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The cottage
The cottage

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of The cottage is here in full — 339 sentences across 68 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The cottage
Context Illustration Reading 1/67 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
There was a savage cruelty in Durkin's hatred of his children.
Little did he know that on other worlds--cruelty boomeranged.
_Frank Belknap Long's stories have appeared in twenty-seven cloth-bound anthologies bearing the imprint of leading publishers.
They run the gamut from supernatural horror--in Dashiell Hammett's_ CREEPS BY NIGHT _and August Derleth's equally famed_ SLEEP NO MORE--_to straight science fiction--in the widely popular Conklin, Wollheim, Derleth, Bleiler and Dikty volumes.
We think you'll agree that this story is of anthology caliber too._ To Will Durkin it seemed to be the realization of a long-cherished dream--this return from town over a rutted dirt road, equipped and ready for a cruel duel with another man's offspring.
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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 cottage

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of The cottage is here in full — 339 sentences across 68 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/67 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
There was a savage cruelty in Durkin's hatred of his children.
Line 2
Little did he know that on other worlds--cruelty boomeranged.
Line 3
_Frank Belknap Long's stories have appeared in twenty-seven cloth-bound anthologies bearing the imprint of leading publishers.
Line 4
They run the gamut from supernatural horror--in Dashiell Hammett's_ CREEPS BY NIGHT _and August Derleth's equally famed_ SLEEP NO MORE--_to straight science fiction--in the widely popular Conklin, Wollheim, Derleth, Bleiler and Dikty volumes.
Line 5
We think you'll agree that this story is of anthology caliber too._ To Will Durkin it seemed to be the realization of a long-cherished dream--this return from town over a rutted dirt road, equipped and ready for a cruel duel with another man's offspring.

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.

anthologies noun US /ænˈθɑːlədʒiz/

plural of “anthology” — a collection of selected literary passages

From this reading “_Frank Belknap Long's stories have appeared in twenty-seven cloth-bound anthologies bearing the imprint of leading publishers.”

anthology noun US /ænˈθɑːlədʒi/

a collection of selected literary passages

From this reading “We think you'll agree that this story is of anthology caliber too._ To Will Durkin it seemed to be the realization of a long-cherished dream--this return from town over a rutted dirt road, equipped and ready for a cruel duel with another man's offspring.”

boomeranged verb US /ˈbuːməræŋd/

past form of “boomerang” — return to the initial position from where it came; like a boomerang

From this reading “Little did he know that on other worlds--cruelty boomeranged.”

caliber noun US /ˈkæləbər/

a degree or grade of excellence or worth

From this reading “We think you'll agree that this story is of anthology caliber too._ To Will Durkin it seemed to be the realization of a long-cherished dream--this return from town over a rutted dirt road, equipped and ready for a cruel duel with another man's offspring.”

famed adjective US /feɪmd/

widely known and esteemed

gamut noun US /ˈɡæmət/

a complete extent or range: "a face that expressed a gamut of emotions"

From this reading “They run the gamut from supernatural horror--in Dashiell Hammett's_ CREEPS BY NIGHT _and August Derleth's equally famed_ SLEEP NO MORE--_to straight science fiction--in the widely popular Conklin, Wollheim, Derleth, Bleiler and Dikty volumes.”

imprint noun US /ˌɪmˈprɪnt/

a distinctive influence

From this reading “_Frank Belknap Long's stories have appeared in twenty-seven cloth-bound anthologies bearing the imprint of leading publishers.”

rutted adjective US /ˈrʌtɪd/

full of ruts

From this reading “We think you'll agree that this story is of anthology caliber too._ To Will Durkin it seemed to be the realization of a long-cherished dream--this return from town over a rutted dirt road, equipped and ready for a cruel duel with another man's offspring.”

