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The Clockmaker
The Clockmaker

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of The Clockmaker is here in full — 414 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Clockmaker
Context Illustration Reading 1/82 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
That remark seemed to grig him a little; he felt oneasy like, and walked twice across the room, fifty fathoms deep in thought: at last he said, which way are you from, Mr. Slick, this hitch?
Why, says I, I've been away up south a speculating in nutmegs.
I hope, says the Professor, they were a good article, the real right down genuine thing.
No mistake, says I,--no mistake, Professor: they were all prime, first chop, but why did you ax that are question?
Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Clockmaker

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of The Clockmaker is here in full — 414 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/82 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
That remark seemed to grig him a little; he felt oneasy like, and walked twice across the room, fifty fathoms deep in thought: at last he said, which way are you from, Mr. Slick, this hitch?
Line 2
Why, says I, I've been away up south a speculating in nutmegs.
Line 3
I hope, says the Professor, they were a good article, the real right down genuine thing.
/aɪ hoʊp sez ðə prəˈfesər ðeɪ wɜːr ə ɡʊd ˈɑːrtəkəl ðə riːl raɪt daʊn ˈdʒenjəwən θɪŋ/
Line 4
No mistake, says I,--no mistake, Professor: they were all prime, first chop, but why did you ax that are question?
Line 5
Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.

Learner Dictionary

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.

Allspice noun US /ˈɔːlspaɪs/

aromatic West Indian tree that produces allspice berries

From this reading “Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.”

bushel noun US /ˈbʊʃəl/

a United States dry measure equal to 4 pecks or 2152.42 cubic inches

From this reading “Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.”

Charleston noun US /ˈtʃɑːrlstən/

state capital of West Virginia in the central part of the state on the Kanawha river

From this reading “Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.”

chop verb US /tʃɑːp/

cut into pieces

From this reading “No mistake, says I,--no mistake, Professor: they were all prime, first chop, but why did you ax that are question?”

fathoms noun US /ˈfæðəmz/

plural of “fathom” — a linear unit of measurement (equal to 6 feet) for water depth

From this reading “That remark seemed to grig him a little; he felt oneasy like, and walked twice across the room, fifty fathoms deep in thought: at last he said, which way are you from, Mr. Slick, this hitch?”

hitch verb US /hɪtʃ/

to hook or entangle

From this reading “That remark seemed to grig him a little; he felt oneasy like, and walked twice across the room, fifty fathoms deep in thought: at last he said, which way are you from, Mr. Slick, this hitch?”

Slick noun US /slɪk/

a slippery smoothness

From this reading “That remark seemed to grig him a little; he felt oneasy like, and walked twice across the room, fifty fathoms deep in thought: at last he said, which way are you from, Mr. Slick, this hitch?”

speculating verb US /ˈspekjəleɪtɪŋ/

-ing form of “speculate” — to believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds

From this reading “Why, says I, I've been away up south a speculating in nutmegs.”

All words in this reading · 108

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading That remark seemed to grig him a little; he felt oneasy like, and walked twice across the room, fifty fathoms deep in thought: at last he said, which way are you from, Mr. Slick, this hitch?

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading That remark seemed to grig him a little; he felt oneasy like, and walked twice across the room, fifty fathoms deep in thought: at last he said, which way are you from, Mr. Slick, this hitch?

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(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 No mistake, says I,--no mistake, Professor: they were all prime, first chop, but why did you ax that are question?

AllspicenounUS /ˈɔːlspaɪs/

aromatic West Indian tree that produces allspice berries

From this reading Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading That remark seemed to grig him a little; he felt oneasy like, and walked twice across the room, fifty fathoms deep in thought: at last he said, which way are you from, Mr. Slick, this hitch?

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading That remark seemed to grig him a little; he felt oneasy like, and walked twice across the room, fifty fathoms deep in thought: at last he said, which way are you from, Mr. Slick, this hitch?

articlenounUS /ˈɑːrtəkəl/

nonfictional prose forming an independent part of a publication

From this reading I hope, says the Professor, they were a good article, the real right down genuine thing.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading That remark seemed to grig him a little; he felt oneasy like, and walked twice across the room, fifty fathoms deep in thought: at last he said, which way are you from, Mr. Slick, this hitch?

awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Why, says I, I've been away up south a speculating in nutmegs.

axnounUS /æks/

an edge tool with a heavy bladed head mounted across a handle

From this reading No mistake, says I,--no mistake, Professor: they were all prime, first chop, but why did you ax that are question?

barrelnounUS /ˈbærəl/

a tube through which a bullet travels when a gun is fired

From this reading Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.

barrelsnounUS /ˈbærəlz/

the amount that many barrels might hold

From this reading Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Why, says I, I've been away up south a speculating in nutmegs.

