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The Wreck of the Titan or, Futility
The Wreck of the Titan or, Futility

Chapter XIV · Chapter 14

Chapter 14 of The Wreck of the Titan or, Futility is here in full — 43 sentences across 9 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Wreck of the Titan or, Futility
Context Illustration Reading 1/8 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.
"Well," he mused, "joy will not kill, and I shall witness it in its fullness if I take her by surprise.
But the chances are that it will get into the papers before I reach her.
It is too good for Mr. Meyer to keep."
But the story was not given out immediately.
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 Wreck of the Titan or, Futility

Chapter XIV · Chapter 14

Chapter 14 of The Wreck of the Titan or, Futility is here in full — 43 sentences across 9 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/8 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.
Line 2
"Well," he mused, "joy will not kill, and I shall witness it in its fullness if I take her by surprise.
/wel hiː mjuːzd dʒɔɪ wɪl nɑːt kɪl ənd aɪ ʃæl ˈwɪtnəs ɪt ɪn ɪts ˈfʊlnəs ɪf aɪ teɪk hɜːr baɪ sərˈpraɪz/
Line 3
But the chances are that it will get into the papers before I reach her.
/bʌt ðə ˈtʃænsəz ɑːr ðæt ɪt wɪl ɡet ˈɪntuː ðə ˈpeɪpərz bɪˈfɔːr aɪ riːtʃ hɜːr/
Line 4
It is too good for Mr. Meyer to keep."
Line 5
But the story was not given out immediately.
/bʌt ðə ˈstɔːri wɑːz nɑːt ˈɡɪvən aʊt ˌɪˈmiːdiːətli/

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.

associates noun US /əˈsoʊsiəts/

plural of “associate” — a person who joins with others in some activity or endeavor

From this reading “It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.”

cable noun US /ˈkeɪbəl/

a telegram sent abroad

From this reading “It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.”

fullness noun US /ˈfʊlnəs/

completeness over a broad scope

From this reading “"Well," he mused, "joy will not kill, and I shall witness it in its fullness if I take her by surprise.”

liner noun US /ˈlaɪnər/

(baseball) a hit that flies straight out from the batter

From this reading “It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.”

mused verb US /mjuːzd/

past form of “muse” — reflect deeply on a subject

From this reading “"Well," he mused, "joy will not kill, and I shall witness it in its fullness if I take her by surprise.”

notified verb US /ˈnoʊtəfaɪd/

inflected form of “notify” — inform (somebody) of something

From this reading “It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.”

provisions noun US /prəˈvɪʒənz/

a stock or supply of foods

From this reading “It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.”

stretch verb US /stretʃ/

occupy a large, elongated area

From this reading “It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.”

All words in this reading · 84

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 It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading But the chances are that it will get into the papers before I reach her.

associatesnounUS /əˈsoʊsiəts/

plural of “associate” — a person who joins with others in some activity or endeavor

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading But the chances are that it will get into the papers before I reach her.

blueadjectiveUS /bluː/

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But the chances are that it will get into the papers before I reach her.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

cablenounUS /ˈkeɪbəl/

a telegram sent abroad

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

chancesnounUS /ˈtʃænsəz/

plural of “chance” — a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances

From this reading But the chances are that it will get into the papers before I reach her.

childnounUS /tʃaɪld/

a young person of either sex

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It is too good for Mr. Meyer to keep."

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

fullnessnounUS /ˈfʊlnəs/

completeness over a broad scope

From this reading "Well," he mused, "joy will not kill, and I shall witness it in its fullness if I take her by surprise.

gaveverbUS /ɡeɪv/

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

getverbUS /ɡet/

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading But the chances are that it will get into the papers before I reach her.

givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading But the story was not given out immediately.

goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading It is too good for Mr. Meyer to keep."

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "Well," he mused, "joy will not kill, and I shall witness it in its fullness if I take her by surprise.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "Well," he mused, "joy will not kill, and I shall witness it in its fullness if I take her by surprise.

immediatelyadverbUS /ˌɪˈmiːdiːətli/

without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening

From this reading But the story was not given out immediately.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading But the chances are that it will get into the papers before I reach her.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading It is too good for Mr. Meyer to keep."

