Chapter 2 of Skull-face is here in full — 494 sentences across 99 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter II
Chapter 2 of Skull-face is here in full — 494 sentences across 99 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
"Superhuman strength, even for a man in your condition," he said with a sort of creaky pedantry. "I doubt if even Hassim here could equal it. Are you ready for your instructions now?" I nodded, wordless. Already the hellish strength of the elixir was flowing through my veins, renewing my burnt-out force.
Chapter 2 of Skull-face is here in full — 494 sentences across 99 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/98 · 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.
worn and broken down by hard use
From this reading “"Superhuman strength, even for a man in your condition," he said with a sort of creaky pedantry.”
a sweet flavored liquid (usually containing a small amount of alcohol) used in compounding medicines to be taken by mouth in order to mask an unpleasant taste
From this reading “Already the hellish strength of the elixir was flowing through my veins, renewing my burnt-out force.”
the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases)
From this reading “Already the hellish strength of the elixir was flowing through my veins, renewing my burnt-out force.”
(informal) very unpleasant
From this reading “Already the hellish strength of the elixir was flowing through my veins, renewing my burnt-out force.”
an ostentatious and inappropriate display of learning
From this reading “"Superhuman strength, even for a man in your condition," he said with a sort of creaky pedantry.”
tending to impart new life and vigor to
From this reading “Already the hellish strength of the elixir was flowing through my veins, renewing my burnt-out force.”
above or beyond the human or demanding more than human power or endurance
From this reading “"Superhuman strength, even for a man in your condition," he said with a sort of creaky pedantry.”
expressed without speech
From this reading “I nodded, wordless.”
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 “"Superhuman strength, even for a man in your condition," he said with a sort of creaky pedantry.”
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 "Superhuman strength, even for a man in your condition," he said with a sort of creaky pedantry.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Already the hellish strength of the elixir was flowing through my veins, renewing my burnt-out force.
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Are you ready for your instructions now?"
exhausted as a result of longtime stress
From this reading Already the hellish strength of the elixir was flowing through my veins, renewing my burnt-out force.
a state at a particular time
From this reading "Superhuman strength, even for a man in your condition," he said with a sort of creaky pedantry.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "I doubt if even Hassim here could equal it.
worn and broken down by hard use
From this reading "Superhuman strength, even for a man in your condition," he said with a sort of creaky pedantry.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading "I doubt if even Hassim here could equal it.
a sweet flavored liquid (usually containing a small amount of alcohol) used in compounding medicines to be taken by mouth in order to mask an unpleasant taste
From this reading Already the hellish strength of the elixir was flowing through my veins, renewing my burnt-out force.
be identical or equivalent to
From this reading "I doubt if even Hassim here could equal it.
divisible by two
From this reading "Superhuman strength, even for a man in your condition," he said with a sort of creaky pedantry.
the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases)
From this reading Already the hellish strength of the elixir was flowing through my veins, renewing my burnt-out force.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Superhuman strength, even for a man in your condition," he said with a sort of creaky pedantry.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading Already the hellish strength of the elixir was flowing through my veins, renewing my burnt-out force.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I doubt if even Hassim here could equal it.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Superhuman strength, even for a man in your condition," he said with a sort of creaky pedantry.
(informal) very unpleasant
From this reading Already the hellish strength of the elixir was flowing through my veins, renewing my burnt-out force.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading "I doubt if even Hassim here could equal it.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I doubt if even Hassim here could equal it.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "I doubt if even Hassim here could equal it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Superhuman strength, even for a man in your condition," he said with a sort of creaky pedantry.
a manual usually accompanying a technical device and explaining how to install or operate it
From this reading Are you ready for your instructions now?"
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "I doubt if even Hassim here could equal it.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "Superhuman strength, even for a man in your condition," he said with a sort of creaky pedantry.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Already the hellish strength of the elixir was flowing through my veins, renewing my burnt-out force.
inflected form of “nod” — express or signify by nodding
From this reading I nodded, wordless.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Are you ready for your instructions now?"
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Superhuman strength, even for a man in your condition," he said with a sort of creaky pedantry.
an ostentatious and inappropriate display of learning
From this reading "Superhuman strength, even for a man in your condition," he said with a sort of creaky pedantry.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading Are you ready for your instructions now?"
tending to impart new life and vigor to
From this reading Already the hellish strength of the elixir was flowing through my veins, renewing my burnt-out force.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Superhuman strength, even for a man in your condition," he said with a sort of creaky pedantry.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading "Superhuman strength, even for a man in your condition," he said with a sort of creaky pedantry.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading "Superhuman strength, even for a man in your condition," he said with a sort of creaky pedantry.
above or beyond the human or demanding more than human power or endurance
From this reading "Superhuman strength, even for a man in your condition," he said with a sort of creaky pedantry.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Already the hellish strength of the elixir was flowing through my veins, renewing my burnt-out force.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Already the hellish strength of the elixir was flowing through my veins, renewing my burnt-out force.
plural of “vein” — a blood vessel that carries blood from the capillaries toward the heart
From this reading Already the hellish strength of the elixir was flowing through my veins, renewing my burnt-out force.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Already the hellish strength of the elixir was flowing through my veins, renewing my burnt-out force.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Superhuman strength, even for a man in your condition," he said with a sort of creaky pedantry.
expressed without speech
From this reading I nodded, wordless.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Are you ready for your instructions now?"
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Superhuman strength, even for a man in your condition," he said with a sort of creaky pedantry.
Chapter 2 of Skull-face by Robert E. (Robert Ervin) Howard holds 494 sentences, grouped into 99 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 2 holds 494 sentences of Skull-face, unabridged, divided into 99 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 2 of Skull-face by Robert E. (Robert Ervin) Howard exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 494 sentences, grouped into 99 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 99 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 99 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 2 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 Skull-face by Robert E. (Robert Ervin) Howard 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 Skull-face section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 0 chapters of Skull-face 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 Skull-face, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
