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Tad Coon's Tricks
Tad Coon's Tricks

Chapter V

Chapter 5 of Tad Coon's Tricks is here in full — 116 sentences across 24 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Tad Coon's Tricks
Context Illustration Reading 1/23 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE TIME TAD COON WAS TRICKIER THAN HE KNEW “Aough, aough!” barked Watch.
“Yah!” he yapped breathlessly when he found Doctor Muskrat sitting out on the flat stone, waiting to meet him.
“You’re just who I was looking for.
Trailer just stumbled up to the house with his eyes bunged shut and his nose as big as a soupbone, mumbling something about a coon as near as I can understand him.
But no coon ever did anything like that to him.”
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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.

Tad Coon's Tricks

Chapter V

Chapter 5 of Tad Coon's Tricks is here in full — 116 sentences across 24 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/23 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE TIME TAD COON WAS TRICKIER THAN HE KNEW “Aough, aough!” barked Watch.
Line 2
“Yah!” he yapped breathlessly when he found Doctor Muskrat sitting out on the flat stone, waiting to meet him.
Line 3
“You’re just who I was looking for.
Line 4
Trailer just stumbled up to the house with his eyes bunged shut and his nose as big as a soupbone, mumbling something about a coon as near as I can understand him.
Line 5
But no coon ever did anything like that to him.”
/bʌt noʊ kuːn ˈevər dɪd ˈeniθɪŋ laɪk ðæt tuː hɪm/

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.

barked verb US /bɑːrkt/

past form of “bark” — speak in an unfriendly tone

From this reading “THE TIME TAD COON WAS TRICKIER THAN HE KNEW “Aough, aough!” barked Watch.”

breathlessly adverb US /ˈbreθləsli/

in a breathless manner

From this reading ““Yah!” he yapped breathlessly when he found Doctor Muskrat sitting out on the flat stone, waiting to meet him.”

coon noun US /kuːn/

an eccentric or undignified rustic

From this reading “THE TIME TAD COON WAS TRICKIER THAN HE KNEW “Aough, aough!” barked Watch.”

mumbling noun US /ˈmʌmbəlɪŋ/

indistinct enunciation

From this reading “Trailer just stumbled up to the house with his eyes bunged shut and his nose as big as a soupbone, mumbling something about a coon as near as I can understand him.”

Muskrat noun US /ˈmʌskræt/

the brown fur of a muskrat

From this reading ““Yah!” he yapped breathlessly when he found Doctor Muskrat sitting out on the flat stone, waiting to meet him.”

tad noun US /tæd/

a slight amount or degree of difference

From this reading “THE TIME TAD COON WAS TRICKIER THAN HE KNEW “Aough, aough!” barked Watch.”

Trailer noun US /ˈtreɪlər/

someone who takes more time than necessary; someone who lags behind

From this reading “Trailer just stumbled up to the house with his eyes bunged shut and his nose as big as a soupbone, mumbling something about a coon as near as I can understand him.”

trickier adjective US /ˈtrɪkiər/

comparative of “tricky” — not to be trusted

From this reading “THE TIME TAD COON WAS TRICKIER THAN HE KNEW “Aough, aough!” barked Watch.”

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.

flat stone adjective + noun

In this reading ““Yah!” he yapped breathlessly when he found Doctor Muskrat sitting out on the flat stone, waiting to meet him.”

All words in this reading · 62

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 Trailer just stumbled up to the house with his eyes bunged shut and his nose as big as a soupbone, mumbling something about a coon as near as I can understand him.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Trailer just stumbled up to the house with his eyes bunged shut and his nose as big as a soupbone, mumbling something about a coon as near as I can understand him.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Trailer just stumbled up to the house with his eyes bunged shut and his nose as big as a soupbone, mumbling something about a coon as near as I can understand him.

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading But no coon ever did anything like that to him.”

Aough

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

From this reading THE TIME TAD COON WAS TRICKIER THAN HE KNEW “Aough, aough!” barked Watch.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Trailer just stumbled up to the house with his eyes bunged shut and his nose as big as a soupbone, mumbling something about a coon as near as I can understand him.

barkedverbUS /bɑːrkt/

past form of “bark” — speak in an unfriendly tone

From this reading THE TIME TAD COON WAS TRICKIER THAN HE KNEW “Aough, aough!” barked Watch.

bigadjectiveUS /bɪɡ/

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Trailer just stumbled up to the house with his eyes bunged shut and his nose as big as a soupbone, mumbling something about a coon as near as I can understand him.

breathlesslyadverbUS /ˈbreθləsli/

in a breathless manner

From this reading “Yah!” he yapped breathlessly when he found Doctor Muskrat sitting out on the flat stone, waiting to meet him.

bunged

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

From this reading Trailer just stumbled up to the house with his eyes bunged shut and his nose as big as a soupbone, mumbling something about a coon as near as I can understand him.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But no coon ever did anything like that to him.”

