Chapter 19 of The Bars of Iron is here in full — 161 sentences across 33 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XIX
Chapter 19 of The Bars of Iron is here in full — 161 sentences across 33 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A WATCH IN THE NIGHT He came at last out of what had almost been a stupor of inertia, sat slowly up, turned his brooding eyes upon the door through which Piers had passed. A tremor of anger crossed his face, and was gone. A grim smile took its place. He still panted spasmodically; but he found his voice. "Egad!" he said.
Chapter 19 of The Bars of Iron is here in full — 161 sentences across 33 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/32 · 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.
sitting on eggs so as to hatch them by the warmth of the body
From this reading “A WATCH IN THE NIGHT He came at last out of what had almost been a stupor of inertia, sat slowly up, turned his brooding eyes upon the door through which Piers had passed.”
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading “A grim smile took its place.”
a disposition to remain inactive or inert
From this reading “A WATCH IN THE NIGHT He came at last out of what had almost been a stupor of inertia, sat slowly up, turned his brooding eyes upon the door through which Piers had passed.”
past form of “pant” — breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted
From this reading “He still panted spasmodically; but he found his voice.”
plural of “pier” — a platform built out from the shore into the water and supported by piles; provides access to ships and boats
From this reading “A WATCH IN THE NIGHT He came at last out of what had almost been a stupor of inertia, sat slowly up, turned his brooding eyes upon the door through which Piers had passed.”
with spasms
From this reading “He still panted spasmodically; but he found his voice.”
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading “A WATCH IN THE NIGHT He came at last out of what had almost been a stupor of inertia, sat slowly up, turned his brooding eyes upon the door through which Piers had passed.”
an involuntary vibration (as if from illness or fear)
From this reading “A tremor of anger crossed his face, and was gone.”
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 A WATCH IN THE NIGHT He came at last out of what had almost been a stupor of inertia, sat slowly up, turned his brooding eyes upon the door through which Piers had passed.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading A WATCH IN THE NIGHT He came at last out of what had almost been a stupor of inertia, sat slowly up, turned his brooding eyes upon the door through which Piers had passed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A tremor of anger crossed his face, and was gone.
a strong emotion; a feeling that is oriented toward some real or supposed grievance
From this reading A tremor of anger crossed his face, and was gone.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A WATCH IN THE NIGHT He came at last out of what had almost been a stupor of inertia, sat slowly up, turned his brooding eyes upon the door through which Piers had passed.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A WATCH IN THE NIGHT He came at last out of what had almost been a stupor of inertia, sat slowly up, turned his brooding eyes upon the door through which Piers had passed.
sitting on eggs so as to hatch them by the warmth of the body
From this reading A WATCH IN THE NIGHT He came at last out of what had almost been a stupor of inertia, sat slowly up, turned his brooding eyes upon the door through which Piers had passed.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He still panted spasmodically; but he found his voice.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading A WATCH IN THE NIGHT He came at last out of what had almost been a stupor of inertia, sat slowly up, turned his brooding eyes upon the door through which Piers had passed.
placed crosswise
From this reading A tremor of anger crossed his face, and was gone.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading A WATCH IN THE NIGHT He came at last out of what had almost been a stupor of inertia, sat slowly up, turned his brooding eyes upon the door through which Piers had passed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Egad!" he said.
opinion or judgment
From this reading A WATCH IN THE NIGHT He came at last out of what had almost been a stupor of inertia, sat slowly up, turned his brooding eyes upon the door through which Piers had passed.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading A tremor of anger crossed his face, and was gone.
set up or found
From this reading He still panted spasmodically; but he found his voice.
destroyed or killed
From this reading A tremor of anger crossed his face, and was gone.
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading A grim smile took its place.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A WATCH IN THE NIGHT He came at last out of what had almost been a stupor of inertia, sat slowly up, turned his brooding eyes upon the door through which Piers had passed.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A WATCH IN THE NIGHT He came at last out of what had almost been a stupor of inertia, sat slowly up, turned his brooding eyes upon the door through which Piers had passed.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A WATCH IN THE NIGHT He came at last out of what had almost been a stupor of inertia, sat slowly up, turned his brooding eyes upon the door through which Piers had passed.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A WATCH IN THE NIGHT He came at last out of what had almost been a stupor of inertia, sat slowly up, turned his brooding eyes upon the door through which Piers had passed.
