Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Peggy's Giant
Peggy's Giant

Chapter VIII

Chapter 8 of Peggy's Giant is here in full — 105 sentences across 21 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Mary D. Maitland Kelly • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Peggy's Giant
Context Illustration Reading 1/21 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE MAYOR’S OUTING “That’s the Mayor, that is,” said the Giant in a terrified whisper, and he practically stood on his head in his efforts to wriggle part of his face under the seat.
“If there is one thing that frightens me more than another it is a Mayor!
I remember in 1615, or thereabouts--but that will keep till another time.
Do you think he can see me?
Can’t we go on _now_?”
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.

Peggy's Giant

Chapter VIII

Chapter 8 of Peggy's Giant is here in full — 105 sentences across 21 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/21 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE MAYOR’S OUTING “That’s the Mayor, that is,” said the Giant in a terrified whisper, and he practically stood on his head in his efforts to wriggle part of his face under the seat.
Line 2
“If there is one thing that frightens me more than another it is a Mayor!
/ɪf ðer ɪz wʌn θɪŋ ðæt ˈfraɪtənz miː mɔːr ðæn əˈnʌðər ɪt ɪz ə ˈmeɪər/
Line 3
I remember in 1615, or thereabouts--but that will keep till another time.
Line 4
Do you think he can see me?
/duː juː θɪŋk hiː kæn siː miː/
Line 5
Can’t we go on _now_?”

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.

frightens verb US /ˈfraɪtənz/

third-person singular of “frighten” — cause fear in

From this reading ““If there is one thing that frightens me more than another it is a Mayor!”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Mayor noun US /ˈmeɪər/

the head of a city government

From this reading “THE MAYOR’S OUTING “That’s the Mayor, that is,” said the Giant in a terrified whisper, and he practically stood on his head in his efforts to wriggle part of his face under the seat.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mayor's noun US /ˈmeɪərz/

possessive form of “mayor” — the head of a city government

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
outing noun US /ˈaʊtɪŋ/

a journey taken for pleasure

From this reading “THE MAYOR’S OUTING “That’s the Mayor, that is,” said the Giant in a terrified whisper, and he practically stood on his head in his efforts to wriggle part of his face under the seat.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
practically adverb US /ˈpræktɪkli/

almost; nearly

From this reading “THE MAYOR’S OUTING “That’s the Mayor, that is,” said the Giant in a terrified whisper, and he practically stood on his head in his efforts to wriggle part of his face under the seat.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
terrified adjective US /ˈterəfaɪd/

thrown into a state of intense fear or desperation

From this reading “THE MAYOR’S OUTING “That’s the Mayor, that is,” said the Giant in a terrified whisper, and he practically stood on his head in his efforts to wriggle part of his face under the seat.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thereabouts adverb US /ˌðerəˈbaʊts/

near that time or date

From this reading “I remember in 1615, or thereabouts--but that will keep till another time.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wriggle verb US /ˈrɪɡəl/

to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)

From this reading “THE MAYOR’S OUTING “That’s the Mayor, that is,” said the Giant in a terrified whisper, and he practically stood on his head in his efforts to wriggle part of his face under the seat.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

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.

go on verb + particle

continue a certain state, condition, or activity

In this reading “Can’t we go on _now_?””

241,940 times in 426,211 chapters
stood on verb + particle

In this reading “THE MAYOR’S OUTING “That’s the Mayor, that is,” said the Giant in a terrified whisper, and he practically stood on his head in his efforts to wriggle part of his face under the seat.”

20,602 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 57

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.

1615

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

From this reading I remember in 1615, or thereabouts--but that will keep till another time.

Pending verification
adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading THE MAYOR’S OUTING “That’s the Mayor, that is,” said the Giant in a terrified whisper, and he practically stood on his head in his efforts to wriggle part of his face under the seat.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading THE MAYOR’S OUTING “That’s the Mayor, that is,” said the Giant in a terrified whisper, and he practically stood on his head in his efforts to wriggle part of his face under the seat.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading “If there is one thing that frightens me more than another it is a Mayor!

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading I remember in 1615, or thereabouts--but that will keep till another time.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading Do you think he can see me?

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
Can't

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

From this reading Can’t we go on _now_?”

Pending verification
Doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Do you think he can see me?