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading Trailer just stumbled up to the house with his eyes bunged shut and his nose as big as a soupbone, mumbling something about a coon as near as I can understand him.

COONnounUS /kuːn/

an eccentric or undignified rustic

From this reading THE TIME TAD COON WAS TRICKIER THAN HE KNEW “Aough, aough!” barked Watch.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading But no coon ever did anything like that to him.”

DoctornounUS /ˈdɑːktər/

a licensed medical practitioner

From this reading “Yah!” he yapped breathlessly when he found Doctor Muskrat sitting out on the flat stone, waiting to meet him.

everadverbUS /ˈevər/

at any time

From this reading But no coon ever did anything like that to him.”

eyesnounUS /aɪz/

opinion or judgment

From this reading Trailer just stumbled up to the house with his eyes bunged shut and his nose as big as a soupbone, mumbling something about a coon as near as I can understand him.

flatadjectiveUS /flæt/

having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another

From this reading “Yah!” he yapped breathlessly when he found Doctor Muskrat sitting out on the flat stone, waiting to meet him.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “You’re just who I was looking for.

foundverbUS /faʊnd/

set up or found

From this reading “Yah!” he yapped breathlessly when he found Doctor Muskrat sitting out on the flat stone, waiting to meet him.

HEpronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading THE TIME TAD COON WAS TRICKIER THAN HE KNEW “Aough, aough!” barked Watch.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading “Yah!” he yapped breathlessly when he found Doctor Muskrat sitting out on the flat stone, waiting to meet him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Trailer just stumbled up to the house with his eyes bunged shut and his nose as big as a soupbone, mumbling something about a coon as near as I can understand him.

housenounUS /haʊs/

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading Trailer just stumbled up to the house with his eyes bunged shut and his nose as big as a soupbone, mumbling something about a coon as near as I can understand him.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading “You’re just who I was looking for.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading “You’re just who I was looking for.

KNEWverbUS /nuː/

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading THE TIME TAD COON WAS TRICKIER THAN HE KNEW “Aough, aough!” barked Watch.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading But no coon ever did anything like that to him.”

lookingnounUS /ˈlʊkɪŋ/

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading “You’re just who I was looking for.

meetverbUS /miːt/

come together

From this reading “Yah!” he yapped breathlessly when he found Doctor Muskrat sitting out on the flat stone, waiting to meet him.

mumblingnounUS /ˈmʌmbəlɪŋ/

indistinct enunciation

From this reading Trailer just stumbled up to the house with his eyes bunged shut and his nose as big as a soupbone, mumbling something about a coon as near as I can understand him.

MuskratnounUS /ˈmʌskræt/

the brown fur of a muskrat

From this reading “Yah!” he yapped breathlessly when he found Doctor Muskrat sitting out on the flat stone, waiting to meet him.

nearadverbUS /nɪr/

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading Trailer just stumbled up to the house with his eyes bunged shut and his nose as big as a soupbone, mumbling something about a coon as near as I can understand him.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading But no coon ever did anything like that to him.”

nosenounUS /noʊz/

the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals

From this reading Trailer just stumbled up to the house with his eyes bunged shut and his nose as big as a soupbone, mumbling something about a coon as near as I can understand him.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading “Yah!” he yapped breathlessly when he found Doctor Muskrat sitting out on the flat stone, waiting to meet him.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading “Yah!” he yapped breathlessly when he found Doctor Muskrat sitting out on the flat stone, waiting to meet him.

shutverbUS /ʃʌt/

move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut

From this reading Trailer just stumbled up to the house with his eyes bunged shut and his nose as big as a soupbone, mumbling something about a coon as near as I can understand him.

sittingnounUS /ˈsɪtɪŋ/

(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)

From this reading “Yah!” he yapped breathlessly when he found Doctor Muskrat sitting out on the flat stone, waiting to meet him.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading Trailer just stumbled up to the house with his eyes bunged shut and his nose as big as a soupbone, mumbling something about a coon as near as I can understand him.

soupbone

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

From this reading Trailer just stumbled up to the house with his eyes bunged shut and his nose as big as a soupbone, mumbling something about a coon as near as I can understand him.

stonenounUS /stoʊn/

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading “Yah!” he yapped breathlessly when he found Doctor Muskrat sitting out on the flat stone, waiting to meet him.

stumbledverbUS /ˈstʌmbəld/

past form of “stumble” — walk unsteadily

From this reading Trailer just stumbled up to the house with his eyes bunged shut and his nose as big as a soupbone, mumbling something about a coon as near as I can understand him.