a disposition to remain inactive or inert
From this reading A WATCH IN THE NIGHT He came at last out of what had almost been a stupor of inertia, sat slowly up, turned his brooding eyes upon the door through which Piers had passed.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading A grim smile took its place.
immediately past
From this reading A WATCH IN THE NIGHT He came at last out of what had almost been a stupor of inertia, sat slowly up, turned his brooding eyes upon the door through which Piers had passed.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading A WATCH IN THE NIGHT He came at last out of what had almost been a stupor of inertia, sat slowly up, turned his brooding eyes upon the door through which Piers had passed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A WATCH IN THE NIGHT He came at last out of what had almost been a stupor of inertia, sat slowly up, turned his brooding eyes upon the door through which Piers had passed.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading A WATCH IN THE NIGHT He came at last out of what had almost been a stupor of inertia, sat slowly up, turned his brooding eyes upon the door through which Piers had passed.
past form of “pant” — breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted
From this reading He still panted spasmodically; but he found his voice.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading A WATCH IN THE NIGHT He came at last out of what had almost been a stupor of inertia, sat slowly up, turned his brooding eyes upon the door through which Piers had passed.
plural of “pier” — a platform built out from the shore into the water and supported by piles; provides access to ships and boats
From this reading A WATCH IN THE NIGHT He came at last out of what had almost been a stupor of inertia, sat slowly up, turned his brooding eyes upon the door through which Piers had passed.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading A grim smile took its place.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Egad!" he said.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading A WATCH IN THE NIGHT He came at last out of what had almost been a stupor of inertia, sat slowly up, turned his brooding eyes upon the door through which Piers had passed.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading A WATCH IN THE NIGHT He came at last out of what had almost been a stupor of inertia, sat slowly up, turned his brooding eyes upon the door through which Piers had passed.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading A grim smile took its place.
with spasms
From this reading He still panted spasmodically; but he found his voice.
not in physical motion
From this reading He still panted spasmodically; but he found his voice.
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading A WATCH IN THE NIGHT He came at last out of what had almost been a stupor of inertia, sat slowly up, turned his brooding eyes upon the door through which Piers had passed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A WATCH IN THE NIGHT He came at last out of what had almost been a stupor of inertia, sat slowly up, turned his brooding eyes upon the door through which Piers had passed.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading A WATCH IN THE NIGHT He came at last out of what had almost been a stupor of inertia, sat slowly up, turned his brooding eyes upon the door through which Piers had passed.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading A grim smile took its place.
an involuntary vibration (as if from illness or fear)
From this reading A tremor of anger crossed his face, and was gone.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading A WATCH IN THE NIGHT He came at last out of what had almost been a stupor of inertia, sat slowly up, turned his brooding eyes upon the door through which Piers had passed.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading A WATCH IN THE NIGHT He came at last out of what had almost been a stupor of inertia, sat slowly up, turned his brooding eyes upon the door through which Piers had passed.
a formal word for “on”
From this reading A WATCH IN THE NIGHT He came at last out of what had almost been a stupor of inertia, sat slowly up, turned his brooding eyes upon the door through which Piers had passed.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading He still panted spasmodically; but he found his voice.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A tremor of anger crossed his face, and was gone.
look attentively
From this reading A WATCH IN THE NIGHT He came at last out of what had almost been a stupor of inertia, sat slowly up, turned his brooding eyes upon the door through which Piers had passed.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading A WATCH IN THE NIGHT He came at last out of what had almost been a stupor of inertia, sat slowly up, turned his brooding eyes upon the door through which Piers had passed.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A WATCH IN THE NIGHT He came at last out of what had almost been a stupor of inertia, sat slowly up, turned his brooding eyes upon the door through which Piers had passed.
Chapter 19 of The Bars of Iron by Ethel M. (Ethel May) Dell holds 161 sentences, grouped into 33 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 19 holds 161 sentences of The Bars of Iron, unabridged, divided into 33 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 19 of The Bars of Iron by Ethel M. (Ethel May) Dell exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 161 sentences, grouped into 33 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 33 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 33 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 19 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 The Bars of Iron by Ethel M. (Ethel May) Dell on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 13358 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #10509 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #10509, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 600 minutes of reading across 2672 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Bars of Iron section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 38 chapters of The Bars of Iron 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 The Bars of Iron, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
