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Wacousta
Wacousta

Chapter VI · Chapter 6

Chapter 6 of Wacousta is here in full — 188 sentences across 38 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/37 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.
Captain Blessington presided; and next him, on either hand, were the first in seniority, the two junior occupying the lowest places.
The demeanour of the several officers, serious and befitting the duty they were met to perform, was rendered more especially solemn from the presence of the governor, who sat a little to the right of the president, and without the circle, remained covered, and with his arms folded across his chest.
At a signal given by the president to the orderly in waiting, that individual disappeared from the room, and soon afterwards Frank Halloway, strongly ironed, as on the preceding night, was ushered in by several files of the guard, under Ensign Fortescue himself.
The prisoner having been stationed a few paces on the left of the president, that officer stood up to administer the customary oath.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Wacousta

Chapter VI · Chapter 6

Chapter 6 of Wacousta is here in full — 188 sentences across 38 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/37 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.
Line 2
Captain Blessington presided; and next him, on either hand, were the first in seniority, the two junior occupying the lowest places.
Line 3
The demeanour of the several officers, serious and befitting the duty they were met to perform, was rendered more especially solemn from the presence of the governor, who sat a little to the right of the president, and without the circle, remained covered, and with his arms folded across his chest.
/ðə dɪˈmiːnər ʌv ðə ˈsevrəl ˈɔːfəsərz ˈsɪriəs ənd bɪˈfɪtɪŋ ðə ˈduːti ðeɪ wɜːr met tuː pərˈfɔːrm wɑːz ˈrendərd mɔːr əˈspeʃli ˈsɑːləm frʌm ðə ˈprezəns ʌv ðə ˈɡʌvərnər huː sæt ə ˈlɪtəl tuː ðə raɪt ʌv ðə ˈprezədent ənd wɪˈθaʊt ðə ˈsɜːrkəl rɪˈmeɪnd ˈkʌvərd ənd wɪð hɪz ɑːrmz ˈfoʊldəd əˈkrɔːs hɪz tʃest/
Line 4
At a signal given by the president to the orderly in waiting, that individual disappeared from the room, and soon afterwards Frank Halloway, strongly ironed, as on the preceding night, was ushered in by several files of the guard, under Ensign Fortescue himself.
Line 5
The prisoner having been stationed a few paces on the left of the president, that officer stood up to administer the customary oath.
/ðə ˈprɪzənər ˈhævɪŋ bɪn ˈsteɪʃənd ə fjuː ˈpeɪsɪz ɑːn ðə left ʌv ðə ˈprezədent ðæt ˈɔːfəsər stʊd ʌp tuː ədˈmɪnəstər ðə ˈkʌstəmeri oʊθ/

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.

administer verb US /ədˈmɪnəstər/

work in an administrative capacity; supervise or be in charge of

From this reading “The prisoner having been stationed a few paces on the left of the president, that officer stood up to administer the customary oath.”

befitting adjective US /bɪˈfɪtɪŋ/

appropriate to

From this reading “The demeanour of the several officers, serious and befitting the duty they were met to perform, was rendered more especially solemn from the presence of the governor, who sat a little to the right of the president, and without the circle, remained covered, and with his arms folded across his chest.”

composing noun US /kəmˈpoʊzɪŋ/

the spatial property resulting from the arrangement of parts in relation to each other and to the whole

From this reading “The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.”

Ensign noun US /ˈensən/

a person who holds a commissioned rank in the United States Navy or the United States Coast Guard; below lieutenant junior grade

From this reading “At a signal given by the president to the orderly in waiting, that individual disappeared from the room, and soon afterwards Frank Halloway, strongly ironed, as on the preceding night, was ushered in by several files of the guard, under Ensign Fortescue himself.”

files noun US /faɪlz/

plural of “file” — a set of related records (either written or electronic) kept together

From this reading “At a signal given by the president to the orderly in waiting, that individual disappeared from the room, and soon afterwards Frank Halloway, strongly ironed, as on the preceding night, was ushered in by several files of the guard, under Ensign Fortescue himself.”

ironed adjective US /ˈaɪərnd/

(of linens or clothes) smoothed with a hot iron

From this reading “At a signal given by the president to the orderly in waiting, that individual disappeared from the room, and soon afterwards Frank Halloway, strongly ironed, as on the preceding night, was ushered in by several files of the guard, under Ensign Fortescue himself.”

presided verb US /prɪˈzaɪdɪd/

past form of “preside” — act as president

From this reading “Captain Blessington presided; and next him, on either hand, were the first in seniority, the two junior occupying the lowest places.”

seniority noun US /siˈnjɔːrɪti/

higher rank than that of others especially by reason of longer service

From this reading “Captain Blessington presided; and next him, on either hand, were the first in seniority, the two junior occupying the lowest places.”

