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An index finger
An index finger

Chapter XVII

Chapter 17 of An index finger is here in full — 341 sentences across 69 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for An index finger
Context Illustration Reading 1/68 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE STORY OF ONE RETURNED FROM THE DEAD.
“Is it wonderful that I should be immortal, as every one is immortal?
I know it is wonderful, but my eye-sight is equally wonderful, and how I was conceived in my mother’s womb is equally wonderful.”--_Walt Whitman._ Thought in the mind hath made us.
What we are By thought was wrought and built.
If a man’s mind Hath evil thoughts, pain comes on him as comes The wheel the ox behind.
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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.

An index finger

Chapter XVII

Chapter 17 of An index finger is here in full — 341 sentences across 69 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/68 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE STORY OF ONE RETURNED FROM THE DEAD.
/ðə ˈstɔːri ʌv wʌn rɪˈtɜːrnd frʌm ðə ded/
Line 2
“Is it wonderful that I should be immortal, as every one is immortal?
/ɪz ɪt ˈwʌndərfəl ðæt aɪ ʃʊd biː ɪˈmɔːr.t̬əl æz ˈevəri wʌn ɪz ɪˈmɔːr.t̬əl/
Line 3
I know it is wonderful, but my eye-sight is equally wonderful, and how I was conceived in my mother’s womb is equally wonderful.”--_Walt Whitman._ Thought in the mind hath made us.
Line 4
What we are By thought was wrought and built.
/wʌt wiː ɑːr baɪ θɔːt wɑːz rɔːt ənd bɪlt/
Line 5
If a man’s mind Hath evil thoughts, pain comes on him as comes The wheel the ox behind.
/ɪf ə mænz maɪnd hæθ ˈiːvəl θɔːts peɪn kʌmz ɑːn hɪm æz kʌmz ðə wiːl ðə ɑːks bɪˈhaɪnd/

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.

conceived verb US /kənˈsiːvd/

past form of “conceive” — have the idea for

From this reading “I know it is wonderful, but my eye-sight is equally wonderful, and how I was conceived in my mother’s womb is equally wonderful.”--_Walt Whitman._ Thought in the mind hath made us.”

equally adverb US /ˈiːkwəli/

to the same degree (often followed by “as”)

From this reading “I know it is wonderful, but my eye-sight is equally wonderful, and how I was conceived in my mother’s womb is equally wonderful.”--_Walt Whitman._ Thought in the mind hath made us.”

immortal adj US /ɪˈmɔːr.t̬əl/

Living forever; never dying or decaying. (Bất tử, trường tồn vĩnh cửu.)

From this reading ““Is it wonderful that I should be immortal, as every one is immortal?”

mother's noun US /ˈmʌðərz/

possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

wheel verb US /wiːl/

change directions as if revolving on a pivot

From this reading “If a man’s mind Hath evil thoughts, pain comes on him as comes The wheel the ox behind.”

Whitman noun US /ˈwɪtmən/

United States poet who celebrated the greatness of America (1819-1892)

From this reading “I know it is wonderful, but my eye-sight is equally wonderful, and how I was conceived in my mother’s womb is equally wonderful.”--_Walt Whitman._ Thought in the mind hath made us.”

womb noun US /wuːm/

a hollow muscular organ in the pelvic cavity of females; contains the developing fetus

From this reading “I know it is wonderful, but my eye-sight is equally wonderful, and how I was conceived in my mother’s womb is equally wonderful.”--_Walt Whitman._ Thought in the mind hath made us.”

wrought adjective US /rɔːt/

shaped to fit by or as if by altering the contours of a pliable mass (as by work or effort)

From this reading “What we are By thought was wrought and built.”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

RETURNED FROM verb + particle counted as “return from”

In this reading “THE STORY OF ONE RETURNED FROM THE DEAD.”

All words in this reading · 54

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 If a man’s mind Hath evil thoughts, pain comes on him as comes The wheel the ox behind.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I know it is wonderful, but my eye-sight is equally wonderful, and how I was conceived in my mother’s womb is equally wonderful.”--_Walt Whitman._ Thought in the mind hath made us.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading What we are By thought was wrought and built.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading “Is it wonderful that I should be immortal, as every one is immortal?

