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The Judgment House
The Judgment House

Chapter XXXVIII · Chapter 38

Chapter 38 of The Judgment House is here in full — 31 sentences across 7 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/6 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"PHEIDIPPIDES" At dawn, when the veld breathes odours of a kind pungency and fragrance, which only those know who have made it their bed and friend, the end came to the man who had lain under the gun.
"Pheidippides!" the dying Stafford said, with a grim touch of the humour which had ever been his.
He was thinking of the Greek runner who brought the news of victory to Athens and fell dead as he told it.
It almost seemed from the look on Stafford's face that, in very truth, he was laying aside the impedimenta of the long march and the battle, to carry the news to that army of the brave in Walhalla who had died for England before they knew that victory was hers.
"Pheidippides," he repeated, and Rudyard Byng, whose eyes were so much upon the door, watching and waiting for some one to come, pressed his hand and said: "You know the best, Stafford.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Judgment House

Chapter XXXVIII · Chapter 38

Chapter 38 of The Judgment House is here in full — 31 sentences across 7 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/6 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"PHEIDIPPIDES" At dawn, when the veld breathes odours of a kind pungency and fragrance, which only those know who have made it their bed and friend, the end came to the man who had lain under the gun.
Line 2
"Pheidippides!" the dying Stafford said, with a grim touch of the humour which had ever been his.
Line 3
He was thinking of the Greek runner who brought the news of victory to Athens and fell dead as he told it.
/hiː wɑːz ˈθɪŋkɪŋ ʌv ðə ɡriːk ˈrʌnər huː brɔːt ðə nuːz ʌv ˈvɪktəri tuː ˈæθənz ənd fel ded æz hiː toʊld ɪt/
Line 4
It almost seemed from the look on Stafford's face that, in very truth, he was laying aside the impedimenta of the long march and the battle, to carry the news to that army of the brave in Walhalla who had died for England before they knew that victory was hers.
Line 5
"Pheidippides," he repeated, and Rudyard Byng, whose eyes were so much upon the door, watching and waiting for some one to come, pressed his hand and said: "You know the best, Stafford.

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.

Athens noun US /ˈæθənz/

the capital and largest city of Greece; named after Athena (its patron goddess)

From this reading “He was thinking of the Greek runner who brought the news of victory to Athens and fell dead as he told it.”

breathes verb US /briːðz/

third-person singular of “breathe” — draw air into, and expel out of, the lungs

From this reading “"PHEIDIPPIDES" At dawn, when the veld breathes odours of a kind pungency and fragrance, which only those know who have made it their bed and friend, the end came to the man who had lain under the gun.”

fragrance noun US /ˈfreɪɡrəns/

a distinctive odor that is pleasant

From this reading “"PHEIDIPPIDES" At dawn, when the veld breathes odours of a kind pungency and fragrance, which only those know who have made it their bed and friend, the end came to the man who had lain under the gun.”

grim adjective US /ɡrɪm/

not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty

From this reading “"Pheidippides!" the dying Stafford said, with a grim touch of the humour which had ever been his.”

lain verb US /leɪn/

inflected form of “lie” — be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position

From this reading “"PHEIDIPPIDES" At dawn, when the veld breathes odours of a kind pungency and fragrance, which only those know who have made it their bed and friend, the end came to the man who had lain under the gun.”

laying noun US /ˈleɪɪŋ/

the production of eggs (especially in birds)

From this reading “It almost seemed from the look on Stafford's face that, in very truth, he was laying aside the impedimenta of the long march and the battle, to carry the news to that army of the brave in Walhalla who had died for England before they knew that victory was hers.”

odours noun US /ˈoʊdərs/

plural of “odour” — the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form

From this reading “"PHEIDIPPIDES" At dawn, when the veld breathes odours of a kind pungency and fragrance, which only those know who have made it their bed and friend, the end came to the man who had lain under the gun.”

runner noun US /ˈrʌnər/

someone who imports or exports without paying duties

From this reading “He was thinking of the Greek runner who brought the news of victory to Athens and fell dead as he told it.”

