Chapter 17 of The Boy Aviators on Secret Service is here in full — 86 sentences across 18 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XVII
Chapter 17 of The Boy Aviators on Secret Service is here in full — 86 sentences across 18 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
THE EVERGLADES IN AN AEROPLANE. "Hurray, we are in communication with the _Tarantula_." It was Frank who spoke. Seated at the field wireless apparatus, with the metallic headpiece about his ears, he rapidly noted down the reply to the message he had flashed out some time previously. The message was signed: "Selby," and read:
Chapter 17 of The Boy Aviators on Secret Service is here in full — 86 sentences across 18 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/17 · 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.
equipment designed to serve a specific function
From this reading “Seated at the field wireless apparatus, with the metallic headpiece about his ears, he rapidly noted down the reply to the message he had flashed out some time previously.”
the activity of communicating; the activity of conveying information
From this reading “"Hurray, we are in communication with the _Tarantula_."”
a large subtropical swamp in southern Florida that is noted for its wildlife
From this reading “THE EVERGLADES IN AN AEROPLANE.”
containing or made of or resembling or characteristic of a metal
From this reading “Seated at the field wireless apparatus, with the metallic headpiece about his ears, he rapidly noted down the reply to the message he had flashed out some time previously.”
at an earlier time or formerly
From this reading “Seated at the field wireless apparatus, with the metallic headpiece about his ears, he rapidly noted down the reply to the message he had flashed out some time previously.”
having a handwritten signature
From this reading “The message was signed: "Selby," and read:”
large southern European spider once thought to be the cause of tarantism (uncontrollable bodily movement)
medium for communication
From this reading “Seated at the field wireless apparatus, with the metallic headpiece about his ears, he rapidly noted down the reply to the message he had flashed out some time previously.”
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.
In this reading “Seated at the field wireless apparatus, with the metallic headpiece about his ears, he rapidly noted down the reply to the message he had flashed out some time previously.”
In this reading “Seated at the field wireless apparatus, with the metallic headpiece about his ears, he rapidly noted down the reply to the message he had flashed out some time previously.”
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.
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Seated at the field wireless apparatus, with the metallic headpiece about his ears, he rapidly noted down the reply to the message he had flashed out some time previously.
an aircraft that has a fixed wing and is powered by propellers or jets
From this reading THE EVERGLADES IN AN AEROPLANE.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE EVERGLADES IN AN AEROPLANE.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The message was signed: "Selby," and read:
equipment designed to serve a specific function
From this reading Seated at the field wireless apparatus, with the metallic headpiece about his ears, he rapidly noted down the reply to the message he had flashed out some time previously.
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Hurray, we are in communication with the _Tarantula_."
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Seated at the field wireless apparatus, with the metallic headpiece about his ears, he rapidly noted down the reply to the message he had flashed out some time previously.
the activity of communicating; the activity of conveying information
From this reading "Hurray, we are in communication with the _Tarantula_."
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Seated at the field wireless apparatus, with the metallic headpiece about his ears, he rapidly noted down the reply to the message he had flashed out some time previously.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading Seated at the field wireless apparatus, with the metallic headpiece about his ears, he rapidly noted down the reply to the message he had flashed out some time previously.
a large subtropical swamp in southern Florida that is noted for its wildlife
From this reading THE EVERGLADES IN AN AEROPLANE.
a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed
From this reading Seated at the field wireless apparatus, with the metallic headpiece about his ears, he rapidly noted down the reply to the message he had flashed out some time previously.
past form of “flash” — gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading Seated at the field wireless apparatus, with the metallic headpiece about his ears, he rapidly noted down the reply to the message he had flashed out some time previously.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading It was Frank who spoke.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Seated at the field wireless apparatus, with the metallic headpiece about his ears, he rapidly noted down the reply to the message he had flashed out some time previously.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Seated at the field wireless apparatus, with the metallic headpiece about his ears, he rapidly noted down the reply to the message he had flashed out some time previously.
the band that is the part of a bridle that fits around a horse's head
From this reading Seated at the field wireless apparatus, with the metallic headpiece about his ears, he rapidly noted down the reply to the message he had flashed out some time previously.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Seated at the field wireless apparatus, with the metallic headpiece about his ears, he rapidly noted down the reply to the message he had flashed out some time previously.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Hurray, we are in communication with the _Tarantula_."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE EVERGLADES IN AN AEROPLANE.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was Frank who spoke.
a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading Seated at the field wireless apparatus, with the metallic headpiece about his ears, he rapidly noted down the reply to the message he had flashed out some time previously.
containing or made of or resembling or characteristic of a metal
From this reading Seated at the field wireless apparatus, with the metallic headpiece about his ears, he rapidly noted down the reply to the message he had flashed out some time previously.
widely known and esteemed
From this reading Seated at the field wireless apparatus, with the metallic headpiece about his ears, he rapidly noted down the reply to the message he had flashed out some time previously.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Seated at the field wireless apparatus, with the metallic headpiece about his ears, he rapidly noted down the reply to the message he had flashed out some time previously.
at an earlier time or formerly
From this reading Seated at the field wireless apparatus, with the metallic headpiece about his ears, he rapidly noted down the reply to the message he had flashed out some time previously.
with speed
From this reading Seated at the field wireless apparatus, with the metallic headpiece about his ears, he rapidly noted down the reply to the message he had flashed out some time previously.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading The message was signed: "Selby," and read:
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading Seated at the field wireless apparatus, with the metallic headpiece about his ears, he rapidly noted down the reply to the message he had flashed out some time previously.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading Seated at the field wireless apparatus, with the metallic headpiece about his ears, he rapidly noted down the reply to the message he had flashed out some time previously.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The message was signed: "Selby," and read:
having a handwritten signature
From this reading The message was signed: "Selby," and read:
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Seated at the field wireless apparatus, with the metallic headpiece about his ears, he rapidly noted down the reply to the message he had flashed out some time previously.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading It was Frank who spoke.
large southern European spider once thought to be the cause of tarantism (uncontrollable bodily movement)
From this reading "Hurray, we are in communication with the _Tarantula_."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE EVERGLADES IN AN AEROPLANE.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Seated at the field wireless apparatus, with the metallic headpiece about his ears, he rapidly noted down the reply to the message he had flashed out some time previously.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Seated at the field wireless apparatus, with the metallic headpiece about his ears, he rapidly noted down the reply to the message he had flashed out some time previously.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was Frank who spoke.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "Hurray, we are in communication with the _Tarantula_."
which person or people
From this reading It was Frank who spoke.
medium for communication
From this reading Seated at the field wireless apparatus, with the metallic headpiece about his ears, he rapidly noted down the reply to the message he had flashed out some time previously.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Hurray, we are in communication with the _Tarantula_."
Chapter 17 of The Boy Aviators on Secret Service by John Henry Goldfrap holds 86 sentences, grouped into 18 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 86 sentences of The Boy Aviators on Secret Service, unabridged, divided into 18 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 17 of The Boy Aviators on Secret Service by John Henry Goldfrap exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 86 sentences, grouped into 18 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 18 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 18 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.
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Yes. All 3080 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #45991 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #45991, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 256 minutes of reading across 616 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
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Words and structures a reader meets early in The Boy Aviators on Secret Service, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
