Chapter 12 of Work and Win is here in full — 145 sentences across 29 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XII
Chapter 12 of Work and Win is here in full — 145 sentences across 29 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
THE DRUNKEN CAPTAIN. "Lay aloft, and help shake out the fore-topsail," said the captain to Noddy, who was standing by the wheel-man, watching the movements of the vessel. "Be lively! What are you staring at?" The captain's tones were stern and ugly.
Chapter 12 of Work and Win is here in full — 145 sentences across 29 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/29 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.
at or on or to the masthead or upper rigging of a ship
From this reading “"Lay aloft, and help shake out the fore-topsail," said the captain to Noddy, who was standing by the wheel-man, watching the movements of the vessel.”
possessive form of “captain” — an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading “The captain's tones were stern and ugly.”
given to or marked by the consumption of alcohol
From this reading “THE DRUNKEN CAPTAIN.”
full of life and energy
From this reading “"Be lively!”
plural of “movement” — a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading “"Lay aloft, and help shake out the fore-topsail," said the captain to Noddy, who was standing by the wheel-man, watching the movements of the vessel.”
of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect
From this reading “The captain's tones were stern and ugly.”
plural of “tone” — the quality of a person's voice
From this reading “The captain's tones were stern and ugly.”
displeasing to the senses
From this reading “The captain's tones were stern and ugly.”
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.
at or on or to the masthead or upper rigging of a ship
From this reading "Lay aloft, and help shake out the fore-topsail," said the captain to Noddy, who was standing by the wheel-man, watching the movements of the vessel.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Lay aloft, and help shake out the fore-topsail," said the captain to Noddy, who was standing by the wheel-man, watching the movements of the vessel.
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading What are you staring at?"
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading What are you staring at?"
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Be lively!
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "Lay aloft, and help shake out the fore-topsail," said the captain to Noddy, who was standing by the wheel-man, watching the movements of the vessel.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading THE DRUNKEN CAPTAIN.
possessive form of “captain” — an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading The captain's tones were stern and ugly.
given to or marked by the consumption of alcohol
From this reading THE DRUNKEN CAPTAIN.
the topsail on a foremast
From this reading "Lay aloft, and help shake out the fore-topsail," said the captain to Noddy, who was standing by the wheel-man, watching the movements of the vessel.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading "Lay aloft, and help shake out the fore-topsail," said the captain to Noddy, who was standing by the wheel-man, watching the movements of the vessel.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading "Lay aloft, and help shake out the fore-topsail," said the captain to Noddy, who was standing by the wheel-man, watching the movements of the vessel.
full of life and energy
From this reading "Be lively!
plural of “movement” — a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading "Lay aloft, and help shake out the fore-topsail," said the captain to Noddy, who was standing by the wheel-man, watching the movements of the vessel.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Lay aloft, and help shake out the fore-topsail," said the captain to Noddy, who was standing by the wheel-man, watching the movements of the vessel.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Lay aloft, and help shake out the fore-topsail," said the captain to Noddy, who was standing by the wheel-man, watching the movements of the vessel.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "Lay aloft, and help shake out the fore-topsail," said the captain to Noddy, who was standing by the wheel-man, watching the movements of the vessel.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Lay aloft, and help shake out the fore-topsail," said the captain to Noddy, who was standing by the wheel-man, watching the movements of the vessel.
move or cause to move back and forth
From this reading "Lay aloft, and help shake out the fore-topsail," said the captain to Noddy, who was standing by the wheel-man, watching the movements of the vessel.
having a supporting base
From this reading "Lay aloft, and help shake out the fore-topsail," said the captain to Noddy, who was standing by the wheel-man, watching the movements of the vessel.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading What are you staring at?"
of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect
From this reading The captain's tones were stern and ugly.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DRUNKEN CAPTAIN.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Lay aloft, and help shake out the fore-topsail," said the captain to Noddy, who was standing by the wheel-man, watching the movements of the vessel.
plural of “tone” — the quality of a person's voice
From this reading The captain's tones were stern and ugly.
displeasing to the senses
From this reading The captain's tones were stern and ugly.
a tube in which a body fluid circulates
From this reading "Lay aloft, and help shake out the fore-topsail," said the captain to Noddy, who was standing by the wheel-man, watching the movements of the vessel.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Lay aloft, and help shake out the fore-topsail," said the captain to Noddy, who was standing by the wheel-man, watching the movements of the vessel.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading "Lay aloft, and help shake out the fore-topsail," said the captain to Noddy, who was standing by the wheel-man, watching the movements of the vessel.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The captain's tones were stern and ugly.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What are you staring at?"
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Lay aloft, and help shake out the fore-topsail," said the captain to Noddy, who was standing by the wheel-man, watching the movements of the vessel.
which person or people
From this reading "Lay aloft, and help shake out the fore-topsail," said the captain to Noddy, who was standing by the wheel-man, watching the movements of the vessel.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading What are you staring at?"
Chapter 12 of Work and Win by Oliver Optic holds 145 sentences, grouped into 29 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.
Chapter 12 holds 145 sentences of Work and Win, unabridged, divided into 29 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 12 of Work and Win by Oliver Optic exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 145 sentences, grouped into 29 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.
Work through the 29 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 29 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 12 can be played aloud in United States English.
Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.
Common questions about reading Work and Win by Oliver Optic on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 2869 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #23758 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #23758, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 239 minutes of reading across 574 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Work and Win section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 21 chapters of Work and Win to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in Work and Win, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
