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A Thorny Path — Volume 01
A Thorny Path — Volume 01

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of A Thorny Path — Volume 01 is here in full — 111 sentences across 23 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for A Thorny Path — Volume 01
Context Illustration Reading 1/22 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The houses of the embalmers, which earlier in the evening had shone brightly out of the darkness, now made a less splendid display.
The dust kicked up by the crowd dimmed the few lamps and torches which had not by this time burned out or been extinguished, and an oppressive atmosphere of balsamic resin and spices met the brother and sister on the very threshold.
The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.
There were scenes from the Egyptian realm of the dead, and others from the Hellenic myths; for the painters had been enjoined to satisfy the requirements and views of visitors of every race.
The chief attraction, however, this night was within; for the men whose duties were exercised on the dead had displayed the finest and best of what they had to offer to their customers.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Thorny Path — Volume 01

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of A Thorny Path — Volume 01 is here in full — 111 sentences across 23 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/22 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The houses of the embalmers, which earlier in the evening had shone brightly out of the darkness, now made a less splendid display.
Line 2
The dust kicked up by the crowd dimmed the few lamps and torches which had not by this time burned out or been extinguished, and an oppressive atmosphere of balsamic resin and spices met the brother and sister on the very threshold.
/ðə dʌst kɪkt ʌp baɪ ðə kraʊd dɪmd ðə fjuː læmps ənd ˈtɔːrtʃɪz wɪtʃ hæd nɑːt baɪ ðɪs taɪm bɜːrnd aʊt ɔːr bɪn ɪkˈstɪŋɡwɪʃt ənd æn əˈpresɪv ˈætməsfɪr ʌv ˌbɑːlˈsɑːmɪk ˈrezən ənd ˈspaɪsəz met ðə ˈbrʌðər ənd ˈsɪstər ɑːn ðə ˈveri ˈθreʃoʊld/
Line 3
The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.
Line 4
There were scenes from the Egyptian realm of the dead, and others from the Hellenic myths; for the painters had been enjoined to satisfy the requirements and views of visitors of every race.
Line 5
The chief attraction, however, this night was within; for the men whose duties were exercised on the dead had displayed the finest and best of what they had to offer to their customers.
/ðə tʃiːf əˈtrækʃən ˌhaʊˈevər ðɪs naɪt wɑːz wɪˈðɪn fɔːr ðə men huːz ˈduːtiz wɜːr ˈeksərsaɪzd ɑːn ðə ded hæd dɪˈspleɪd ðə ˈfaɪnəst ənd best ʌv wʌt ðeɪ hæd tuː ˈɔːfər tuː ðer ˈkʌstəmərz/

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.

balsamic adjective US /ˌbɑːlˈsɑːmɪk/

of or relating to or containing balsam

From this reading “The dust kicked up by the crowd dimmed the few lamps and torches which had not by this time burned out or been extinguished, and an oppressive atmosphere of balsamic resin and spices met the brother and sister on the very threshold.”

colonnade noun US /ˌkɑːləˈneɪd/

structure consisting of a row of evenly spaced columns

From this reading “The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.”

Hellenic adjective US /həˈlenɪk/

relating to or characteristic of the classical Greek civilization

From this reading “There were scenes from the Egyptian realm of the dead, and others from the Hellenic myths; for the painters had been enjoined to satisfy the requirements and views of visitors of every race.”

myths noun US /mɪθs/

plural of “myth” — a traditional story accepted as history; serves to explain the world view of a people

From this reading “There were scenes from the Egyptian realm of the dead, and others from the Hellenic myths; for the painters had been enjoined to satisfy the requirements and views of visitors of every race.”

ornamentation noun US /ˌɔːrnəmenˈteɪʃən/

the state of being ornamented

From this reading “The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.”

resin noun US /ˈrezən/

any of a class of solid or semisolid viscous substances obtained either as exudations from certain plants or prepared by polymerization of simple molecules

From this reading “The dust kicked up by the crowd dimmed the few lamps and torches which had not by this time burned out or been extinguished, and an oppressive atmosphere of balsamic resin and spices met the brother and sister on the very threshold.”

spices noun US /ˈspaɪsəz/

plural of “spice” — aromatic substances of vegetable origin used as a preservative

From this reading “The dust kicked up by the crowd dimmed the few lamps and torches which had not by this time burned out or been extinguished, and an oppressive atmosphere of balsamic resin and spices met the brother and sister on the very threshold.”

stucco noun US /ˈstʌkoʊ/

a plaster now made mostly from Portland cement and sand and lime; applied while soft to cover exterior walls or surfaces

From this reading “The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.”