Word partnerships in these lines

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.

dirt road noun + noun

In this reading “We think you'll agree that this story is of anthology caliber too._ To Will Durkin it seemed to be the realization of a long-cherished dream--this return from town over a rutted dirt road, equipped and ready for a cruel duel with another man's offspring.”

return from verb + particle

In this reading “We think you'll agree that this story is of anthology caliber too._ To Will Durkin it seemed to be the realization of a long-cherished dream--this return from town over a rutted dirt road, equipped and ready for a cruel duel with another man's offspring.”

appeared in verb + particle counted as “appear in”

In this reading “_Frank Belknap Long's stories have appeared in twenty-seven cloth-bound anthologies bearing the imprint of leading publishers.”

All words in this reading · 98

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 There was a savage cruelty in Durkin's hatred of his children.

agreeverbUS /əˈɡriː/

be in accord; be in agreement

From this reading We think you'll agree that this story is of anthology caliber too._ To Will Durkin it seemed to be the realization of a long-cherished dream--this return from town over a rutted dirt road, equipped and ready for a cruel duel with another man's offspring.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading They run the gamut from supernatural horror--in Dashiell Hammett's_ CREEPS BY NIGHT _and August Derleth's equally famed_ SLEEP NO MORE--_to straight science fiction--in the widely popular Conklin, Wollheim, Derleth, Bleiler and Dikty volumes.

anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading We think you'll agree that this story is of anthology caliber too._ To Will Durkin it seemed to be the realization of a long-cherished dream--this return from town over a rutted dirt road, equipped and ready for a cruel duel with another man's offspring.

anthologiesnounUS /ænˈθɑːlədʒiz/

plural of “anthology” — a collection of selected literary passages

From this reading _Frank Belknap Long's stories have appeared in twenty-seven cloth-bound anthologies bearing the imprint of leading publishers.

anthologynounUS /ænˈθɑːlədʒi/

a collection of selected literary passages

From this reading We think you'll agree that this story is of anthology caliber too._ To Will Durkin it seemed to be the realization of a long-cherished dream--this return from town over a rutted dirt road, equipped and ready for a cruel duel with another man's offspring.

appearedverbUS /əˈpɪrd/

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

From this reading _Frank Belknap Long's stories have appeared in twenty-seven cloth-bound anthologies bearing the imprint of leading publishers.

AugustnounUS /ˈɑːɡəst/

the month following July and preceding September

From this reading They run the gamut from supernatural horror--in Dashiell Hammett's_ CREEPS BY NIGHT _and August Derleth's equally famed_ SLEEP NO MORE--_to straight science fiction--in the widely popular Conklin, Wollheim, Derleth, Bleiler and Dikty volumes.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading We think you'll agree that this story is of anthology caliber too._ To Will Durkin it seemed to be the realization of a long-cherished dream--this return from town over a rutted dirt road, equipped and ready for a cruel duel with another man's offspring.

bearingnounUS /ˈberɪŋ/

relevant relation or interconnection

From this reading _Frank Belknap Long's stories have appeared in twenty-seven cloth-bound anthologies bearing the imprint of leading publishers.

Belknap

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

From this reading _Frank Belknap Long's stories have appeared in twenty-seven cloth-bound anthologies bearing the imprint of leading publishers.

Bleiler

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

From this reading They run the gamut from supernatural horror--in Dashiell Hammett's_ CREEPS BY NIGHT _and August Derleth's equally famed_ SLEEP NO MORE--_to straight science fiction--in the widely popular Conklin, Wollheim, Derleth, Bleiler and Dikty volumes.

boomerangedverbUS /ˈbuːməræŋd/

past form of “boomerang” — return to the initial position from where it came; like a boomerang

From this reading Little did he know that on other worlds--cruelty boomeranged.

BYprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading They run the gamut from supernatural horror--in Dashiell Hammett's_ CREEPS BY NIGHT _and August Derleth's equally famed_ SLEEP NO MORE--_to straight science fiction--in the widely popular Conklin, Wollheim, Derleth, Bleiler and Dikty volumes.

calibernounUS /ˈkæləbər/

a degree or grade of excellence or worth

From this reading We think you'll agree that this story is of anthology caliber too._ To Will Durkin it seemed to be the realization of a long-cherished dream--this return from town over a rutted dirt road, equipped and ready for a cruel duel with another man's offspring.

childrennounUS /ˈtʃɪldrən/

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading There was a savage cruelty in Durkin's hatred of his children.

cloth-bound

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

From this reading _Frank Belknap Long's stories have appeared in twenty-seven cloth-bound anthologies bearing the imprint of leading publishers.