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading “Is it wonderful that I should be immortal, as every one is immortal?

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading If a man’s mind Hath evil thoughts, pain comes on him as comes The wheel the ox behind.

builtadjectiveUS /bɪlt/

(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness

From this reading What we are By thought was wrought and built.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading I know it is wonderful, but my eye-sight is equally wonderful, and how I was conceived in my mother’s womb is equally wonderful.”--_Walt Whitman._ Thought in the mind hath made us.

ByprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading What we are By thought was wrought and built.

comesnounUS /kʌmz/

plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract

From this reading If a man’s mind Hath evil thoughts, pain comes on him as comes The wheel the ox behind.

conceivedverbUS /kənˈsiːvd/

past form of “conceive” — have the idea for

From this reading I know it is wonderful, but my eye-sight is equally wonderful, and how I was conceived in my mother’s womb is equally wonderful.”--_Walt Whitman._ Thought in the mind hath made us.

DEADadjectiveUS /ded/

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

From this reading THE STORY OF ONE RETURNED FROM THE DEAD.

equallyadverbUS /ˈiːkwəli/

to the same degree (often followed by “as”)

From this reading I know it is wonderful, but my eye-sight is equally wonderful, and how I was conceived in my mother’s womb is equally wonderful.”--_Walt Whitman._ Thought in the mind hath made us.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “Is it wonderful that I should be immortal, as every one is immortal?

evilnounUS /ˈiːvəl/

morally objectionable behavior

From this reading If a man’s mind Hath evil thoughts, pain comes on him as comes The wheel the ox behind.

eye-sight

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

From this reading I know it is wonderful, but my eye-sight is equally wonderful, and how I was conceived in my mother’s womb is equally wonderful.”--_Walt Whitman._ Thought in the mind hath made us.

FROMprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading THE STORY OF ONE RETURNED FROM THE DEAD.

hathauxiliary verbUS /hæθ/

an old form of “has”

From this reading I know it is wonderful, but my eye-sight is equally wonderful, and how I was conceived in my mother’s womb is equally wonderful.”--_Walt Whitman._ Thought in the mind hath made us.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading If a man’s mind Hath evil thoughts, pain comes on him as comes The wheel the ox behind.

how

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

From this reading I know it is wonderful, but my eye-sight is equally wonderful, and how I was conceived in my mother’s womb is equally wonderful.”--_Walt Whitman._ Thought in the mind hath made us.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading “Is it wonderful that I should be immortal, as every one is immortal?

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If a man’s mind Hath evil thoughts, pain comes on him as comes The wheel the ox behind.

immortaladjUS /ɪˈmɔːr.t̬əl/

Living forever; never dying or decaying. (Bất tử, trường tồn vĩnh cửu.)

From this reading “Is it wonderful that I should be immortal, as every one is immortal?

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading I know it is wonderful, but my eye-sight is equally wonderful, and how I was conceived in my mother’s womb is equally wonderful.”--_Walt Whitman._ Thought in the mind hath made us.

Isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading “Is it wonderful that I should be immortal, as every one is immortal?

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “Is it wonderful that I should be immortal, as every one is immortal?

knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading I know it is wonderful, but my eye-sight is equally wonderful, and how I was conceived in my mother’s womb is equally wonderful.”--_Walt Whitman._ Thought in the mind hath made us.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading I know it is wonderful, but my eye-sight is equally wonderful, and how I was conceived in my mother’s womb is equally wonderful.”--_Walt Whitman._ Thought in the mind hath made us.

man'snounUS /mænz/

possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading If a man’s mind Hath evil thoughts, pain comes on him as comes The wheel the ox behind.

mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading I know it is wonderful, but my eye-sight is equally wonderful, and how I was conceived in my mother’s womb is equally wonderful.”--_Walt Whitman._ Thought in the mind hath made us.

mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/

possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading I know it is wonderful, but my eye-sight is equally wonderful, and how I was conceived in my mother’s womb is equally wonderful.”--_Walt Whitman._ Thought in the mind hath made us.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I know it is wonderful, but my eye-sight is equally wonderful, and how I was conceived in my mother’s womb is equally wonderful.”--_Walt Whitman._ Thought in the mind hath made us.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE STORY OF ONE RETURNED FROM THE DEAD.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading If a man’s mind Hath evil thoughts, pain comes on him as comes The wheel the ox behind.

ONEpronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading THE STORY OF ONE RETURNED FROM THE DEAD.

oxnounUS /ɑːks/

an adult castrated bull of the genus Bos; especially Bos taurus

From this reading If a man’s mind Hath evil thoughts, pain comes on him as comes The wheel the ox behind.

painnounUS /peɪn/

a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder

From this reading If a man’s mind Hath evil thoughts, pain comes on him as comes The wheel the ox behind.

RETURNEDverbUS /rɪˈtɜːrnd/

past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading THE STORY OF ONE RETURNED FROM THE DEAD.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading “Is it wonderful that I should be immortal, as every one is immortal?

STORYnounUS /ˈstɔːri/

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading THE STORY OF ONE RETURNED FROM THE DEAD.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading “Is it wonderful that I should be immortal, as every one is immortal?

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE STORY OF ONE RETURNED FROM THE DEAD.

ThoughtnounUS /θɔːt/

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading I know it is wonderful, but my eye-sight is equally wonderful, and how I was conceived in my mother’s womb is equally wonderful.”--_Walt Whitman._ Thought in the mind hath made us.

thoughtsnounUS /θɔːts/

plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading If a man’s mind Hath evil thoughts, pain comes on him as comes The wheel the ox behind.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading I know it is wonderful, but my eye-sight is equally wonderful, and how I was conceived in my mother’s womb is equally wonderful.”--_Walt Whitman._ Thought in the mind hath made us.

Walt

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

From this reading I know it is wonderful, but my eye-sight is equally wonderful, and how I was conceived in my mother’s womb is equally wonderful.”--_Walt Whitman._ Thought in the mind hath made us.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading I know it is wonderful, but my eye-sight is equally wonderful, and how I was conceived in my mother’s womb is equally wonderful.”--_Walt Whitman._ Thought in the mind hath made us.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading What we are By thought was wrought and built.

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading What we are By thought was wrought and built.

wheelverbUS /wiːl/

change directions as if revolving on a pivot

From this reading If a man’s mind Hath evil thoughts, pain comes on him as comes The wheel the ox behind.

WhitmannounUS /ˈwɪtmən/

United States poet who celebrated the greatness of America (1819-1892)

From this reading I know it is wonderful, but my eye-sight is equally wonderful, and how I was conceived in my mother’s womb is equally wonderful.”--_Walt Whitman._ Thought in the mind hath made us.

wombnounUS /wuːm/

a hollow muscular organ in the pelvic cavity of females; contains the developing fetus

From this reading I know it is wonderful, but my eye-sight is equally wonderful, and how I was conceived in my mother’s womb is equally wonderful.”--_Walt Whitman._ Thought in the mind hath made us.

wonderfuladjectiveUS /ˈwʌndərfəl/

extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers

From this reading “Is it wonderful that I should be immortal, as every one is immortal?

wroughtadjectiveUS /rɔːt/

shaped to fit by or as if by altering the contours of a pliable mass (as by work or effort)

From this reading What we are By thought was wrought and built.

Chapter 17 of An index finger by Tulis Abrojal holds 341 sentences, grouped into 69 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.

What does chapter 17 of An index finger contain?

Chapter 17 holds 341 sentences of An index finger, unabridged, divided into 69 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 17 of An index finger by Tulis Abrojal exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 341 sentences, grouped into 69 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 17 of An index finger?

Work through the 69 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 69 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 17 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 17 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 An index finger

Common questions about reading An index finger by Tulis Abrojal on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of An index finger?

Yes. All 4977 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #69837 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of An index finger is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #69837, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does An index finger take to read?

About 414 minutes of reading across 996 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read An index finger section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 26 chapters of An index finger 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 An index finger

Words and structures a reader meets early in An index finger, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Index
A word that appears in the opening chapter of An index finger; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Finger
A word that appears in the opening chapter of An index finger; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Sutras
A word that appears in the opening chapter of An index finger; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Fingers
A word that appears in the opening chapter of An index finger; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.