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St. Ives
St. Ives

Chapter XIV · Chapter 14

Chapter 14 of St. Ives is here in full — 85 sentences across 17 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for St. Ives
Context Illustration Reading 1/17 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
My companions were aroused with difficulty: the Colonel, poor old gentleman, to a sort of permanent dream, in which you could say of him only that he was very deaf and anxiously polite; the Major still maudlin drunk.
We had a dish of tea by the fireside, and then issued like criminals into the scathing cold of the night.
For the weather had in the meantime changed.
Upon the cessation of the rain, a strict frost had succeeded.
The moon, being young, was already near the zenith when we started, glittered everywhere on sheets of ice, and sparkled in ten thousand icicles.
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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.

St. Ives

Chapter XIV · Chapter 14

Chapter 14 of St. Ives is here in full — 85 sentences across 17 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/17 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
My companions were aroused with difficulty: the Colonel, poor old gentleman, to a sort of permanent dream, in which you could say of him only that he was very deaf and anxiously polite; the Major still maudlin drunk.
Line 2
We had a dish of tea by the fireside, and then issued like criminals into the scathing cold of the night.
Line 3
For the weather had in the meantime changed.
Line 4
Upon the cessation of the rain, a strict frost had succeeded.
Line 5
The moon, being young, was already near the zenith when we started, glittered everywhere on sheets of ice, and sparkled in ten thousand icicles.

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.

Dream noun US /driːm/

A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.

From this reading “My companions were aroused with difficulty: the Colonel, poor old gentleman, to a sort of permanent dream, in which you could say of him only that he was very deaf and anxiously polite; the Major still maudlin drunk.”

All words in this reading · 77

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.

a

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

From this reading My companions were aroused with difficulty: the Colonel, poor old gentleman, to a sort of permanent dream, in which you could say of him only that he was very deaf and anxiously polite; the Major still maudlin drunk.

already

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

From this reading The moon, being young, was already near the zenith when we started, glittered everywhere on sheets of ice, and sparkled in ten thousand icicles.

and

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

From this reading My companions were aroused with difficulty: the Colonel, poor old gentleman, to a sort of permanent dream, in which you could say of him only that he was very deaf and anxiously polite; the Major still maudlin drunk.

anxiously

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

From this reading My companions were aroused with difficulty: the Colonel, poor old gentleman, to a sort of permanent dream, in which you could say of him only that he was very deaf and anxiously polite; the Major still maudlin drunk.

aroused

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

From this reading My companions were aroused with difficulty: the Colonel, poor old gentleman, to a sort of permanent dream, in which you could say of him only that he was very deaf and anxiously polite; the Major still maudlin drunk.

being

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

From this reading The moon, being young, was already near the zenith when we started, glittered everywhere on sheets of ice, and sparkled in ten thousand icicles.

by

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

From this reading We had a dish of tea by the fireside, and then issued like criminals into the scathing cold of the night.

cessation

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

From this reading Upon the cessation of the rain, a strict frost had succeeded.

changed

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

From this reading For the weather had in the meantime changed.

cold

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

From this reading We had a dish of tea by the fireside, and then issued like criminals into the scathing cold of the night.

Colonel

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

From this reading My companions were aroused with difficulty: the Colonel, poor old gentleman, to a sort of permanent dream, in which you could say of him only that he was very deaf and anxiously polite; the Major still maudlin drunk.

companions

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

From this reading My companions were aroused with difficulty: the Colonel, poor old gentleman, to a sort of permanent dream, in which you could say of him only that he was very deaf and anxiously polite; the Major still maudlin drunk.

could

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

From this reading My companions were aroused with difficulty: the Colonel, poor old gentleman, to a sort of permanent dream, in which you could say of him only that he was very deaf and anxiously polite; the Major still maudlin drunk.

criminals

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

From this reading We had a dish of tea by the fireside, and then issued like criminals into the scathing cold of the night.

deaf

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

From this reading My companions were aroused with difficulty: the Colonel, poor old gentleman, to a sort of permanent dream, in which you could say of him only that he was very deaf and anxiously polite; the Major still maudlin drunk.

difficulty

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

From this reading My companions were aroused with difficulty: the Colonel, poor old gentleman, to a sort of permanent dream, in which you could say of him only that he was very deaf and anxiously polite; the Major still maudlin drunk.

dish

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

From this reading We had a dish of tea by the fireside, and then issued like criminals into the scathing cold of the night.

dreamnounUS /driːm/

A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.

From this reading My companions were aroused with difficulty: the Colonel, poor old gentleman, to a sort of permanent dream, in which you could say of him only that he was very deaf and anxiously polite; the Major still maudlin drunk.

drunk

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

From this reading My companions were aroused with difficulty: the Colonel, poor old gentleman, to a sort of permanent dream, in which you could say of him only that he was very deaf and anxiously polite; the Major still maudlin drunk.

everywhere

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

From this reading The moon, being young, was already near the zenith when we started, glittered everywhere on sheets of ice, and sparkled in ten thousand icicles.

fireside

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

From this reading We had a dish of tea by the fireside, and then issued like criminals into the scathing cold of the night.

