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The Man in Lonely Land
The Man in Lonely Land

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of The Man in Lonely Land is here in full — 436 sentences across 88 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Man in Lonely Land
Context Illustration Reading 1/87 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"Indeed I won't."
Claudia stood up.
"It's fun to watch, but only fruit from the tree of life would be worth a scrimmage of that kind.
If I could get on top of a picture-frame or a curtain-pole, or anything from which I could look down on a show like this, I'd have a beautiful time, but"--she opened her fan--"it's rather stuffy to be in it."
Laine glanced around.
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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 Man in Lonely Land

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of The Man in Lonely Land is here in full — 436 sentences across 88 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/87 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"Indeed I won't."
Line 2
Claudia stood up.
Line 3
"It's fun to watch, but only fruit from the tree of life would be worth a scrimmage of that kind.
Line 4
If I could get on top of a picture-frame or a curtain-pole, or anything from which I could look down on a show like this, I'd have a beautiful time, but"--she opened her fan--"it's rather stuffy to be in it."
Line 5
Laine glanced around.

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.

fan verb US /fæn/

strike out (a batter), (of a pitcher)

From this reading “If I could get on top of a picture-frame or a curtain-pole, or anything from which I could look down on a show like this, I'd have a beautiful time, but"--she opened her fan--"it's rather stuffy to be in it."”

fruit noun US /fruːt/

the ripened reproductive body of a seed plant

From this reading “"It's fun to watch, but only fruit from the tree of life would be worth a scrimmage of that kind.”

fun noun US /fʌn/

activities that are enjoyable or amusing

From this reading “"It's fun to watch, but only fruit from the tree of life would be worth a scrimmage of that kind.”

glanced verb US /ɡlænst/

past form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at

From this reading “Laine glanced around.”

scrimmage noun US /ˈskrɪmɪdʒ/

(American football) practice play between a football team's squads

From this reading “"It's fun to watch, but only fruit from the tree of life would be worth a scrimmage of that kind.”

stuffy adjective US /ˈstʌfi/

lacking fresh air

From this reading “If I could get on top of a picture-frame or a curtain-pole, or anything from which I could look down on a show like this, I'd have a beautiful time, but"--she opened her fan--"it's rather stuffy to be in it."”

top noun US /tɑːp/

the upper part of anything

From this reading “If I could get on top of a picture-frame or a curtain-pole, or anything from which I could look down on a show like this, I'd have a beautiful time, but"--she opened her fan--"it's rather stuffy to be in it."”

tree noun US /triː/

a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading “"It's fun to watch, but only fruit from the tree of life would be worth a scrimmage of that kind.”

All words in this reading · 55

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 "It's fun to watch, but only fruit from the tree of life would be worth a scrimmage of that kind.

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading If I could get on top of a picture-frame or a curtain-pole, or anything from which I could look down on a show like this, I'd have a beautiful time, but"--she opened her fan--"it's rather stuffy to be in it."

aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading Laine glanced around.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading "It's fun to watch, but only fruit from the tree of life would be worth a scrimmage of that kind.

beautifuladjectiveUS /ˈbjuːtəfəl/

delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration

From this reading If I could get on top of a picture-frame or a curtain-pole, or anything from which I could look down on a show like this, I'd have a beautiful time, but"--she opened her fan--"it's rather stuffy to be in it."

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "It's fun to watch, but only fruit from the tree of life would be worth a scrimmage of that kind.

Claudia

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

From this reading Claudia stood up.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading If I could get on top of a picture-frame or a curtain-pole, or anything from which I could look down on a show like this, I'd have a beautiful time, but"--she opened her fan--"it's rather stuffy to be in it."

curtain-pole

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

From this reading If I could get on top of a picture-frame or a curtain-pole, or anything from which I could look down on a show like this, I'd have a beautiful time, but"--she opened her fan--"it's rather stuffy to be in it."

