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Wacousta
Wacousta

Chapter X · Chapter 10

Chapter 10 of Wacousta is here in full — 135 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/27 · 5 lines
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While this scene was enacting in front of the Fleur de lis, one of a far more touching and painful nature was passing in the very heart of the detachment itself.
At the moment when the halt was ordered by Captain Blessington, a rumour ran through the ranks that they had reached the spot destined for the execution of their ill-fated comrade.
Those only in the immediate front were aware of the true cause; but although the report of the rifle had been distinctly heard by all, it had been attributed by those in the rear to the accidental discharge of one of their own muskets.
A low murmur, expressive of the opinion generally entertained, passed gradually from rear to front, until it at length reached the ears of the delicate drummer boy who marched behind the coffin.
His face was still buried in the collar of his coat; and what was left uncovered of his features by the cap, was in some degree hidden by the forward drooping of his head upon his chest.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Wacousta

Chapter X · Chapter 10

Chapter 10 of Wacousta is here in full — 135 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/27 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
While this scene was enacting in front of the Fleur de lis, one of a far more touching and painful nature was passing in the very heart of the detachment itself.
Line 2
At the moment when the halt was ordered by Captain Blessington, a rumour ran through the ranks that they had reached the spot destined for the execution of their ill-fated comrade.
Line 3
Those only in the immediate front were aware of the true cause; but although the report of the rifle had been distinctly heard by all, it had been attributed by those in the rear to the accidental discharge of one of their own muskets.
Line 4
A low murmur, expressive of the opinion generally entertained, passed gradually from rear to front, until it at length reached the ears of the delicate drummer boy who marched behind the coffin.
/ə loʊ ˈmɜːrmər ɪkˈspresɪv ʌv ðə əˈpɪnjən ˈdʒenərəli ˌentərˈteɪnd pæst ˈɡrædʒuːəli frʌm rɪr tuː frʌnt ənˈtɪl ɪt æt leŋkθ riːtʃt ðə ɪrz ʌv ðə ˈdeləkət ˈdrʌmər bɔɪ huː mɑːrtʃt bɪˈhaɪnd ðə ˈkɔːfɪn/
Line 5
His face was still buried in the collar of his coat; and what was left uncovered of his features by the cap, was in some degree hidden by the forward drooping of his head upon his chest.
/hɪz feɪs wɑːz stɪl ˈberid ɪn ðə ˈkɑːlər ʌv hɪz koʊt ənd wʌt wɑːz left ənˈkʌvərd ʌv hɪz ˈfiːtʃərz baɪ ðə kæp wɑːz ɪn sʌm dɪˈɡriː ˈhɪdən baɪ ðə ˈfɔːrwərd ˈdruːpɪŋ ʌv hɪz hed əˈpɑːn hɪz tʃest/

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.

accidental adjective US /ˌæksəˈdentəl/

happening by chance or unexpectedly or unintentionally

From this reading “Those only in the immediate front were aware of the true cause; but although the report of the rifle had been distinctly heard by all, it had been attributed by those in the rear to the accidental discharge of one of their own muskets.”

attributed verb US /əˈtrɪbjətɪd/

past form of “attribute” — attribute or credit to

From this reading “Those only in the immediate front were aware of the true cause; but although the report of the rifle had been distinctly heard by all, it had been attributed by those in the rear to the accidental discharge of one of their own muskets.”

detachment noun US /dɪˈtætʃmənt/

avoiding emotional involvement

From this reading “While this scene was enacting in front of the Fleur de lis, one of a far more touching and painful nature was passing in the very heart of the detachment itself.”

drummer noun US /ˈdrʌmər/

someone who plays a drum

From this reading “A low murmur, expressive of the opinion generally entertained, passed gradually from rear to front, until it at length reached the ears of the delicate drummer boy who marched behind the coffin.”

enacting verb US /eˈnæktɪŋ/

-ing form of “enact” — order by virtue of superior authority; decree

From this reading “While this scene was enacting in front of the Fleur de lis, one of a far more touching and painful nature was passing in the very heart of the detachment itself.”

lis noun US /lɪs/

plural of “li” — a soft silver-white univalent element of the alkali metal group; the lightest metal known; occurs in several minerals

From this reading “While this scene was enacting in front of the Fleur de lis, one of a far more touching and painful nature was passing in the very heart of the detachment itself.”

rumour noun US /ˈruːmər/

gossip (usually a mixture of truth and untruth) passed around by word of mouth

From this reading “At the moment when the halt was ordered by Captain Blessington, a rumour ran through the ranks that they had reached the spot destined for the execution of their ill-fated comrade.”

uncovered adjective US /ənˈkʌvərd/

not covered with clothing

From this reading “His face was still buried in the collar of his coat; and what was left uncovered of his features by the cap, was in some degree hidden by the forward drooping of his head upon his chest.”

