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The black border
The black border

Chapter IX

Chapter 9 of The black border is here in full — 397 sentences across 80 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The black border
Context Illustration Reading 1/79 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
CULLUD--colored, colored people, the dark race CUMBEE--the Combahee river, also the lands lying along the stream.
This is, by the way, the correct pronunciation.
CUMPLAIN--(n. and v.) complain, complains, complained, complaining; complaint, complaints.
CUMP’NY--company, companies.
CUMPOSHASHUN/CUMPUHSHASHUN/COMPUHSHASHUN--conversation, talk, parley, interrogatories, argument.
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 black border

Chapter IX

Chapter 9 of The black border is here in full — 397 sentences across 80 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/79 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
CULLUD--colored, colored people, the dark race CUMBEE--the Combahee river, also the lands lying along the stream.
Line 2
This is, by the way, the correct pronunciation.
/ðɪs ɪz baɪ ðə weɪ ðə kərˈekt proʊˌnʌnsiˈeɪʃən/
Line 3
CUMPLAIN--(n. and v.) complain, complains, complained, complaining; complaint, complaints.
Line 4
CUMP’NY--company, companies.
Line 5
CUMPOSHASHUN/CUMPUHSHASHUN/COMPUHSHASHUN--conversation, talk, parley, interrogatories, argument.

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.

companies noun US /ˈkʌmpəniːz/

plural of “company” — an institution created to conduct business

From this reading “CUMP’NY--company, companies.”

complained verb US /kəmˈpleɪnd/

past form of “complain” — express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness

From this reading “CUMPLAIN--(n. and v.) complain, complains, complained, complaining; complaint, complaints.”

complaining adjective US /kəmˈpleɪnɪŋ/

expressing pain or dissatisfaction of resentment

From this reading “CUMPLAIN--(n. and v.) complain, complains, complained, complaining; complaint, complaints.”

complains verb US /kəmˈpleɪnz/

third-person singular of “complain” — express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness

From this reading “CUMPLAIN--(n. and v.) complain, complains, complained, complaining; complaint, complaints.”

complaints noun US /kəmˈpleɪnts/

plural of “complaint” — an often persistent bodily disorder or disease; a cause for complaining

From this reading “CUMPLAIN--(n. and v.) complain, complains, complained, complaining; complaint, complaints.”

interrogatories noun US /ˌɪnteˈrɑːɡətɔːriz/

plural of “interrogatory” — formal systematic questioning

From this reading “CUMPOSHASHUN/CUMPUHSHASHUN/COMPUHSHASHUN--conversation, talk, parley, interrogatories, argument.”

parley noun US /ˈpɑːrli/

a negotiation between enemies

From this reading “CUMPOSHASHUN/CUMPUHSHASHUN/COMPUHSHASHUN--conversation, talk, parley, interrogatories, argument.”

pronunciation noun US /proʊˌnʌnsiˈeɪʃən/

the manner in which someone utters a word

From this reading “This is, by the way, the correct pronunciation.”

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.

colored people adjective + noun

In this reading “CULLUD--colored, colored people, the dark race CUMBEE--the Combahee river, also the lands lying along the stream.”

by the way preposition + article + noun counted as “by … way”

introducing a different topic

In this reading “This is, by the way, the correct pronunciation.”

All words in this reading · 41

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.

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading CULLUD--colored, colored people, the dark race CUMBEE--the Combahee river, also the lands lying along the stream.

alsoadverbUS /ˈɔːlsoʊ/

in addition

From this reading CULLUD--colored, colored people, the dark race CUMBEE--the Combahee river, also the lands lying along the stream.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading CUMPLAIN--(n. and v.) complain, complains, complained, complaining; complaint, complaints.

argumentnounUS /ˈɑːrɡjəmənt/

a fact or assertion offered as evidence that something is true

From this reading CUMPOSHASHUN/CUMPUHSHASHUN/COMPUHSHASHUN--conversation, talk, parley, interrogatories, argument.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading This is, by the way, the correct pronunciation.

coloredadjectiveUS /ˈkʌlərd/

having color or a certain color; sometimes used in combination

From this reading CULLUD--colored, colored people, the dark race CUMBEE--the Combahee river, also the lands lying along the stream.

Combahee

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

From this reading CULLUD--colored, colored people, the dark race CUMBEE--the Combahee river, also the lands lying along the stream.

companiesnounUS /ˈkʌmpəniːz/

plural of “company” — an institution created to conduct business

From this reading CUMP’NY--company, companies.

companynounUS /ˈkʌmpəniː/

an institution created to conduct business

From this reading CUMP’NY--company, companies.

complainverbUS /kəmˈpleɪn/

express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness

From this reading CUMPLAIN--(n. and v.) complain, complains, complained, complaining; complaint, complaints.

complainedverbUS /kəmˈpleɪnd/

past form of “complain” — express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness

From this reading CUMPLAIN--(n. and v.) complain, complains, complained, complaining; complaint, complaints.

complainingadjectiveUS /kəmˈpleɪnɪŋ/

expressing pain or dissatisfaction of resentment

From this reading CUMPLAIN--(n. and v.) complain, complains, complained, complaining; complaint, complaints.

complainsverbUS /kəmˈpleɪnz/

third-person singular of “complain” — express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness

From this reading CUMPLAIN--(n. and v.) complain, complains, complained, complaining; complaint, complaints.

complaintnounUS /kəmˈpleɪnt/

an often persistent bodily disorder or disease; a cause for complaining

From this reading CUMPLAIN--(n. and v.) complain, complains, complained, complaining; complaint, complaints.

complaintsnounUS /kəmˈpleɪnts/

plural of “complaint” — an often persistent bodily disorder or disease; a cause for complaining

From this reading CUMPLAIN--(n. and v.) complain, complains, complained, complaining; complaint, complaints.

