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The Dueling Machine
The Dueling Machine

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of The Dueling Machine is here in full — 466 sentences across 94 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Dueling Machine
Context Illustration Reading 1/93 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Leoh argued, Geri Dulaq coaxed.
Finally the doctors agreed.
With only two days remaining before Hector’s duel with Odal, they began to probe Dulaq’s mind.
Geri remained by her father’s bedside while the three doctors fitted the cumbersome transceiver to Dulaq’s head and attached the electrodes for the automatic hospital equipment that monitored his physical condition.
Hector and Leoh remained at the dueling machine, communicating with the hospital by phone.
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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 Dueling Machine

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of The Dueling Machine is here in full — 466 sentences across 94 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/93 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Leoh argued, Geri Dulaq coaxed.
Line 2
Finally the doctors agreed.
/ˈfaɪnəli ðə ˈdɑːktərz əˈɡriːd/
Line 3
With only two days remaining before Hector’s duel with Odal, they began to probe Dulaq’s mind.
Line 4
Geri remained by her father’s bedside while the three doctors fitted the cumbersome transceiver to Dulaq’s head and attached the electrodes for the automatic hospital equipment that monitored his physical condition.
Line 5
Hector and Leoh remained at the dueling machine, communicating with the hospital by phone.

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.

coaxed verb US /koʊkst/

past form of “coax” — influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering

From this reading “Leoh argued, Geri Dulaq coaxed.”

communicating noun US /kəˈmjuːnəkeɪtɪŋ/

the activity of communicating; the activity of conveying information

From this reading “Hector and Leoh remained at the dueling machine, communicating with the hospital by phone.”

cumbersome adjective US /ˈkʌmbərsəm/

difficult to handle or use especially because of size or weight

From this reading “Geri remained by her father’s bedside while the three doctors fitted the cumbersome transceiver to Dulaq’s head and attached the electrodes for the automatic hospital equipment that monitored his physical condition.”

dueling verb US /ˈduːlɪŋ/

-ing form of “duel” — fight a duel, as over one's honor or a woman

From this reading “Hector and Leoh remained at the dueling machine, communicating with the hospital by phone.”

electrodes noun US /ˌɪˈlektroʊdz/

plural of “electrode” — a conductor used to make electrical contact with some part of a circuit

From this reading “Geri remained by her father’s bedside while the three doctors fitted the cumbersome transceiver to Dulaq’s head and attached the electrodes for the automatic hospital equipment that monitored his physical condition.”

Hector's noun US /ˈhektərz/

possessive form of “hector” — (Greek mythology) a mythical Trojan who was killed by Achilles during the Trojan War

monitored verb US /ˈmɑːnətərd/

past form of “monitor” — keep tabs on; keep an eye on; keep under surveillance

From this reading “Geri remained by her father’s bedside while the three doctors fitted the cumbersome transceiver to Dulaq’s head and attached the electrodes for the automatic hospital equipment that monitored his physical condition.”

probe verb US /proʊb/

question or examine thoroughly and closely

From this reading “With only two days remaining before Hector’s duel with Odal, they began to probe Dulaq’s mind.”

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.

physical condition adjective + noun

the condition or state of the body or bodily functions

In this reading “Geri remained by her father’s bedside while the three doctors fitted the cumbersome transceiver to Dulaq’s head and attached the electrodes for the automatic hospital equipment that monitored his physical condition.”

two days noun + noun

In this reading “With only two days remaining before Hector’s duel with Odal, they began to probe Dulaq’s mind.”

All words in this reading · 53

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.

agreedadjectiveUS /əˈɡriːd/

united by being of the same opinion

From this reading Finally the doctors agreed.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Geri remained by her father’s bedside while the three doctors fitted the cumbersome transceiver to Dulaq’s head and attached the electrodes for the automatic hospital equipment that monitored his physical condition.

arguedverbUS /ˈɑːrɡjuːd/

past form of “argue” — present reasons and arguments

From this reading Leoh argued, Geri Dulaq coaxed.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Hector and Leoh remained at the dueling machine, communicating with the hospital by phone.

attachedadjectiveUS /əˈtætʃt/

being joined in close association

From this reading Geri remained by her father’s bedside while the three doctors fitted the cumbersome transceiver to Dulaq’s head and attached the electrodes for the automatic hospital equipment that monitored his physical condition.

automaticadjectiveUS /ˌɔːtəˈmætɪk/

operating with minimal human intervention; independent of external control

From this reading Geri remained by her father’s bedside while the three doctors fitted the cumbersome transceiver to Dulaq’s head and attached the electrodes for the automatic hospital equipment that monitored his physical condition.

