Chapter 1 of The Hot Swamp is here in full — 431 sentences across 87 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
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Chapter I
Chapter 1 of The Hot Swamp is here in full — 431 sentences across 87 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
THE HOT SWAMP, BY R.M. BALLANTYNE. CHAPTER ONE. A ROMANCE OF OLD ALBION. OPENS WITH LEAVE-TAKING. Nearly two thousand seven hundred years ago--or somewhere about eight hundred years BuCu--there dwelt a Phoenician sea-captain in one of the eastern sea-ports of Greece--known at that period, or soon after, as Hellas.
Chapter 1 of The Hot Swamp is here in full — 431 sentences across 87 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/86 · 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.
archaic name for England or Great Britain; used poetically
From this reading “A ROMANCE OF OLD ALBION.”
inflected form of “dwell” — think moodily or anxiously about something
From this reading “Nearly two thousand seven hundred years ago--or somewhere about eight hundred years BuCu--there dwelt a Phoenician sea-captain in one of the eastern sea-ports of Greece--known at that period, or soon after, as Hellas.”
lying toward or situated in the east
From this reading “Nearly two thousand seven hundred years ago--or somewhere about eight hundred years BuCu--there dwelt a Phoenician sea-captain in one of the eastern sea-ports of Greece--known at that period, or soon after, as Hellas.”
a republic in southeastern Europe on the southern part of the Balkan peninsula; known for grapes and olives and olive oil
From this reading “Nearly two thousand seven hundred years ago--or somewhere about eight hundred years BuCu--there dwelt a Phoenician sea-captain in one of the eastern sea-ports of Greece--known at that period, or soon after, as Hellas.”
plural of “open” — a clear or unobstructed space or expanse of land or water
From this reading “OPENS WITH LEAVE-TAKING.”
a member of an ancient Semitic people who dominated trade in the first millennium B.C.
From this reading “Nearly two thousand seven hundred years ago--or somewhere about eight hundred years BuCu--there dwelt a Phoenician sea-captain in one of the eastern sea-ports of Greece--known at that period, or soon after, as Hellas.”
a relationship between two lovers
From this reading “A ROMANCE OF OLD ALBION.”
drench or submerge or be drenched or submerged
From this reading “THE HOT SWAMP, BY R.M. BALLANTYNE.”
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 A ROMANCE OF OLD ALBION.
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Nearly two thousand seven hundred years ago--or somewhere about eight hundred years BuCu--there dwelt a Phoenician sea-captain in one of the eastern sea-ports of Greece--known at that period, or soon after, as Hellas.
later than; following
From this reading Nearly two thousand seven hundred years ago--or somewhere about eight hundred years BuCu--there dwelt a Phoenician sea-captain in one of the eastern sea-ports of Greece--known at that period, or soon after, as Hellas.
in the past
From this reading Nearly two thousand seven hundred years ago--or somewhere about eight hundred years BuCu--there dwelt a Phoenician sea-captain in one of the eastern sea-ports of Greece--known at that period, or soon after, as Hellas.
archaic name for England or Great Britain; used poetically
From this reading A ROMANCE OF OLD ALBION.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Nearly two thousand seven hundred years ago--or somewhere about eight hundred years BuCu--there dwelt a Phoenician sea-captain in one of the eastern sea-ports of Greece--known at that period, or soon after, as Hellas.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Nearly two thousand seven hundred years ago--or somewhere about eight hundred years BuCu--there dwelt a Phoenician sea-captain in one of the eastern sea-ports of Greece--known at that period, or soon after, as Hellas.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HOT SWAMP, BY R.M. BALLANTYNE.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nearly two thousand seven hundred years ago--or somewhere about eight hundred years BuCu--there dwelt a Phoenician sea-captain in one of the eastern sea-ports of Greece--known at that period, or soon after, as Hellas.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE HOT SWAMP, BY R.M. BALLANTYNE.
a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled
From this reading CHAPTER ONE.
inflected form of “dwell” — think moodily or anxiously about something
From this reading Nearly two thousand seven hundred years ago--or somewhere about eight hundred years BuCu--there dwelt a Phoenician sea-captain in one of the eastern sea-ports of Greece--known at that period, or soon after, as Hellas.
lying toward or situated in the east
From this reading Nearly two thousand seven hundred years ago--or somewhere about eight hundred years BuCu--there dwelt a Phoenician sea-captain in one of the eastern sea-ports of Greece--known at that period, or soon after, as Hellas.
being one more than seven
From this reading Nearly two thousand seven hundred years ago--or somewhere about eight hundred years BuCu--there dwelt a Phoenician sea-captain in one of the eastern sea-ports of Greece--known at that period, or soon after, as Hellas.
a republic in southeastern Europe on the southern part of the Balkan peninsula; known for grapes and olives and olive oil
From this reading Nearly two thousand seven hundred years ago--or somewhere about eight hundred years BuCu--there dwelt a Phoenician sea-captain in one of the eastern sea-ports of Greece--known at that period, or soon after, as Hellas.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nearly two thousand seven hundred years ago--or somewhere about eight hundred years BuCu--there dwelt a Phoenician sea-captain in one of the eastern sea-ports of Greece--known at that period, or soon after, as Hellas.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading THE HOT SWAMP, BY R.M. BALLANTYNE.