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading "Well," he mused, "joy will not kill, and I shall witness it in its fullness if I take her by surprise.

joynounUS /dʒɔɪ/

the emotion of great happiness

From this reading "Well," he mused, "joy will not kill, and I shall witness it in its fullness if I take her by surprise.

keepverbUS /kiːp/

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading It is too good for Mr. Meyer to keep."

killverbUS /kɪl/

cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly

From this reading "Well," he mused, "joy will not kill, and I shall witness it in its fullness if I take her by surprise.

knownadjectiveUS /noʊn/

apprehended with certainty

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

linernounUS /ˈlaɪnər/

(baseball) a hit that flies straight out from the batter

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

lookingnounUS /ˈlʊkɪŋ/

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

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

Meyer

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

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

MrsnounUS /ˈmɪsɪz/

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

musedverbUS /mjuːzd/

past form of “muse” — reflect deeply on a subject

From this reading "Well," he mused, "joy will not kill, and I shall witness it in its fullness if I take her by surprise.

Myra

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

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

nearadverbUS /nɪr/

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

nextadjectiveUS /nekst/

immediately following in time or order

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

noonnounUS /nuːn/

the middle of the day

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

notifiedverbUS /ˈnoʊtəfaɪd/

inflected form of “notify” — inform (somebody) of something

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

papersnounUS /ˈpeɪpərz/

writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)

From this reading But the chances are that it will get into the papers before I reach her.

pressverbUS /pres/

exert pressure or force to or upon

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

provisionsnounUS /prəˈvɪʒənz/

a stock or supply of foods

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

reachverbUS /riːtʃ/

reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading But the chances are that it will get into the papers before I reach her.

rememberedverbUS /rɪˈmembərd/

past form of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

Rowland

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

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

safetynounUS /ˈseɪfti/

the state of being certain that adverse effects will not be caused by some agent under defined conditions

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

sail-spangled

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

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

saloon-deck

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

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

seatedadjectiveUS /ˈsiːtɪd/

(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

Selfridge

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

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading "Well," he mused, "joy will not kill, and I shall witness it in its fullness if I take her by surprise.

steamer-chair

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

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

storynounUS /ˈstɔːri/

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

stretchverbUS /stretʃ/

occupy a large, elongated area

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

surprisenounUS /sərˈpraɪz/

the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you

From this reading "Well," he mused, "joy will not kill, and I shall witness it in its fullness if I take her by surprise.

takeverbUS /teɪk/

carry out

From this reading "Well," he mused, "joy will not kill, and I shall witness it in its fullness if I take her by surprise.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

tooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading It is too good for Mr. Meyer to keep."

unlessconjunctionUS /ənˈles/

except if; if not

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

WelladverbUS /wel/

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading "Well," he mused, "joy will not kill, and I shall witness it in its fullness if I take her by surprise.

west-bound

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

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading "Well," he mused, "joy will not kill, and I shall witness it in its fullness if I take her by surprise.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

witnessnounUS /ˈwɪtnəs/

someone who sees an event and reports what happened

From this reading "Well," he mused, "joy will not kill, and I shall witness it in its fullness if I take her by surprise.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading It was near noon of the next day that Rowland, seated in a steamer-chair with Myra and looking out on a sail-spangled stretch of blue from the saloon-deck of a west-bound liner, remembered that he had made no provisions to have Mrs. Selfridge notified by cable of the safety of her child; and unless Mr. Meyer or his associates gave the story to the press it would not be known.

Chapter 14 of The Wreck of the Titan or, Futility by Morgan Robertson holds 43 sentences, grouped into 9 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 14 of The Wreck of the Titan or, Futility contain?

Chapter 14 holds 43 sentences of The Wreck of the Titan or, Futility, unabridged, divided into 9 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 14 of The Wreck of the Titan or, Futility by Morgan Robertson exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 43 sentences, grouped into 9 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 14 of The Wreck of the Titan or, Futility?

Work through the 9 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 9 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 14 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 14 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 Wreck of the Titan or, Futility

Common questions about reading The Wreck of the Titan or, Futility by Morgan Robertson on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Wreck of the Titan or, Futility?

Yes. All 4273 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #24880 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Wreck of the Titan or, Futility is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #24880, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Wreck of the Titan or, Futility take to read?

About 356 minutes of reading across 855 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Wreck of the Titan or, Futility section by section

How to work through The Wreck of the Titan or, Futility section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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  3. Listen and tap

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

Vocabulary met early in The Wreck of the Titan or, Futility

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Wreck of the Titan or, Futility, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Quinn
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Wreck of the Titan or, Futility; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Boden
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Wreck of the Titan or, Futility; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Press
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Wreck of the Titan or, Futility; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Rahway
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Wreck of the Titan or, Futility; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.