The Wireless Operator—With the U. S. Coast

Chapter VIII

Chapter 8 of The Wireless Operator—With the U. S. Coast is here in full — 186 sentences across 38 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Lewis E. (Lewis Edwin) Theiss • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for The Wireless Operator—With the U. S. Coast

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IN THE CRADLE OF THE DEEP It was already dusk and night was at hand when the _Iroquois_ was ready to head for Boston.

Already those off duty had eaten.

The captain, however, still remained on deck.

He waited to make sure the ship was on her proper course, for the new ensign was the only commissioned officer now on duty, and the captain hesitated to allow him to figure the course alone.

But the ensign did it with the captain looking on, and set the course with perfect accuracy.

Narrator

Speed 0.75x

AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English

LEARNER DICTIONARY

Archivist

/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/

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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Chapter VIII Reading 1/37

The Wireless Operator—With the U. S. Coast Lewis E. (Lewis Edwin) Theiss

Chapter VIII

Chapter 8 of The Wireless Operator—With the U. S. Coast is here in full — 186 sentences across 38 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

IN THE CRADLE OF THE DEEP It was already dusk and night was at hand when the _Iroquois_ was ready to head for Boston. Already those off duty had eaten. The captain, however, still remained on deck. He waited to make sure the ship was on her proper course, for the new ensign was the only commissioned officer now on duty, and the captain hesitated to allow him to figure the course alone. But the ensign did it with the captain looking on, and set the course with perfect accuracy.

The Wireless Operator—With the U. S. Coast

Chapter VIII

Chapter 8 of The Wireless Operator—With the U. S. Coast is here in full — 186 sentences across 38 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/37 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

IN THE CRADLE OF THE DEEP It was already dusk and night was at hand when the _Iroquois_ was ready to head for Boston.

/ɪn ðə ˈkreɪdəl ʌv ðə diːp ɪt wɑːz ɔːlˈredi dʌsk ənd naɪt wɑːz æt hænd wen ðə ˈɪrəkwɔɪ wɑːz ˈredi tuː hed fɔːr ˈbɑːstən/

Line 2

Already those off duty had eaten.

/ɔːlˈredi ðoʊz ɔːf ˈduːti hæd ˈiːtən/

Line 3

The captain, however, still remained on deck.

/ðə ˈkæptən ˌhaʊˈevər stɪl rɪˈmeɪnd ɑːn dek/

Line 4

He waited to make sure the ship was on her proper course, for the new ensign was the only commissioned officer now on duty, and the captain hesitated to allow him to figure the course alone.

/hiː ˈweɪtɪd tuː meɪk ʃʊr ðə ʃɪp wɑːz ɑːn hɜːr ˈprɑːpər kɔːrs fɔːr ðə nuː ˈensən wɑːz ðə ˈoʊnli kəˈmɪʃənd ˈɔːfəsər naʊ ɑːn ˈduːti ənd ðə ˈkæptən ˈhezɪteɪtɪd tuː əˈlaʊ hɪm tuː ˈfɪɡjər ðə kɔːrs əˈloʊn/

Line 5

But the ensign did it with the captain looking on, and set the course with perfect accuracy.

/bʌt ðə ˈensən dɪd ɪt wɪð ðə ˈkæptən ˈlʊkɪŋ ɑːn ənd set ðə kɔːrs wɪð pərˈfekt ˈækjərəsi/

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.

accuracy noun US /ˈækjərəsi/

the quality of being near to the true value

From this reading “But the ensign did it with the captain looking on, and set the course with perfect accuracy.”