BITnounUS /bɪt/

a small piece or quantity of something

From this reading Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.

bushelnounUS /ˈbʊʃəl/

a United States dry measure equal to 4 pecks or 2152.42 cubic inches

From this reading Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading No mistake, says I,--no mistake, Professor: they were all prime, first chop, but why did you ax that are question?

CaptainnounUS /ˈkæptən/

an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant

From this reading Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.

cargonounUS /ˈkɑːrɡoʊ/

goods carried by a large vehicle

From this reading Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.

carriedverbUS /ˈkærid/

inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.

CharlestonnounUS /ˈtʃɑːrlstən/

state capital of West Virginia in the central part of the state on the Kanawha river

From this reading Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.

chopverbUS /tʃɑːp/

cut into pieces

From this reading No mistake, says I,--no mistake, Professor: they were all prime, first chop, but why did you ax that are question?

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.

deepadjectiveUS /diːp/

relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply

From this reading That remark seemed to grig him a little; he felt oneasy like, and walked twice across the room, fifty fathoms deep in thought: at last he said, which way are you from, Mr. Slick, this hitch?

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading No mistake, says I,--no mistake, Professor: they were all prime, first chop, but why did you ax that are question?

differencenounUS /ˈdɪfərəns/

the quality of being unlike or dissimilar

From this reading Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.

doingverbUS /ˈduːɪŋ/

-ing form of “do” — engage in

From this reading Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading I hope, says the Professor, they were a good article, the real right down genuine thing.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.

eend

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.

eternaladjectiveUS /ɪˈtɜːrnəl/

continuing forever or indefinitely

From this reading Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.

fathomsnounUS /ˈfæðəmz/

plural of “fathom” — a linear unit of measurement (equal to 6 feet) for water depth

From this reading That remark seemed to grig him a little; he felt oneasy like, and walked twice across the room, fifty fathoms deep in thought: at last he said, which way are you from, Mr. Slick, this hitch?

feltverbUS /felt/

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading That remark seemed to grig him a little; he felt oneasy like, and walked twice across the room, fifty fathoms deep in thought: at last he said, which way are you from, Mr. Slick, this hitch?

fiftynounUS /ˈfɪfti/

the cardinal number that is the product of ten and five

From this reading That remark seemed to grig him a little; he felt oneasy like, and walked twice across the room, fifty fathoms deep in thought: at last he said, which way are you from, Mr. Slick, this hitch?

filledadjectiveUS /fɪld/

(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with

From this reading Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading No mistake, says I,--no mistake, Professor: they were all prime, first chop, but why did you ax that are question?

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading That remark seemed to grig him a little; he felt oneasy like, and walked twice across the room, fifty fathoms deep in thought: at last he said, which way are you from, Mr. Slick, this hitch?

genuineadjectiveUS /ˈdʒenjəwən/

not fake or counterfeit

From this reading I hope, says the Professor, they were a good article, the real right down genuine thing.

goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading I hope, says the Professor, they were a good article, the real right down genuine thing.

grig

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That remark seemed to grig him a little; he felt oneasy like, and walked twice across the room, fifty fathoms deep in thought: at last he said, which way are you from, Mr. Slick, this hitch?

halfadjectiveUS /hæf/

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading That remark seemed to grig him a little; he felt oneasy like, and walked twice across the room, fifty fathoms deep in thought: at last he said, which way are you from, Mr. Slick, this hitch?

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading That remark seemed to grig him a little; he felt oneasy like, and walked twice across the room, fifty fathoms deep in thought: at last he said, which way are you from, Mr. Slick, this hitch?

HIMSELFpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.

HISdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.

hitchverbUS /hɪtʃ/

to hook or entangle

From this reading That remark seemed to grig him a little; he felt oneasy like, and walked twice across the room, fifty fathoms deep in thought: at last he said, which way are you from, Mr. Slick, this hitch?

hopenounUS /hoʊp/

a specific instance of feeling hopeful

From this reading I hope, says the Professor, they were a good article, the real right down genuine thing.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading Why, says I, I've been away up south a speculating in nutmegs.

