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The Survivors of the Chancellor
The Survivors of the Chancellor

Chapter XX · Chapter 20

Chapter 20 of The Survivors of the Chancellor is here in full — 29 sentences across 6 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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MRS.
KEAR SUCCUMBS TO FEVER DECEMBER 6 continued.--The Chancellor no longer maintained her equilibrium; we felt that she was gradually going down, and her hull was probably breaking up.
The maintop was already only ten feet above water, while the bowsprit, with the exception of the extreme end, that rose obliquely from the waves, was entirely covered.
The Chancellor's last day, we felt, had come.
Fortunately the raft was all but finished, and unless Curtis preferred to wait till morning, we should be able to embark in the evening.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Survivors of the Chancellor

Chapter XX · Chapter 20

Chapter 20 of The Survivors of the Chancellor is here in full — 29 sentences across 6 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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

Line 1
MRS.
/ˈmɪsɪz/
Line 2
KEAR SUCCUMBS TO FEVER DECEMBER 6 continued.--The Chancellor no longer maintained her equilibrium; we felt that she was gradually going down, and her hull was probably breaking up.
Line 3
The maintop was already only ten feet above water, while the bowsprit, with the exception of the extreme end, that rose obliquely from the waves, was entirely covered.
Line 4
The Chancellor's last day, we felt, had come.
/ðə ˈtʃænsələrz læst deɪ wiː felt hæd kʌm/
Line 5
Fortunately the raft was all but finished, and unless Curtis preferred to wait till morning, we should be able to embark in the evening.
/ˈfɔːrtʃənətli ðə ræft wɑːz ɔːl bʌt ˈfɪnɪʃt ənd ənˈles ˈkɜːrtəs prəˈfɜːrd tuː weɪt tɪl ˈmɔːrnɪŋ wiː ʃʊd biː ˈeɪbəl tuː emˈbɑːrk ɪn ðə ˈiːvnɪŋ/

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.

Chancellor noun US /ˈtʃænsələr/

the British cabinet minister responsible for finance

From this reading “KEAR SUCCUMBS TO FEVER DECEMBER 6 continued.--The Chancellor no longer maintained her equilibrium; we felt that she was gradually going down, and her hull was probably breaking up.”

Chancellor's noun US /ˈtʃænsələrz/

possessive form of “chancellor” — the British cabinet minister responsible for finance

From this reading “The Chancellor's last day, we felt, had come.”

Curtis noun US /ˈkɜːrtəs/

English botanical writer and publisher (1746-1799)

From this reading “Fortunately the raft was all but finished, and unless Curtis preferred to wait till morning, we should be able to embark in the evening.”

embark verb US /emˈbɑːrk/

go on board

From this reading “Fortunately the raft was all but finished, and unless Curtis preferred to wait till morning, we should be able to embark in the evening.”

equilibrium noun US /ˌiːkwəˈlɪbriəm/

a stable situation in which forces cancel one another

From this reading “KEAR SUCCUMBS TO FEVER DECEMBER 6 continued.--The Chancellor no longer maintained her equilibrium; we felt that she was gradually going down, and her hull was probably breaking up.”

hull noun US /hʌl/

dry outer covering of a fruit or seed or nut

From this reading “KEAR SUCCUMBS TO FEVER DECEMBER 6 continued.--The Chancellor no longer maintained her equilibrium; we felt that she was gradually going down, and her hull was probably breaking up.”

obliquely adverb US /əˈbliːkli/

to, toward or at one side

From this reading “The maintop was already only ten feet above water, while the bowsprit, with the exception of the extreme end, that rose obliquely from the waves, was entirely covered.”

succumbs verb US /səˈkʌmz/

third-person singular of “succumb” — consent reluctantly

From this reading “KEAR SUCCUMBS TO FEVER DECEMBER 6 continued.--The Chancellor no longer maintained her equilibrium; we felt that she was gradually going down, and her hull was probably breaking up.”

All words in this reading · 70

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.