All words in this reading · 121

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 houses of the embalmers, which earlier in the evening had shone brightly out of the darkness, now made a less splendid display.

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading The dust kicked up by the crowd dimmed the few lamps and torches which had not by this time burned out or been extinguished, and an oppressive atmosphere of balsamic resin and spices met the brother and sister on the very threshold.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The dust kicked up by the crowd dimmed the few lamps and torches which had not by this time burned out or been extinguished, and an oppressive atmosphere of balsamic resin and spices met the brother and sister on the very threshold.

atmospherenounUS /ˈætməsfɪr/

a particular environment or surrounding influence

From this reading The dust kicked up by the crowd dimmed the few lamps and torches which had not by this time burned out or been extinguished, and an oppressive atmosphere of balsamic resin and spices met the brother and sister on the very threshold.

attractionnounUS /əˈtrækʃən/

the force by which one object attracts another

From this reading The chief attraction, however, this night was within; for the men whose duties were exercised on the dead had displayed the finest and best of what they had to offer to their customers.

balsamicadjectiveUS /ˌbɑːlˈsɑːmɪk/

of or relating to or containing balsam

From this reading The dust kicked up by the crowd dimmed the few lamps and torches which had not by this time burned out or been extinguished, and an oppressive atmosphere of balsamic resin and spices met the brother and sister on the very threshold.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The dust kicked up by the crowd dimmed the few lamps and torches which had not by this time burned out or been extinguished, and an oppressive atmosphere of balsamic resin and spices met the brother and sister on the very threshold.

bestnounUS /best/

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading The chief attraction, however, this night was within; for the men whose duties were exercised on the dead had displayed the finest and best of what they had to offer to their customers.

bricksnounUS /brɪks/

plural of “brick” — rectangular block of clay baked by the sun or in a kiln; used as a building or paving material

From this reading The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.

brightlyadverbUS /ˈbraɪtli/

with brightness

From this reading The houses of the embalmers, which earlier in the evening had shone brightly out of the darkness, now made a less splendid display.

brothernounUS /ˈbrʌðər/

a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading The dust kicked up by the crowd dimmed the few lamps and torches which had not by this time burned out or been extinguished, and an oppressive atmosphere of balsamic resin and spices met the brother and sister on the very threshold.

buildingsnounUS /ˈbɪldɪŋz/

plural of “building” — a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place

From this reading The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.

burnedadjectiveUS /bɜːrnd/

treated by heating to a high temperature but below the melting or fusing point

From this reading The dust kicked up by the crowd dimmed the few lamps and torches which had not by this time burned out or been extinguished, and an oppressive atmosphere of balsamic resin and spices met the brother and sister on the very threshold.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The dust kicked up by the crowd dimmed the few lamps and torches which had not by this time burned out or been extinguished, and an oppressive atmosphere of balsamic resin and spices met the brother and sister on the very threshold.

chiefnounUS /tʃiːf/

a person who is in charge

From this reading The chief attraction, however, this night was within; for the men whose duties were exercised on the dead had displayed the finest and best of what they had to offer to their customers.

colonnadenounUS /ˌkɑːləˈneɪd/

structure consisting of a row of evenly spaced columns

From this reading The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.

colorsnounUS /ˈkʌlərz/

a flag that shows its nationality

From this reading The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.

coveredadjectiveUS /ˈkʌvərd/

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

From this reading The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.

crowdverbUS /kraʊd/

cause to herd, drive, or crowd together

From this reading The dust kicked up by the crowd dimmed the few lamps and torches which had not by this time burned out or been extinguished, and an oppressive atmosphere of balsamic resin and spices met the brother and sister on the very threshold.

customersnounUS /ˈkʌstəmərz/

plural of “customer” — someone who pays for goods or services

From this reading The chief attraction, however, this night was within; for the men whose duties were exercised on the dead had displayed the finest and best of what they had to offer to their customers.

