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The Motormaniacs
The Motormaniacs

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of The Motormaniacs is here in full — 469 sentences across 94 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Motormaniacs
Context Illustration Reading 30/93 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"I mean our next car, of course," said Morty (it was awfully sweet to hear him say "our."
And it took the sting out of losing the little bubble, especially now that we're going to have another).
"Yesterday Forbes Mason offered me his new four-cylinder Lafayette for twenty-eight hundred dollars," said Morty; "it's only been run five hundred miles, and I told him I'd think about it."
"It's suspiciously cheap," I said.
"Sure he hasn't cut the cylinders?"
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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 Motormaniacs

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of The Motormaniacs is here in full — 469 sentences across 94 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 30/93 · 5 reading units · Lines 146–150

Line 1
"I mean our next car, of course," said Morty (it was awfully sweet to hear him say "our."
Line 2
And it took the sting out of losing the little bubble, especially now that we're going to have another).
Line 3
"Yesterday Forbes Mason offered me his new four-cylinder Lafayette for twenty-eight hundred dollars," said Morty; "it's only been run five hundred miles, and I told him I'd think about it."
Line 4
"It's suspiciously cheap," I said.
Line 5
"Sure he hasn't cut the cylinders?"

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.

awfully adverb US /ˈɑːfli/

used as intensifiers

From this reading “"I mean our next car, of course," said Morty (it was awfully sweet to hear him say "our."”

bubble verb US /ˈbʌbəl/

form, produce, or emit bubbles

From this reading “And it took the sting out of losing the little bubble, especially now that we're going to have another).”

cheap adjective US /tʃiːp/

relatively low in price or charging low prices

From this reading “"It's suspiciously cheap," I said.”

cylinders noun US /ˈsɪləndərz/

plural of “cylinder” — a solid bounded by a cylindrical surface and two parallel planes (the bases)

From this reading “"Sure he hasn't cut the cylinders?"”

Lafayette noun US /ˌlɑːfiˈet/

French soldier who served under George Washington in the American Revolution (1757-1834)

From this reading “"Yesterday Forbes Mason offered me his new four-cylinder Lafayette for twenty-eight hundred dollars," said Morty; "it's only been run five hundred miles, and I told him I'd think about it."”

Mason noun US /ˈmeɪsən/

American Revolutionary leader from Virginia whose objections led to the drafting of the Bill of Rights (1725-1792)

From this reading “"Yesterday Forbes Mason offered me his new four-cylinder Lafayette for twenty-eight hundred dollars," said Morty; "it's only been run five hundred miles, and I told him I'd think about it."”

sting verb US /stɪŋ/

cause a sharp or stinging pain or discomfort

From this reading “And it took the sting out of losing the little bubble, especially now that we're going to have another).”

suspiciously adverb US /səˈspɪʃəsli/

with suspicion

From this reading “"It's suspiciously cheap," I said.”

All words in this reading · 62

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.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading "Yesterday Forbes Mason offered me his new four-cylinder Lafayette for twenty-eight hundred dollars," said Morty; "it's only been run five hundred miles, and I told him I'd think about it."

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading And it took the sting out of losing the little bubble, especially now that we're going to have another).

anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading And it took the sting out of losing the little bubble, especially now that we're going to have another).

awfullyadverbUS /ˈɑːfli/

used as intensifiers

From this reading "I mean our next car, of course," said Morty (it was awfully sweet to hear him say "our."

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading "Yesterday Forbes Mason offered me his new four-cylinder Lafayette for twenty-eight hundred dollars," said Morty; "it's only been run five hundred miles, and I told him I'd think about it."

bubbleverbUS /ˈbʌbəl/

form, produce, or emit bubbles

From this reading And it took the sting out of losing the little bubble, especially now that we're going to have another).

carnounUS /kɑːr/

a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine

From this reading "I mean our next car, of course," said Morty (it was awfully sweet to hear him say "our."

cheapadjectiveUS /tʃiːp/

relatively low in price or charging low prices

From this reading "It's suspiciously cheap," I said.

coursenounUS /kɔːrs/

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading "I mean our next car, of course," said Morty (it was awfully sweet to hear him say "our."

cutverbUS /kʌt/

separate with or as if with an instrument

From this reading "Sure he hasn't cut the cylinders?"

cylindersnounUS /ˈsɪləndərz/

plural of “cylinder” — a solid bounded by a cylindrical surface and two parallel planes (the bases)

From this reading "Sure he hasn't cut the cylinders?"