All words in this reading · 127

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 The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading The demeanour of the several officers, serious and befitting the duty they were met to perform, was rendered more especially solemn from the presence of the governor, who sat a little to the right of the president, and without the circle, remained covered, and with his arms folded across his chest.

administerverbUS /ədˈmɪnəstər/

work in an administrative capacity; supervise or be in charge of

From this reading The prisoner having been stationed a few paces on the left of the president, that officer stood up to administer the customary oath.

afterwardsadverbUS /ˈæftərwərdz/

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading At a signal given by the president to the orderly in waiting, that individual disappeared from the room, and soon afterwards Frank Halloway, strongly ironed, as on the preceding night, was ushered in by several files of the guard, under Ensign Fortescue himself.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

armsnounUS /ɑːrmz/

weapons considered collectively

From this reading The demeanour of the several officers, serious and befitting the duty they were met to perform, was rendered more especially solemn from the presence of the governor, who sat a little to the right of the president, and without the circle, remained covered, and with his arms folded across his chest.

arrivedverbUS /ərˈaɪvd/

past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At a signal given by the president to the orderly in waiting, that individual disappeared from the room, and soon afterwards Frank Halloway, strongly ironed, as on the preceding night, was ushered in by several files of the guard, under Ensign Fortescue himself.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The prisoner having been stationed a few paces on the left of the president, that officer stood up to administer the customary oath.

befittingadjectiveUS /bɪˈfɪtɪŋ/

appropriate to

From this reading The demeanour of the several officers, serious and befitting the duty they were met to perform, was rendered more especially solemn from the presence of the governor, who sat a little to the right of the president, and without the circle, remained covered, and with his arms folded across his chest.

Blessington

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

From this reading Captain Blessington presided; and next him, on either hand, were the first in seniority, the two junior occupying the lowest places.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading At a signal given by the president to the orderly in waiting, that individual disappeared from the room, and soon afterwards Frank Halloway, strongly ironed, as on the preceding night, was ushered in by several files of the guard, under Ensign Fortescue himself.

CaptainnounUS /ˈkæptən/

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

From this reading Captain Blessington presided; and next him, on either hand, were the first in seniority, the two junior occupying the lowest places.

chestnounUS /tʃest/

the part of the human torso between the neck and the diaphragm or the corresponding part in other vertebrates

From this reading The demeanour of the several officers, serious and befitting the duty they were met to perform, was rendered more especially solemn from the presence of the governor, who sat a little to the right of the president, and without the circle, remained covered, and with his arms folded across his chest.

circlenounUS /ˈsɜːrkəl/

ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point

From this reading The demeanour of the several officers, serious and befitting the duty they were met to perform, was rendered more especially solemn from the presence of the governor, who sat a little to the right of the president, and without the circle, remained covered, and with his arms folded across his chest.

clothnounUS /klɔːθ/

artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

composingnounUS /kəmˈpoʊzɪŋ/

the spatial property resulting from the arrangement of parts in relation to each other and to the whole

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

coursenounUS /kɔːrs/

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

courtnounUS /kɔːrt/

an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

coveredadjectiveUS /ˈkʌvərd/

overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

customaryadjectiveUS /ˈkʌstəmeri/

in accordance with convention or custom

From this reading The prisoner having been stationed a few paces on the left of the president, that officer stood up to administer the customary oath.

deemverbUS /diːm/

keep in mind or convey as a conviction or view

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

demeanournounUS /dɪˈmiːnər/

(behavioral attributes) the way a person behaves toward other people

From this reading The demeanour of the several officers, serious and befitting the duty they were met to perform, was rendered more especially solemn from the presence of the governor, who sat a little to the right of the president, and without the circle, remained covered, and with his arms folded across his chest.

disappearedverbUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɪrd/

past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation

From this reading At a signal given by the president to the orderly in waiting, that individual disappeared from the room, and soon afterwards Frank Halloway, strongly ironed, as on the preceding night, was ushered in by several files of the guard, under Ensign Fortescue himself.

distributedadjectiveUS /dɪˈstrɪbjətəd/

spread out or scattered about or divided up

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

dutynounUS /ˈduːti/

the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force

From this reading The demeanour of the several officers, serious and befitting the duty they were met to perform, was rendered more especially solemn from the presence of the governor, who sat a little to the right of the president, and without the circle, remained covered, and with his arms folded across his chest.

eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/

one or the other of two

From this reading Captain Blessington presided; and next him, on either hand, were the first in seniority, the two junior occupying the lowest places.

EnsignnounUS /ˈensən/

a person who holds a commissioned rank in the United States Navy or the United States Coast Guard; below lieutenant junior grade

From this reading At a signal given by the president to the orderly in waiting, that individual disappeared from the room, and soon afterwards Frank Halloway, strongly ironed, as on the preceding night, was ushered in by several files of the guard, under Ensign Fortescue himself.

especiallyadverbUS /əˈspeʃli/

to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common

From this reading The demeanour of the several officers, serious and befitting the duty they were met to perform, was rendered more especially solemn from the presence of the governor, who sat a little to the right of the president, and without the circle, remained covered, and with his arms folded across his chest.

evidencenounUS /ˈevədəns/

your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading The prisoner having been stationed a few paces on the left of the president, that officer stood up to administer the customary oath.

filesnounUS /faɪlz/

plural of “file” — a set of related records (either written or electronic) kept together

From this reading At a signal given by the president to the orderly in waiting, that individual disappeared from the room, and soon afterwards Frank Halloway, strongly ironed, as on the preceding night, was ushered in by several files of the guard, under Ensign Fortescue himself.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading Captain Blessington presided; and next him, on either hand, were the first in seniority, the two junior occupying the lowest places.

fixedadjectiveUS /fɪkst/

(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

foldedverbUS /ˈfoʊldəd/

past form of “fold” — bend or lay so that one part covers the other

From this reading The demeanour of the several officers, serious and befitting the duty they were met to perform, was rendered more especially solemn from the presence of the governor, who sat a little to the right of the president, and without the circle, remained covered, and with his arms folded across his chest.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

Fortescue

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

From this reading At a signal given by the president to the orderly in waiting, that individual disappeared from the room, and soon afterwards Frank Halloway, strongly ironed, as on the preceding night, was ushered in by several files of the guard, under Ensign Fortescue himself.

FrankadjectiveUS /fræŋk/

characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion

From this reading At a signal given by the president to the orderly in waiting, that individual disappeared from the room, and soon afterwards Frank Halloway, strongly ironed, as on the preceding night, was ushered in by several files of the guard, under Ensign Fortescue himself.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The demeanour of the several officers, serious and befitting the duty they were met to perform, was rendered more especially solemn from the presence of the governor, who sat a little to the right of the president, and without the circle, remained covered, and with his arms folded across his chest.

garrisonnounUS /ˈɡærɪsən/

a fortified military post where troops are stationed

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading At a signal given by the president to the orderly in waiting, that individual disappeared from the room, and soon afterwards Frank Halloway, strongly ironed, as on the preceding night, was ushered in by several files of the guard, under Ensign Fortescue himself.

governornounUS /ˈɡʌvərnər/

the head of a state government

From this reading The demeanour of the several officers, serious and befitting the duty they were met to perform, was rendered more especially solemn from the presence of the governor, who sat a little to the right of the president, and without the circle, remained covered, and with his arms folded across his chest.

greennounUS /ɡriːn/

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

guardnounUS /ɡɑːrd/

a person who keeps watch over something or someone

From this reading At a signal given by the president to the orderly in waiting, that individual disappeared from the room, and soon afterwards Frank Halloway, strongly ironed, as on the preceding night, was ushered in by several files of the guard, under Ensign Fortescue himself.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

Halloway

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

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

handnounUS /hænd/

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading Captain Blessington presided; and next him, on either hand, were the first in seniority, the two junior occupying the lowest places.

havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading The prisoner having been stationed a few paces on the left of the president, that officer stood up to administer the customary oath.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Captain Blessington presided; and next him, on either hand, were the first in seniority, the two junior occupying the lowest places.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading At a signal given by the president to the orderly in waiting, that individual disappeared from the room, and soon afterwards Frank Halloway, strongly ironed, as on the preceding night, was ushered in by several files of the guard, under Ensign Fortescue himself.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The demeanour of the several officers, serious and befitting the duty they were met to perform, was rendered more especially solemn from the presence of the governor, who sat a little to the right of the president, and without the circle, remained covered, and with his arms folded across his chest.

hournounUS /ˈaʊər/

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

individualadjectiveUS /ˌɪndəˈvɪdʒəwəl/

being or characteristic of a single thing or person

From this reading At a signal given by the president to the orderly in waiting, that individual disappeared from the room, and soon afterwards Frank Halloway, strongly ironed, as on the preceding night, was ushered in by several files of the guard, under Ensign Fortescue himself.

inknounUS /ɪŋk/

a liquid used for printing or writing or drawing

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

ironedadjectiveUS /ˈaɪərnd/

(of linens or clothes) smoothed with a hot iron

From this reading At a signal given by the president to the orderly in waiting, that individual disappeared from the room, and soon afterwards Frank Halloway, strongly ironed, as on the preceding night, was ushered in by several files of the guard, under Ensign Fortescue himself.

juniornounUS /ˈdʒuːnjər/

term of address for a disrespectful and annoying male

From this reading Captain Blessington presided; and next him, on either hand, were the first in seniority, the two junior occupying the lowest places.

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 The prisoner having been stationed a few paces on the left of the president, that officer stood up to administer the customary oath.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

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

From this reading The demeanour of the several officers, serious and befitting the duty they were met to perform, was rendered more especially solemn from the presence of the governor, who sat a little to the right of the president, and without the circle, remained covered, and with his arms folded across his chest.

longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

lowestadjectiveUS /ˈloʊəst/

lowest in rank or importance

From this reading Captain Blessington presided; and next him, on either hand, were the first in seniority, the two junior occupying the lowest places.

membersnounUS /ˈmembərz/

plural of “member” — one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

mess-room

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

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

metverbUS /met/

inflected form of “meet” — come together

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

minutesnounUS /ˈmɪnəts/

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading The demeanour of the several officers, serious and befitting the duty they were met to perform, was rendered more especially solemn from the presence of the governor, who sat a little to the right of the president, and without the circle, remained covered, and with his arms folded across his chest.

necessaryadjectiveUS /ˈnesəseri/

absolutely essential

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

nextadjectiveUS /nekst/

immediately following in time or order

From this reading Captain Blessington presided; and next him, on either hand, were the first in seniority, the two junior occupying the lowest places.

nightnounUS /naɪt/

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading At a signal given by the president to the orderly in waiting, that individual disappeared from the room, and soon afterwards Frank Halloway, strongly ironed, as on the preceding night, was ushered in by several files of the guard, under Ensign Fortescue himself.

notesnounUS /noʊts/

plural of “note” — a brief written record

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

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

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

oathnounUS /oʊθ/

profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger

From this reading The prisoner having been stationed a few paces on the left of the president, that officer stood up to administer the customary oath.

occupyingverbUS /ˈɑːkjəpaɪɪŋ/

-ing form of “occupy” — keep busy with

From this reading Captain Blessington presided; and next him, on either hand, were the first in seniority, the two junior occupying the lowest places.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

officernounUS /ˈɔːfəsər/

any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command

From this reading The prisoner having been stationed a few paces on the left of the president, that officer stood up to administer the customary oath.

officersnounUS /ˈɔːfəsərz/

plural of “officer” — any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Captain Blessington presided; and next him, on either hand, were the first in seniority, the two junior occupying the lowest places.

orderlynounUS /ˈɔːrdərli/

a soldier who serves as an attendant to a superior officer

From this reading At a signal given by the president to the orderly in waiting, that individual disappeared from the room, and soon afterwards Frank Halloway, strongly ironed, as on the preceding night, was ushered in by several files of the guard, under Ensign Fortescue himself.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

pacesnounUS /ˈpeɪsɪz/

plural of “pace” — the rate of moving (especially walking or running)

From this reading The prisoner having been stationed a few paces on the left of the president, that officer stood up to administer the customary oath.