All words in this reading · 103

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading "PHEIDIPPIDES" At dawn, when the veld breathes odours of a kind pungency and fragrance, which only those know who have made it their bed and friend, the end came to the man who had lain under the gun.

almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/

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

From this reading It almost seemed from the look on Stafford's face that, in very truth, he was laying aside the impedimenta of the long march and the battle, to carry the news to that army of the brave in Walhalla who had died for England before they knew that victory was hers.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading "PHEIDIPPIDES" At dawn, when the veld breathes odours of a kind pungency and fragrance, which only those know who have made it their bed and friend, the end came to the man who had lain under the gun.

armynounUS /ˈɑːrmi/

a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state

From this reading It almost seemed from the look on Stafford's face that, in very truth, he was laying aside the impedimenta of the long march and the battle, to carry the news to that army of the brave in Walhalla who had died for England before they knew that victory was hers.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading He was thinking of the Greek runner who brought the news of victory to Athens and fell dead as he told it.

asideadverbUS /əˈsaɪd/

on or to one side

From this reading It almost seemed from the look on Stafford's face that, in very truth, he was laying aside the impedimenta of the long march and the battle, to carry the news to that army of the brave in Walhalla who had died for England before they knew that victory was hers.

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "PHEIDIPPIDES" At dawn, when the veld breathes odours of a kind pungency and fragrance, which only those know who have made it their bed and friend, the end came to the man who had lain under the gun.

AthensnounUS /ˈæθənz/

the capital and largest city of Greece; named after Athena (its patron goddess)

From this reading He was thinking of the Greek runner who brought the news of victory to Athens and fell dead as he told it.

battlenounUS /ˈbætəl/

a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war

From this reading It almost seemed from the look on Stafford's face that, in very truth, he was laying aside the impedimenta of the long march and the battle, to carry the news to that army of the brave in Walhalla who had died for England before they knew that victory was hers.

bednounUS /bed/

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading "PHEIDIPPIDES" At dawn, when the veld breathes odours of a kind pungency and fragrance, which only those know who have made it their bed and friend, the end came to the man who had lain under the gun.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading "Pheidippides!" the dying Stafford said, with a grim touch of the humour which had ever been his.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading It almost seemed from the look on Stafford's face that, in very truth, he was laying aside the impedimenta of the long march and the battle, to carry the news to that army of the brave in Walhalla who had died for England before they knew that victory was hers.

bestnounUS /best/

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading "Pheidippides," he repeated, and Rudyard Byng, whose eyes were so much upon the door, watching and waiting for some one to come, pressed his hand and said: "You know the best, Stafford.

braveadjectiveUS /breɪv/

possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching

From this reading It almost seemed from the look on Stafford's face that, in very truth, he was laying aside the impedimenta of the long march and the battle, to carry the news to that army of the brave in Walhalla who had died for England before they knew that victory was hers.

breathesverbUS /briːðz/

third-person singular of “breathe” — draw air into, and expel out of, the lungs

From this reading "PHEIDIPPIDES" At dawn, when the veld breathes odours of a kind pungency and fragrance, which only those know who have made it their bed and friend, the end came to the man who had lain under the gun.

broughtverbUS /brɔːt/

inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading He was thinking of the Greek runner who brought the news of victory to Athens and fell dead as he told it.

Byng

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

From this reading "Pheidippides," he repeated, and Rudyard Byng, whose eyes were so much upon the door, watching and waiting for some one to come, pressed his hand and said: "You know the best, Stafford.

cameverbUS /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading "PHEIDIPPIDES" At dawn, when the veld breathes odours of a kind pungency and fragrance, which only those know who have made it their bed and friend, the end came to the man who had lain under the gun.

carryverbUS /ˈkæri/

move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading It almost seemed from the look on Stafford's face that, in very truth, he was laying aside the impedimenta of the long march and the battle, to carry the news to that army of the brave in Walhalla who had died for England before they knew that victory was hers.

comeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading "Pheidippides," he repeated, and Rudyard Byng, whose eyes were so much upon the door, watching and waiting for some one to come, pressed his hand and said: "You know the best, Stafford.

dawnnounUS /dɔːn/

the first light of day

From this reading "PHEIDIPPIDES" At dawn, when the veld breathes odours of a kind pungency and fragrance, which only those know who have made it their bed and friend, the end came to the man who had lain under the gun.

deadadjectiveUS /ded/

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading He was thinking of the Greek runner who brought the news of victory to Athens and fell dead as he told it.