dollarsnounUS /ˈdɑːlərz/

plural of “dollar” — the basic monetary unit in many countries; equal to 100 cents

From this reading "Yesterday Forbes Mason offered me his new four-cylinder Lafayette for twenty-eight hundred dollars," said Morty; "it's only been run five hundred miles, and I told him I'd think about it."

especiallyadverbUS /əˈspeʃli/

to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common

From this reading And it took the sting out of losing the little bubble, especially now that we're going to have another).

fivenounUS /faɪv/

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading "Yesterday Forbes Mason offered me his new four-cylinder Lafayette for twenty-eight hundred dollars," said Morty; "it's only been run five hundred miles, and I told him I'd think about it."

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "Yesterday Forbes Mason offered me his new four-cylinder Lafayette for twenty-eight hundred dollars," said Morty; "it's only been run five hundred miles, and I told him I'd think about it."

Forbes

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

From this reading "Yesterday Forbes Mason offered me his new four-cylinder Lafayette for twenty-eight hundred dollars," said Morty; "it's only been run five hundred miles, and I told him I'd think about it."

four-cylinder

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

From this reading "Yesterday Forbes Mason offered me his new four-cylinder Lafayette for twenty-eight hundred dollars," said Morty; "it's only been run five hundred miles, and I told him I'd think about it."

goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/

the act of departing

From this reading And it took the sting out of losing the little bubble, especially now that we're going to have another).

hasn't

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

From this reading "Sure he hasn't cut the cylinders?"

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading And it took the sting out of losing the little bubble, especially now that we're going to have another).

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading "Sure he hasn't cut the cylinders?"

hearverbUS /hiːr/

perceive (sound) via the auditory sense

From this reading "I mean our next car, of course," said Morty (it was awfully sweet to hear him say "our."

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading "I mean our next car, of course," said Morty (it was awfully sweet to hear him say "our."

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading "Yesterday Forbes Mason offered me his new four-cylinder Lafayette for twenty-eight hundred dollars," said Morty; "it's only been run five hundred miles, and I told him I'd think about it."

hundrednounUS /ˈhʌndrəd/

ten 10s

From this reading "Yesterday Forbes Mason offered me his new four-cylinder Lafayette for twenty-eight hundred dollars," said Morty; "it's only been run five hundred miles, and I told him I'd think about it."

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "I mean our next car, of course," said Morty (it was awfully sweet to hear him say "our."

I'd

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

From this reading "Yesterday Forbes Mason offered me his new four-cylinder Lafayette for twenty-eight hundred dollars," said Morty; "it's only been run five hundred miles, and I told him I'd think about it."

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "I mean our next car, of course," said Morty (it was awfully sweet to hear him say "our."

it's

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

From this reading "Yesterday Forbes Mason offered me his new four-cylinder Lafayette for twenty-eight hundred dollars," said Morty; "it's only been run five hundred miles, and I told him I'd think about it."

LafayettenounUS /ˌlɑːfiˈet/

French soldier who served under George Washington in the American Revolution (1757-1834)

From this reading "Yesterday Forbes Mason offered me his new four-cylinder Lafayette for twenty-eight hundred dollars," said Morty; "it's only been run five hundred miles, and I told him I'd think about it."

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading And it took the sting out of losing the little bubble, especially now that we're going to have another).

losingverbUS /ˈluːzɪŋ/

-ing form of “lose” — fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense

From this reading And it took the sting out of losing the little bubble, especially now that we're going to have another).

MasonnounUS /ˈmeɪsən/

American Revolutionary leader from Virginia whose objections led to the drafting of the Bill of Rights (1725-1792)

From this reading "Yesterday Forbes Mason offered me his new four-cylinder Lafayette for twenty-eight hundred dollars," said Morty; "it's only been run five hundred miles, and I told him I'd think about it."

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "Yesterday Forbes Mason offered me his new four-cylinder Lafayette for twenty-eight hundred dollars," said Morty; "it's only been run five hundred miles, and I told him I'd think about it."

meanverbUS /miːn/

mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading "I mean our next car, of course," said Morty (it was awfully sweet to hear him say "our."

milesnounUS /maɪlz/

plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading "Yesterday Forbes Mason offered me his new four-cylinder Lafayette for twenty-eight hundred dollars," said Morty; "it's only been run five hundred miles, and I told him I'd think about it."