All words in this reading · 109

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 While this scene was enacting in front of the Fleur de lis, one of a far more touching and painful nature was passing in the very heart of the detachment itself.

accidentaladjectiveUS /ˌæksəˈdentəl/

happening by chance or unexpectedly or unintentionally

From this reading Those only in the immediate front were aware of the true cause; but although the report of the rifle had been distinctly heard by all, it had been attributed by those in the rear to the accidental discharge of one of their own muskets.

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 Those only in the immediate front were aware of the true cause; but although the report of the rifle had been distinctly heard by all, it had been attributed by those in the rear to the accidental discharge of one of their own muskets.

althoughconjunctionUS /ˌɔːlˈðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Those only in the immediate front were aware of the true cause; but although the report of the rifle had been distinctly heard by all, it had been attributed by those in the rear to the accidental discharge of one of their own muskets.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading While this scene was enacting in front of the Fleur de lis, one of a far more touching and painful nature was passing in the very heart of the detachment itself.

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At the moment when the halt was ordered by Captain Blessington, a rumour ran through the ranks that they had reached the spot destined for the execution of their ill-fated comrade.

attributedverbUS /əˈtrɪbjətɪd/

past form of “attribute” — attribute or credit to

From this reading Those only in the immediate front were aware of the true cause; but although the report of the rifle had been distinctly heard by all, it had been attributed by those in the rear to the accidental discharge of one of their own muskets.

awareadjectiveUS /əˈwer/

(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception

From this reading Those only in the immediate front were aware of the true cause; but although the report of the rifle had been distinctly heard by all, it had been attributed by those in the rear to the accidental discharge of one of their own muskets.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Those only in the immediate front were aware of the true cause; but although the report of the rifle had been distinctly heard by all, it had been attributed by those in the rear to the accidental discharge of one of their own muskets.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading A low murmur, expressive of the opinion generally entertained, passed gradually from rear to front, until it at length reached the ears of the delicate drummer boy who marched behind the coffin.

Blessington

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

From this reading At the moment when the halt was ordered by Captain Blessington, a rumour ran through the ranks that they had reached the spot destined for the execution of their ill-fated comrade.

boynounUS /bɔɪ/

a youthful male person

From this reading A low murmur, expressive of the opinion generally entertained, passed gradually from rear to front, until it at length reached the ears of the delicate drummer boy who marched behind the coffin.

buriedadjectiveUS /ˈberid/

placed in a grave

From this reading His face was still buried in the collar of his coat; and what was left uncovered of his features by the cap, was in some degree hidden by the forward drooping of his head upon his chest.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Those only in the immediate front were aware of the true cause; but although the report of the rifle had been distinctly heard by all, it had been attributed by those in the rear to the accidental discharge of one of their own muskets.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading At the moment when the halt was ordered by Captain Blessington, a rumour ran through the ranks that they had reached the spot destined for the execution of their ill-fated comrade.

capnounUS /kæp/

a tight-fitting headdress

From this reading His face was still buried in the collar of his coat; and what was left uncovered of his features by the cap, was in some degree hidden by the forward drooping of his head upon his chest.

CaptainnounUS /ˈkæptən/

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

From this reading At the moment when the halt was ordered by Captain Blessington, a rumour ran through the ranks that they had reached the spot destined for the execution of their ill-fated comrade.

causenounUS /kɑːz/

events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something

From this reading Those only in the immediate front were aware of the true cause; but although the report of the rifle had been distinctly heard by all, it had been attributed by those in the rear to the accidental discharge of one of their own muskets.

chestnounUS /tʃest/

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

From this reading His face was still buried in the collar of his coat; and what was left uncovered of his features by the cap, was in some degree hidden by the forward drooping of his head upon his chest.

coatnounUS /koʊt/

an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors

From this reading His face was still buried in the collar of his coat; and what was left uncovered of his features by the cap, was in some degree hidden by the forward drooping of his head upon his chest.

coffinnounUS /ˈkɔːfɪn/

box in which a corpse is buried or cremated

From this reading A low murmur, expressive of the opinion generally entertained, passed gradually from rear to front, until it at length reached the ears of the delicate drummer boy who marched behind the coffin.

