The defender

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of The defender is here in full — 22 sentences across 5 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Nicholas Kalashnikoff • Curated US English Learning Edition

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

This is the story of the Lamut, Turgen, who lived alone high in the hills of northeastern Siberia and had for friends a herd of mountain rams.

Turgen, whose name means “fleet-of-foot” in the Lamut tongue, was a lonely man.

It had not always been so.

When he was younger he had had a wife and a son whom he loved.

But both had died of an illness that burned like fire, and rested now in a single grave under the larch tree outside his door.

Narrator

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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.

Chapter II Reading 1/4

The defender

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of The defender is here in full — 22 sentences across 5 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/4 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

This is the story of the Lamut, Turgen, who lived alone high in the hills of northeastern Siberia and had for friends a herd of mountain rams.

Line 2

Turgen, whose name means “fleet-of-foot” in the Lamut tongue, was a lonely man.

Line 3

It had not always been so.

/ɪt hæd nɑːt ˈɔːlweɪz bɪn soʊ/

Line 4

When he was younger he had had a wife and a son whom he loved.

/wen hiː wɑːz ˈjʌŋɡər hiː hæd hæd ə waɪf ənd ə sʌn huːm hiː lʌvd/

Line 5

But both had died of an illness that burned like fire, and rested now in a single grave under the larch tree outside his door.

/bʌt boʊθ hæd daɪd ʌv æn ˈɪlnəs ðæt bɜːrnd laɪk ˈfaɪər ənd ˈrestəd naʊ ɪn ə ˈsɪŋɡəl ɡreɪv ˈʌndər ðə lɑːrtʃ triː ˈaʊtˈsaɪd hɪz dɔːr/

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.

burned adjective US /bɜːrnd/

treated by heating to a high temperature but below the melting or fusing point

From this reading “But both had died of an illness that burned like fire, and rested now in a single grave under the larch tree outside his door.”

herd noun US /hɜːrd/

a group of cattle or sheep or other domestic mammals all of the same kind that are herded by humans

From this reading “This is the story of the Lamut, Turgen, who lived alone high in the hills of northeastern Siberia and had for friends a herd of mountain rams.”

illness noun US /ˈɪlnəs/

impairment of normal physiological function affecting part or all of an organism

From this reading “But both had died of an illness that burned like fire, and rested now in a single grave under the larch tree outside his door.”

larch noun US /lɑːrtʃ/

wood of a larch tree

From this reading “But both had died of an illness that burned like fire, and rested now in a single grave under the larch tree outside his door.”

northeastern adjective US /ˌnɔːrˈθiːstərn/

situated in or oriented toward the northeast

From this reading “This is the story of the Lamut, Turgen, who lived alone high in the hills of northeastern Siberia and had for friends a herd of mountain rams.”

rams noun US /ræmz/

plural of “ram” — the most common computer memory which can be used by programs to perform necessary tasks while the computer is on

From this reading “This is the story of the Lamut, Turgen, who lived alone high in the hills of northeastern Siberia and had for friends a herd of mountain rams.”

rested adjective US /ˈrestəd/

not tired; refreshed as by sleeping or relaxing

From this reading “But both had died of an illness that burned like fire, and rested now in a single grave under the larch tree outside his door.”

Siberia noun US /saɪˈbɪriə/

a vast Asian region of Russia; famous for long cold winters

From this reading “This is the story of the Lamut, Turgen, who lived alone high in the hills of northeastern Siberia and had for friends a herd of mountain rams.”

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.

lived alone verb + adjective counted as “live alone”

In this reading “This is the story of the Lamut, Turgen, who lived alone high in the hills of northeastern Siberia and had for friends a herd of mountain rams.”

All words in this reading · 62

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 This is the story of the Lamut, Turgen, who lived alone high in the hills of northeastern Siberia and had for friends a herd of mountain rams.

aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/

Having no one else present.

From this reading This is the story of the Lamut, Turgen, who lived alone high in the hills of northeastern Siberia and had for friends a herd of mountain rams.

alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading It had not always been so.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading But both had died of an illness that burned like fire, and rested now in a single grave under the larch tree outside his door.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading This is the story of the Lamut, Turgen, who lived alone high in the hills of northeastern Siberia and had for friends a herd of mountain rams.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading It had not always been so.

