Chapter 4 of The Black Box is here in full — 555 sentences across 111 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter IV
Chapter 4 of The Black Box is here in full — 555 sentences across 111 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
AN OLD GRUDGE 1. Sanford Quest was smoking his after breakfast cigar with a relish somewhat affected by the measure of his perplexities. Early though it was, Lenora was already in her place, bending over her desk, and Laura, who had just arrived, was busy divesting herself of her coat and hat. Quest watched the latter impatiently. "Well?" he asked.
Chapter 4 of The Black Box is here in full — 555 sentences across 111 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/111 · 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.
movement that causes the formation of a curve
From this reading “Early though it was, Lenora was already in her place, bending over her desk, and Laura, who had just arrived, was busy divesting herself of her coat and hat.”
a roll of tobacco for smoking
From this reading “Sanford Quest was smoking his after breakfast cigar with a relish somewhat affected by the measure of his perplexities.”
-ing form of “divest” — take away possessions from someone
From this reading “Early though it was, Lenora was already in her place, bending over her desk, and Laura, who had just arrived, was busy divesting herself of her coat and hat.”
a resentment strong enough to justify retaliation
From this reading “AN OLD GRUDGE 1.”
with impatience; in an impatient manner
From this reading “Quest watched the latter impatiently.”
a search for an alternative that meets cognitive criteria
From this reading “Sanford Quest was smoking his after breakfast cigar with a relish somewhat affected by the measure of his perplexities.”
vigorous and enthusiastic enjoyment
From this reading “Sanford Quest was smoking his after breakfast cigar with a relish somewhat affected by the measure of his perplexities.”
the act of smoking tobacco or other substances
From this reading “Sanford Quest was smoking his after breakfast cigar with a relish somewhat affected by the measure of his perplexities.”
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN OLD GRUDGE 1.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Sanford Quest was smoking his after breakfast cigar with a relish somewhat affected by the measure of his perplexities.
acted upon; influenced
From this reading Sanford Quest was smoking his after breakfast cigar with a relish somewhat affected by the measure of his perplexities.
later than; following
From this reading Sanford Quest was smoking his after breakfast cigar with a relish somewhat affected by the measure of his perplexities.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Early though it was, Lenora was already in her place, bending over her desk, and Laura, who had just arrived, was busy divesting herself of her coat and hat.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN OLD GRUDGE 1.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Early though it was, Lenora was already in her place, bending over her desk, and Laura, who had just arrived, was busy divesting herself of her coat and hat.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading Early though it was, Lenora was already in her place, bending over her desk, and Laura, who had just arrived, was busy divesting herself of her coat and hat.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Well?" he asked.
movement that causes the formation of a curve
From this reading Early though it was, Lenora was already in her place, bending over her desk, and Laura, who had just arrived, was busy divesting herself of her coat and hat.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading Sanford Quest was smoking his after breakfast cigar with a relish somewhat affected by the measure of his perplexities.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading Early though it was, Lenora was already in her place, bending over her desk, and Laura, who had just arrived, was busy divesting herself of her coat and hat.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Sanford Quest was smoking his after breakfast cigar with a relish somewhat affected by the measure of his perplexities.
a roll of tobacco for smoking
From this reading Sanford Quest was smoking his after breakfast cigar with a relish somewhat affected by the measure of his perplexities.
an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading Early though it was, Lenora was already in her place, bending over her desk, and Laura, who had just arrived, was busy divesting herself of her coat and hat.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading Early though it was, Lenora was already in her place, bending over her desk, and Laura, who had just arrived, was busy divesting herself of her coat and hat.
-ing form of “divest” — take away possessions from someone
From this reading Early though it was, Lenora was already in her place, bending over her desk, and Laura, who had just arrived, was busy divesting herself of her coat and hat.
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading Early though it was, Lenora was already in her place, bending over her desk, and Laura, who had just arrived, was busy divesting herself of her coat and hat.
a resentment strong enough to justify retaliation
From this reading AN OLD GRUDGE 1.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Early though it was, Lenora was already in her place, bending over her desk, and Laura, who had just arrived, was busy divesting herself of her coat and hat.
