Chapter 4 of Stories by English Authors is here in full — 202 sentences across 41 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter IV
Chapter 4 of Stories by English Authors is here in full — 202 sentences across 41 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
“‘I’m sorry, Daniel,’ says I. ‘I’ve done all I could. I’ve drilled the men and shown the people how to stack their oats better; and I’ve brought in those tinware rifles from Ghorband--but I know what you’re driving at. I take it Kings always feel oppressed that way.’ “‘There’s another thing too,’ says Dravot, walking up and down.
Chapter 4 of Stories by English Authors is here in full — 202 sentences across 41 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/40 · 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.
(Old Testament) a youth who was taken into the court of Nebuchadnezzar and given divine protection when thrown into a den of lions (6th century BC)
From this reading ““‘I’m sorry, Daniel,’ says I.”
trained in a skill by repetitious practice
From this reading “I’ve drilled the men and shown the people how to stack their oats better; and I’ve brought in those tinware rifles from Ghorband--but I know what you’re driving at.”
having the power of driving or impelling
From this reading “I’ve drilled the men and shown the people how to stack their oats better; and I’ve brought in those tinware rifles from Ghorband--but I know what you’re driving at.”
plural of “king” — a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading “I take it Kings always feel oppressed that way.’”
plural of “oat” — annual grass of Europe and North Africa; grains used as food and fodder (referred to primarily in the plural: “oats”)
From this reading “I’ve drilled the men and shown the people how to stack their oats better; and I’ve brought in those tinware rifles from Ghorband--but I know what you’re driving at.”
burdened psychologically or mentally
From this reading “I take it Kings always feel oppressed that way.’”
plural of “rifle” — a shoulder firearm with a long barrel and a rifled bore
From this reading “I’ve drilled the men and shown the people how to stack their oats better; and I’ve brought in those tinware rifles from Ghorband--but I know what you’re driving at.”
an orderly pile
From this reading “I’ve drilled the men and shown the people how to stack their oats better; and I’ve brought in those tinware rifles from Ghorband--but I know what you’re driving at.”
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.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading ‘I’ve done all I could.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading I take it Kings always feel oppressed that way.’
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I’ve drilled the men and shown the people how to stack their oats better; and I’ve brought in those tinware rifles from Ghorband--but I know what you’re driving at.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading “‘There’s another thing too,’ says Dravot, walking up and down.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I’ve drilled the men and shown the people how to stack their oats better; and I’ve brought in those tinware rifles from Ghorband--but I know what you’re driving at.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading I’ve drilled the men and shown the people how to stack their oats better; and I’ve brought in those tinware rifles from Ghorband--but I know what you’re driving at.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading I’ve drilled the men and shown the people how to stack their oats better; and I’ve brought in those tinware rifles from Ghorband--but I know what you’re driving at.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I’ve drilled the men and shown the people how to stack their oats better; and I’ve brought in those tinware rifles from Ghorband--but I know what you’re driving at.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading ‘I’ve done all I could.
(Old Testament) a youth who was taken into the court of Nebuchadnezzar and given divine protection when thrown into a den of lions (6th century BC)
From this reading “‘I’m sorry, Daniel,’ says I.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading ‘I’ve done all I could.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading “‘There’s another thing too,’ says Dravot, walking up and down.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “‘There’s another thing too,’ says Dravot, walking up and down.
trained in a skill by repetitious practice
From this reading I’ve drilled the men and shown the people how to stack their oats better; and I’ve brought in those tinware rifles from Ghorband--but I know what you’re driving at.
having the power of driving or impelling
From this reading I’ve drilled the men and shown the people how to stack their oats better; and I’ve brought in those tinware rifles from Ghorband--but I know what you’re driving at.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading I take it Kings always feel oppressed that way.’
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I’ve drilled the men and shown the people how to stack their oats better; and I’ve brought in those tinware rifles from Ghorband--but I know what you’re driving at.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I’ve drilled the men and shown the people how to stack their oats better; and I’ve brought in those tinware rifles from Ghorband--but I know what you’re driving at.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I’ve drilled the men and shown the people how to stack their oats better; and I’ve brought in those tinware rifles from Ghorband--but I know what you’re driving at.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “‘I’m sorry, Daniel,’ says I.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “‘I’m sorry, Daniel,’ says I.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘I’ve done all I could.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I’ve drilled the men and shown the people how to stack their oats better; and I’ve brought in those tinware rifles from Ghorband--but I know what you’re driving at.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I take it Kings always feel oppressed that way.’
plural of “king” — a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading I take it Kings always feel oppressed that way.’
