Chapter 7 of The Spruce Street Tragedy is here in full — 130 sentences across 26 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter VII
Chapter 7 of The Spruce Street Tragedy is here in full — 130 sentences across 26 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
TWO IMPORTANT AND INTERESTING CHARACTERS. "What's the matter?" asked George Morgan, wonderingly. "It strikes me," replied Old Spicer, "that there must be some other means of entrance and exit to this sub-cellar known to and controlled by the frequenters of the great vault." "What makes you think so?" "Look up there.
Chapter 7 of The Spruce Street Tragedy is here in full — 130 sentences across 26 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/26 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.
plural of “character” — an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading “TWO IMPORTANT AND INTERESTING CHARACTERS.”
restrained or managed or kept within certain bounds
From this reading “"It strikes me," replied Old Spicer, "that there must be some other means of entrance and exit to this sub-cellar known to and controlled by the frequenters of the great vault."”
something that provides access (to get in or get out)
From this reading “"It strikes me," replied Old Spicer, "that there must be some other means of entrance and exit to this sub-cellar known to and controlled by the frequenters of the great vault."”
an opening that permits escape or release
From this reading “"It strikes me," replied Old Spicer, "that there must be some other means of entrance and exit to this sub-cellar known to and controlled by the frequenters of the great vault."”
United States anthropologist who studied the Seneca (1818-1881)
From this reading “"What's the matter?" asked George Morgan, wonderingly.”
comparative of “spic” — completely neat and clean
From this reading “"It strikes me," replied Old Spicer, "that there must be some other means of entrance and exit to this sub-cellar known to and controlled by the frequenters of the great vault."”
plural of “strike” — a group's refusal to work in protest against low pay or bad work conditions
From this reading “"It strikes me," replied Old Spicer, "that there must be some other means of entrance and exit to this sub-cellar known to and controlled by the frequenters of the great vault."”
An arched structure of masonry forming a ceiling, or a secure subterranean storage room.
From this reading “"It strikes me," replied Old Spicer, "that there must be some other means of entrance and exit to this sub-cellar known to and controlled by the frequenters of the great vault."”
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 “TWO IMPORTANT AND INTERESTING CHARACTERS.”
seek information from
In this reading “"Look up there.”
In this reading “"It strikes me," replied Old Spicer, "that there must be some other means of entrance and exit to this sub-cellar known to and controlled by the frequenters of the great vault."”
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.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading TWO IMPORTANT AND INTERESTING CHARACTERS.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "What's the matter?" asked George Morgan, wonderingly.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "It strikes me," replied Old Spicer, "that there must be some other means of entrance and exit to this sub-cellar known to and controlled by the frequenters of the great vault."
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "It strikes me," replied Old Spicer, "that there must be some other means of entrance and exit to this sub-cellar known to and controlled by the frequenters of the great vault."
plural of “character” — an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading TWO IMPORTANT AND INTERESTING CHARACTERS.
restrained or managed or kept within certain bounds
From this reading "It strikes me," replied Old Spicer, "that there must be some other means of entrance and exit to this sub-cellar known to and controlled by the frequenters of the great vault."
something that provides access (to get in or get out)
From this reading "It strikes me," replied Old Spicer, "that there must be some other means of entrance and exit to this sub-cellar known to and controlled by the frequenters of the great vault."
an opening that permits escape or release
From this reading "It strikes me," replied Old Spicer, "that there must be some other means of entrance and exit to this sub-cellar known to and controlled by the frequenters of the great vault."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It strikes me," replied Old Spicer, "that there must be some other means of entrance and exit to this sub-cellar known to and controlled by the frequenters of the great vault."
Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading "What's the matter?" asked George Morgan, wonderingly.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading "It strikes me," replied Old Spicer, "that there must be some other means of entrance and exit to this sub-cellar known to and controlled by the frequenters of the great vault."
of great significance or value
From this reading TWO IMPORTANT AND INTERESTING CHARACTERS.
arousing or holding the attention
From this reading TWO IMPORTANT AND INTERESTING CHARACTERS.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "It strikes me," replied Old Spicer, "that there must be some other means of entrance and exit to this sub-cellar known to and controlled by the frequenters of the great vault."
apprehended with certainty
From this reading "It strikes me," replied Old Spicer, "that there must be some other means of entrance and exit to this sub-cellar known to and controlled by the frequenters of the great vault."
