Chapter 16 of The heel of Achilles is here in full — 411 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XVI
Chapter 16 of The heel of Achilles is here in full — 411 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
“Oh, Lydia! Jennie’s not ill, is she, poor child?” said Nathalie, her voice all genuine concern at once. “No, no. She’s embarked on a--a--I don’t know what to call it, except a sort of flirtation--with that Canadian friend of Billy’s, the young man who came down here in a flying-machine the other day.” “I remember,” said Nathalie.
Chapter 16 of The heel of Achilles is here in full — 411 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/82 · 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.
possessive form of “billy” — a short stout club used primarily by policemen
of or relating to Canada or its people
From this reading “She’s embarked on a--a--I don’t know what to call it, except a sort of flirtation--with that Canadian friend of Billy’s, the young man who came down here in a flying-machine the other day.””
something that interests you because it is important or affects you
From this reading “Jennie’s not ill, is she, poor child?” said Nathalie, her voice all genuine concern at once.”
past form of “embark” — go on board
From this reading “She’s embarked on a--a--I don’t know what to call it, except a sort of flirtation--with that Canadian friend of Billy’s, the young man who came down here in a flying-machine the other day.””
playful behavior intended to arouse sexual interest
From this reading “She’s embarked on a--a--I don’t know what to call it, except a sort of flirtation--with that Canadian friend of Billy’s, the young man who came down here in a flying-machine the other day.””
not fake or counterfeit
From this reading “Jennie’s not ill, is she, poor child?” said Nathalie, her voice all genuine concern at once.”
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading “Jennie’s not ill, is she, poor child?” said Nathalie, her voice all genuine concern at once.”
an ancient region on the coast of western Asia Minor; a powerful kingdom until conquered by the Persians in 546 BC
From this reading ““Oh, Lydia!”
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.
a teenager or a young adult male
In this reading “She’s embarked on a--a--I don’t know what to call it, except a sort of flirtation--with that Canadian friend of Billy’s, the young man who came down here in a flying-machine the other day.””
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
In this reading “Jennie’s not ill, is she, poor child?” said Nathalie, her voice all genuine concern at once.”
In this reading “Jennie’s not ill, is she, poor child?” said Nathalie, her voice all genuine concern at once.”
get off the ground
In this reading “She’s embarked on a--a--I don’t know what to call it, except a sort of flirtation--with that Canadian friend of Billy’s, the young man who came down here in a flying-machine the other day.””
move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
In this reading “She’s embarked on a--a--I don’t know what to call it, except a sort of flirtation--with that Canadian friend of Billy’s, the young man who came down here in a flying-machine the other day.””
In this reading “She’s embarked on a--a--I don’t know what to call it, except a sort of flirtation--with that Canadian friend of Billy’s, the young man who came down here in a flying-machine the other day.””
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 She’s embarked on a--a--I don’t know what to call it, except a sort of flirtation--with that Canadian friend of Billy’s, the young man who came down here in a flying-machine the other day.”
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Jennie’s not ill, is she, poor child?” said Nathalie, her voice all genuine concern at once.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Jennie’s not ill, is she, poor child?” said Nathalie, her voice all genuine concern at once.
possessive form of “billy” — a short stout club used primarily by policemen
From this reading She’s embarked on a--a--I don’t know what to call it, except a sort of flirtation--with that Canadian friend of Billy’s, the young man who came down here in a flying-machine the other day.”
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading She’s embarked on a--a--I don’t know what to call it, except a sort of flirtation--with that Canadian friend of Billy’s, the young man who came down here in a flying-machine the other day.”
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading She’s embarked on a--a--I don’t know what to call it, except a sort of flirtation--with that Canadian friend of Billy’s, the young man who came down here in a flying-machine the other day.”
of or relating to Canada or its people
From this reading She’s embarked on a--a--I don’t know what to call it, except a sort of flirtation--with that Canadian friend of Billy’s, the young man who came down here in a flying-machine the other day.”
a young person of either sex
From this reading Jennie’s not ill, is she, poor child?” said Nathalie, her voice all genuine concern at once.
something that interests you because it is important or affects you
From this reading Jennie’s not ill, is she, poor child?” said Nathalie, her voice all genuine concern at once.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading She’s embarked on a--a--I don’t know what to call it, except a sort of flirtation--with that Canadian friend of Billy’s, the young man who came down here in a flying-machine the other day.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She’s embarked on a--a--I don’t know what to call it, except a sort of flirtation--with that Canadian friend of Billy’s, the young man who came down here in a flying-machine the other day.”
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading She’s embarked on a--a--I don’t know what to call it, except a sort of flirtation--with that Canadian friend of Billy’s, the young man who came down here in a flying-machine the other day.”
past form of “embark” — go on board
From this reading She’s embarked on a--a--I don’t know what to call it, except a sort of flirtation--with that Canadian friend of Billy’s, the young man who came down here in a flying-machine the other day.”
apart from; not including
From this reading She’s embarked on a--a--I don’t know what to call it, except a sort of flirtation--with that Canadian friend of Billy’s, the young man who came down here in a flying-machine the other day.”
playful behavior intended to arouse sexual interest
From this reading She’s embarked on a--a--I don’t know what to call it, except a sort of flirtation--with that Canadian friend of Billy’s, the young man who came down here in a flying-machine the other day.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She’s embarked on a--a--I don’t know what to call it, except a sort of flirtation--with that Canadian friend of Billy’s, the young man who came down here in a flying-machine the other day.”