collarnounUS /ˈkɑːlər/

a band that fits around the neck and is usually folded over

From this reading His face was still buried in the collar of his coat; and what was left uncovered of his features by the cap, was in some degree hidden by the forward drooping of his head upon his chest.

comradenounUS /ˈkɑːmræd/

a friend who is frequently in the company of another

From this reading At the moment when the halt was ordered by Captain Blessington, a rumour ran through the ranks that they had reached the spot destined for the execution of their ill-fated comrade.

denounUS /diː/

a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies

From this reading While this scene was enacting in front of the Fleur de lis, one of a far more touching and painful nature was passing in the very heart of the detachment itself.

degreenounUS /dɪˈɡriː/

a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality

From this reading His face was still buried in the collar of his coat; and what was left uncovered of his features by the cap, was in some degree hidden by the forward drooping of his head upon his chest.

delicateadjectiveUS /ˈdeləkət/

exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury

From this reading A low murmur, expressive of the opinion generally entertained, passed gradually from rear to front, until it at length reached the ears of the delicate drummer boy who marched behind the coffin.

destinedadjectiveUS /ˈdestɪnd/

headed or intending to head in a certain direction; often used as a combining form as in “college-bound students”

From this reading At the moment when the halt was ordered by Captain Blessington, a rumour ran through the ranks that they had reached the spot destined for the execution of their ill-fated comrade.

detachmentnounUS /dɪˈtætʃmənt/

avoiding emotional involvement

From this reading While this scene was enacting in front of the Fleur de lis, one of a far more touching and painful nature was passing in the very heart of the detachment itself.

dischargeverbUS /dɪsˈtʃɑːrdʒ/

complete or carry out

From this reading Those only in the immediate front were aware of the true cause; but although the report of the rifle had been distinctly heard by all, it had been attributed by those in the rear to the accidental discharge of one of their own muskets.

distinctlyadverbUS /dɪˈstɪŋktli/

clear to the mind; with distinct mental discernment

From this reading Those only in the immediate front were aware of the true cause; but although the report of the rifle had been distinctly heard by all, it had been attributed by those in the rear to the accidental discharge of one of their own muskets.

droopingadjectiveUS /ˈdruːpɪŋ/

weak from exhaustion

From this reading His face was still buried in the collar of his coat; and what was left uncovered of his features by the cap, was in some degree hidden by the forward drooping of his head upon his chest.

drummernounUS /ˈdrʌmər/

someone who plays a drum

From this reading A low murmur, expressive of the opinion generally entertained, passed gradually from rear to front, until it at length reached the ears of the delicate drummer boy who marched behind the coffin.

earsnounUS /ɪrz/

plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium

From this reading A low murmur, expressive of the opinion generally entertained, passed gradually from rear to front, until it at length reached the ears of the delicate drummer boy who marched behind the coffin.

enactingverbUS /eˈnæktɪŋ/

-ing form of “enact” — order by virtue of superior authority; decree

From this reading While this scene was enacting in front of the Fleur de lis, one of a far more touching and painful nature was passing in the very heart of the detachment itself.

entertainedadjectiveUS /ˌentərˈteɪnd/

pleasantly occupied

From this reading A low murmur, expressive of the opinion generally entertained, passed gradually from rear to front, until it at length reached the ears of the delicate drummer boy who marched behind the coffin.

executionnounUS /ˌeksəˈkjuːʃən/

putting a condemned person to death

From this reading At the moment when the halt was ordered by Captain Blessington, a rumour ran through the ranks that they had reached the spot destined for the execution of their ill-fated comrade.

expressiveadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspresɪv/

characterized by expression

From this reading A low murmur, expressive of the opinion generally entertained, passed gradually from rear to front, until it at length reached the ears of the delicate drummer boy who marched behind the coffin.

facenounUS /feɪs/

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading His face was still buried in the collar of his coat; and what was left uncovered of his features by the cap, was in some degree hidden by the forward drooping of his head upon his chest.

faradverbUS /fɑːr/

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading While this scene was enacting in front of the Fleur de lis, one of a far more touching and painful nature was passing in the very heart of the detachment itself.

featuresnounUS /ˈfiːtʃərz/

plural of “feature” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something

From this reading His face was still buried in the collar of his coat; and what was left uncovered of his features by the cap, was in some degree hidden by the forward drooping of his head upon his chest.

