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Red Nails
Red Nails

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of Red Nails is here in full — 425 sentences across 85 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Red Nails
Context Illustration Reading 1/85 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"He says his name's Techotl.
From his babblings I gather that his people live at one end of this crazy city, and these others at the other end.
Maybe we'd better go with him.
He seems friendly, and it's easy to see that the other clan isn't."
* * * * * Techotl had ceased his dancing and was listening again, his head tilted sidewise, dog-like, triumph struggling with fear in his repellent countenance.
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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 Nails

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of Red Nails is here in full — 425 sentences across 85 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/85 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"He says his name's Techotl.
Line 2
From his babblings I gather that his people live at one end of this crazy city, and these others at the other end.
Line 3
Maybe we'd better go with him.
Line 4
He seems friendly, and it's easy to see that the other clan isn't."
Line 5
* * * * * Techotl had ceased his dancing and was listening again, his head tilted sidewise, dog-like, triumph struggling with fear in his repellent countenance.

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.

clan noun US /klæn/

group of people related by blood or marriage

From this reading “He seems friendly, and it's easy to see that the other clan isn't."”

crazy adjective US /ˈkreɪzi/

affected with madness or insanity

From this reading “From his babblings I gather that his people live at one end of this crazy city, and these others at the other end.”

gather verb US /ˈɡæðər/

assemble or get together

From this reading “From his babblings I gather that his people live at one end of this crazy city, and these others at the other end.”

name's noun US /neɪmz/

possessive form of “name” — a language unit by which a person or thing is known

From this reading “"He says his name's Techotl.”

repellent noun US /rɪˈpelənt/

a compound with which fabrics are treated to repel water

From this reading “* * * * * Techotl had ceased his dancing and was listening again, his head tilted sidewise, dog-like, triumph struggling with fear in his repellent countenance.”

sidewise adverb US /ˈsaɪdwaɪz/

toward one side

From this reading “* * * * * Techotl had ceased his dancing and was listening again, his head tilted sidewise, dog-like, triumph struggling with fear in his repellent countenance.”

struggling adjective US /ˈstrʌɡəlɪŋ/

engaged in a struggle to overcome especially poverty or obscurity

From this reading “* * * * * Techotl had ceased his dancing and was listening again, his head tilted sidewise, dog-like, triumph struggling with fear in his repellent countenance.”

tilted adjective US /ˈtɪltɪd/

departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal

From this reading “* * * * * Techotl had ceased his dancing and was listening again, his head tilted sidewise, dog-like, triumph struggling with fear in his repellent countenance.”

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.

other end adjective + noun

In this reading “From his babblings I gather that his people live at one end of this crazy city, and these others at the other end.”

live at verb + particle

In this reading “From his babblings I gather that his people live at one end of this crazy city, and these others at the other end.”

go with verb + particle

be present or associated with an event or entity

In this reading “Maybe we'd better go with him.”

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.

againadverbUS /əˈɡen/

anew

From this reading * * * * * Techotl had ceased his dancing and was listening again, his head tilted sidewise, dog-like, triumph struggling with fear in his repellent countenance.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading From his babblings I gather that his people live at one end of this crazy city, and these others at the other end.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading From his babblings I gather that his people live at one end of this crazy city, and these others at the other end.

babblings

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

From this reading From his babblings I gather that his people live at one end of this crazy city, and these others at the other end.

betteradjectiveUS /ˈbetər/

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading Maybe we'd better go with him.

ceasedverbUS /siːst/

past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity

From this reading * * * * * Techotl had ceased his dancing and was listening again, his head tilted sidewise, dog-like, triumph struggling with fear in his repellent countenance.

citynounUS /ˈsɪti/

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading From his babblings I gather that his people live at one end of this crazy city, and these others at the other end.

clannounUS /klæn/

group of people related by blood or marriage

From this reading He seems friendly, and it's easy to see that the other clan isn't."

countenancenounUS /ˈkaʊntənəns/

the appearance conveyed by a person's face

From this reading * * * * * Techotl had ceased his dancing and was listening again, his head tilted sidewise, dog-like, triumph struggling with fear in his repellent countenance.

crazyadjectiveUS /ˈkreɪzi/

affected with madness or insanity

From this reading From his babblings I gather that his people live at one end of this crazy city, and these others at the other end.

dancingnounUS /ˈdænsɪŋ/

taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music

From this reading * * * * * Techotl had ceased his dancing and was listening again, his head tilted sidewise, dog-like, triumph struggling with fear in his repellent countenance.

dog-like

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

From this reading * * * * * Techotl had ceased his dancing and was listening again, his head tilted sidewise, dog-like, triumph struggling with fear in his repellent countenance.

easyadjectiveUS /ˈiːzi/

posing no difficulty; requiring little effort

From this reading He seems friendly, and it's easy to see that the other clan isn't."

endnounUS /end/

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading From his babblings I gather that his people live at one end of this crazy city, and these others at the other end.

fearverbUS /fɪr/

be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event

From this reading * * * * * Techotl had ceased his dancing and was listening again, his head tilted sidewise, dog-like, triumph struggling with fear in his repellent countenance.

friendlyadjectiveUS /ˈfrendli/

characteristic of or befitting a friend

From this reading He seems friendly, and it's easy to see that the other clan isn't."

FromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading From his babblings I gather that his people live at one end of this crazy city, and these others at the other end.

gatherverbUS /ˈɡæðər/

assemble or get together

From this reading From his babblings I gather that his people live at one end of this crazy city, and these others at the other end.

goverbUS /ɡoʊ/

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

From this reading Maybe we'd better go with him.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading * * * * * Techotl had ceased his dancing and was listening again, his head tilted sidewise, dog-like, triumph struggling with fear in his repellent countenance.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading "He says his name's Techotl.

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 * * * * * Techotl had ceased his dancing and was listening again, his head tilted sidewise, dog-like, triumph struggling with fear in his repellent countenance.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Maybe we'd better go with him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading "He says his name's Techotl.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading From his babblings I gather that his people live at one end of this crazy city, and these others at the other end.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading * * * * * Techotl had ceased his dancing and was listening again, his head tilted sidewise, dog-like, triumph struggling with fear in his repellent countenance.

isn't

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

From this reading He seems friendly, and it's easy to see that the other clan isn't."

it's

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

From this reading He seems friendly, and it's easy to see that the other clan isn't."

listeningnounUS /ˈlɪsənɪŋ/

the act of hearing attentively

From this reading * * * * * Techotl had ceased his dancing and was listening again, his head tilted sidewise, dog-like, triumph struggling with fear in his repellent countenance.

liveverbUS /laɪv/

be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading From his babblings I gather that his people live at one end of this crazy city, and these others at the other end.

MaybeadverbUS /ˈmeɪbi/

by chance

From this reading Maybe we'd better go with him.

name'snounUS /neɪmz/

possessive form of “name” — a language unit by which a person or thing is known

From this reading "He says his name's Techotl.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading From his babblings I gather that his people live at one end of this crazy city, and these others at the other end.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading From his babblings I gather that his people live at one end of this crazy city, and these others at the other end.

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading From his babblings I gather that his people live at one end of this crazy city, and these others at the other end.

others

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

From this reading From his babblings I gather that his people live at one end of this crazy city, and these others at the other end.

peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading From his babblings I gather that his people live at one end of this crazy city, and these others at the other end.

repellentnounUS /rɪˈpelənt/

a compound with which fabrics are treated to repel water

From this reading * * * * * Techotl had ceased his dancing and was listening again, his head tilted sidewise, dog-like, triumph struggling with fear in his repellent countenance.

saysnounUS /sez/

plural of “say” — the chance to speak

From this reading "He says his name's Techotl.

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading He seems friendly, and it's easy to see that the other clan isn't."

seemsverbUS /siːmz/

third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading He seems friendly, and it's easy to see that the other clan isn't."

sidewiseadverbUS /ˈsaɪdwaɪz/

toward one side

From this reading * * * * * Techotl had ceased his dancing and was listening again, his head tilted sidewise, dog-like, triumph struggling with fear in his repellent countenance.

strugglingadjectiveUS /ˈstrʌɡəlɪŋ/

engaged in a struggle to overcome especially poverty or obscurity

From this reading * * * * * Techotl had ceased his dancing and was listening again, his head tilted sidewise, dog-like, triumph struggling with fear in his repellent countenance.

Techotl

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

From this reading "He says his name's Techotl.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading From his babblings I gather that his people live at one end of this crazy city, and these others at the other end.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading From his babblings I gather that his people live at one end of this crazy city, and these others at the other end.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading From his babblings I gather that his people live at one end of this crazy city, and these others at the other end.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading From his babblings I gather that his people live at one end of this crazy city, and these others at the other end.

tiltedadjectiveUS /ˈtɪltɪd/

departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal

From this reading * * * * * Techotl had ceased his dancing and was listening again, his head tilted sidewise, dog-like, triumph struggling with fear in his repellent countenance.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He seems friendly, and it's easy to see that the other clan isn't."

triumphnounUS /ˈtraɪəmf/

a successful ending of a struggle or contest

From this reading * * * * * Techotl had ceased his dancing and was listening again, his head tilted sidewise, dog-like, triumph struggling with fear in his repellent countenance.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading * * * * * Techotl had ceased his dancing and was listening again, his head tilted sidewise, dog-like, triumph struggling with fear in his repellent countenance.

we'd

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

From this reading Maybe we'd better go with him.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Maybe we'd better go with him.

Chapter 3 of Red Nails by Robert E. (Robert Ervin) Howard holds 425 sentences, grouped into 85 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 3 of Red Nails contain?

Chapter 3 holds 425 sentences of Red Nails, unabridged, divided into 85 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 3 of Red Nails by Robert E. (Robert Ervin) Howard exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 425 sentences, grouped into 85 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 3 of Red Nails?

Work through the 85 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 85 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 3 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 3 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 Nails

Common questions about reading Red Nails by Robert E. (Robert Ervin) Howard on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Red Nails?

Yes. All 2116 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #32759 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Red Nails is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #32759, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Red Nails take to read?

About 176 minutes of reading across 424 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Red Nails section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 5 chapters of Red Nails 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 Nails

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

Strangest
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Red Nails; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Stories
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Red Nails; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Written--the
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Red Nails; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Barbarian
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Red Nails; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.