For

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

From this reading For the weather had in the meantime changed.

frost

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

From this reading Upon the cessation of the rain, a strict frost had succeeded.

gentleman

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

From this reading My companions were aroused with difficulty: the Colonel, poor old gentleman, to a sort of permanent dream, in which you could say of him only that he was very deaf and anxiously polite; the Major still maudlin drunk.

glittered

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

From this reading The moon, being young, was already near the zenith when we started, glittered everywhere on sheets of ice, and sparkled in ten thousand icicles.

had

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

From this reading We had a dish of tea by the fireside, and then issued like criminals into the scathing cold of the night.

he

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

From this reading My companions were aroused with difficulty: the Colonel, poor old gentleman, to a sort of permanent dream, in which you could say of him only that he was very deaf and anxiously polite; the Major still maudlin drunk.

him

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

From this reading My companions were aroused with difficulty: the Colonel, poor old gentleman, to a sort of permanent dream, in which you could say of him only that he was very deaf and anxiously polite; the Major still maudlin drunk.

ice

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

From this reading The moon, being young, was already near the zenith when we started, glittered everywhere on sheets of ice, and sparkled in ten thousand icicles.

icicles

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

From this reading The moon, being young, was already near the zenith when we started, glittered everywhere on sheets of ice, and sparkled in ten thousand icicles.

in

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

From this reading My companions were aroused with difficulty: the Colonel, poor old gentleman, to a sort of permanent dream, in which you could say of him only that he was very deaf and anxiously polite; the Major still maudlin drunk.

into

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

From this reading We had a dish of tea by the fireside, and then issued like criminals into the scathing cold of the night.

issued

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

From this reading We had a dish of tea by the fireside, and then issued like criminals into the scathing cold of the night.

like

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

From this reading We had a dish of tea by the fireside, and then issued like criminals into the scathing cold of the night.

Major

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

From this reading My companions were aroused with difficulty: the Colonel, poor old gentleman, to a sort of permanent dream, in which you could say of him only that he was very deaf and anxiously polite; the Major still maudlin drunk.

maudlin

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

From this reading My companions were aroused with difficulty: the Colonel, poor old gentleman, to a sort of permanent dream, in which you could say of him only that he was very deaf and anxiously polite; the Major still maudlin drunk.

meantime

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

From this reading For the weather had in the meantime changed.

moon

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

From this reading The moon, being young, was already near the zenith when we started, glittered everywhere on sheets of ice, and sparkled in ten thousand icicles.

My

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

From this reading My companions were aroused with difficulty: the Colonel, poor old gentleman, to a sort of permanent dream, in which you could say of him only that he was very deaf and anxiously polite; the Major still maudlin drunk.

near

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

From this reading The moon, being young, was already near the zenith when we started, glittered everywhere on sheets of ice, and sparkled in ten thousand icicles.

night

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

From this reading We had a dish of tea by the fireside, and then issued like criminals into the scathing cold of the night.

of

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

From this reading My companions were aroused with difficulty: the Colonel, poor old gentleman, to a sort of permanent dream, in which you could say of him only that he was very deaf and anxiously polite; the Major still maudlin drunk.

old

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

From this reading My companions were aroused with difficulty: the Colonel, poor old gentleman, to a sort of permanent dream, in which you could say of him only that he was very deaf and anxiously polite; the Major still maudlin drunk.

on

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

From this reading The moon, being young, was already near the zenith when we started, glittered everywhere on sheets of ice, and sparkled in ten thousand icicles.

only

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

From this reading My companions were aroused with difficulty: the Colonel, poor old gentleman, to a sort of permanent dream, in which you could say of him only that he was very deaf and anxiously polite; the Major still maudlin drunk.

permanent

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

From this reading My companions were aroused with difficulty: the Colonel, poor old gentleman, to a sort of permanent dream, in which you could say of him only that he was very deaf and anxiously polite; the Major still maudlin drunk.

polite

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

From this reading My companions were aroused with difficulty: the Colonel, poor old gentleman, to a sort of permanent dream, in which you could say of him only that he was very deaf and anxiously polite; the Major still maudlin drunk.

poor

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

From this reading My companions were aroused with difficulty: the Colonel, poor old gentleman, to a sort of permanent dream, in which you could say of him only that he was very deaf and anxiously polite; the Major still maudlin drunk.

rain

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

From this reading Upon the cessation of the rain, a strict frost had succeeded.

say

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

From this reading My companions were aroused with difficulty: the Colonel, poor old gentleman, to a sort of permanent dream, in which you could say of him only that he was very deaf and anxiously polite; the Major still maudlin drunk.

scathing

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

From this reading We had a dish of tea by the fireside, and then issued like criminals into the scathing cold of the night.

sheets

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

From this reading The moon, being young, was already near the zenith when we started, glittered everywhere on sheets of ice, and sparkled in ten thousand icicles.

