Chapter 7 of The End of the Tether is here in full — 201 sentences across 41 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter VII
Chapter 7 of The End of the Tether is here in full — 201 sentences across 41 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
“Eavesdropping is what’s wrong with _you_, Mr. Sterne.” “Now, if you would only listen to me for a moment, Mr. Massy, sir, I could . “You are a sneak,” interrupted Massy in a great hurry, and even managed to get so far as to repeat, “a common sneak,” before the mate had broken in argumentatively-- “Now, sir, what is it you want?
Chapter 7 of The End of the Tether is here in full — 201 sentences across 41 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/40 · 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.
inflected form of “eavesdrop” — listen without the speaker's knowledge
From this reading ““Eavesdropping is what’s wrong with _you_, Mr. Sterne.””
a condition of urgency making it necessary to hurry
From this reading ““You are a sneak,” interrupted Massy in a great hurry, and even managed to get so far as to repeat, “a common sneak,” before the mate had broken in argumentatively-- “Now, sir, what is it you want?”
discontinued temporarily
From this reading ““You are a sneak,” interrupted Massy in a great hurry, and even managed to get so far as to repeat, “a common sneak,” before the mate had broken in argumentatively-- “Now, sir, what is it you want?”
past form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal
From this reading ““You are a sneak,” interrupted Massy in a great hurry, and even managed to get so far as to repeat, “a common sneak,” before the mate had broken in argumentatively-- “Now, sir, what is it you want?”
the officer below the master on a commercial ship
From this reading ““You are a sneak,” interrupted Massy in a great hurry, and even managed to get so far as to repeat, “a common sneak,” before the mate had broken in argumentatively-- “Now, sir, what is it you want?”
to say, state, or perform again
From this reading ““You are a sneak,” interrupted Massy in a great hurry, and even managed to get so far as to repeat, “a common sneak,” before the mate had broken in argumentatively-- “Now, sir, what is it you want?”
to go stealthily or furtively
From this reading ““You are a sneak,” interrupted Massy in a great hurry, and even managed to get so far as to repeat, “a common sneak,” before the mate had broken in argumentatively-- “Now, sir, what is it you want?”
English writer (born in Ireland) (1713-1766)
From this reading ““Eavesdropping is what’s wrong with _you_, Mr. Sterne.””
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 “Now, if you would only listen to me for a moment, Mr. Massy, sir, I could .
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “You are a sneak,” interrupted Massy in a great hurry, and even managed to get so far as to repeat, “a common sneak,” before the mate had broken in argumentatively-- “Now, sir, what is it you want?
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “You are a sneak,” interrupted Massy in a great hurry, and even managed to get so far as to repeat, “a common sneak,” before the mate had broken in argumentatively-- “Now, sir, what is it you want?
in a disputatious manner
From this reading “You are a sneak,” interrupted Massy in a great hurry, and even managed to get so far as to repeat, “a common sneak,” before the mate had broken in argumentatively-- “Now, sir, what is it you want?
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “You are a sneak,” interrupted Massy in a great hurry, and even managed to get so far as to repeat, “a common sneak,” before the mate had broken in argumentatively-- “Now, sir, what is it you want?
earlier than; in front of
From this reading “You are a sneak,” interrupted Massy in a great hurry, and even managed to get so far as to repeat, “a common sneak,” before the mate had broken in argumentatively-- “Now, sir, what is it you want?
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading “You are a sneak,” interrupted Massy in a great hurry, and even managed to get so far as to repeat, “a common sneak,” before the mate had broken in argumentatively-- “Now, sir, what is it you want?
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading “You are a sneak,” interrupted Massy in a great hurry, and even managed to get so far as to repeat, “a common sneak,” before the mate had broken in argumentatively-- “Now, sir, what is it you want?
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “Now, if you would only listen to me for a moment, Mr. Massy, sir, I could .
inflected form of “eavesdrop” — listen without the speaker's knowledge
From this reading “Eavesdropping is what’s wrong with _you_, Mr. Sterne.”
divisible by two
From this reading “You are a sneak,” interrupted Massy in a great hurry, and even managed to get so far as to repeat, “a common sneak,” before the mate had broken in argumentatively-- “Now, sir, what is it you want?
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading “You are a sneak,” interrupted Massy in a great hurry, and even managed to get so far as to repeat, “a common sneak,” before the mate had broken in argumentatively-- “Now, sir, what is it you want?
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “Now, if you would only listen to me for a moment, Mr. Massy, sir, I could .
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “You are a sneak,” interrupted Massy in a great hurry, and even managed to get so far as to repeat, “a common sneak,” before the mate had broken in argumentatively-- “Now, sir, what is it you want?
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading “You are a sneak,” interrupted Massy in a great hurry, and even managed to get so far as to repeat, “a common sneak,” before the mate had broken in argumentatively-- “Now, sir, what is it you want?