papernounUS /ˈpeɪpər/

a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

pensnounUS /penz/

plural of “pen” — a writing implement with a point from which ink flows

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

performverbUS /pərˈfɔːrm/

carry out or perform an action

From this reading The demeanour of the several officers, serious and befitting the duty they were met to perform, was rendered more especially solemn from the presence of the governor, who sat a little to the right of the president, and without the circle, remained covered, and with his arms folded across his chest.

placesnounUS /ˈpleɪsəz/

plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading Captain Blessington presided; and next him, on either hand, were the first in seniority, the two junior occupying the lowest places.

precedingadjectiveUS /priˈsiːdɪŋ/

existing or coming before

From this reading At a signal given by the president to the orderly in waiting, that individual disappeared from the room, and soon afterwards Frank Halloway, strongly ironed, as on the preceding night, was ushered in by several files of the guard, under Ensign Fortescue himself.

presencenounUS /ˈprezəns/

the state of being present; current existence

From this reading The demeanour of the several officers, serious and befitting the duty they were met to perform, was rendered more especially solemn from the presence of the governor, who sat a little to the right of the president, and without the circle, remained covered, and with his arms folded across his chest.

presidedverbUS /prɪˈzaɪdɪd/

past form of “preside” — act as president

From this reading Captain Blessington presided; and next him, on either hand, were the first in seniority, the two junior occupying the lowest places.

presidentnounUS /ˈprezədent/

an executive officer of a firm or corporation

From this reading The demeanour of the several officers, serious and befitting the duty they were met to perform, was rendered more especially solemn from the presence of the governor, who sat a little to the right of the president, and without the circle, remained covered, and with his arms folded across his chest.

prisonernounUS /ˈprɪzənər/

a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

proceedingsnounUS /proʊˈsiːdɪŋz/

(law) the institution of a sequence of steps by which legal judgments are invoked

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

remainedverbUS /rɪˈmeɪnd/

past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading The demeanour of the several officers, serious and befitting the duty they were met to perform, was rendered more especially solemn from the presence of the governor, who sat a little to the right of the president, and without the circle, remained covered, and with his arms folded across his chest.

renderedverbUS /ˈrendərd/

past form of “render” — cause to become

From this reading The demeanour of the several officers, serious and befitting the duty they were met to perform, was rendered more especially solemn from the presence of the governor, who sat a little to the right of the president, and without the circle, remained covered, and with his arms folded across his chest.

rightadverbUS /raɪt/

precisely, exactly

From this reading The demeanour of the several officers, serious and befitting the duty they were met to perform, was rendered more especially solemn from the presence of the governor, who sat a little to the right of the president, and without the circle, remained covered, and with his arms folded across his chest.

roomnounUS /ruːm/

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading At a signal given by the president to the orderly in waiting, that individual disappeared from the room, and soon afterwards Frank Halloway, strongly ironed, as on the preceding night, was ushered in by several files of the guard, under Ensign Fortescue himself.

satnounUS /sæt/

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading The demeanour of the several officers, serious and befitting the duty they were met to perform, was rendered more especially solemn from the presence of the governor, who sat a little to the right of the president, and without the circle, remained covered, and with his arms folded across his chest.

senioritynounUS /siˈnjɔːrɪti/

higher rank than that of others especially by reason of longer service

From this reading Captain Blessington presided; and next him, on either hand, were the first in seniority, the two junior occupying the lowest places.

seriousadjectiveUS /ˈsɪriəs/

concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities

From this reading The demeanour of the several officers, serious and befitting the duty they were met to perform, was rendered more especially solemn from the presence of the governor, who sat a little to the right of the president, and without the circle, remained covered, and with his arms folded across his chest.

severaladjectiveUS /ˈsevrəl/

(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

signalnounUS /ˈsɪɡnəl/

any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message

From this reading At a signal given by the president to the orderly in waiting, that individual disappeared from the room, and soon afterwards Frank Halloway, strongly ironed, as on the preceding night, was ushered in by several files of the guard, under Ensign Fortescue himself.

solemnadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləm/

dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises

From this reading The demeanour of the several officers, serious and befitting the duty they were met to perform, was rendered more especially solemn from the presence of the governor, who sat a little to the right of the president, and without the circle, remained covered, and with his arms folded across his chest.