Boston noun US /ˈbɑːstən/

state capital and largest city of Massachusetts; a major center for banking and financial services

From this reading “IN THE CRADLE OF THE DEEP It was already dusk and night was at hand when the _Iroquois_ was ready to head for Boston.”

commissioned adjective US /kəˈmɪʃənd/

(of military officers) holding by virtue of a commission a rank of second lieutenant or ensign or above

From this reading “He waited to make sure the ship was on her proper course, for the new ensign was the only commissioned officer now on duty, and the captain hesitated to allow him to figure the course alone.”

cradle noun US /ˈkreɪdəl/

a baby bed with sides and rockers

From this reading “IN THE CRADLE OF THE DEEP It was already dusk and night was at hand when the _Iroquois_ was ready to head for Boston.”

dusk noun US /dʌsk/

the time of day immediately following sunset

From this reading “IN THE CRADLE OF THE DEEP It was already dusk and night was at hand when the _Iroquois_ was ready to head for Boston.”

eaten verb US /ˈiːtən/

inflected form of “eat” — take in solid food

From this reading “Already those off duty had eaten.”

ensign noun US /ˈensən/

a person who holds a commissioned rank in the United States Navy or the United States Coast Guard; below lieutenant junior grade

Iroquois noun US /ˈɪrəkwɔɪ/

any member of the warlike North American Indian peoples formerly living in New York State; the Iroquois League were allies of the British during the American Revolution

Word partnerships in these lines

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.

commissioned officer adjective + noun

a military officer holding a commission

In this reading “He waited to make sure the ship was on her proper course, for the new ensign was the only commissioned officer now on duty, and the captain hesitated to allow him to figure the course alone.”

on deck preposition + noun

In this reading “The captain, however, still remained on deck.”

make sure verb + adjective

make a point of doing something; act purposefully and intentionally

proper course adjective + noun

on duty preposition + noun

at hand preposition + noun

close in space; within reach

In this reading “IN THE CRADLE OF THE DEEP It was already dusk and night was at hand when the _Iroquois_ was ready to head for Boston.”

All words in this reading · 57

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.

accuracynounUS /ˈækjərəsi/

the quality of being near to the true value

From this reading But the ensign did it with the captain looking on, and set the course with perfect accuracy.

allowverbUS /əˈlaʊ/

make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen

From this reading He waited to make sure the ship was on her proper course, for the new ensign was the only commissioned officer now on duty, and the captain hesitated to allow him to figure the course alone.

aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/

Having no one else present.

alreadyadverbUS /ɔːlˈredi/

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading IN THE CRADLE OF THE DEEP It was already dusk and night was at hand when the _Iroquois_ was ready to head for Boston.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading IN THE CRADLE OF THE DEEP It was already dusk and night was at hand when the _Iroquois_ was ready to head for Boston.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading IN THE CRADLE OF THE DEEP It was already dusk and night was at hand when the _Iroquois_ was ready to head for Boston.

BostonnounUS /ˈbɑːstən/

state capital and largest city of Massachusetts; a major center for banking and financial services

From this reading IN THE CRADLE OF THE DEEP It was already dusk and night was at hand when the _Iroquois_ was ready to head for Boston.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But the ensign did it with the captain looking on, and set the course with perfect accuracy.

captainnounUS /ˈkæptən/

an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant

From this reading The captain, however, still remained on deck.

commissionedadjectiveUS /kəˈmɪʃənd/

(of military officers) holding by virtue of a commission a rank of second lieutenant or ensign or above

coursenounUS /kɔːrs/

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

CRADLEnounUS /ˈkreɪdəl/

a baby bed with sides and rockers

From this reading IN THE CRADLE OF THE DEEP It was already dusk and night was at hand when the _Iroquois_ was ready to head for Boston.

decknounUS /dek/

any of various platforms built into a vessel

From this reading The captain, however, still remained on deck.

DEEPadjectiveUS /diːp/

relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply

From this reading IN THE CRADLE OF THE DEEP It was already dusk and night was at hand when the _Iroquois_ was ready to head for Boston.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading But the ensign did it with the captain looking on, and set the course with perfect accuracy.

dusknounUS /dʌsk/

the time of day immediately following sunset

From this reading IN THE CRADLE OF THE DEEP It was already dusk and night was at hand when the _Iroquois_ was ready to head for Boston.

dutynounUS /ˈduːti/

the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force

From this reading Already those off duty had eaten.

eatenverbUS /ˈiːtən/

inflected form of “eat” — take in solid food

From this reading Already those off duty had eaten.

ensignnounUS /ˈensən/

a person who holds a commissioned rank in the United States Navy or the United States Coast Guard; below lieutenant junior grade

figurenounUS /ˈfɪɡjər/

a diagram or picture illustrating textual material

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading IN THE CRADLE OF THE DEEP It was already dusk and night was at hand when the _Iroquois_ was ready to head for Boston.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Already those off duty had eaten.

handnounUS /hænd/

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading IN THE CRADLE OF THE DEEP It was already dusk and night was at hand when the _Iroquois_ was ready to head for Boston.

HepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

headnounUS /hed/

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading IN THE CRADLE OF THE DEEP It was already dusk and night was at hand when the _Iroquois_ was ready to head for Boston.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

hesitatedverbUS /ˈhezɪteɪtɪd/

past form of “hesitate” — pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading The captain, however, still remained on deck.

INprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading IN THE CRADLE OF THE DEEP It was already dusk and night was at hand when the _Iroquois_ was ready to head for Boston.

IroquoisnounUS /ˈɪrəkwɔɪ/

any member of the warlike North American Indian peoples formerly living in New York State; the Iroquois League were allies of the British during the American Revolution

From this reading IN THE CRADLE OF THE DEEP It was already dusk and night was at hand when the _Iroquois_ was ready to head for Boston.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading IN THE CRADLE OF THE DEEP It was already dusk and night was at hand when the _Iroquois_ was ready to head for Boston.

lookingnounUS /ˈlʊkɪŋ/

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading But the ensign did it with the captain looking on, and set the course with perfect accuracy.

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

newadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

nightnounUS /naɪt/

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading IN THE CRADLE OF THE DEEP It was already dusk and night was at hand when the _Iroquois_ was ready to head for Boston.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading IN THE CRADLE OF THE DEEP It was already dusk and night was at hand when the _Iroquois_ was ready to head for Boston.

offadverbUS /ɔːf/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Already those off duty had eaten.

officernounUS /ˈɔːfəsər/

any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The captain, however, still remained on deck.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

perfectadjectiveUS /pərˈfekt/

being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish

From this reading But the ensign did it with the captain looking on, and set the course with perfect accuracy.

properadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːpər/

marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness

readyadjectiveUS /ˈredi/

completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress

From this reading IN THE CRADLE OF THE DEEP It was already dusk and night was at hand when the _Iroquois_ was ready to head for Boston.

remainedverbUS /rɪˈmeɪnd/

past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading The captain, however, still remained on deck.

setverbUS /set/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading But the ensign did it with the captain looking on, and set the course with perfect accuracy.

shipverbUS /ʃɪp/

transport commercially

stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading The captain, however, still remained on deck.

sureadjectiveUS /ʃʊr/

having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading IN THE CRADLE OF THE DEEP It was already dusk and night was at hand when the _Iroquois_ was ready to head for Boston.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading Already those off duty had eaten.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading IN THE CRADLE OF THE DEEP It was already dusk and night was at hand when the _Iroquois_ was ready to head for Boston.

waitedverbUS /ˈweɪtɪd/

past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading IN THE CRADLE OF THE DEEP It was already dusk and night was at hand when the _Iroquois_ was ready to head for Boston.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading IN THE CRADLE OF THE DEEP It was already dusk and night was at hand when the _Iroquois_ was ready to head for Boston.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading But the ensign did it with the captain looking on, and set the course with perfect accuracy.

Chapter 8 of The Wireless Operator—With the U. S. Coast by Lewis E. (Lewis Edwin) Theiss holds 186 sentences, grouped into 38 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.

What does chapter 8 of The Wireless Operator—With the U. S. Coast contain?

Chapter 8 holds 186 sentences of The Wireless Operator—With the U. S. Coast, unabridged, divided into 38 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 8 of The Wireless Operator—With the U. S. Coast by Lewis E. (Lewis Edwin) Theiss exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 186 sentences, grouped into 38 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 8 of The Wireless Operator—With the U. S. Coast?

Work through the 38 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 38 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 8 be read aloud to me?

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.

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Yes. All 4804 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #62914 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

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Project Gutenberg eBook #62914, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

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About 400 minutes of reading across 961 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Chapter VIII

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