Chapter 1 of Quicksands is here in full — 672 sentences across 135 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
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Chapter I
Chapter 1 of Quicksands is here in full — 672 sentences across 135 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
I went instantly to my Principal, who, however, declared that he could not possibly spare me before the 3d of July. This I wrote to the Herr Director, and in a few days heard from him in reply that Frau von Osternau was willing to wait, and that she would expect me on the 6th of July." "The 6th of July? Why, that is the day after tomorrow." "Precisely.
Chapter 1 of Quicksands is here in full — 672 sentences across 135 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 75/134 · 5 reading units · Lines 371–375
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.
someone who controls resources and expenditures
From this reading “This I wrote to the Herr Director, and in a few days heard from him in reply that Frau von Osternau was willing to wait, and that she would expect me on the 6th of July."”
a German courtesy title or form of address for an adult woman
From this reading “This I wrote to the Herr Director, and in a few days heard from him in reply that Frau von Osternau was willing to wait, and that she would expect me on the 6th of July."”
a German man; used before the name as a title equivalent to Mr in English
From this reading “This I wrote to the Herr Director, and in a few days heard from him in reply that Frau von Osternau was willing to wait, and that she would expect me on the 6th of July."”
the month following June and preceding August
From this reading “I went instantly to my Principal, who, however, declared that he could not possibly spare me before the 3d of July.”
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading “"Precisely.”
the original amount of a debt on which interest is calculated
From this reading “I went instantly to my Principal, who, however, declared that he could not possibly spare me before the 3d of July.”
refrain from harming
From this reading “I went instantly to my Principal, who, however, declared that he could not possibly spare me before the 3d of July.”
the day after today
From this reading “Why, that is the day after tomorrow."”
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.
In this reading “This I wrote to the Herr Director, and in a few days heard from him in reply that Frau von Osternau was willing to wait, and that she would expect me on the 6th of July."”
In this reading “Why, that is the day after tomorrow."”
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I went instantly to my Principal, who, however, declared that he could not possibly spare me before the 3d of July.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This I wrote to the Herr Director, and in a few days heard from him in reply that Frau von Osternau was willing to wait, and that she would expect me on the 6th of July."
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading This I wrote to the Herr Director, and in a few days heard from him in reply that Frau von Osternau was willing to wait, and that she would expect me on the 6th of July."
later than; following
From this reading Why, that is the day after tomorrow."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading This I wrote to the Herr Director, and in a few days heard from him in reply that Frau von Osternau was willing to wait, and that she would expect me on the 6th of July."
earlier than; in front of
From this reading I went instantly to my Principal, who, however, declared that he could not possibly spare me before the 3d of July.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I went instantly to my Principal, who, however, declared that he could not possibly spare me before the 3d of July.
a fat-soluble vitamin that prevents rickets
From this reading I went instantly to my Principal, who, however, declared that he could not possibly spare me before the 3d of July.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Why, that is the day after tomorrow."
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading This I wrote to the Herr Director, and in a few days heard from him in reply that Frau von Osternau was willing to wait, and that she would expect me on the 6th of July."
made known or openly avowed
From this reading I went instantly to my Principal, who, however, declared that he could not possibly spare me before the 3d of July.
someone who controls resources and expenditures
From this reading This I wrote to the Herr Director, and in a few days heard from him in reply that Frau von Osternau was willing to wait, and that she would expect me on the 6th of July."
regard something as probable or likely
From this reading This I wrote to the Herr Director, and in a few days heard from him in reply that Frau von Osternau was willing to wait, and that she would expect me on the 6th of July."
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading This I wrote to the Herr Director, and in a few days heard from him in reply that Frau von Osternau was willing to wait, and that she would expect me on the 6th of July."
a German courtesy title or form of address for an adult woman
From this reading This I wrote to the Herr Director, and in a few days heard from him in reply that Frau von Osternau was willing to wait, and that she would expect me on the 6th of July."
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading This I wrote to the Herr Director, and in a few days heard from him in reply that Frau von Osternau was willing to wait, and that she would expect me on the 6th of July."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I went instantly to my Principal, who, however, declared that he could not possibly spare me before the 3d of July.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading This I wrote to the Herr Director, and in a few days heard from him in reply that Frau von Osternau was willing to wait, and that she would expect me on the 6th of July."
a German man; used before the name as a title equivalent to Mr in English
From this reading This I wrote to the Herr Director, and in a few days heard from him in reply that Frau von Osternau was willing to wait, and that she would expect me on the 6th of July."
