Chapter 1 of The Boys of the Wireless is here in full — 124 sentences across 25 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
Chapter 1 of The Boys of the Wireless is here in full — 124 sentences across 25 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A Stirring Rescue from the Deep AUTHOR OF “AIRSHIP ANDY,” “COMRADES OF THE SADDLE,” “BEN HARDY’S FLYING MACHINE,” “BOB THE CASTAWAY,” ETC. 12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. “What’s that new-fangled thing on the blasted oak, Tom?”
Chapter 1 of The Boys of the Wireless is here in full — 124 sentences across 25 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/24 · 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.
a steerable self-propelled aircraft
From this reading “A Stirring Rescue from the Deep AUTHOR OF “AIRSHIP ANDY,” “COMRADES OF THE SADDLE,” “BEN HARDY’S FLYING MACHINE,” “BOB THE CASTAWAY,” ETC.”
expletives used informally as intensifiers
From this reading ““What’s that new-fangled thing on the blasted oak, Tom?””
a person who is rejected (from society or home)
From this reading “A Stirring Rescue from the Deep AUTHOR OF “AIRSHIP ANDY,” “COMRADES OF THE SADDLE,” “BEN HARDY’S FLYING MACHINE,” “BOB THE CASTAWAY,” ETC.”
plural of “comrade” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading “A Stirring Rescue from the Deep AUTHOR OF “AIRSHIP ANDY,” “COMRADES OF THE SADDLE,” “BEN HARDY’S FLYING MACHINE,” “BOB THE CASTAWAY,” ETC.”
possessive form of “hardy” — United States slapstick comedian who played the pompous and overbearing member of the Laurel and Hardy duo who made many films (1892-1957)
past form of “illustrate” — clarify by giving an example of
From this reading “Illustrated.”
the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring
From this reading ““What’s that new-fangled thing on the blasted oak, Tom?””
agitating a liquid with an implement
From this reading “A Stirring Rescue from the Deep AUTHOR OF “AIRSHIP ANDY,” “COMRADES OF THE SADDLE,” “BEN HARDY’S FLYING MACHINE,” “BOB THE CASTAWAY,” ETC.”
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 “A Stirring Rescue from the Deep AUTHOR OF “AIRSHIP ANDY,” “COMRADES OF THE SADDLE,” “BEN HARDY’S FLYING MACHINE,” “BOB THE CASTAWAY,” ETC.”
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 12mo.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A Stirring Rescue from the Deep AUTHOR OF “AIRSHIP ANDY,” “COMRADES OF THE SADDLE,” “BEN HARDY’S FLYING MACHINE,” “BOB THE CASTAWAY,” ETC.
a steerable self-propelled aircraft
From this reading A Stirring Rescue from the Deep AUTHOR OF “AIRSHIP ANDY,” “COMRADES OF THE SADDLE,” “BEN HARDY’S FLYING MACHINE,” “BOB THE CASTAWAY,” ETC.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A Stirring Rescue from the Deep AUTHOR OF “AIRSHIP ANDY,” “COMRADES OF THE SADDLE,” “BEN HARDY’S FLYING MACHINE,” “BOB THE CASTAWAY,” ETC.
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading A Stirring Rescue from the Deep AUTHOR OF “AIRSHIP ANDY,” “COMRADES OF THE SADDLE,” “BEN HARDY’S FLYING MACHINE,” “BOB THE CASTAWAY,” ETC.
a mountain or tall hill
From this reading A Stirring Rescue from the Deep AUTHOR OF “AIRSHIP ANDY,” “COMRADES OF THE SADDLE,” “BEN HARDY’S FLYING MACHINE,” “BOB THE CASTAWAY,” ETC.
expletives used informally as intensifiers
From this reading “What’s that new-fangled thing on the blasted oak, Tom?”
move up and down repeatedly
From this reading A Stirring Rescue from the Deep AUTHOR OF “AIRSHIP ANDY,” “COMRADES OF THE SADDLE,” “BEN HARDY’S FLYING MACHINE,” “BOB THE CASTAWAY,” ETC.
a person who is rejected (from society or home)
From this reading A Stirring Rescue from the Deep AUTHOR OF “AIRSHIP ANDY,” “COMRADES OF THE SADDLE,” “BEN HARDY’S FLYING MACHINE,” “BOB THE CASTAWAY,” ETC.
artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers
From this reading Cloth.
