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Bacon's Essays, and Wisdom of the Ancients
Bacon's Essays, and Wisdom of the Ancients

Chapter V

Chapter 5 of Bacon's Essays, and Wisdom of the Ancients is here in full — 440 sentences across 88 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/88 · 5 lines
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L.—OF STUDIES.[508] Studies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability.
Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business; for expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned.
To spend too much time in studies, is sloth; to use them too much for ornament, is affectation; to make judgment wholly by their rules, is the humor of a scholar.
They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience; for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience.
Crafty men contemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them; for they teach not their own use; but that is a wisdom without them and above them, won by observation.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Bacon's Essays, and Wisdom of the Ancients

Chapter V

Chapter 5 of Bacon's Essays, and Wisdom of the Ancients is here in full — 440 sentences across 88 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/88 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
L.—OF STUDIES.[508] Studies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability.
Line 2
Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business; for expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned.
Line 3
To spend too much time in studies, is sloth; to use them too much for ornament, is affectation; to make judgment wholly by their rules, is the humor of a scholar.
/tuː spend tuː mʌtʃ taɪm ɪn ˈstʌdiz ɪz sloʊθ tuː juːs ðem tuː mʌtʃ fɔːr ˈɔːrnəmənt ɪz ˌæfekˈteɪʃən tuː meɪk ˈdʒʌdʒmənt ˈhoʊli baɪ ðer ruːlz ɪz ðə ˈhjuːmər ʌv ə ˈskɒl.ər/
Line 4
They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience; for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience.
/ðeɪ pərˈfekt ˈneɪtʃər ənd ɑːr pərˈfektɪd baɪ ɪkˈspɪriəns fɔːr ˈnætʃərəl əˈbɪlətiːz ɑːr laɪk ˈnætʃərəl plænts ðæt niːd ˈpruːnɪŋ baɪ ˈstʌdi ənd ˈstʌdiz ðemˈselvz duː ɡɪv fɔːrθ dərˈekʃənz tuː mʌtʃ æt lɑːrdʒ ɪkˈsept ðeɪ biː ˈbaʊndəd ɪn baɪ ɪkˈspɪriəns/
Line 5
Crafty men contemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them; for they teach not their own use; but that is a wisdom without them and above them, won by observation.
/ˈkræfti men ˌkʌnˈtem ˈstʌdiz ˈsɪmpəl men ædˈmaɪr ðem ənd waɪz men juːs ðem fɔːr ðeɪ tiːtʃ nɑːt ðer oʊn juːs bʌt ðæt ɪz ə ˈwɪzdəm wɪˈθaʊt ðem ənd əˈbʌv ðem wʌn baɪ ˌɑːbzərˈveɪʃən/

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.

abilities noun US /əˈbɪlətiːz/

plural of “ability” — the quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment

From this reading “They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience; for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience.”

affectation noun US /ˌæfekˈteɪʃən/

a deliberate pretense or exaggerated display

From this reading “To spend too much time in studies, is sloth; to use them too much for ornament, is affectation; to make judgment wholly by their rules, is the humor of a scholar.”

contemn verb US /ˌkʌnˈtem/

look down on with disdain

From this reading “Crafty men contemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them; for they teach not their own use; but that is a wisdom without them and above them, won by observation.”

counsels noun US /ˈkaʊnsəlz/

plural of “counsel” — a lawyer who pleads cases in court

From this reading “Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business; for expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned.”

perfected adjective US /pərˈfektɪd/

(of plans, ideas, etc.) perfectly formed

From this reading “They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience; for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience.”

plots noun US /plɑːts/

plural of “plot” — a secret scheme to do something (especially something underhand or illegal)

From this reading “Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business; for expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned.”

pruning noun US /ˈpruːnɪŋ/

something that has been pruned off of a plant

From this reading “They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience; for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience.”

sloth noun US /sloʊθ/

a disinclination to work or exert yourself

From this reading “To spend too much time in studies, is sloth; to use them too much for ornament, is affectation; to make judgment wholly by their rules, is the humor of a scholar.”

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.

wise men adjective + noun

(New Testament) the sages who visited Jesus and Mary and Joseph shortly after Jesus was born; the Gospel According to Matthew says they were guided by a star and brought gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh; because there were three gifts it is usually assumed that there were three of them

In this reading “Crafty men contemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them; for they teach not their own use; but that is a wisdom without them and above them, won by observation.”

give forth verb + particle

give out (breath or an odor)

In this reading “They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience; for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience.”

own use verb + noun

In this reading “Crafty men contemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them; for they teach not their own use; but that is a wisdom without them and above them, won by observation.”

All words in this reading · 93

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.

