Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The World Masters
The World Masters

Chapter XX

Chapter 20 of The World Masters is here in full — 119 sentences across 24 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The World Masters
Context Illustration Reading 1/23 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
When the _Nadine_ left her moorings, at about four o'clock on a lovely June afternoon, she sauntered easily down to the Needles at about twelve knots.
For reasons of his own her owner had never put her to full speed in crowded waters, or, in fact, where any other craft was near enough to see what she could do.
On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.
Until nightfall she continued at the same speed; but when dinner was over, and the lights were up, Hardress lit a cigar and went on to the bridge, and said to the commander:
"Captain Burgess, I think you can let her go now.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The World Masters

Chapter XX

Chapter 20 of The World Masters is here in full — 119 sentences across 24 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/23 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
When the _Nadine_ left her moorings, at about four o'clock on a lovely June afternoon, she sauntered easily down to the Needles at about twelve knots.
Line 2
For reasons of his own her owner had never put her to full speed in crowded waters, or, in fact, where any other craft was near enough to see what she could do.
/fɔːr ˈriːzənz ʌv hɪz oʊn hɜːr ˈoʊnər hæd ˈnevər pʊt hɜːr tuː fʊl spiːd ɪn ˈkraʊdəd ˈwɔːtərz ɔːr ɪn fækt wer ˈeni ˈʌðər kræft wɑːz nɪr ɪˈnʌf tuː siː wʌt ʃiː kʊd duː/
Line 3
On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.
Line 4
Until nightfall she continued at the same speed; but when dinner was over, and the lights were up, Hardress lit a cigar and went on to the bridge, and said to the commander:
Line 5
"Captain Burgess, I think you can let her go now.
/ˈkæptən ˈbɜːrdʒəs aɪ θɪŋk juː kæn let hɜːr ɡoʊ naʊ/

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.

Burgess noun US /ˈbɜːrdʒəs/

English writer of satirical novels (1917-1993)

From this reading “"Captain Burgess, I think you can let her go now.”

chatting verb US /ˈtʃætɪŋ/

inflected form of “chat” — talk socially without exchanging too much information

From this reading “On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.”

knots noun US /nɑːts/

plural of “knot” — a tight cluster of people or things

From this reading “When the _Nadine_ left her moorings, at about four o'clock on a lovely June afternoon, she sauntered easily down to the Needles at about twelve knots.”

moorings noun US /ˈmuːrɪŋz/

plural of “mooring” — a place where a craft can be made fast

From this reading “When the _Nadine_ left her moorings, at about four o'clock on a lovely June afternoon, she sauntered easily down to the Needles at about twelve knots.”

Needles noun US /ˈniːdəlz/

plural of “needle” — the leaf of a conifer

From this reading “When the _Nadine_ left her moorings, at about four o'clock on a lovely June afternoon, she sauntered easily down to the Needles at about twelve knots.”

nightfall noun US /ˈnaɪtfɔːl/

the time of day immediately following sunset

From this reading “Until nightfall she continued at the same speed; but when dinner was over, and the lights were up, Hardress lit a cigar and went on to the bridge, and said to the commander:”

strolling verb US /ˈstroʊlɪŋ/

-ing form of “stroll” — walk leisurely and with no apparent aim

From this reading “On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.”

swirling verb US /ˈswɜːrlɪŋ/

-ing form of “swirl” — turn in a twisting or spinning motion

From this reading “On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.”

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.

principal actors noun + noun counted as “principal actor”

In this reading “On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.”

Until nightfall preposition + noun

In this reading “Until nightfall she continued at the same speed; but when dinner was over, and the lights were up, Hardress lit a cigar and went on to the bridge, and said to the commander:”

friendly fashion adjective + noun

In this reading “On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.”

