Chapter 3 of The Watcher by the Threshold is here in full — 416 sentences across 84 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter III
Chapter 3 of The Watcher by the Threshold is here in full — 416 sentences across 84 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Grim though the tidings were, I can only say that my chief feeling was of comfort. Pity for the new tragedy had swallowed up my fear. I had now a purpose, and a purpose, too, not of curiosity but of mercy. "I go to-morrow morning to the Muneraw. But first I want to give you something to do."
Chapter 3 of The Watcher by the Threshold is here in full — 416 sentences across 84 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/83 · 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.
a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain
From this reading “Grim though the tidings were, I can only say that my chief feeling was of comfort.”
a state in which you want to learn more about something
From this reading “I had now a purpose, and a purpose, too, not of curiosity but of mercy.”
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading “Grim though the tidings were, I can only say that my chief feeling was of comfort.”
leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice
From this reading “I had now a purpose, and a purpose, too, not of curiosity but of mercy.”
a feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others
From this reading “Pity for the new tragedy had swallowed up my fear.”
past form of “swallow” — pass through the esophagus as part of eating or drinking
From this reading “Pity for the new tragedy had swallowed up my fear.”
information about recent and important events
From this reading “Grim though the tidings were, I can only say that my chief feeling was of comfort.”
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading “Pity for the new tragedy had swallowed up my fear.”
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.
enclose or envelop completely, as if by swallowing
In this reading “Pity for the new tragedy had swallowed up my fear.”
In this reading “Pity for the new tragedy had swallowed up my fear.”
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 I had now a purpose, and a purpose, too, not of curiosity but of mercy.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I had now a purpose, and a purpose, too, not of curiosity but of mercy.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I had now a purpose, and a purpose, too, not of curiosity but of mercy.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Grim though the tidings were, I can only say that my chief feeling was of comfort.
a person who is in charge
From this reading Grim though the tidings were, I can only say that my chief feeling was of comfort.
a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain
From this reading Grim though the tidings were, I can only say that my chief feeling was of comfort.
a state in which you want to learn more about something
From this reading I had now a purpose, and a purpose, too, not of curiosity but of mercy.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading But first I want to give you something to do."
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading Pity for the new tragedy had swallowed up my fear.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading Grim though the tidings were, I can only say that my chief feeling was of comfort.
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading But first I want to give you something to do."
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Pity for the new tragedy had swallowed up my fear.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading But first I want to give you something to do."
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "I go to-morrow morning to the Muneraw.
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading Grim though the tidings were, I can only say that my chief feeling was of comfort.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Pity for the new tragedy had swallowed up my fear.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Grim though the tidings were, I can only say that my chief feeling was of comfort.
leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice
From this reading I had now a purpose, and a purpose, too, not of curiosity but of mercy.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading "I go to-morrow morning to the Muneraw.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I go to-morrow morning to the Muneraw.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Grim though the tidings were, I can only say that my chief feeling was of comfort.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Pity for the new tragedy had swallowed up my fear.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I had now a purpose, and a purpose, too, not of curiosity but of mercy.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading I had now a purpose, and a purpose, too, not of curiosity but of mercy.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Grim though the tidings were, I can only say that my chief feeling was of comfort.
and nothing more
From this reading Grim though the tidings were, I can only say that my chief feeling was of comfort.
a feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others
From this reading Pity for the new tragedy had swallowed up my fear.
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading I had now a purpose, and a purpose, too, not of curiosity but of mercy.
express in words
From this reading Grim though the tidings were, I can only say that my chief feeling was of comfort.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading But first I want to give you something to do."
past form of “swallow” — pass through the esophagus as part of eating or drinking
From this reading Pity for the new tragedy had swallowed up my fear.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Grim though the tidings were, I can only say that my chief feeling was of comfort.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Grim though the tidings were, I can only say that my chief feeling was of comfort.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Grim though the tidings were, I can only say that my chief feeling was of comfort.
information about recent and important events
From this reading Grim though the tidings were, I can only say that my chief feeling was of comfort.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "I go to-morrow morning to the Muneraw.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I go to-morrow morning to the Muneraw.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading I had now a purpose, and a purpose, too, not of curiosity but of mercy.
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading Pity for the new tragedy had swallowed up my fear.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Pity for the new tragedy had swallowed up my fear.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading But first I want to give you something to do."
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Grim though the tidings were, I can only say that my chief feeling was of comfort.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Grim though the tidings were, I can only say that my chief feeling was of comfort.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading But first I want to give you something to do."
Chapter 3 of The Watcher by the Threshold by John Buchan holds 416 sentences, grouped into 84 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 3 holds 416 sentences of The Watcher by the Threshold, unabridged, divided into 84 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 3 of The Watcher by the Threshold by John Buchan exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 416 sentences, grouped into 84 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 84 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 84 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 3 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 Watcher by the Threshold by John Buchan on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 3720 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #57402 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #57402, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 310 minutes of reading across 744 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Watcher by the Threshold section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 9 chapters of The Watcher by the Threshold 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 Watcher by the Threshold, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
