Chapter 21 of Still Jim is here in full — 234 sentences across 47 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XXI
Chapter 21 of Still Jim is here in full — 234 sentences across 47 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
JIM GETS A BLOW "The eagle has lived long in my side. He is cruel with talons built for seizing. Is this why so many nations choose him as their emblem?" MUSINGS OF THE ELEPHANT. Jane never had looked meeker or smaller or more desert worn than she did as she stood eying the two men; that is, meek except as to her eyes.
Chapter 21 of Still Jim is here in full — 234 sentences across 47 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/46 · 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.
any of various large keen-sighted diurnal birds of prey noted for their broad wings and strong soaring flight
From this reading “JIM GETS A BLOW "The eagle has lived long in my side.”
five-toed pachyderm
From this reading “MUSINGS OF THE ELEPHANT.”
special design or visual object representing a quality, type, group, etc.
From this reading “Is this why so many nations choose him as their emblem?"”
humble in spirit or manner; suggesting retiring mildness or even cowed submissiveness
From this reading “Jane never had looked meeker or smaller or more desert worn than she did as she stood eying the two men; that is, meek except as to her eyes.”
comparative of “meek” — humble in spirit or manner; suggesting retiring mildness or even cowed submissiveness
From this reading “Jane never had looked meeker or smaller or more desert worn than she did as she stood eying the two men; that is, meek except as to her eyes.”
plural of “musing” — a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading “MUSINGS OF THE ELEPHANT.”
small stuff that is used for lashing two or more ropes together
From this reading “He is cruel with talons built for seizing.”
plural of “talon” — a sharp hooked claw especially on a bird of prey
From this reading “He is cruel with talons built for seizing.”
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 JIM GETS A BLOW "The eagle has lived long in my side.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Is this why so many nations choose him as their emblem?"
exhale hard
From this reading JIM GETS A BLOW "The eagle has lived long in my side.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading He is cruel with talons built for seizing.
pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading Is this why so many nations choose him as their emblem?"
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading He is cruel with talons built for seizing.
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
From this reading Jane never had looked meeker or smaller or more desert worn than she did as she stood eying the two men; that is, meek except as to her eyes.
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Jane never had looked meeker or smaller or more desert worn than she did as she stood eying the two men; that is, meek except as to her eyes.
any of various large keen-sighted diurnal birds of prey noted for their broad wings and strong soaring flight
From this reading JIM GETS A BLOW "The eagle has lived long in my side.
five-toed pachyderm
From this reading MUSINGS OF THE ELEPHANT.
special design or visual object representing a quality, type, group, etc.
From this reading Is this why so many nations choose him as their emblem?"
apart from; not including
From this reading Jane never had looked meeker or smaller or more desert worn than she did as she stood eying the two men; that is, meek except as to her eyes.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Jane never had looked meeker or smaller or more desert worn than she did as she stood eying the two men; that is, meek except as to her eyes.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jane never had looked meeker or smaller or more desert worn than she did as she stood eying the two men; that is, meek except as to her eyes.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He is cruel with talons built for seizing.
plural of “get” — a return on a shot that seemed impossible to reach and would normally have resulted in a point for the opponent
From this reading JIM GETS A BLOW "The eagle has lived long in my side.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Jane never had looked meeker or smaller or more desert worn than she did as she stood eying the two men; that is, meek except as to her eyes.
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading JIM GETS A BLOW "The eagle has lived long in my side.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He is cruel with talons built for seizing.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Jane never had looked meeker or smaller or more desert worn than she did as she stood eying the two men; that is, meek except as to her eyes.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Is this why so many nations choose him as their emblem?"
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading JIM GETS A BLOW "The eagle has lived long in my side.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He is cruel with talons built for seizing.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jane never had looked meeker or smaller or more desert worn than she did as she stood eying the two men; that is, meek except as to her eyes.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JIM GETS A BLOW "The eagle has lived long in my side.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading JIM GETS A BLOW "The eagle has lived long in my side.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading JIM GETS A BLOW "The eagle has lived long in my side.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Jane never had looked meeker or smaller or more desert worn than she did as she stood eying the two men; that is, meek except as to her eyes.
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 Is this why so many nations choose him as their emblem?"
humble in spirit or manner; suggesting retiring mildness or even cowed submissiveness
From this reading Jane never had looked meeker or smaller or more desert worn than she did as she stood eying the two men; that is, meek except as to her eyes.
comparative of “meek” — humble in spirit or manner; suggesting retiring mildness or even cowed submissiveness
From this reading Jane never had looked meeker or smaller or more desert worn than she did as she stood eying the two men; that is, meek except as to her eyes.
the force of workers available
From this reading Jane never had looked meeker or smaller or more desert worn than she did as she stood eying the two men; that is, meek except as to her eyes.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Jane never had looked meeker or smaller or more desert worn than she did as she stood eying the two men; that is, meek except as to her eyes.
plural of “musing” — a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading MUSINGS OF THE ELEPHANT.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading JIM GETS A BLOW "The eagle has lived long in my side.
plural of “nation” — a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading Is this why so many nations choose him as their emblem?"
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Jane never had looked meeker or smaller or more desert worn than she did as she stood eying the two men; that is, meek except as to her eyes.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading MUSINGS OF THE ELEPHANT.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Jane never had looked meeker or smaller or more desert worn than she did as she stood eying the two men; that is, meek except as to her eyes.
small stuff that is used for lashing two or more ropes together
From this reading He is cruel with talons built for seizing.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Jane never had looked meeker or smaller or more desert worn than she did as she stood eying the two men; that is, meek except as to her eyes.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading JIM GETS A BLOW "The eagle has lived long in my side.
small or little relative to something else
From this reading Jane never had looked meeker or smaller or more desert worn than she did as she stood eying the two men; that is, meek except as to her eyes.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Is this why so many nations choose him as their emblem?"
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Jane never had looked meeker or smaller or more desert worn than she did as she stood eying the two men; that is, meek except as to her eyes.
plural of “talon” — a sharp hooked claw especially on a bird of prey
From this reading He is cruel with talons built for seizing.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Jane never had looked meeker or smaller or more desert worn than she did as she stood eying the two men; that is, meek except as to her eyes.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Jane never had looked meeker or smaller or more desert worn than she did as she stood eying the two men; that is, meek except as to her eyes.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading JIM GETS A BLOW "The eagle has lived long in my side.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Is this why so many nations choose him as their emblem?"
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Is this why so many nations choose him as their emblem?"
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Jane never had looked meeker or smaller or more desert worn than she did as she stood eying the two men; that is, meek except as to her eyes.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Jane never had looked meeker or smaller or more desert worn than she did as she stood eying the two men; that is, meek except as to her eyes.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Is this why so many nations choose him as their emblem?"
in the company of; together with
From this reading He is cruel with talons built for seizing.
Damaged or thinned by continuous use.
From this reading Jane never had looked meeker or smaller or more desert worn than she did as she stood eying the two men; that is, meek except as to her eyes.
Chapter 21 of Still Jim by Honoré Morrow holds 234 sentences, grouped into 47 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 21 holds 234 sentences of Still Jim, unabridged, divided into 47 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 21 of Still Jim by Honoré Morrow exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 234 sentences, grouped into 47 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 47 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 47 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 21 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 Still Jim by Honoré Morrow on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 8392 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #24458 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #24458, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 600 minutes of reading across 1679 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Still Jim section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 27 chapters of Still Jim 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 Still Jim, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
