Chapter 7 of The Clock and the Key is here in full — 164 sentences across 33 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter VII
Chapter 7 of The Clock and the Key is here in full — 164 sentences across 33 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
He unbuttoned his frock-coat (I had never seen him wear any garment less formal) and took out of it a slender little volume in vellum covers. He passed it to me in silence. I opened it. It was a manuscript copy, roughly stitched together. I recognized the handwriting as that of St. Hilary.
Chapter 7 of The Clock and the Key is here in full — 164 sentences across 33 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/32 · 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.
plural of “cover” — a covering that serves to conceal or shelter something
From this reading “He unbuttoned his frock-coat (I had never seen him wear any garment less formal) and took out of it a slender little volume in vellum covers.”
being in accord with established forms and conventions and requirements (as e.g. of formal dress)
From this reading “He unbuttoned his frock-coat (I had never seen him wear any garment less formal) and took out of it a slender little volume in vellum covers.”
an article of clothing
From this reading “He unbuttoned his frock-coat (I had never seen him wear any garment less formal) and took out of it a slender little volume in vellum covers.”
something written by hand
From this reading “I recognized the handwriting as that of St. Hilary.”
A book, document, or piece of music written by hand rather than typed or printed.
From this reading “It was a manuscript copy, roughly stitched together.”
(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct
From this reading “It was a manuscript copy, roughly stitched together.”
fastened with stitches
From this reading “It was a manuscript copy, roughly stitched together.”
not buttoned
From this reading “He unbuttoned his frock-coat (I had never seen him wear any garment less formal) and took out of it a slender little volume in vellum covers.”
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 “He unbuttoned his frock-coat (I had never seen him wear any garment less formal) and took out of it a slender little volume in vellum covers.”
In this reading “He passed it to me in silence.”
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 He unbuttoned his frock-coat (I had never seen him wear any garment less formal) and took out of it a slender little volume in vellum covers.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He unbuttoned his frock-coat (I had never seen him wear any garment less formal) and took out of it a slender little volume in vellum covers.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading He unbuttoned his frock-coat (I had never seen him wear any garment less formal) and took out of it a slender little volume in vellum covers.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I recognized the handwriting as that of St. Hilary.
a reproduction of a written record (e.g. of a legal or school record)
From this reading It was a manuscript copy, roughly stitched together.
plural of “cover” — a covering that serves to conceal or shelter something
From this reading He unbuttoned his frock-coat (I had never seen him wear any garment less formal) and took out of it a slender little volume in vellum covers.
being in accord with established forms and conventions and requirements (as e.g. of formal dress)
From this reading He unbuttoned his frock-coat (I had never seen him wear any garment less formal) and took out of it a slender little volume in vellum covers.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He unbuttoned his frock-coat (I had never seen him wear any garment less formal) and took out of it a slender little volume in vellum covers.
an article of clothing
From this reading He unbuttoned his frock-coat (I had never seen him wear any garment less formal) and took out of it a slender little volume in vellum covers.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He unbuttoned his frock-coat (I had never seen him wear any garment less formal) and took out of it a slender little volume in vellum covers.
something written by hand
From this reading I recognized the handwriting as that of St. Hilary.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He unbuttoned his frock-coat (I had never seen him wear any garment less formal) and took out of it a slender little volume in vellum covers.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I recognized the handwriting as that of St. Hilary.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He unbuttoned his frock-coat (I had never seen him wear any garment less formal) and took out of it a slender little volume in vellum covers.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He unbuttoned his frock-coat (I had never seen him wear any garment less formal) and took out of it a slender little volume in vellum covers.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading He unbuttoned his frock-coat (I had never seen him wear any garment less formal) and took out of it a slender little volume in vellum covers.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He unbuttoned his frock-coat (I had never seen him wear any garment less formal) and took out of it a slender little volume in vellum covers.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He unbuttoned his frock-coat (I had never seen him wear any garment less formal) and took out of it a slender little volume in vellum covers.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading He unbuttoned his frock-coat (I had never seen him wear any garment less formal) and took out of it a slender little volume in vellum covers.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He unbuttoned his frock-coat (I had never seen him wear any garment less formal) and took out of it a slender little volume in vellum covers.
A book, document, or piece of music written by hand rather than typed or printed.
From this reading It was a manuscript copy, roughly stitched together.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He passed it to me in silence.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading He unbuttoned his frock-coat (I had never seen him wear any garment less formal) and took out of it a slender little volume in vellum covers.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He unbuttoned his frock-coat (I had never seen him wear any garment less formal) and took out of it a slender little volume in vellum covers.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading I opened it.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He unbuttoned his frock-coat (I had never seen him wear any garment less formal) and took out of it a slender little volume in vellum covers.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading He passed it to me in silence.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading I recognized the handwriting as that of St. Hilary.
(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct
From this reading It was a manuscript copy, roughly stitched together.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He unbuttoned his frock-coat (I had never seen him wear any garment less formal) and took out of it a slender little volume in vellum covers.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading He passed it to me in silence.
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading He unbuttoned his frock-coat (I had never seen him wear any garment less formal) and took out of it a slender little volume in vellum covers.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I recognized the handwriting as that of St. Hilary.
fastened with stitches
From this reading It was a manuscript copy, roughly stitched together.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I recognized the handwriting as that of St. Hilary.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I recognized the handwriting as that of St. Hilary.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He passed it to me in silence.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading It was a manuscript copy, roughly stitched together.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading He unbuttoned his frock-coat (I had never seen him wear any garment less formal) and took out of it a slender little volume in vellum covers.
not buttoned
From this reading He unbuttoned his frock-coat (I had never seen him wear any garment less formal) and took out of it a slender little volume in vellum covers.
a heavy creamy-colored paper resembling parchment
From this reading He unbuttoned his frock-coat (I had never seen him wear any garment less formal) and took out of it a slender little volume in vellum covers.
the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object
From this reading He unbuttoned his frock-coat (I had never seen him wear any garment less formal) and took out of it a slender little volume in vellum covers.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a manuscript copy, roughly stitched together.
be dressed in
From this reading He unbuttoned his frock-coat (I had never seen him wear any garment less formal) and took out of it a slender little volume in vellum covers.
Chapter 7 of The Clock and the Key by A. H. (Arthur Henry) Vesey holds 164 sentences, grouped into 33 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 7 holds 164 sentences of The Clock and the Key, unabridged, divided into 33 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 7 of The Clock and the Key by A. H. (Arthur Henry) Vesey exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 164 sentences, grouped into 33 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 33 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 33 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 7 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 Clock and the Key by A. H. (Arthur Henry) Vesey on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 4970 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #54888 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #54888, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 414 minutes of reading across 994 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Clock and the Key section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 31 chapters of The Clock and the Key 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 Clock and the Key, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
