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The Big Time
The Big Time

Chapter XIII · Chapter 13

Chapter 13 of The Big Time is here in full — 80 sentences across 16 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Big Time
Context Illustration Reading 1/16 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
But whence he was, or of what wombe ybore, Of beasts, or of the earth, I have not red: But certes was with milke of wolves and tygres fed.
--Spenser THE TIGER IS LOOSE I guess when they really push the button or throw the switch or spring the trap or focus the beam or what have you, you don't faint or go crazy or anything else convenient.
I didn't.
Everything, everybody, every move that was made, every word that was spoken, was painfully real to me, like a hand twisting and squeezing things deep inside me, and I saw every least detail spotlighted and magnified like I had the seven skulls.
Erich was standing beyond the bomb chest; little smiles were ruffling his lips.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Big Time

Chapter XIII · Chapter 13

Chapter 13 of The Big Time is here in full — 80 sentences across 16 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/16 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
But whence he was, or of what wombe ybore, Of beasts, or of the earth, I have not red: But certes was with milke of wolves and tygres fed.
Line 2
--Spenser THE TIGER IS LOOSE I guess when they really push the button or throw the switch or spring the trap or focus the beam or what have you, you don't faint or go crazy or anything else convenient.
Line 3
I didn't.
Line 4
Everything, everybody, every move that was made, every word that was spoken, was painfully real to me, like a hand twisting and squeezing things deep inside me, and I saw every least detail spotlighted and magnified like I had the seven skulls.
/ˈevriθɪŋ ˈevribɑːdi ˈevəri muːv ðæt wɑːz meɪd ˈevəri wɜːrd ðæt wɑːz ˈspoʊkən wɑːz ˈpeɪnfəli riːl tuː miː laɪk ə hænd ˈtwɪstɪŋ ənd ˈskwiːzɪŋ θɪŋz diːp ˌɪnˈsaɪd miː ənd aɪ sɔː ˈevəri liːst dɪˈteɪl ˈspɑːtlaɪtɪd ənd ˈmæɡnəfaɪd laɪk aɪ hæd ðə ˈsevən skʌlz/
Line 5
Erich was standing beyond the bomb chest; little smiles were ruffling his lips.

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.

bomb noun US /bɑːm/

an explosive device fused to explode under specific conditions

From this reading “Erich was standing beyond the bomb chest; little smiles were ruffling his lips.”

focus noun US /ˈfoʊkəs/

the concentration of attention or energy on something

From this reading “--Spenser THE TIGER IS LOOSE I guess when they really push the button or throw the switch or spring the trap or focus the beam or what have you, you don't faint or go crazy or anything else convenient.”

magnified adjective US /ˈmæɡnəfaɪd/

enlarged to an abnormal degree

From this reading “Everything, everybody, every move that was made, every word that was spoken, was painfully real to me, like a hand twisting and squeezing things deep inside me, and I saw every least detail spotlighted and magnified like I had the seven skulls.”

ruffling verb US /ˈrʌfəlɪŋ/

-ing form of “ruffle” — stir up (water) so as to form ripples

From this reading “Erich was standing beyond the bomb chest; little smiles were ruffling his lips.”

skulls noun US /skʌlz/

plural of “skull” — the bony skeleton of the head of vertebrates

From this reading “Everything, everybody, every move that was made, every word that was spoken, was painfully real to me, like a hand twisting and squeezing things deep inside me, and I saw every least detail spotlighted and magnified like I had the seven skulls.”

