Chapter 6 of The Curved Blades is here in full — 438 sentences across 88 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter VI
Chapter 6 of The Curved Blades is here in full — 438 sentences across 88 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
"Is not that a bizarre clue that should make the case an easy one?" asked Anita, with an inquiring glance at Stone. "It may be so," he replied, with a thoughtful look at her. "Where could such a snake have come from?" "It was brought by the burglar, of course," said Pauline, quickly. "I don't mean that; but where could it be bought?"
Chapter 6 of The Curved Blades is here in full — 438 sentences across 88 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/87 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.
conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual
From this reading “"Is not that a bizarre clue that should make the case an easy one?" asked Anita, with an inquiring glance at Stone.”
inflected form of “buy” — obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction
From this reading “"I don't mean that; but where could it be bought?"”
A person who commits illegal entry into a building with intent to steal valuable treasures.
From this reading “"It was brought by the burglar, of course," said Pauline, quickly.”
a slight indication
From this reading “"Is not that a bizarre clue that should make the case an easy one?" asked Anita, with an inquiring glance at Stone.”
given to inquiry
From this reading “"Is not that a bizarre clue that should make the case an easy one?" asked Anita, with an inquiring glance at Stone.”
relating to Paul the Apostle or his doctrines
From this reading “"It was brought by the burglar, of course," said Pauline, quickly.”
limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous
From this reading “"Where could such a snake have come from?"”
having intellectual depth
From this reading “"It may be so," he replied, with a thoughtful look at her.”
English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.
Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.
In this reading “"Is not that a bizarre clue that should make the case an easy one?" asked Anita, with an inquiring glance at Stone.”
take into consideration for exemplifying purposes
In this reading “"It may be so," he replied, with a thoughtful look at her.”
as might be expected
In this reading “"It was brought by the burglar, of course," said Pauline, quickly.”
In this reading “"Where could such a snake have come from?"”
Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.
Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Is not that a bizarre clue that should make the case an easy one?" asked Anita, with an inquiring glance at Stone.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "Is not that a bizarre clue that should make the case an easy one?" asked Anita, with an inquiring glance at Stone.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Is not that a bizarre clue that should make the case an easy one?" asked Anita, with an inquiring glance at Stone.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Is not that a bizarre clue that should make the case an easy one?" asked Anita, with an inquiring glance at Stone.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "Is not that a bizarre clue that should make the case an easy one?" asked Anita, with an inquiring glance at Stone.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "It may be so," he replied, with a thoughtful look at her.
conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual
From this reading "Is not that a bizarre clue that should make the case an easy one?" asked Anita, with an inquiring glance at Stone.
inflected form of “buy” — obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction
From this reading "I don't mean that; but where could it be bought?"
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading "It was brought by the burglar, of course," said Pauline, quickly.
A person who commits illegal entry into a building with intent to steal valuable treasures.
From this reading "It was brought by the burglar, of course," said Pauline, quickly.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "I don't mean that; but where could it be bought?"
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "It was brought by the burglar, of course," said Pauline, quickly.
an occurrence of something
From this reading "Is not that a bizarre clue that should make the case an easy one?" asked Anita, with an inquiring glance at Stone.
a slight indication
From this reading "Is not that a bizarre clue that should make the case an easy one?" asked Anita, with an inquiring glance at Stone.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "Where could such a snake have come from?"
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "Where could such a snake have come from?"
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading "It was brought by the burglar, of course," said Pauline, quickly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don't mean that; but where could it be bought?"
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading "Is not that a bizarre clue that should make the case an easy one?" asked Anita, with an inquiring glance at Stone.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "Where could such a snake have come from?"
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading "Is not that a bizarre clue that should make the case an easy one?" asked Anita, with an inquiring glance at Stone.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Where could such a snake have come from?"
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "It may be so," he replied, with a thoughtful look at her.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "It may be so," he replied, with a thoughtful look at her.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I don't mean that; but where could it be bought?"
given to inquiry
From this reading "Is not that a bizarre clue that should make the case an easy one?" asked Anita, with an inquiring glance at Stone.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Is not that a bizarre clue that should make the case an easy one?" asked Anita, with an inquiring glance at Stone.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "It may be so," he replied, with a thoughtful look at her.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading "It may be so," he replied, with a thoughtful look at her.
engage in
From this reading "Is not that a bizarre clue that should make the case an easy one?" asked Anita, with an inquiring glance at Stone.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading "It may be so," he replied, with a thoughtful look at her.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading "I don't mean that; but where could it be bought?"
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "Is not that a bizarre clue that should make the case an easy one?" asked Anita, with an inquiring glance at Stone.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "It was brought by the burglar, of course," said Pauline, quickly.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "Is not that a bizarre clue that should make the case an easy one?" asked Anita, with an inquiring glance at Stone.
relating to Paul the Apostle or his doctrines
From this reading "It was brought by the burglar, of course," said Pauline, quickly.
with speed
From this reading "It was brought by the burglar, of course," said Pauline, quickly.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading "It may be so," he replied, with a thoughtful look at her.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "It was brought by the burglar, of course," said Pauline, quickly.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading "Is not that a bizarre clue that should make the case an easy one?" asked Anita, with an inquiring glance at Stone.
limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous
From this reading "Where could such a snake have come from?"
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "It may be so," he replied, with a thoughtful look at her.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading "Is not that a bizarre clue that should make the case an easy one?" asked Anita, with an inquiring glance at Stone.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading "Where could such a snake have come from?"
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Is not that a bizarre clue that should make the case an easy one?" asked Anita, with an inquiring glance at Stone.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Is not that a bizarre clue that should make the case an easy one?" asked Anita, with an inquiring glance at Stone.
having intellectual depth
From this reading "It may be so," he replied, with a thoughtful look at her.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "It was brought by the burglar, of course," said Pauline, quickly.
in or at the place that
From this reading "Where could such a snake have come from?"
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Is not that a bizarre clue that should make the case an easy one?" asked Anita, with an inquiring glance at Stone.
Chapter 6 of The Curved Blades by Carolyn Wells holds 438 sentences, grouped into 88 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.
Chapter 6 holds 438 sentences of The Curved Blades, unabridged, divided into 88 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 6 of The Curved Blades by Carolyn Wells exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 438 sentences, grouped into 88 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.
Work through the 88 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 88 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 6 can be played aloud in United States English.
Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.
Common questions about reading The Curved Blades by Carolyn Wells on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 5105 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #45622 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #45622, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 425 minutes of reading across 1021 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Curved Blades section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 12 chapters of The Curved Blades to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in The Curved Blades, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