COMPUHSHASHUN

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

From this reading CUMPOSHASHUN/CUMPUHSHASHUN/COMPUHSHASHUN--conversation, talk, parley, interrogatories, argument.

conversationnounUS /ˌkɑːnvərˈseɪʃən/

the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.

From this reading CUMPOSHASHUN/CUMPUHSHASHUN/COMPUHSHASHUN--conversation, talk, parley, interrogatories, argument.

correctverbUS /kərˈekt/

make right or correct

From this reading This is, by the way, the correct pronunciation.

CULLUD

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

From this reading CULLUD--colored, colored people, the dark race CUMBEE--the Combahee river, also the lands lying along the stream.

CUMBEE

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

From this reading CULLUD--colored, colored people, the dark race CUMBEE--the Combahee river, also the lands lying along the stream.

CUMP'NY

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

From this reading CUMP’NY--company, companies.

CUMPLAIN

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

From this reading CUMPLAIN--(n. and v.) complain, complains, complained, complaining; complaint, complaints.

CUMPOSHASHUN

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

From this reading CUMPOSHASHUN/CUMPUHSHASHUN/COMPUHSHASHUN--conversation, talk, parley, interrogatories, argument.

CUMPUHSHASHUN

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

From this reading CUMPOSHASHUN/CUMPUHSHASHUN/COMPUHSHASHUN--conversation, talk, parley, interrogatories, argument.

darknounUS /dɑːrk/

absence of light or illumination

From this reading CULLUD--colored, colored people, the dark race CUMBEE--the Combahee river, also the lands lying along the stream.

interrogatoriesnounUS /ˌɪnteˈrɑːɡətɔːriz/

plural of “interrogatory” — formal systematic questioning

From this reading CUMPOSHASHUN/CUMPUHSHASHUN/COMPUHSHASHUN--conversation, talk, parley, interrogatories, argument.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading This is, by the way, the correct pronunciation.

landsnounUS /lændz/

plural of “land” — the land on which real estate is located

From this reading CULLUD--colored, colored people, the dark race CUMBEE--the Combahee river, also the lands lying along the stream.

lyingnounUS /ˈlaɪɪŋ/

the deliberate act of deviating from the truth

From this reading CULLUD--colored, colored people, the dark race CUMBEE--the Combahee river, also the lands lying along the stream.

nnounUS /en/

a common nonmetallic element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless inert diatomic gas; constitutes 78 percent of the atmosphere by volume; a constituent of all living tissues

From this reading CUMPLAIN--(n. and v.) complain, complains, complained, complaining; complaint, complaints.

parleynounUS /ˈpɑːrli/

a negotiation between enemies

From this reading CUMPOSHASHUN/CUMPUHSHASHUN/COMPUHSHASHUN--conversation, talk, parley, interrogatories, argument.

peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading CULLUD--colored, colored people, the dark race CUMBEE--the Combahee river, also the lands lying along the stream.

pronunciationnounUS /proʊˌnʌnsiˈeɪʃən/

the manner in which someone utters a word

From this reading This is, by the way, the correct pronunciation.

racenounUS /reɪs/

any competition

From this reading CULLUD--colored, colored people, the dark race CUMBEE--the Combahee river, also the lands lying along the stream.

rivernounUS /ˈrɪvər/

a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading CULLUD--colored, colored people, the dark race CUMBEE--the Combahee river, also the lands lying along the stream.

streamnounUS /striːm/

a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth

From this reading CULLUD--colored, colored people, the dark race CUMBEE--the Combahee river, also the lands lying along the stream.

talkverbUS /tɔːk/

exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading CUMPOSHASHUN/CUMPUHSHASHUN/COMPUHSHASHUN--conversation, talk, parley, interrogatories, argument.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading CULLUD--colored, colored people, the dark race CUMBEE--the Combahee river, also the lands lying along the stream.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading This is, by the way, the correct pronunciation.

vnounUS /viː/

a unit of potential equal to the potential difference between two points on a conductor carrying a current of 1 ampere when the power dissipated between the two points is 1 watt

From this reading CUMPLAIN--(n. and v.) complain, complains, complained, complaining; complaint, complaints.

waynounUS /weɪ/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading This is, by the way, the correct pronunciation.

Chapter 9 of The black border by Ambrose Elliott Gonzalez holds 397 sentences, grouped into 80 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 9 of The black border contain?

Chapter 9 holds 397 sentences of The black border, unabridged, divided into 80 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 9 of The black border by Ambrose Elliott Gonzalez exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 397 sentences, grouped into 80 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 9 of The black border?

Work through the 80 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 80 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 9 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 9 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 black border

Common questions about reading The black border by Ambrose Elliott Gonzalez on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The black border?

Yes. All 4936 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #71432 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The black border is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #71432, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The black border take to read?

About 411 minutes of reading across 988 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The black border section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 12 chapters of The black border 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 black border

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

Under
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The black border; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Shoulder
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The black border; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Africa
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The black border; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Boldly
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The black border; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.