Chapter 4 of Stingaree is here in full — 439 sentences across 88 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter IV
Chapter 4 of Stingaree is here in full — 439 sentences across 88 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
"No; I have always read the papers when I could," said Stingaree, and suddenly he was smiling. "That's one reason why I make a specialty of sticking up the mail," he explained. Mr. Kentish was not to be drawn into a second deliverance on the bushranging career. "Is it a good number?" he asked, nodding toward the copy of _Punch_. The bushranger picked it up.
Chapter 4 of Stingaree is here in full — 439 sentences across 88 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/87 · 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.
the particular occupation for which you are trained
From this reading “Mr. Kentish was not to be drawn into a second deliverance on the bushranging career.”
a reproduction of a written record (e.g. of a legal or school record)
From this reading “"Is it a good number?" he asked, nodding toward the copy of _Punch_.”
recovery or preservation from loss or danger
From this reading “Mr. Kentish was not to be drawn into a second deliverance on the bushranging career.”
the bags of letters and packages that are transported by the postal service
From this reading “"That's one reason why I make a specialty of sticking up the mail," he explained.”
having branches or flower heads that bend downward
From this reading “"Is it a good number?" he asked, nodding toward the copy of _Punch_.”
deliver a quick blow to
an asset of special worth or utility
From this reading “"That's one reason why I make a specialty of sticking up the mail," he explained.”
extending out above or beyond a surface or boundary
From this reading “"That's one reason why I make a specialty of sticking up the mail," he explained.”
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 “"That's one reason why I make a specialty of sticking up the mail," he explained.”
In this reading “"No; I have always read the papers when I could," said Stingaree, and suddenly he was smiling.”
In this reading “"Is it a good number?" he asked, nodding toward the copy of _Punch_.”
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 "That's one reason why I make a specialty of sticking up the mail," he explained.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading "No; I have always read the papers when I could," said Stingaree, and suddenly he was smiling.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "No; I have always read the papers when I could," said Stingaree, and suddenly he was smiling.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Is it a good number?" he asked, nodding toward the copy of _Punch_.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Mr. Kentish was not to be drawn into a second deliverance on the bushranging career.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The bushranger picked it up.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Kentish was not to be drawn into a second deliverance on the bushranging career.
the particular occupation for which you are trained
From this reading Mr. Kentish was not to be drawn into a second deliverance on the bushranging career.
a reproduction of a written record (e.g. of a legal or school record)
From this reading "Is it a good number?" he asked, nodding toward the copy of _Punch_.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "No; I have always read the papers when I could," said Stingaree, and suddenly he was smiling.
recovery or preservation from loss or danger
From this reading Mr. Kentish was not to be drawn into a second deliverance on the bushranging career.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading Mr. Kentish was not to be drawn into a second deliverance on the bushranging career.
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading "That's one reason why I make a specialty of sticking up the mail," he explained.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading "Is it a good number?" he asked, nodding toward the copy of _Punch_.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "No; I have always read the papers when I could," said Stingaree, and suddenly he was smiling.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "No; I have always read the papers when I could," said Stingaree, and suddenly he was smiling.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "No; I have always read the papers when I could," said Stingaree, and suddenly he was smiling.
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Mr. Kentish was not to be drawn into a second deliverance on the bushranging career.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Is it a good number?" he asked, nodding toward the copy of _Punch_.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Is it a good number?" he asked, nodding toward the copy of _Punch_.
one of the major dialects of Old English
From this reading Mr. Kentish was not to be drawn into a second deliverance on the bushranging career.
the bags of letters and packages that are transported by the postal service
From this reading "That's one reason why I make a specialty of sticking up the mail," he explained.
engage in
From this reading "That's one reason why I make a specialty of sticking up the mail," he explained.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Kentish was not to be drawn into a second deliverance on the bushranging career.
not any; not one
From this reading "No; I have always read the papers when I could," said Stingaree, and suddenly he was smiling.
having branches or flower heads that bend downward
From this reading "Is it a good number?" he asked, nodding toward the copy of _Punch_.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Mr. Kentish was not to be drawn into a second deliverance on the bushranging career.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading "Is it a good number?" he asked, nodding toward the copy of _Punch_.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "That's one reason why I make a specialty of sticking up the mail," he explained.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Mr. Kentish was not to be drawn into a second deliverance on the bushranging career.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "That's one reason why I make a specialty of sticking up the mail," he explained.
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading "No; I have always read the papers when I could," said Stingaree, and suddenly he was smiling.
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading The bushranger picked it up.
deliver a quick blow to
From this reading "Is it a good number?" he asked, nodding toward the copy of _Punch_.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading "No; I have always read the papers when I could," said Stingaree, and suddenly he was smiling.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading "That's one reason why I make a specialty of sticking up the mail," he explained.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "No; I have always read the papers when I could," said Stingaree, and suddenly he was smiling.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading Mr. Kentish was not to be drawn into a second deliverance on the bushranging career.
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading "No; I have always read the papers when I could," said Stingaree, and suddenly he was smiling.
an asset of special worth or utility
From this reading "That's one reason why I make a specialty of sticking up the mail," he explained.
extending out above or beyond a surface or boundary
From this reading "That's one reason why I make a specialty of sticking up the mail," he explained.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No; I have always read the papers when I could," said Stingaree, and suddenly he was smiling.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading "No; I have always read the papers when I could," said Stingaree, and suddenly he was smiling.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That's one reason why I make a specialty of sticking up the mail," he explained.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "No; I have always read the papers when I could," said Stingaree, and suddenly he was smiling.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mr. Kentish was not to be drawn into a second deliverance on the bushranging career.
in the direction of
From this reading "Is it a good number?" he asked, nodding toward the copy of _Punch_.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "That's one reason why I make a specialty of sticking up the mail," he explained.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "No; I have always read the papers when I could," said Stingaree, and suddenly he was smiling.
at the time that
From this reading "No; I have always read the papers when I could," said Stingaree, and suddenly he was smiling.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "That's one reason why I make a specialty of sticking up the mail," he explained.
Chapter 4 of Stingaree by E. W. (Ernest William) Hornung holds 439 sentences, grouped into 88 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 439 sentences of Stingaree, unabridged, divided into 88 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 4 of Stingaree by E. W. (Ernest William) Hornung exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 439 sentences, grouped into 88 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 88 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 88 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 Stingaree by E. W. (Ernest William) Hornung on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 3574 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #26526 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #26526, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 297 minutes of reading across 715 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Stingaree section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 8 chapters of Stingaree 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 Stingaree, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