Spenser noun US /ˈspensər/

English poet who wrote an allegorical romance celebrating Elizabeth I in the Spenserian stanza (1552-1599)

From this reading “--Spenser THE TIGER IS LOOSE I guess when they really push the button or throw the switch or spring the trap or focus the beam or what have you, you don't faint or go crazy or anything else convenient.”

spotlighted verb US /ˈspɑːtlaɪtɪd/

past form of “spotlight” — move into the foreground to make more visible or prominent

From this reading “Everything, everybody, every move that was made, every word that was spoken, was painfully real to me, like a hand twisting and squeezing things deep inside me, and I saw every least detail spotlighted and magnified like I had the seven skulls.”

squeezing noun US /ˈskwiːzɪŋ/

the act of gripping and pressing firmly

From this reading “Everything, everybody, every move that was made, every word that was spoken, was painfully real to me, like a hand twisting and squeezing things deep inside me, and I saw every least detail spotlighted and magnified like I had the seven skulls.”

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.

push the button verb + article + noun counted as “push … button”

In this reading “--Spenser THE TIGER IS LOOSE I guess when they really push the button or throw the switch or spring the trap or focus the beam or what have you, you don't faint or go crazy or anything else convenient.”

go crazy verb + adjective

In this reading “--Spenser THE TIGER IS LOOSE I guess when they really push the button or throw the switch or spring the trap or focus the beam or what have you, you don't faint or go crazy or anything else convenient.”

All words in this reading · 87

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 Everything, everybody, every move that was made, every word that was spoken, was painfully real to me, like a hand twisting and squeezing things deep inside me, and I saw every least detail spotlighted and magnified like I had the seven skulls.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading But whence he was, or of what wombe ybore, Of beasts, or of the earth, I have not red: But certes was with milke of wolves and tygres fed.

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading --Spenser THE TIGER IS LOOSE I guess when they really push the button or throw the switch or spring the trap or focus the beam or what have you, you don't faint or go crazy or anything else convenient.

beamnounUS /biːm/

a signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides airplane pilots in darkness or bad weather

From this reading --Spenser THE TIGER IS LOOSE I guess when they really push the button or throw the switch or spring the trap or focus the beam or what have you, you don't faint or go crazy or anything else convenient.

beastsnounUS /biːsts/

plural of “beast” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading But whence he was, or of what wombe ybore, Of beasts, or of the earth, I have not red: But certes was with milke of wolves and tygres fed.

beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading Erich was standing beyond the bomb chest; little smiles were ruffling his lips.

bombnounUS /bɑːm/

an explosive device fused to explode under specific conditions

From this reading Erich was standing beyond the bomb chest; little smiles were ruffling his lips.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But whence he was, or of what wombe ybore, Of beasts, or of the earth, I have not red: But certes was with milke of wolves and tygres fed.

buttonnounUS /ˈbʌtən/

a round fastener sewn to shirts and coats etc to fit through buttonholes

From this reading --Spenser THE TIGER IS LOOSE I guess when they really push the button or throw the switch or spring the trap or focus the beam or what have you, you don't faint or go crazy or anything else convenient.

certes

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

From this reading But whence he was, or of what wombe ybore, Of beasts, or of the earth, I have not red: But certes was with milke of wolves and tygres fed.

chestnounUS /tʃest/

the part of the human torso between the neck and the diaphragm or the corresponding part in other vertebrates

From this reading Erich was standing beyond the bomb chest; little smiles were ruffling his lips.

convenientadjectiveUS /kənˈviːnjənt/

suited to your comfort or purpose or needs

From this reading --Spenser THE TIGER IS LOOSE I guess when they really push the button or throw the switch or spring the trap or focus the beam or what have you, you don't faint or go crazy or anything else convenient.

crazyadjectiveUS /ˈkreɪzi/

affected with madness or insanity

From this reading --Spenser THE TIGER IS LOOSE I guess when they really push the button or throw the switch or spring the trap or focus the beam or what have you, you don't faint or go crazy or anything else convenient.

deepadjectiveUS /diːp/

relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply

From this reading Everything, everybody, every move that was made, every word that was spoken, was painfully real to me, like a hand twisting and squeezing things deep inside me, and I saw every least detail spotlighted and magnified like I had the seven skulls.