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading "Look up there.
plural of “make” — a recognizable kind
From this reading "What makes you think so?"
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading "What's the matter?" asked George Morgan, wonderingly.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "It strikes me," replied Old Spicer, "that there must be some other means of entrance and exit to this sub-cellar known to and controlled by the frequenters of the great vault."
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading "It strikes me," replied Old Spicer, "that there must be some other means of entrance and exit to this sub-cellar known to and controlled by the frequenters of the great vault."
United States anthropologist who studied the Seneca (1818-1881)
From this reading "What's the matter?" asked George Morgan, wonderingly.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "It strikes me," replied Old Spicer, "that there must be some other means of entrance and exit to this sub-cellar known to and controlled by the frequenters of the great vault."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "It strikes me," replied Old Spicer, "that there must be some other means of entrance and exit to this sub-cellar known to and controlled by the frequenters of the great vault."
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading "It strikes me," replied Old Spicer, "that there must be some other means of entrance and exit to this sub-cellar known to and controlled by the frequenters of the great vault."
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading "It strikes me," replied Old Spicer, "that there must be some other means of entrance and exit to this sub-cellar known to and controlled by the frequenters of the great vault."
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading "It strikes me," replied Old Spicer, "that there must be some other means of entrance and exit to this sub-cellar known to and controlled by the frequenters of the great vault."
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "What makes you think so?"
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading "It strikes me," replied Old Spicer, "that there must be some other means of entrance and exit to this sub-cellar known to and controlled by the frequenters of the great vault."
comparative of “spic” — completely neat and clean
From this reading "It strikes me," replied Old Spicer, "that there must be some other means of entrance and exit to this sub-cellar known to and controlled by the frequenters of the great vault."
plural of “strike” — a group's refusal to work in protest against low pay or bad work conditions
From this reading "It strikes me," replied Old Spicer, "that there must be some other means of entrance and exit to this sub-cellar known to and controlled by the frequenters of the great vault."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It strikes me," replied Old Spicer, "that there must be some other means of entrance and exit to this sub-cellar known to and controlled by the frequenters of the great vault."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "It strikes me," replied Old Spicer, "that there must be some other means of entrance and exit to this sub-cellar known to and controlled by the frequenters of the great vault."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "What's the matter?" asked George Morgan, wonderingly.
in or at that place or location
From this reading "It strikes me," replied Old Spicer, "that there must be some other means of entrance and exit to this sub-cellar known to and controlled by the frequenters of the great vault."
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "What makes you think so?"
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "It strikes me," replied Old Spicer, "that there must be some other means of entrance and exit to this sub-cellar known to and controlled by the frequenters of the great vault."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "It strikes me," replied Old Spicer, "that there must be some other means of entrance and exit to this sub-cellar known to and controlled by the frequenters of the great vault."
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading TWO IMPORTANT AND INTERESTING CHARACTERS.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "Look up there.
An arched structure of masonry forming a ceiling, or a secure subterranean storage room.
From this reading "It strikes me," replied Old Spicer, "that there must be some other means of entrance and exit to this sub-cellar known to and controlled by the frequenters of the great vault."
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What makes you think so?"
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What's the matter?" asked George Morgan, wonderingly.
in a curious and questioning manner
From this reading "What's the matter?" asked George Morgan, wonderingly.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "What makes you think so?"
Chapter 7 of The Spruce Street Tragedy by Norman L. [Publisher] Munro holds 130 sentences, grouped into 26 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 7 holds 130 sentences of The Spruce Street Tragedy, unabridged, divided into 26 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 7 of The Spruce Street Tragedy by Norman L. [Publisher] Munro exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 130 sentences, grouped into 26 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 26 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 26 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 7 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 Spruce Street Tragedy by Norman L. [Publisher] Munro on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 3839 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #46523 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #46523, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 319 minutes of reading across 768 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Spruce Street Tragedy section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 26 chapters of The Spruce Street Tragedy 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 Spruce Street Tragedy, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
