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The Light That Failed
The Light That Failed

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of The Light That Failed is here in full — 262 sentences across 53 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/52 · 5 lines
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So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.
Dick heaved the letter into the Nile at Cairo, cashed the draft in the same town, and bade a warm farewell to Torpenhow at the station.
I am going to lie up for a while and rest,” said Torpenhow.
I don’t know where I shall live in London, but if God brings us to meet, we shall meet.
Are you staying here on the off-chance of another row?
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Light That Failed

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of The Light That Failed is here in full — 262 sentences across 53 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/52 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.
Line 2
Dick heaved the letter into the Nile at Cairo, cashed the draft in the same town, and bade a warm farewell to Torpenhow at the station.
Line 3
I am going to lie up for a while and rest,” said Torpenhow.
Line 4
I don’t know where I shall live in London, but if God brings us to meet, we shall meet.
Line 5
Are you staying here on the off-chance of another row?

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.

Algiers noun US /ælˈdʒɪrz/

an ancient port on the Mediterranean; the capital and largest city of Algeria

From this reading “So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.”

buccaneers noun US /ˌbʌkəˈniːrz/

plural of “buccaneer” — someone who robs at sea or plunders the land from the sea without having a commission from any sovereign nation

From this reading “So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.”

cashed adjective US /kæʃt/

for which money has been paid

From this reading “Dick heaved the letter into the Nile at Cairo, cashed the draft in the same town, and bade a warm farewell to Torpenhow at the station.”

cruise verb US /kruːz/

drive around aimlessly but ostentatiously and at leisure

From this reading “So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.”

Dick's noun US /dɪks/

possessive form of “dick” — someone who is a detective

Longfellow noun US /ˈlɔːŋfeloʊ/

United States poet remembered for his long narrative poems (1807-1882)

From this reading “So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.”

singe verb US /sɪndʒ/

burn superficially or lightly

From this reading “So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.”

Syndicate noun US /ˈsɪndɪkət/

a loose affiliation of gangsters in charge of organized criminal activities

From this reading “So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.”

All words in this reading · 107

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 So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

accountnounUS /əˈkaʊnt/

a record or narrative description of past events

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

againadverbUS /əˈɡen/

anew

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

AlgiersnounUS /ælˈdʒɪrz/

an ancient port on the Mediterranean; the capital and largest city of Algeria

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

altogetheradverbUS /ˌɔːltəˈɡeðər/

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading “I am going to lie up for a while and rest,” said Torpenhow.

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

Areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Are you staying here on the off-chance of another row?

assureverbUS /əˈʃʊr/

make certain of

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Dick heaved the letter into the Nile at Cairo, cashed the draft in the same town, and bade a warm farewell to Torpenhow at the station.

badenounUS /beɪd/

a Chadic language spoken in northern Nigeria

From this reading Dick heaved the letter into the Nile at Cairo, cashed the draft in the same town, and bade a warm farewell to Torpenhow at the station.

beardnounUS /bɪrd/

the hair growing on the lower part of a man's face

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

bringsverbUS /brɪŋz/

third-person singular of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading “I don’t know where I shall live in London, but if God brings us to meet, we shall meet.

brokenadjectiveUS /ˈbroʊkən/

physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

buccaneersnounUS /ˌbʌkəˈniːrz/

plural of “buccaneer” — someone who robs at sea or plunders the land from the sea without having a commission from any sovereign nation

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading “I don’t know where I shall live in London, but if God brings us to meet, we shall meet.

CaironounUS /ˈkaɪroʊ/

a town at the southern tip of Illinois at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers

From this reading Dick heaved the letter into the Nile at Cairo, cashed the draft in the same town, and bade a warm farewell to Torpenhow at the station.

campaignnounUS /kæmˈpeɪn/

a race between candidates for elective office

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

captureverbUS /ˈkæptʃər/

succeed in representing or expressing something intangible

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

carefuladjectiveUS /ˈkerfəl/

exercising caution or showing care or attention

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

cashedadjectiveUS /kæʃt/

for which money has been paid

From this reading Dick heaved the letter into the Nile at Cairo, cashed the draft in the same town, and bade a warm farewell to Torpenhow at the station.