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading This I wrote to the Herr Director, and in a few days heard from him in reply that Frau von Osternau was willing to wait, and that she would expect me on the 6th of July."
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading I went instantly to my Principal, who, however, declared that he could not possibly spare me before the 3d of July.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I went instantly to my Principal, who, however, declared that he could not possibly spare me before the 3d of July.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading This I wrote to the Herr Director, and in a few days heard from him in reply that Frau von Osternau was willing to wait, and that she would expect me on the 6th of July."
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading I went instantly to my Principal, who, however, declared that he could not possibly spare me before the 3d of July.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Why, that is the day after tomorrow."
the month following June and preceding August
From this reading I went instantly to my Principal, who, however, declared that he could not possibly spare me before the 3d of July.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I went instantly to my Principal, who, however, declared that he could not possibly spare me before the 3d of July.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I went instantly to my Principal, who, however, declared that he could not possibly spare me before the 3d of July.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I went instantly to my Principal, who, however, declared that he could not possibly spare me before the 3d of July.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I went instantly to my Principal, who, however, declared that he could not possibly spare me before the 3d of July.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading This I wrote to the Herr Director, and in a few days heard from him in reply that Frau von Osternau was willing to wait, and that she would expect me on the 6th of July."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This I wrote to the Herr Director, and in a few days heard from him in reply that Frau von Osternau was willing to wait, and that she would expect me on the 6th of July."
by chance
From this reading I went instantly to my Principal, who, however, declared that he could not possibly spare me before the 3d of July.
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading "Precisely.
the original amount of a debt on which interest is calculated
From this reading I went instantly to my Principal, who, however, declared that he could not possibly spare me before the 3d of July.
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading This I wrote to the Herr Director, and in a few days heard from him in reply that Frau von Osternau was willing to wait, and that she would expect me on the 6th of July."
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading This I wrote to the Herr Director, and in a few days heard from him in reply that Frau von Osternau was willing to wait, and that she would expect me on the 6th of July."
refrain from harming
From this reading I went instantly to my Principal, who, however, declared that he could not possibly spare me before the 3d of July.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I went instantly to my Principal, who, however, declared that he could not possibly spare me before the 3d of July.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I went instantly to my Principal, who, however, declared that he could not possibly spare me before the 3d of July.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This I wrote to the Herr Director, and in a few days heard from him in reply that Frau von Osternau was willing to wait, and that she would expect me on the 6th of July."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I went instantly to my Principal, who, however, declared that he could not possibly spare me before the 3d of July.
the day after today
From this reading Why, that is the day after tomorrow."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This I wrote to the Herr Director, and in a few days heard from him in reply that Frau von Osternau was willing to wait, and that she would expect me on the 6th of July."
stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading This I wrote to the Herr Director, and in a few days heard from him in reply that Frau von Osternau was willing to wait, and that she would expect me on the 6th of July."
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This I wrote to the Herr Director, and in a few days heard from him in reply that Frau von Osternau was willing to wait, and that she would expect me on the 6th of July."
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading I went instantly to my Principal, who, however, declared that he could not possibly spare me before the 3d of July.
which person or people
From this reading I went instantly to my Principal, who, however, declared that he could not possibly spare me before the 3d of July.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Why, that is the day after tomorrow."
disposed or inclined toward
From this reading This I wrote to the Herr Director, and in a few days heard from him in reply that Frau von Osternau was willing to wait, and that she would expect me on the 6th of July."
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading This I wrote to the Herr Director, and in a few days heard from him in reply that Frau von Osternau was willing to wait, and that she would expect me on the 6th of July."
inflected form of “write” — produce a literary work
From this reading This I wrote to the Herr Director, and in a few days heard from him in reply that Frau von Osternau was willing to wait, and that she would expect me on the 6th of July."
Chapter 1 of Quicksands by Adolf Streckfuss holds 672 sentences, grouped into 135 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 1 holds 672 sentences of Quicksands, unabridged, divided into 135 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of Quicksands by Adolf Streckfuss exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 672 sentences, grouped into 135 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 135 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 135 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 1 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 Quicksands by Adolf Streckfuss on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 5039 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #34953 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #34953, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 419 minutes of reading across 1008 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Quicksands section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 29 chapters of Quicksands 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 Quicksands, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