detailnounUS /dɪˈteɪl/

an isolated fact that is considered separately from the whole

From this reading Everything, everybody, every move that was made, every word that was spoken, was painfully real to me, like a hand twisting and squeezing things deep inside me, and I saw every least detail spotlighted and magnified like I had the seven skulls.

didn't

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

From this reading I didn't.

don't

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

From this reading --Spenser THE TIGER IS LOOSE I guess when they really push the button or throw the switch or spring the trap or focus the beam or what have you, you don't faint or go crazy or anything else convenient.

earthnounUS /ɜːrθ/

the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

From this reading But whence he was, or of what wombe ybore, Of beasts, or of the earth, I have not red: But certes was with milke of wolves and tygres fed.

else

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

From this reading --Spenser THE TIGER IS LOOSE I guess when they really push the button or throw the switch or spring the trap or focus the beam or what have you, you don't faint or go crazy or anything else convenient.

Erich

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

From this reading Erich was standing beyond the bomb chest; little smiles were ruffling his lips.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Everything, everybody, every move that was made, every word that was spoken, was painfully real to me, like a hand twisting and squeezing things deep inside me, and I saw every least detail spotlighted and magnified like I had the seven skulls.

everybodypronounUS /ˈevribɑːdi/

every person

From this reading Everything, everybody, every move that was made, every word that was spoken, was painfully real to me, like a hand twisting and squeezing things deep inside me, and I saw every least detail spotlighted and magnified like I had the seven skulls.

EverythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

From this reading Everything, everybody, every move that was made, every word that was spoken, was painfully real to me, like a hand twisting and squeezing things deep inside me, and I saw every least detail spotlighted and magnified like I had the seven skulls.

faintadjectiveUS /feɪnt/

deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc

From this reading --Spenser THE TIGER IS LOOSE I guess when they really push the button or throw the switch or spring the trap or focus the beam or what have you, you don't faint or go crazy or anything else convenient.

fednounUS /fed/

any federal law-enforcement officer

From this reading But whence he was, or of what wombe ybore, Of beasts, or of the earth, I have not red: But certes was with milke of wolves and tygres fed.

focusnounUS /ˈfoʊkəs/

the concentration of attention or energy on something

From this reading --Spenser THE TIGER IS LOOSE I guess when they really push the button or throw the switch or spring the trap or focus the beam or what have you, you don't faint or go crazy or anything else convenient.

goverbUS /ɡoʊ/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading --Spenser THE TIGER IS LOOSE I guess when they really push the button or throw the switch or spring the trap or focus the beam or what have you, you don't faint or go crazy or anything else convenient.

guessverbUS /ɡes/

expect, believe, or suppose

From this reading --Spenser THE TIGER IS LOOSE I guess when they really push the button or throw the switch or spring the trap or focus the beam or what have you, you don't faint or go crazy or anything else convenient.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Everything, everybody, every move that was made, every word that was spoken, was painfully real to me, like a hand twisting and squeezing things deep inside me, and I saw every least detail spotlighted and magnified like I had the seven skulls.

handnounUS /hænd/

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading Everything, everybody, every move that was made, every word that was spoken, was painfully real to me, like a hand twisting and squeezing things deep inside me, and I saw every least detail spotlighted and magnified like I had the seven skulls.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading But whence he was, or of what wombe ybore, Of beasts, or of the earth, I have not red: But certes was with milke of wolves and tygres fed.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading But whence he was, or of what wombe ybore, Of beasts, or of the earth, I have not red: But certes was with milke of wolves and tygres fed.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Erich was standing beyond the bomb chest; little smiles were ruffling his lips.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading But whence he was, or of what wombe ybore, Of beasts, or of the earth, I have not red: But certes was with milke of wolves and tygres fed.

insideadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈsaɪd/

relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space

From this reading Everything, everybody, every move that was made, every word that was spoken, was painfully real to me, like a hand twisting and squeezing things deep inside me, and I saw every least detail spotlighted and magnified like I had the seven skulls.

ISauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading --Spenser THE TIGER IS LOOSE I guess when they really push the button or throw the switch or spring the trap or focus the beam or what have you, you don't faint or go crazy or anything else convenient.

leastadjectiveUS /liːst/

the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree

From this reading Everything, everybody, every move that was made, every word that was spoken, was painfully real to me, like a hand twisting and squeezing things deep inside me, and I saw every least detail spotlighted and magnified like I had the seven skulls.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Everything, everybody, every move that was made, every word that was spoken, was painfully real to me, like a hand twisting and squeezing things deep inside me, and I saw every least detail spotlighted and magnified like I had the seven skulls.

lipsnounUS /lɪps/

plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking

From this reading Erich was standing beyond the bomb chest; little smiles were ruffling his lips.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Erich was standing beyond the bomb chest; little smiles were ruffling his lips.

LOOSEadjectiveUS /luːs/

not compact or dense in structure or arrangement

From this reading --Spenser THE TIGER IS LOOSE I guess when they really push the button or throw the switch or spring the trap or focus the beam or what have you, you don't faint or go crazy or anything else convenient.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Everything, everybody, every move that was made, every word that was spoken, was painfully real to me, like a hand twisting and squeezing things deep inside me, and I saw every least detail spotlighted and magnified like I had the seven skulls.

magnifiedadjectiveUS /ˈmæɡnəfaɪd/

enlarged to an abnormal degree

From this reading Everything, everybody, every move that was made, every word that was spoken, was painfully real to me, like a hand twisting and squeezing things deep inside me, and I saw every least detail spotlighted and magnified like I had the seven skulls.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Everything, everybody, every move that was made, every word that was spoken, was painfully real to me, like a hand twisting and squeezing things deep inside me, and I saw every least detail spotlighted and magnified like I had the seven skulls.

milke

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

From this reading But whence he was, or of what wombe ybore, Of beasts, or of the earth, I have not red: But certes was with milke of wolves and tygres fed.

moveverbUS /muːv/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading Everything, everybody, every move that was made, every word that was spoken, was painfully real to me, like a hand twisting and squeezing things deep inside me, and I saw every least detail spotlighted and magnified like I had the seven skulls.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading But whence he was, or of what wombe ybore, Of beasts, or of the earth, I have not red: But certes was with milke of wolves and tygres fed.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading But whence he was, or of what wombe ybore, Of beasts, or of the earth, I have not red: But certes was with milke of wolves and tygres fed.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading But whence he was, or of what wombe ybore, Of beasts, or of the earth, I have not red: But certes was with milke of wolves and tygres fed.

painfullyadverbUS /ˈpeɪnfəli/

unpleasantly

From this reading Everything, everybody, every move that was made, every word that was spoken, was painfully real to me, like a hand twisting and squeezing things deep inside me, and I saw every least detail spotlighted and magnified like I had the seven skulls.

pushverbUS /pʊʃ/

move with force

From this reading --Spenser THE TIGER IS LOOSE I guess when they really push the button or throw the switch or spring the trap or focus the beam or what have you, you don't faint or go crazy or anything else convenient.

realadjectiveUS /riːl/

being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory

From this reading Everything, everybody, every move that was made, every word that was spoken, was painfully real to me, like a hand twisting and squeezing things deep inside me, and I saw every least detail spotlighted and magnified like I had the seven skulls.

reallyadverbUS /ˈrɪli/

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading --Spenser THE TIGER IS LOOSE I guess when they really push the button or throw the switch or spring the trap or focus the beam or what have you, you don't faint or go crazy or anything else convenient.

rednounUS /red/

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading But whence he was, or of what wombe ybore, Of beasts, or of the earth, I have not red: But certes was with milke of wolves and tygres fed.

rufflingverbUS /ˈrʌfəlɪŋ/

-ing form of “ruffle” — stir up (water) so as to form ripples

From this reading Erich was standing beyond the bomb chest; little smiles were ruffling his lips.