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading But both had died of an illness that burned like fire, and rested now in a single grave under the larch tree outside his door.

burnedadjectiveUS /bɜːrnd/

treated by heating to a high temperature but below the melting or fusing point

From this reading But both had died of an illness that burned like fire, and rested now in a single grave under the larch tree outside his door.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But both had died of an illness that burned like fire, and rested now in a single grave under the larch tree outside his door.

diedverbUS /daɪd/

past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life

From this reading But both had died of an illness that burned like fire, and rested now in a single grave under the larch tree outside his door.

doornounUS /dɔːr/

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

From this reading But both had died of an illness that burned like fire, and rested now in a single grave under the larch tree outside his door.

fireverbUS /ˈfaɪər/

start firing a weapon

From this reading But both had died of an illness that burned like fire, and rested now in a single grave under the larch tree outside his door.

fleet-of-foot

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

From this reading Turgen, whose name means “fleet-of-foot” in the Lamut tongue, was a lonely man.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading This is the story of the Lamut, Turgen, who lived alone high in the hills of northeastern Siberia and had for friends a herd of mountain rams.

friendsnounUS /frendz/

plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading This is the story of the Lamut, Turgen, who lived alone high in the hills of northeastern Siberia and had for friends a herd of mountain rams.

gravenounUS /ɡreɪv/

death of a person

From this reading But both had died of an illness that burned like fire, and rested now in a single grave under the larch tree outside his door.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading This is the story of the Lamut, Turgen, who lived alone high in the hills of northeastern Siberia and had for friends a herd of mountain rams.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading When he was younger he had had a wife and a son whom he loved.

herdnounUS /hɜːrd/

a group of cattle or sheep or other domestic mammals all of the same kind that are herded by humans

From this reading This is the story of the Lamut, Turgen, who lived alone high in the hills of northeastern Siberia and had for friends a herd of mountain rams.

highadjectiveUS /haɪ/

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading This is the story of the Lamut, Turgen, who lived alone high in the hills of northeastern Siberia and had for friends a herd of mountain rams.

hillsnounUS /hɪlz/

plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading This is the story of the Lamut, Turgen, who lived alone high in the hills of northeastern Siberia and had for friends a herd of mountain rams.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading But both had died of an illness that burned like fire, and rested now in a single grave under the larch tree outside his door.

illnessnounUS /ˈɪlnəs/

impairment of normal physiological function affecting part or all of an organism

From this reading But both had died of an illness that burned like fire, and rested now in a single grave under the larch tree outside his door.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading This is the story of the Lamut, Turgen, who lived alone high in the hills of northeastern Siberia and had for friends a herd of mountain rams.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading This is the story of the Lamut, Turgen, who lived alone high in the hills of northeastern Siberia and had for friends a herd of mountain rams.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It had not always been so.

Lamut

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

From this reading This is the story of the Lamut, Turgen, who lived alone high in the hills of northeastern Siberia and had for friends a herd of mountain rams.

larchnounUS /lɑːrtʃ/

wood of a larch tree

From this reading But both had died of an illness that burned like fire, and rested now in a single grave under the larch tree outside his door.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading But both had died of an illness that burned like fire, and rested now in a single grave under the larch tree outside his door.

livedverbUS /lɪvd/

past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading This is the story of the Lamut, Turgen, who lived alone high in the hills of northeastern Siberia and had for friends a herd of mountain rams.

lonelyadjectiveUS /ˈloʊnli/

lacking companions or companionship

From this reading Turgen, whose name means “fleet-of-foot” in the Lamut tongue, was a lonely man.

lovedadjectiveUS /lʌvd/

held dear

From this reading When he was younger he had had a wife and a son whom he loved.

mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading Turgen, whose name means “fleet-of-foot” in the Lamut tongue, was a lonely man.

meansnounUS /miːnz/

thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end

From this reading Turgen, whose name means “fleet-of-foot” in the Lamut tongue, was a lonely man.

mountainnounUS /ˈmaʊntən/

a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill

From this reading This is the story of the Lamut, Turgen, who lived alone high in the hills of northeastern Siberia and had for friends a herd of mountain rams.