On deck preposition + noun

In this reading “On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.”

ran along verb + particle counted as “run along”

be in line with; form a line along

In this reading “On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.”

most friendly adverb + adjective

In this reading “On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.”

about twelve preposition + noun

In this reading “When the _Nadine_ left her moorings, at about four o'clock on a lovely June afternoon, she sauntered easily down to the Needles at about twelve knots.”

went on verb + particle counted as “go on”

continue a certain state, condition, or activity

In this reading “Until nightfall she continued at the same speed; but when dinner was over, and the lights were up, Hardress lit a cigar and went on to the bridge, and said to the commander:”

All words in this reading · 113

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading When the _Nadine_ left her moorings, at about four o'clock on a lovely June afternoon, she sauntered easily down to the Needles at about twelve knots.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading When the _Nadine_ left her moorings, at about four o'clock on a lovely June afternoon, she sauntered easily down to the Needles at about twelve knots.

actorsnounUS /ˈæktərz/

plural of “actor” — a theatrical performer

From this reading On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.

afternoonnounUS /ˌæftərˈnuːn/

the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading When the _Nadine_ left her moorings, at about four o'clock on a lovely June afternoon, she sauntered easily down to the Needles at about twelve knots.

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading For reasons of his own her owner had never put her to full speed in crowded waters, or, in fact, where any other craft was near enough to see what she could do.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading When the _Nadine_ left her moorings, at about four o'clock on a lovely June afternoon, she sauntered easily down to the Needles at about twelve knots.

bridgenounUS /brɪdʒ/

a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.

From this reading Until nightfall she continued at the same speed; but when dinner was over, and the lights were up, Hardress lit a cigar and went on to the bridge, and said to the commander:

BurgessnounUS /ˈbɜːrdʒəs/

English writer of satirical novels (1917-1993)

From this reading "Captain Burgess, I think you can let her go now.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Until nightfall she continued at the same speed; but when dinner was over, and the lights were up, Hardress lit a cigar and went on to the bridge, and said to the commander:

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading "Captain Burgess, I think you can let her go now.

CaptainnounUS /ˈkæptən/

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

From this reading "Captain Burgess, I think you can let her go now.

carryingverbUS /ˈkæriɪŋ/

-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.

chattingverbUS /ˈtʃætɪŋ/

inflected form of “chat” — talk socially without exchanging too much information

From this reading On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.

cigarnounUS /sɪˈɡɑːr/

a roll of tobacco for smoking

From this reading Until nightfall she continued at the same speed; but when dinner was over, and the lights were up, Hardress lit a cigar and went on to the bridge, and said to the commander:

comeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.

commandernounUS /kəˈmændər/

an officer in command of a military unit

From this reading Until nightfall she continued at the same speed; but when dinner was over, and the lights were up, Hardress lit a cigar and went on to the bridge, and said to the commander:

continuedadjectiveUS /kənˈtɪnjuːd/

without stop or interruption

From this reading Until nightfall she continued at the same speed; but when dinner was over, and the lights were up, Hardress lit a cigar and went on to the bridge, and said to the commander:

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading For reasons of his own her owner had never put her to full speed in crowded waters, or, in fact, where any other craft was near enough to see what she could do.

craftnounUS /kræft/

the skilled practice of a practical occupation

From this reading For reasons of his own her owner had never put her to full speed in crowded waters, or, in fact, where any other craft was near enough to see what she could do.

crowdedadjectiveUS /ˈkraʊdəd/

overfilled or compacted or concentrated

From this reading For reasons of his own her owner had never put her to full speed in crowded waters, or, in fact, where any other craft was near enough to see what she could do.

decknounUS /dek/

any of various platforms built into a vessel

From this reading On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.

deck-chairs

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.

dinnernounUS /ˈdɪnər/

the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday

From this reading Until nightfall she continued at the same speed; but when dinner was over, and the lights were up, Hardress lit a cigar and went on to the bridge, and said to the commander:

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading For reasons of his own her owner had never put her to full speed in crowded waters, or, in fact, where any other craft was near enough to see what she could do.