6

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

From this reading KEAR SUCCUMBS TO FEVER DECEMBER 6 continued.--The Chancellor no longer maintained her equilibrium; we felt that she was gradually going down, and her hull was probably breaking up.

ableadjectiveUS /ˈeɪbəl/

(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

From this reading Fortunately the raft was all but finished, and unless Curtis preferred to wait till morning, we should be able to embark in the evening.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading The maintop was already only ten feet above water, while the bowsprit, with the exception of the extreme end, that rose obliquely from the waves, was entirely covered.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading Fortunately the raft was all but finished, and unless Curtis preferred to wait till morning, we should be able to embark in the evening.

alreadyadverbUS /ɔːlˈredi/

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading The maintop was already only ten feet above water, while the bowsprit, with the exception of the extreme end, that rose obliquely from the waves, was entirely covered.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading KEAR SUCCUMBS TO FEVER DECEMBER 6 continued.--The Chancellor no longer maintained her equilibrium; we felt that she was gradually going down, and her hull was probably breaking up.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Fortunately the raft was all but finished, and unless Curtis preferred to wait till morning, we should be able to embark in the evening.

bowspritnoun

a spar projecting from the bow of a vessel

From this reading The maintop was already only ten feet above water, while the bowsprit, with the exception of the extreme end, that rose obliquely from the waves, was entirely covered.

breakingnounUS /ˈbreɪkɪŋ/

the act of breaking something

From this reading KEAR SUCCUMBS TO FEVER DECEMBER 6 continued.--The Chancellor no longer maintained her equilibrium; we felt that she was gradually going down, and her hull was probably breaking up.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Fortunately the raft was all but finished, and unless Curtis preferred to wait till morning, we should be able to embark in the evening.

ChancellornounUS /ˈtʃænsələr/

the British cabinet minister responsible for finance

From this reading KEAR SUCCUMBS TO FEVER DECEMBER 6 continued.--The Chancellor no longer maintained her equilibrium; we felt that she was gradually going down, and her hull was probably breaking up.

Chancellor'snounUS /ˈtʃænsələrz/

possessive form of “chancellor” — the British cabinet minister responsible for finance

From this reading The Chancellor's last day, we felt, had come.

comeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading The Chancellor's last day, we felt, had come.

continuedadjectiveUS /kənˈtɪnjuːd/

without stop or interruption

From this reading KEAR SUCCUMBS TO FEVER DECEMBER 6 continued.--The Chancellor no longer maintained her equilibrium; we felt that she was gradually going down, and her hull was probably breaking up.

coveredadjectiveUS /ˈkʌvərd/

overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form

From this reading The maintop was already only ten feet above water, while the bowsprit, with the exception of the extreme end, that rose obliquely from the waves, was entirely covered.

CurtisnounUS /ˈkɜːrtəs/

English botanical writer and publisher (1746-1799)

From this reading Fortunately the raft was all but finished, and unless Curtis preferred to wait till morning, we should be able to embark in the evening.

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading The Chancellor's last day, we felt, had come.

DECEMBERnounUS /dɪˈsembər/

the last (12th) month of the year

From this reading KEAR SUCCUMBS TO FEVER DECEMBER 6 continued.--The Chancellor no longer maintained her equilibrium; we felt that she was gradually going down, and her hull was probably breaking up.

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading KEAR SUCCUMBS TO FEVER DECEMBER 6 continued.--The Chancellor no longer maintained her equilibrium; we felt that she was gradually going down, and her hull was probably breaking up.

embarkverbUS /emˈbɑːrk/

go on board

From this reading Fortunately the raft was all but finished, and unless Curtis preferred to wait till morning, we should be able to embark in the evening.

endnounUS /end/

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading The maintop was already only ten feet above water, while the bowsprit, with the exception of the extreme end, that rose obliquely from the waves, was entirely covered.

entirelyadverbUS /ɪnˈtaɪərli/

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading The maintop was already only ten feet above water, while the bowsprit, with the exception of the extreme end, that rose obliquely from the waves, was entirely covered.

equilibriumnounUS /ˌiːkwəˈlɪbriəm/

a stable situation in which forces cancel one another

From this reading KEAR SUCCUMBS TO FEVER DECEMBER 6 continued.--The Chancellor no longer maintained her equilibrium; we felt that she was gradually going down, and her hull was probably breaking up.

eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading Fortunately the raft was all but finished, and unless Curtis preferred to wait till morning, we should be able to embark in the evening.

exceptionnounUS /ɪkˈsepʃən/

a deliberate act of omission

From this reading The maintop was already only ten feet above water, while the bowsprit, with the exception of the extreme end, that rose obliquely from the waves, was entirely covered.

extremeadjectiveUS /ekˈstriːm/

of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity

From this reading The maintop was already only ten feet above water, while the bowsprit, with the exception of the extreme end, that rose obliquely from the waves, was entirely covered.

feetnounUS /fiːt/

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading The maintop was already only ten feet above water, while the bowsprit, with the exception of the extreme end, that rose obliquely from the waves, was entirely covered.

feltverbUS /felt/

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading KEAR SUCCUMBS TO FEVER DECEMBER 6 continued.--The Chancellor no longer maintained her equilibrium; we felt that she was gradually going down, and her hull was probably breaking up.