darknessnounUS /ˈdɑːrknəs/

absence of light or illumination

From this reading The houses of the embalmers, which earlier in the evening had shone brightly out of the darkness, now made a less splendid display.

deadadjectiveUS /ded/

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading There were scenes from the Egyptian realm of the dead, and others from the Hellenic myths; for the painters had been enjoined to satisfy the requirements and views of visitors of every race.

dimmedadjectiveUS /dɪmd/

made dim or less bright

From this reading The dust kicked up by the crowd dimmed the few lamps and torches which had not by this time burned out or been extinguished, and an oppressive atmosphere of balsamic resin and spices met the brother and sister on the very threshold.

displaynounUS /dɪˈspleɪ/

something intended to communicate a particular impression

From this reading The houses of the embalmers, which earlier in the evening had shone brightly out of the darkness, now made a less splendid display.

displayedverbUS /dɪˈspleɪd/

past form of “display” — to show, make visible or apparent

From this reading The chief attraction, however, this night was within; for the men whose duties were exercised on the dead had displayed the finest and best of what they had to offer to their customers.

dustverbUS /dʌst/

remove the dust from

From this reading The dust kicked up by the crowd dimmed the few lamps and torches which had not by this time burned out or been extinguished, and an oppressive atmosphere of balsamic resin and spices met the brother and sister on the very threshold.

dutiesnounUS /ˈduːtiz/

plural of “duty” — the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force

From this reading The chief attraction, however, this night was within; for the men whose duties were exercised on the dead had displayed the finest and best of what they had to offer to their customers.

earlieradverbUS /ˈɜːrliər/

earlier in time; previously

From this reading The houses of the embalmers, which earlier in the evening had shone brightly out of the darkness, now made a less splendid display.

EgyptiannounUS /ɪˈdʒɪpʃən/

a native or inhabitant of Egypt

From this reading The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.

embalmers

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

From this reading The houses of the embalmers, which earlier in the evening had shone brightly out of the darkness, now made a less splendid display.

embalming-houses

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

From this reading The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.

enjoinedverbUS /ˌenˈdʒɔɪnd/

past form of “enjoin” — issue an injunction

From this reading There were scenes from the Egyptian realm of the dead, and others from the Hellenic myths; for the painters had been enjoined to satisfy the requirements and views of visitors of every race.

enteredverbUS /ˈentərd/

past form of “enter” — to come or go into

From this reading The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.

eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading The houses of the embalmers, which earlier in the evening had shone brightly out of the darkness, now made a less splendid display.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading There were scenes from the Egyptian realm of the dead, and others from the Hellenic myths; for the painters had been enjoined to satisfy the requirements and views of visitors of every race.

exercisedverbUS /ˈeksərsaɪzd/

past form of “exercise” — put to use

From this reading The chief attraction, however, this night was within; for the men whose duties were exercised on the dead had displayed the finest and best of what they had to offer to their customers.

extinguishedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈstɪŋɡwɪʃt/

of a conditioned response; caused to die out because of the absence or withdrawal of reinforcement

From this reading The dust kicked up by the crowd dimmed the few lamps and torches which had not by this time burned out or been extinguished, and an oppressive atmosphere of balsamic resin and spices met the brother and sister on the very threshold.

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 dust kicked up by the crowd dimmed the few lamps and torches which had not by this time burned out or been extinguished, and an oppressive atmosphere of balsamic resin and spices met the brother and sister on the very threshold.

finestadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪnəst/

superlative of “fine” — being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition

From this reading The chief attraction, however, this night was within; for the men whose duties were exercised on the dead had displayed the finest and best of what they had to offer to their customers.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading There were scenes from the Egyptian realm of the dead, and others from the Hellenic myths; for the painters had been enjoined to satisfy the requirements and views of visitors of every race.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading There were scenes from the Egyptian realm of the dead, and others from the Hellenic myths; for the painters had been enjoined to satisfy the requirements and views of visitors of every race.

frontnounUS /frʌnt/

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.

gaudyadjectiveUS /ˈɡɔːdi/

tastelessly showy

From this reading The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.

GreeknounUS /ɡriːk/

the Hellenic branch of the Indo-European family of languages

From this reading The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.