508

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

From this reading L.—OF STUDIES.[508] Studies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading To spend too much time in studies, is sloth; to use them too much for ornament, is affectation; to make judgment wholly by their rules, is the humor of a scholar.

abilitiesnounUS /əˈbɪlətiːz/

plural of “ability” — the quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment

From this reading They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience; for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience.

abilitynounUS /əˈbɪlətiː/

the quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment

From this reading L.—OF STUDIES.[508] Studies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading Crafty men contemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them; for they teach not their own use; but that is a wisdom without them and above them, won by observation.

admireverbUS /ædˈmaɪr/

feel admiration for

From this reading Crafty men contemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them; for they teach not their own use; but that is a wisdom without them and above them, won by observation.

affairsnounUS /əˈferz/

matters of personal concern

From this reading Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business; for expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned.

affectationnounUS /ˌæfekˈteɪʃən/

a deliberate pretense or exaggerated display

From this reading To spend too much time in studies, is sloth; to use them too much for ornament, is affectation; to make judgment wholly by their rules, is the humor of a scholar.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading L.—OF STUDIES.[508] Studies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business; for expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience; for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience; for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience.

bestnounUS /best/

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business; for expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned.

boundedadjectiveUS /ˈbaʊndəd/

having the limits or boundaries established

From this reading They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience; for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience.

businessnounUS /ˈbɪznəs/

a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it

From this reading Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business; for expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business; for expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business; for expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business; for expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned.

chiefnounUS /tʃiːf/

a person who is in charge

From this reading Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business; for expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned.

comeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business; for expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned.

contemnverbUS /ˌkʌnˈtem/

look down on with disdain

From this reading Crafty men contemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them; for they teach not their own use; but that is a wisdom without them and above them, won by observation.

counselsnounUS /ˈkaʊnsəlz/

plural of “counsel” — a lawyer who pleads cases in court

From this reading Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business; for expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned.

CraftyadjectiveUS /ˈkræfti/

marked by skill in deception

From this reading Crafty men contemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them; for they teach not their own use; but that is a wisdom without them and above them, won by observation.

delightverbUS /dɪˈlaɪt/

give pleasure to or be pleasing to

From this reading L.—OF STUDIES.[508] Studies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability.

directionsnounUS /dərˈekʃənz/

plural of “direction” — a line leading to a place or point

From this reading They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience; for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience.

discoursenounUS /ˈdɪskɔːrs/

extended verbal expression in speech or writing

From this reading Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business; for expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned.

dispositionnounUS /ˌdɪspəˈzɪʃən/

your usual mood

From this reading Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business; for expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience; for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience.

exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/

apart from; not including

From this reading They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience; for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience.

executeverbUS /ˈeksəkjuːt/

kill as a means of socially sanctioned punishment

From this reading Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business; for expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned.

experienceverbUS /ɪkˈspɪriəns/

undergo or live through a difficult experience

From this reading They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience; for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience.

expertadjectiveUS /ˈekspərt/

having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude

From this reading Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business; for expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading L.—OF STUDIES.[508] Studies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability.

forthadverbUS /fɔːrθ/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience; for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business; for expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned.

generaladjectiveUS /ˈdʒenərəl/

applying to all or most members of a category or group

From this reading Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business; for expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned.

giveverbUS /ɡɪv/

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience; for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience.

humornounUS /ˈhjuːmər/

a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter

From this reading To spend too much time in studies, is sloth; to use them too much for ornament, is affectation; to make judgment wholly by their rules, is the humor of a scholar.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business; for expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business; for expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned.

judgeverbUS /dʒʌdʒ/

determine the result of (a competition)

From this reading Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business; for expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned.

judgmentnounUS /ˈdʒʌdʒmənt/

an opinion formed by judging something

From this reading Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business; for expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned.

LnounUS /el/

a metric unit of capacity, formerly defined as the volume of one kilogram of pure water under standard conditions; now equal to 1,000 cubic centimeters (or approximately 1.75 pints)

From this reading L.—OF STUDIES.[508] Studies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability.

largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience; for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience.

learnedadjectiveUS /lɜːrnd/

having or showing profound knowledge

From this reading Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business; for expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience; for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience.

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading To spend too much time in studies, is sloth; to use them too much for ornament, is affectation; to make judgment wholly by their rules, is the humor of a scholar.

marshalling

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

From this reading Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business; for expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned.

mennounUS /men/

the force of workers available

From this reading Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business; for expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned.

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading To spend too much time in studies, is sloth; to use them too much for ornament, is affectation; to make judgment wholly by their rules, is the humor of a scholar.

naturaladjectiveUS /ˈnætʃərəl/

in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature

From this reading They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience; for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience.

naturenounUS /ˈneɪtʃər/

the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized

From this reading They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience; for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience.

neednounUS /niːd/

a condition requiring relief

From this reading They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience; for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Crafty men contemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them; for they teach not their own use; but that is a wisdom without them and above them, won by observation.

observationnounUS /ˌɑːbzərˈveɪʃən/

the act of making and recording a measurement

From this reading Crafty men contemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them; for they teach not their own use; but that is a wisdom without them and above them, won by observation.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading L.—OF STUDIES.[508] Studies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business; for expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned.

ornamentverbUS /ˈɔːrnəmənt/

make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.

