Some builders

Chapter IX

Chapter 9 of Some builders is here in full — 356 sentences across 72 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Amy Le Feuvre • Curated US English Learning Edition

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

JOCKIE'S ARRIVAL SIDNEY'S next letter from Randolph Neville was as follows:

"DEAR MISS URQUHART, "The mail is just in, and yours with it.

Ever so many thanks.

You have inspired and braced me, for I can tell you one wants bracing in this awful hole, and I don't wonder at so many giving up.

But I'm starting a few innovations, and am turning teetotaller, at small cost to myself, for I've never been inclined in the opposite direction, and it's digging your grave to drink in this climate.

Narrator

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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.

Chapter IX Reading 1/71

Some builders

Chapter IX

Chapter 9 of Some builders is here in full — 356 sentences across 72 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/71 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

JOCKIE'S ARRIVAL SIDNEY'S next letter from Randolph Neville was as follows:

Line 2

"DEAR MISS URQUHART, "The mail is just in, and yours with it.

Line 3

Ever so many thanks.

/ˈevər soʊ ˈmeni θæŋks/

Line 4

You have inspired and braced me, for I can tell you one wants bracing in this awful hole, and I don't wonder at so many giving up.

Line 5

But I'm starting a few innovations, and am turning teetotaller, at small cost to myself, for I've never been inclined in the opposite direction, and it's digging your grave to drink in this climate.

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.

braced adjective US /breɪst/

positioned so as to be ready for confrontation or danger

From this reading “You have inspired and braced me, for I can tell you one wants bracing in this awful hole, and I don't wonder at so many giving up.”

bracing noun US /ˈbreɪsɪŋ/

a structural member used to stiffen a framework

From this reading “You have inspired and braced me, for I can tell you one wants bracing in this awful hole, and I don't wonder at so many giving up.”

climate noun US /ˈklaɪmət/

the weather in some location averaged over some long period of time

From this reading “But I'm starting a few innovations, and am turning teetotaller, at small cost to myself, for I've never been inclined in the opposite direction, and it's digging your grave to drink in this climate.”

digging noun US /ˈdɪɡɪŋ/

the act of digging

follows verb US /ˈfɑːloʊz/

third-person singular of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading “JOCKIE'S ARRIVAL SIDNEY'S next letter from Randolph Neville was as follows:”

innovations noun US /ˌɪnəˈveɪʃənz/

plural of “innovation” — a creation (a new device or process) resulting from study and experimentation

inspired adjective US /ˌɪnˈspaɪərd/

being of such surpassing excellence as to suggest inspiration by the gods

From this reading “You have inspired and braced me, for I can tell you one wants bracing in this awful hole, and I don't wonder at so many giving up.”

mail noun US /meɪl/

the bags of letters and packages that are transported by the postal service

From this reading “"DEAR MISS URQUHART, "The mail is just in, and yours with it.”

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.

opposite direction adjective + noun

In this reading “But I'm starting a few innovations, and am turning teetotaller, at small cost to myself, for I've never been inclined in the opposite direction, and it's digging your grave to drink in this climate.”

many thanks adjective + noun

In this reading “Ever so many thanks.”

All words in this reading · 72

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 But I'm starting a few innovations, and am turning teetotaller, at small cost to myself, for I've never been inclined in the opposite direction, and it's digging your grave to drink in this climate.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "DEAR MISS URQUHART, "The mail is just in, and yours with it.

ARRIVALnounUS /ərˈaɪvəl/

accomplishment of an objective

From this reading JOCKIE'S ARRIVAL SIDNEY'S next letter from Randolph Neville was as follows:

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading JOCKIE'S ARRIVAL SIDNEY'S next letter from Randolph Neville was as follows:

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading You have inspired and braced me, for I can tell you one wants bracing in this awful hole, and I don't wonder at so many giving up.

awfuladjectiveUS /ˈɑːfəl/

exceptionally bad or displeasing

From this reading You have inspired and braced me, for I can tell you one wants bracing in this awful hole, and I don't wonder at so many giving up.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

bracedadjectiveUS /breɪst/

positioned so as to be ready for confrontation or danger

From this reading You have inspired and braced me, for I can tell you one wants bracing in this awful hole, and I don't wonder at so many giving up.

bracingnounUS /ˈbreɪsɪŋ/

a structural member used to stiffen a framework

From this reading You have inspired and braced me, for I can tell you one wants bracing in this awful hole, and I don't wonder at so many giving up.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading You have inspired and braced me, for I can tell you one wants bracing in this awful hole, and I don't wonder at so many giving up.

climatenounUS /ˈklaɪmət/

the weather in some location averaged over some long period of time

costnounUS /kɑːst/

the total spent for goods or services including money and time and labor

DEARadjectiveUS /dɪr/

dearly loved

From this reading "DEAR MISS URQUHART, "The mail is just in, and yours with it.

diggingnounUS /ˈdɪɡɪŋ/

the act of digging

directionnounUS /dərˈekʃən/

a line leading to a place or point

don't

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

From this reading You have inspired and braced me, for I can tell you one wants bracing in this awful hole, and I don't wonder at so many giving up.

drinkverbUS /drɪŋk/

take in liquids

EveradverbUS /ˈevər/

at any time

From this reading Ever so many thanks.

fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/

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

followsverbUS /ˈfɑːloʊz/

third-person singular of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading JOCKIE'S ARRIVAL SIDNEY'S next letter from Randolph Neville was as follows:

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading You have inspired and braced me, for I can tell you one wants bracing in this awful hole, and I don't wonder at so many giving up.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading JOCKIE'S ARRIVAL SIDNEY'S next letter from Randolph Neville was as follows:

givingnounUS /ˈɡɪvɪŋ/

the act of giving

From this reading You have inspired and braced me, for I can tell you one wants bracing in this awful hole, and I don't wonder at so many giving up.

gravenounUS /ɡreɪv/

death of a person

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading You have inspired and braced me, for I can tell you one wants bracing in this awful hole, and I don't wonder at so many giving up.

holenounUS /hoʊl/

an opening into or through something

From this reading You have inspired and braced me, for I can tell you one wants bracing in this awful hole, and I don't wonder at so many giving up.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading You have inspired and braced me, for I can tell you one wants bracing in this awful hole, and I don't wonder at so many giving up.

I'm

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

I've

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

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "DEAR MISS URQUHART, "The mail is just in, and yours with it.

inclinedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈklaɪnd/

(often followed by “to”) having a preference, disposition, or tendency

innovationsnounUS /ˌɪnəˈveɪʃənz/

plural of “innovation” — a creation (a new device or process) resulting from study and experimentation

inspiredadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈspaɪərd/

being of such surpassing excellence as to suggest inspiration by the gods

From this reading You have inspired and braced me, for I can tell you one wants bracing in this awful hole, and I don't wonder at so many giving up.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "DEAR MISS URQUHART, "The mail is just in, and yours with it.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "DEAR MISS URQUHART, "The mail is just in, and yours with it.

it's

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

JOCKIE'S

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

From this reading JOCKIE'S ARRIVAL SIDNEY'S next letter from Randolph Neville was as follows:

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading "DEAR MISS URQUHART, "The mail is just in, and yours with it.

letternounUS /ˈletər/

a written message addressed to a person or organization

From this reading JOCKIE'S ARRIVAL SIDNEY'S next letter from Randolph Neville was as follows:

mailnounUS /meɪl/

the bags of letters and packages that are transported by the postal service

From this reading "DEAR MISS URQUHART, "The mail is just in, and yours with it.

manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading Ever so many thanks.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading You have inspired and braced me, for I can tell you one wants bracing in this awful hole, and I don't wonder at so many giving up.

MISSverbUS /mɪs/

fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind

From this reading "DEAR MISS URQUHART, "The mail is just in, and yours with it.

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/

not ever; at no time in the past or future

Neville

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

From this reading JOCKIE'S ARRIVAL SIDNEY'S next letter from Randolph Neville was as follows:

nextadjectiveUS /nekst/

immediately following in time or order

From this reading JOCKIE'S ARRIVAL SIDNEY'S next letter from Randolph Neville was as follows:

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading You have inspired and braced me, for I can tell you one wants bracing in this awful hole, and I don't wonder at so many giving up.

oppositeadjectiveUS /ˈɑːpəzət/

being directly across from each other; facing

Randolph

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

From this reading JOCKIE'S ARRIVAL SIDNEY'S next letter from Randolph Neville was as follows:

SIDNEY'S

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

From this reading JOCKIE'S ARRIVAL SIDNEY'S next letter from Randolph Neville was as follows:

smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Ever so many thanks.

startingadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtɪŋ/

(especially of eyes) bulging or protruding as with fear

teetotallernoun

a total abstainer

tellverbUS /tel/

express in words

From this reading You have inspired and braced me, for I can tell you one wants bracing in this awful hole, and I don't wonder at so many giving up.

thanksnounUS /θæŋks/

an acknowledgment of appreciation

From this reading Ever so many thanks.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "DEAR MISS URQUHART, "The mail is just in, and yours with it.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading You have inspired and braced me, for I can tell you one wants bracing in this awful hole, and I don't wonder at so many giving up.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

turningnounUS /ˈtɜːrnɪŋ/

the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading You have inspired and braced me, for I can tell you one wants bracing in this awful hole, and I don't wonder at so many giving up.

URQUHART

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

From this reading "DEAR MISS URQUHART, "The mail is just in, and yours with it.

wantsnounUS /wɑːnts/

plural of “want” — a state of extreme poverty

From this reading You have inspired and braced me, for I can tell you one wants bracing in this awful hole, and I don't wonder at so many giving up.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading JOCKIE'S ARRIVAL SIDNEY'S next letter from Randolph Neville was as follows:

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading "DEAR MISS URQUHART, "The mail is just in, and yours with it.

wondernounUS /ˈwʌndər/

the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising

From this reading You have inspired and braced me, for I can tell you one wants bracing in this awful hole, and I don't wonder at so many giving up.

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading You have inspired and braced me, for I can tell you one wants bracing in this awful hole, and I don't wonder at so many giving up.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

yourspronounUS /jʊrz/

the one or ones belonging to the person spoken to

From this reading "DEAR MISS URQUHART, "The mail is just in, and yours with it.

Chapter 9 of Some builders by Amy Le Feuvre holds 356 sentences, grouped into 72 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 9 of Some builders contain?

Chapter 9 holds 356 sentences of Some builders, unabridged, divided into 72 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 9 of Some builders by Amy Le Feuvre exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 356 sentences, grouped into 72 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 Some builders?

Work through the 72 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 72 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.

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

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Chapter IX

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