GreeksnounUS /ɡriːks/

plural of “greek” — the Hellenic branch of the Indo-European family of languages

From this reading The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The houses of the embalmers, which earlier in the evening had shone brightly out of the darkness, now made a less splendid display.

hallnounUS /hɔːl/

an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

From this reading The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.

HellenicadjectiveUS /həˈlenɪk/

relating to or characteristic of the classical Greek civilization

From this reading There were scenes from the Egyptian realm of the dead, and others from the Hellenic myths; for the painters had been enjoined to satisfy the requirements and views of visitors of every race.

hereadverbUS /hiːr/

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.

housesnounUS /ˈhaʊsəz/

plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading The houses of the embalmers, which earlier in the evening had shone brightly out of the darkness, now made a less splendid display.

howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading The chief attraction, however, this night was within; for the men whose duties were exercised on the dead had displayed the finest and best of what they had to offer to their customers.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The houses of the embalmers, which earlier in the evening had shone brightly out of the darkness, now made a less splendid display.

insistedverbUS /ˌɪnˈsɪstəd/

past form of “insist” — be emphatic or resolute and refuse to budge

From this reading The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.

kickedverbUS /kɪkt/

past form of “kick” — drive or propel with the foot

From this reading The dust kicked up by the crowd dimmed the few lamps and torches which had not by this time burned out or been extinguished, and an oppressive atmosphere of balsamic resin and spices met the brother and sister on the very threshold.

lampsnounUS /læmps/

plural of “lamp” — an artificial source of visible illumination

From this reading The dust kicked up by the crowd dimmed the few lamps and torches which had not by this time burned out or been extinguished, and an oppressive atmosphere of balsamic resin and spices met the brother and sister on the very threshold.

lessadverbUS /les/

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading The houses of the embalmers, which earlier in the evening had shone brightly out of the darkness, now made a less splendid display.

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 vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading The houses of the embalmers, which earlier in the evening had shone brightly out of the darkness, now made a less splendid display.

mennounUS /men/

the force of workers available

From this reading The chief attraction, however, this night was within; for the men whose duties were exercised on the dead had displayed the finest and best of what they had to offer to their customers.

metverbUS /met/

inflected form of “meet” — come together

From this reading The dust kicked up by the crowd dimmed the few lamps and torches which had not by this time burned out or been extinguished, and an oppressive atmosphere of balsamic resin and spices met the brother and sister on the very threshold.

mythsnounUS /mɪθs/

plural of “myth” — a traditional story accepted as history; serves to explain the world view of a people

From this reading There were scenes from the Egyptian realm of the dead, and others from the Hellenic myths; for the painters had been enjoined to satisfy the requirements and views of visitors of every race.

nightnounUS /naɪt/

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

From this reading The chief attraction, however, this night was within; for the men whose duties were exercised on the dead had displayed the finest and best of what they had to offer to their customers.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The dust kicked up by the crowd dimmed the few lamps and torches which had not by this time burned out or been extinguished, and an oppressive atmosphere of balsamic resin and spices met the brother and sister on the very threshold.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

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

From this reading The houses of the embalmers, which earlier in the evening had shone brightly out of the darkness, now made a less splendid display.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The houses of the embalmers, which earlier in the evening had shone brightly out of the darkness, now made a less splendid display.

offerverbUS /ˈɔːfər/

make available or accessible, provide or furnish

From this reading The chief attraction, however, this night was within; for the men whose duties were exercised on the dead had displayed the finest and best of what they had to offer to their customers.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The dust kicked up by the crowd dimmed the few lamps and torches which had not by this time burned out or been extinguished, and an oppressive atmosphere of balsamic resin and spices met the brother and sister on the very threshold.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.

oppressiveadjectiveUS /əˈpresɪv/

weighing heavily on the senses or spirit

From this reading The dust kicked up by the crowd dimmed the few lamps and torches which had not by this time burned out or been extinguished, and an oppressive atmosphere of balsamic resin and spices met the brother and sister on the very threshold.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading The dust kicked up by the crowd dimmed the few lamps and torches which had not by this time burned out or been extinguished, and an oppressive atmosphere of balsamic resin and spices met the brother and sister on the very threshold.