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “You are a sneak,” interrupted Massy in a great hurry, and even managed to get so far as to repeat, “a common sneak,” before the mate had broken in argumentatively-- “Now, sir, what is it you want?
a condition of urgency making it necessary to hurry
From this reading “You are a sneak,” interrupted Massy in a great hurry, and even managed to get so far as to repeat, “a common sneak,” before the mate had broken in argumentatively-- “Now, sir, what is it you want?
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Now, if you would only listen to me for a moment, Mr. Massy, sir, I could .
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “Now, if you would only listen to me for a moment, Mr. Massy, sir, I could .
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “You are a sneak,” interrupted Massy in a great hurry, and even managed to get so far as to repeat, “a common sneak,” before the mate had broken in argumentatively-- “Now, sir, what is it you want?
discontinued temporarily
From this reading “You are a sneak,” interrupted Massy in a great hurry, and even managed to get so far as to repeat, “a common sneak,” before the mate had broken in argumentatively-- “Now, sir, what is it you want?
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Eavesdropping is what’s wrong with _you_, Mr. Sterne.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “You are a sneak,” interrupted Massy in a great hurry, and even managed to get so far as to repeat, “a common sneak,” before the mate had broken in argumentatively-- “Now, sir, what is it you want?
hear with intention
From this reading “Now, if you would only listen to me for a moment, Mr. Massy, sir, I could .
past form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal
From this reading “You are a sneak,” interrupted Massy in a great hurry, and even managed to get so far as to repeat, “a common sneak,” before the mate had broken in argumentatively-- “Now, sir, what is it you want?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Now, if you would only listen to me for a moment, Mr. Massy, sir, I could .
the officer below the master on a commercial ship
From this reading “You are a sneak,” interrupted Massy in a great hurry, and even managed to get so far as to repeat, “a common sneak,” before the mate had broken in argumentatively-- “Now, sir, what is it you want?
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Now, if you would only listen to me for a moment, Mr. Massy, sir, I could .
a particular point in time
From this reading “Now, if you would only listen to me for a moment, Mr. Massy, sir, I could .
a form of address for a man
From this reading “Eavesdropping is what’s wrong with _you_, Mr. Sterne.”
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “Now, if you would only listen to me for a moment, Mr. Massy, sir, I could .
and nothing more
From this reading “Now, if you would only listen to me for a moment, Mr. Massy, sir, I could .
to say, state, or perform again
From this reading “You are a sneak,” interrupted Massy in a great hurry, and even managed to get so far as to repeat, “a common sneak,” before the mate had broken in argumentatively-- “Now, sir, what is it you want?
term of address for a man
From this reading “Now, if you would only listen to me for a moment, Mr. Massy, sir, I could .
to go stealthily or furtively
From this reading “You are a sneak,” interrupted Massy in a great hurry, and even managed to get so far as to repeat, “a common sneak,” before the mate had broken in argumentatively-- “Now, sir, what is it you want?
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “You are a sneak,” interrupted Massy in a great hurry, and even managed to get so far as to repeat, “a common sneak,” before the mate had broken in argumentatively-- “Now, sir, what is it you want?
English writer (born in Ireland) (1713-1766)
From this reading “Eavesdropping is what’s wrong with _you_, Mr. Sterne.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “You are a sneak,” interrupted Massy in a great hurry, and even managed to get so far as to repeat, “a common sneak,” before the mate had broken in argumentatively-- “Now, sir, what is it you want?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Now, if you would only listen to me for a moment, Mr. Massy, sir, I could .
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading “You are a sneak,” interrupted Massy in a great hurry, and even managed to get so far as to repeat, “a common sneak,” before the mate had broken in argumentatively-- “Now, sir, what is it you want?
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “You are a sneak,” interrupted Massy in a great hurry, and even managed to get so far as to repeat, “a common sneak,” before the mate had broken in argumentatively-- “Now, sir, what is it you want?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Eavesdropping is what’s wrong with _you_, Mr. Sterne.”
in the company of; together with
From this reading “Eavesdropping is what’s wrong with _you_, Mr. Sterne.”
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “Now, if you would only listen to me for a moment, Mr. Massy, sir, I could .
not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
From this reading “Eavesdropping is what’s wrong with _you_, Mr. Sterne.”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Eavesdropping is what’s wrong with _you_, Mr. Sterne.”
Chapter 7 of The End of the Tether by Joseph Conrad holds 201 sentences, grouped into 41 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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 7 holds 201 sentences of The End of the Tether, unabridged, divided into 41 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 7 of The End of the Tether by Joseph Conrad exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 201 sentences, grouped into 41 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 41 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 41 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 7 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 End of the Tether by Joseph Conrad on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 3207 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #527 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #527, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 267 minutes of reading across 642 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The End of the Tether section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 17 chapters of The End of the Tether 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 End of the Tether, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