Conklin

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

From this reading They run the gamut from supernatural horror--in Dashiell Hammett's_ CREEPS BY NIGHT _and August Derleth's equally famed_ SLEEP NO MORE--_to straight science fiction--in the widely popular Conklin, Wollheim, Derleth, Bleiler and Dikty volumes.

CREEPSnounUS /kriːps/

a disease of cattle and sheep attributed to a dietary deficiency; characterized by anemia and softening of the bones and a slow stiff gait

From this reading They run the gamut from supernatural horror--in Dashiell Hammett's_ CREEPS BY NIGHT _and August Derleth's equally famed_ SLEEP NO MORE--_to straight science fiction--in the widely popular Conklin, Wollheim, Derleth, Bleiler and Dikty volumes.

crueladjectiveUS /ˈkruːəl/

(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering

From this reading We think you'll agree that this story is of anthology caliber too._ To Will Durkin it seemed to be the realization of a long-cherished dream--this return from town over a rutted dirt road, equipped and ready for a cruel duel with another man's offspring.

crueltynounUS /ˈkruːlti/

a cruel act; a deliberate infliction of pain and suffering

From this reading There was a savage cruelty in Durkin's hatred of his children.

Dashiell

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

From this reading They run the gamut from supernatural horror--in Dashiell Hammett's_ CREEPS BY NIGHT _and August Derleth's equally famed_ SLEEP NO MORE--_to straight science fiction--in the widely popular Conklin, Wollheim, Derleth, Bleiler and Dikty volumes.

Derleth

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

From this reading They run the gamut from supernatural horror--in Dashiell Hammett's_ CREEPS BY NIGHT _and August Derleth's equally famed_ SLEEP NO MORE--_to straight science fiction--in the widely popular Conklin, Wollheim, Derleth, Bleiler and Dikty volumes.

Derleth's

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

From this reading They run the gamut from supernatural horror--in Dashiell Hammett's_ CREEPS BY NIGHT _and August Derleth's equally famed_ SLEEP NO MORE--_to straight science fiction--in the widely popular Conklin, Wollheim, Derleth, Bleiler and Dikty volumes.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading Little did he know that on other worlds--cruelty boomeranged.

Dikty

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

From this reading They run the gamut from supernatural horror--in Dashiell Hammett's_ CREEPS BY NIGHT _and August Derleth's equally famed_ SLEEP NO MORE--_to straight science fiction--in the widely popular Conklin, Wollheim, Derleth, Bleiler and Dikty volumes.

dirtnounUS /dɜːrt/

the part of the earth's surface consisting of humus and disintegrated rock

From this reading We think you'll agree that this story is of anthology caliber too._ To Will Durkin it seemed to be the realization of a long-cherished dream--this return from town over a rutted dirt road, equipped and ready for a cruel duel with another man's offspring.

dreamnounUS /driːm/

A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.

From this reading We think you'll agree that this story is of anthology caliber too._ To Will Durkin it seemed to be the realization of a long-cherished dream--this return from town over a rutted dirt road, equipped and ready for a cruel duel with another man's offspring.

duelnounUS /ˈduːəl/

a prearranged fight with deadly weapons by two people (accompanied by seconds) in order to settle a quarrel over a point of honor

From this reading We think you'll agree that this story is of anthology caliber too._ To Will Durkin it seemed to be the realization of a long-cherished dream--this return from town over a rutted dirt road, equipped and ready for a cruel duel with another man's offspring.

Durkin

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

From this reading We think you'll agree that this story is of anthology caliber too._ To Will Durkin it seemed to be the realization of a long-cherished dream--this return from town over a rutted dirt road, equipped and ready for a cruel duel with another man's offspring.