nameverbUS /neɪm/

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading Turgen, whose name means “fleet-of-foot” in the Lamut tongue, was a lonely man.

northeasternadjectiveUS /ˌnɔːrˈθiːstərn/

situated in or oriented toward the northeast

From this reading This is the story of the Lamut, Turgen, who lived alone high in the hills of northeastern Siberia and had for friends a herd of mountain rams.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It had not always been so.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading But both had died of an illness that burned like fire, and rested now in a single grave under the larch tree outside his door.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading This is the story of the Lamut, Turgen, who lived alone high in the hills of northeastern Siberia and had for friends a herd of mountain rams.

outsideadjectiveUS /ˈaʊtˈsaɪd/

relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit

From this reading But both had died of an illness that burned like fire, and rested now in a single grave under the larch tree outside his door.

ramsnounUS /ræmz/

plural of “ram” — the most common computer memory which can be used by programs to perform necessary tasks while the computer is on

From this reading This is the story of the Lamut, Turgen, who lived alone high in the hills of northeastern Siberia and had for friends a herd of mountain rams.

restedadjectiveUS /ˈrestəd/

not tired; refreshed as by sleeping or relaxing

From this reading But both had died of an illness that burned like fire, and rested now in a single grave under the larch tree outside his door.

SiberianounUS /saɪˈbɪriə/

a vast Asian region of Russia; famous for long cold winters

From this reading This is the story of the Lamut, Turgen, who lived alone high in the hills of northeastern Siberia and had for friends a herd of mountain rams.

singleadjectiveUS /ˈsɪŋɡəl/

being or characteristic of a single thing or person

From this reading But both had died of an illness that burned like fire, and rested now in a single grave under the larch tree outside his door.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading It had not always been so.

sonnounUS /sʌn/

a male human offspring

From this reading When he was younger he had had a wife and a son whom he loved.

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 This is the story of the Lamut, Turgen, who lived alone high in the hills of northeastern Siberia and had for friends a herd of mountain rams.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But both had died of an illness that burned like fire, and rested now in a single grave under the larch tree outside his door.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading This is the story of the Lamut, Turgen, who lived alone high in the hills of northeastern Siberia and had for friends a herd of mountain rams.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading This is the story of the Lamut, Turgen, who lived alone high in the hills of northeastern Siberia and had for friends a herd of mountain rams.

tonguenounUS /tʌŋ/

a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity

From this reading Turgen, whose name means “fleet-of-foot” in the Lamut tongue, was a lonely man.

treenounUS /triː/

a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading But both had died of an illness that burned like fire, and rested now in a single grave under the larch tree outside his door.

Turgen

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

From this reading This is the story of the Lamut, Turgen, who lived alone high in the hills of northeastern Siberia and had for friends a herd of mountain rams.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading But both had died of an illness that burned like fire, and rested now in a single grave under the larch tree outside his door.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Turgen, whose name means “fleet-of-foot” in the Lamut tongue, was a lonely man.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When he was younger he had had a wife and a son whom he loved.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading This is the story of the Lamut, Turgen, who lived alone high in the hills of northeastern Siberia and had for friends a herd of mountain rams.

whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading When he was younger he had had a wife and a son whom he loved.

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading Turgen, whose name means “fleet-of-foot” in the Lamut tongue, was a lonely man.

wifenounUS /waɪf/

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading When he was younger he had had a wife and a son whom he loved.

youngeradjectiveUS /ˈjʌŋɡər/

used of the younger of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a son from his father

From this reading When he was younger he had had a wife and a son whom he loved.

Chapter 2 of The defender by Nicholas Kalashnikoff holds 22 sentences, grouped into 5 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 2 of The defender contain?

Chapter 2 holds 22 sentences of The defender, unabridged, divided into 5 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of The defender by Nicholas Kalashnikoff exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 22 sentences, grouped into 5 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 defender?

Work through the 5 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 5 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 defender

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Is this the complete text of The defender?

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

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

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

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Vocabulary met early in The defender

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Chapter 1: One of the 0 chapters of The defender, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
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Chapter II

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