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The First of the English: A Novel
The First of the English: A Novel

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of The First of the English: A Novel is here in full — 299 sentences across 60 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/59 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE LADY OF THE BARGE.
No tones have ever thrilled Guy Chester so before, though in the almost impenetrable gloom of the night its witchery has no assistance from graceful figure, fascinating face, nor flashing eyes.
It is the voice alone that charms him.
It says: “Señor, are you an officer?
Have you authority among these wild men?”
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
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/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The First of the English: A Novel

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of The First of the English: A Novel is here in full — 299 sentences across 60 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/59 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE LADY OF THE BARGE.
/ðə ˈleɪdi ʌv ðə bɑːrdʒ/
Line 2
No tones have ever thrilled Guy Chester so before, though in the almost impenetrable gloom of the night its witchery has no assistance from graceful figure, fascinating face, nor flashing eyes.
Line 3
It is the voice alone that charms him.
/ɪt ɪz ðə vɔɪs əˈloʊn ðæt tʃɑːrmz hɪm/
Line 4
It says: “Señor, are you an officer?
Line 5
Have you authority among these wild men?”
/hæv juː əˈθɔːrəti əˈmʌŋ ðiːz waɪld men/

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.

barge verb US /bɑːrdʒ/

push one's way

From this reading “THE LADY OF THE BARGE.”

charms noun US /tʃɑːrmz/

plural of “charm” — attractiveness that interests or pleases or stimulates

From this reading “It is the voice alone that charms him.”

Chester noun US /ˈtʃestər/

a city of southeastern Pennsylvania on the Delaware river (an industrial suburb of Philadelphia)

From this reading “No tones have ever thrilled Guy Chester so before, though in the almost impenetrable gloom of the night its witchery has no assistance from graceful figure, fascinating face, nor flashing eyes.”

fascinating adjective US /ˈfæsəneɪtɪŋ/

capable of arousing and holding the attention

From this reading “No tones have ever thrilled Guy Chester so before, though in the almost impenetrable gloom of the night its witchery has no assistance from graceful figure, fascinating face, nor flashing eyes.”

flashing noun US /ˈflæʃɪŋ/

a short vivid experience

From this reading “No tones have ever thrilled Guy Chester so before, though in the almost impenetrable gloom of the night its witchery has no assistance from graceful figure, fascinating face, nor flashing eyes.”

graceful adjective US /ˈɡreɪsfəl/

characterized by beauty of movement, style, form, or execution

From this reading “No tones have ever thrilled Guy Chester so before, though in the almost impenetrable gloom of the night its witchery has no assistance from graceful figure, fascinating face, nor flashing eyes.”

impenetrable adjective US /ˌɪmˈpenətrəbəl/

not admitting of penetration or passage into or through

From this reading “No tones have ever thrilled Guy Chester so before, though in the almost impenetrable gloom of the night its witchery has no assistance from graceful figure, fascinating face, nor flashing eyes.”

thrilled adjective US /θrɪld/

feeling intense pleasurable excitement

From this reading “No tones have ever thrilled Guy Chester so before, though in the almost impenetrable gloom of the night its witchery has no assistance from graceful figure, fascinating face, nor flashing eyes.”

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.

graceful figure adjective + noun

In this reading “No tones have ever thrilled Guy Chester so before, though in the almost impenetrable gloom of the night its witchery has no assistance from graceful figure, fascinating face, nor flashing eyes.”

flashing eyes noun + noun

In this reading “No tones have ever thrilled Guy Chester so before, though in the almost impenetrable gloom of the night its witchery has no assistance from graceful figure, fascinating face, nor flashing eyes.”

almost impenetrable adverb + adjective

In this reading “No tones have ever thrilled Guy Chester so before, though in the almost impenetrable gloom of the night its witchery has no assistance from graceful figure, fascinating face, nor flashing eyes.”

All words in this reading · 49

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.

almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading No tones have ever thrilled Guy Chester so before, though in the almost impenetrable gloom of the night its witchery has no assistance from graceful figure, fascinating face, nor flashing eyes.

aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/

Having no one else present.

