Chapter 2 of The City in the Clouds is here in full — 435 sentences across 87 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter II
Chapter 2 of The City in the Clouds is here in full — 435 sentences across 87 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
I had just returned from lunch, and the first editions of the paper were successfully afloat, when Williams, my acting editor, and Miss Dewsbury, my private secretary, came into my room. "Things are very quiet indeed," said Williams. "But the circulation is all right?" "Never better. Still, I am thinking of our reputation, Sir Thomas."
Chapter 2 of The City in the Clouds is here in full — 435 sentences across 87 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/87 · 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.
the performance of a part or role in a drama
From this reading “I had just returned from lunch, and the first editions of the paper were successfully afloat, when Williams, my acting editor, and Miss Dewsbury, my private secretary, came into my room.”
aimlessly drifting
From this reading “I had just returned from lunch, and the first editions of the paper were successfully afloat, when Williams, my acting editor, and Miss Dewsbury, my private secretary, came into my room.”
the dissemination of copies of periodicals (as newspapers or magazines)
From this reading “"But the circulation is all right?"”
plural of “edition” — the form in which a text (especially a printed book) is published
From this reading “I had just returned from lunch, and the first editions of the paper were successfully afloat, when Williams, my acting editor, and Miss Dewsbury, my private secretary, came into my room.”
a person responsible for the editorial aspects of publication; the person who determines the final content of a text (especially of a newspaper or magazine)
From this reading “I had just returned from lunch, and the first editions of the paper were successfully afloat, when Williams, my acting editor, and Miss Dewsbury, my private secretary, came into my room.”
a person who is head of an administrative department of government
From this reading “I had just returned from lunch, and the first editions of the paper were successfully afloat, when Williams, my acting editor, and Miss Dewsbury, my private secretary, came into my room.”
with success; in a successful manner
From this reading “I had just returned from lunch, and the first editions of the paper were successfully afloat, when Williams, my acting editor, and Miss Dewsbury, my private secretary, came into my room.”
United States country singer and songwriter (1923-1953)
From this reading “I had just returned from lunch, and the first editions of the paper were successfully afloat, when Williams, my acting editor, and Miss Dewsbury, my private secretary, came into my room.”
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 “I had just returned from lunch, and the first editions of the paper were successfully afloat, when Williams, my acting editor, and Miss Dewsbury, my private secretary, came into my room.”
In this reading “I had just returned from lunch, and the first editions of the paper were successfully afloat, when Williams, my acting editor, and Miss Dewsbury, my private secretary, came into my room.”
obtain, especially accidentally
In this reading “I had just returned from lunch, and the first editions of the paper were successfully afloat, when Williams, my acting editor, and Miss Dewsbury, my private secretary, came into my room.”
In this reading “I had just returned from lunch, and the first editions of the paper were successfully afloat, when Williams, my acting editor, and Miss Dewsbury, my private secretary, came into my room.”
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.
the performance of a part or role in a drama
From this reading I had just returned from lunch, and the first editions of the paper were successfully afloat, when Williams, my acting editor, and Miss Dewsbury, my private secretary, came into my room.
aimlessly drifting
From this reading I had just returned from lunch, and the first editions of the paper were successfully afloat, when Williams, my acting editor, and Miss Dewsbury, my private secretary, came into my room.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading "But the circulation is all right?"
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading Still, I am thinking of our reputation, Sir Thomas."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I had just returned from lunch, and the first editions of the paper were successfully afloat, when Williams, my acting editor, and Miss Dewsbury, my private secretary, came into my room.
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Things are very quiet indeed," said Williams.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading "Never better.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "But the circulation is all right?"
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading I had just returned from lunch, and the first editions of the paper were successfully afloat, when Williams, my acting editor, and Miss Dewsbury, my private secretary, came into my room.
the dissemination of copies of periodicals (as newspapers or magazines)
From this reading "But the circulation is all right?"
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had just returned from lunch, and the first editions of the paper were successfully afloat, when Williams, my acting editor, and Miss Dewsbury, my private secretary, came into my room.
plural of “edition” — the form in which a text (especially a printed book) is published
From this reading I had just returned from lunch, and the first editions of the paper were successfully afloat, when Williams, my acting editor, and Miss Dewsbury, my private secretary, came into my room.
a person responsible for the editorial aspects of publication; the person who determines the final content of a text (especially of a newspaper or magazine)
From this reading I had just returned from lunch, and the first editions of the paper were successfully afloat, when Williams, my acting editor, and Miss Dewsbury, my private secretary, came into my room.
