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The pirates own book
The pirates own book

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The pirates own book is here in full — 409 sentences across 82 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 51/81 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
These, from interest, became true friends, as their own safety depended upon the lives of their protectors.
By this time the pirates were so formidable, that none of the negro princes durst attack them in open war.
Pursuing this system of policy, in a short time each chief had his party greatly increased, and they divided like so many tribes, in order to find ground to cultivate, and to choose proper places to build places of residence and erect garrisons of defence.
The fears that agitated them were always obvious in their general policy, for they vied with each other in constructing places of safety, and using every precaution to prevent the possibility of sudden danger, either from the negroes or from one another.
A description of one of these dwellings will both show the fears that agitated these tyrants, and prove entertaining to the reader.
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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 pirates own book

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The pirates own book is here in full — 409 sentences across 82 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 51/81 · 5 reading units · Lines 251–255

Line 1
These, from interest, became true friends, as their own safety depended upon the lives of their protectors.
/ðiːz frʌm ˈɪntrəst bɪˈkeɪm truː frendz æz ðer oʊn ˈseɪfti dɪˈpendəd əˈpɑːn ðə lɪvz ʌv ðer prəˈtektərz/
Line 2
By this time the pirates were so formidable, that none of the negro princes durst attack them in open war.
Line 3
Pursuing this system of policy, in a short time each chief had his party greatly increased, and they divided like so many tribes, in order to find ground to cultivate, and to choose proper places to build places of residence and erect garrisons of defence.
Line 4
The fears that agitated them were always obvious in their general policy, for they vied with each other in constructing places of safety, and using every precaution to prevent the possibility of sudden danger, either from the negroes or from one another.
/ðə fɪrz ðæt ˈædʒəteɪtɪd ðem wɜːr ˈɔːlweɪz ˈɑːbviəs ɪn ðer ˈdʒenərəl ˈpɑːləsi fɔːr ðeɪ vaɪd wɪð iːtʃ ˈʌðər ɪn kənˈstrʌktɪŋ ˈpleɪsəz ʌv ˈseɪfti ənd ˈjuːzɪŋ ˈevəri priˈkɔːʃən tuː prɪˈvent ðə ˌpɑːsəˈbɪlətiː ʌv ˈsʌdən ˈdeɪndʒər ˈiːðər frʌm ðə ˈniːɡroʊz ɔːr frʌm wʌn əˈnʌðər/
Line 5
A description of one of these dwellings will both show the fears that agitated these tyrants, and prove entertaining to the reader.
/ə dɪˈskrɪpʃən ʌv wʌn ʌv ðiːz ˈdwelɪŋz wɪl boʊθ ʃoʊ ðə fɪrz ðæt ˈædʒəteɪtɪd ðiːz ˈtaɪrənts ənd pruːv ˌentərˈteɪnɪŋ tuː ðə ˈriːdər/

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.

constructing verb US /kənˈstrʌktɪŋ/

-ing form of “construct” — make by combining materials and parts

From this reading “The fears that agitated them were always obvious in their general policy, for they vied with each other in constructing places of safety, and using every precaution to prevent the possibility of sudden danger, either from the negroes or from one another.”

cultivate verb US /ˈkʌltəveɪt/

foster the growth of

From this reading “Pursuing this system of policy, in a short time each chief had his party greatly increased, and they divided like so many tribes, in order to find ground to cultivate, and to choose proper places to build places of residence and erect garrisons of defence.”

dwellings noun US /ˈdwelɪŋz/

plural of “dwelling” — housing that someone is living in

From this reading “A description of one of these dwellings will both show the fears that agitated these tyrants, and prove entertaining to the reader.”

negroes noun US /ˈniːɡroʊz/

plural of “negro” — a person with African ancestry, "Negro" and "Negroid" are archaic and pejorative today

From this reading “The fears that agitated them were always obvious in their general policy, for they vied with each other in constructing places of safety, and using every precaution to prevent the possibility of sudden danger, either from the negroes or from one another.”