sort

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

From this reading My companions were aroused with difficulty: the Colonel, poor old gentleman, to a sort of permanent dream, in which you could say of him only that he was very deaf and anxiously polite; the Major still maudlin drunk.

sparkled

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

From this reading The moon, being young, was already near the zenith when we started, glittered everywhere on sheets of ice, and sparkled in ten thousand icicles.

started

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

From this reading The moon, being young, was already near the zenith when we started, glittered everywhere on sheets of ice, and sparkled in ten thousand icicles.

still

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

From this reading My companions were aroused with difficulty: the Colonel, poor old gentleman, to a sort of permanent dream, in which you could say of him only that he was very deaf and anxiously polite; the Major still maudlin drunk.

strict

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

From this reading Upon the cessation of the rain, a strict frost had succeeded.

succeeded

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

From this reading Upon the cessation of the rain, a strict frost had succeeded.

tea

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

From this reading We had a dish of tea by the fireside, and then issued like criminals into the scathing cold of the night.

ten

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

From this reading The moon, being young, was already near the zenith when we started, glittered everywhere on sheets of ice, and sparkled in ten thousand icicles.

that

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

From this reading My companions were aroused with difficulty: the Colonel, poor old gentleman, to a sort of permanent dream, in which you could say of him only that he was very deaf and anxiously polite; the Major still maudlin drunk.

the

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

From this reading My companions were aroused with difficulty: the Colonel, poor old gentleman, to a sort of permanent dream, in which you could say of him only that he was very deaf and anxiously polite; the Major still maudlin drunk.

then

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

From this reading We had a dish of tea by the fireside, and then issued like criminals into the scathing cold of the night.

thousand

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

From this reading The moon, being young, was already near the zenith when we started, glittered everywhere on sheets of ice, and sparkled in ten thousand icicles.

to

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

From this reading My companions were aroused with difficulty: the Colonel, poor old gentleman, to a sort of permanent dream, in which you could say of him only that he was very deaf and anxiously polite; the Major still maudlin drunk.

Upon

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

From this reading Upon the cessation of the rain, a strict frost had succeeded.

very

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

From this reading My companions were aroused with difficulty: the Colonel, poor old gentleman, to a sort of permanent dream, in which you could say of him only that he was very deaf and anxiously polite; the Major still maudlin drunk.

was

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

From this reading My companions were aroused with difficulty: the Colonel, poor old gentleman, to a sort of permanent dream, in which you could say of him only that he was very deaf and anxiously polite; the Major still maudlin drunk.

We

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

From this reading We had a dish of tea by the fireside, and then issued like criminals into the scathing cold of the night.

weather

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

From this reading For the weather had in the meantime changed.

were

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

From this reading My companions were aroused with difficulty: the Colonel, poor old gentleman, to a sort of permanent dream, in which you could say of him only that he was very deaf and anxiously polite; the Major still maudlin drunk.

when

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

From this reading The moon, being young, was already near the zenith when we started, glittered everywhere on sheets of ice, and sparkled in ten thousand icicles.

which

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

From this reading My companions were aroused with difficulty: the Colonel, poor old gentleman, to a sort of permanent dream, in which you could say of him only that he was very deaf and anxiously polite; the Major still maudlin drunk.

with

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

From this reading My companions were aroused with difficulty: the Colonel, poor old gentleman, to a sort of permanent dream, in which you could say of him only that he was very deaf and anxiously polite; the Major still maudlin drunk.

you

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

From this reading My companions were aroused with difficulty: the Colonel, poor old gentleman, to a sort of permanent dream, in which you could say of him only that he was very deaf and anxiously polite; the Major still maudlin drunk.

young

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

From this reading The moon, being young, was already near the zenith when we started, glittered everywhere on sheets of ice, and sparkled in ten thousand icicles.

zenith

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

From this reading The moon, being young, was already near the zenith when we started, glittered everywhere on sheets of ice, and sparkled in ten thousand icicles.

Chapter 14 of St. Ives by Robert Louis Stevenson holds 85 sentences, grouped into 17 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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 14 of St. Ives contain?

Chapter 14 holds 85 sentences of St. Ives, unabridged, divided into 17 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 14 of St. Ives by Robert Louis Stevenson exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 85 sentences, grouped into 17 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 14 of St. Ives?

Work through the 17 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 17 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 14 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 14 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 St. Ives

Common questions about reading St. Ives by Robert Louis Stevenson on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of St. Ives?

Yes. All 5601 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #322 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of St. Ives is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #322, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does St. Ives take to read?

About 466 minutes of reading across 1121 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read St. Ives section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 30 chapters of St. Ives 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 St. Ives

Words and structures a reader meets early in St. Ives, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Month
A word that appears in the opening chapter of St. Ives; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Unlucky
A word that appears in the opening chapter of St. Ives; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Hands
A word that appears in the opening chapter of St. Ives; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Enemy
A word that appears in the opening chapter of St. Ives; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.