Chapter 4 of Show Boat is here in full — 399 sentences across 80 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter IV
Chapter 4 of Show Boat is here in full — 399 sentences across 80 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Parthenia Ann Hawks looked at the stove. And what a stove it was! Broad-bosomed, ample, vast, like a huge fertile black mammal whose breast would suckle numberless eager sprawling bubbling pots and pans. It shone richly. Gazing upon this generous expanse you felt that from its source could emerge nothing that was not savoury, nourishing, satisfying.
Chapter 4 of Show Boat is here in full — 399 sentences across 80 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/79 · 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.
emitting or filled with bubbles as from carbonation or fermentation
From this reading “Broad-bosomed, ample, vast, like a huge fertile black mammal whose breast would suckle numberless eager sprawling bubbling pots and pans.”
come out into view, as from concealment
From this reading “Gazing upon this generous expanse you felt that from its source could emerge nothing that was not savoury, nourishing, satisfying.”
plural of “hawk” — diurnal bird of prey typically having short rounded wings and a long tail
From this reading “Parthenia Ann Hawks looked at the stove.”
any warm-blooded vertebrate having the skin more or less covered with hair; young are born alive except for the small subclass of monotremes and nourished with milk
From this reading “Broad-bosomed, ample, vast, like a huge fertile black mammal whose breast would suckle numberless eager sprawling bubbling pots and pans.”
of or providing nourishment
From this reading “Gazing upon this generous expanse you felt that from its source could emerge nothing that was not savoury, nourishing, satisfying.”
plural of “pan” — cooking utensil consisting of a wide metal vessel
From this reading “Broad-bosomed, ample, vast, like a huge fertile black mammal whose breast would suckle numberless eager sprawling bubbling pots and pans.”
an ungainly posture with arms and legs spread about
From this reading “Broad-bosomed, ample, vast, like a huge fertile black mammal whose breast would suckle numberless eager sprawling bubbling pots and pans.”
suck milk from the mother's breasts
From this reading “Broad-bosomed, ample, vast, like a huge fertile black mammal whose breast would suckle numberless eager sprawling bubbling pots and pans.”
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.
take into consideration for exemplifying purposes
In this reading “Parthenia Ann Hawks looked at the stove.”
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 And what a stove it was!
more than enough in size or scope or capacity
From this reading Broad-bosomed, ample, vast, like a huge fertile black mammal whose breast would suckle numberless eager sprawling bubbling pots and pans.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And what a stove it was!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Parthenia Ann Hawks looked at the stove.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Parthenia Ann Hawks looked at the stove.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Broad-bosomed, ample, vast, like a huge fertile black mammal whose breast would suckle numberless eager sprawling bubbling pots and pans.
the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen
From this reading Broad-bosomed, ample, vast, like a huge fertile black mammal whose breast would suckle numberless eager sprawling bubbling pots and pans.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Broad-bosomed, ample, vast, like a huge fertile black mammal whose breast would suckle numberless eager sprawling bubbling pots and pans.
emitting or filled with bubbles as from carbonation or fermentation
From this reading Broad-bosomed, ample, vast, like a huge fertile black mammal whose breast would suckle numberless eager sprawling bubbling pots and pans.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Gazing upon this generous expanse you felt that from its source could emerge nothing that was not savoury, nourishing, satisfying.
having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy
From this reading Broad-bosomed, ample, vast, like a huge fertile black mammal whose breast would suckle numberless eager sprawling bubbling pots and pans.
come out into view, as from concealment
From this reading Gazing upon this generous expanse you felt that from its source could emerge nothing that was not savoury, nourishing, satisfying.
a wide scope
From this reading Gazing upon this generous expanse you felt that from its source could emerge nothing that was not savoury, nourishing, satisfying.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Gazing upon this generous expanse you felt that from its source could emerge nothing that was not savoury, nourishing, satisfying.
capable of reproducing
From this reading Broad-bosomed, ample, vast, like a huge fertile black mammal whose breast would suckle numberless eager sprawling bubbling pots and pans.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Gazing upon this generous expanse you felt that from its source could emerge nothing that was not savoury, nourishing, satisfying.