diedverbUS /daɪd/

past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life

From this reading It almost seemed from the look on Stafford's face that, in very truth, he was laying aside the impedimenta of the long march and the battle, to carry the news to that army of the brave in Walhalla who had died for England before they knew that victory was hers.

doornounUS /dɔːr/

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading "Pheidippides," he repeated, and Rudyard Byng, whose eyes were so much upon the door, watching and waiting for some one to come, pressed his hand and said: "You know the best, Stafford.

dyingadjectiveUS /ˈdaɪɪŋ/

in or associated with the process of passing from life or ceasing to be

From this reading "Pheidippides!" the dying Stafford said, with a grim touch of the humour which had ever been his.

endnounUS /end/

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading "PHEIDIPPIDES" At dawn, when the veld breathes odours of a kind pungency and fragrance, which only those know who have made it their bed and friend, the end came to the man who had lain under the gun.

EnglandnounUS /ˈɪŋɡlənd/

a division of the United Kingdom

From this reading It almost seemed from the look on Stafford's face that, in very truth, he was laying aside the impedimenta of the long march and the battle, to carry the news to that army of the brave in Walhalla who had died for England before they knew that victory was hers.

everadverbUS /ˈevər/

at any time

From this reading "Pheidippides!" the dying Stafford said, with a grim touch of the humour which had ever been his.

eyesnounUS /aɪz/

opinion or judgment

From this reading "Pheidippides," he repeated, and Rudyard Byng, whose eyes were so much upon the door, watching and waiting for some one to come, pressed his hand and said: "You know the best, Stafford.

facenounUS /feɪs/

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

From this reading It almost seemed from the look on Stafford's face that, in very truth, he was laying aside the impedimenta of the long march and the battle, to carry the news to that army of the brave in Walhalla who had died for England before they knew that victory was hers.

fellverbUS /fel/

cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow

From this reading He was thinking of the Greek runner who brought the news of victory to Athens and fell dead as he told it.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It almost seemed from the look on Stafford's face that, in very truth, he was laying aside the impedimenta of the long march and the battle, to carry the news to that army of the brave in Walhalla who had died for England before they knew that victory was hers.

fragrancenounUS /ˈfreɪɡrəns/

a distinctive odor that is pleasant

From this reading "PHEIDIPPIDES" At dawn, when the veld breathes odours of a kind pungency and fragrance, which only those know who have made it their bed and friend, the end came to the man who had lain under the gun.

friendnounUS /frend/

a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading "PHEIDIPPIDES" At dawn, when the veld breathes odours of a kind pungency and fragrance, which only those know who have made it their bed and friend, the end came to the man who had lain under the gun.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading It almost seemed from the look on Stafford's face that, in very truth, he was laying aside the impedimenta of the long march and the battle, to carry the news to that army of the brave in Walhalla who had died for England before they knew that victory was hers.

GreeknounUS /ɡriːk/

the Hellenic branch of the Indo-European family of languages

From this reading He was thinking of the Greek runner who brought the news of victory to Athens and fell dead as he told it.

grimadjectiveUS /ɡrɪm/

not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty

From this reading "Pheidippides!" the dying Stafford said, with a grim touch of the humour which had ever been his.

gunnounUS /ɡʌn/

a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)

From this reading "PHEIDIPPIDES" At dawn, when the veld breathes odours of a kind pungency and fragrance, which only those know who have made it their bed and friend, the end came to the man who had lain under the gun.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading "PHEIDIPPIDES" At dawn, when the veld breathes odours of a kind pungency and fragrance, which only those know who have made it their bed and friend, the end came to the man who had lain under the gun.

handnounUS /hænd/

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading "Pheidippides," he repeated, and Rudyard Byng, whose eyes were so much upon the door, watching and waiting for some one to come, pressed his hand and said: "You know the best, Stafford.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "PHEIDIPPIDES" At dawn, when the veld breathes odours of a kind pungency and fragrance, which only those know who have made it their bed and friend, the end came to the man who had lain under the gun.

HepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He was thinking of the Greek runner who brought the news of victory to Athens and fell dead as he told it.

herspronounUS /hərz/

the one or ones belonging to her

From this reading It almost seemed from the look on Stafford's face that, in very truth, he was laying aside the impedimenta of the long march and the battle, to carry the news to that army of the brave in Walhalla who had died for England before they knew that victory was hers.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading "Pheidippides!" the dying Stafford said, with a grim touch of the humour which had ever been his.

humournounUS /ˈhjuːmər/

a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling

From this reading "Pheidippides!" the dying Stafford said, with a grim touch of the humour which had ever been his.

impedimentanoun

any structure that makes progress difficult

From this reading It almost seemed from the look on Stafford's face that, in very truth, he was laying aside the impedimenta of the long march and the battle, to carry the news to that army of the brave in Walhalla who had died for England before they knew that victory was hers.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading It almost seemed from the look on Stafford's face that, in very truth, he was laying aside the impedimenta of the long march and the battle, to carry the news to that army of the brave in Walhalla who had died for England before they knew that victory was hers.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "PHEIDIPPIDES" At dawn, when the veld breathes odours of a kind pungency and fragrance, which only those know who have made it their bed and friend, the end came to the man who had lain under the gun.

kindadjectiveUS /kaɪnd/

having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading "PHEIDIPPIDES" At dawn, when the veld breathes odours of a kind pungency and fragrance, which only those know who have made it their bed and friend, the end came to the man who had lain under the gun.

knewverbUS /nuː/

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading It almost seemed from the look on Stafford's face that, in very truth, he was laying aside the impedimenta of the long march and the battle, to carry the news to that army of the brave in Walhalla who had died for England before they knew that victory was hers.

knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading "PHEIDIPPIDES" At dawn, when the veld breathes odours of a kind pungency and fragrance, which only those know who have made it their bed and friend, the end came to the man who had lain under the gun.

lainverbUS /leɪn/

inflected form of “lie” — be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position

From this reading "PHEIDIPPIDES" At dawn, when the veld breathes odours of a kind pungency and fragrance, which only those know who have made it their bed and friend, the end came to the man who had lain under the gun.

layingnounUS /ˈleɪɪŋ/

the production of eggs (especially in birds)

From this reading It almost seemed from the look on Stafford's face that, in very truth, he was laying aside the impedimenta of the long march and the battle, to carry the news to that army of the brave in Walhalla who had died for England before they knew that victory was hers.

longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading It almost seemed from the look on Stafford's face that, in very truth, he was laying aside the impedimenta of the long march and the battle, to carry the news to that army of the brave in Walhalla who had died for England before they knew that victory was hers.

lookverbUS /lʊk/

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading It almost seemed from the look on Stafford's face that, in very truth, he was laying aside the impedimenta of the long march and the battle, to carry the news to that army of the brave in Walhalla who had died for England before they knew that victory was hers.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading "PHEIDIPPIDES" At dawn, when the veld breathes odours of a kind pungency and fragrance, which only those know who have made it their bed and friend, the end came to the man who had lain under the gun.

mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading "PHEIDIPPIDES" At dawn, when the veld breathes odours of a kind pungency and fragrance, which only those know who have made it their bed and friend, the end came to the man who had lain under the gun.

marchverbUS /mɑːrtʃ/

march in a procession

From this reading It almost seemed from the look on Stafford's face that, in very truth, he was laying aside the impedimenta of the long march and the battle, to carry the news to that army of the brave in Walhalla who had died for England before they knew that victory was hers.

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading "Pheidippides," he repeated, and Rudyard Byng, whose eyes were so much upon the door, watching and waiting for some one to come, pressed his hand and said: "You know the best, Stafford.

newsnounUS /nuːz/

information about recent and important events

From this reading He was thinking of the Greek runner who brought the news of victory to Athens and fell dead as he told it.

odoursnounUS /ˈoʊdərs/

plural of “odour” — the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form

From this reading "PHEIDIPPIDES" At dawn, when the veld breathes odours of a kind pungency and fragrance, which only those know who have made it their bed and friend, the end came to the man who had lain under the gun.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "PHEIDIPPIDES" At dawn, when the veld breathes odours of a kind pungency and fragrance, which only those know who have made it their bed and friend, the end came to the man who had lain under the gun.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It almost seemed from the look on Stafford's face that, in very truth, he was laying aside the impedimenta of the long march and the battle, to carry the news to that army of the brave in Walhalla who had died for England before they knew that victory was hers.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading "Pheidippides," he repeated, and Rudyard Byng, whose eyes were so much upon the door, watching and waiting for some one to come, pressed his hand and said: "You know the best, Stafford.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading "PHEIDIPPIDES" At dawn, when the veld breathes odours of a kind pungency and fragrance, which only those know who have made it their bed and friend, the end came to the man who had lain under the gun.

