Chapter 5 of The Madigans is here in full — 396 sentences across 80 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
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Chapter V
Chapter 5 of The Madigans is here in full — 396 sentences across 80 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
But Cody had the street-boy's quickness. All he had to do was to let go the end of rope he held, and the leg-breaker slipped smoothly back, while the king's runnered chariot shot ahead, drawn by the flying horses on whose backs the whip had descended. "Ugh!" shivered Split, as she made her way out of the drift. "It's cold, Jack. Let's run."
Chapter 5 of The Madigans is here in full — 396 sentences across 80 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/79 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.
plural of “back” — the posterior part of a human (or animal) body from the neck to the end of the spine
From this reading “All he had to do was to let go the end of rope he held, and the leg-breaker slipped smoothly back, while the king's runnered chariot shot ahead, drawn by the flying horses on whose backs the whip had descended.”
a light four-wheel horse-drawn ceremonial carriage
From this reading “All he had to do was to let go the end of rope he held, and the leg-breaker slipped smoothly back, while the king's runnered chariot shot ahead, drawn by the flying horses on whose backs the whip had descended.”
United States showman famous for his Wild West Show (1846-1917)
From this reading “But Cody had the street-boy's quickness.”
be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading “"Ugh!" shivered Split, as she made her way out of the drift.”
skillful performance or ability without difficulty
From this reading “But Cody had the street-boy's quickness.”
past form of “shiver” — tremble convulsively, as from fear or excitement
From this reading “"Ugh!" shivered Split, as she made her way out of the drift.”
with no problems or difficulties
From this reading “All he had to do was to let go the end of rope he held, and the leg-breaker slipped smoothly back, while the king's runnered chariot shot ahead, drawn by the flying horses on whose backs the whip had descended.”
separate into parts or portions
From this reading “"Ugh!" shivered Split, as she made her way out of the drift.”
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.
at or in the front
From this reading All he had to do was to let go the end of rope he held, and the leg-breaker slipped smoothly back, while the king's runnered chariot shot ahead, drawn by the flying horses on whose backs the whip had descended.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading All he had to do was to let go the end of rope he held, and the leg-breaker slipped smoothly back, while the king's runnered chariot shot ahead, drawn by the flying horses on whose backs the whip had descended.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading All he had to do was to let go the end of rope he held, and the leg-breaker slipped smoothly back, while the king's runnered chariot shot ahead, drawn by the flying horses on whose backs the whip had descended.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Ugh!" shivered Split, as she made her way out of the drift.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading All he had to do was to let go the end of rope he held, and the leg-breaker slipped smoothly back, while the king's runnered chariot shot ahead, drawn by the flying horses on whose backs the whip had descended.
plural of “back” — the posterior part of a human (or animal) body from the neck to the end of the spine
From this reading All he had to do was to let go the end of rope he held, and the leg-breaker slipped smoothly back, while the king's runnered chariot shot ahead, drawn by the flying horses on whose backs the whip had descended.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Cody had the street-boy's quickness.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading All he had to do was to let go the end of rope he held, and the leg-breaker slipped smoothly back, while the king's runnered chariot shot ahead, drawn by the flying horses on whose backs the whip had descended.
a light four-wheel horse-drawn ceremonial carriage
From this reading All he had to do was to let go the end of rope he held, and the leg-breaker slipped smoothly back, while the king's runnered chariot shot ahead, drawn by the flying horses on whose backs the whip had descended.
United States showman famous for his Wild West Show (1846-1917)
From this reading But Cody had the street-boy's quickness.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading "It's cold, Jack.
past form of “descend” — move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading All he had to do was to let go the end of rope he held, and the leg-breaker slipped smoothly back, while the king's runnered chariot shot ahead, drawn by the flying horses on whose backs the whip had descended.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading All he had to do was to let go the end of rope he held, and the leg-breaker slipped smoothly back, while the king's runnered chariot shot ahead, drawn by the flying horses on whose backs the whip had descended.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading All he had to do was to let go the end of rope he held, and the leg-breaker slipped smoothly back, while the king's runnered chariot shot ahead, drawn by the flying horses on whose backs the whip had descended.
be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading "Ugh!" shivered Split, as she made her way out of the drift.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading All he had to do was to let go the end of rope he held, and the leg-breaker slipped smoothly back, while the king's runnered chariot shot ahead, drawn by the flying horses on whose backs the whip had descended.