I've

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Why, says I, I've been away up south a speculating in nutmegs.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading That remark seemed to grig him a little; he felt oneasy like, and walked twice across the room, fifty fathoms deep in thought: at last he said, which way are you from, Mr. Slick, this hitch?

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.

JohnnounUS /dʒɑːn/

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.

lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading That remark seemed to grig him a little; he felt oneasy like, and walked twice across the room, fifty fathoms deep in thought: at last he said, which way are you from, Mr. Slick, this hitch?

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading That remark seemed to grig him a little; he felt oneasy like, and walked twice across the room, fifty fathoms deep in thought: at last he said, which way are you from, Mr. Slick, this hitch?

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading That remark seemed to grig him a little; he felt oneasy like, and walked twice across the room, fifty fathoms deep in thought: at last he said, which way are you from, Mr. Slick, this hitch?

mistakenounUS /mɪˈsteɪk/

a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention

From this reading No mistake, says I,--no mistake, Professor: they were all prime, first chop, but why did you ax that are question?

MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading That remark seemed to grig him a little; he felt oneasy like, and walked twice across the room, fifty fathoms deep in thought: at last he said, which way are you from, Mr. Slick, this hitch?

Nahant

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.

neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading No mistake, says I,--no mistake, Professor: they were all prime, first chop, but why did you ax that are question?

nutmegs

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Why, says I, I've been away up south a speculating in nutmegs.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.

onceadverbUS /wʌns/

on one occasion

From this reading Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.

ONEpronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.

oneasy

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That remark seemed to grig him a little; he felt oneasy like, and walked twice across the room, fifty fathoms deep in thought: at last he said, which way are you from, Mr. Slick, this hitch?

onesnounUS /wʌnz/

plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number

From this reading Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.

primeadjectiveUS /praɪm/

first in rank or degree

From this reading No mistake, says I,--no mistake, Professor: they were all prime, first chop, but why did you ax that are question?

ProfessornounUS /prəˈfesər/

someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university

From this reading I hope, says the Professor, they were a good article, the real right down genuine thing.

putverbUS /pʊt/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.

questionverbUS /ˈkwestʃən/

challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of

From this reading No mistake, says I,--no mistake, Professor: they were all prime, first chop, but why did you ax that are question?

realadjectiveUS /riːl/

being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory

From this reading I hope, says the Professor, they were a good article, the real right down genuine thing.

remarknounUS /rɪˈmɑːrk/

a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information

From this reading That remark seemed to grig him a little; he felt oneasy like, and walked twice across the room, fifty fathoms deep in thought: at last he said, which way are you from, Mr. Slick, this hitch?

restverbUS /rest/

not move; be in a resting position

From this reading Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.

rightadverbUS /raɪt/

precisely, exactly

From this reading I hope, says the Professor, they were a good article, the real right down genuine thing.

roomnounUS /ruːm/

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading That remark seemed to grig him a little; he felt oneasy like, and walked twice across the room, fifty fathoms deep in thought: at last he said, which way are you from, Mr. Slick, this hitch?

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading That remark seemed to grig him a little; he felt oneasy like, and walked twice across the room, fifty fathoms deep in thought: at last he said, which way are you from, Mr. Slick, this hitch?

saysnounUS /sez/

plural of “say” — the chance to speak

From this reading Why, says I, I've been away up south a speculating in nutmegs.

scoundrelnounUS /ˈskaʊndrəl/

a wicked or evil person; someone who does evil deliberately

From this reading Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.

seemedverbUS /siːmd/

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading That remark seemed to grig him a little; he felt oneasy like, and walked twice across the room, fifty fathoms deep in thought: at last he said, which way are you from, Mr. Slick, this hitch?

SlicknounUS /slɪk/

a slippery smoothness

From this reading That remark seemed to grig him a little; he felt oneasy like, and walked twice across the room, fifty fathoms deep in thought: at last he said, which way are you from, Mr. Slick, this hitch?

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.

soulnounUS /soʊl/

the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life

From this reading Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.

southnounUS /saʊθ/

the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading Why, says I, I've been away up south a speculating in nutmegs.

speculatingverbUS /ˈspekjəleɪtɪŋ/

-ing form of “speculate” — to believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds

From this reading Why, says I, I've been away up south a speculating in nutmegs.

