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Red Fleece
Red Fleece

Chapter IX · Chapter 9

Chapter 9 of Red Fleece is here in full — 126 sentences across 26 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Red Fleece
Context Illustration Reading 1/25 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The four were much together for a few days after that, Samarc and Spenski not yet assigned to their battery.
They learned each other in those few days as men often fail to learn the hearts of their immediate associates during years.
There was fighting--scattered, open, surprising often to one out of touch with the points and the scouting.
Different towns every day, and a continual giving of territory on the part of the Austrians.
This is not the main fighting at all,” said Boylan.
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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.

Red Fleece

Chapter IX · Chapter 9

Chapter 9 of Red Fleece is here in full — 126 sentences across 26 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/25 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The four were much together for a few days after that, Samarc and Spenski not yet assigned to their battery.
Line 2
They learned each other in those few days as men often fail to learn the hearts of their immediate associates during years.
/ðeɪ lɜːrnd iːtʃ ˈʌðər ɪn ðoʊz fjuː deɪz æz men ˈɔːfən feɪl tuː lɜːrn ðə hɑːrts ʌv ðer ˌɪˈmiːdiːət əˈsoʊsiəts ˈdʊrɪŋ jɪrz/
Line 3
There was fighting--scattered, open, surprising often to one out of touch with the points and the scouting.
Line 4
Different towns every day, and a continual giving of territory on the part of the Austrians.
/ˈdɪfərənt taʊnz ˈevəri deɪ ənd ə kənˈtɪnjuːəl ˈɡɪvɪŋ ʌv ˈterɪtɔːri ɑːn ðə pɑːrt ʌv ðə ˈɔːstriənz/
Line 5
This is not the main fighting at all,” said Boylan.

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.

assigned adjective US /əˈsaɪnd/

appointed to a post or duty

From this reading “The four were much together for a few days after that, Samarc and Spenski not yet assigned to their battery.”

associates noun US /əˈsoʊsiəts/

plural of “associate” — a person who joins with others in some activity or endeavor

From this reading “They learned each other in those few days as men often fail to learn the hearts of their immediate associates during years.”

Austrians noun US /ˈɔːstriənz/

plural of “austrian” — a native or inhabitant of Austria

From this reading “Different towns every day, and a continual giving of territory on the part of the Austrians.”

battery noun US /ˈbætəri/

group of guns or missile launchers operated together at one place

From this reading “The four were much together for a few days after that, Samarc and Spenski not yet assigned to their battery.”

continual adjective US /kənˈtɪnjuːəl/

recurring regularly or frequently in a prolonged and closely spaced series

From this reading “Different towns every day, and a continual giving of territory on the part of the Austrians.”

scouting noun US /ˈskaʊtɪŋ/

exploring in order to gain information

From this reading “There was fighting--scattered, open, surprising often to one out of touch with the points and the scouting.”

surprising adjective US /sərˈpraɪzɪŋ/

causing surprise or wonder or amazement

From this reading “There was fighting--scattered, open, surprising often to one out of touch with the points and the scouting.”

territory noun US /ˈterɪtɔːri/

a region marked off for administrative or other purposes

From this reading “Different towns every day, and a continual giving of territory on the part of the Austrians.”

All words in this reading · 66

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 The four were much together for a few days after that, Samarc and Spenski not yet assigned to their battery.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading The four were much together for a few days after that, Samarc and Spenski not yet assigned to their battery.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading “This is not the main fighting at all,” said Boylan.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The four were much together for a few days after that, Samarc and Spenski not yet assigned to their battery.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading They learned each other in those few days as men often fail to learn the hearts of their immediate associates during years.

assignedadjectiveUS /əˈsaɪnd/

appointed to a post or duty

From this reading The four were much together for a few days after that, Samarc and Spenski not yet assigned to their battery.

associatesnounUS /əˈsoʊsiəts/

plural of “associate” — a person who joins with others in some activity or endeavor

From this reading They learned each other in those few days as men often fail to learn the hearts of their immediate associates during years.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading “This is not the main fighting at all,” said Boylan.