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading When the _Nadine_ left her moorings, at about four o'clock on a lovely June afternoon, she sauntered easily down to the Needles at about twelve knots.

easilyadverbUS /ˈiːzəli/

with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)

From this reading When the _Nadine_ left her moorings, at about four o'clock on a lovely June afternoon, she sauntered easily down to the Needles at about twelve knots.

enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading For reasons of his own her owner had never put her to full speed in crowded waters, or, in fact, where any other craft was near enough to see what she could do.

factnounUS /fækt/

a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading For reasons of his own her owner had never put her to full speed in crowded waters, or, in fact, where any other craft was near enough to see what she could do.

fashionnounUS /ˈfæʃən/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.

fatenounUS /feɪt/

an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future

From this reading On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For reasons of his own her owner had never put her to full speed in crowded waters, or, in fact, where any other craft was near enough to see what she could do.

fournounUS /fɔːr/

the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

From this reading When the _Nadine_ left her moorings, at about four o'clock on a lovely June afternoon, she sauntered easily down to the Needles at about twelve knots.

friendlyadjectiveUS /ˈfrendli/

characteristic of or befitting a friend

From this reading On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.

fulladjectiveUS /fʊl/

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading For reasons of his own her owner had never put her to full speed in crowded waters, or, in fact, where any other craft was near enough to see what she could do.

goverbUS /ɡoʊ/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading "Captain Burgess, I think you can let her go now.

gracefuladjectiveUS /ˈɡreɪsfəl/

characterized by beauty of movement, style, form, or execution

From this reading On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading For reasons of his own her owner had never put her to full speed in crowded waters, or, in fact, where any other craft was near enough to see what she could do.

Hardress

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Until nightfall she continued at the same speed; but when dinner was over, and the lights were up, Hardress lit a cigar and went on to the bridge, and said to the commander:

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading When the _Nadine_ left her moorings, at about four o'clock on a lovely June afternoon, she sauntered easily down to the Needles at about twelve knots.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading For reasons of his own her owner had never put her to full speed in crowded waters, or, in fact, where any other craft was near enough to see what she could do.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading "Captain Burgess, I think you can let her go now.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading For reasons of his own her owner had never put her to full speed in crowded waters, or, in fact, where any other craft was near enough to see what she could do.

JunenounUS /dʒuːn/

the month following May and preceding July

From this reading When the _Nadine_ left her moorings, at about four o'clock on a lovely June afternoon, she sauntered easily down to the Needles at about twelve knots.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.

knotsnounUS /nɑːts/

plural of “knot” — a tight cluster of people or things

From this reading When the _Nadine_ left her moorings, at about four o'clock on a lovely June afternoon, she sauntered easily down to the Needles at about twelve knots.

leftnounUS /left/

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading When the _Nadine_ left her moorings, at about four o'clock on a lovely June afternoon, she sauntered easily down to the Needles at about twelve knots.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading "Captain Burgess, I think you can let her go now.

lightsnounUS /laɪts/

plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation

From this reading Until nightfall she continued at the same speed; but when dinner was over, and the lights were up, Hardress lit a cigar and went on to the bridge, and said to the commander:

litadjectiveUS /lɪt/

provided with artificial light

From this reading Until nightfall she continued at the same speed; but when dinner was over, and the lights were up, Hardress lit a cigar and went on to the bridge, and said to the commander:

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.

lovelyadjectiveUS /ˈlʌvli/

appealing to the emotions as well as the eye

From this reading When the _Nadine_ left her moorings, at about four o'clock on a lovely June afternoon, she sauntered easily down to the Needles at about twelve knots.

mooringsnounUS /ˈmuːrɪŋz/

plural of “mooring” — a place where a craft can be made fast

From this reading When the _Nadine_ left her moorings, at about four o'clock on a lovely June afternoon, she sauntered easily down to the Needles at about twelve knots.

mostadverbUS /moʊst/

used to form the superlative

From this reading On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.