moving swiftly
From this reading All he had to do was to let go the end of rope he held, and the leg-breaker slipped smoothly back, while the king's runnered chariot shot ahead, drawn by the flying horses on whose backs the whip had descended.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading All he had to do was to let go the end of rope he held, and the leg-breaker slipped smoothly back, while the king's runnered chariot shot ahead, drawn by the flying horses on whose backs the whip had descended.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But Cody had the street-boy's quickness.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading All he had to do was to let go the end of rope he held, and the leg-breaker slipped smoothly back, while the king's runnered chariot shot ahead, drawn by the flying horses on whose backs the whip had descended.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading All he had to do was to let go the end of rope he held, and the leg-breaker slipped smoothly back, while the king's runnered chariot shot ahead, drawn by the flying horses on whose backs the whip had descended.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "Ugh!" shivered Split, as she made her way out of the drift.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading All he had to do was to let go the end of rope he held, and the leg-breaker slipped smoothly back, while the king's runnered chariot shot ahead, drawn by the flying horses on whose backs the whip had descended.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's cold, Jack.
a small worthless amount
From this reading "It's cold, Jack.
possessive form of “king” — a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading All he had to do was to let go the end of rope he held, and the leg-breaker slipped smoothly back, while the king's runnered chariot shot ahead, drawn by the flying horses on whose backs the whip had descended.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All he had to do was to let go the end of rope he held, and the leg-breaker slipped smoothly back, while the king's runnered chariot shot ahead, drawn by the flying horses on whose backs the whip had descended.
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading All he had to do was to let go the end of rope he held, and the leg-breaker slipped smoothly back, while the king's runnered chariot shot ahead, drawn by the flying horses on whose backs the whip had descended.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Let's run."
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading "Ugh!" shivered Split, as she made her way out of the drift.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading All he had to do was to let go the end of rope he held, and the leg-breaker slipped smoothly back, while the king's runnered chariot shot ahead, drawn by the flying horses on whose backs the whip had descended.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading All he had to do was to let go the end of rope he held, and the leg-breaker slipped smoothly back, while the king's runnered chariot shot ahead, drawn by the flying horses on whose backs the whip had descended.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "Ugh!" shivered Split, as she made her way out of the drift.
skillful performance or ability without difficulty
From this reading But Cody had the street-boy's quickness.
a strong line
From this reading All he had to do was to let go the end of rope he held, and the leg-breaker slipped smoothly back, while the king's runnered chariot shot ahead, drawn by the flying horses on whose backs the whip had descended.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading Let's run."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All he had to do was to let go the end of rope he held, and the leg-breaker slipped smoothly back, while the king's runnered chariot shot ahead, drawn by the flying horses on whose backs the whip had descended.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Ugh!" shivered Split, as she made her way out of the drift.
past form of “shiver” — tremble convulsively, as from fear or excitement
From this reading "Ugh!" shivered Split, as she made her way out of the drift.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading All he had to do was to let go the end of rope he held, and the leg-breaker slipped smoothly back, while the king's runnered chariot shot ahead, drawn by the flying horses on whose backs the whip had descended.
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading All he had to do was to let go the end of rope he held, and the leg-breaker slipped smoothly back, while the king's runnered chariot shot ahead, drawn by the flying horses on whose backs the whip had descended.
with no problems or difficulties
From this reading All he had to do was to let go the end of rope he held, and the leg-breaker slipped smoothly back, while the king's runnered chariot shot ahead, drawn by the flying horses on whose backs the whip had descended.
separate into parts or portions
From this reading "Ugh!" shivered Split, as she made her way out of the drift.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Cody had the street-boy's quickness.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But Cody had the street-boy's quickness.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading All he had to do was to let go the end of rope he held, and the leg-breaker slipped smoothly back, while the king's runnered chariot shot ahead, drawn by the flying horses on whose backs the whip had descended.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ugh!" shivered Split, as she made her way out of the drift.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading All he had to do was to let go the end of rope he held, and the leg-breaker slipped smoothly back, while the king's runnered chariot shot ahead, drawn by the flying horses on whose backs the whip had descended.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading "Ugh!" shivered Split, as she made her way out of the drift.
during the time that
From this reading All he had to do was to let go the end of rope he held, and the leg-breaker slipped smoothly back, while the king's runnered chariot shot ahead, drawn by the flying horses on whose backs the whip had descended.
beat severely with a whip or rod
From this reading All he had to do was to let go the end of rope he held, and the leg-breaker slipped smoothly back, while the king's runnered chariot shot ahead, drawn by the flying horses on whose backs the whip had descended.
belonging to which person
From this reading All he had to do was to let go the end of rope he held, and the leg-breaker slipped smoothly back, while the king's runnered chariot shot ahead, drawn by the flying horses on whose backs the whip had descended.
Chapter 5 of The Madigans by Miriam Michelson holds 396 sentences, grouped into 80 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.
Chapter 5 holds 396 sentences of The Madigans, unabridged, divided into 80 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 5 of The Madigans by Miriam Michelson exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 396 sentences, grouped into 80 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.
Work through the 80 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 80 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 5 can be played aloud in United States English.
Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.
Common questions about reading The Madigans by Miriam Michelson on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 3278 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #21243 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #21243, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 273 minutes of reading across 656 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Madigans section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 8 chapters of The Madigans to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in The Madigans, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