Durkin's

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

From this reading There was a savage cruelty in Durkin's hatred of his children.

equallyadverbUS /ˈiːkwəli/

to the same degree (often followed by “as”)

From this reading They run the gamut from supernatural horror--in Dashiell Hammett's_ CREEPS BY NIGHT _and August Derleth's equally famed_ SLEEP NO MORE--_to straight science fiction--in the widely popular Conklin, Wollheim, Derleth, Bleiler and Dikty volumes.

equippedadjectiveUS /ɪˈkwɪpt/

provided or fitted out with what is necessary or useful or appropriate

From this reading We think you'll agree that this story is of anthology caliber too._ To Will Durkin it seemed to be the realization of a long-cherished dream--this return from town over a rutted dirt road, equipped and ready for a cruel duel with another man's offspring.

famedadjectiveUS /feɪmd/

widely known and esteemed

From this reading They run the gamut from supernatural horror--in Dashiell Hammett's_ CREEPS BY NIGHT _and August Derleth's equally famed_ SLEEP NO MORE--_to straight science fiction--in the widely popular Conklin, Wollheim, Derleth, Bleiler and Dikty volumes.

fictionnounUS /ˈfɪkʃən/

a literary work based on the imagination and not necessarily on fact

From this reading They run the gamut from supernatural horror--in Dashiell Hammett's_ CREEPS BY NIGHT _and August Derleth's equally famed_ SLEEP NO MORE--_to straight science fiction--in the widely popular Conklin, Wollheim, Derleth, Bleiler and Dikty volumes.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading We think you'll agree that this story is of anthology caliber too._ To Will Durkin it seemed to be the realization of a long-cherished dream--this return from town over a rutted dirt road, equipped and ready for a cruel duel with another man's offspring.

FrankadjectiveUS /fræŋk/

characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion

From this reading _Frank Belknap Long's stories have appeared in twenty-seven cloth-bound anthologies bearing the imprint of leading publishers.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading They run the gamut from supernatural horror--in Dashiell Hammett's_ CREEPS BY NIGHT _and August Derleth's equally famed_ SLEEP NO MORE--_to straight science fiction--in the widely popular Conklin, Wollheim, Derleth, Bleiler and Dikty volumes.

gamutnounUS /ˈɡæmət/

a complete extent or range: "a face that expressed a gamut of emotions"

From this reading They run the gamut from supernatural horror--in Dashiell Hammett's_ CREEPS BY NIGHT _and August Derleth's equally famed_ SLEEP NO MORE--_to straight science fiction--in the widely popular Conklin, Wollheim, Derleth, Bleiler and Dikty volumes.

Hammett's

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

From this reading They run the gamut from supernatural horror--in Dashiell Hammett's_ CREEPS BY NIGHT _and August Derleth's equally famed_ SLEEP NO MORE--_to straight science fiction--in the widely popular Conklin, Wollheim, Derleth, Bleiler and Dikty volumes.

hatrednounUS /ˈheɪtrəd/

the emotion of intense dislike; a feeling of dislike so strong that it demands action

From this reading There was a savage cruelty in Durkin's hatred of his children.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading _Frank Belknap Long's stories have appeared in twenty-seven cloth-bound anthologies bearing the imprint of leading publishers.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Little did he know that on other worlds--cruelty boomeranged.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading There was a savage cruelty in Durkin's hatred of his children.

horrornounUS /ˈhɔːrər/

intense and profound fear

From this reading They run the gamut from supernatural horror--in Dashiell Hammett's_ CREEPS BY NIGHT _and August Derleth's equally famed_ SLEEP NO MORE--_to straight science fiction--in the widely popular Conklin, Wollheim, Derleth, Bleiler and Dikty volumes.

imprintnounUS /ˌɪmˈprɪnt/

a distinctive influence

From this reading _Frank Belknap Long's stories have appeared in twenty-seven cloth-bound anthologies bearing the imprint of leading publishers.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading There was a savage cruelty in Durkin's hatred of his children.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading We think you'll agree that this story is of anthology caliber too._ To Will Durkin it seemed to be the realization of a long-cherished dream--this return from town over a rutted dirt road, equipped and ready for a cruel duel with another man's offspring.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading We think you'll agree that this story is of anthology caliber too._ To Will Durkin it seemed to be the realization of a long-cherished dream--this return from town over a rutted dirt road, equipped and ready for a cruel duel with another man's offspring.

knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading Little did he know that on other worlds--cruelty boomeranged.

leadingadjectiveUS /ˈliːdɪŋ/

indicating the most important performer or role

From this reading _Frank Belknap Long's stories have appeared in twenty-seven cloth-bound anthologies bearing the imprint of leading publishers.

LittleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

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

From this reading Little did he know that on other worlds--cruelty boomeranged.

Long's

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

From this reading _Frank Belknap Long's stories have appeared in twenty-seven cloth-bound anthologies bearing the imprint of leading publishers.

long-cherished

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

From this reading We think you'll agree that this story is of anthology caliber too._ To Will Durkin it seemed to be the realization of a long-cherished dream--this return from town over a rutted dirt road, equipped and ready for a cruel duel with another man's offspring.

man'snounUS /mænz/

possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading We think you'll agree that this story is of anthology caliber too._ To Will Durkin it seemed to be the realization of a long-cherished dream--this return from town over a rutted dirt road, equipped and ready for a cruel duel with another man's offspring.

MOREadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading They run the gamut from supernatural horror--in Dashiell Hammett's_ CREEPS BY NIGHT _and August Derleth's equally famed_ SLEEP NO MORE--_to straight science fiction--in the widely popular Conklin, Wollheim, Derleth, Bleiler and Dikty volumes.

NIGHTnounUS /naɪt/

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading They run the gamut from supernatural horror--in Dashiell Hammett's_ CREEPS BY NIGHT _and August Derleth's equally famed_ SLEEP NO MORE--_to straight science fiction--in the widely popular Conklin, Wollheim, Derleth, Bleiler and Dikty volumes.

NOdeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading They run the gamut from supernatural horror--in Dashiell Hammett's_ CREEPS BY NIGHT _and August Derleth's equally famed_ SLEEP NO MORE--_to straight science fiction--in the widely popular Conklin, Wollheim, Derleth, Bleiler and Dikty volumes.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading There was a savage cruelty in Durkin's hatred of his children.

offspringnounUS /ˈɔːfsprɪŋ/

the immediate descendants of a person

From this reading We think you'll agree that this story is of anthology caliber too._ To Will Durkin it seemed to be the realization of a long-cherished dream--this return from town over a rutted dirt road, equipped and ready for a cruel duel with another man's offspring.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Little did he know that on other worlds--cruelty boomeranged.

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Little did he know that on other worlds--cruelty boomeranged.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading We think you'll agree that this story is of anthology caliber too._ To Will Durkin it seemed to be the realization of a long-cherished dream--this return from town over a rutted dirt road, equipped and ready for a cruel duel with another man's offspring.

popularadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːpjələr/

regarded with great favor, approval, or affection especially by the general public

From this reading They run the gamut from supernatural horror--in Dashiell Hammett's_ CREEPS BY NIGHT _and August Derleth's equally famed_ SLEEP NO MORE--_to straight science fiction--in the widely popular Conklin, Wollheim, Derleth, Bleiler and Dikty volumes.

publishersnounUS /ˈpʌblɪʃərz/

plural of “publisher” — a firm in the publishing business

From this reading _Frank Belknap Long's stories have appeared in twenty-seven cloth-bound anthologies bearing the imprint of leading publishers.

readyadjectiveUS /ˈredi/

completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress

From this reading We think you'll agree that this story is of anthology caliber too._ To Will Durkin it seemed to be the realization of a long-cherished dream--this return from town over a rutted dirt road, equipped and ready for a cruel duel with another man's offspring.

realizationnounUS /ˈriːləˈzeɪʃən/

coming to understand something clearly and distinctly

From this reading We think you'll agree that this story is of anthology caliber too._ To Will Durkin it seemed to be the realization of a long-cherished dream--this return from town over a rutted dirt road, equipped and ready for a cruel duel with another man's offspring.