From this reading It is the voice alone that charms him.

amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading Have you authority among these wild men?”

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading It says: “Señor, are you an officer?

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading It says: “Señor, are you an officer?

assistancenounUS /əˈsɪstəns/

the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose

From this reading No tones have ever thrilled Guy Chester so before, though in the almost impenetrable gloom of the night its witchery has no assistance from graceful figure, fascinating face, nor flashing eyes.

authoritynounUS /əˈθɔːrəti/

the power or right to give orders or make decisions

From this reading Have you authority among these wild men?”

BARGEverbUS /bɑːrdʒ/

push one's way

From this reading THE LADY OF THE BARGE.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading No tones have ever thrilled Guy Chester so before, though in the almost impenetrable gloom of the night its witchery has no assistance from graceful figure, fascinating face, nor flashing eyes.

charmsnounUS /tʃɑːrmz/

plural of “charm” — attractiveness that interests or pleases or stimulates

From this reading It is the voice alone that charms him.

ChesternounUS /ˈtʃestər/

a city of southeastern Pennsylvania on the Delaware river (an industrial suburb of Philadelphia)

From this reading No tones have ever thrilled Guy Chester so before, though in the almost impenetrable gloom of the night its witchery has no assistance from graceful figure, fascinating face, nor flashing eyes.

everadverbUS /ˈevər/

at any time

From this reading No tones have ever thrilled Guy Chester so before, though in the almost impenetrable gloom of the night its witchery has no assistance from graceful figure, fascinating face, nor flashing eyes.

eyesnounUS /aɪz/

opinion or judgment

From this reading No tones have ever thrilled Guy Chester so before, though in the almost impenetrable gloom of the night its witchery has no assistance from graceful figure, fascinating face, nor flashing eyes.

facenounUS /feɪs/

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading No tones have ever thrilled Guy Chester so before, though in the almost impenetrable gloom of the night its witchery has no assistance from graceful figure, fascinating face, nor flashing eyes.

fascinatingadjectiveUS /ˈfæsəneɪtɪŋ/

capable of arousing and holding the attention

From this reading No tones have ever thrilled Guy Chester so before, though in the almost impenetrable gloom of the night its witchery has no assistance from graceful figure, fascinating face, nor flashing eyes.

figurenounUS /ˈfɪɡjər/

a diagram or picture illustrating textual material

From this reading No tones have ever thrilled Guy Chester so before, though in the almost impenetrable gloom of the night its witchery has no assistance from graceful figure, fascinating face, nor flashing eyes.

flashingnounUS /ˈflæʃɪŋ/

a short vivid experience

From this reading No tones have ever thrilled Guy Chester so before, though in the almost impenetrable gloom of the night its witchery has no assistance from graceful figure, fascinating face, nor flashing eyes.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading No tones have ever thrilled Guy Chester so before, though in the almost impenetrable gloom of the night its witchery has no assistance from graceful figure, fascinating face, nor flashing eyes.

gloomnounUS /ɡluːm/

a state of partial or total darkness

From this reading No tones have ever thrilled Guy Chester so before, though in the almost impenetrable gloom of the night its witchery has no assistance from graceful figure, fascinating face, nor flashing eyes.

gracefuladjectiveUS /ˈɡreɪsfəl/

characterized by beauty of movement, style, form, or execution

From this reading No tones have ever thrilled Guy Chester so before, though in the almost impenetrable gloom of the night its witchery has no assistance from graceful figure, fascinating face, nor flashing eyes.