pirates noun US /ˈpaɪrəts/

plural of “pirate” — someone who uses another person's words or ideas as if they were his own

From this reading “By this time the pirates were so formidable, that none of the negro princes durst attack them in open war.”

protectors noun US /prəˈtektərz/

plural of “protector” — a person who cares for persons or property

From this reading “These, from interest, became true friends, as their own safety depended upon the lives of their protectors.”

tyrants noun US /ˈtaɪrənts/

plural of “tyrant” — a cruel and oppressive dictator

From this reading “A description of one of these dwellings will both show the fears that agitated these tyrants, and prove entertaining to the reader.”

vied verb US /vaɪd/

past form of “vie” — compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others

From this reading “The fears that agitated them were always obvious in their general policy, for they vied with each other in constructing places of safety, and using every precaution to prevent the possibility of sudden danger, either from the negroes or from one another.”

All words in this reading · 95

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 Pursuing this system of policy, in a short time each chief had his party greatly increased, and they divided like so many tribes, in order to find ground to cultivate, and to choose proper places to build places of residence and erect garrisons of defence.

agitatedadjectiveUS /ˈædʒəteɪtɪd/

troubled emotionally and usually deeply

From this reading The fears that agitated them were always obvious in their general policy, for they vied with each other in constructing places of safety, and using every precaution to prevent the possibility of sudden danger, either from the negroes or from one another.

alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading The fears that agitated them were always obvious in their general policy, for they vied with each other in constructing places of safety, and using every precaution to prevent the possibility of sudden danger, either from the negroes or from one another.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Pursuing this system of policy, in a short time each chief had his party greatly increased, and they divided like so many tribes, in order to find ground to cultivate, and to choose proper places to build places of residence and erect garrisons of defence.

anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading The fears that agitated them were always obvious in their general policy, for they vied with each other in constructing places of safety, and using every precaution to prevent the possibility of sudden danger, either from the negroes or from one another.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading These, from interest, became true friends, as their own safety depended upon the lives of their protectors.

attacknounUS /əˈtæk/

(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)

From this reading By this time the pirates were so formidable, that none of the negro princes durst attack them in open war.

becameverbUS /bɪˈkeɪm/

inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading These, from interest, became true friends, as their own safety depended upon the lives of their protectors.

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading A description of one of these dwellings will both show the fears that agitated these tyrants, and prove entertaining to the reader.

buildverbUS /bɪld/

make by combining materials and parts

From this reading Pursuing this system of policy, in a short time each chief had his party greatly increased, and they divided like so many tribes, in order to find ground to cultivate, and to choose proper places to build places of residence and erect garrisons of defence.

ByprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading By this time the pirates were so formidable, that none of the negro princes durst attack them in open war.

chiefnounUS /tʃiːf/

a person who is in charge

From this reading Pursuing this system of policy, in a short time each chief had his party greatly increased, and they divided like so many tribes, in order to find ground to cultivate, and to choose proper places to build places of residence and erect garrisons of defence.

chooseverbUS /tʃuːz/

pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives

From this reading Pursuing this system of policy, in a short time each chief had his party greatly increased, and they divided like so many tribes, in order to find ground to cultivate, and to choose proper places to build places of residence and erect garrisons of defence.

constructingverbUS /kənˈstrʌktɪŋ/

-ing form of “construct” — make by combining materials and parts

From this reading The fears that agitated them were always obvious in their general policy, for they vied with each other in constructing places of safety, and using every precaution to prevent the possibility of sudden danger, either from the negroes or from one another.

cultivateverbUS /ˈkʌltəveɪt/

foster the growth of

From this reading Pursuing this system of policy, in a short time each chief had his party greatly increased, and they divided like so many tribes, in order to find ground to cultivate, and to choose proper places to build places of residence and erect garrisons of defence.

dangernounUS /ˈdeɪndʒər/

the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury

From this reading The fears that agitated them were always obvious in their general policy, for they vied with each other in constructing places of safety, and using every precaution to prevent the possibility of sudden danger, either from the negroes or from one another.

