Chapter 8 of The Wailing Octopus is here in full — 269 sentences across 54 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter VIII
Chapter 8 of The Wailing Octopus is here in full — 269 sentences across 54 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
The Fancy Frogmen "The question is," Rick stated, "when was the oil put in? While we were at Charlotte Amalie? Or while we were out hunting the wreck just now?" "In Charlotte Amalie, of course," Tony said. "Why do you think it might have been done just a little while ago?"
Chapter 8 of The Wailing Octopus is here in full — 269 sentences across 54 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/53 · 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.
the largest city in North Carolina; located in south central North Carolina
From this reading “While we were at Charlotte Amalie?”
something many people believe that is false
From this reading “The Fancy Frogmen "The question is," Rick stated, "when was the oil put in?”
plural of “frogman” — someone who works underwater
From this reading “The Fancy Frogmen "The question is," Rick stated, "when was the oil put in?”
the pursuit and killing or capture of wild animals regarded as a sport
From this reading “Or while we were out hunting the wreck just now?"”
A viscous liquid derived from petroleum or plants, stored in large earthen jars.
From this reading “The Fancy Frogmen "The question is," Rick stated, "when was the oil put in?”
a painful muscle spasm especially in the neck or back (“rick” and “wrick” are British)
From this reading “The Fancy Frogmen "The question is," Rick stated, "when was the oil put in?”
declared as fact; explicitly stated
From this reading “The Fancy Frogmen "The question is," Rick stated, "when was the oil put in?”
something or someone that has suffered ruin or dilapidation
From this reading “Or while we were out hunting the wreck just now?"”
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.
as might be expected
In this reading “"In Charlotte Amalie, of course," Tony said.”
In this reading “Or while we were out hunting the wreck just now?"”
place, fit, or thrust (something) into another thing
In this reading “The Fancy Frogmen "The question is," Rick stated, "when was the oil put in?”
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 "Why do you think it might have been done just a little while ago?"
in the past
From this reading "Why do you think it might have been done just a little while ago?"
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While we were at Charlotte Amalie?
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading While we were at Charlotte Amalie?
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "Why do you think it might have been done just a little while ago?"
the largest city in North Carolina; located in south central North Carolina
From this reading While we were at Charlotte Amalie?
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading "In Charlotte Amalie, of course," Tony said.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "Why do you think it might have been done just a little while ago?"
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading "Why do you think it might have been done just a little while ago?"
something many people believe that is false
From this reading The Fancy Frogmen "The question is," Rick stated, "when was the oil put in?
plural of “frogman” — someone who works underwater
From this reading The Fancy Frogmen "The question is," Rick stated, "when was the oil put in?
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Why do you think it might have been done just a little while ago?"
the pursuit and killing or capture of wild animals regarded as a sport
From this reading Or while we were out hunting the wreck just now?"
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Fancy Frogmen "The question is," Rick stated, "when was the oil put in?
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Fancy Frogmen "The question is," Rick stated, "when was the oil put in?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Why do you think it might have been done just a little while ago?"
and nothing more
From this reading Or while we were out hunting the wreck just now?"
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "Why do you think it might have been done just a little while ago?"
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading "Why do you think it might have been done just a little while ago?"
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Or while we were out hunting the wreck just now?"
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "In Charlotte Amalie, of course," Tony said.
A viscous liquid derived from petroleum or plants, stored in large earthen jars.
From this reading The Fancy Frogmen "The question is," Rick stated, "when was the oil put in?
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Or while we were out hunting the wreck just now?"
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Or while we were out hunting the wreck just now?"
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The Fancy Frogmen "The question is," Rick stated, "when was the oil put in?
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading The Fancy Frogmen "The question is," Rick stated, "when was the oil put in?
a painful muscle spasm especially in the neck or back (“rick” and “wrick” are British)
From this reading The Fancy Frogmen "The question is," Rick stated, "when was the oil put in?
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "In Charlotte Amalie, of course," Tony said.
declared as fact; explicitly stated
From this reading The Fancy Frogmen "The question is," Rick stated, "when was the oil put in?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Fancy Frogmen "The question is," Rick stated, "when was the oil put in?
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "Why do you think it might have been done just a little while ago?"
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "In Charlotte Amalie, of course," Tony said.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Fancy Frogmen "The question is," Rick stated, "when was the oil put in?
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading While we were at Charlotte Amalie?
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading While we were at Charlotte Amalie?
at the time that
From this reading The Fancy Frogmen "The question is," Rick stated, "when was the oil put in?
during the time that
From this reading While we were at Charlotte Amalie?
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "Why do you think it might have been done just a little while ago?"
something or someone that has suffered ruin or dilapidation
From this reading Or while we were out hunting the wreck just now?"
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Why do you think it might have been done just a little while ago?"
Chapter 8 of The Wailing Octopus by Harold L. (Harold Leland) Goodwin holds 269 sentences, grouped into 54 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 8 holds 269 sentences of The Wailing Octopus, unabridged, divided into 54 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 8 of The Wailing Octopus by Harold L. (Harold Leland) Goodwin exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 269 sentences, grouped into 54 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 54 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 54 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 8 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 Wailing Octopus by Harold L. (Harold Leland) Goodwin on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 4131 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #31495 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #31495, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 344 minutes of reading across 827 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Wailing Octopus section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 20 chapters of The Wailing Octopus 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 Wailing Octopus, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