TADnounUS /tæd/

a slight amount or degree of difference

From this reading THE TIME TAD COON WAS TRICKIER THAN HE KNEW “Aough, aough!” barked Watch.

THANconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading THE TIME TAD COON WAS TRICKIER THAN HE KNEW “Aough, aough!” barked Watch.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But no coon ever did anything like that to him.”

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE TIME TAD COON WAS TRICKIER THAN HE KNEW “Aough, aough!” barked Watch.

TIMEnounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading THE TIME TAD COON WAS TRICKIER THAN HE KNEW “Aough, aough!” barked Watch.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading “Yah!” he yapped breathlessly when he found Doctor Muskrat sitting out on the flat stone, waiting to meet him.

TrailernounUS /ˈtreɪlər/

someone who takes more time than necessary; someone who lags behind

From this reading Trailer just stumbled up to the house with his eyes bunged shut and his nose as big as a soupbone, mumbling something about a coon as near as I can understand him.

TRICKIERadjectiveUS /ˈtrɪkiər/

comparative of “tricky” — not to be trusted

From this reading THE TIME TAD COON WAS TRICKIER THAN HE KNEW “Aough, aough!” barked Watch.

understandverbUS /ˌʌndərˈstænd/

know and comprehend the nature or meaning of

From this reading Trailer just stumbled up to the house with his eyes bunged shut and his nose as big as a soupbone, mumbling something about a coon as near as I can understand him.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

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

From this reading Trailer just stumbled up to the house with his eyes bunged shut and his nose as big as a soupbone, mumbling something about a coon as near as I can understand him.

waitingnounUS /ˈweɪtɪŋ/

the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)

From this reading “Yah!” he yapped breathlessly when he found Doctor Muskrat sitting out on the flat stone, waiting to meet him.

WASauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading THE TIME TAD COON WAS TRICKIER THAN HE KNEW “Aough, aough!” barked Watch.

WatchverbUS /wɑːtʃ/

look attentively

From this reading THE TIME TAD COON WAS TRICKIER THAN HE KNEW “Aough, aough!” barked Watch.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading “Yah!” he yapped breathlessly when he found Doctor Muskrat sitting out on the flat stone, waiting to meet him.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading “You’re just who I was looking for.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Trailer just stumbled up to the house with his eyes bunged shut and his nose as big as a soupbone, mumbling something about a coon as near as I can understand him.

Yah

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

From this reading “Yah!” he yapped breathlessly when he found Doctor Muskrat sitting out on the flat stone, waiting to meet him.

yapped

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

From this reading “Yah!” he yapped breathlessly when he found Doctor Muskrat sitting out on the flat stone, waiting to meet him.

You're

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

From this reading “You’re just who I was looking for.

Chapter 5 of Tad Coon's Tricks by John Breck holds 116 sentences, grouped into 24 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 5 of Tad Coon's Tricks contain?

Chapter 5 holds 116 sentences of Tad Coon's Tricks, unabridged, divided into 24 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 5 of Tad Coon's Tricks by John Breck exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 116 sentences, grouped into 24 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 5 of Tad Coon's Tricks?

Work through the 24 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 24 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 5 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 5 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 Tad Coon's Tricks

Common questions about reading Tad Coon's Tricks by John Breck on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Tad Coon's Tricks?

Yes. All 1286 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #64216 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Tad Coon's Tricks is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #64216, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Tad Coon's Tricks take to read?

About 107 minutes of reading across 258 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Tad Coon's Tricks section by section

How to work through Tad Coon's Tricks section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 13 chapters of Tad Coon's Tricks 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 Tad Coon's Tricks

Words and structures a reader meets early in Tad Coon's Tricks, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Thought
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Tad Coon's Tricks; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Every
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Tad Coon's Tricks; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Woods
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Tad Coon's Tricks; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Fields
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Tad Coon's Tricks; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.