PHEIDIPPIDES

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

From this reading "PHEIDIPPIDES" At dawn, when the veld breathes odours of a kind pungency and fragrance, which only those know who have made it their bed and friend, the end came to the man who had lain under the gun.

pressedadjectiveUS /prest/

compacted by ironing

From this reading "Pheidippides," he repeated, and Rudyard Byng, whose eyes were so much upon the door, watching and waiting for some one to come, pressed his hand and said: "You know the best, Stafford.

pungencynoun

wit having a sharp and caustic quality

From this reading "PHEIDIPPIDES" At dawn, when the veld breathes odours of a kind pungency and fragrance, which only those know who have made it their bed and friend, the end came to the man who had lain under the gun.

repeatedadjectiveUS /rɪˈpiːtɪd/

recurring again and again

From this reading "Pheidippides," he repeated, and Rudyard Byng, whose eyes were so much upon the door, watching and waiting for some one to come, pressed his hand and said: "You know the best, Stafford.

Rudyard

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

From this reading "Pheidippides," he repeated, and Rudyard Byng, whose eyes were so much upon the door, watching and waiting for some one to come, pressed his hand and said: "You know the best, Stafford.

runnernounUS /ˈrʌnər/

someone who imports or exports without paying duties

From this reading He was thinking of the Greek runner who brought the news of victory to Athens and fell dead as he told it.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "Pheidippides!" the dying Stafford said, with a grim touch of the humour which had ever been his.

seemedverbUS /siːmd/

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading It almost seemed from the look on Stafford's face that, in very truth, he was laying aside the impedimenta of the long march and the battle, to carry the news to that army of the brave in Walhalla who had died for England before they knew that victory was hers.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading "Pheidippides," he repeated, and Rudyard Byng, whose eyes were so much upon the door, watching and waiting for some one to come, pressed his hand and said: "You know the best, Stafford.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading "Pheidippides," he repeated, and Rudyard Byng, whose eyes were so much upon the door, watching and waiting for some one to come, pressed his hand and said: "You know the best, Stafford.

Stafford

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

From this reading "Pheidippides!" the dying Stafford said, with a grim touch of the humour which had ever been his.

Stafford's

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

From this reading It almost seemed from the look on Stafford's face that, in very truth, he was laying aside the impedimenta of the long march and the battle, to carry the news to that army of the brave in Walhalla who had died for England before they knew that victory was hers.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It almost seemed from the look on Stafford's face that, in very truth, he was laying aside the impedimenta of the long march and the battle, to carry the news to that army of the brave in Walhalla who had died for England before they knew that victory was hers.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "PHEIDIPPIDES" At dawn, when the veld breathes odours of a kind pungency and fragrance, which only those know who have made it their bed and friend, the end came to the man who had lain under the gun.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading "PHEIDIPPIDES" At dawn, when the veld breathes odours of a kind pungency and fragrance, which only those know who have made it their bed and friend, the end came to the man who had lain under the gun.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading It almost seemed from the look on Stafford's face that, in very truth, he was laying aside the impedimenta of the long march and the battle, to carry the news to that army of the brave in Walhalla who had died for England before they knew that victory was hers.

thinkingnounUS /ˈθɪŋkɪŋ/

the process of using your mind to consider something carefully

From this reading He was thinking of the Greek runner who brought the news of victory to Athens and fell dead as he told it.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading "PHEIDIPPIDES" At dawn, when the veld breathes odours of a kind pungency and fragrance, which only those know who have made it their bed and friend, the end came to the man who had lain under the gun.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading "PHEIDIPPIDES" At dawn, when the veld breathes odours of a kind pungency and fragrance, which only those know who have made it their bed and friend, the end came to the man who had lain under the gun.

toldverbUS /toʊld/

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading He was thinking of the Greek runner who brought the news of victory to Athens and fell dead as he told it.