FEVERnounUS /ˈfiːvər/

a rise in the temperature of the body; frequently a symptom of infection

From this reading KEAR SUCCUMBS TO FEVER DECEMBER 6 continued.--The Chancellor no longer maintained her equilibrium; we felt that she was gradually going down, and her hull was probably breaking up.

finishedadjectiveUS /ˈfɪnɪʃt/

(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state

From this reading Fortunately the raft was all but finished, and unless Curtis preferred to wait till morning, we should be able to embark in the evening.

FortunatelyadverbUS /ˈfɔːrtʃənətli/

by good fortune

From this reading Fortunately the raft was all but finished, and unless Curtis preferred to wait till morning, we should be able to embark in the evening.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The maintop was already only ten feet above water, while the bowsprit, with the exception of the extreme end, that rose obliquely from the waves, was entirely covered.

goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/

the act of departing

From this reading KEAR SUCCUMBS TO FEVER DECEMBER 6 continued.--The Chancellor no longer maintained her equilibrium; we felt that she was gradually going down, and her hull was probably breaking up.

graduallyadverbUS /ˈɡrædʒuːəli/

in a gradual manner

From this reading KEAR SUCCUMBS TO FEVER DECEMBER 6 continued.--The Chancellor no longer maintained her equilibrium; we felt that she was gradually going down, and her hull was probably breaking up.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The Chancellor's last day, we felt, had come.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading KEAR SUCCUMBS TO FEVER DECEMBER 6 continued.--The Chancellor no longer maintained her equilibrium; we felt that she was gradually going down, and her hull was probably breaking up.

hullnounUS /hʌl/

dry outer covering of a fruit or seed or nut

From this reading KEAR SUCCUMBS TO FEVER DECEMBER 6 continued.--The Chancellor no longer maintained her equilibrium; we felt that she was gradually going down, and her hull was probably breaking up.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Fortunately the raft was all but finished, and unless Curtis preferred to wait till morning, we should be able to embark in the evening.

KEAR

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

From this reading KEAR SUCCUMBS TO FEVER DECEMBER 6 continued.--The Chancellor no longer maintained her equilibrium; we felt that she was gradually going down, and her hull was probably breaking up.

lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading The Chancellor's last day, we felt, had come.

longeradverbUS /ˈlɔːŋɡər/

for more time

From this reading KEAR SUCCUMBS TO FEVER DECEMBER 6 continued.--The Chancellor no longer maintained her equilibrium; we felt that she was gradually going down, and her hull was probably breaking up.

maintainedadjectiveUS /meɪnˈteɪnd/

kept in good condition

From this reading KEAR SUCCUMBS TO FEVER DECEMBER 6 continued.--The Chancellor no longer maintained her equilibrium; we felt that she was gradually going down, and her hull was probably breaking up.

maintop

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

From this reading The maintop was already only ten feet above water, while the bowsprit, with the exception of the extreme end, that rose obliquely from the waves, was entirely covered.

morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading Fortunately the raft was all but finished, and unless Curtis preferred to wait till morning, we should be able to embark in the evening.

MRSnounUS /ˈmɪsɪz/

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading MRS.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading KEAR SUCCUMBS TO FEVER DECEMBER 6 continued.--The Chancellor no longer maintained her equilibrium; we felt that she was gradually going down, and her hull was probably breaking up.

obliquelyadverbUS /əˈbliːkli/

to, toward or at one side

From this reading The maintop was already only ten feet above water, while the bowsprit, with the exception of the extreme end, that rose obliquely from the waves, was entirely covered.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The maintop was already only ten feet above water, while the bowsprit, with the exception of the extreme end, that rose obliquely from the waves, was entirely covered.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading The maintop was already only ten feet above water, while the bowsprit, with the exception of the extreme end, that rose obliquely from the waves, was entirely covered.

preferredadjectiveUS /prəˈfɜːrd/

more desirable than another

From this reading Fortunately the raft was all but finished, and unless Curtis preferred to wait till morning, we should be able to embark in the evening.

probablyadverbUS /ˈprɑːbəbliː/

with considerable certainty; without much doubt

From this reading KEAR SUCCUMBS TO FEVER DECEMBER 6 continued.--The Chancellor no longer maintained her equilibrium; we felt that she was gradually going down, and her hull was probably breaking up.