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading I had just returned from lunch, and the first editions of the paper were successfully afloat, when Williams, my acting editor, and Miss Dewsbury, my private secretary, came into my room.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I had just returned from lunch, and the first editions of the paper were successfully afloat, when Williams, my acting editor, and Miss Dewsbury, my private secretary, came into my room.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had just returned from lunch, and the first editions of the paper were successfully afloat, when Williams, my acting editor, and Miss Dewsbury, my private secretary, came into my room.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I had just returned from lunch, and the first editions of the paper were successfully afloat, when Williams, my acting editor, and Miss Dewsbury, my private secretary, came into my room.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading "Things are very quiet indeed," said Williams.
moving to the inside of something
From this reading I had just returned from lunch, and the first editions of the paper were successfully afloat, when Williams, my acting editor, and Miss Dewsbury, my private secretary, came into my room.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "But the circulation is all right?"
and nothing more
From this reading I had just returned from lunch, and the first editions of the paper were successfully afloat, when Williams, my acting editor, and Miss Dewsbury, my private secretary, came into my room.
take the midday meal
From this reading I had just returned from lunch, and the first editions of the paper were successfully afloat, when Williams, my acting editor, and Miss Dewsbury, my private secretary, came into my room.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading I had just returned from lunch, and the first editions of the paper were successfully afloat, when Williams, my acting editor, and Miss Dewsbury, my private secretary, came into my room.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I had just returned from lunch, and the first editions of the paper were successfully afloat, when Williams, my acting editor, and Miss Dewsbury, my private secretary, came into my room.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading "Never better.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I had just returned from lunch, and the first editions of the paper were successfully afloat, when Williams, my acting editor, and Miss Dewsbury, my private secretary, came into my room.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Still, I am thinking of our reputation, Sir Thomas."
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading I had just returned from lunch, and the first editions of the paper were successfully afloat, when Williams, my acting editor, and Miss Dewsbury, my private secretary, came into my room.
confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
From this reading I had just returned from lunch, and the first editions of the paper were successfully afloat, when Williams, my acting editor, and Miss Dewsbury, my private secretary, came into my room.
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading "Things are very quiet indeed," said Williams.
the state of being held in high esteem and honor
From this reading Still, I am thinking of our reputation, Sir Thomas."
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading I had just returned from lunch, and the first editions of the paper were successfully afloat, when Williams, my acting editor, and Miss Dewsbury, my private secretary, came into my room.
precisely, exactly
From this reading "But the circulation is all right?"
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading I had just returned from lunch, and the first editions of the paper were successfully afloat, when Williams, my acting editor, and Miss Dewsbury, my private secretary, came into my room.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Things are very quiet indeed," said Williams.
a person who is head of an administrative department of government
From this reading I had just returned from lunch, and the first editions of the paper were successfully afloat, when Williams, my acting editor, and Miss Dewsbury, my private secretary, came into my room.
term of address for a man
From this reading Still, I am thinking of our reputation, Sir Thomas."
not in physical motion
From this reading Still, I am thinking of our reputation, Sir Thomas."
with success; in a successful manner
From this reading I had just returned from lunch, and the first editions of the paper were successfully afloat, when Williams, my acting editor, and Miss Dewsbury, my private secretary, came into my room.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I had just returned from lunch, and the first editions of the paper were successfully afloat, when Williams, my acting editor, and Miss Dewsbury, my private secretary, came into my room.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading "Things are very quiet indeed," said Williams.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading Still, I am thinking of our reputation, Sir Thomas."
United States clockmaker who introduced mass production (1785-1859)
From this reading Still, I am thinking of our reputation, Sir Thomas."
precisely as stated
From this reading "Things are very quiet indeed," said Williams.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading I had just returned from lunch, and the first editions of the paper were successfully afloat, when Williams, my acting editor, and Miss Dewsbury, my private secretary, came into my room.
at the time that
From this reading I had just returned from lunch, and the first editions of the paper were successfully afloat, when Williams, my acting editor, and Miss Dewsbury, my private secretary, came into my room.
United States country singer and songwriter (1923-1953)
From this reading I had just returned from lunch, and the first editions of the paper were successfully afloat, when Williams, my acting editor, and Miss Dewsbury, my private secretary, came into my room.
Chapter 2 of The City in the Clouds by Guy Thorne holds 435 sentences, grouped into 87 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 2 holds 435 sentences of The City in the Clouds, unabridged, divided into 87 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 2 of The City in the Clouds by Guy Thorne exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 435 sentences, grouped into 87 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 87 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 87 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 2 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 City in the Clouds by Guy Thorne on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 4378 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #37270 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #37270, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 364 minutes of reading across 876 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The City in the Clouds section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 10 chapters of The City in the Clouds 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 City in the Clouds, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
