Chapter 20 of The Three Midshipmen is here in full — 401 sentences across 81 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XX
Chapter 20 of The Three Midshipmen is here in full — 401 sentences across 81 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
CHAPTER THIRTY THREE. AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE. A swim in the dark through waters where sharks abound, and in chase of an enemy who may very likely be armed with a sharp creese, is far from an agreeable amusement. Away swam the pirate, and after him swam Jack. "If he has a knife, it won't be pleasant," he said to himself.
Chapter 20 of The Three Midshipmen is here in full — 401 sentences across 81 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/80 · 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.
be abundant or plentiful; exist in large quantities
From this reading “A swim in the dark through waters where sharks abound, and in chase of an enemy who may very likely be armed with a sharp creese, is far from an agreeable amusement.”
a feeling of delight at being entertained
From this reading “A swim in the dark through waters where sharks abound, and in chase of an enemy who may very likely be armed with a sharp creese, is far from an agreeable amusement.”
a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled
From this reading “CHAPTER THIRTY THREE.”
go after with the intent to catch
From this reading “A swim in the dark through waters where sharks abound, and in chase of an enemy who may very likely be armed with a sharp creese, is far from an agreeable amusement.”
someone who uses another person's words or ideas as if they were his own
From this reading “Away swam the pirate, and after him swam Jack.”
plural of “shark” — any of numerous elongate mostly marine carnivorous fishes with heterocercal caudal fins and tough skin covered with small toothlike scales
From this reading “A swim in the dark through waters where sharks abound, and in chase of an enemy who may very likely be armed with a sharp creese, is far from an agreeable amusement.”
inflected form of “swim” — travel through water
From this reading “Away swam the pirate, and after him swam Jack.”
travel through water
From this reading “A swim in the dark through waters where sharks abound, and in chase of an enemy who may very likely be armed with a sharp creese, is far from an agreeable amusement.”
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 before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A swim in the dark through waters where sharks abound, and in chase of an enemy who may very likely be armed with a sharp creese, is far from an agreeable amusement.
be abundant or plentiful; exist in large quantities
From this reading A swim in the dark through waters where sharks abound, and in chase of an enemy who may very likely be armed with a sharp creese, is far from an agreeable amusement.
personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE.
later than; following
From this reading Away swam the pirate, and after him swam Jack.
conforming to your own liking or feelings or nature
From this reading A swim in the dark through waters where sharks abound, and in chase of an enemy who may very likely be armed with a sharp creese, is far from an agreeable amusement.
a feeling of delight at being entertained
From this reading A swim in the dark through waters where sharks abound, and in chase of an enemy who may very likely be armed with a sharp creese, is far from an agreeable amusement.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A swim in the dark through waters where sharks abound, and in chase of an enemy who may very likely be armed with a sharp creese, is far from an agreeable amusement.
(used of persons or the military) characterized by having or bearing arms
From this reading A swim in the dark through waters where sharks abound, and in chase of an enemy who may very likely be armed with a sharp creese, is far from an agreeable amusement.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Away swam the pirate, and after him swam Jack.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading A swim in the dark through waters where sharks abound, and in chase of an enemy who may very likely be armed with a sharp creese, is far from an agreeable amusement.
a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled
From this reading CHAPTER THIRTY THREE.
go after with the intent to catch
From this reading A swim in the dark through waters where sharks abound, and in chase of an enemy who may very likely be armed with a sharp creese, is far from an agreeable amusement.
a Malayan dagger with a wavy blade
From this reading A swim in the dark through waters where sharks abound, and in chase of an enemy who may very likely be armed with a sharp creese, is far from an agreeable amusement.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading A swim in the dark through waters where sharks abound, and in chase of an enemy who may very likely be armed with a sharp creese, is far from an agreeable amusement.
an opposing military force
From this reading A swim in the dark through waters where sharks abound, and in chase of an enemy who may very likely be armed with a sharp creese, is far from an agreeable amusement.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading A swim in the dark through waters where sharks abound, and in chase of an enemy who may very likely be armed with a sharp creese, is far from an agreeable amusement.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A swim in the dark through waters where sharks abound, and in chase of an enemy who may very likely be armed with a sharp creese, is far from an agreeable amusement.