From this reading L.—OF STUDIES.[508] Studies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability.

ownverbUS /oʊn/

have ownership or possession of

From this reading Crafty men contemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them; for they teach not their own use; but that is a wisdom without them and above them, won by observation.

particularsnounUS /pərˈtɪkjələrz/

plural of “particular” — a fact about some part (as opposed to general)

From this reading Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business; for expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned.

perfectadjectiveUS /pərˈfekt/

being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish

From this reading They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience; for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience.

perfectedadjectiveUS /pərˈfektɪd/

(of plans, ideas, etc.) perfectly formed

From this reading They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience; for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience.

perhapsadverbUS /pərˈhæps/

by chance

From this reading Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business; for expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned.

plantsnounUS /plænts/

plural of “plant” — buildings for carrying on industrial labor

From this reading They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience; for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience.

plotsnounUS /plɑːts/

plural of “plot” — a secret scheme to do something (especially something underhand or illegal)

From this reading Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business; for expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned.

privatenessnoun

the condition of being concealed or hidden

From this reading Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business; for expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned.

pruningnounUS /ˈpruːnɪŋ/

something that has been pruned off of a plant

From this reading They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience; for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience.

retiringadjectiveUS /rɪˈtaɪrɪŋ/

not arrogant or presuming

From this reading Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business; for expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned.

rulesnounUS /ruːlz/

plural of “rule” — a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior

From this reading To spend too much time in studies, is sloth; to use them too much for ornament, is affectation; to make judgment wholly by their rules, is the humor of a scholar.

scholarnounUS /ˈskɒl.ər/

A specialist in a particular branch of study; a distinguished student.

From this reading To spend too much time in studies, is sloth; to use them too much for ornament, is affectation; to make judgment wholly by their rules, is the humor of a scholar.

serveverbUS /sɜːrv/

serve a purpose, role, or function

From this reading L.—OF STUDIES.[508] Studies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability.

simpleadjectiveUS /ˈsɪmpəl/

having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved

From this reading Crafty men contemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them; for they teach not their own use; but that is a wisdom without them and above them, won by observation.

slothnounUS /sloʊθ/

a disinclination to work or exert yourself

From this reading To spend too much time in studies, is sloth; to use them too much for ornament, is affectation; to make judgment wholly by their rules, is the humor of a scholar.

spendverbUS /spend/

use up a period of time in a specific way

From this reading To spend too much time in studies, is sloth; to use them too much for ornament, is affectation; to make judgment wholly by their rules, is the humor of a scholar.

STUDIESnounUS /ˈstʌdiz/

plural of “study” — a detailed critical inspection

From this reading L.—OF STUDIES.[508] Studies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability.

studynounUS /ˈstʌdi/

a detailed critical inspection

From this reading They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience; for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience.

teachverbUS /tiːtʃ/

impart skills or knowledge to

From this reading Crafty men contemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them; for they teach not their own use; but that is a wisdom without them and above them, won by observation.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business; for expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business; for expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned.

TheirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business; for expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading To spend too much time in studies, is sloth; to use them too much for ornament, is affectation; to make judgment wholly by their rules, is the humor of a scholar.

themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience; for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience; for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

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

From this reading Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business; for expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading To spend too much time in studies, is sloth; to use them too much for ornament, is affectation; to make judgment wholly by their rules, is the humor of a scholar.

ToparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading To spend too much time in studies, is sloth; to use them too much for ornament, is affectation; to make judgment wholly by their rules, is the humor of a scholar.

tooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading To spend too much time in studies, is sloth; to use them too much for ornament, is affectation; to make judgment wholly by their rules, is the humor of a scholar.

usenounUS /juːs/

the act of using

From this reading Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business; for expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned.

whollyadverbUS /ˈhoʊli/

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading To spend too much time in studies, is sloth; to use them too much for ornament, is affectation; to make judgment wholly by their rules, is the humor of a scholar.

wisdomnounUS /ˈwɪzdəm/

accumulated knowledge or erudition or enlightenment

From this reading Crafty men contemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them; for they teach not their own use; but that is a wisdom without them and above them, won by observation.

wiseadjectiveUS /waɪz/

having or prompted by wisdom or discernment

From this reading Crafty men contemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them; for they teach not their own use; but that is a wisdom without them and above them, won by observation.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading Crafty men contemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them; for they teach not their own use; but that is a wisdom without them and above them, won by observation.

wonnounUS /wʌn/

the basic unit of money in South Korea

From this reading Crafty men contemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them; for they teach not their own use; but that is a wisdom without them and above them, won by observation.

Chapter 5 of Bacon's Essays, and Wisdom of the Ancients by Francis Bacon holds 440 sentences, grouped into 88 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 5 of Bacon's Essays, and Wisdom of the Ancients contain?

Chapter 5 holds 440 sentences of Bacon's Essays, and Wisdom of the Ancients, unabridged, divided into 88 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 5 of Bacon's Essays, and Wisdom of the Ancients by Francis Bacon exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 440 sentences, grouped into 88 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 5 of Bacon's Essays, and Wisdom of the Ancients?

Work through the 88 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

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Project Gutenberg eBook #56463, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

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About 321 minutes of reading across 773 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in Bacon's Essays, and Wisdom of the Ancients

Words and structures a reader meets early in Bacon's Essays, and Wisdom of the Ancients, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

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