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
effortsnounUS /ˈefərts/

plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something

From this reading THE MAYOR’S OUTING “That’s the Mayor, that is,” said the Giant in a terrified whisper, and he practically stood on his head in his efforts to wriggle part of his face under the seat.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
facenounUS /feɪs/

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading THE MAYOR’S OUTING “That’s the Mayor, that is,” said the Giant in a terrified whisper, and he practically stood on his head in his efforts to wriggle part of his face under the seat.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
frightensverbUS /ˈfraɪtənz/

third-person singular of “frighten” — cause fear in

From this reading “If there is one thing that frightens me more than another it is a Mayor!

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
GiantnounUS /ˈdʒaɪənt/

any creature of exceptional size

From this reading THE MAYOR’S OUTING “That’s the Mayor, that is,” said the Giant in a terrified whisper, and he practically stood on his head in his efforts to wriggle part of his face under the seat.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
goverbUS /ɡoʊ/

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

From this reading Can’t we go on _now_?”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading THE MAYOR’S OUTING “That’s the Mayor, that is,” said the Giant in a terrified whisper, and he practically stood on his head in his efforts to wriggle part of his face under the seat.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
headnounUS /hed/

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading THE MAYOR’S OUTING “That’s the Mayor, that is,” said the Giant in a terrified whisper, and he practically stood on his head in his efforts to wriggle part of his face under the seat.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading THE MAYOR’S OUTING “That’s the Mayor, that is,” said the Giant in a terrified whisper, and he practically stood on his head in his efforts to wriggle part of his face under the seat.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I remember in 1615, or thereabouts--but that will keep till another time.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading “If there is one thing that frightens me more than another it is a Mayor!

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading THE MAYOR’S OUTING “That’s the Mayor, that is,” said the Giant in a terrified whisper, and he practically stood on his head in his efforts to wriggle part of his face under the seat.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading THE MAYOR’S OUTING “That’s the Mayor, that is,” said the Giant in a terrified whisper, and he practically stood on his head in his efforts to wriggle part of his face under the seat.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “If there is one thing that frightens me more than another it is a Mayor!

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
keepverbUS /kiːp/

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading I remember in 1615, or thereabouts--but that will keep till another time.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MayornounUS /ˈmeɪər/

the head of a city government

From this reading THE MAYOR’S OUTING “That’s the Mayor, that is,” said the Giant in a terrified whisper, and he practically stood on his head in his efforts to wriggle part of his face under the seat.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MAYOR'SnounUS /ˈmeɪərz/

possessive form of “mayor” — the head of a city government

From this reading THE MAYOR’S OUTING “That’s the Mayor, that is,” said the Giant in a terrified whisper, and he practically stood on his head in his efforts to wriggle part of his face under the seat.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading “If there is one thing that frightens me more than another it is a Mayor!

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

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

From this reading “If there is one thing that frightens me more than another it is a Mayor!

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Can’t we go on _now_?”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE MAYOR’S OUTING “That’s the Mayor, that is,” said the Giant in a terrified whisper, and he practically stood on his head in his efforts to wriggle part of his face under the seat.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading THE MAYOR’S OUTING “That’s the Mayor, that is,” said the Giant in a terrified whisper, and he practically stood on his head in his efforts to wriggle part of his face under the seat.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “If there is one thing that frightens me more than another it is a Mayor!

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading I remember in 1615, or thereabouts--but that will keep till another time.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
OUTINGnounUS /ˈaʊtɪŋ/

a journey taken for pleasure

From this reading THE MAYOR’S OUTING “That’s the Mayor, that is,” said the Giant in a terrified whisper, and he practically stood on his head in his efforts to wriggle part of his face under the seat.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
partnounUS /pɑːrt/

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading THE MAYOR’S OUTING “That’s the Mayor, that is,” said the Giant in a terrified whisper, and he practically stood on his head in his efforts to wriggle part of his face under the seat.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
practicallyadverbUS /ˈpræktɪkli/

almost; nearly

From this reading THE MAYOR’S OUTING “That’s the Mayor, that is,” said the Giant in a terrified whisper, and he practically stood on his head in his efforts to wriggle part of his face under the seat.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/

To recall to mind.