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "If he has a knife, it won't be pleasant," he said to himself.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "If he has a knife, it won't be pleasant," he said to himself.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Away swam the pirate, and after him swam Jack.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading "If he has a knife, it won't be pleasant," he said to himself.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "If he has a knife, it won't be pleasant," he said to himself.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A swim in the dark through waters where sharks abound, and in chase of an enemy who may very likely be armed with a sharp creese, is far from an agreeable amusement.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A swim in the dark through waters where sharks abound, and in chase of an enemy who may very likely be armed with a sharp creese, is far from an agreeable amusement.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "If he has a knife, it won't be pleasant," he said to himself.
a small worthless amount
From this reading Away swam the pirate, and after him swam Jack.
edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle
From this reading "If he has a knife, it won't be pleasant," he said to himself.
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
From this reading A swim in the dark through waters where sharks abound, and in chase of an enemy who may very likely be armed with a sharp creese, is far from an agreeable amusement.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading A swim in the dark through waters where sharks abound, and in chase of an enemy who may very likely be armed with a sharp creese, is far from an agreeable amusement.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A swim in the dark through waters where sharks abound, and in chase of an enemy who may very likely be armed with a sharp creese, is far from an agreeable amusement.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE.
someone who uses another person's words or ideas as if they were his own
From this reading Away swam the pirate, and after him swam Jack.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading "If he has a knife, it won't be pleasant," he said to himself.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "If he has a knife, it won't be pleasant," he said to himself.
plural of “shark” — any of numerous elongate mostly marine carnivorous fishes with heterocercal caudal fins and tough skin covered with small toothlike scales
From this reading A swim in the dark through waters where sharks abound, and in chase of an enemy who may very likely be armed with a sharp creese, is far from an agreeable amusement.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading A swim in the dark through waters where sharks abound, and in chase of an enemy who may very likely be armed with a sharp creese, is far from an agreeable amusement.
inflected form of “swim” — travel through water
From this reading Away swam the pirate, and after him swam Jack.
travel through water
From this reading A swim in the dark through waters where sharks abound, and in chase of an enemy who may very likely be armed with a sharp creese, is far from an agreeable amusement.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A swim in the dark through waters where sharks abound, and in chase of an enemy who may very likely be armed with a sharp creese, is far from an agreeable amusement.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three
From this reading CHAPTER THIRTY THREE.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading CHAPTER THIRTY THREE.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading A swim in the dark through waters where sharks abound, and in chase of an enemy who may very likely be armed with a sharp creese, is far from an agreeable amusement.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "If he has a knife, it won't be pleasant," he said to himself.
precisely as stated
From this reading A swim in the dark through waters where sharks abound, and in chase of an enemy who may very likely be armed with a sharp creese, is far from an agreeable amusement.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading A swim in the dark through waters where sharks abound, and in chase of an enemy who may very likely be armed with a sharp creese, is far from an agreeable amusement.
in or at the place that
From this reading A swim in the dark through waters where sharks abound, and in chase of an enemy who may very likely be armed with a sharp creese, is far from an agreeable amusement.
which person or people
From this reading A swim in the dark through waters where sharks abound, and in chase of an enemy who may very likely be armed with a sharp creese, is far from an agreeable amusement.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A swim in the dark through waters where sharks abound, and in chase of an enemy who may very likely be armed with a sharp creese, is far from an agreeable amusement.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If he has a knife, it won't be pleasant," he said to himself.
Chapter 20 of The Three Midshipmen by William Henry Giles Kingston holds 401 sentences, grouped into 81 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 20 holds 401 sentences of The Three Midshipmen, unabridged, divided into 81 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 20 of The Three Midshipmen by William Henry Giles Kingston exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 401 sentences, grouped into 81 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 81 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 81 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 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.
Common questions about reading The Three Midshipmen by William Henry Giles Kingston on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 8010 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #24812 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #24812, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 600 minutes of reading across 1602 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Three Midshipmen section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 20 chapters of The Three Midshipmen 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 Three Midshipmen, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
