Chapter 16 of Tom Swift and His Giant Cannon is here in full — 115 sentences across 23 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XVI
Chapter 16 of Tom Swift and His Giant Cannon is here in full — 115 sentences across 23 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A WARNING "Whew, how it rains!" exclaimed Ned, as he looked out of the window. "And it doesn't seem to show any signs of letting up," remarked Tom. "It's been at it nearly a week now, and it is likely to last a week longer." "It's beastly," declared his chum. "How can you test your gun in this weather?"
Chapter 16 of Tom Swift and His Giant Cannon is here in full — 115 sentences across 23 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/23 · 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.
(informal) very unpleasant
From this reading “"It's beastly," declared his chum.”
a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities
From this reading “"It's beastly," declared his chum.”
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading “"How can you test your gun in this weather?"”
property that is leased or rented out or let
From this reading “"And it doesn't seem to show any signs of letting up," remarked Tom.”
plural of “rain” — water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading “A WARNING "Whew, how it rains!" exclaimed Ned, as he looked out of the window.”
plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading “"And it doesn't seem to show any signs of letting up," remarked Tom.”
trying something to find out about it
From this reading “"How can you test your gun in this weather?"”
a message informing of danger
From this reading “A WARNING "Whew, how it rains!" exclaimed Ned, as he looked out of the window.”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A WARNING "Whew, how it rains!" exclaimed Ned, as he looked out of the window.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "And it doesn't seem to show any signs of letting up," remarked Tom.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading "And it doesn't seem to show any signs of letting up," remarked Tom.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A WARNING "Whew, how it rains!" exclaimed Ned, as he looked out of the window.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "It's been at it nearly a week now, and it is likely to last a week longer."
(informal) very unpleasant
From this reading "It's beastly," declared his chum.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "It's been at it nearly a week now, and it is likely to last a week longer."
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "How can you test your gun in this weather?"
a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities
From this reading "It's beastly," declared his chum.
made known or openly avowed
From this reading "It's beastly," declared his chum.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And it doesn't seem to show any signs of letting up," remarked Tom.
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading A WARNING "Whew, how it rains!" exclaimed Ned, as he looked out of the window.
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading "How can you test your gun in this weather?"
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A WARNING "Whew, how it rains!" exclaimed Ned, as he looked out of the window.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "It's beastly," declared his chum.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A WARNING "Whew, how it rains!" exclaimed Ned, as he looked out of the window.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "How can you test your gun in this weather?"
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "It's been at it nearly a week now, and it is likely to last a week longer."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A WARNING "Whew, how it rains!" exclaimed Ned, as he looked out of the window.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's been at it nearly a week now, and it is likely to last a week longer."
immediately past
From this reading "It's been at it nearly a week now, and it is likely to last a week longer."
property that is leased or rented out or let
From this reading "And it doesn't seem to show any signs of letting up," remarked Tom.
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
From this reading "It's been at it nearly a week now, and it is likely to last a week longer."
for more time
From this reading "It's been at it nearly a week now, and it is likely to last a week longer."
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading A WARNING "Whew, how it rains!" exclaimed Ned, as he looked out of the window.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading "It's been at it nearly a week now, and it is likely to last a week longer."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A WARNING "Whew, how it rains!" exclaimed Ned, as he looked out of the window.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "It's been at it nearly a week now, and it is likely to last a week longer."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A WARNING "Whew, how it rains!" exclaimed Ned, as he looked out of the window.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading A WARNING "Whew, how it rains!" exclaimed Ned, as he looked out of the window.
plural of “rain” — water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading A WARNING "Whew, how it rains!" exclaimed Ned, as he looked out of the window.
past form of “remark” — make mention of
From this reading "And it doesn't seem to show any signs of letting up," remarked Tom.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading "And it doesn't seem to show any signs of letting up," remarked Tom.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading "And it doesn't seem to show any signs of letting up," remarked Tom.
plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading "And it doesn't seem to show any signs of letting up," remarked Tom.
trying something to find out about it
From this reading "How can you test your gun in this weather?"
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A WARNING "Whew, how it rains!" exclaimed Ned, as he looked out of the window.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "How can you test your gun in this weather?"
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "And it doesn't seem to show any signs of letting up," remarked Tom.
male cat
From this reading "And it doesn't seem to show any signs of letting up," remarked Tom.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "And it doesn't seem to show any signs of letting up," remarked Tom.
a message informing of danger
From this reading A WARNING "Whew, how it rains!" exclaimed Ned, as he looked out of the window.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading "How can you test your gun in this weather?"
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading "It's been at it nearly a week now, and it is likely to last a week longer."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A WARNING "Whew, how it rains!" exclaimed Ned, as he looked out of the window.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading A WARNING "Whew, how it rains!" exclaimed Ned, as he looked out of the window.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "How can you test your gun in this weather?"
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "How can you test your gun in this weather?"
Chapter 16 of Tom Swift and His Giant Cannon by Victor Appleton holds 115 sentences, grouped into 23 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 16 holds 115 sentences of Tom Swift and His Giant Cannon, unabridged, divided into 23 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 16 of Tom Swift and His Giant Cannon by Victor Appleton exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 115 sentences, grouped into 23 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 23 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 23 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 16 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 Swift and His Giant Cannon by Victor Appleton on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 3164 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #1361 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #1361, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 263 minutes of reading across 633 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Tom Swift and His Giant Cannon section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 25 chapters of Tom Swift and His Giant Cannon 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 Swift and His Giant Cannon, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