Morty

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

From this reading "I mean our next car, of course," said Morty (it was awfully sweet to hear him say "our."

newadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading "Yesterday Forbes Mason offered me his new four-cylinder Lafayette for twenty-eight hundred dollars," said Morty; "it's only been run five hundred miles, and I told him I'd think about it."

nextadjectiveUS /nekst/

immediately following in time or order

From this reading "I mean our next car, of course," said Morty (it was awfully sweet to hear him say "our."

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading And it took the sting out of losing the little bubble, especially now that we're going to have another).

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "I mean our next car, of course," said Morty (it was awfully sweet to hear him say "our."

offeredverbUS /ˈɔːfərd/

past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish

From this reading "Yesterday Forbes Mason offered me his new four-cylinder Lafayette for twenty-eight hundred dollars," said Morty; "it's only been run five hundred miles, and I told him I'd think about it."

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading "Yesterday Forbes Mason offered me his new four-cylinder Lafayette for twenty-eight hundred dollars," said Morty; "it's only been run five hundred miles, and I told him I'd think about it."

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading "I mean our next car, of course," said Morty (it was awfully sweet to hear him say "our."

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading And it took the sting out of losing the little bubble, especially now that we're going to have another).

runverbUS /rʌn/

move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading "Yesterday Forbes Mason offered me his new four-cylinder Lafayette for twenty-eight hundred dollars," said Morty; "it's only been run five hundred miles, and I told him I'd think about it."

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "I mean our next car, of course," said Morty (it was awfully sweet to hear him say "our."

sayverbUS /seɪ/

express in words

From this reading "I mean our next car, of course," said Morty (it was awfully sweet to hear him say "our."

stingverbUS /stɪŋ/

cause a sharp or stinging pain or discomfort

From this reading And it took the sting out of losing the little bubble, especially now that we're going to have another).

SureadjectiveUS /ʃʊr/

having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured

From this reading "Sure he hasn't cut the cylinders?"

suspiciouslyadverbUS /səˈspɪʃəsli/

with suspicion

From this reading "It's suspiciously cheap," I said.

sweetadjectiveUS /swiːt/

having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar

From this reading "I mean our next car, of course," said Morty (it was awfully sweet to hear him say "our."

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading And it took the sting out of losing the little bubble, especially now that we're going to have another).

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading And it took the sting out of losing the little bubble, especially now that we're going to have another).

thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading "Yesterday Forbes Mason offered me his new four-cylinder Lafayette for twenty-eight hundred dollars," said Morty; "it's only been run five hundred miles, and I told him I'd think about it."

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "I mean our next car, of course," said Morty (it was awfully sweet to hear him say "our."

toldverbUS /toʊld/

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading "Yesterday Forbes Mason offered me his new four-cylinder Lafayette for twenty-eight hundred dollars," said Morty; "it's only been run five hundred miles, and I told him I'd think about it."

tookverbUS /tʊk/

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading And it took the sting out of losing the little bubble, especially now that we're going to have another).

twenty-eightnoun

the cardinal number that is the sum of twenty-seven and one

From this reading "Yesterday Forbes Mason offered me his new four-cylinder Lafayette for twenty-eight hundred dollars," said Morty; "it's only been run five hundred miles, and I told him I'd think about it."

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading "I mean our next car, of course," said Morty (it was awfully sweet to hear him say "our."

we're

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

From this reading And it took the sting out of losing the little bubble, especially now that we're going to have another).

YesterdaynounUS /ˈjestərdeɪ/

the day immediately before today

From this reading "Yesterday Forbes Mason offered me his new four-cylinder Lafayette for twenty-eight hundred dollars," said Morty; "it's only been run five hundred miles, and I told him I'd think about it."

Chapter 2 of The Motormaniacs by Lloyd Osbourne holds 469 sentences, grouped into 94 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 2 of The Motormaniacs contain?

Chapter 2 holds 469 sentences of The Motormaniacs, unabridged, divided into 94 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of The Motormaniacs by Lloyd Osbourne exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 469 sentences, grouped into 94 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 2 of The Motormaniacs?

Work through the 94 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 94 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 2 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 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 Motormaniacs

Common questions about reading The Motormaniacs by Lloyd Osbourne on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Motormaniacs?

Yes. All 1963 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #5626 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Motormaniacs is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #5626, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Motormaniacs take to read?

About 163 minutes of reading across 393 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Motormaniacs section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 4 chapters of The Motormaniacs 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 Motormaniacs

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

Jolly
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Motormaniacs; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Yourself
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Motormaniacs; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Wandered
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Motormaniacs; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Party
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Motormaniacs; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.