-ing form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Gazing upon this generous expanse you felt that from its source could emerge nothing that was not savoury, nourishing, satisfying.
willing to give and share unstintingly
From this reading Gazing upon this generous expanse you felt that from its source could emerge nothing that was not savoury, nourishing, satisfying.
plural of “hawk” — diurnal bird of prey typically having short rounded wings and a long tail
From this reading Parthenia Ann Hawks looked at the stove.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading Broad-bosomed, ample, vast, like a huge fertile black mammal whose breast would suckle numberless eager sprawling bubbling pots and pans.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And what a stove it was!
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Gazing upon this generous expanse you felt that from its source could emerge nothing that was not savoury, nourishing, satisfying.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Broad-bosomed, ample, vast, like a huge fertile black mammal whose breast would suckle numberless eager sprawling bubbling pots and pans.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Parthenia Ann Hawks looked at the stove.
any warm-blooded vertebrate having the skin more or less covered with hair; young are born alive except for the small subclass of monotremes and nourished with milk
From this reading Broad-bosomed, ample, vast, like a huge fertile black mammal whose breast would suckle numberless eager sprawling bubbling pots and pans.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Gazing upon this generous expanse you felt that from its source could emerge nothing that was not savoury, nourishing, satisfying.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Gazing upon this generous expanse you felt that from its source could emerge nothing that was not savoury, nourishing, satisfying.
of or providing nourishment
From this reading Gazing upon this generous expanse you felt that from its source could emerge nothing that was not savoury, nourishing, satisfying.
too numerous to be counted
From this reading Broad-bosomed, ample, vast, like a huge fertile black mammal whose breast would suckle numberless eager sprawling bubbling pots and pans.
plural of “pan” — cooking utensil consisting of a wide metal vessel
From this reading Broad-bosomed, ample, vast, like a huge fertile black mammal whose breast would suckle numberless eager sprawling bubbling pots and pans.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Parthenia Ann Hawks looked at the stove.
plural of “pot” — metal or earthenware cooking vessel that is usually round and deep; often has a handle and lid
From this reading Broad-bosomed, ample, vast, like a huge fertile black mammal whose breast would suckle numberless eager sprawling bubbling pots and pans.
to an ample degree or in an ample manner
From this reading It shone richly.
providing abundant nourishment
From this reading Gazing upon this generous expanse you felt that from its source could emerge nothing that was not savoury, nourishing, satisfying.
morally wholesome or acceptable
From this reading Gazing upon this generous expanse you felt that from its source could emerge nothing that was not savoury, nourishing, satisfying.
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading It shone richly.
the place where something begins, where it springs into being
From this reading Gazing upon this generous expanse you felt that from its source could emerge nothing that was not savoury, nourishing, satisfying.
an ungainly posture with arms and legs spread about
From this reading Broad-bosomed, ample, vast, like a huge fertile black mammal whose breast would suckle numberless eager sprawling bubbling pots and pans.
a kitchen appliance used for cooking food
From this reading Parthenia Ann Hawks looked at the stove.
suck milk from the mother's breasts
From this reading Broad-bosomed, ample, vast, like a huge fertile black mammal whose breast would suckle numberless eager sprawling bubbling pots and pans.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Gazing upon this generous expanse you felt that from its source could emerge nothing that was not savoury, nourishing, satisfying.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Parthenia Ann Hawks looked at the stove.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Gazing upon this generous expanse you felt that from its source could emerge nothing that was not savoury, nourishing, satisfying.
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Gazing upon this generous expanse you felt that from its source could emerge nothing that was not savoury, nourishing, satisfying.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading Broad-bosomed, ample, vast, like a huge fertile black mammal whose breast would suckle numberless eager sprawling bubbling pots and pans.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And what a stove it was!
used to ask for information about something
From this reading And what a stove it was!
belonging to which person
From this reading Broad-bosomed, ample, vast, like a huge fertile black mammal whose breast would suckle numberless eager sprawling bubbling pots and pans.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Broad-bosomed, ample, vast, like a huge fertile black mammal whose breast would suckle numberless eager sprawling bubbling pots and pans.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Gazing upon this generous expanse you felt that from its source could emerge nothing that was not savoury, nourishing, satisfying.
Chapter 4 of Show Boat by Edna Ferber holds 399 sentences, grouped into 80 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 4 holds 399 sentences of Show Boat, unabridged, divided into 80 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 4 of Show Boat by Edna Ferber exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 399 sentences, grouped into 80 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 80 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 80 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 4 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 Show Boat by Edna Ferber on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 0 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #? are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #?, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Show Boat section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 0 chapters of Show Boat 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 Show Boat, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
