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The Coming Wave
The Coming Wave

Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

Chapter 17 of The Coming Wave is here in full — 190 sentences across 38 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Coming Wave
Context Illustration Reading 1/38 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE FIRST OF JULY.
"Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!" shouted Stumpy, as soon as the door had closed upon his amiable grandfather.
He threw up his hat to the ceiling, and demonstrated in the most extravagant manner, to the great amusement of Mr. Hamilton and Leopold.
Mrs. Wormbury cried with joy, and was not less happy than her son.
"Come, Stumpfield, don't go crazy," said she.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Coming Wave

Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

Chapter 17 of The Coming Wave is here in full — 190 sentences across 38 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/38 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE FIRST OF JULY.
/ðə fɜːrst ʌv ˌdʒuːˈlaɪ/
Line 2
"Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!" shouted Stumpy, as soon as the door had closed upon his amiable grandfather.
Line 3
He threw up his hat to the ceiling, and demonstrated in the most extravagant manner, to the great amusement of Mr. Hamilton and Leopold.
Line 4
Mrs. Wormbury cried with joy, and was not less happy than her son.
Line 5
"Come, Stumpfield, don't go crazy," said she.

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.

amiable adjective US /ˈeɪmiəbəl/

disposed to please

From this reading “"Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!" shouted Stumpy, as soon as the door had closed upon his amiable grandfather.”

ceiling noun US /ˈsiːlɪŋ/

the overhead upper surface of a covered space

From this reading “He threw up his hat to the ceiling, and demonstrated in the most extravagant manner, to the great amusement of Mr. Hamilton and Leopold.”

crazy adjective US /ˈkreɪzi/

affected with madness or insanity

From this reading “"Come, Stumpfield, don't go crazy," said she.”

demonstrated adjective US /ˈdemənstreɪtɪd/

having been demonstrated or verified beyond doubt

From this reading “He threw up his hat to the ceiling, and demonstrated in the most extravagant manner, to the great amusement of Mr. Hamilton and Leopold.”

extravagant adjective US /ekˈstrævəɡənt/

unrestrained, especially with regard to feelings

From this reading “He threw up his hat to the ceiling, and demonstrated in the most extravagant manner, to the great amusement of Mr. Hamilton and Leopold.”

Hamilton noun US /ˈhæməltən/

Irish mathematician (1806-1865)

From this reading “He threw up his hat to the ceiling, and demonstrated in the most extravagant manner, to the great amusement of Mr. Hamilton and Leopold.”

hurrah noun US /hʊˈrɑː/

a victory cheer

From this reading “"Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!" shouted Stumpy, as soon as the door had closed upon his amiable grandfather.”

july noun US /ˌdʒuːˈlaɪ/

the month following June and preceding August

From this reading “THE FIRST OF JULY.”

All words in this reading · 52

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.

amiableadjectiveUS /ˈeɪmiəbəl/

disposed to please

From this reading "Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!" shouted Stumpy, as soon as the door had closed upon his amiable grandfather.

amusementnounUS /əˈmjuːzmənt/

a feeling of delight at being entertained

From this reading He threw up his hat to the ceiling, and demonstrated in the most extravagant manner, to the great amusement of Mr. Hamilton and Leopold.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He threw up his hat to the ceiling, and demonstrated in the most extravagant manner, to the great amusement of Mr. Hamilton and Leopold.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading "Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!" shouted Stumpy, as soon as the door had closed upon his amiable grandfather.

ceilingnounUS /ˈsiːlɪŋ/

the overhead upper surface of a covered space

From this reading He threw up his hat to the ceiling, and demonstrated in the most extravagant manner, to the great amusement of Mr. Hamilton and Leopold.

closedadjectiveUS /kloʊzd/

not open or affording passage or access

From this reading "Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!" shouted Stumpy, as soon as the door had closed upon his amiable grandfather.

ComeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading "Come, Stumpfield, don't go crazy," said she.

crazyadjectiveUS /ˈkreɪzi/

affected with madness or insanity

From this reading "Come, Stumpfield, don't go crazy," said she.

criedverbUS /kraɪd/

inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading Mrs. Wormbury cried with joy, and was not less happy than her son.

demonstratedadjectiveUS /ˈdemənstreɪtɪd/

having been demonstrated or verified beyond doubt

From this reading He threw up his hat to the ceiling, and demonstrated in the most extravagant manner, to the great amusement of Mr. Hamilton and Leopold.

don't

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

From this reading "Come, Stumpfield, don't go crazy," said she.

doornounUS /dɔːr/

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading "Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!" shouted Stumpy, as soon as the door had closed upon his amiable grandfather.

extravagantadjectiveUS /ekˈstrævəɡənt/

unrestrained, especially with regard to feelings

From this reading He threw up his hat to the ceiling, and demonstrated in the most extravagant manner, to the great amusement of Mr. Hamilton and Leopold.

FIRSTadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading THE FIRST OF JULY.

goverbUS /ɡoʊ/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading "Come, Stumpfield, don't go crazy," said she.

grandfathernounUS /ˈɡrændfɑːðər/

the father of your father or mother

From this reading "Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!" shouted Stumpy, as soon as the door had closed upon his amiable grandfather.