CentraladjectiveUS /ˈsentrəl/

serving as an essential component

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

certainadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrtən/

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

cruiseverbUS /kruːz/

drive around aimlessly but ostentatiously and at leisure

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

DeannounUS /diːn/

an administrator in charge of a division of a university or college

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

DicknounUS /dɪk/

someone who is a detective

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

Dick'snounUS /dɪks/

possessive form of “dick” — someone who is a detective

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

don't

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

From this reading “I don’t know where I shall live in London, but if God brings us to meet, we shall meet.

doneadjectiveUS /dʌn/

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

draftnounUS /dræft/

a document ordering the payment of money; drawn by one person or bank on another

From this reading Dick heaved the letter into the Nile at Cairo, cashed the draft in the same town, and bade a warm farewell to Torpenhow at the station.

DutchadjectiveUS /dʌtʃ/

of or relating to the Netherlands or its people or culture

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

endedadjectiveUS /ˈendəd/

having come or been brought to a conclusion

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

farewellnounUS /ˌferˈwel/

an acknowledgment or expression of goodwill at parting

From this reading Dick heaved the letter into the Nile at Cairo, cashed the draft in the same town, and bade a warm farewell to Torpenhow at the station.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

GodnounUS /ɡɑːd/

the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions

From this reading “I don’t know where I shall live in London, but if God brings us to meet, we shall meet.

goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/

the act of departing

From this reading “I am going to lie up for a while and rest,” said Torpenhow.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

headnounUS /hed/

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

heavedverbUS /hiːvd/

past form of “heave” — utter a sound, as with obvious effort

From this reading Dick heaved the letter into the Nile at Cairo, cashed the draft in the same town, and bade a warm farewell to Torpenhow at the station.

hereadverbUS /hiːr/

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading Are you staying here on the off-chance of another row?

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading “I am going to lie up for a while and rest,” said Torpenhow.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading “I don’t know where I shall live in London, but if God brings us to meet, we shall meet.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Dick heaved the letter into the Nile at Cairo, cashed the draft in the same town, and bade a warm farewell to Torpenhow at the station.

Jaen

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

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

KingnounUS /kɪŋ/

a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

knowverbUS /noʊ/

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

From this reading “I don’t know where I shall live in London, but if God brings us to meet, we shall meet.

letternounUS /ˈletər/

a written message addressed to a person or organization

From this reading Dick heaved the letter into the Nile at Cairo, cashed the draft in the same town, and bade a warm farewell to Torpenhow at the station.

lieverbUS /laɪ/

be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position

From this reading “I am going to lie up for a while and rest,” said Torpenhow.

liveverbUS /laɪv/

be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading “I don’t know where I shall live in London, but if God brings us to meet, we shall meet.

LondonnounUS /ˈlʌndən/

the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center

From this reading “I don’t know where I shall live in London, but if God brings us to meet, we shall meet.

LongfellownounUS /ˈlɔːŋfeloʊ/

United States poet remembered for his long narrative poems (1807-1882)

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

meetverbUS /miːt/

come together

From this reading “I don’t know where I shall live in London, but if God brings us to meet, we shall meet.

mendedverbUS /ˈmendɪd/

past form of “mend” — restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

monthsnounUS /mʌnθs/

plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

NilenounUS /naɪl/

the world's longest river (4150 miles); flows northward through eastern Africa into the Mediterranean; the Nile River valley in Egypt was the site of the world's first great civilization

From this reading Dick heaved the letter into the Nile at Cairo, cashed the draft in the same town, and bade a warm farewell to Torpenhow at the station.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

off-chance

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

From this reading Are you staying here on the off-chance of another row?

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

paidadjectiveUS /peɪd/

marked by the reception of pay

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

PicturenounUS /ˈpɪktʃər/

a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

restverbUS /rest/

not move; be in a resting position

From this reading “I am going to lie up for a while and rest,” said Torpenhow.

rownounUS /roʊ/

an arrangement of objects or people side by side in a line

From this reading Are you staying here on the off-chance of another row?