From this reading I remember in 1615, or thereabouts--but that will keep till another time.

Velmora curated lexicon
saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading THE MAYOR’S OUTING “That’s the Mayor, that is,” said the Giant in a terrified whisper, and he practically stood on his head in his efforts to wriggle part of his face under the seat.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
seatnounUS /siːt/

a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)

From this reading THE MAYOR’S OUTING “That’s the Mayor, that is,” said the Giant in a terrified whisper, and he practically stood on his head in his efforts to wriggle part of his face under the seat.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Do you think he can see me?

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
stoodverbUS /stʊd/

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading THE MAYOR’S OUTING “That’s the Mayor, that is,” said the Giant in a terrified whisper, and he practically stood on his head in his efforts to wriggle part of his face under the seat.

Velmora curated lexicon
terrifiedadjectiveUS /ˈterəfaɪd/

thrown into a state of intense fear or desperation

From this reading THE MAYOR’S OUTING “That’s the Mayor, that is,” said the Giant in a terrified whisper, and he practically stood on his head in his efforts to wriggle part of his face under the seat.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading “If there is one thing that frightens me more than another it is a Mayor!

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading THE MAYOR’S OUTING “That’s the Mayor, that is,” said the Giant in a terrified whisper, and he practically stood on his head in his efforts to wriggle part of his face under the seat.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
That's

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

From this reading THE MAYOR’S OUTING “That’s the Mayor, that is,” said the Giant in a terrified whisper, and he practically stood on his head in his efforts to wriggle part of his face under the seat.

Pending verification
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE MAYOR’S OUTING “That’s the Mayor, that is,” said the Giant in a terrified whisper, and he practically stood on his head in his efforts to wriggle part of his face under the seat.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading “If there is one thing that frightens me more than another it is a Mayor!

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thereaboutsadverbUS /ˌðerəˈbaʊts/

near that time or date

From this reading I remember in 1615, or thereabouts--but that will keep till another time.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thingnounUS /θɪŋ/

a special situation

From this reading “If there is one thing that frightens me more than another it is a Mayor!

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading Do you think he can see me?

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading I remember in 1615, or thereabouts--but that will keep till another time.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading I remember in 1615, or thereabouts--but that will keep till another time.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading THE MAYOR’S OUTING “That’s the Mayor, that is,” said the Giant in a terrified whisper, and he practically stood on his head in his efforts to wriggle part of his face under the seat.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading THE MAYOR’S OUTING “That’s the Mayor, that is,” said the Giant in a terrified whisper, and he practically stood on his head in his efforts to wriggle part of his face under the seat.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Can’t we go on _now_?”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
whispernounUS /ˈwɪspər/

speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords

From this reading THE MAYOR’S OUTING “That’s the Mayor, that is,” said the Giant in a terrified whisper, and he practically stood on his head in his efforts to wriggle part of his face under the seat.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading I remember in 1615, or thereabouts--but that will keep till another time.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wriggleverbUS /ˈrɪɡəl/

to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)

From this reading THE MAYOR’S OUTING “That’s the Mayor, that is,” said the Giant in a terrified whisper, and he practically stood on his head in his efforts to wriggle part of his face under the seat.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Do you think he can see me?

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 8 of Peggy's Giant by Mary D. Maitland Kelly holds 105 sentences, grouped into 21 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 8 of Peggy's Giant contain?

Chapter 8 holds 105 sentences of Peggy's Giant, unabridged, divided into 21 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 8 of Peggy's Giant by Mary D. Maitland Kelly exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 105 sentences, grouped into 21 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 8 of Peggy's Giant?

Work through the 21 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 21 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 8 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 8 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 Peggy's Giant

Common questions about reading Peggy's Giant by Mary D. Maitland Kelly on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Peggy's Giant?

Yes. All 1162 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #60475 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Peggy's Giant is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #60475, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Peggy's Giant take to read?

About 96 minutes of reading across 233 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Peggy's Giant section by section

How to work through Peggy's Giant section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 12 chapters of Peggy's Giant 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 Peggy's Giant

Words and structures a reader meets early in Peggy's Giant, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Illustration
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Peggy's Giant; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Peggy
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Peggy's Giant; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Drawing
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Peggy's Giant; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Happened
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Peggy's Giant; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.