Chapter 20 of Tom Fairfield's Schooldays is here in full — 191 sentences across 39 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XX
Chapter 20 of Tom Fairfield's Schooldays is here in full — 191 sentences across 39 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
PRISONERS “Well, what do you think will be the next move?” asked Jack, as he trudged along beside his chum as they came from the gymnasium. “I don’t know, I’m sure. It’s up to them now, and we can only saw wood, and see what happens.” “Do you think they’ll punish us?” asked George Abbot. “Oh, there you go again!” cried Bert Wilson.
Chapter 20 of Tom Fairfield's Schooldays is here in full — 191 sentences across 39 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/38 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.
the superior of an abbey of monks
From this reading ““Do you think they’ll punish us?” asked George Abbot.”
a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities
From this reading “PRISONERS “Well, what do you think will be the next move?” asked Jack, as he trudged along beside his chum as they came from the gymnasium.”
a school for students intermediate between elementary school and college; usually grades 9 to 12
From this reading “PRISONERS “Well, what do you think will be the next move?” asked Jack, as he trudged along beside his chum as they came from the gymnasium.”
third-person singular of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading “It’s up to them now, and we can only saw wood, and see what happens.””
plural of “prisoner” — a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading “PRISONERS “Well, what do you think will be the next move?” asked Jack, as he trudged along beside his chum as they came from the gymnasium.”
impose a penalty on; inflict punishment on
From this reading ““Do you think they’ll punish us?” asked George Abbot.”
past form of “trudge” — walk heavily and firmly, as when weary, or through mud
From this reading “PRISONERS “Well, what do you think will be the next move?” asked Jack, as he trudged along beside his chum as they came from the gymnasium.”
author of the first novel by an African American that was published in the United States (1808-1870)
From this reading ““Oh, there you go again!” cried Bert Wilson.”
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.
In this reading “PRISONERS “Well, what do you think will be the next move?” asked Jack, as he trudged along beside his chum as they came from the gymnasium.”
In this reading “PRISONERS “Well, what do you think will be the next move?” asked Jack, as he trudged along beside his chum as they came from the gymnasium.”
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.
the superior of an abbey of monks
From this reading “Do you think they’ll punish us?” asked George Abbot.
anew
From this reading “Oh, there you go again!” cried Bert Wilson.
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading PRISONERS “Well, what do you think will be the next move?” asked Jack, as he trudged along beside his chum as they came from the gymnasium.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It’s up to them now, and we can only saw wood, and see what happens.”
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading PRISONERS “Well, what do you think will be the next move?” asked Jack, as he trudged along beside his chum as they came from the gymnasium.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading PRISONERS “Well, what do you think will be the next move?” asked Jack, as he trudged along beside his chum as they came from the gymnasium.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading PRISONERS “Well, what do you think will be the next move?” asked Jack, as he trudged along beside his chum as they came from the gymnasium.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Oh, there you go again!” cried Bert Wilson.
next to; at the side of
From this reading PRISONERS “Well, what do you think will be the next move?” asked Jack, as he trudged along beside his chum as they came from the gymnasium.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading PRISONERS “Well, what do you think will be the next move?” asked Jack, as he trudged along beside his chum as they came from the gymnasium.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading It’s up to them now, and we can only saw wood, and see what happens.”
a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities
From this reading PRISONERS “Well, what do you think will be the next move?” asked Jack, as he trudged along beside his chum as they came from the gymnasium.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading “Oh, there you go again!” cried Bert Wilson.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading PRISONERS “Well, what do you think will be the next move?” asked Jack, as he trudged along beside his chum as they came from the gymnasium.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I don’t know, I’m sure.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading PRISONERS “Well, what do you think will be the next move?” asked Jack, as he trudged along beside his chum as they came from the gymnasium.
Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading “Do you think they’ll punish us?” asked George Abbot.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading “Oh, there you go again!” cried Bert Wilson.
a school for students intermediate between elementary school and college; usually grades 9 to 12
From this reading PRISONERS “Well, what do you think will be the next move?” asked Jack, as he trudged along beside his chum as they came from the gymnasium.
third-person singular of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading It’s up to them now, and we can only saw wood, and see what happens.”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading PRISONERS “Well, what do you think will be the next move?” asked Jack, as he trudged along beside his chum as they came from the gymnasium.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading PRISONERS “Well, what do you think will be the next move?” asked Jack, as he trudged along beside his chum as they came from the gymnasium.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I don’t know, I’m sure.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I don’t know, I’m sure.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It’s up to them now, and we can only saw wood, and see what happens.”
a small worthless amount
From this reading PRISONERS “Well, what do you think will be the next move?” asked Jack, as he trudged along beside his chum as they came from the gymnasium.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading “I don’t know, I’m sure.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading PRISONERS “Well, what do you think will be the next move?” asked Jack, as he trudged along beside his chum as they came from the gymnasium.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading PRISONERS “Well, what do you think will be the next move?” asked Jack, as he trudged along beside his chum as they came from the gymnasium.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It’s up to them now, and we can only saw wood, and see what happens.”
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading “Oh, there you go again!” cried Bert Wilson.
and nothing more
From this reading It’s up to them now, and we can only saw wood, and see what happens.”
plural of “prisoner” — a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading PRISONERS “Well, what do you think will be the next move?” asked Jack, as he trudged along beside his chum as they came from the gymnasium.
impose a penalty on; inflict punishment on
From this reading “Do you think they’ll punish us?” asked George Abbot.
cut with a saw
From this reading It’s up to them now, and we can only saw wood, and see what happens.”
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading It’s up to them now, and we can only saw wood, and see what happens.”
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading “I don’t know, I’m sure.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading PRISONERS “Well, what do you think will be the next move?” asked Jack, as he trudged along beside his chum as they came from the gymnasium.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading It’s up to them now, and we can only saw wood, and see what happens.”
in or at that place or location
From this reading “Oh, there you go again!” cried Bert Wilson.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading PRISONERS “Well, what do you think will be the next move?” asked Jack, as he trudged along beside his chum as they came from the gymnasium.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you think they’ll punish us?” asked George Abbot.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading PRISONERS “Well, what do you think will be the next move?” asked Jack, as he trudged along beside his chum as they came from the gymnasium.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It’s up to them now, and we can only saw wood, and see what happens.”
past form of “trudge” — walk heavily and firmly, as when weary, or through mud
From this reading PRISONERS “Well, what do you think will be the next move?” asked Jack, as he trudged along beside his chum as they came from the gymnasium.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading It’s up to them now, and we can only saw wood, and see what happens.”
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Do you think they’ll punish us?” asked George Abbot.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading It’s up to them now, and we can only saw wood, and see what happens.”
(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 PRISONERS “Well, what do you think will be the next move?” asked Jack, as he trudged along beside his chum as they came from the gymnasium.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading PRISONERS “Well, what do you think will be the next move?” asked Jack, as he trudged along beside his chum as they came from the gymnasium.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading PRISONERS “Well, what do you think will be the next move?” asked Jack, as he trudged along beside his chum as they came from the gymnasium.
author of the first novel by an African American that was published in the United States (1808-1870)
From this reading “Oh, there you go again!” cried Bert Wilson.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading It’s up to them now, and we can only saw wood, and see what happens.”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading PRISONERS “Well, what do you think will be the next move?” asked Jack, as he trudged along beside his chum as they came from the gymnasium.
Chapter 20 of Tom Fairfield's Schooldays by Allen Chapman holds 191 sentences, grouped into 39 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.
Chapter 20 holds 191 sentences of Tom Fairfield's Schooldays, unabridged, divided into 39 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 20 of Tom Fairfield's Schooldays by Allen Chapman exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 191 sentences, grouped into 39 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.
Work through the 39 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 39 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 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.
Common questions about reading Tom Fairfield's Schooldays by Allen Chapman on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 3550 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #43796 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #43796, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 295 minutes of reading across 710 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Tom Fairfield's Schooldays section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 25 chapters of Tom Fairfield's Schooldays to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in Tom Fairfield's Schooldays, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
