Chapter 17 of The Boat Club is here in full — 174 sentences across 35 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XVII
Chapter 17 of The Boat Club is here in full — 174 sentences across 35 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
OVERBOARD There was no visible object which seemed to suggest a name for the miniature sea; but just then the band began to play "Washington's March." "Call it Washington Sea, boys," said Mrs. Sedley. The name was given, but the geography lesson could not proceed while the music continued. "Stand by to lay on your oars!" Frank commanded.
Chapter 17 of The Boat Club is here in full — 174 sentences across 35 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/34 · 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.
study of the earth's surface; includes people's responses to topography and climate and soil and vegetation
From this reading “The name was given, but the geography lesson could not proceed while the music continued.”
a unit of instruction
From this reading “The name was given, but the geography lesson could not proceed while the music continued.”
painting or drawing included in a book (especially in illuminated medieval manuscripts)
From this reading “OVERBOARD There was no visible object which seemed to suggest a name for the miniature sea; but just then the band began to play "Washington's March."”
plural of “oar” — an implement used to propel or steer a boat
From this reading “"Stand by to lay on your oars!"”
to extremes
From this reading “OVERBOARD There was no visible object which seemed to suggest a name for the miniature sea; but just then the band began to play "Washington's March."”
continue talking
From this reading “The name was given, but the geography lesson could not proceed while the music continued.”
make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading “OVERBOARD There was no visible object which seemed to suggest a name for the miniature sea; but just then the band began to play "Washington's March."”
possessive form of “washington” — the capital of the United States in the District of Columbia and a tourist mecca; George Washington commissioned Charles L'Enfant to lay out the city in 1791
From this reading “OVERBOARD There was no visible object which seemed to suggest a name for the miniature sea; but just then the band began to play "Washington's March."”
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 OVERBOARD There was no visible object which seemed to suggest a name for the miniature sea; but just then the band began to play "Washington's March."
an unofficial association of people or groups
From this reading OVERBOARD There was no visible object which seemed to suggest a name for the miniature sea; but just then the band began to play "Washington's March."
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading OVERBOARD There was no visible object which seemed to suggest a name for the miniature sea; but just then the band began to play "Washington's March."
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading "Call it Washington Sea, boys," said Mrs. Sedley.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading OVERBOARD There was no visible object which seemed to suggest a name for the miniature sea; but just then the band began to play "Washington's March."
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "Stand by to lay on your oars!"
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "Call it Washington Sea, boys," said Mrs. Sedley.
past form of “command” — be in command of
From this reading Frank commanded.
without stop or interruption
From this reading The name was given, but the geography lesson could not proceed while the music continued.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The name was given, but the geography lesson could not proceed while the music continued.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading OVERBOARD There was no visible object which seemed to suggest a name for the miniature sea; but just then the band began to play "Washington's March."
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading Frank commanded.
study of the earth's surface; includes people's responses to topography and climate and soil and vegetation
From this reading The name was given, but the geography lesson could not proceed while the music continued.
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading The name was given, but the geography lesson could not proceed while the music continued.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Call it Washington Sea, boys," said Mrs. Sedley.
and nothing more
From this reading OVERBOARD There was no visible object which seemed to suggest a name for the miniature sea; but just then the band began to play "Washington's March."
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading "Stand by to lay on your oars!"
a unit of instruction
From this reading The name was given, but the geography lesson could not proceed while the music continued.
march in a procession
From this reading OVERBOARD There was no visible object which seemed to suggest a name for the miniature sea; but just then the band began to play "Washington's March."
painting or drawing included in a book (especially in illuminated medieval manuscripts)
From this reading OVERBOARD There was no visible object which seemed to suggest a name for the miniature sea; but just then the band began to play "Washington's March."
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading "Call it Washington Sea, boys," said Mrs. Sedley.
an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
From this reading The name was given, but the geography lesson could not proceed while the music continued.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading OVERBOARD There was no visible object which seemed to suggest a name for the miniature sea; but just then the band began to play "Washington's March."
not any; not one
From this reading OVERBOARD There was no visible object which seemed to suggest a name for the miniature sea; but just then the band began to play "Washington's March."
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The name was given, but the geography lesson could not proceed while the music continued.
plural of “oar” — an implement used to propel or steer a boat
From this reading "Stand by to lay on your oars!"
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading OVERBOARD There was no visible object which seemed to suggest a name for the miniature sea; but just then the band began to play "Washington's March."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "Stand by to lay on your oars!"
to extremes
From this reading OVERBOARD There was no visible object which seemed to suggest a name for the miniature sea; but just then the band began to play "Washington's March."
participate in games or sport
From this reading OVERBOARD There was no visible object which seemed to suggest a name for the miniature sea; but just then the band began to play "Washington's March."
continue talking
From this reading The name was given, but the geography lesson could not proceed while the music continued.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Call it Washington Sea, boys," said Mrs. Sedley.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading OVERBOARD There was no visible object which seemed to suggest a name for the miniature sea; but just then the band began to play "Washington's March."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Call it Washington Sea, boys," said Mrs. Sedley.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading OVERBOARD There was no visible object which seemed to suggest a name for the miniature sea; but just then the band began to play "Washington's March."
be standing; be upright
From this reading "Stand by to lay on your oars!"
make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading OVERBOARD There was no visible object which seemed to suggest a name for the miniature sea; but just then the band began to play "Washington's March."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading OVERBOARD There was no visible object which seemed to suggest a name for the miniature sea; but just then the band began to play "Washington's March."
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading OVERBOARD There was no visible object which seemed to suggest a name for the miniature sea; but just then the band began to play "Washington's March."
in or at that place or location
From this reading OVERBOARD There was no visible object which seemed to suggest a name for the miniature sea; but just then the band began to play "Washington's March."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading OVERBOARD There was no visible object which seemed to suggest a name for the miniature sea; but just then the band began to play "Washington's March."
capable of being seen; or open to easy view
From this reading OVERBOARD There was no visible object which seemed to suggest a name for the miniature sea; but just then the band began to play "Washington's March."
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading OVERBOARD There was no visible object which seemed to suggest a name for the miniature sea; but just then the band began to play "Washington's March."
the capital of the United States in the District of Columbia and a tourist mecca; George Washington commissioned Charles L'Enfant to lay out the city in 1791
From this reading "Call it Washington Sea, boys," said Mrs. Sedley.
possessive form of “washington” — the capital of the United States in the District of Columbia and a tourist mecca; George Washington commissioned Charles L'Enfant to lay out the city in 1791
From this reading OVERBOARD There was no visible object which seemed to suggest a name for the miniature sea; but just then the band began to play "Washington's March."
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading OVERBOARD There was no visible object which seemed to suggest a name for the miniature sea; but just then the band began to play "Washington's March."
during the time that
From this reading The name was given, but the geography lesson could not proceed while the music continued.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Stand by to lay on your oars!"
Chapter 17 of The Boat Club by Oliver Optic holds 174 sentences, grouped into 35 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 17 holds 174 sentences of The Boat Club, unabridged, divided into 35 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 17 of The Boat Club by Oliver Optic exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 174 sentences, grouped into 35 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 35 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 35 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 17 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 Boat Club by Oliver Optic on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 3223 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #24557 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #24557, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 268 minutes of reading across 645 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Boat Club section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 21 chapters of The Boat Club 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 Boat Club, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