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading He threw up his hat to the ceiling, and demonstrated in the most extravagant manner, to the great amusement of Mr. Hamilton and Leopold.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading "Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!" shouted Stumpy, as soon as the door had closed upon his amiable grandfather.

HamiltonnounUS /ˈhæməltən/

Irish mathematician (1806-1865)

From this reading He threw up his hat to the ceiling, and demonstrated in the most extravagant manner, to the great amusement of Mr. Hamilton and Leopold.

happyadjectiveUS /ˈhæpi/

enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure

From this reading Mrs. Wormbury cried with joy, and was not less happy than her son.

hatnounUS /hæt/

headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim

From this reading He threw up his hat to the ceiling, and demonstrated in the most extravagant manner, to the great amusement of Mr. Hamilton and Leopold.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He threw up his hat to the ceiling, and demonstrated in the most extravagant manner, to the great amusement of Mr. Hamilton and Leopold.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Mrs. Wormbury cried with joy, and was not less happy than her son.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading "Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!" shouted Stumpy, as soon as the door had closed upon his amiable grandfather.

HurrahnounUS /hʊˈrɑː/

a victory cheer

From this reading "Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!" shouted Stumpy, as soon as the door had closed upon his amiable grandfather.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading He threw up his hat to the ceiling, and demonstrated in the most extravagant manner, to the great amusement of Mr. Hamilton and Leopold.

joynounUS /dʒɔɪ/

the emotion of great happiness

From this reading Mrs. Wormbury cried with joy, and was not less happy than her son.

JULYnounUS /ˌdʒuːˈlaɪ/

the month following June and preceding August

From this reading THE FIRST OF JULY.

Leopold

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

From this reading He threw up his hat to the ceiling, and demonstrated in the most extravagant manner, to the great amusement of Mr. Hamilton and Leopold.

lessadverbUS /les/

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading Mrs. Wormbury cried with joy, and was not less happy than her son.

mannernounUS /ˈmænər/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading He threw up his hat to the ceiling, and demonstrated in the most extravagant manner, to the great amusement of Mr. Hamilton and Leopold.

mostadverbUS /moʊst/

used to form the superlative

From this reading He threw up his hat to the ceiling, and demonstrated in the most extravagant manner, to the great amusement of Mr. Hamilton and Leopold.

MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading He threw up his hat to the ceiling, and demonstrated in the most extravagant manner, to the great amusement of Mr. Hamilton and Leopold.

MrsnounUS /ˈmɪsɪz/

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading Mrs. Wormbury cried with joy, and was not less happy than her son.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Mrs. Wormbury cried with joy, and was not less happy than her son.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE FIRST OF JULY.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "Come, Stumpfield, don't go crazy," said she.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading "Come, Stumpfield, don't go crazy," said she.

shoutedadjectiveUS /ˈʃaʊtɪd/

in a vehement outcry

From this reading "Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!" shouted Stumpy, as soon as the door had closed upon his amiable grandfather.

sonnounUS /sʌn/

a male human offspring

From this reading Mrs. Wormbury cried with joy, and was not less happy than her son.

soonadverbUS /suːn/

in the near future

From this reading "Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!" shouted Stumpy, as soon as the door had closed upon his amiable grandfather.

Stumpfield

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

From this reading "Come, Stumpfield, don't go crazy," said she.

Stumpyadjective

short and thick; as e.g. having short legs and heavy musculature

From this reading "Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!" shouted Stumpy, as soon as the door had closed upon his amiable grandfather.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Mrs. Wormbury cried with joy, and was not less happy than her son.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE FIRST OF JULY.

threwverbUS /θruː/

inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air

From this reading He threw up his hat to the ceiling, and demonstrated in the most extravagant manner, to the great amusement of Mr. Hamilton and Leopold.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He threw up his hat to the ceiling, and demonstrated in the most extravagant manner, to the great amusement of Mr. Hamilton and Leopold.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

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

From this reading He threw up his hat to the ceiling, and demonstrated in the most extravagant manner, to the great amusement of Mr. Hamilton and Leopold.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading "Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!" shouted Stumpy, as soon as the door had closed upon his amiable grandfather.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Mrs. Wormbury cried with joy, and was not less happy than her son.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Mrs. Wormbury cried with joy, and was not less happy than her son.

Wormbury

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

From this reading Mrs. Wormbury cried with joy, and was not less happy than her son.

Chapter 17 of The Coming Wave by Oliver Optic holds 190 sentences, grouped into 38 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.

What does chapter 17 of The Coming Wave contain?

Chapter 17 holds 190 sentences of The Coming Wave, unabridged, divided into 38 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 17 of The Coming Wave by Oliver Optic exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 190 sentences, grouped into 38 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 17 of The Coming Wave?

Work through the 38 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 38 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 17 be read aloud to me?

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.

Questions about reading The Coming Wave

Common questions about reading The Coming Wave by Oliver Optic on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Coming Wave?

Yes. All 3518 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #23773 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Coming Wave is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #23773, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Coming Wave take to read?

About 293 minutes of reading across 704 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Coming Wave section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 18 chapters of The Coming Wave 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 Coming Wave

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

Yacht
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Coming Wave; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Series
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Coming Wave; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Coming Wave; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Young
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Coming Wave; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.