Chapter 1 of The Gold Thread is here in full — 7 sentences across 2 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
Chapter 1 of The Gold Thread is here in full — 7 sentences across 2 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
NORMAN MACLEOD, D.D. AUTHOR OF “THE STARLING,” “THE OLD LIEUTENANT AND HIS SON,” ETC. THOMAS NELSON AND SONS, LTD. “Look yonder; that is the house of Darkeye the forester. We are safe!” _Frontispiece_ “See that tall tower,” said Wolf 16 “Isn’t he a bonnie bit bairn?” 96 William never moved, though his great chest seemed to heave 144 THE GOLD THREAD.
Chapter 1 of The Gold Thread is here in full — 7 sentences across 2 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/1 · 7 reading units · Lines 1–7
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.
very pleasing to the eye
From this reading “_Frontispiece_ “See that tall tower,” said Wolf 16 “Isn’t he a bonnie bit bairn?””
English writer of adventure novels featuring Captain Horatio Hornblower (1899-1966)
From this reading ““Look yonder; that is the house of Darkeye the forester.”
utter a sound, as with obvious effort
From this reading “96 William never moved, though his great chest seemed to heave 144 THE GOLD THREAD.”
Scottish physiologist who directed the research by F. G. Banting and C. H. Best that led to the discovery of insulin (1876-1935)
From this reading “NORMAN MACLEOD, D.D.”
English admiral who defeated the French fleets of Napoleon but was mortally wounded at Trafalgar (1758-1805)
From this reading “THOMAS NELSON AND SONS, LTD.”
United States operatic soprano (born in 1945)
From this reading “NORMAN MACLEOD, D.D.”
gregarious birds native to the Old World
From this reading “AUTHOR OF “THE STARLING,” “THE OLD LIEUTENANT AND HIS SON,” ETC.”
to move or cause to move in a sinuous, spiral, or circular course
From this reading “96 William never moved, though his great chest seemed to heave 144 THE GOLD THREAD.”
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 “_Frontispiece_ “See that tall tower,” said Wolf 16 “Isn’t he a bonnie bit bairn?””
In this reading “96 William never moved, though his great chest seemed to heave 144 THE GOLD THREAD.”
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 96 William never moved, though his great chest seemed to heave 144 THE GOLD THREAD.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Frontispiece_ “See that tall tower,” said Wolf 16 “Isn’t he a bonnie bit bairn?”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 96 William never moved, though his great chest seemed to heave 144 THE GOLD THREAD.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading _Frontispiece_ “See that tall tower,” said Wolf 16 “Isn’t he a bonnie bit bairn?”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AUTHOR OF “THE STARLING,” “THE OLD LIEUTENANT AND HIS SON,” ETC.
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We are safe!”
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading AUTHOR OF “THE STARLING,” “THE OLD LIEUTENANT AND HIS SON,” ETC.
a child: son or daughter
From this reading _Frontispiece_ “See that tall tower,” said Wolf 16 “Isn’t he a bonnie bit bairn?”
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading _Frontispiece_ “See that tall tower,” said Wolf 16 “Isn’t he a bonnie bit bairn?”
very pleasing to the eye
From this reading _Frontispiece_ “See that tall tower,” said Wolf 16 “Isn’t he a bonnie bit bairn?”
the part of the human torso between the neck and the diaphragm or the corresponding part in other vertebrates
From this reading 96 William never moved, though his great chest seemed to heave 144 THE GOLD THREAD.
a fat-soluble vitamin that prevents rickets
From this reading NORMAN MACLEOD, D.D.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Look yonder; that is the house of Darkeye the forester.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AUTHOR OF “THE STARLING,” “THE OLD LIEUTENANT AND HIS SON,” ETC.