ten 10s
From this reading Nearly two thousand seven hundred years ago--or somewhere about eight hundred years BuCu--there dwelt a Phoenician sea-captain in one of the eastern sea-ports of Greece--known at that period, or soon after, as Hellas.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Nearly two thousand seven hundred years ago--or somewhere about eight hundred years BuCu--there dwelt a Phoenician sea-captain in one of the eastern sea-ports of Greece--known at that period, or soon after, as Hellas.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading Nearly two thousand seven hundred years ago--or somewhere about eight hundred years BuCu--there dwelt a Phoenician sea-captain in one of the eastern sea-ports of Greece--known at that period, or soon after, as Hellas.
the act of departing politely
From this reading OPENS WITH LEAVE-TAKING.
the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)
From this reading THE HOT SWAMP, BY R.M. BALLANTYNE.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Nearly two thousand seven hundred years ago--or somewhere about eight hundred years BuCu--there dwelt a Phoenician sea-captain in one of the eastern sea-ports of Greece--known at that period, or soon after, as Hellas.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A ROMANCE OF OLD ALBION.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading A ROMANCE OF OLD ALBION.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading CHAPTER ONE.
plural of “open” — a clear or unobstructed space or expanse of land or water
From this reading OPENS WITH LEAVE-TAKING.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Nearly two thousand seven hundred years ago--or somewhere about eight hundred years BuCu--there dwelt a Phoenician sea-captain in one of the eastern sea-ports of Greece--known at that period, or soon after, as Hellas.
an amount of time
From this reading Nearly two thousand seven hundred years ago--or somewhere about eight hundred years BuCu--there dwelt a Phoenician sea-captain in one of the eastern sea-ports of Greece--known at that period, or soon after, as Hellas.
a member of an ancient Semitic people who dominated trade in the first millennium B.C.
From this reading Nearly two thousand seven hundred years ago--or somewhere about eight hundred years BuCu--there dwelt a Phoenician sea-captain in one of the eastern sea-ports of Greece--known at that period, or soon after, as Hellas.
a unit of radiation exposure; the dose of ionizing radiation that will produce 1 electrostatic unit of electricity in 1 cc of dry air
From this reading THE HOT SWAMP, BY R.M. BALLANTYNE.
a relationship between two lovers
From this reading A ROMANCE OF OLD ALBION.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nearly two thousand seven hundred years ago--or somewhere about eight hundred years BuCu--there dwelt a Phoenician sea-captain in one of the eastern sea-ports of Greece--known at that period, or soon after, as Hellas.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nearly two thousand seven hundred years ago--or somewhere about eight hundred years BuCu--there dwelt a Phoenician sea-captain in one of the eastern sea-ports of Greece--known at that period, or soon after, as Hellas.
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading Nearly two thousand seven hundred years ago--or somewhere about eight hundred years BuCu--there dwelt a Phoenician sea-captain in one of the eastern sea-ports of Greece--known at that period, or soon after, as Hellas.
in or at or to some place
From this reading Nearly two thousand seven hundred years ago--or somewhere about eight hundred years BuCu--there dwelt a Phoenician sea-captain in one of the eastern sea-ports of Greece--known at that period, or soon after, as Hellas.
in the near future
From this reading Nearly two thousand seven hundred years ago--or somewhere about eight hundred years BuCu--there dwelt a Phoenician sea-captain in one of the eastern sea-ports of Greece--known at that period, or soon after, as Hellas.
drench or submerge or be drenched or submerged
From this reading THE HOT SWAMP, BY R.M. BALLANTYNE.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Nearly two thousand seven hundred years ago--or somewhere about eight hundred years BuCu--there dwelt a Phoenician sea-captain in one of the eastern sea-ports of Greece--known at that period, or soon after, as Hellas.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE HOT SWAMP, BY R.M. BALLANTYNE.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Nearly two thousand seven hundred years ago--or somewhere about eight hundred years BuCu--there dwelt a Phoenician sea-captain in one of the eastern sea-ports of Greece--known at that period, or soon after, as Hellas.
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading Nearly two thousand seven hundred years ago--or somewhere about eight hundred years BuCu--there dwelt a Phoenician sea-captain in one of the eastern sea-ports of Greece--known at that period, or soon after, as Hellas.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Nearly two thousand seven hundred years ago--or somewhere about eight hundred years BuCu--there dwelt a Phoenician sea-captain in one of the eastern sea-ports of Greece--known at that period, or soon after, as Hellas.
in the company of; together with
From this reading OPENS WITH LEAVE-TAKING.
a late time of life
From this reading Nearly two thousand seven hundred years ago--or somewhere about eight hundred years BuCu--there dwelt a Phoenician sea-captain in one of the eastern sea-ports of Greece--known at that period, or soon after, as Hellas.
Chapter 1 of The Hot Swamp by R. M. (Robert Michael) Ballantyne holds 431 sentences, grouped into 87 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 431 sentences of The Hot Swamp, unabridged, divided into 87 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of The Hot Swamp by R. M. (Robert Michael) Ballantyne exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 431 sentences, grouped into 87 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 87 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 87 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 Hot Swamp by R. M. (Robert Michael) Ballantyne on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 4288 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #21757 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #21757, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 357 minutes of reading across 858 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Hot Swamp section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 10 chapters of The Hot Swamp 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 Hot Swamp, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