Fleur

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

From this reading While this scene was enacting in front of the Fleur de lis, one of a far more touching and painful nature was passing in the very heart of the detachment itself.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading At the moment when the halt was ordered by Captain Blessington, a rumour ran through the ranks that they had reached the spot destined for the execution of their ill-fated comrade.

forwardadverbUS /ˈfɔːrwərd/

at or to or toward the front

From this reading His face was still buried in the collar of his coat; and what was left uncovered of his features by the cap, was in some degree hidden by the forward drooping of his head upon his chest.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading A low murmur, expressive of the opinion generally entertained, passed gradually from rear to front, until it at length reached the ears of the delicate drummer boy who marched behind the coffin.

frontnounUS /frʌnt/

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading While this scene was enacting in front of the Fleur de lis, one of a far more touching and painful nature was passing in the very heart of the detachment itself.

generallyadverbUS /ˈdʒenərəli/

usually; as a rule

From this reading A low murmur, expressive of the opinion generally entertained, passed gradually from rear to front, until it at length reached the ears of the delicate drummer boy who marched behind the coffin.

graduallyadverbUS /ˈɡrædʒuːəli/

in a gradual manner

From this reading A low murmur, expressive of the opinion generally entertained, passed gradually from rear to front, until it at length reached the ears of the delicate drummer boy who marched behind the coffin.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading At the moment when the halt was ordered by Captain Blessington, a rumour ran through the ranks that they had reached the spot destined for the execution of their ill-fated comrade.

haltverbUS /hɔːlt/

cause to stop

From this reading At the moment when the halt was ordered by Captain Blessington, a rumour ran through the ranks that they had reached the spot destined for the execution of their ill-fated comrade.

headnounUS /hed/

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading His face was still buried in the collar of his coat; and what was left uncovered of his features by the cap, was in some degree hidden by the forward drooping of his head upon his chest.

heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading Those only in the immediate front were aware of the true cause; but although the report of the rifle had been distinctly heard by all, it had been attributed by those in the rear to the accidental discharge of one of their own muskets.

heartnounUS /hɑːrt/

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading While this scene was enacting in front of the Fleur de lis, one of a far more touching and painful nature was passing in the very heart of the detachment itself.

hiddenadjectiveUS /ˈhɪdən/

not accessible to view

From this reading His face was still buried in the collar of his coat; and what was left uncovered of his features by the cap, was in some degree hidden by the forward drooping of his head upon his chest.

HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading His face was still buried in the collar of his coat; and what was left uncovered of his features by the cap, was in some degree hidden by the forward drooping of his head upon his chest.

ill-fatedadjective

marked by or promising bad fortune

From this reading At the moment when the halt was ordered by Captain Blessington, a rumour ran through the ranks that they had reached the spot destined for the execution of their ill-fated comrade.

immediateadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈmiːdiːət/

of the present time and place

From this reading Those only in the immediate front were aware of the true cause; but although the report of the rifle had been distinctly heard by all, it had been attributed by those in the rear to the accidental discharge of one of their own muskets.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading While this scene was enacting in front of the Fleur de lis, one of a far more touching and painful nature was passing in the very heart of the detachment itself.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Those only in the immediate front were aware of the true cause; but although the report of the rifle had been distinctly heard by all, it had been attributed by those in the rear to the accidental discharge of one of their own muskets.

itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading While this scene was enacting in front of the Fleur de lis, one of a far more touching and painful nature was passing in the very heart of the detachment itself.

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 His face was still buried in the collar of his coat; and what was left uncovered of his features by the cap, was in some degree hidden by the forward drooping of his head upon his chest.

lengthnounUS /leŋkθ/

the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place

From this reading A low murmur, expressive of the opinion generally entertained, passed gradually from rear to front, until it at length reached the ears of the delicate drummer boy who marched behind the coffin.

lisnounUS /lɪs/

plural of “li” — a soft silver-white univalent element of the alkali metal group; the lightest metal known; occurs in several minerals

From this reading While this scene was enacting in front of the Fleur de lis, one of a far more touching and painful nature was passing in the very heart of the detachment itself.

lowadjectiveUS /loʊ/

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading A low murmur, expressive of the opinion generally entertained, passed gradually from rear to front, until it at length reached the ears of the delicate drummer boy who marched behind the coffin.

marchedverbUS /mɑːrtʃt/

past form of “march” — march in a procession

From this reading A low murmur, expressive of the opinion generally entertained, passed gradually from rear to front, until it at length reached the ears of the delicate drummer boy who marched behind the coffin.

momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/

a particular point in time

From this reading At the moment when the halt was ordered by Captain Blessington, a rumour ran through the ranks that they had reached the spot destined for the execution of their ill-fated comrade.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

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

From this reading While this scene was enacting in front of the Fleur de lis, one of a far more touching and painful nature was passing in the very heart of the detachment itself.

murmurnounUS /ˈmɜːrmər/

a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech

From this reading A low murmur, expressive of the opinion generally entertained, passed gradually from rear to front, until it at length reached the ears of the delicate drummer boy who marched behind the coffin.

muskets

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

From this reading Those only in the immediate front were aware of the true cause; but although the report of the rifle had been distinctly heard by all, it had been attributed by those in the rear to the accidental discharge of one of their own muskets.

naturenounUS /ˈneɪtʃər/

the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized

From this reading While this scene was enacting in front of the Fleur de lis, one of a far more touching and painful nature was passing in the very heart of the detachment itself.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading While this scene was enacting in front of the Fleur de lis, one of a far more touching and painful nature was passing in the very heart of the detachment itself.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading While this scene was enacting in front of the Fleur de lis, one of a far more touching and painful nature was passing in the very heart of the detachment itself.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading Those only in the immediate front were aware of the true cause; but although the report of the rifle had been distinctly heard by all, it had been attributed by those in the rear to the accidental discharge of one of their own muskets.

opinionnounUS /əˈpɪnjən/

a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty

From this reading A low murmur, expressive of the opinion generally entertained, passed gradually from rear to front, until it at length reached the ears of the delicate drummer boy who marched behind the coffin.

orderedadjectiveUS /ˈɔːrdərd/

having a systematic arrangement; especially having elements succeeding in order according to rule

From this reading At the moment when the halt was ordered by Captain Blessington, a rumour ran through the ranks that they had reached the spot destined for the execution of their ill-fated comrade.

ownverbUS /oʊn/

have ownership or possession of

From this reading Those only in the immediate front were aware of the true cause; but although the report of the rifle had been distinctly heard by all, it had been attributed by those in the rear to the accidental discharge of one of their own muskets.

painfuladjectiveUS /ˈpeɪnfəl/

causing physical or psychological pain

From this reading While this scene was enacting in front of the Fleur de lis, one of a far more touching and painful nature was passing in the very heart of the detachment itself.

passedverbUS /pæst/

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading A low murmur, expressive of the opinion generally entertained, passed gradually from rear to front, until it at length reached the ears of the delicate drummer boy who marched behind the coffin.

passingnounUS /ˈpæsɪŋ/

(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate

From this reading While this scene was enacting in front of the Fleur de lis, one of a far more touching and painful nature was passing in the very heart of the detachment itself.

ranverbUS /ræn/

inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading At the moment when the halt was ordered by Captain Blessington, a rumour ran through the ranks that they had reached the spot destined for the execution of their ill-fated comrade.

ranksnounUS /ræŋks/

plural of “rank” — a row or line of people (especially soldiers or police) standing abreast of one another

From this reading At the moment when the halt was ordered by Captain Blessington, a rumour ran through the ranks that they had reached the spot destined for the execution of their ill-fated comrade.

reachedverbUS /riːtʃt/

past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading At the moment when the halt was ordered by Captain Blessington, a rumour ran through the ranks that they had reached the spot destined for the execution of their ill-fated comrade.

rearnounUS /rɪr/

the back of a military formation or procession

From this reading Those only in the immediate front were aware of the true cause; but although the report of the rifle had been distinctly heard by all, it had been attributed by those in the rear to the accidental discharge of one of their own muskets.

reportverbUS /riˈpɔːrt/

to give an account or representation of in words

From this reading Those only in the immediate front were aware of the true cause; but although the report of the rifle had been distinctly heard by all, it had been attributed by those in the rear to the accidental discharge of one of their own muskets.

rifleverbUS /ˈraɪfəl/

steal goods; take as spoils

From this reading Those only in the immediate front were aware of the true cause; but although the report of the rifle had been distinctly heard by all, it had been attributed by those in the rear to the accidental discharge of one of their own muskets.

rumournounUS /ˈruːmər/

gossip (usually a mixture of truth and untruth) passed around by word of mouth

From this reading At the moment when the halt was ordered by Captain Blessington, a rumour ran through the ranks that they had reached the spot destined for the execution of their ill-fated comrade.