defencenounUS /dɪˈfens/

(psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires

From this reading Pursuing this system of policy, in a short time each chief had his party greatly increased, and they divided like so many tribes, in order to find ground to cultivate, and to choose proper places to build places of residence and erect garrisons of defence.

dependedverbUS /dɪˈpendəd/

past form of “depend” — be contingent upon (something that is elided)

From this reading These, from interest, became true friends, as their own safety depended upon the lives of their protectors.

descriptionnounUS /dɪˈskrɪpʃən/

a statement that represents something in words

From this reading A description of one of these dwellings will both show the fears that agitated these tyrants, and prove entertaining to the reader.

dividedadjectiveUS /dɪˈvaɪdɪd/

separated into parts or pieces

From this reading Pursuing this system of policy, in a short time each chief had his party greatly increased, and they divided like so many tribes, in order to find ground to cultivate, and to choose proper places to build places of residence and erect garrisons of defence.

durst

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

From this reading By this time the pirates were so formidable, that none of the negro princes durst attack them in open war.

dwellingsnounUS /ˈdwelɪŋz/

plural of “dwelling” — housing that someone is living in

From this reading A description of one of these dwellings will both show the fears that agitated these tyrants, and prove entertaining to the reader.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading Pursuing this system of policy, in a short time each chief had his party greatly increased, and they divided like so many tribes, in order to find ground to cultivate, and to choose proper places to build places of residence and erect garrisons of defence.

eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/

one or the other of two

From this reading The fears that agitated them were always obvious in their general policy, for they vied with each other in constructing places of safety, and using every precaution to prevent the possibility of sudden danger, either from the negroes or from one another.

entertainingadjectiveUS /ˌentərˈteɪnɪŋ/

agreeably diverting

From this reading A description of one of these dwellings will both show the fears that agitated these tyrants, and prove entertaining to the reader.

erectverbUS /ɪˈrekt/

construct, build, or erect

From this reading Pursuing this system of policy, in a short time each chief had his party greatly increased, and they divided like so many tribes, in order to find ground to cultivate, and to choose proper places to build places of residence and erect garrisons of defence.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading The fears that agitated them were always obvious in their general policy, for they vied with each other in constructing places of safety, and using every precaution to prevent the possibility of sudden danger, either from the negroes or from one another.

fearsnounUS /fɪrz/

plural of “fear” — an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)

From this reading The fears that agitated them were always obvious in their general policy, for they vied with each other in constructing places of safety, and using every precaution to prevent the possibility of sudden danger, either from the negroes or from one another.

findverbUS /faɪnd/

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading Pursuing this system of policy, in a short time each chief had his party greatly increased, and they divided like so many tribes, in order to find ground to cultivate, and to choose proper places to build places of residence and erect garrisons of defence.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The fears that agitated them were always obvious in their general policy, for they vied with each other in constructing places of safety, and using every precaution to prevent the possibility of sudden danger, either from the negroes or from one another.

formidableadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrmədəbəl/

extremely impressive in strength or excellence

From this reading By this time the pirates were so formidable, that none of the negro princes durst attack them in open war.

friendsnounUS /frendz/

plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading These, from interest, became true friends, as their own safety depended upon the lives of their protectors.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading These, from interest, became true friends, as their own safety depended upon the lives of their protectors.

garrisons

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

From this reading Pursuing this system of policy, in a short time each chief had his party greatly increased, and they divided like so many tribes, in order to find ground to cultivate, and to choose proper places to build places of residence and erect garrisons of defence.

generaladjectiveUS /ˈdʒenərəl/

applying to all or most members of a category or group

From this reading The fears that agitated them were always obvious in their general policy, for they vied with each other in constructing places of safety, and using every precaution to prevent the possibility of sudden danger, either from the negroes or from one another.

greatlyadverbUS /ˈɡreɪtli/

to an extraordinary extent or degree

From this reading Pursuing this system of policy, in a short time each chief had his party greatly increased, and they divided like so many tribes, in order to find ground to cultivate, and to choose proper places to build places of residence and erect garrisons of defence.