touchverbUS /tʌtʃ/

make physical contact with, come in contact with

From this reading "Pheidippides!" the dying Stafford said, with a grim touch of the humour which had ever been his.

truthnounUS /truːθ/

a fact that has been verified

From this reading It almost seemed from the look on Stafford's face that, in very truth, he was laying aside the impedimenta of the long march and the battle, to carry the news to that army of the brave in Walhalla who had died for England before they knew that victory was hers.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading "PHEIDIPPIDES" At dawn, when the veld breathes odours of a kind pungency and fragrance, which only those know who have made it their bed and friend, the end came to the man who had lain under the gun.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading "Pheidippides," he repeated, and Rudyard Byng, whose eyes were so much upon the door, watching and waiting for some one to come, pressed his hand and said: "You know the best, Stafford.

veldnoun

elevated open grassland in southern Africa

From this reading "PHEIDIPPIDES" At dawn, when the veld breathes odours of a kind pungency and fragrance, which only those know who have made it their bed and friend, the end came to the man who had lain under the gun.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading It almost seemed from the look on Stafford's face that, in very truth, he was laying aside the impedimenta of the long march and the battle, to carry the news to that army of the brave in Walhalla who had died for England before they knew that victory was hers.

victorynounUS /ˈvɪktəri/

a successful ending of a struggle or contest

From this reading He was thinking of the Greek runner who brought the news of victory to Athens and fell dead as he told it.

waitingnounUS /ˈweɪtɪŋ/

the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)

From this reading "Pheidippides," he repeated, and Rudyard Byng, whose eyes were so much upon the door, watching and waiting for some one to come, pressed his hand and said: "You know the best, Stafford.

Walhallanoun

(Norse mythology) the hall in which the souls of heros slain in battle were received by Odin

From this reading It almost seemed from the look on Stafford's face that, in very truth, he was laying aside the impedimenta of the long march and the battle, to carry the news to that army of the brave in Walhalla who had died for England before they knew that victory was hers.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He was thinking of the Greek runner who brought the news of victory to Athens and fell dead as he told it.

watchingnounUS /ˈwɑːtʃɪŋ/

the act of observing; taking a patient look

From this reading "Pheidippides," he repeated, and Rudyard Byng, whose eyes were so much upon the door, watching and waiting for some one to come, pressed his hand and said: "You know the best, Stafford.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading "Pheidippides," he repeated, and Rudyard Byng, whose eyes were so much upon the door, watching and waiting for some one to come, pressed his hand and said: "You know the best, Stafford.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading "PHEIDIPPIDES" At dawn, when the veld breathes odours of a kind pungency and fragrance, which only those know who have made it their bed and friend, the end came to the man who had lain under the gun.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading "PHEIDIPPIDES" At dawn, when the veld breathes odours of a kind pungency and fragrance, which only those know who have made it their bed and friend, the end came to the man who had lain under the gun.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading "PHEIDIPPIDES" At dawn, when the veld breathes odours of a kind pungency and fragrance, which only those know who have made it their bed and friend, the end came to the man who had lain under the gun.

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading "Pheidippides," he repeated, and Rudyard Byng, whose eyes were so much upon the door, watching and waiting for some one to come, pressed his hand and said: "You know the best, Stafford.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading "Pheidippides!" the dying Stafford said, with a grim touch of the humour which had ever been his.

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Pheidippides," he repeated, and Rudyard Byng, whose eyes were so much upon the door, watching and waiting for some one to come, pressed his hand and said: "You know the best, Stafford.

Chapter 38 of The Judgment House by Gilbert Parker holds 31 sentences, grouped into 7 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.

What does chapter 38 of The Judgment House contain?

Chapter 38 holds 31 sentences of The Judgment House, unabridged, divided into 7 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 38 of The Judgment House by Gilbert Parker exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 31 sentences, grouped into 7 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 38 of The Judgment House?

Work through the 7 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 7 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 38 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 38 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.

Questions about reading The Judgment House

Common questions about reading The Judgment House by Gilbert Parker on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Judgment House?

Yes. All 8871 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #3746 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Judgment House is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #3746, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Judgment House take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1775 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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How to work through The Judgment House section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

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    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in The Judgment House

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Judgment House, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Music
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Judgment House; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Throbbed
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Judgment House; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Voice
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Judgment House; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Singular
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Judgment House; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.