scenenounUS /siːn/

the place where some action occurs

From this reading While this scene was enacting in front of the Fleur de lis, one of a far more touching and painful nature was passing in the very heart of the detachment itself.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

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

From this reading His face was still buried in the collar of his coat; and what was left uncovered of his features by the cap, was in some degree hidden by the forward drooping of his head upon his chest.

spotnounUS /spɑːt/

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading At the moment when the halt was ordered by Captain Blessington, a rumour ran through the ranks that they had reached the spot destined for the execution of their ill-fated comrade.

stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading His face was still buried in the collar of his coat; and what was left uncovered of his features by the cap, was in some degree hidden by the forward drooping of his head upon his chest.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading At the moment when the halt was ordered by Captain Blessington, a rumour ran through the ranks that they had reached the spot destined for the execution of their ill-fated comrade.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading While this scene was enacting in front of the Fleur de lis, one of a far more touching and painful nature was passing in the very heart of the detachment itself.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading At the moment when the halt was ordered by Captain Blessington, a rumour ran through the ranks that they had reached the spot destined for the execution of their ill-fated comrade.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading At the moment when the halt was ordered by Captain Blessington, a rumour ran through the ranks that they had reached the spot destined for the execution of their ill-fated comrade.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading While this scene was enacting in front of the Fleur de lis, one of a far more touching and painful nature was passing in the very heart of the detachment itself.

ThosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading Those only in the immediate front were aware of the true cause; but although the report of the rifle had been distinctly heard by all, it had been attributed by those in the rear to the accidental discharge of one of their own muskets.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading At the moment when the halt was ordered by Captain Blessington, a rumour ran through the ranks that they had reached the spot destined for the execution of their ill-fated comrade.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Those only in the immediate front were aware of the true cause; but although the report of the rifle had been distinctly heard by all, it had been attributed by those in the rear to the accidental discharge of one of their own muskets.

touchingadjectiveUS /ˈtʌtʃɪŋ/

arousing affect

From this reading While this scene was enacting in front of the Fleur de lis, one of a far more touching and painful nature was passing in the very heart of the detachment itself.

trueadjectiveUS /truː/

consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading Those only in the immediate front were aware of the true cause; but although the report of the rifle had been distinctly heard by all, it had been attributed by those in the rear to the accidental discharge of one of their own muskets.

uncoveredadjectiveUS /ənˈkʌvərd/

not covered with clothing

From this reading His face was still buried in the collar of his coat; and what was left uncovered of his features by the cap, was in some degree hidden by the forward drooping of his head upon his chest.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading A low murmur, expressive of the opinion generally entertained, passed gradually from rear to front, until it at length reached the ears of the delicate drummer boy who marched behind the coffin.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading His face was still buried in the collar of his coat; and what was left uncovered of his features by the cap, was in some degree hidden by the forward drooping of his head upon his chest.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading While this scene was enacting in front of the Fleur de lis, one of a far more touching and painful nature was passing in the very heart of the detachment itself.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading While this scene was enacting in front of the Fleur de lis, one of a far more touching and painful nature was passing in the very heart of the detachment itself.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Those only in the immediate front were aware of the true cause; but although the report of the rifle had been distinctly heard by all, it had been attributed by those in the rear to the accidental discharge of one of their own muskets.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading His face was still buried in the collar of his coat; and what was left uncovered of his features by the cap, was in some degree hidden by the forward drooping of his head upon his chest.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading At the moment when the halt was ordered by Captain Blessington, a rumour ran through the ranks that they had reached the spot destined for the execution of their ill-fated comrade.

WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading While this scene was enacting in front of the Fleur de lis, one of a far more touching and painful nature was passing in the very heart of the detachment itself.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading A low murmur, expressive of the opinion generally entertained, passed gradually from rear to front, until it at length reached the ears of the delicate drummer boy who marched behind the coffin.

Chapter 10 of Wacousta by Major (John) Richardson holds 135 sentences, grouped into 27 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 10 of Wacousta contain?

Chapter 10 holds 135 sentences of Wacousta, unabridged, divided into 27 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 10 of Wacousta by Major (John) Richardson exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 135 sentences, grouped into 27 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 10 of Wacousta?

Work through the 27 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 27 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 10 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 10 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

Common questions about reading Wacousta by Major (John) Richardson on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Wacousta?

Yes. All 5202 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #4912 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Wacousta is used?

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

How long does Wacousta take to read?

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

How to read Wacousta section by section

How to work through Wacousta section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 36 chapters of Wacousta to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

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

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.