AustriansnounUS /ˈɔːstriənz/

plural of “austrian” — a native or inhabitant of Austria

From this reading Different towns every day, and a continual giving of territory on the part of the Austrians.

batterynounUS /ˈbætəri/

group of guns or missile launchers operated together at one place

From this reading The four were much together for a few days after that, Samarc and Spenski not yet assigned to their battery.

Boylan

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

From this reading “This is not the main fighting at all,” said Boylan.

continualadjectiveUS /kənˈtɪnjuːəl/

recurring regularly or frequently in a prolonged and closely spaced series

From this reading Different towns every day, and a continual giving of territory on the part of the Austrians.

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading Different towns every day, and a continual giving of territory on the part of the Austrians.

daysnounUS /deɪz/

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading The four were much together for a few days after that, Samarc and Spenski not yet assigned to their battery.

DifferentadjectiveUS /ˈdɪfərənt/

unlike in nature or quality or form or degree

From this reading Different towns every day, and a continual giving of territory on the part of the Austrians.

duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading They learned each other in those few days as men often fail to learn the hearts of their immediate associates during years.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading They learned each other in those few days as men often fail to learn the hearts of their immediate associates during years.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Different towns every day, and a continual giving of territory on the part of the Austrians.

failverbUS /feɪl/

fail to do something; leave something undone

From this reading They learned each other in those few days as men often fail to learn the hearts of their immediate associates during years.

fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading The four were much together for a few days after that, Samarc and Spenski not yet assigned to their battery.

fightingnounUS /ˈfaɪtɪŋ/

the act of fighting; any contest or struggle

From this reading There was fighting--scattered, open, surprising often to one out of touch with the points and the scouting.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The four were much together for a few days after that, Samarc and Spenski not yet assigned to their battery.

fournounUS /fɔːr/

the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

From this reading The four were much together for a few days after that, Samarc and Spenski not yet assigned to their battery.

givingnounUS /ˈɡɪvɪŋ/

the act of giving

From this reading Different towns every day, and a continual giving of territory on the part of the Austrians.

heartsnounUS /hɑːrts/

a form of whist in which players avoid winning tricks containing hearts or the queen of spades

From this reading They learned each other in those few days as men often fail to learn the hearts of their immediate associates during years.

immediateadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈmiːdiːət/

of the present time and place

From this reading They learned each other in those few days as men often fail to learn the hearts of their immediate associates during years.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading They learned each other in those few days as men often fail to learn the hearts of their immediate associates during years.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading “This is not the main fighting at all,” said Boylan.

learnverbUS /lɜːrn/

gain knowledge or skills

From this reading They learned each other in those few days as men often fail to learn the hearts of their immediate associates during years.

learnedadjectiveUS /lɜːrnd/

having or showing profound knowledge

From this reading They learned each other in those few days as men often fail to learn the hearts of their immediate associates during years.

mainadjectiveUS /meɪn/

most important element

From this reading “This is not the main fighting at all,” said Boylan.

mennounUS /men/

the force of workers available

From this reading They learned each other in those few days as men often fail to learn the hearts of their immediate associates during years.

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading The four were much together for a few days after that, Samarc and Spenski not yet assigned to their battery.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The four were much together for a few days after that, Samarc and Spenski not yet assigned to their battery.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading They learned each other in those few days as men often fail to learn the hearts of their immediate associates during years.

oftenadverbUS /ˈɔːfən/

many times at short intervals

From this reading They learned each other in those few days as men often fail to learn the hearts of their immediate associates during years.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Different towns every day, and a continual giving of territory on the part of the Austrians.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading There was fighting--scattered, open, surprising often to one out of touch with the points and the scouting.

openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading There was fighting--scattered, open, surprising often to one out of touch with the points and the scouting.

