Chapter 4 of Anthem is here in full — 198 sentences across 40 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter IV
Chapter 4 of Anthem is here in full — 198 sentences across 40 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
{+Chapter Three+} We, Equality 7-2521, have discovered a new power of nature. And we have discovered it alone, and we [-alone-] are to know it. It is said. Now let us be lashed for it, if we must. The Council of Scholars has said that we all know the things which exist and therefore {+all+} the things which are not known by all do not exist.
Chapter 4 of Anthem is here in full — 198 sentences across 40 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/39 · 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.
a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled
From this reading “{+Chapter Three+} We, Equality 7-2521, have discovered a new power of nature.”
a body serving in an administrative capacity
From this reading “The Council of Scholars has said that we all know the things which exist and therefore {+all+} the things which are not known by all do not exist.”
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading “{+Chapter Three+} We, Equality 7-2521, have discovered a new power of nature.”
the quality of being the same in quantity or measure or value or status
From this reading “{+Chapter Three+} We, Equality 7-2521, have discovered a new power of nature.”
have an existence, be extant
From this reading “The Council of Scholars has said that we all know the things which exist and therefore {+all+} the things which are not known by all do not exist.”
past form of “lash” — beat severely with a whip or rod
From this reading “Now let us be lashed for it, if we must.”
plural of “scholar” — a learned person (especially in the humanities); someone who by long study has gained mastery in one or more disciplines
From this reading “The Council of Scholars has said that we all know the things which exist and therefore {+all+} the things which are not known by all do not exist.”
for that reason; as a result
From this reading “The Council of Scholars has said that we all know the things which exist and therefore {+all+} the things which are not known by all do not exist.”
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading {+Chapter Three+} We, Equality 7-2521, have discovered a new power of nature.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading {+Chapter Three+} We, Equality 7-2521, have discovered a new power of nature.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading {+Chapter Three+} We, Equality 7-2521, have discovered a new power of nature.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading The Council of Scholars has said that we all know the things which exist and therefore {+all+} the things which are not known by all do not exist.
Having no one else present.
From this reading And we have discovered it alone, and we [-alone-] are to know it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And we have discovered it alone, and we [-alone-] are to know it.
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading And we have discovered it alone, and we [-alone-] are to know it.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Now let us be lashed for it, if we must.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The Council of Scholars has said that we all know the things which exist and therefore {+all+} the things which are not known by all do not exist.
a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled
From this reading {+Chapter Three+} We, Equality 7-2521, have discovered a new power of nature.
a body serving in an administrative capacity
From this reading The Council of Scholars has said that we all know the things which exist and therefore {+all+} the things which are not known by all do not exist.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading {+Chapter Three+} We, Equality 7-2521, have discovered a new power of nature.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading The Council of Scholars has said that we all know the things which exist and therefore {+all+} the things which are not known by all do not exist.
the quality of being the same in quantity or measure or value or status
From this reading {+Chapter Three+} We, Equality 7-2521, have discovered a new power of nature.
have an existence, be extant
From this reading The Council of Scholars has said that we all know the things which exist and therefore {+all+} the things which are not known by all do not exist.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Now let us be lashed for it, if we must.
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Council of Scholars has said that we all know the things which exist and therefore {+all+} the things which are not known by all do not exist.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading {+Chapter Three+} We, Equality 7-2521, have discovered a new power of nature.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Now let us be lashed for it, if we must.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is said.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And we have discovered it alone, and we [-alone-] are to know it.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading And we have discovered it alone, and we [-alone-] are to know it.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading The Council of Scholars has said that we all know the things which exist and therefore {+all+} the things which are not known by all do not exist.
past form of “lash” — beat severely with a whip or rod
From this reading Now let us be lashed for it, if we must.
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading Now let us be lashed for it, if we must.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Now let us be lashed for it, if we must.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading {+Chapter Three+} We, Equality 7-2521, have discovered a new power of nature.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading {+Chapter Three+} We, Equality 7-2521, have discovered a new power of nature.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The Council of Scholars has said that we all know the things which exist and therefore {+all+} the things which are not known by all do not exist.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now let us be lashed for it, if we must.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading {+Chapter Three+} We, Equality 7-2521, have discovered a new power of nature.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading {+Chapter Three+} We, Equality 7-2521, have discovered a new power of nature.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading It is said.
plural of “scholar” — a learned person (especially in the humanities); someone who by long study has gained mastery in one or more disciplines
From this reading The Council of Scholars has said that we all know the things which exist and therefore {+all+} the things which are not known by all do not exist.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The Council of Scholars has said that we all know the things which exist and therefore {+all+} the things which are not known by all do not exist.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Council of Scholars has said that we all know the things which exist and therefore {+all+} the things which are not known by all do not exist.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading The Council of Scholars has said that we all know the things which exist and therefore {+all+} the things which are not known by all do not exist.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading The Council of Scholars has said that we all know the things which exist and therefore {+all+} the things which are not known by all do not exist.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading {+Chapter Three+} We, Equality 7-2521, have discovered a new power of nature.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And we have discovered it alone, and we [-alone-] are to know it.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Now let us be lashed for it, if we must.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading {+Chapter Three+} We, Equality 7-2521, have discovered a new power of nature.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The Council of Scholars has said that we all know the things which exist and therefore {+all+} the things which are not known by all do not exist.
Chapter 4 of Anthem by Ayn Rand holds 198 sentences, grouped into 40 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.
Chapter 4 holds 198 sentences of Anthem, unabridged, divided into 40 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 4 of Anthem by Ayn Rand exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 198 sentences, grouped into 40 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 40 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 40 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 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.
Common questions about reading Anthem by Ayn Rand on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 1404 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #1249 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #1249, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 117 minutes of reading across 281 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Anthem section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 7 chapters of Anthem 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 Anthem, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