bedsidenounUS /ˈbedsaɪd/

space by the side of a bed (especially the bed of a sick or dying person)

From this reading Geri remained by her father’s bedside while the three doctors fitted the cumbersome transceiver to Dulaq’s head and attached the electrodes for the automatic hospital equipment that monitored his physical condition.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading With only two days remaining before Hector’s duel with Odal, they began to probe Dulaq’s mind.

beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading With only two days remaining before Hector’s duel with Odal, they began to probe Dulaq’s mind.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Geri remained by her father’s bedside while the three doctors fitted the cumbersome transceiver to Dulaq’s head and attached the electrodes for the automatic hospital equipment that monitored his physical condition.

coaxedverbUS /koʊkst/

past form of “coax” — influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering

From this reading Leoh argued, Geri Dulaq coaxed.

communicatingnounUS /kəˈmjuːnəkeɪtɪŋ/

the activity of communicating; the activity of conveying information

From this reading Hector and Leoh remained at the dueling machine, communicating with the hospital by phone.

conditionnounUS /kənˈdɪʃən/

a state at a particular time

From this reading Geri remained by her father’s bedside while the three doctors fitted the cumbersome transceiver to Dulaq’s head and attached the electrodes for the automatic hospital equipment that monitored his physical condition.

cumbersomeadjectiveUS /ˈkʌmbərsəm/

difficult to handle or use especially because of size or weight

From this reading Geri remained by her father’s bedside while the three doctors fitted the cumbersome transceiver to Dulaq’s head and attached the electrodes for the automatic hospital equipment that monitored his physical condition.

daysnounUS /deɪz/

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading With only two days remaining before Hector’s duel with Odal, they began to probe Dulaq’s mind.

doctorsnounUS /ˈdɑːktərz/

plural of “doctor” — a licensed medical practitioner

From this reading Finally the doctors agreed.

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 With only two days remaining before Hector’s duel with Odal, they began to probe Dulaq’s mind.

duelingverbUS /ˈduːlɪŋ/

-ing form of “duel” — fight a duel, as over one's honor or a woman

From this reading Hector and Leoh remained at the dueling machine, communicating with the hospital by phone.

Dulaq

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

From this reading Leoh argued, Geri Dulaq coaxed.

Dulaq's

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

From this reading With only two days remaining before Hector’s duel with Odal, they began to probe Dulaq’s mind.

electrodesnounUS /ˌɪˈlektroʊdz/

plural of “electrode” — a conductor used to make electrical contact with some part of a circuit

From this reading Geri remained by her father’s bedside while the three doctors fitted the cumbersome transceiver to Dulaq’s head and attached the electrodes for the automatic hospital equipment that monitored his physical condition.

equipmentnounUS /ɪˈkwɪpmənt/

an instrumentality needed for an undertaking or to perform a service

From this reading Geri remained by her father’s bedside while the three doctors fitted the cumbersome transceiver to Dulaq’s head and attached the electrodes for the automatic hospital equipment that monitored his physical condition.

father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/

possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading Geri remained by her father’s bedside while the three doctors fitted the cumbersome transceiver to Dulaq’s head and attached the electrodes for the automatic hospital equipment that monitored his physical condition.

FinallyadverbUS /ˈfaɪnəli/

after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay

From this reading Finally the doctors agreed.

fittedadjectiveUS /ˈfɪtəd/

being the right size and shape to fit as desired

From this reading Geri remained by her father’s bedside while the three doctors fitted the cumbersome transceiver to Dulaq’s head and attached the electrodes for the automatic hospital equipment that monitored his physical condition.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Geri remained by her father’s bedside while the three doctors fitted the cumbersome transceiver to Dulaq’s head and attached the electrodes for the automatic hospital equipment that monitored his physical condition.

Geri

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

From this reading Leoh argued, Geri Dulaq coaxed.

headnounUS /hed/

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading Geri remained by her father’s bedside while the three doctors fitted the cumbersome transceiver to Dulaq’s head and attached the electrodes for the automatic hospital equipment that monitored his physical condition.

HectornounUS /ˈhektər/

(Greek mythology) a mythical Trojan who was killed by Achilles during the Trojan War

From this reading Hector and Leoh remained at the dueling machine, communicating with the hospital by phone.

