Chapter 31 of Sacrifice is here in full — 73 sentences across 15 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XXXI
Chapter 31 of Sacrifice is here in full — 73 sentences across 15 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
It was twilight. David Verne sat in the study, his chin on his breast. Hamoud, appearing in the doorway, gazed round the room. He had a folded newspaper in his hand. He looked carefully at the fireplace, where logs were piled ready for lighting over a heap of brushwood and crumpled wrapping paper.
Chapter 31 of Sacrifice is here in full — 73 sentences across 15 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/14 · 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.
formal attendance (in court or at a hearing) of a party in an action
From this reading “Hamoud, appearing in the doorway, gazed round the room.”
of metal e.g.
From this reading “He looked carefully at the fireplace, where logs were piled ready for lighting over a heap of brushwood and crumpled wrapping paper.”
an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built
From this reading “He looked carefully at the fireplace, where logs were piled ready for lighting over a heap of brushwood and crumpled wrapping paper.”
having abundant light or illumination
From this reading “He looked carefully at the fireplace, where logs were piled ready for lighting over a heap of brushwood and crumpled wrapping paper.”
plural of “log” — a segment of the trunk of a tree when stripped of branches
From this reading “He looked carefully at the fireplace, where logs were piled ready for lighting over a heap of brushwood and crumpled wrapping paper.”
past form of “pile” — arrange in stacks
From this reading “He looked carefully at the fireplace, where logs were piled ready for lighting over a heap of brushwood and crumpled wrapping paper.”
French writer who is considered the father of science fiction (1828-1905)
From this reading “David Verne sat in the study, his chin on his breast.”
the covering (usually paper or cellophane) in which something is wrapped
From this reading “He looked carefully at the fireplace, where logs were piled ready for lighting over a heap of brushwood and crumpled wrapping paper.”
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 He had a folded newspaper in his hand.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He looked carefully at the fireplace, where logs were piled ready for lighting over a heap of brushwood and crumpled wrapping paper.
formal attendance (in court or at a hearing) of a party in an action
From this reading Hamoud, appearing in the doorway, gazed round the room.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He looked carefully at the fireplace, where logs were piled ready for lighting over a heap of brushwood and crumpled wrapping paper.
the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen
From this reading David Verne sat in the study, his chin on his breast.
the wood from bushes or small branches
From this reading He looked carefully at the fireplace, where logs were piled ready for lighting over a heap of brushwood and crumpled wrapping paper.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading He looked carefully at the fireplace, where logs were piled ready for lighting over a heap of brushwood and crumpled wrapping paper.
the protruding part of the lower jaw
From this reading David Verne sat in the study, his chin on his breast.
of metal e.g.
From this reading He looked carefully at the fireplace, where logs were piled ready for lighting over a heap of brushwood and crumpled wrapping paper.
patron saint of Wales (circa 520-600)
From this reading David Verne sat in the study, his chin on his breast.
the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close
From this reading Hamoud, appearing in the doorway, gazed round the room.
an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built
From this reading He looked carefully at the fireplace, where logs were piled ready for lighting over a heap of brushwood and crumpled wrapping paper.
past form of “fold” — bend or lay so that one part covers the other
From this reading He had a folded newspaper in his hand.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He looked carefully at the fireplace, where logs were piled ready for lighting over a heap of brushwood and crumpled wrapping paper.
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Hamoud, appearing in the doorway, gazed round the room.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had a folded newspaper in his hand.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hamoud, appearing in the doorway, gazed round the room.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading He had a folded newspaper in his hand.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had a folded newspaper in his hand.
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading He looked carefully at the fireplace, where logs were piled ready for lighting over a heap of brushwood and crumpled wrapping paper.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading David Verne sat in the study, his chin on his breast.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading David Verne sat in the study, his chin on his breast.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was twilight.
having abundant light or illumination
From this reading He looked carefully at the fireplace, where logs were piled ready for lighting over a heap of brushwood and crumpled wrapping paper.
plural of “log” — a segment of the trunk of a tree when stripped of branches
From this reading He looked carefully at the fireplace, where logs were piled ready for lighting over a heap of brushwood and crumpled wrapping paper.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He looked carefully at the fireplace, where logs were piled ready for lighting over a heap of brushwood and crumpled wrapping paper.
a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements
From this reading He had a folded newspaper in his hand.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He looked carefully at the fireplace, where logs were piled ready for lighting over a heap of brushwood and crumpled wrapping paper.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading David Verne sat in the study, his chin on his breast.
above and across; more than
From this reading He looked carefully at the fireplace, where logs were piled ready for lighting over a heap of brushwood and crumpled wrapping paper.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading He looked carefully at the fireplace, where logs were piled ready for lighting over a heap of brushwood and crumpled wrapping paper.
past form of “pile” — arrange in stacks
From this reading He looked carefully at the fireplace, where logs were piled ready for lighting over a heap of brushwood and crumpled wrapping paper.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading He looked carefully at the fireplace, where logs were piled ready for lighting over a heap of brushwood and crumpled wrapping paper.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Hamoud, appearing in the doorway, gazed round the room.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Hamoud, appearing in the doorway, gazed round the room.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading David Verne sat in the study, his chin on his breast.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading David Verne sat in the study, his chin on his breast.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading David Verne sat in the study, his chin on his breast.
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading It was twilight.
French writer who is considered the father of science fiction (1828-1905)
From this reading David Verne sat in the study, his chin on his breast.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was twilight.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He looked carefully at the fireplace, where logs were piled ready for lighting over a heap of brushwood and crumpled wrapping paper.
in or at the place that
From this reading He looked carefully at the fireplace, where logs were piled ready for lighting over a heap of brushwood and crumpled wrapping paper.
the covering (usually paper or cellophane) in which something is wrapped
From this reading He looked carefully at the fireplace, where logs were piled ready for lighting over a heap of brushwood and crumpled wrapping paper.
Chapter 31 of Sacrifice by Stephen French Whitman holds 73 sentences, grouped into 15 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 31 holds 73 sentences of Sacrifice, unabridged, divided into 15 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 31 of Sacrifice by Stephen French Whitman exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 73 sentences, grouped into 15 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 15 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 15 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 31 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 Sacrifice by Stephen French Whitman on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 3767 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #22928 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #22928, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 313 minutes of reading across 754 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Sacrifice section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 40 chapters of Sacrifice 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 Sacrifice, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