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading She’s embarked on a--a--I don’t know what to call it, except a sort of flirtation--with that Canadian friend of Billy’s, the young man who came down here in a flying-machine the other day.”
not fake or counterfeit
From this reading Jennie’s not ill, is she, poor child?” said Nathalie, her voice all genuine concern at once.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Jennie’s not ill, is she, poor child?” said Nathalie, her voice all genuine concern at once.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading She’s embarked on a--a--I don’t know what to call it, except a sort of flirtation--with that Canadian friend of Billy’s, the young man who came down here in a flying-machine the other day.”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading She’s embarked on a--a--I don’t know what to call it, except a sort of flirtation--with that Canadian friend of Billy’s, the young man who came down here in a flying-machine the other day.”
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading Jennie’s not ill, is she, poor child?” said Nathalie, her voice all genuine concern at once.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She’s embarked on a--a--I don’t know what to call it, except a sort of flirtation--with that Canadian friend of Billy’s, the young man who came down here in a flying-machine the other day.”
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Jennie’s not ill, is she, poor child?” said Nathalie, her voice all genuine concern at once.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She’s embarked on a--a--I don’t know what to call it, except a sort of flirtation--with that Canadian friend of Billy’s, the young man who came down here in a flying-machine the other day.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jennie’s not ill, is she, poor child?” said Nathalie, her voice all genuine concern at once.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading She’s embarked on a--a--I don’t know what to call it, except a sort of flirtation--with that Canadian friend of Billy’s, the young man who came down here in a flying-machine the other day.”
an ancient region on the coast of western Asia Minor; a powerful kingdom until conquered by the Persians in 546 BC
From this reading “Oh, Lydia!
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading She’s embarked on a--a--I don’t know what to call it, except a sort of flirtation--with that Canadian friend of Billy’s, the young man who came down here in a flying-machine the other day.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jennie’s not ill, is she, poor child?” said Nathalie, her voice all genuine concern at once.
not any; not one
From this reading “No, no.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Jennie’s not ill, is she, poor child?” said Nathalie, her voice all genuine concern at once.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She’s embarked on a--a--I don’t know what to call it, except a sort of flirtation--with that Canadian friend of Billy’s, the young man who came down here in a flying-machine the other day.”
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading “Oh, Lydia!
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She’s embarked on a--a--I don’t know what to call it, except a sort of flirtation--with that Canadian friend of Billy’s, the young man who came down here in a flying-machine the other day.”
on one occasion
From this reading Jennie’s not ill, is she, poor child?” said Nathalie, her voice all genuine concern at once.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading She’s embarked on a--a--I don’t know what to call it, except a sort of flirtation--with that Canadian friend of Billy’s, the young man who came down here in a flying-machine the other day.”
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading Jennie’s not ill, is she, poor child?” said Nathalie, her voice all genuine concern at once.
To recall to mind.
From this reading “I remember,” said Nathalie.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Jennie’s not ill, is she, poor child?” said Nathalie, her voice all genuine concern at once.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Jennie’s not ill, is she, poor child?” said Nathalie, her voice all genuine concern at once.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She’s embarked on a--a--I don’t know what to call it, except a sort of flirtation--with that Canadian friend of Billy’s, the young man who came down here in a flying-machine the other day.”
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading She’s embarked on a--a--I don’t know what to call it, except a sort of flirtation--with that Canadian friend of Billy’s, the young man who came down here in a flying-machine the other day.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She’s embarked on a--a--I don’t know what to call it, except a sort of flirtation--with that Canadian friend of Billy’s, the young man who came down here in a flying-machine the other day.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She’s embarked on a--a--I don’t know what to call it, except a sort of flirtation--with that Canadian friend of Billy’s, the young man who came down here in a flying-machine the other day.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She’s embarked on a--a--I don’t know what to call it, except a sort of flirtation--with that Canadian friend of Billy’s, the young man who came down here in a flying-machine the other day.”
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Jennie’s not ill, is she, poor child?” said Nathalie, her voice all genuine concern at once.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading She’s embarked on a--a--I don’t know what to call it, except a sort of flirtation--with that Canadian friend of Billy’s, the young man who came down here in a flying-machine the other day.”
which person or people
From this reading She’s embarked on a--a--I don’t know what to call it, except a sort of flirtation--with that Canadian friend of Billy’s, the young man who came down here in a flying-machine the other day.”
in the company of; together with
From this reading She’s embarked on a--a--I don’t know what to call it, except a sort of flirtation--with that Canadian friend of Billy’s, the young man who came down here in a flying-machine the other day.”
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading She’s embarked on a--a--I don’t know what to call it, except a sort of flirtation--with that Canadian friend of Billy’s, the young man who came down here in a flying-machine the other day.”
Chapter 16 of The heel of Achilles by E. M. Delafield holds 411 sentences, grouped into 83 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 16 holds 411 sentences of The heel of Achilles, unabridged, divided into 83 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 16 of The heel of Achilles by E. M. Delafield exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 411 sentences, grouped into 83 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 83 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 83 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 16 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 heel of Achilles by E. M. Delafield on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 0 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #? are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #?, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The heel of Achilles section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 0 chapters of The heel of Achilles 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 heel of Achilles, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