Nadine

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the _Nadine_ left her moorings, at about four o'clock on a lovely June afternoon, she sauntered easily down to the Needles at about twelve knots.

nearadverbUS /nɪr/

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading For reasons of his own her owner had never put her to full speed in crowded waters, or, in fact, where any other craft was near enough to see what she could do.

NeedlesnounUS /ˈniːdəlz/

plural of “needle” — the leaf of a conifer

From this reading When the _Nadine_ left her moorings, at about four o'clock on a lovely June afternoon, she sauntered easily down to the Needles at about twelve knots.

neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading For reasons of his own her owner had never put her to full speed in crowded waters, or, in fact, where any other craft was near enough to see what she could do.

nightfallnounUS /ˈnaɪtfɔːl/

the time of day immediately following sunset

From this reading Until nightfall she continued at the same speed; but when dinner was over, and the lights were up, Hardress lit a cigar and went on to the bridge, and said to the commander:

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

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

From this reading "Captain Burgess, I think you can let her go now.

o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/

according to the clock

From this reading When the _Nadine_ left her moorings, at about four o'clock on a lovely June afternoon, she sauntered easily down to the Needles at about twelve knots.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading For reasons of his own her owner had never put her to full speed in crowded waters, or, in fact, where any other craft was near enough to see what she could do.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading When the _Nadine_ left her moorings, at about four o'clock on a lovely June afternoon, she sauntered easily down to the Needles at about twelve knots.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading For reasons of his own her owner had never put her to full speed in crowded waters, or, in fact, where any other craft was near enough to see what she could do.

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading For reasons of his own her owner had never put her to full speed in crowded waters, or, in fact, where any other craft was near enough to see what she could do.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Until nightfall she continued at the same speed; but when dinner was over, and the lights were up, Hardress lit a cigar and went on to the bridge, and said to the commander:

ownverbUS /oʊn/

have ownership or possession of

From this reading For reasons of his own her owner had never put her to full speed in crowded waters, or, in fact, where any other craft was near enough to see what she could do.

ownernounUS /ˈoʊnər/

(law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business

From this reading For reasons of his own her owner had never put her to full speed in crowded waters, or, in fact, where any other craft was near enough to see what she could do.

possibleadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːsəbəl/

capable of happening or existing

From this reading On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.

practicallyadverbUS /ˈpræktɪkli/

almost; nearly

From this reading On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.

principalnounUS /ˈprɪnsəpəl/

the original amount of a debt on which interest is calculated

From this reading On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.

putverbUS /pʊt/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading For reasons of his own her owner had never put her to full speed in crowded waters, or, in fact, where any other craft was near enough to see what she could do.

ranverbUS /ræn/

inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.

reasonsnounUS /ˈriːzənz/

plural of “reason” — a rational motive for a belief or action

From this reading For reasons of his own her owner had never put her to full speed in crowded waters, or, in fact, where any other craft was near enough to see what she could do.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading Until nightfall she continued at the same speed; but when dinner was over, and the lights were up, Hardress lit a cigar and went on to the bridge, and said to the commander:

sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/

Identical; not different.

From this reading Until nightfall she continued at the same speed; but when dinner was over, and the lights were up, Hardress lit a cigar and went on to the bridge, and said to the commander:

sauntered

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the _Nadine_ left her moorings, at about four o'clock on a lovely June afternoon, she sauntered easily down to the Needles at about twelve knots.