plural of “comrade” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading A Stirring Rescue from the Deep AUTHOR OF “AIRSHIP ANDY,” “COMRADES OF THE SADDLE,” “BEN HARDY’S FLYING MACHINE,” “BOB THE CASTAWAY,” ETC.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading A Stirring Rescue from the Deep AUTHOR OF “AIRSHIP ANDY,” “COMRADES OF THE SADDLE,” “BEN HARDY’S FLYING MACHINE,” “BOB THE CASTAWAY,” ETC.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A Stirring Rescue from the Deep AUTHOR OF “AIRSHIP ANDY,” “COMRADES OF THE SADDLE,” “BEN HARDY’S FLYING MACHINE,” “BOB THE CASTAWAY,” ETC.
moving swiftly
From this reading A Stirring Rescue from the Deep AUTHOR OF “AIRSHIP ANDY,” “COMRADES OF THE SADDLE,” “BEN HARDY’S FLYING MACHINE,” “BOB THE CASTAWAY,” ETC.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A Stirring Rescue from the Deep AUTHOR OF “AIRSHIP ANDY,” “COMRADES OF THE SADDLE,” “BEN HARDY’S FLYING MACHINE,” “BOB THE CASTAWAY,” ETC.
possessive form of “hardy” — United States slapstick comedian who played the pompous and overbearing member of the Laurel and Hardy duo who made many films (1892-1957)
From this reading A Stirring Rescue from the Deep AUTHOR OF “AIRSHIP ANDY,” “COMRADES OF THE SADDLE,” “BEN HARDY’S FLYING MACHINE,” “BOB THE CASTAWAY,” ETC.
past form of “illustrate” — clarify by giving an example of
From this reading Illustrated.
any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
From this reading A Stirring Rescue from the Deep AUTHOR OF “AIRSHIP ANDY,” “COMRADES OF THE SADDLE,” “BEN HARDY’S FLYING MACHINE,” “BOB THE CASTAWAY,” ETC.
an indefinitely short time
From this reading 12mo.
(of a new kind or fashion) gratuitously new
From this reading “What’s that new-fangled thing on the blasted oak, Tom?”
the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring
From this reading “What’s that new-fangled thing on the blasted oak, Tom?”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A Stirring Rescue from the Deep AUTHOR OF “AIRSHIP ANDY,” “COMRADES OF THE SADDLE,” “BEN HARDY’S FLYING MACHINE,” “BOB THE CASTAWAY,” ETC.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “What’s that new-fangled thing on the blasted oak, Tom?”
free from harm or evil
From this reading A Stirring Rescue from the Deep AUTHOR OF “AIRSHIP ANDY,” “COMRADES OF THE SADDLE,” “BEN HARDY’S FLYING MACHINE,” “BOB THE CASTAWAY,” ETC.
put a saddle on
From this reading A Stirring Rescue from the Deep AUTHOR OF “AIRSHIP ANDY,” “COMRADES OF THE SADDLE,” “BEN HARDY’S FLYING MACHINE,” “BOB THE CASTAWAY,” ETC.
agitating a liquid with an implement
From this reading A Stirring Rescue from the Deep AUTHOR OF “AIRSHIP ANDY,” “COMRADES OF THE SADDLE,” “BEN HARDY’S FLYING MACHINE,” “BOB THE CASTAWAY,” ETC.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “What’s that new-fangled thing on the blasted oak, Tom?”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A Stirring Rescue from the Deep AUTHOR OF “AIRSHIP ANDY,” “COMRADES OF THE SADDLE,” “BEN HARDY’S FLYING MACHINE,” “BOB THE CASTAWAY,” ETC.
a special situation
From this reading “What’s that new-fangled thing on the blasted oak, Tom?”
male cat
From this reading “What’s that new-fangled thing on the blasted oak, Tom?”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What’s that new-fangled thing on the blasted oak, Tom?”
Chapter 1 of The Boys of the Wireless by Frank V. Webster holds 124 sentences, grouped into 25 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 1 holds 124 sentences of The Boys of the Wireless, unabridged, divided into 25 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of The Boys of the Wireless by Frank V. Webster exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 124 sentences, grouped into 25 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 25 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 25 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 1 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 Boys of the Wireless by Frank V. Webster on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 3128 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #35044 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #35044, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 260 minutes of reading across 626 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Boys of the Wireless section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 25 chapters of The Boys of the Wireless 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 Boys of the Wireless, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