groundnounUS /ɡraʊnd/

the solid part of the earth's surface

From this reading Pursuing this system of policy, in a short time each chief had his party greatly increased, and they divided like so many tribes, in order to find ground to cultivate, and to choose proper places to build places of residence and erect garrisons of defence.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Pursuing this system of policy, in a short time each chief had his party greatly increased, and they divided like so many tribes, in order to find ground to cultivate, and to choose proper places to build places of residence and erect garrisons of defence.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Pursuing this system of policy, in a short time each chief had his party greatly increased, and they divided like so many tribes, in order to find ground to cultivate, and to choose proper places to build places of residence and erect garrisons of defence.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading By this time the pirates were so formidable, that none of the negro princes durst attack them in open war.

increasedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkriːst/

made greater in size or amount or degree

From this reading Pursuing this system of policy, in a short time each chief had his party greatly increased, and they divided like so many tribes, in order to find ground to cultivate, and to choose proper places to build places of residence and erect garrisons of defence.

interestnounUS /ˈɪntrəst/

a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something

From this reading These, from interest, became true friends, as their own safety depended upon the lives of their protectors.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Pursuing this system of policy, in a short time each chief had his party greatly increased, and they divided like so many tribes, in order to find ground to cultivate, and to choose proper places to build places of residence and erect garrisons of defence.

livesnounUS /lɪvz/

plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading These, from interest, became true friends, as their own safety depended upon the lives of their protectors.

manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading Pursuing this system of policy, in a short time each chief had his party greatly increased, and they divided like so many tribes, in order to find ground to cultivate, and to choose proper places to build places of residence and erect garrisons of defence.

negronounUS /ˈniːɡroʊ/

a person with African ancestry, "Negro" and "Negroid" are archaic and pejorative today

From this reading By this time the pirates were so formidable, that none of the negro princes durst attack them in open war.

negroesnounUS /ˈniːɡroʊz/

plural of “negro” — a person with African ancestry, "Negro" and "Negroid" are archaic and pejorative today

From this reading The fears that agitated them were always obvious in their general policy, for they vied with each other in constructing places of safety, and using every precaution to prevent the possibility of sudden danger, either from the negroes or from one another.

nonepronounUS /nʌn/

not one, and not any

From this reading By this time the pirates were so formidable, that none of the negro princes durst attack them in open war.

obviousadjectiveUS /ˈɑːbviəs/

easily perceived by the senses or grasped by the mind

From this reading The fears that agitated them were always obvious in their general policy, for they vied with each other in constructing places of safety, and using every precaution to prevent the possibility of sudden danger, either from the negroes or from one another.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading These, from interest, became true friends, as their own safety depended upon the lives of their protectors.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The fears that agitated them were always obvious in their general policy, for they vied with each other in constructing places of safety, and using every precaution to prevent the possibility of sudden danger, either from the negroes or from one another.

openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading By this time the pirates were so formidable, that none of the negro princes durst attack them in open war.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading The fears that agitated them were always obvious in their general policy, for they vied with each other in constructing places of safety, and using every precaution to prevent the possibility of sudden danger, either from the negroes or from one another.

ordernounUS /ˈɔːrdər/

(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed

From this reading Pursuing this system of policy, in a short time each chief had his party greatly increased, and they divided like so many tribes, in order to find ground to cultivate, and to choose proper places to build places of residence and erect garrisons of defence.