GuynounUS /ɡaɪ/

an informal term for a youth or man

From this reading No tones have ever thrilled Guy Chester so before, though in the almost impenetrable gloom of the night its witchery has no assistance from graceful figure, fascinating face, nor flashing eyes.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading No tones have ever thrilled Guy Chester so before, though in the almost impenetrable gloom of the night its witchery has no assistance from graceful figure, fascinating face, nor flashing eyes.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading No tones have ever thrilled Guy Chester so before, though in the almost impenetrable gloom of the night its witchery has no assistance from graceful figure, fascinating face, nor flashing eyes.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading It is the voice alone that charms him.

impenetrableadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpenətrəbəl/

not admitting of penetration or passage into or through

From this reading No tones have ever thrilled Guy Chester so before, though in the almost impenetrable gloom of the night its witchery has no assistance from graceful figure, fascinating face, nor flashing eyes.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading No tones have ever thrilled Guy Chester so before, though in the almost impenetrable gloom of the night its witchery has no assistance from graceful figure, fascinating face, nor flashing eyes.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading It is the voice alone that charms him.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It is the voice alone that charms him.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading No tones have ever thrilled Guy Chester so before, though in the almost impenetrable gloom of the night its witchery has no assistance from graceful figure, fascinating face, nor flashing eyes.

LADYnounUS /ˈleɪdi/

a polite name for any woman

From this reading THE LADY OF THE BARGE.

mennounUS /men/

the force of workers available

From this reading Have you authority among these wild men?”

nightnounUS /naɪt/

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

From this reading No tones have ever thrilled Guy Chester so before, though in the almost impenetrable gloom of the night its witchery has no assistance from graceful figure, fascinating face, nor flashing eyes.

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading No tones have ever thrilled Guy Chester so before, though in the almost impenetrable gloom of the night its witchery has no assistance from graceful figure, fascinating face, nor flashing eyes.

norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading No tones have ever thrilled Guy Chester so before, though in the almost impenetrable gloom of the night its witchery has no assistance from graceful figure, fascinating face, nor flashing eyes.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE LADY OF THE BARGE.

officernounUS /ˈɔːfəsər/

any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command

From this reading It says: “Señor, are you an officer?

saysnounUS /sez/

plural of “say” — the chance to speak

From this reading It says: “Señor, are you an officer?

Señor

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

From this reading It says: “Señor, are you an officer?

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading No tones have ever thrilled Guy Chester so before, though in the almost impenetrable gloom of the night its witchery has no assistance from graceful figure, fascinating face, nor flashing eyes.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It is the voice alone that charms him.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE LADY OF THE BARGE.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading Have you authority among these wild men?”

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading No tones have ever thrilled Guy Chester so before, though in the almost impenetrable gloom of the night its witchery has no assistance from graceful figure, fascinating face, nor flashing eyes.

thrilledadjectiveUS /θrɪld/

feeling intense pleasurable excitement

From this reading No tones have ever thrilled Guy Chester so before, though in the almost impenetrable gloom of the night its witchery has no assistance from graceful figure, fascinating face, nor flashing eyes.

tonesnounUS /toʊnz/

plural of “tone” — the quality of a person's voice

From this reading No tones have ever thrilled Guy Chester so before, though in the almost impenetrable gloom of the night its witchery has no assistance from graceful figure, fascinating face, nor flashing eyes.

voicenounUS /vɔɪs/

the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading It is the voice alone that charms him.

wildadjectiveUS /waɪld/

marked by extreme lack of restraint or control

From this reading Have you authority among these wild men?”

witcherynoun

the art of sorcery

From this reading No tones have ever thrilled Guy Chester so before, though in the almost impenetrable gloom of the night its witchery has no assistance from graceful figure, fascinating face, nor flashing eyes.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading It says: “Señor, are you an officer?

Chapter 2 of The First of the English: A Novel by Archibald Clavering Gunter holds 299 sentences, grouped into 60 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 First of the English: A Novel contain?

Chapter 2 holds 299 sentences of The First of the English: A Novel, unabridged, divided into 60 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of The First of the English: A Novel by Archibald Clavering Gunter exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 299 sentences, grouped into 60 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 First of the English: A Novel?

Work through the 60 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 60 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.

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Chapter 1
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Chapter 2
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Chapter 3
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