soonadverbUS /suːn/

in the near future

From this reading At a signal given by the president to the orderly in waiting, that individual disappeared from the room, and soon afterwards Frank Halloway, strongly ironed, as on the preceding night, was ushered in by several files of the guard, under Ensign Fortescue himself.

stationedverbUS /ˈsteɪʃənd/

past form of “station” — assign to a station

From this reading The prisoner having been stationed a few paces on the left of the president, that officer stood up to administer the customary oath.

stoodverbUS /stʊd/

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading The prisoner having been stationed a few paces on the left of the president, that officer stood up to administer the customary oath.

stronglyadverbUS /ˈstrɔːŋli/

with strength or in a strong manner

From this reading At a signal given by the president to the orderly in waiting, that individual disappeared from the room, and soon afterwards Frank Halloway, strongly ironed, as on the preceding night, was ushered in by several files of the guard, under Ensign Fortescue himself.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

surroundingadjectiveUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋ/

closely encircling

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

tablenounUS /ˈteɪbəl/

a set of data arranged in rows and columns

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

takingnounUS /ˈteɪkɪŋ/

the act of someone who picks up or takes something

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading At a signal given by the president to the orderly in waiting, that individual disappeared from the room, and soon afterwards Frank Halloway, strongly ironed, as on the preceding night, was ushered in by several files of the guard, under Ensign Fortescue himself.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The demeanour of the several officers, serious and befitting the duty they were met to perform, was rendered more especially solemn from the presence of the governor, who sat a little to the right of the president, and without the circle, remained covered, and with his arms folded across his chest.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The demeanour of the several officers, serious and befitting the duty they were met to perform, was rendered more especially solemn from the presence of the governor, who sat a little to the right of the president, and without the circle, remained covered, and with his arms folded across his chest.

trialnounUS /ˈtraɪəl/

the act of testing something

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

twonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading Captain Blessington presided; and next him, on either hand, were the first in seniority, the two junior occupying the lowest places.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading At a signal given by the president to the orderly in waiting, that individual disappeared from the room, and soon afterwards Frank Halloway, strongly ironed, as on the preceding night, was ushered in by several files of the guard, under Ensign Fortescue himself.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

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

From this reading The prisoner having been stationed a few paces on the left of the president, that officer stood up to administer the customary oath.

usheredverbUS /ˈʌʃərd/

past form of “usher” — take (someone) to their seats, as in theaters or auditoriums

From this reading At a signal given by the president to the orderly in waiting, that individual disappeared from the room, and soon afterwards Frank Halloway, strongly ironed, as on the preceding night, was ushered in by several files of the guard, under Ensign Fortescue himself.

waitingnounUS /ˈweɪtɪŋ/

the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)

From this reading At a signal given by the president to the orderly in waiting, that individual disappeared from the room, and soon afterwards Frank Halloway, strongly ironed, as on the preceding night, was ushered in by several files of the guard, under Ensign Fortescue himself.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The demeanour of the several officers, serious and befitting the duty they were met to perform, was rendered more especially solemn from the presence of the governor, who sat a little to the right of the president, and without the circle, remained covered, and with his arms folded across his chest.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading The demeanour of the several officers, serious and befitting the duty they were met to perform, was rendered more especially solemn from the presence of the governor, who sat a little to the right of the president, and without the circle, remained covered, and with his arms folded across his chest.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner Halloway had now arrived, and the officers composing the court were all met in the mess-room of the garrison, surrounding a long table covered with green cloth, over which were distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the proceedings as the several members might deem necessary in the course of the trial.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading The demeanour of the several officers, serious and befitting the duty they were met to perform, was rendered more especially solemn from the presence of the governor, who sat a little to the right of the president, and without the circle, remained covered, and with his arms folded across his chest.

Chapter 6 of Wacousta by Major (John) Richardson holds 188 sentences, grouped into 38 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 6 of Wacousta contain?

Chapter 6 holds 188 sentences of Wacousta, unabridged, divided into 38 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 6 of Wacousta by Major (John) Richardson exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 188 sentences, grouped into 38 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 6 of Wacousta?

Work through the 38 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 38 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 6 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 Wacousta

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Project Gutenberg eBook #4912, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

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About 433 minutes of reading across 1041 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in Wacousta

Words and structures a reader meets early in Wacousta, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Introduce
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Wacousta; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Readers
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Wacousta; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Scenes
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Wacousta; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
European
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Wacousta; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.