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading Early though it was, Lenora was already in her place, bending over her desk, and Laura, who had just arrived, was busy divesting herself of her coat and hat.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Well?" he asked.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Early though it was, Lenora was already in her place, bending over her desk, and Laura, who had just arrived, was busy divesting herself of her coat and hat.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Early though it was, Lenora was already in her place, bending over her desk, and Laura, who had just arrived, was busy divesting herself of her coat and hat.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Sanford Quest was smoking his after breakfast cigar with a relish somewhat affected by the measure of his perplexities.
with impatience; in an impatient manner
From this reading Quest watched the latter impatiently.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Early though it was, Lenora was already in her place, bending over her desk, and Laura, who had just arrived, was busy divesting herself of her coat and hat.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Early though it was, Lenora was already in her place, bending over her desk, and Laura, who had just arrived, was busy divesting herself of her coat and hat.
and nothing more
From this reading Early though it was, Lenora was already in her place, bending over her desk, and Laura, who had just arrived, was busy divesting herself of her coat and hat.
referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)
From this reading Quest watched the latter impatiently.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Early though it was, Lenora was already in her place, bending over her desk, and Laura, who had just arrived, was busy divesting herself of her coat and hat.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Early though it was, Lenora was already in her place, bending over her desk, and Laura, who had just arrived, was busy divesting herself of her coat and hat.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading Sanford Quest was smoking his after breakfast cigar with a relish somewhat affected by the measure of his perplexities.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Sanford Quest was smoking his after breakfast cigar with a relish somewhat affected by the measure of his perplexities.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading AN OLD GRUDGE 1.
above and across; more than
From this reading Early though it was, Lenora was already in her place, bending over her desk, and Laura, who had just arrived, was busy divesting herself of her coat and hat.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sanford Quest was smoking his after breakfast cigar with a relish somewhat affected by the measure of his perplexities.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Early though it was, Lenora was already in her place, bending over her desk, and Laura, who had just arrived, was busy divesting herself of her coat and hat.
a search for an alternative that meets cognitive criteria
From this reading Sanford Quest was smoking his after breakfast cigar with a relish somewhat affected by the measure of his perplexities.
vigorous and enthusiastic enjoyment
From this reading Sanford Quest was smoking his after breakfast cigar with a relish somewhat affected by the measure of his perplexities.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sanford Quest was smoking his after breakfast cigar with a relish somewhat affected by the measure of his perplexities.
the act of smoking tobacco or other substances
From this reading Sanford Quest was smoking his after breakfast cigar with a relish somewhat affected by the measure of his perplexities.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading Sanford Quest was smoking his after breakfast cigar with a relish somewhat affected by the measure of his perplexities.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Sanford Quest was smoking his after breakfast cigar with a relish somewhat affected by the measure of his perplexities.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Early though it was, Lenora was already in her place, bending over her desk, and Laura, who had just arrived, was busy divesting herself of her coat and hat.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Sanford Quest was smoking his after breakfast cigar with a relish somewhat affected by the measure of his perplexities.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading Quest watched the latter impatiently.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading "Well?" he asked.
which person or people
From this reading Early though it was, Lenora was already in her place, bending over her desk, and Laura, who had just arrived, was busy divesting herself of her coat and hat.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Sanford Quest was smoking his after breakfast cigar with a relish somewhat affected by the measure of his perplexities.
Chapter 4 of The Black Box by E. Phillips (Edward Phillips) Oppenheim holds 555 sentences, grouped into 111 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 4 holds 555 sentences of The Black Box, unabridged, divided into 111 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 4 of The Black Box by E. Phillips (Edward Phillips) Oppenheim exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 555 sentences, grouped into 111 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 111 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 111 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 The Black Box by E. Phillips (Edward Phillips) Oppenheim on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 8944 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #17197 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #17197, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 600 minutes of reading across 1789 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Black Box section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 15 chapters of The Black Box 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 Black Box, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