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading The fears that agitated them were always obvious in their general policy, for they vied with each other in constructing places of safety, and using every precaution to prevent the possibility of sudden danger, either from the negroes or from one another.

ownverbUS /oʊn/

have ownership or possession of

From this reading These, from interest, became true friends, as their own safety depended upon the lives of their protectors.

partynounUS /ˈpɑːrti/

an organization to gain political power

From this reading Pursuing this system of policy, in a short time each chief had his party greatly increased, and they divided like so many tribes, in order to find ground to cultivate, and to choose proper places to build places of residence and erect garrisons of defence.

piratesnounUS /ˈpaɪrəts/

plural of “pirate” — someone who uses another person's words or ideas as if they were his own

From this reading By this time the pirates were so formidable, that none of the negro princes durst attack them in open war.

placesnounUS /ˈpleɪsəz/

plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading Pursuing this system of policy, in a short time each chief had his party greatly increased, and they divided like so many tribes, in order to find ground to cultivate, and to choose proper places to build places of residence and erect garrisons of defence.

policynounUS /ˈpɑːləsi/

a plan of action adopted by an individual or social group

From this reading Pursuing this system of policy, in a short time each chief had his party greatly increased, and they divided like so many tribes, in order to find ground to cultivate, and to choose proper places to build places of residence and erect garrisons of defence.

possibilitynounUS /ˌpɑːsəˈbɪlətiː/

a future prospect or potential

From this reading The fears that agitated them were always obvious in their general policy, for they vied with each other in constructing places of safety, and using every precaution to prevent the possibility of sudden danger, either from the negroes or from one another.

precautionnounUS /priˈkɔːʃən/

a precautionary measure warding off impending danger or damage or injury etc.

From this reading The fears that agitated them were always obvious in their general policy, for they vied with each other in constructing places of safety, and using every precaution to prevent the possibility of sudden danger, either from the negroes or from one another.

preventverbUS /prɪˈvent/

keep from happening or arising; make impossible

From this reading The fears that agitated them were always obvious in their general policy, for they vied with each other in constructing places of safety, and using every precaution to prevent the possibility of sudden danger, either from the negroes or from one another.

princesnounUS /ˈprɪnsəz/

plural of “prince” — a male member of a royal family other than the sovereign (especially the son of a sovereign)

From this reading By this time the pirates were so formidable, that none of the negro princes durst attack them in open war.

properadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːpər/

marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness

From this reading Pursuing this system of policy, in a short time each chief had his party greatly increased, and they divided like so many tribes, in order to find ground to cultivate, and to choose proper places to build places of residence and erect garrisons of defence.

protectorsnounUS /prəˈtektərz/

plural of “protector” — a person who cares for persons or property

From this reading These, from interest, became true friends, as their own safety depended upon the lives of their protectors.

proveverbUS /pruːv/

be shown or be found to be

From this reading A description of one of these dwellings will both show the fears that agitated these tyrants, and prove entertaining to the reader.

PursuingadjectiveUS /pərˈsuːɪŋ/

following in order to overtake or capture or as accompaniment to such pursuit

From this reading Pursuing this system of policy, in a short time each chief had his party greatly increased, and they divided like so many tribes, in order to find ground to cultivate, and to choose proper places to build places of residence and erect garrisons of defence.

readernounUS /ˈriːdər/

a person who enjoys reading

From this reading A description of one of these dwellings will both show the fears that agitated these tyrants, and prove entertaining to the reader.

residencenounUS /ˈrezɪdəns/

any address at which you dwell more than temporarily

From this reading Pursuing this system of policy, in a short time each chief had his party greatly increased, and they divided like so many tribes, in order to find ground to cultivate, and to choose proper places to build places of residence and erect garrisons of defence.

safetynounUS /ˈseɪfti/

the state of being certain that adverse effects will not be caused by some agent under defined conditions

From this reading These, from interest, became true friends, as their own safety depended upon the lives of their protectors.

shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔːrt/

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading Pursuing this system of policy, in a short time each chief had his party greatly increased, and they divided like so many tribes, in order to find ground to cultivate, and to choose proper places to build places of residence and erect garrisons of defence.

showverbUS /ʃoʊ/

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading A description of one of these dwellings will both show the fears that agitated these tyrants, and prove entertaining to the reader.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading By this time the pirates were so formidable, that none of the negro princes durst attack them in open war.

suddenadjectiveUS /ˈsʌdən/

happening without warning or in a short space of time

From this reading The fears that agitated them were always obvious in their general policy, for they vied with each other in constructing places of safety, and using every precaution to prevent the possibility of sudden danger, either from the negroes or from one another.