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading They learned each other in those few days as men often fail to learn the hearts of their immediate associates during years.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading There was fighting--scattered, open, surprising often to one out of touch with the points and the scouting.

partnounUS /pɑːrt/

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading Different towns every day, and a continual giving of territory on the part of the Austrians.

pointsnounUS /pɔɪnts/

plural of “point” — a geometric element that has position but no extension

From this reading There was fighting--scattered, open, surprising often to one out of touch with the points and the scouting.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “This is not the main fighting at all,” said Boylan.

Samarc

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

From this reading The four were much together for a few days after that, Samarc and Spenski not yet assigned to their battery.

scatteredadjectiveUS /ˈskætərd/

occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space

From this reading There was fighting--scattered, open, surprising often to one out of touch with the points and the scouting.

scoutingnounUS /ˈskaʊtɪŋ/

exploring in order to gain information

From this reading There was fighting--scattered, open, surprising often to one out of touch with the points and the scouting.

Spenski

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

From this reading The four were much together for a few days after that, Samarc and Spenski not yet assigned to their battery.

surprisingadjectiveUS /sərˈpraɪzɪŋ/

causing surprise or wonder or amazement

From this reading There was fighting--scattered, open, surprising often to one out of touch with the points and the scouting.

territorynounUS /ˈterɪtɔːri/

a region marked off for administrative or other purposes

From this reading Different towns every day, and a continual giving of territory on the part of the Austrians.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The four were much together for a few days after that, Samarc and Spenski not yet assigned to their battery.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The four were much together for a few days after that, Samarc and Spenski not yet assigned to their battery.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The four were much together for a few days after that, Samarc and Spenski not yet assigned to their battery.

ThereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading There was fighting--scattered, open, surprising often to one out of touch with the points and the scouting.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They learned each other in those few days as men often fail to learn the hearts of their immediate associates during years.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading “This is not the main fighting at all,” said Boylan.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading They learned each other in those few days as men often fail to learn the hearts of their immediate associates during years.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The four were much together for a few days after that, Samarc and Spenski not yet assigned to their battery.

togetheradverbUS /təˈɡeðər/

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading The four were much together for a few days after that, Samarc and Spenski not yet assigned to their battery.

touchverbUS /tʌtʃ/

make physical contact with, come in contact with

From this reading There was fighting--scattered, open, surprising often to one out of touch with the points and the scouting.

townsnounUS /taʊnz/

plural of “town” — an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading Different towns every day, and a continual giving of territory on the part of the Austrians.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading There was fighting--scattered, open, surprising often to one out of touch with the points and the scouting.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The four were much together for a few days after that, Samarc and Spenski not yet assigned to their battery.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading There was fighting--scattered, open, surprising often to one out of touch with the points and the scouting.

yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading They learned each other in those few days as men often fail to learn the hearts of their immediate associates during years.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading The four were much together for a few days after that, Samarc and Spenski not yet assigned to their battery.

Chapter 9 of Red Fleece by Will Levington Comfort holds 126 sentences, grouped into 26 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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 9 of Red Fleece contain?

Chapter 9 holds 126 sentences of Red Fleece, unabridged, divided into 26 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 9 of Red Fleece by Will Levington Comfort exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 126 sentences, grouped into 26 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 9 of Red Fleece?

Work through the 26 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 26 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 9 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 9 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 Red Fleece

Common questions about reading Red Fleece by Will Levington Comfort on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Red Fleece?

Yes. All 3946 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #6351 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Red Fleece is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #6351, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Red Fleece take to read?

About 328 minutes of reading across 790 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Red Fleece section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 40 chapters of Red Fleece 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 Red Fleece

Words and structures a reader meets early in Red Fleece, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

First
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Red Fleece; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Boylan
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Red Fleece; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Rhodes
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Red Fleece; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Agency
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Red Fleece; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.