Chapter 8 of The Wire Devils is here in full — 446 sentences across 90 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter VIII
Chapter 8 of The Wire Devils is here in full — 446 sentences across 90 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
The Hawk shook his head. “I never saw you in my life before to-day,” he said grimly; “and, if it will do you any good to know it, I fell for that radium plant—until you telephoned the Butcher half an hour ago.” “And how did you know me, then?” The other flung the question fiercely. Again the Hawk shook his head.
Chapter 8 of The Wire Devils is here in full — 446 sentences across 90 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/89 · 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.
kill (animals) usually for food consumption
From this reading ““I never saw you in my life before to-day,” he said grimly; “and, if it will do you any good to know it, I fell for that radium plant—until you telephoned the Butcher half an hour ago.””
in a physically fierce manner
From this reading “The other flung the question fiercely.”
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading “The other flung the question fiercely.”
in a grim implacable manner
From this reading ““I never saw you in my life before to-day,” he said grimly; “and, if it will do you any good to know it, I fell for that radium plant—until you telephoned the Butcher half an hour ago.””
diurnal bird of prey typically having short rounded wings and a long tail
From this reading “The Hawk shook his head.”
put or set (seeds, seedlings, or plants) into the ground
From this reading ““I never saw you in my life before to-day,” he said grimly; “and, if it will do you any good to know it, I fell for that radium plant—until you telephoned the Butcher half an hour ago.””
an intensely radioactive metallic element that occurs in minute amounts in uranium ores
From this reading ““I never saw you in my life before to-day,” he said grimly; “and, if it will do you any good to know it, I fell for that radium plant—until you telephoned the Butcher half an hour ago.””
past form of “telephone” — get or try to get into communication (with someone) by telephone
From this reading ““I never saw you in my life before to-day,” he said grimly; “and, if it will do you any good to know it, I fell for that radium plant—until you telephoned the Butcher half an hour ago.””
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.
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.
anew
From this reading Again the Hawk shook his head.
in the past
From this reading “I never saw you in my life before to-day,” he said grimly; “and, if it will do you any good to know it, I fell for that radium plant—until you telephoned the Butcher half an hour ago.”
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “I never saw you in my life before to-day,” he said grimly; “and, if it will do you any good to know it, I fell for that radium plant—until you telephoned the Butcher half an hour ago.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “I never saw you in my life before to-day,” he said grimly; “and, if it will do you any good to know it, I fell for that radium plant—until you telephoned the Butcher half an hour ago.”
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading “I never saw you in my life before to-day,” he said grimly; “and, if it will do you any good to know it, I fell for that radium plant—until you telephoned the Butcher half an hour ago.”
earlier than; in front of
From this reading “I never saw you in my life before to-day,” he said grimly; “and, if it will do you any good to know it, I fell for that radium plant—until you telephoned the Butcher half an hour ago.”
kill (animals) usually for food consumption
From this reading “I never saw you in my life before to-day,” he said grimly; “and, if it will do you any good to know it, I fell for that radium plant—until you telephoned the Butcher half an hour ago.”
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading “And how did you know me, then?”
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “I never saw you in my life before to-day,” he said grimly; “and, if it will do you any good to know it, I fell for that radium plant—until you telephoned the Butcher half an hour ago.”
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading “I never saw you in my life before to-day,” he said grimly; “and, if it will do you any good to know it, I fell for that radium plant—until you telephoned the Butcher half an hour ago.”
in a physically fierce manner
From this reading The other flung the question fiercely.
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading The other flung the question fiercely.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “I never saw you in my life before to-day,” he said grimly; “and, if it will do you any good to know it, I fell for that radium plant—until you telephoned the Butcher half an hour ago.”
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading “I never saw you in my life before to-day,” he said grimly; “and, if it will do you any good to know it, I fell for that radium plant—until you telephoned the Butcher half an hour ago.”
in a grim implacable manner
From this reading “I never saw you in my life before to-day,” he said grimly; “and, if it will do you any good to know it, I fell for that radium plant—until you telephoned the Butcher half an hour ago.”
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading “I never saw you in my life before to-day,” he said grimly; “and, if it will do you any good to know it, I fell for that radium plant—until you telephoned the Butcher half an hour ago.”
diurnal bird of prey typically having short rounded wings and a long tail
From this reading The Hawk shook his head.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “I never saw you in my life before to-day,” he said grimly; “and, if it will do you any good to know it, I fell for that radium plant—until you telephoned the Butcher half an hour ago.”