ornamentationnounUS /ˌɔːrnəmenˈteɪʃən/

the state of being ornamented

From this reading The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.

others

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

From this reading There were scenes from the Egyptian realm of the dead, and others from the Hellenic myths; for the painters had been enjoined to satisfy the requirements and views of visitors of every race.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading The houses of the embalmers, which earlier in the evening had shone brightly out of the darkness, now made a less splendid display.

paintedadjectiveUS /ˈpeɪntɪd/

coated with paint

From this reading The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.

paintersnounUS /ˈpeɪntərz/

plural of “painter” — an artist who paints

From this reading There were scenes from the Egyptian realm of the dead, and others from the Hellenic myths; for the painters had been enjoined to satisfy the requirements and views of visitors of every race.

publicnounUS /ˈpʌblɪk/

people in general considered as a whole

From this reading The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.

purposenounUS /ˈpɜːrpəs/

an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions

From this reading The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.

racenounUS /reɪs/

any competition

From this reading There were scenes from the Egyptian realm of the dead, and others from the Hellenic myths; for the painters had been enjoined to satisfy the requirements and views of visitors of every race.

realmnounUS /relm/

a domain in which something is dominant

From this reading There were scenes from the Egyptian realm of the dead, and others from the Hellenic myths; for the painters had been enjoined to satisfy the requirements and views of visitors of every race.

requirementsnounUS /rɪˈkwaɪrmənts/

plural of “requirement” — required activity

From this reading There were scenes from the Egyptian realm of the dead, and others from the Hellenic myths; for the painters had been enjoined to satisfy the requirements and views of visitors of every race.

resinnounUS /ˈrezən/

any of a class of solid or semisolid viscous substances obtained either as exudations from certain plants or prepared by polymerization of simple molecules

From this reading The dust kicked up by the crowd dimmed the few lamps and torches which had not by this time burned out or been extinguished, and an oppressive atmosphere of balsamic resin and spices met the brother and sister on the very threshold.

rownounUS /roʊ/

an arrangement of objects or people side by side in a line

From this reading The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.

satisfyverbUS /ˈsætəsfaɪ/

meet the requirements or expectations of

From this reading There were scenes from the Egyptian realm of the dead, and others from the Hellenic myths; for the painters had been enjoined to satisfy the requirements and views of visitors of every race.

scenesnounUS /siːnz/

plural of “scene” — the place where some action occurs

From this reading There were scenes from the Egyptian realm of the dead, and others from the Hellenic myths; for the painters had been enjoined to satisfy the requirements and views of visitors of every race.

servedverbUS /sɜːrvd/

past form of “serve” — serve a purpose, role, or function

From this reading The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.

shoneverbUS /ʃoʊn/

inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light

From this reading The houses of the embalmers, which earlier in the evening had shone brightly out of the darkness, now made a less splendid display.

simplestadjectiveUS /ˈsɪmpləst/

superlative of “simple” — having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved

From this reading The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.

sisternounUS /ˈsɪstər/

a female person who has the same parents as another person

From this reading The dust kicked up by the crowd dimmed the few lamps and torches which had not by this time burned out or been extinguished, and an oppressive atmosphere of balsamic resin and spices met the brother and sister on the very threshold.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

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

From this reading The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.

spicesnounUS /ˈspaɪsəz/

plural of “spice” — aromatic substances of vegetable origin used as a preservative

From this reading The dust kicked up by the crowd dimmed the few lamps and torches which had not by this time burned out or been extinguished, and an oppressive atmosphere of balsamic resin and spices met the brother and sister on the very threshold.

splendidadjectiveUS /ˈsplendɪd/

having great beauty and splendor

From this reading The houses of the embalmers, which earlier in the evening had shone brightly out of the darkness, now made a less splendid display.

structurenounUS /ˈstrʌktʃər/

a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts

From this reading The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.

stucconounUS /ˈstʌkoʊ/

a plaster now made mostly from Portland cement and sand and lime; applied while soft to cover exterior walls or surfaces

From this reading The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.

tasteverbUS /teɪst/

To perceive flavor through the mouth.