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading For reasons of his own her owner had never put her to full speed in crowded waters, or, in fact, where any other craft was near enough to see what she could do.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading When the _Nadine_ left her moorings, at about four o'clock on a lovely June afternoon, she sauntered easily down to the Needles at about twelve knots.

sidesnounUS /saɪdz/

plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.

sittingnounUS /ˈsɪtɪŋ/

(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)

From this reading On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.

slippedverbUS /slɪpt/

inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily

From this reading On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.

smoothlyadverbUS /ˈsmuːðli/

with no problems or difficulties

From this reading On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.

speedverbUS /spiːd/

move hurridly

From this reading For reasons of his own her owner had never put her to full speed in crowded waters, or, in fact, where any other craft was near enough to see what she could do.

strollingverbUS /ˈstroʊlɪŋ/

-ing form of “stroll” — walk leisurely and with no apparent aim

From this reading On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.

swiftlyadverbUS /ˈswɪftli/

in a swift manner

From this reading On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.

swirlingverbUS /ˈswɜːrlɪŋ/

-ing form of “swirl” — turn in a twisting or spinning motion

From this reading On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading When the _Nadine_ left her moorings, at about four o'clock on a lovely June afternoon, she sauntered easily down to the Needles at about twelve knots.

thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading "Captain Burgess, I think you can let her go now.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading When the _Nadine_ left her moorings, at about four o'clock on a lovely June afternoon, she sauntered easily down to the Needles at about twelve knots.

tragedynounUS /ˈtrædʒədi/

an event resulting in great loss and misfortune

From this reading On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.

twelvenounUS /twelv/

the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one

From this reading When the _Nadine_ left her moorings, at about four o'clock on a lovely June afternoon, she sauntered easily down to the Needles at about twelve knots.

UntilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading Until nightfall she continued at the same speed; but when dinner was over, and the lights were up, Hardress lit a cigar and went on to the bridge, and said to the commander:

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading Until nightfall she continued at the same speed; but when dinner was over, and the lights were up, Hardress lit a cigar and went on to the bridge, and said to the commander:

vesselnounUS /ˈvesəl/

a tube in which a body fluid circulates

From this reading On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading For reasons of his own her owner had never put her to full speed in crowded waters, or, in fact, where any other craft was near enough to see what she could do.

waternounUS /ˈwɔːtər/

binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent

From this reading On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.

watersnounUS /ˈwɔːtərz/

United States actress and singer (1896-1977)

From this reading For reasons of his own her owner had never put her to full speed in crowded waters, or, in fact, where any other craft was near enough to see what she could do.

wentverbUS /went/

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading Until nightfall she continued at the same speed; but when dinner was over, and the lights were up, Hardress lit a cigar and went on to the bridge, and said to the commander:

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading For reasons of his own her owner had never put her to full speed in crowded waters, or, in fact, where any other craft was near enough to see what she could do.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When the _Nadine_ left her moorings, at about four o'clock on a lovely June afternoon, she sauntered easily down to the Needles at about twelve knots.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading For reasons of his own her owner had never put her to full speed in crowded waters, or, in fact, where any other craft was near enough to see what she could do.

whitenounUS /waɪt/

a Caucasian

From this reading On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.

worldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading On deck the principal actors in the tragedy that was to come were sitting in deck-chairs or strolling about, chatting in the most friendly fashion possible, just as though the graceful little vessel was not practically carrying the fate of the world as she slipped so smoothly and swiftly through the swirling water that ran along her white sides.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Captain Burgess, I think you can let her go now.

Chapter 20 of The World Masters by George Chetwynd Griffith holds 119 sentences, grouped into 24 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 20 of The World Masters contain?

Chapter 20 holds 119 sentences of The World Masters, unabridged, divided into 24 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 20 of The World Masters by George Chetwynd Griffith exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 119 sentences, grouped into 24 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 20 of The World Masters?

Work through the 24 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 24 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 20 be read aloud to me?

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.

Questions about reading The World Masters

Common questions about reading The World Masters by George Chetwynd Griffith on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The World Masters?

Yes. All 3126 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #38028 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The World Masters is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #38028, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The World Masters take to read?

About 260 minutes of reading across 626 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The World Masters section by section

How to work through The World Masters section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 31 chapters of The World Masters to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in The World Masters

Words and structures a reader meets early in The World Masters, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Numerous
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The World Masters; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Illustrations
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The World Masters; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Taken
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The World Masters; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Crown
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The World Masters; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.