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading The Hawk shook his head.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The Hawk shook his head.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading “I never saw you in my life before to-day,” he said grimly; “and, if it will do you any good to know it, I fell for that radium plant—until you telephoned the Butcher half an hour ago.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “And how did you know me, then?”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I never saw you in my life before to-day,” he said grimly; “and, if it will do you any good to know it, I fell for that radium plant—until you telephoned the Butcher half an hour ago.”
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “I never saw you in my life before to-day,” he said grimly; “and, if it will do you any good to know it, I fell for that radium plant—until you telephoned the Butcher half an hour ago.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “I never saw you in my life before to-day,” he said grimly; “and, if it will do you any good to know it, I fell for that radium plant—until you telephoned the Butcher half an hour ago.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “I never saw you in my life before to-day,” he said grimly; “and, if it will do you any good to know it, I fell for that radium plant—until you telephoned the Butcher half an hour ago.”
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading “I never saw you in my life before to-day,” he said grimly; “and, if it will do you any good to know it, I fell for that radium plant—until you telephoned the Butcher half an hour ago.”
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading “I never saw you in my life before to-day,” he said grimly; “and, if it will do you any good to know it, I fell for that radium plant—until you telephoned the Butcher half an hour ago.”
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “And how did you know me, then?”
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “I never saw you in my life before to-day,” he said grimly; “and, if it will do you any good to know it, I fell for that radium plant—until you telephoned the Butcher half an hour ago.”
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading “I never saw you in my life before to-day,” he said grimly; “and, if it will do you any good to know it, I fell for that radium plant—until you telephoned the Butcher half an hour ago.”
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The other flung the question fiercely.
put or set (seeds, seedlings, or plants) into the ground
From this reading “I never saw you in my life before to-day,” he said grimly; “and, if it will do you any good to know it, I fell for that radium plant—until you telephoned the Butcher half an hour ago.”
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading The other flung the question fiercely.
an intensely radioactive metallic element that occurs in minute amounts in uranium ores
From this reading “I never saw you in my life before to-day,” he said grimly; “and, if it will do you any good to know it, I fell for that radium plant—until you telephoned the Butcher half an hour ago.”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “I never saw you in my life before to-day,” he said grimly; “and, if it will do you any good to know it, I fell for that radium plant—until you telephoned the Butcher half an hour ago.”
cut with a saw
From this reading “I never saw you in my life before to-day,” he said grimly; “and, if it will do you any good to know it, I fell for that radium plant—until you telephoned the Butcher half an hour ago.”
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading The Hawk shook his head.
past form of “telephone” — get or try to get into communication (with someone) by telephone
From this reading “I never saw you in my life before to-day,” he said grimly; “and, if it will do you any good to know it, I fell for that radium plant—until you telephoned the Butcher half an hour ago.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “I never saw you in my life before to-day,” he said grimly; “and, if it will do you any good to know it, I fell for that radium plant—until you telephoned the Butcher half an hour ago.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Hawk shook his head.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading “And how did you know me, then?”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “I never saw you in my life before to-day,” he said grimly; “and, if it will do you any good to know it, I fell for that radium plant—until you telephoned the Butcher half an hour ago.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I never saw you in my life before to-day,” he said grimly; “and, if it will do you any good to know it, I fell for that radium plant—until you telephoned the Butcher half an hour ago.”
up to a particular time
From this reading “I never saw you in my life before to-day,” he said grimly; “and, if it will do you any good to know it, I fell for that radium plant—until you telephoned the Butcher half an hour ago.”
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “I never saw you in my life before to-day,” he said grimly; “and, if it will do you any good to know it, I fell for that radium plant—until you telephoned the Butcher half an hour ago.”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I never saw you in my life before to-day,” he said grimly; “and, if it will do you any good to know it, I fell for that radium plant—until you telephoned the Butcher half an hour ago.”
Chapter 8 of The Wire Devils by Frank L. (Frank Lucius) Packard holds 446 sentences, grouped into 90 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 446 sentences of The Wire Devils, unabridged, divided into 90 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 8 of The Wire Devils by Frank L. (Frank Lucius) Packard exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 446 sentences, grouped into 90 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 90 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 90 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 Wire Devils by Frank L. (Frank Lucius) Packard on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 4380 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #52084 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #52084, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 365 minutes of reading across 876 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Wire Devils section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 10 chapters of The Wire Devils 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 Wire Devils, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