sawverbUS /sɔː/

cut with a saw

From this reading Everything, everybody, every move that was made, every word that was spoken, was painfully real to me, like a hand twisting and squeezing things deep inside me, and I saw every least detail spotlighted and magnified like I had the seven skulls.

sevennounUS /ˈsevən/

the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one

From this reading Everything, everybody, every move that was made, every word that was spoken, was painfully real to me, like a hand twisting and squeezing things deep inside me, and I saw every least detail spotlighted and magnified like I had the seven skulls.

skullsnounUS /skʌlz/

plural of “skull” — the bony skeleton of the head of vertebrates

From this reading Everything, everybody, every move that was made, every word that was spoken, was painfully real to me, like a hand twisting and squeezing things deep inside me, and I saw every least detail spotlighted and magnified like I had the seven skulls.

smilesnounUS /smaɪlz/

plural of “smile” — a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement

From this reading Erich was standing beyond the bomb chest; little smiles were ruffling his lips.

SpensernounUS /ˈspensər/

English poet who wrote an allegorical romance celebrating Elizabeth I in the Spenserian stanza (1552-1599)

From this reading --Spenser THE TIGER IS LOOSE I guess when they really push the button or throw the switch or spring the trap or focus the beam or what have you, you don't faint or go crazy or anything else convenient.

spokenadjectiveUS /ˈspoʊkən/

uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination

From this reading Everything, everybody, every move that was made, every word that was spoken, was painfully real to me, like a hand twisting and squeezing things deep inside me, and I saw every least detail spotlighted and magnified like I had the seven skulls.

spotlightedverbUS /ˈspɑːtlaɪtɪd/

past form of “spotlight” — move into the foreground to make more visible or prominent

From this reading Everything, everybody, every move that was made, every word that was spoken, was painfully real to me, like a hand twisting and squeezing things deep inside me, and I saw every least detail spotlighted and magnified like I had the seven skulls.

springnounUS /sprɪŋ/

the season of growth

From this reading --Spenser THE TIGER IS LOOSE I guess when they really push the button or throw the switch or spring the trap or focus the beam or what have you, you don't faint or go crazy or anything else convenient.

squeezingnounUS /ˈskwiːzɪŋ/

the act of gripping and pressing firmly

From this reading Everything, everybody, every move that was made, every word that was spoken, was painfully real to me, like a hand twisting and squeezing things deep inside me, and I saw every least detail spotlighted and magnified like I had the seven skulls.

standingadjectiveUS /ˈstændɪŋ/

having a supporting base

From this reading Erich was standing beyond the bomb chest; little smiles were ruffling his lips.

switchverbUS /swɪtʃ/

change over, change around, as to a new order or sequence

From this reading --Spenser THE TIGER IS LOOSE I guess when they really push the button or throw the switch or spring the trap or focus the beam or what have you, you don't faint or go crazy or anything else convenient.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Everything, everybody, every move that was made, every word that was spoken, was painfully real to me, like a hand twisting and squeezing things deep inside me, and I saw every least detail spotlighted and magnified like I had the seven skulls.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading But whence he was, or of what wombe ybore, Of beasts, or of the earth, I have not red: But certes was with milke of wolves and tygres fed.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading --Spenser THE TIGER IS LOOSE I guess when they really push the button or throw the switch or spring the trap or focus the beam or what have you, you don't faint or go crazy or anything else convenient.

thingsnounUS /θɪŋz/

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading Everything, everybody, every move that was made, every word that was spoken, was painfully real to me, like a hand twisting and squeezing things deep inside me, and I saw every least detail spotlighted and magnified like I had the seven skulls.

throwverbUS /θroʊ/

propel through the air

From this reading --Spenser THE TIGER IS LOOSE I guess when they really push the button or throw the switch or spring the trap or focus the beam or what have you, you don't faint or go crazy or anything else convenient.

