nuggets in rocks and alluvial deposits; does not react with most chemicals but is attacked by chlorine and aqua regia
From this reading * * * * * Orne bent to his dinner as it came out of the bubble slot beside his plate: meat in an exotic sauce, _Sirik_ champagne, _paloika au semil_ ... more luxury.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading * * * * * Orne bent to his dinner as it came out of the bubble slot beside his plate: meat in an exotic sauce, _Sirik_ champagne, _paloika au semil_ ... more luxury.
next to; at the side of
From this reading * * * * * Orne bent to his dinner as it came out of the bubble slot beside his plate: meat in an exotic sauce, _Sirik_ champagne, _paloika au semil_ ... more luxury.
form, produce, or emit bubbles
From this reading * * * * * Orne bent to his dinner as it came out of the bubble slot beside his plate: meat in an exotic sauce, _Sirik_ champagne, _paloika au semil_ ... more luxury.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Anything important?" asked Bullone.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading * * * * * Orne bent to his dinner as it came out of the bubble slot beside his plate: meat in an exotic sauce, _Sirik_ champagne, _paloika au semil_ ... more luxury.
the act of cancelling; calling off some arrangement
From this reading "Only a cancellation for tomorrow night.
a white sparkling wine either produced in Champagne or resembling that produced there
From this reading * * * * * Orne bent to his dinner as it came out of the bubble slot beside his plate: meat in an exotic sauce, _Sirik_ champagne, _paloika au semil_ ... more luxury.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading * * * * * Orne bent to his dinner as it came out of the bubble slot beside his plate: meat in an exotic sauce, _Sirik_ champagne, _paloika au semil_ ... more luxury.
being or from or characteristic of another place or part of the world
From this reading * * * * * Orne bent to his dinner as it came out of the bubble slot beside his plate: meat in an exotic sauce, _Sirik_ champagne, _paloika au semil_ ... more luxury.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Only a cancellation for tomorrow night.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Presently, Polly returned, resumed her seat.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading * * * * * Orne bent to his dinner as it came out of the bubble slot beside his plate: meat in an exotic sauce, _Sirik_ champagne, _paloika au semil_ ... more luxury.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading Professor Wingard is ill."
of great significance or value
From this reading "Anything important?" asked Bullone.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading * * * * * Orne bent to his dinner as it came out of the bubble slot beside his plate: meat in an exotic sauce, _Sirik_ champagne, _paloika au semil_ ... more luxury.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Professor Wingard is ill."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading * * * * * Orne bent to his dinner as it came out of the bubble slot beside his plate: meat in an exotic sauce, _Sirik_ champagne, _paloika au semil_ ... more luxury.
something that is an indulgence rather than a necessity
From this reading * * * * * Orne bent to his dinner as it came out of the bubble slot beside his plate: meat in an exotic sauce, _Sirik_ champagne, _paloika au semil_ ... more luxury.
the flesh of animals (including fishes and birds and snails) used as food
From this reading * * * * * Orne bent to his dinner as it came out of the bubble slot beside his plate: meat in an exotic sauce, _Sirik_ champagne, _paloika au semil_ ... more luxury.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading * * * * * Orne bent to his dinner as it came out of the bubble slot beside his plate: meat in an exotic sauce, _Sirik_ champagne, _paloika au semil_ ... more luxury.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading "Only a cancellation for tomorrow night.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading * * * * * Orne bent to his dinner as it came out of the bubble slot beside his plate: meat in an exotic sauce, _Sirik_ champagne, _paloika au semil_ ... more luxury.
and nothing more
From this reading "Only a cancellation for tomorrow night.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading * * * * * Orne bent to his dinner as it came out of the bubble slot beside his plate: meat in an exotic sauce, _Sirik_ champagne, _paloika au semil_ ... more luxury.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading * * * * * Orne bent to his dinner as it came out of the bubble slot beside his plate: meat in an exotic sauce, _Sirik_ champagne, _paloika au semil_ ... more luxury.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading * * * * * Orne bent to his dinner as it came out of the bubble slot beside his plate: meat in an exotic sauce, _Sirik_ champagne, _paloika au semil_ ... more luxury.
(baseball) base consisting of a rubber slab where the batter stands; it must be touched by a base runner in order to score
From this reading * * * * * Orne bent to his dinner as it came out of the bubble slot beside his plate: meat in an exotic sauce, _Sirik_ champagne, _paloika au semil_ ... more luxury.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Presently, Polly returned, resumed her seat.
in the near future
From this reading Presently, Polly returned, resumed her seat.
someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university
From this reading Professor Wingard is ill."
past form of “resume” — take up or begin anew
From this reading Presently, Polly returned, resumed her seat.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Presently, Polly returned, resumed her seat.
flavorful relish or dressing or topping served as an accompaniment to food
From this reading * * * * * Orne bent to his dinner as it came out of the bubble slot beside his plate: meat in an exotic sauce, _Sirik_ champagne, _paloika au semil_ ... more luxury.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading Presently, Polly returned, resumed her seat.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading * * * * * Orne bent to his dinner as it came out of the bubble slot beside his plate: meat in an exotic sauce, _Sirik_ champagne, _paloika au semil_ ... more luxury.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading * * * * * Orne bent to his dinner as it came out of the bubble slot beside his plate: meat in an exotic sauce, _Sirik_ champagne, _paloika au semil_ ... more luxury.
a position in a grammatical linguistic construction in which a variety of alternative units are interchangeable
From this reading * * * * * Orne bent to his dinner as it came out of the bubble slot beside his plate: meat in an exotic sauce, _Sirik_ champagne, _paloika au semil_ ... more luxury.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading * * * * * Orne bent to his dinner as it came out of the bubble slot beside his plate: meat in an exotic sauce, _Sirik_ champagne, _paloika au semil_ ... more luxury.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading * * * * * Orne bent to his dinner as it came out of the bubble slot beside his plate: meat in an exotic sauce, _Sirik_ champagne, _paloika au semil_ ... more luxury.
the day after today
From this reading "Only a cancellation for tomorrow night.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Professor Wingard is ill."
Chapter 2 of Operation Haystack by Frank Herbert holds 380 sentences, grouped into 76 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 2 holds 380 sentences of Operation Haystack, unabridged, divided into 76 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 2 of Operation Haystack by Frank Herbert exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 380 sentences, grouped into 76 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 76 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 76 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 2 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 Operation Haystack by Frank Herbert on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 802 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #24721 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #24721, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 66 minutes of reading across 161 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Operation Haystack section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 2 chapters of Operation Haystack 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 Operation Haystack, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