From this reading The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The houses of the embalmers, which earlier in the evening had shone brightly out of the darkness, now made a less splendid display.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading The dust kicked up by the crowd dimmed the few lamps and torches which had not by this time burned out or been extinguished, and an oppressive atmosphere of balsamic resin and spices met the brother and sister on the very threshold.

thresholdnounUS /ˈθreʃoʊld/

the starting point for a new state or experience

From this reading The dust kicked up by the crowd dimmed the few lamps and torches which had not by this time burned out or been extinguished, and an oppressive atmosphere of balsamic resin and spices met the brother and sister on the very threshold.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading The dust kicked up by the crowd dimmed the few lamps and torches which had not by this time burned out or been extinguished, and an oppressive atmosphere of balsamic resin and spices met the brother and sister on the very threshold.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading There were scenes from the Egyptian realm of the dead, and others from the Hellenic myths; for the painters had been enjoined to satisfy the requirements and views of visitors of every race.

torchesnounUS /ˈtɔːrtʃɪz/

plural of “torch” — a light usually carried in the hand; consists of some flammable substance

From this reading The dust kicked up by the crowd dimmed the few lamps and torches which had not by this time burned out or been extinguished, and an oppressive atmosphere of balsamic resin and spices met the brother and sister on the very threshold.

unburned

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

From this reading The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

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

From this reading The dust kicked up by the crowd dimmed the few lamps and torches which had not by this time burned out or been extinguished, and an oppressive atmosphere of balsamic resin and spices met the brother and sister on the very threshold.

vastadjectiveUS /væst/

unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope

From this reading The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading The dust kicked up by the crowd dimmed the few lamps and torches which had not by this time burned out or been extinguished, and an oppressive atmosphere of balsamic resin and spices met the brother and sister on the very threshold.

viewsnounUS /vjuːz/

plural of “view” — a way of regarding situations or topics etc.

From this reading There were scenes from the Egyptian realm of the dead, and others from the Hellenic myths; for the painters had been enjoined to satisfy the requirements and views of visitors of every race.

visitorsnounUS /ˈvɪzɪtərz/

plural of “visitor” — someone who visits

From this reading There were scenes from the Egyptian realm of the dead, and others from the Hellenic myths; for the painters had been enjoined to satisfy the requirements and views of visitors of every race.

wallsnounUS /wɔːlz/

plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading The chief attraction, however, this night was within; for the men whose duties were exercised on the dead had displayed the finest and best of what they had to offer to their customers.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The houses of the embalmers, which earlier in the evening had shone brightly out of the darkness, now made a less splendid display.

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading The chief attraction, however, this night was within; for the men whose duties were exercised on the dead had displayed the finest and best of what they had to offer to their customers.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The vast hall which they now entered was one of a long row of buildings of unburned bricks; but the Greeks insisted on some ornamentation of the simplest structure, if it served a public purpose, and the embalming-houses had a colonnade along their front, and their walls were covered with stucco, painted in gaudy colors, here in the Egyptian and there in the Greek taste.

withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading The chief attraction, however, this night was within; for the men whose duties were exercised on the dead had displayed the finest and best of what they had to offer to their customers.

Chapter 4 of A Thorny Path — Volume 01 by Georg Ebers holds 111 sentences, grouped into 23 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 4 of A Thorny Path — Volume 01 contain?

Chapter 4 holds 111 sentences of A Thorny Path — Volume 01, unabridged, divided into 23 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of A Thorny Path — Volume 01 by Georg Ebers exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 111 sentences, grouped into 23 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 4 of A Thorny Path — Volume 01?

Work through the 23 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 23 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 4 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 4 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 A Thorny Path — Volume 01

Common questions about reading A Thorny Path — Volume 01 by Georg Ebers on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of A Thorny Path — Volume 01?

Yes. All 638 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #5530 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of A Thorny Path — Volume 01 is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #5530, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does A Thorny Path — Volume 01 take to read?

About 53 minutes of reading across 128 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read A Thorny Path — Volume 01 section by section

How to work through A Thorny Path — Volume 01 section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 4 chapters of A Thorny Path — Volume 01 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 A Thorny Path — Volume 01

Words and structures a reader meets early in A Thorny Path — Volume 01, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Green
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Thorny Path — Volume 01; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Screen
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Thorny Path — Volume 01; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Slowly
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Thorny Path — Volume 01; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Covering
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Thorny Path — Volume 01; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.