English writer of adventure novels featuring Captain Horatio Hornblower (1899-1966)
From this reading “Look yonder; that is the house of Darkeye the forester.
an ornamental facade
From this reading _Frontispiece_ “See that tall tower,” said Wolf 16 “Isn’t he a bonnie bit bairn?”
coins made of gold
From this reading 96 William never moved, though his great chest seemed to heave 144 THE GOLD THREAD.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading 96 William never moved, though his great chest seemed to heave 144 THE GOLD THREAD.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading _Frontispiece_ “See that tall tower,” said Wolf 16 “Isn’t he a bonnie bit bairn?”
utter a sound, as with obvious effort
From this reading 96 William never moved, though his great chest seemed to heave 144 THE GOLD THREAD.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading AUTHOR OF “THE STARLING,” “THE OLD LIEUTENANT AND HIS SON,” ETC.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading “Look yonder; that is the house of Darkeye the forester.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Look yonder; that is the house of Darkeye the forester.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Frontispiece_ “See that tall tower,” said Wolf 16 “Isn’t he a bonnie bit bairn?”
a commissioned military officer
From this reading AUTHOR OF “THE STARLING,” “THE OLD LIEUTENANT AND HIS SON,” ETC.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading “Look yonder; that is the house of Darkeye the forester.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THOMAS NELSON AND SONS, LTD.
Scottish physiologist who directed the research by F. G. Banting and C. H. Best that led to the discovery of insulin (1876-1935)
From this reading NORMAN MACLEOD, D.D.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading 96 William never moved, though his great chest seemed to heave 144 THE GOLD THREAD.
English admiral who defeated the French fleets of Napoleon but was mortally wounded at Trafalgar (1758-1805)
From this reading THOMAS NELSON AND SONS, LTD.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading 96 William never moved, though his great chest seemed to heave 144 THE GOLD THREAD.
United States operatic soprano (born in 1945)
From this reading NORMAN MACLEOD, D.D.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AUTHOR OF “THE STARLING,” “THE OLD LIEUTENANT AND HIS SON,” ETC.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading AUTHOR OF “THE STARLING,” “THE OLD LIEUTENANT AND HIS SON,” ETC.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading We are safe!”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading _Frontispiece_ “See that tall tower,” said Wolf 16 “Isn’t he a bonnie bit bairn?”
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading _Frontispiece_ “See that tall tower,” said Wolf 16 “Isn’t he a bonnie bit bairn?”
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading 96 William never moved, though his great chest seemed to heave 144 THE GOLD THREAD.
a male human offspring
From this reading AUTHOR OF “THE STARLING,” “THE OLD LIEUTENANT AND HIS SON,” ETC.
plural of “son” — a male human offspring
From this reading THOMAS NELSON AND SONS, LTD.
gregarious birds native to the Old World
From this reading AUTHOR OF “THE STARLING,” “THE OLD LIEUTENANT AND HIS SON,” ETC.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading _Frontispiece_ “See that tall tower,” said Wolf 16 “Isn’t he a bonnie bit bairn?”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Look yonder; that is the house of Darkeye the forester.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AUTHOR OF “THE STARLING,” “THE OLD LIEUTENANT AND HIS SON,” ETC.
United States clockmaker who introduced mass production (1785-1859)
From this reading THOMAS NELSON AND SONS, LTD.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading 96 William never moved, though his great chest seemed to heave 144 THE GOLD THREAD.
to move or cause to move in a sinuous, spiral, or circular course
From this reading 96 William never moved, though his great chest seemed to heave 144 THE GOLD THREAD.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading 96 William never moved, though his great chest seemed to heave 144 THE GOLD THREAD.
a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
From this reading _Frontispiece_ “See that tall tower,” said Wolf 16 “Isn’t he a bonnie bit bairn?”
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We are safe!”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 96 William never moved, though his great chest seemed to heave 144 THE GOLD THREAD.
any of various predatory carnivorous canine mammals of North America and Eurasia that usually hunt in packs
From this reading _Frontispiece_ “See that tall tower,” said Wolf 16 “Isn’t he a bonnie bit bairn?”
distant but within sight (“yon” is dialectal)
From this reading “Look yonder; that is the house of Darkeye the forester.
Chapter 1 of The Gold Thread by Norman Macleod holds 7 sentences, grouped into 2 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 1 holds 7 sentences of The Gold Thread, unabridged, divided into 2 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of The Gold Thread by Norman Macleod exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 7 sentences, grouped into 2 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 2 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 2 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 1 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 Gold Thread by Norman Macleod on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 1145 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #63572 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #63572, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 95 minutes of reading across 229 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Gold Thread section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 10 chapters of The Gold Thread 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 Gold Thread, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
