Chapter 5 of The Sixty-First Second is here in full — 407 sentences across 82 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter V
Chapter 5 of The Sixty-First Second is here in full — 407 sentences across 82 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Beecher hesitated an interval that did not escape the notice of the detective. "Nothing," he said at last, unwilling to mention the name of Nan Charters. He added, to cover the hesitation: "I suspected Garraboy, but I admit there’s no proof—personal dislike." "Why do you dislike him?" Beecher shrugged his shoulder and his glance went to one side.
Chapter 5 of The Sixty-First Second is here in full — 407 sentences across 82 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/81 · 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.
United States clergyman who was a leader for the abolition of slavery (1813-1887)
From this reading “Beecher hesitated an interval that did not escape the notice of the detective.”
plural of “charter” — a document incorporating an institution and specifying its rights; includes the articles of incorporation and the certificate of incorporation
From this reading “"Nothing," he said at last, unwilling to mention the name of Nan Charters.”
an inclination to withhold approval from some person or group
From this reading “He added, to cover the hesitation: "I suspected Garraboy, but I admit there’s no proof—personal dislike."”
indecision in speech or action
From this reading “He added, to cover the hesitation: "I suspected Garraboy, but I admit there’s no proof—personal dislike."”
a definite length of time marked off by two instants
From this reading “Beecher hesitated an interval that did not escape the notice of the detective.”
your grandmother
From this reading “"Nothing," he said at last, unwilling to mention the name of Nan Charters.”
inflected form of “shrug” — raise one's shoulders to indicate indifference or resignation
From this reading “Beecher shrugged his shoulder and his glance went to one side.”
not disposed or inclined toward
From this reading “"Nothing," he said at last, unwilling to mention the name of Nan Charters.”
English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.
Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.
In this reading “"Nothing," he said at last, unwilling to mention the name of Nan Charters.”
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.
past form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of
From this reading He added, to cover the hesitation: "I suspected Garraboy, but I admit there’s no proof—personal dislike."
declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
From this reading He added, to cover the hesitation: "I suspected Garraboy, but I admit there’s no proof—personal dislike."
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Beecher hesitated an interval that did not escape the notice of the detective.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Beecher shrugged his shoulder and his glance went to one side.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "Nothing," he said at last, unwilling to mention the name of Nan Charters.
United States clergyman who was a leader for the abolition of slavery (1813-1887)
From this reading Beecher hesitated an interval that did not escape the notice of the detective.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He added, to cover the hesitation: "I suspected Garraboy, but I admit there’s no proof—personal dislike."
plural of “charter” — a document incorporating an institution and specifying its rights; includes the articles of incorporation and the certificate of incorporation
From this reading "Nothing," he said at last, unwilling to mention the name of Nan Charters.
provide with a covering or cause to be covered
From this reading He added, to cover the hesitation: "I suspected Garraboy, but I admit there’s no proof—personal dislike."
a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading Beecher hesitated an interval that did not escape the notice of the detective.
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Beecher hesitated an interval that did not escape the notice of the detective.
an inclination to withhold approval from some person or group
From this reading He added, to cover the hesitation: "I suspected Garraboy, but I admit there’s no proof—personal dislike."
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "Why do you dislike him?"
the act of escaping physically
From this reading Beecher hesitated an interval that did not escape the notice of the detective.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He added, to cover the hesitation: "I suspected Garraboy, but I admit there’s no proof—personal dislike."
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Beecher shrugged his shoulder and his glance went to one side.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Nothing," he said at last, unwilling to mention the name of Nan Charters.
past form of “hesitate” — pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
From this reading Beecher hesitated an interval that did not escape the notice of the detective.
indecision in speech or action
From this reading He added, to cover the hesitation: "I suspected Garraboy, but I admit there’s no proof—personal dislike."
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Why do you dislike him?"
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Beecher shrugged his shoulder and his glance went to one side.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading He added, to cover the hesitation: "I suspected Garraboy, but I admit there’s no proof—personal dislike."
a definite length of time marked off by two instants
From this reading Beecher hesitated an interval that did not escape the notice of the detective.
immediately past
From this reading "Nothing," he said at last, unwilling to mention the name of Nan Charters.
make reference to
From this reading "Nothing," he said at last, unwilling to mention the name of Nan Charters.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "Nothing," he said at last, unwilling to mention the name of Nan Charters.
your grandmother
From this reading "Nothing," he said at last, unwilling to mention the name of Nan Charters.
not any; not one
From this reading He added, to cover the hesitation: "I suspected Garraboy, but I admit there’s no proof—personal dislike."
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Beecher hesitated an interval that did not escape the notice of the detective.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading "Nothing," he said at last, unwilling to mention the name of Nan Charters.
an announcement containing information about an event
From this reading Beecher hesitated an interval that did not escape the notice of the detective.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Beecher hesitated an interval that did not escape the notice of the detective.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Beecher shrugged his shoulder and his glance went to one side.
concerning or affecting a particular person or his or her private life and personality
From this reading He added, to cover the hesitation: "I suspected Garraboy, but I admit there’s no proof—personal dislike."
any factual evidence that helps to establish the truth of something
From this reading He added, to cover the hesitation: "I suspected Garraboy, but I admit there’s no proof—personal dislike."
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Nothing," he said at last, unwilling to mention the name of Nan Charters.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading Beecher shrugged his shoulder and his glance went to one side.
inflected form of “shrug” — raise one's shoulders to indicate indifference or resignation
From this reading Beecher shrugged his shoulder and his glance went to one side.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Beecher shrugged his shoulder and his glance went to one side.
believed likely
From this reading He added, to cover the hesitation: "I suspected Garraboy, but I admit there’s no proof—personal dislike."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Beecher hesitated an interval that did not escape the notice of the detective.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Beecher hesitated an interval that did not escape the notice of the detective.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He added, to cover the hesitation: "I suspected Garraboy, but I admit there’s no proof—personal dislike."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Nothing," he said at last, unwilling to mention the name of Nan Charters.
not disposed or inclined toward
From this reading "Nothing," he said at last, unwilling to mention the name of Nan Charters.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Beecher shrugged his shoulder and his glance went to one side.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "Why do you dislike him?"
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Why do you dislike him?"
Chapter 5 of The Sixty-First Second by Owen Johnson holds 407 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.
Chapter 5 holds 407 sentences of The Sixty-First Second, unabridged, divided into 82 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 5 of The Sixty-First Second by Owen Johnson exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 407 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.
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.
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 Sixty-First Second by Owen Johnson on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 6393 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #37113 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #37113, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 532 minutes of reading across 1279 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Sixty-First Second section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 16 chapters of The Sixty-First Second 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 Sixty-First Second, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