returnverbUS /rɪˈtɜːrn/

go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading We think you'll agree that this story is of anthology caliber too._ To Will Durkin it seemed to be the realization of a long-cherished dream--this return from town over a rutted dirt road, equipped and ready for a cruel duel with another man's offspring.

roadnounUS /roʊd/

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading We think you'll agree that this story is of anthology caliber too._ To Will Durkin it seemed to be the realization of a long-cherished dream--this return from town over a rutted dirt road, equipped and ready for a cruel duel with another man's offspring.

runverbUS /rʌn/

move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading They run the gamut from supernatural horror--in Dashiell Hammett's_ CREEPS BY NIGHT _and August Derleth's equally famed_ SLEEP NO MORE--_to straight science fiction--in the widely popular Conklin, Wollheim, Derleth, Bleiler and Dikty volumes.

ruttedadjectiveUS /ˈrʌtɪd/

full of ruts

From this reading We think you'll agree that this story is of anthology caliber too._ To Will Durkin it seemed to be the realization of a long-cherished dream--this return from town over a rutted dirt road, equipped and ready for a cruel duel with another man's offspring.

savageadjectiveUS /ˈsævədʒ/

(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering

From this reading There was a savage cruelty in Durkin's hatred of his children.

sciencenounUS /ˈsaɪəns/

a particular branch of scientific knowledge

From this reading They run the gamut from supernatural horror--in Dashiell Hammett's_ CREEPS BY NIGHT _and August Derleth's equally famed_ SLEEP NO MORE--_to straight science fiction--in the widely popular Conklin, Wollheim, Derleth, Bleiler and Dikty volumes.

seemedverbUS /siːmd/

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

From this reading We think you'll agree that this story is of anthology caliber too._ To Will Durkin it seemed to be the realization of a long-cherished dream--this return from town over a rutted dirt road, equipped and ready for a cruel duel with another man's offspring.

SLEEPnounUS /sliːp/

a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended

From this reading They run the gamut from supernatural horror--in Dashiell Hammett's_ CREEPS BY NIGHT _and August Derleth's equally famed_ SLEEP NO MORE--_to straight science fiction--in the widely popular Conklin, Wollheim, Derleth, Bleiler and Dikty volumes.

storiesnounUS /ˈstɔːriz/

plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading _Frank Belknap Long's stories have appeared in twenty-seven cloth-bound anthologies bearing the imprint of leading publishers.

storynounUS /ˈstɔːri/

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading We think you'll agree that this story is of anthology caliber too._ To Will Durkin it seemed to be the realization of a long-cherished dream--this return from town over a rutted dirt road, equipped and ready for a cruel duel with another man's offspring.

straightadjectiveUS /streɪt/

successive (without a break)

From this reading They run the gamut from supernatural horror--in Dashiell Hammett's_ CREEPS BY NIGHT _and August Derleth's equally famed_ SLEEP NO MORE--_to straight science fiction--in the widely popular Conklin, Wollheim, Derleth, Bleiler and Dikty volumes.

supernaturalnounUS /ˌsuːpərˈnætʃərəl/

supernatural forces and events and beings collectively

From this reading They run the gamut from supernatural horror--in Dashiell Hammett's_ CREEPS BY NIGHT _and August Derleth's equally famed_ SLEEP NO MORE--_to straight science fiction--in the widely popular Conklin, Wollheim, Derleth, Bleiler and Dikty volumes.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Little did he know that on other worlds--cruelty boomeranged.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading _Frank Belknap Long's stories have appeared in twenty-seven cloth-bound anthologies bearing the imprint of leading publishers.

ThereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading There was a savage cruelty in Durkin's hatred of his children.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading They run the gamut from supernatural horror--in Dashiell Hammett's_ CREEPS BY NIGHT _and August Derleth's equally famed_ SLEEP NO MORE--_to straight science fiction--in the widely popular Conklin, Wollheim, Derleth, Bleiler and Dikty volumes.

thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading We think you'll agree that this story is of anthology caliber too._ To Will Durkin it seemed to be the realization of a long-cherished dream--this return from town over a rutted dirt road, equipped and ready for a cruel duel with another man's offspring.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading We think you'll agree that this story is of anthology caliber too._ To Will Durkin it seemed to be the realization of a long-cherished dream--this return from town over a rutted dirt road, equipped and ready for a cruel duel with another man's offspring.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading They run the gamut from supernatural horror--in Dashiell Hammett's_ CREEPS BY NIGHT _and August Derleth's equally famed_ SLEEP NO MORE--_to straight science fiction--in the widely popular Conklin, Wollheim, Derleth, Bleiler and Dikty volumes.

tooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading We think you'll agree that this story is of anthology caliber too._ To Will Durkin it seemed to be the realization of a long-cherished dream--this return from town over a rutted dirt road, equipped and ready for a cruel duel with another man's offspring.

townnounUS /taʊn/

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading We think you'll agree that this story is of anthology caliber too._ To Will Durkin it seemed to be the realization of a long-cherished dream--this return from town over a rutted dirt road, equipped and ready for a cruel duel with another man's offspring.

twenty-sevennoun

the cardinal number that is the sum of twenty-six and one

From this reading _Frank Belknap Long's stories have appeared in twenty-seven cloth-bound anthologies bearing the imprint of leading publishers.

volumesnounUS /ˈvɑːljuːmz/

plural of “volume” — the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object

From this reading They run the gamut from supernatural horror--in Dashiell Hammett's_ CREEPS BY NIGHT _and August Derleth's equally famed_ SLEEP NO MORE--_to straight science fiction--in the widely popular Conklin, Wollheim, Derleth, Bleiler and Dikty volumes.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading There was a savage cruelty in Durkin's hatred of his children.

WepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading We think you'll agree that this story is of anthology caliber too._ To Will Durkin it seemed to be the realization of a long-cherished dream--this return from town over a rutted dirt road, equipped and ready for a cruel duel with another man's offspring.

widelyadverbUS /ˈwaɪdli/

to a great degree

From this reading They run the gamut from supernatural horror--in Dashiell Hammett's_ CREEPS BY NIGHT _and August Derleth's equally famed_ SLEEP NO MORE--_to straight science fiction--in the widely popular Conklin, Wollheim, Derleth, Bleiler and Dikty volumes.

Willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading We think you'll agree that this story is of anthology caliber too._ To Will Durkin it seemed to be the realization of a long-cherished dream--this return from town over a rutted dirt road, equipped and ready for a cruel duel with another man's offspring.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading We think you'll agree that this story is of anthology caliber too._ To Will Durkin it seemed to be the realization of a long-cherished dream--this return from town over a rutted dirt road, equipped and ready for a cruel duel with another man's offspring.

Wollheim

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

From this reading They run the gamut from supernatural horror--in Dashiell Hammett's_ CREEPS BY NIGHT _and August Derleth's equally famed_ SLEEP NO MORE--_to straight science fiction--in the widely popular Conklin, Wollheim, Derleth, Bleiler and Dikty volumes.

worldsnounUS /wɜːrldz/

plural of “world” — everything that exists anywhere

From this reading Little did he know that on other worlds--cruelty boomeranged.

you'll

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

From this reading We think you'll agree that this story is of anthology caliber too._ To Will Durkin it seemed to be the realization of a long-cherished dream--this return from town over a rutted dirt road, equipped and ready for a cruel duel with another man's offspring.

Chapter 1 of The cottage by Frank Belknap Long holds 339 sentences, grouped into 68 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 1 of The cottage contain?

Chapter 1 holds 339 sentences of The cottage, unabridged, divided into 68 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The cottage by Frank Belknap Long exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 339 sentences, grouped into 68 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 1 of The cottage?

Work through the 68 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 68 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 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading The cottage

Common questions about reading The cottage by Frank Belknap Long on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The cottage?

Yes. All 0 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #? are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The cottage is used?

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

How long does The cottage take to read?

About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The cottage section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 0 chapters of The cottage 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 cottage

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

Chapter 1
One of the 0 chapters of The cottage, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 2
One of the 0 chapters of The cottage, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 3
One of the 0 chapters of The cottage, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.