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading If I could get on top of a picture-frame or a curtain-pole, or anything from which I could look down on a show like this, I'd have a beautiful time, but"--she opened her fan--"it's rather stuffy to be in it."

fanverbUS /fæn/

strike out (a batter), (of a pitcher)

From this reading If I could get on top of a picture-frame or a curtain-pole, or anything from which I could look down on a show like this, I'd have a beautiful time, but"--she opened her fan--"it's rather stuffy to be in it."

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading "It's fun to watch, but only fruit from the tree of life would be worth a scrimmage of that kind.

fruitnounUS /fruːt/

the ripened reproductive body of a seed plant

From this reading "It's fun to watch, but only fruit from the tree of life would be worth a scrimmage of that kind.

funnounUS /fʌn/

activities that are enjoyable or amusing

From this reading "It's fun to watch, but only fruit from the tree of life would be worth a scrimmage of that kind.

getverbUS /ɡet/

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading If I could get on top of a picture-frame or a curtain-pole, or anything from which I could look down on a show like this, I'd have a beautiful time, but"--she opened her fan--"it's rather stuffy to be in it."

glancedverbUS /ɡlænst/

past form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at

From this reading Laine glanced around.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading If I could get on top of a picture-frame or a curtain-pole, or anything from which I could look down on a show like this, I'd have a beautiful time, but"--she opened her fan--"it's rather stuffy to be in it."

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading If I could get on top of a picture-frame or a curtain-pole, or anything from which I could look down on a show like this, I'd have a beautiful time, but"--she opened her fan--"it's rather stuffy to be in it."

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "Indeed I won't."

I'd

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

From this reading If I could get on top of a picture-frame or a curtain-pole, or anything from which I could look down on a show like this, I'd have a beautiful time, but"--she opened her fan--"it's rather stuffy to be in it."

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If I could get on top of a picture-frame or a curtain-pole, or anything from which I could look down on a show like this, I'd have a beautiful time, but"--she opened her fan--"it's rather stuffy to be in it."

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading If I could get on top of a picture-frame or a curtain-pole, or anything from which I could look down on a show like this, I'd have a beautiful time, but"--she opened her fan--"it's rather stuffy to be in it."

IndeedadverbUS /ˌɪnˈdiːd/

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading "Indeed I won't."

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading If I could get on top of a picture-frame or a curtain-pole, or anything from which I could look down on a show like this, I'd have a beautiful time, but"--she opened her fan--"it's rather stuffy to be in it."

It's

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

From this reading "It's fun to watch, but only fruit from the tree of life would be worth a scrimmage of that kind.

kindadjectiveUS /kaɪnd/

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

From this reading "It's fun to watch, but only fruit from the tree of life would be worth a scrimmage of that kind.

Laine

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

From this reading Laine glanced around.

lifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading "It's fun to watch, but only fruit from the tree of life would be worth a scrimmage of that kind.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading If I could get on top of a picture-frame or a curtain-pole, or anything from which I could look down on a show like this, I'd have a beautiful time, but"--she opened her fan--"it's rather stuffy to be in it."

lookverbUS /lʊk/

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading If I could get on top of a picture-frame or a curtain-pole, or anything from which I could look down on a show like this, I'd have a beautiful time, but"--she opened her fan--"it's rather stuffy to be in it."

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "It's fun to watch, but only fruit from the tree of life would be worth a scrimmage of that kind.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading If I could get on top of a picture-frame or a curtain-pole, or anything from which I could look down on a show like this, I'd have a beautiful time, but"--she opened her fan--"it's rather stuffy to be in it."

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading "It's fun to watch, but only fruit from the tree of life would be worth a scrimmage of that kind.

openedadjectiveUS /ˈoʊpənd/

used of mouth or eyes

From this reading If I could get on top of a picture-frame or a curtain-pole, or anything from which I could look down on a show like this, I'd have a beautiful time, but"--she opened her fan--"it's rather stuffy to be in it."