Hector'snounUS /ˈhektərz/

possessive form of “hector” — (Greek mythology) a mythical Trojan who was killed by Achilles during the Trojan War

From this reading With only two days remaining before Hector’s duel with Odal, they began to probe Dulaq’s mind.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Geri remained by her father’s bedside while the three doctors fitted the cumbersome transceiver to Dulaq’s head and attached the electrodes for the automatic hospital equipment that monitored his physical condition.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Geri remained by her father’s bedside while the three doctors fitted the cumbersome transceiver to Dulaq’s head and attached the electrodes for the automatic hospital equipment that monitored his physical condition.

hospitalnounUS /ˈhɑːspɪtəl/

a health facility where patients receive treatment

From this reading Geri remained by her father’s bedside while the three doctors fitted the cumbersome transceiver to Dulaq’s head and attached the electrodes for the automatic hospital equipment that monitored his physical condition.

Leoh

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

From this reading Leoh argued, Geri Dulaq coaxed.

machinenounUS /məˈʃiːn/

any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks

From this reading Hector and Leoh remained at the dueling machine, communicating with the hospital by phone.

mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading With only two days remaining before Hector’s duel with Odal, they began to probe Dulaq’s mind.

monitoredverbUS /ˈmɑːnətərd/

past form of “monitor” — keep tabs on; keep an eye on; keep under surveillance

From this reading Geri remained by her father’s bedside while the three doctors fitted the cumbersome transceiver to Dulaq’s head and attached the electrodes for the automatic hospital equipment that monitored his physical condition.

Odal

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

From this reading With only two days remaining before Hector’s duel with Odal, they began to probe Dulaq’s mind.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading With only two days remaining before Hector’s duel with Odal, they began to probe Dulaq’s mind.

phonenounUS /foʊn/

electronic equipment that converts sound into electrical signals that can be transmitted over distances and then converts received signals back into sounds

From this reading Hector and Leoh remained at the dueling machine, communicating with the hospital by phone.

physicaladjectiveUS /ˈfɪzɪkəl/

involving the body as distinguished from the mind or spirit

From this reading Geri remained by her father’s bedside while the three doctors fitted the cumbersome transceiver to Dulaq’s head and attached the electrodes for the automatic hospital equipment that monitored his physical condition.

probeverbUS /proʊb/

question or examine thoroughly and closely

From this reading With only two days remaining before Hector’s duel with Odal, they began to probe Dulaq’s mind.

remainedverbUS /rɪˈmeɪnd/

past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading Geri remained by her father’s bedside while the three doctors fitted the cumbersome transceiver to Dulaq’s head and attached the electrodes for the automatic hospital equipment that monitored his physical condition.

remainingadjectiveUS /rɪˈmeɪnɪŋ/

not used up

From this reading With only two days remaining before Hector’s duel with Odal, they began to probe Dulaq’s mind.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Geri remained by her father’s bedside while the three doctors fitted the cumbersome transceiver to Dulaq’s head and attached the electrodes for the automatic hospital equipment that monitored his physical condition.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Finally the doctors agreed.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading With only two days remaining before Hector’s duel with Odal, they began to probe Dulaq’s mind.

threenounUS /θriː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading Geri remained by her father’s bedside while the three doctors fitted the cumbersome transceiver to Dulaq’s head and attached the electrodes for the automatic hospital equipment that monitored his physical condition.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading With only two days remaining before Hector’s duel with Odal, they began to probe Dulaq’s mind.

transceiver

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

From this reading Geri remained by her father’s bedside while the three doctors fitted the cumbersome transceiver to Dulaq’s head and attached the electrodes for the automatic hospital equipment that monitored his physical condition.

twonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading With only two days remaining before Hector’s duel with Odal, they began to probe Dulaq’s mind.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading Geri remained by her father’s bedside while the three doctors fitted the cumbersome transceiver to Dulaq’s head and attached the electrodes for the automatic hospital equipment that monitored his physical condition.

WithprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading With only two days remaining before Hector’s duel with Odal, they began to probe Dulaq’s mind.

Chapter 4 of The Dueling Machine by Ben Bova holds 466 sentences, grouped into 94 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 4 of The Dueling Machine contain?

Chapter 4 holds 466 sentences of The Dueling Machine, unabridged, divided into 94 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of The Dueling Machine by Ben Bova exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 466 sentences, grouped into 94 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 4 of The Dueling Machine?

Work through the 94 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 94 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 4 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 4 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 Dueling Machine

Common questions about reading The Dueling Machine by Ben Bova on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Dueling Machine?

Yes. All 1860 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #30796 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Dueling Machine is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #30796, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Dueling Machine take to read?

About 155 minutes of reading across 372 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Dueling Machine section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 4 chapters of The Dueling Machine 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 Dueling Machine

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

Etext
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Dueling Machine; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Produced
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Dueling Machine; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Analog
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Dueling Machine; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Science
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Dueling Machine; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.