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading I’ve drilled the men and shown the people how to stack their oats better; and I’ve brought in those tinware rifles from Ghorband--but I know what you’re driving at.
the force of workers available
From this reading I’ve drilled the men and shown the people how to stack their oats better; and I’ve brought in those tinware rifles from Ghorband--but I know what you’re driving at.
plural of “oat” — annual grass of Europe and North Africa; grains used as food and fodder (referred to primarily in the plural: “oats”)
From this reading I’ve drilled the men and shown the people how to stack their oats better; and I’ve brought in those tinware rifles from Ghorband--but I know what you’re driving at.
burdened psychologically or mentally
From this reading I take it Kings always feel oppressed that way.’
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading I’ve drilled the men and shown the people how to stack their oats better; and I’ve brought in those tinware rifles from Ghorband--but I know what you’re driving at.
plural of “rifle” — a shoulder firearm with a long barrel and a rifled bore
From this reading I’ve drilled the men and shown the people how to stack their oats better; and I’ve brought in those tinware rifles from Ghorband--but I know what you’re driving at.
plural of “say” — the chance to speak
From this reading “‘I’m sorry, Daniel,’ says I.
inflected form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading I’ve drilled the men and shown the people how to stack their oats better; and I’ve brought in those tinware rifles from Ghorband--but I know what you’re driving at.
feeling or expressing regret or sorrow or a sense of loss over something done or undone
From this reading “‘I’m sorry, Daniel,’ says I.
an orderly pile
From this reading I’ve drilled the men and shown the people how to stack their oats better; and I’ve brought in those tinware rifles from Ghorband--but I know what you’re driving at.
carry out
From this reading I take it Kings always feel oppressed that way.’
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I take it Kings always feel oppressed that way.’
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I’ve drilled the men and shown the people how to stack their oats better; and I’ve brought in those tinware rifles from Ghorband--but I know what you’re driving at.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading I’ve drilled the men and shown the people how to stack their oats better; and I’ve brought in those tinware rifles from Ghorband--but I know what you’re driving at.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “‘There’s another thing too,’ says Dravot, walking up and down.
a special situation
From this reading “‘There’s another thing too,’ says Dravot, walking up and down.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading I’ve drilled the men and shown the people how to stack their oats better; and I’ve brought in those tinware rifles from Ghorband--but I know what you’re driving at.
articles of commerce made of tin plate
From this reading I’ve drilled the men and shown the people how to stack their oats better; and I’ve brought in those tinware rifles from Ghorband--but I know what you’re driving at.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I’ve drilled the men and shown the people how to stack their oats better; and I’ve brought in those tinware rifles from Ghorband--but I know what you’re driving at.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading “‘There’s another thing too,’ says Dravot, walking up and down.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading “‘There’s another thing too,’ says Dravot, walking up and down.
close enough to be walked to
From this reading “‘There’s another thing too,’ says Dravot, walking up and down.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading I take it Kings always feel oppressed that way.’
used to ask for information about something
From this reading I’ve drilled the men and shown the people how to stack their oats better; and I’ve brought in those tinware rifles from Ghorband--but I know what you’re driving at.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I’ve drilled the men and shown the people how to stack their oats better; and I’ve brought in those tinware rifles from Ghorband--but I know what you’re driving at.
Chapter 4 of Stories by English Authors by Rudyard [Contributor] Kipling holds 202 sentences, grouped into 41 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.
Chapter 4 holds 202 sentences of Stories by English Authors, unabridged, divided into 41 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 4 of Stories by English Authors by Rudyard [Contributor] Kipling exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 202 sentences, grouped into 41 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 41 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 41 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 Stories by English Authors by Rudyard [Contributor] Kipling on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 2227 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #2035 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #2035, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 185 minutes of reading across 446 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Stories by English Authors section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 12 chapters of Stories by English Authors 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 Stories by English Authors, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