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading If I could get on top of a picture-frame or a curtain-pole, or anything from which I could look down on a show like this, I'd have a beautiful time, but"--she opened her fan--"it's rather stuffy to be in it."

picture-frame

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

From this reading If I could get on top of a picture-frame or a curtain-pole, or anything from which I could look down on a show like this, I'd have a beautiful time, but"--she opened her fan--"it's rather stuffy to be in it."

ratheradverbUS /ˈræðər/

on the contrary

From this reading If I could get on top of a picture-frame or a curtain-pole, or anything from which I could look down on a show like this, I'd have a beautiful time, but"--she opened her fan--"it's rather stuffy to be in it."

scrimmagenounUS /ˈskrɪmɪdʒ/

(American football) practice play between a football team's squads

From this reading "It's fun to watch, but only fruit from the tree of life would be worth a scrimmage of that kind.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading If I could get on top of a picture-frame or a curtain-pole, or anything from which I could look down on a show like this, I'd have a beautiful time, but"--she opened her fan--"it's rather stuffy to be in it."

showverbUS /ʃoʊ/

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading If I could get on top of a picture-frame or a curtain-pole, or anything from which I could look down on a show like this, I'd have a beautiful time, but"--she opened her fan--"it's rather stuffy to be in it."

stoodverbUS /stʊd/

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading Claudia stood up.

stuffyadjectiveUS /ˈstʌfi/

lacking fresh air

From this reading If I could get on top of a picture-frame or a curtain-pole, or anything from which I could look down on a show like this, I'd have a beautiful time, but"--she opened her fan--"it's rather stuffy to be in it."

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "It's fun to watch, but only fruit from the tree of life would be worth a scrimmage of that kind.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "It's fun to watch, but only fruit from the tree of life would be worth a scrimmage of that kind.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading If I could get on top of a picture-frame or a curtain-pole, or anything from which I could look down on a show like this, I'd have a beautiful time, but"--she opened her fan--"it's rather stuffy to be in it."

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading If I could get on top of a picture-frame or a curtain-pole, or anything from which I could look down on a show like this, I'd have a beautiful time, but"--she opened her fan--"it's rather stuffy to be in it."

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "It's fun to watch, but only fruit from the tree of life would be worth a scrimmage of that kind.

topnounUS /tɑːp/

the upper part of anything

From this reading If I could get on top of a picture-frame or a curtain-pole, or anything from which I could look down on a show like this, I'd have a beautiful time, but"--she opened her fan--"it's rather stuffy to be in it."

treenounUS /triː/

a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading "It's fun to watch, but only fruit from the tree of life would be worth a scrimmage of that kind.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

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

From this reading Claudia stood up.

watchverbUS /wɑːtʃ/

look attentively

From this reading "It's fun to watch, but only fruit from the tree of life would be worth a scrimmage of that kind.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading If I could get on top of a picture-frame or a curtain-pole, or anything from which I could look down on a show like this, I'd have a beautiful time, but"--she opened her fan--"it's rather stuffy to be in it."

won't

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

From this reading "Indeed I won't."

worthnounUS /wɜːrθ/

an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value

From this reading "It's fun to watch, but only fruit from the tree of life would be worth a scrimmage of that kind.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading "It's fun to watch, but only fruit from the tree of life would be worth a scrimmage of that kind.

Chapter 3 of The Man in Lonely Land by Kate Langley Bosher holds 436 sentences, grouped into 88 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.

What does chapter 3 of The Man in Lonely Land contain?

Chapter 3 holds 436 sentences of The Man in Lonely Land, unabridged, divided into 88 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 3 of The Man in Lonely Land by Kate Langley Bosher exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 436 sentences, grouped into 88 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 Man in Lonely Land?

Work through the 88 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 88 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 Man in Lonely Land

Common questions about reading The Man in Lonely Land by Kate Langley Bosher on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Man in Lonely Land?

Yes. All 2593 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #12971 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Man in Lonely Land is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #12971, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Man in Lonely Land take to read?

About 216 minutes of reading across 519 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Man in Lonely Land section by section

How to work through The Man in Lonely Land section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 6 chapters of The Man in Lonely Land 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 Man in Lonely Land

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Man in Lonely Land, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Man in Lonely Land; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Gibbie
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Man in Lonely Land; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Gault
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Man in Lonely Land; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Winthrop
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Man in Lonely Land; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.