systemnounUS /ˈsɪstəm/

instrumentality that combines interrelated interacting artifacts designed to work as a coherent entity

From this reading Pursuing this system of policy, in a short time each chief had his party greatly increased, and they divided like so many tribes, in order to find ground to cultivate, and to choose proper places to build places of residence and erect garrisons of defence.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading By this time the pirates were so formidable, that none of the negro princes durst attack them in open war.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading These, from interest, became true friends, as their own safety depended upon the lives of their protectors.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading These, from interest, became true friends, as their own safety depended upon the lives of their protectors.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading By this time the pirates were so formidable, that none of the negro princes durst attack them in open war.

ThesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading These, from interest, became true friends, as their own safety depended upon the lives of their protectors.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading Pursuing this system of policy, in a short time each chief had his party greatly increased, and they divided like so many tribes, in order to find ground to cultivate, and to choose proper places to build places of residence and erect garrisons of defence.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading By this time the pirates were so formidable, that none of the negro princes durst attack them in open war.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading By this time the pirates were so formidable, that none of the negro princes durst attack them in open war.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Pursuing this system of policy, in a short time each chief had his party greatly increased, and they divided like so many tribes, in order to find ground to cultivate, and to choose proper places to build places of residence and erect garrisons of defence.

tribesnounUS /traɪbz/

plural of “tribe” — a social division of (usually preliterate) people

From this reading Pursuing this system of policy, in a short time each chief had his party greatly increased, and they divided like so many tribes, in order to find ground to cultivate, and to choose proper places to build places of residence and erect garrisons of defence.

trueadjectiveUS /truː/

consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading These, from interest, became true friends, as their own safety depended upon the lives of their protectors.

tyrantsnounUS /ˈtaɪrənts/

plural of “tyrant” — a cruel and oppressive dictator

From this reading A description of one of these dwellings will both show the fears that agitated these tyrants, and prove entertaining to the reader.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading These, from interest, became true friends, as their own safety depended upon the lives of their protectors.

usingnounUS /ˈjuːzɪŋ/

an act that exploits or victimizes someone (treats them unfairly)

From this reading The fears that agitated them were always obvious in their general policy, for they vied with each other in constructing places of safety, and using every precaution to prevent the possibility of sudden danger, either from the negroes or from one another.

viedverbUS /vaɪd/

past form of “vie” — compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others

From this reading The fears that agitated them were always obvious in their general policy, for they vied with each other in constructing places of safety, and using every precaution to prevent the possibility of sudden danger, either from the negroes or from one another.

warnounUS /wɔːr/

the waging of armed conflict against an enemy

From this reading By this time the pirates were so formidable, that none of the negro princes durst attack them in open war.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading By this time the pirates were so formidable, that none of the negro princes durst attack them in open war.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading A description of one of these dwellings will both show the fears that agitated these tyrants, and prove entertaining to the reader.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The fears that agitated them were always obvious in their general policy, for they vied with each other in constructing places of safety, and using every precaution to prevent the possibility of sudden danger, either from the negroes or from one another.

Chapter 1 of The pirates own book by Charles Ellms holds 409 sentences, grouped into 82 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 1 of The pirates own book contain?

Chapter 1 holds 409 sentences of The pirates own book, unabridged, divided into 82 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The pirates own book by Charles Ellms exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 409 sentences, grouped into 82 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 1 of The pirates own book?

Work through the 82 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 82 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 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 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 pirates own book

Common questions about reading The pirates own book by Charles Ellms on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The pirates own book?

Yes. All 4327 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #12216 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The pirates own book is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #12216, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The pirates own book take to read?

About 360 minutes of reading across 866 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The pirates own book section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 11 chapters of The pirates own book 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 pirates own book

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

Authentic
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The pirates own book; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Narratives
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The pirates own book; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Celebrated
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The pirates own book; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Robbers
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The pirates own book; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.