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “I am going to lie up for a while and rest,” said Torpenhow.

sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/

Identical; not different.

From this reading Dick heaved the letter into the Nile at Cairo, cashed the draft in the same town, and bade a warm farewell to Torpenhow at the station.

seanounUS /siː/

a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

sellverbUS /sel/

exchange or deliver for money or its equivalent

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

singeverbUS /sɪndʒ/

burn superficially or lightly

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

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

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

Soudannoun

a republic in northeastern Africa on the Red Sea; achieved independence from Egypt and the United Kingdom in 1956

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

SouthernadjectiveUS /ˈsʌðərn/

in or characteristic of a region of the United States south of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

SpainnounUS /speɪn/

a parliamentary monarchy in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula; a former colonial power

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

standardadjectiveUS /ˈstændərd/

conforming to or constituting a standard of measurement or value; or of the usual or regularized or accepted kind

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

stationnounUS /ˈsteɪʃən/

a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose

From this reading Dick heaved the letter into the Nile at Cairo, cashed the draft in the same town, and bade a warm farewell to Torpenhow at the station.

stayingverbUS /ˈsteɪɪŋ/

-ing form of “stay” — stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading Are you staying here on the off-chance of another row?

sumnounUS /sʌm/

a quantity of money

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

SyndicatenounUS /ˈsɪndɪkət/

a loose affiliation of gangsters in charge of organized criminal activities

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

takeverbUS /teɪk/

carry out

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

thinksnounUS /θɪŋks/

plural of “think” — an instance of deliberate thinking

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

Torpenhow

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

From this reading Dick heaved the letter into the Nile at Cairo, cashed the draft in the same town, and bade a warm farewell to Torpenhow at the station.

townnounUS /taʊn/

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading Dick heaved the letter into the Nile at Cairo, cashed the draft in the same town, and bade a warm farewell to Torpenhow at the station.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading “I don’t know where I shall live in London, but if God brings us to meet, we shall meet.

warmadjectiveUS /wɔːrm/

having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat

From this reading Dick heaved the letter into the Nile at Cairo, cashed the draft in the same town, and bade a warm farewell to Torpenhow at the station.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading “I don’t know where I shall live in London, but if God brings us to meet, we shall meet.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading “I don’t know where I shall live in London, but if God brings us to meet, we shall meet.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “I am going to lie up for a while and rest,” said Torpenhow.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

workverbUS /wɜːrk/

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading So he thinks he shall take to the sea again For one more cruise with his buccaneers, To singe the beard of the King of Spain, And capture another Dean of Jaen And sell him in Algiers.—_A Dutch Picture_.—Longfellow The Soudan campaign and Dick’s broken head had been some months ended and mended, and the Central Southern Syndicate had paid Dick a certain sum on account for work done, which work they were careful to assure him was not altogether up to their standard.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Are you staying here on the off-chance of another row?

Chapter 3 of The Light That Failed by Rudyard Kipling holds 262 sentences, grouped into 53 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 3 of The Light That Failed contain?

Chapter 3 holds 262 sentences of The Light That Failed, unabridged, divided into 53 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 3 of The Light That Failed by Rudyard Kipling exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 262 sentences, grouped into 53 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 3 of The Light That Failed?

Work through the 53 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 53 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 3 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 3 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 Light That Failed

Common questions about reading The Light That Failed by Rudyard Kipling on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Light That Failed?

Yes. All 5505 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #2876 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Light That Failed is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #2876, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Light That Failed take to read?

About 458 minutes of reading across 1101 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Light That Failed section by section

How to work through The Light That Failed section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 15 chapters of The Light That Failed to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

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

Vocabulary met early in The Light That Failed

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Light That Failed, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Settled
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Light That Failed; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Storm
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Light That Failed; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Dears
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Light That Failed; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Because
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Light That Failed; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.