TIGERnounUS /ˈtaɪɡər/

a fierce or audacious person

From this reading --Spenser THE TIGER IS LOOSE I guess when they really push the button or throw the switch or spring the trap or focus the beam or what have you, you don't faint or go crazy or anything else convenient.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Everything, everybody, every move that was made, every word that was spoken, was painfully real to me, like a hand twisting and squeezing things deep inside me, and I saw every least detail spotlighted and magnified like I had the seven skulls.

trapnounUS /træp/

a device in which something (usually an animal) can be caught and penned

From this reading --Spenser THE TIGER IS LOOSE I guess when they really push the button or throw the switch or spring the trap or focus the beam or what have you, you don't faint or go crazy or anything else convenient.

twistingnounUS /ˈtwɪstɪŋ/

the act of distorting something so it seems to mean something it was not intended to mean

From this reading Everything, everybody, every move that was made, every word that was spoken, was painfully real to me, like a hand twisting and squeezing things deep inside me, and I saw every least detail spotlighted and magnified like I had the seven skulls.

tygres

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

From this reading But whence he was, or of what wombe ybore, Of beasts, or of the earth, I have not red: But certes was with milke of wolves and tygres fed.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading But whence he was, or of what wombe ybore, Of beasts, or of the earth, I have not red: But certes was with milke of wolves and tygres fed.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Erich was standing beyond the bomb chest; little smiles were ruffling his lips.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading But whence he was, or of what wombe ybore, Of beasts, or of the earth, I have not red: But certes was with milke of wolves and tygres fed.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading --Spenser THE TIGER IS LOOSE I guess when they really push the button or throw the switch or spring the trap or focus the beam or what have you, you don't faint or go crazy or anything else convenient.

whenceadverbUS /wens/

an old word meaning “from where”

From this reading But whence he was, or of what wombe ybore, Of beasts, or of the earth, I have not red: But certes was with milke of wolves and tygres fed.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading But whence he was, or of what wombe ybore, Of beasts, or of the earth, I have not red: But certes was with milke of wolves and tygres fed.

wolvesnounUS /wʊlvz/

plural of “wolf” — any of various predatory carnivorous canine mammals of North America and Eurasia that usually hunt in packs

From this reading But whence he was, or of what wombe ybore, Of beasts, or of the earth, I have not red: But certes was with milke of wolves and tygres fed.

wombe

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

From this reading But whence he was, or of what wombe ybore, Of beasts, or of the earth, I have not red: But certes was with milke of wolves and tygres fed.

wordnounUS /wɜːrd/

a unit of language that native speakers can identify

From this reading Everything, everybody, every move that was made, every word that was spoken, was painfully real to me, like a hand twisting and squeezing things deep inside me, and I saw every least detail spotlighted and magnified like I had the seven skulls.

ybore

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

From this reading But whence he was, or of what wombe ybore, Of beasts, or of the earth, I have not red: But certes was with milke of wolves and tygres fed.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading --Spenser THE TIGER IS LOOSE I guess when they really push the button or throw the switch or spring the trap or focus the beam or what have you, you don't faint or go crazy or anything else convenient.

Chapter 13 of The Big Time by Fritz Leiber holds 80 sentences, grouped into 16 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 13 of The Big Time contain?

Chapter 13 holds 80 sentences of The Big Time, unabridged, divided into 16 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 13 of The Big Time by Fritz Leiber exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 80 sentences, grouped into 16 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 13 of The Big Time?

Work through the 16 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 16 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 13 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 13 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 The Big Time

Common questions about reading The Big Time by Fritz Leiber on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Big Time?

Yes. All 1875 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #32256 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Big Time is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #32256, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Big Time take to read?

About 156 minutes of reading across 375 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Big Time section by section

How to work through The Big Time section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 16 chapters of The Big Time 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 The Big Time

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Big Time, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Can't
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Big Time; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
There's
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Big Time; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
On--for
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Big Time; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Snakes
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Big Time; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.