raftnounUS /ræft/

a flat float (usually made of logs or planks) that can be used for transport or as a platform for swimmers

From this reading Fortunately the raft was all but finished, and unless Curtis preferred to wait till morning, we should be able to embark in the evening.

rosenounUS /roʊz/

any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses

From this reading The maintop was already only ten feet above water, while the bowsprit, with the exception of the extreme end, that rose obliquely from the waves, was entirely covered.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading KEAR SUCCUMBS TO FEVER DECEMBER 6 continued.--The Chancellor no longer maintained her equilibrium; we felt that she was gradually going down, and her hull was probably breaking up.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Fortunately the raft was all but finished, and unless Curtis preferred to wait till morning, we should be able to embark in the evening.

SUCCUMBSverbUS /səˈkʌmz/

third-person singular of “succumb” — consent reluctantly

From this reading KEAR SUCCUMBS TO FEVER DECEMBER 6 continued.--The Chancellor no longer maintained her equilibrium; we felt that she was gradually going down, and her hull was probably breaking up.

tennounUS /ten/

the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system

From this reading The maintop was already only ten feet above water, while the bowsprit, with the exception of the extreme end, that rose obliquely from the waves, was entirely covered.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading KEAR SUCCUMBS TO FEVER DECEMBER 6 continued.--The Chancellor no longer maintained her equilibrium; we felt that she was gradually going down, and her hull was probably breaking up.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading KEAR SUCCUMBS TO FEVER DECEMBER 6 continued.--The Chancellor no longer maintained her equilibrium; we felt that she was gradually going down, and her hull was probably breaking up.

tillprepositionUS /tɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading Fortunately the raft was all but finished, and unless Curtis preferred to wait till morning, we should be able to embark in the evening.

TOparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading KEAR SUCCUMBS TO FEVER DECEMBER 6 continued.--The Chancellor no longer maintained her equilibrium; we felt that she was gradually going down, and her hull was probably breaking up.

unlessconjunctionUS /ənˈles/

except if; if not

From this reading Fortunately the raft was all but finished, and unless Curtis preferred to wait till morning, we should be able to embark in the evening.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

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

From this reading KEAR SUCCUMBS TO FEVER DECEMBER 6 continued.--The Chancellor no longer maintained her equilibrium; we felt that she was gradually going down, and her hull was probably breaking up.

waitverbUS /weɪt/

stay in one place and anticipate or expect something

From this reading Fortunately the raft was all but finished, and unless Curtis preferred to wait till morning, we should be able to embark in the evening.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading KEAR SUCCUMBS TO FEVER DECEMBER 6 continued.--The Chancellor no longer maintained her equilibrium; we felt that she was gradually going down, and her hull was probably breaking up.

waternounUS /ˈwɔːtər/

binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent

From this reading The maintop was already only ten feet above water, while the bowsprit, with the exception of the extreme end, that rose obliquely from the waves, was entirely covered.

wavesnounUS /weɪvz/

plural of “wave” — one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)

From this reading The maintop was already only ten feet above water, while the bowsprit, with the exception of the extreme end, that rose obliquely from the waves, was entirely covered.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading KEAR SUCCUMBS TO FEVER DECEMBER 6 continued.--The Chancellor no longer maintained her equilibrium; we felt that she was gradually going down, and her hull was probably breaking up.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading The maintop was already only ten feet above water, while the bowsprit, with the exception of the extreme end, that rose obliquely from the waves, was entirely covered.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The maintop was already only ten feet above water, while the bowsprit, with the exception of the extreme end, that rose obliquely from the waves, was entirely covered.

Chapter 20 of The Survivors of the Chancellor by Jules Verne holds 29 sentences, grouped into 6 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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 20 of The Survivors of the Chancellor contain?

Chapter 20 holds 29 sentences of The Survivors of the Chancellor, unabridged, divided into 6 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 20 of The Survivors of the Chancellor by Jules Verne exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 29 sentences, grouped into 6 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 20 of The Survivors of the Chancellor?

Work through the 6 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 6 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 20 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 20 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 Survivors of the Chancellor

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Yes. All 2194 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #1698 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Survivors of the Chancellor is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #1698, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

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About 182 minutes of reading across 439 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in The Survivors of the Chancellor

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Survivors of the Chancellor, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Charleston
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Survivors of the Chancellor; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
September
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Survivors of the Chancellor; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Three
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Survivors of the Chancellor; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
O'clock
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Survivors of the Chancellor; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.