TEETHnounUS /tiːθ/

the kind and number and arrangement of teeth (collectively) in a person or animal

From this reading Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.

tellverbUS /tel/

express in words

From this reading Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.

ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading That remark seemed to grig him a little; he felt oneasy like, and walked twice across the room, fifty fathoms deep in thought: at last he said, which way are you from, Mr. Slick, this hitch?

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading That remark seemed to grig him a little; he felt oneasy like, and walked twice across the room, fifty fathoms deep in thought: at last he said, which way are you from, Mr. Slick, this hitch?

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading I hope, says the Professor, they were a good article, the real right down genuine thing.

thingnounUS /θɪŋ/

a special situation

From this reading I hope, says the Professor, they were a good article, the real right down genuine thing.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading That remark seemed to grig him a little; he felt oneasy like, and walked twice across the room, fifty fathoms deep in thought: at last he said, which way are you from, Mr. Slick, this hitch?

thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading That remark seemed to grig him a little; he felt oneasy like, and walked twice across the room, fifty fathoms deep in thought: at last he said, which way are you from, Mr. Slick, this hitch?

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading That remark seemed to grig him a little; he felt oneasy like, and walked twice across the room, fifty fathoms deep in thought: at last he said, which way are you from, Mr. Slick, this hitch?

tradenounUS /treɪd/

the commercial exchange (buying and selling on domestic or international markets) of goods and services

From this reading Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.

twiceadverbUS /twaɪs/

two times

From this reading That remark seemed to grig him a little; he felt oneasy like, and walked twice across the room, fifty fathoms deep in thought: at last he said, which way are you from, Mr. Slick, this hitch?

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading Why, says I, I've been away up south a speculating in nutmegs.

usedadjectiveUS /juːzd/

employed in accomplishing something

From this reading Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.

walkedverbUS /wɔːkt/

past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps

From this reading That remark seemed to grig him a little; he felt oneasy like, and walked twice across the room, fifty fathoms deep in thought: at last he said, which way are you from, Mr. Slick, this hitch?

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.

waynounUS /weɪ/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading That remark seemed to grig him a little; he felt oneasy like, and walked twice across the room, fifty fathoms deep in thought: at last he said, which way are you from, Mr. Slick, this hitch?

welladverbUS /wel/

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading I hope, says the Professor, they were a good article, the real right down genuine thing.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading That remark seemed to grig him a little; he felt oneasy like, and walked twice across the room, fifty fathoms deep in thought: at last he said, which way are you from, Mr. Slick, this hitch?

WhynounUS /waɪ/

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading Why, says I, I've been away up south a speculating in nutmegs.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.

woodenadjectiveUS /ˈwʊdən/

made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood

From this reading Why, says he, that eternal scoundrel, that Captain John Allspice of Nahant, he used to trade to Charleston, and he carried a cargo once there of fifty barrels of nutmegs: well, he put half a bushel of good ones into each eend of the barrel, and the rest he filled up with wooden ones, so like the real thing, no soul could tell the difference until HE BIT ONE WITH HIS TEETH, and that he never thought of doing, until he was first BIT HIMSELF.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading That remark seemed to grig him a little; he felt oneasy like, and walked twice across the room, fifty fathoms deep in thought: at last he said, which way are you from, Mr. Slick, this hitch?

Chapter 2 of The Clockmaker by Thomas Chandler Haliburton holds 414 sentences, grouped into 83 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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.

What does chapter 2 of The Clockmaker contain?

Chapter 2 holds 414 sentences of The Clockmaker, unabridged, divided into 83 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of The Clockmaker by Thomas Chandler Haliburton exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 414 sentences, grouped into 83 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.

How do I study chapter 2 of The Clockmaker?

Work through the 83 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 83 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.

Can chapter 2 be read aloud to me?

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.

Questions about reading The Clockmaker

Common questions about reading The Clockmaker by Thomas Chandler Haliburton on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Clockmaker?

Yes. All 2452 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #5817 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Clockmaker is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #5817, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Clockmaker take to read?

About 204 minutes of reading across 491 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Clockmaker section by section

How to work through The Clockmaker section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 6 chapters of The Clockmaker to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in The Clockmaker

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Clockmaker, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Clockmaker
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Clockmaker; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Sayings
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Clockmaker; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Doings
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Clockmaker; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Samuel
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Clockmaker; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.