Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas

Chapter XXXVI · Chapter 36

Chapter 36 of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas is here in full — 263 sentences across 53 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Jules Verne • Curated US English Learning Edition

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The Devilfish FOR SOME DAYS the Nautilus kept veering away from the American coast.

It obviously didn’t want to frequent the waves of the Gulf of Mexico or the Caribbean Sea.

Yet there was no shortage of water under its keel, since the average depth of these seas is 1,800 meters; but these waterways, strewn with islands and plowed by steamers, probably didn’t agree with Captain Nemo.

On April 16 we raised Martinique and Guadalupe from a distance of about thirty miles.

For one instant I could see their lofty peaks.

Narrator

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LEARNER DICTIONARY

Archivist

/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/

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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Chapter XXXVI Reading 1/52

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas Jules Verne

Chapter XXXVI

Chapter 36

Chapter 36 of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas is here in full — 263 sentences across 53 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

The Devilfish FOR SOME DAYS the Nautilus kept veering away from the American coast. It obviously didn’t want to frequent the waves of the Gulf of Mexico or the Caribbean Sea. Yet there was no shortage of water under its keel, since the average depth of these seas is 1,800 meters; but these waterways, strewn with islands and plowed by steamers, probably didn’t agree with Captain Nemo. On April 16 we raised Martinique and Guadalupe from a distance of about thirty miles. For one instant I could see their lofty peaks.

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas

Chapter XXXVI · Chapter 36

Chapter 36 of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas is here in full — 263 sentences across 53 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/52 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

The Devilfish FOR SOME DAYS the Nautilus kept veering away from the American coast.

Line 2

It obviously didn’t want to frequent the waves of the Gulf of Mexico or the Caribbean Sea.

Line 3

Line 4

On April 16 we raised Martinique and Guadalupe from a distance of about thirty miles.

Line 5

For one instant I could see their lofty peaks.

/fɔːr wʌn ˈɪnstənt aɪ kʊd siː ðer ˈlɔːfti piːks/

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.

Caribbean noun US /kərˈɪbiən/

an arm of the Atlantic Ocean between North and South America; the origin of the Gulf stream

From this reading “It obviously didn’t want to frequent the waves of the Gulf of Mexico or the Caribbean Sea.”

keel noun US /kiːl/

a projection or ridge that suggests a keel

From this reading “Yet there was no shortage of water under its keel, since the average depth of these seas is 1,800 meters; but these waterways, strewn with islands and plowed by steamers, probably didn’t agree with Captain Nemo.”

Martinique noun US /mɑːrtɪˈniːk/

an island in the eastern Caribbean in the Windward Islands; administered as an overseas region of France

From this reading “On April 16 we raised Martinique and Guadalupe from a distance of about thirty miles.”

meters noun US /ˈmiːtərz/

plural of “meter” — the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)

plowed adjective US /plaʊd/

(of farmland) broken and turned over with a plow

shortage noun US /ˈʃɔːrtədʒ/

the property of being an amount by which something is less than expected or required

veering noun US /ˈvɪrɪŋ/

the act of turning aside suddenly

From this reading “The Devilfish FOR SOME DAYS the Nautilus kept veering away from the American coast.”

waterways noun US /ˈwɔːtərweɪz/

plural of “waterway” — a navigable body of water

All words in this reading · 75

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.

1,800

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

From this reading Yet there was no shortage of water under its keel, since the average depth of these seas is 1,800 meters; but these waterways, strewn with islands and plowed by steamers, probably didn’t agree with Captain Nemo.

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

From this reading On April 16 we raised Martinique and Guadalupe from a distance of about thirty miles.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading On April 16 we raised Martinique and Guadalupe from a distance of about thirty miles.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading On April 16 we raised Martinique and Guadalupe from a distance of about thirty miles.

agreeverbUS /əˈɡriː/

be in accord; be in agreement

AmericannounUS /əˈmerəkən/

a native or inhabitant of the United States

From this reading The Devilfish FOR SOME DAYS the Nautilus kept veering away from the American coast.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

AprilnounUS /ˈeɪprəl/

the month following March and preceding May

From this reading On April 16 we raised Martinique and Guadalupe from a distance of about thirty miles.

averageadjectiveUS /ˈævərɪdʒ/

approximating the statistical norm or average or expected value

awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/

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

From this reading The Devilfish FOR SOME DAYS the Nautilus kept veering away from the American coast.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

CaptainnounUS /ˈkæptən/

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

CaribbeannounUS /kərˈɪbiən/

an arm of the Atlantic Ocean between North and South America; the origin of the Gulf stream

From this reading It obviously didn’t want to frequent the waves of the Gulf of Mexico or the Caribbean Sea.

coastnounUS /koʊst/

the shore of a sea or ocean

From this reading The Devilfish FOR SOME DAYS the Nautilus kept veering away from the American coast.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading For one instant I could see their lofty peaks.

DAYSnounUS /deɪz/

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading The Devilfish FOR SOME DAYS the Nautilus kept veering away from the American coast.

depthnounUS /depθ/

the extent downward or backward or inward

Devilfishnoun

medium-sized greyish-black whale of the northern Pacific

From this reading The Devilfish FOR SOME DAYS the Nautilus kept veering away from the American coast.

didn't

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

From this reading It obviously didn’t want to frequent the waves of the Gulf of Mexico or the Caribbean Sea.

distancenounUS /ˈdɪstəns/

the property created by the space between two objects or points

From this reading On April 16 we raised Martinique and Guadalupe from a distance of about thirty miles.

FORprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The Devilfish FOR SOME DAYS the Nautilus kept veering away from the American coast.

frequentverbUS /ˈfriːkwənt/

do one's shopping at; do business with; be a customer or client of

From this reading It obviously didn’t want to frequent the waves of the Gulf of Mexico or the Caribbean Sea.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The Devilfish FOR SOME DAYS the Nautilus kept veering away from the American coast.

Guadalupe

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

From this reading On April 16 we raised Martinique and Guadalupe from a distance of about thirty miles.

GulfnounUS /ɡʌlf/

an arm of a sea or ocean partly enclosed by land; larger than a bay

From this reading It obviously didn’t want to frequent the waves of the Gulf of Mexico or the Caribbean Sea.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading For one instant I could see their lofty peaks.

instantnounUS /ˈɪnstənt/

a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)

From this reading For one instant I could see their lofty peaks.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

islandsnounUS /ˈaɪləndz/

plural of “island” — a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It obviously didn’t want to frequent the waves of the Gulf of Mexico or the Caribbean Sea.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

keelnounUS /kiːl/

a projection or ridge that suggests a keel

keptadjectiveUS /kept/

(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded

From this reading The Devilfish FOR SOME DAYS the Nautilus kept veering away from the American coast.

loftyadjectiveUS /ˈlɔːfti/

of high moral or intellectual value; elevated in nature or style

From this reading For one instant I could see their lofty peaks.

MartiniquenounUS /mɑːrtɪˈniːk/

an island in the eastern Caribbean in the Windward Islands; administered as an overseas region of France

From this reading On April 16 we raised Martinique and Guadalupe from a distance of about thirty miles.

metersnounUS /ˈmiːtərz/

plural of “meter” — the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)

MexiconounUS /ˈmeksəkoʊ/

a republic in southern North America; became independent from Spain in 1810

From this reading It obviously didn’t want to frequent the waves of the Gulf of Mexico or the Caribbean Sea.

milesnounUS /maɪlz/

plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading On April 16 we raised Martinique and Guadalupe from a distance of about thirty miles.

NautilusnounUS /ˈnɔːtələs/

a submarine that is propelled by nuclear power

From this reading The Devilfish FOR SOME DAYS the Nautilus kept veering away from the American coast.

Nemo

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

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

obviouslyadverbUS /ˈɑːbviəsli/

unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)

From this reading It obviously didn’t want to frequent the waves of the Gulf of Mexico or the Caribbean Sea.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It obviously didn’t want to frequent the waves of the Gulf of Mexico or the Caribbean Sea.

OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading On April 16 we raised Martinique and Guadalupe from a distance of about thirty miles.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading For one instant I could see their lofty peaks.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading It obviously didn’t want to frequent the waves of the Gulf of Mexico or the Caribbean Sea.

peaksnounUS /piːks/

plural of “peak” — the most extreme possible amount or value

From this reading For one instant I could see their lofty peaks.

plowedadjectiveUS /plaʊd/

(of farmland) broken and turned over with a plow

probablyadverbUS /ˈprɑːbəbliː/

with considerable certainty; without much doubt

raisedadjectiveUS /reɪzd/

located or moved above the surround or above the normal position

From this reading On April 16 we raised Martinique and Guadalupe from a distance of about thirty miles.

SeanounUS /siː/

a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land

From this reading It obviously didn’t want to frequent the waves of the Gulf of Mexico or the Caribbean Sea.

seasnounUS /siːz/

plural of “sea” — a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading For one instant I could see their lofty peaks.

shortagenounUS /ˈʃɔːrtədʒ/

the property of being an amount by which something is less than expected or required

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

SOMEadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading The Devilfish FOR SOME DAYS the Nautilus kept veering away from the American coast.

steamersnounUS /ˈstiːmərz/

plural of “steamer” — a clam that is usually steamed in the shell

strewnverbUS /struːn/

inflected form of “strew” — spread by scattering ("straw" is archaic)

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The Devilfish FOR SOME DAYS the Nautilus kept veering away from the American coast.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading For one instant I could see their lofty peaks.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

thirtynounUS /ˈθɜːrdiː/

the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three

From this reading On April 16 we raised Martinique and Guadalupe from a distance of about thirty miles.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It obviously didn’t want to frequent the waves of the Gulf of Mexico or the Caribbean Sea.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

veeringnounUS /ˈvɪrɪŋ/

the act of turning aside suddenly

From this reading The Devilfish FOR SOME DAYS the Nautilus kept veering away from the American coast.

wantverbUS /wɑːnt/

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

From this reading It obviously didn’t want to frequent the waves of the Gulf of Mexico or the Caribbean Sea.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

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

waterwaysnounUS /ˈwɔːtərweɪz/

plural of “waterway” — a navigable body of water

wavesnounUS /weɪvz/

plural of “wave” — one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)

From this reading It obviously didn’t want to frequent the waves of the Gulf of Mexico or the Caribbean Sea.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading On April 16 we raised Martinique and Guadalupe from a distance of about thirty miles.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

YetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

Chapter 36 of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas by Jules Verne holds 263 sentences, grouped into 53 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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 36 of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas contain?

Chapter 36 holds 263 sentences of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas, unabridged, divided into 53 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 36 of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas by Jules Verne exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 263 sentences, grouped into 53 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 36 of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas?

Work through the 53 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 53 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.

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Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 36 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

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Project Gutenberg eBook #2488, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

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About 600 minutes of reading across 1868 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Chapter XXXVI · Chapter 36

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