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Daniel Deronda
Daniel Deronda

Chapter XII · Chapter 12

Chapter 12 of Daniel Deronda is here in full — 472 sentences across 95 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Daniel Deronda
Context Illustration Reading 1/94 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
It is a common sentence that Knowledge is power; but who hath duly considered or set forth the power of Ignorance?
Knowledge slowly builds up what Ignorance in an hour pulls down.
Knowledge, through patient and frugal centuries, enlarges discovery and makes record of it; Ignorance, wanting its day’s dinner, lights a fire with the record, and gives a flavor to its one roast with the burned souls of many generations.
Knowledge, instructing the sense, refining and multiplying needs, transforms itself into skill and makes life various with a new six days work; comes Ignorance drunk on the seventh, with a firkin of oil and a match and an easy Let there not be,” and the many-colored creation is shriveled up in blackness.
Of a truth, Knowledge is power, but it is a power reined by scruple, having a conscience of what must be and what may be; whereas Ignorance is a blind giant who, let him but wax unbound, would make it a sport to seize the pillars that hold up the long-wrought fabric of human good, and turn all the places of joy dark as a buried Babylon.
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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.

Daniel Deronda

Chapter XII · Chapter 12

Chapter 12 of Daniel Deronda is here in full — 472 sentences across 95 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/94 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
It is a common sentence that Knowledge is power; but who hath duly considered or set forth the power of Ignorance?
/ɪt ɪz ə ˈkɑːmən ˈsentəns ðæt ˈnɑːlədʒ ɪz ˈpaʊər bʌt huː hæθ ˈduːli kənˈsɪdərd ɔːr set fɔːrθ ðə ˈpaʊər ʌv ˈɪɡnərəns/
Line 2
Knowledge slowly builds up what Ignorance in an hour pulls down.
/ˈnɑːlədʒ ˈsloʊli bɪldz ʌp wʌt ˈɪɡnərəns ɪn æn ˈaʊər pʊlz daʊn/
Line 3
Knowledge, through patient and frugal centuries, enlarges discovery and makes record of it; Ignorance, wanting its day’s dinner, lights a fire with the record, and gives a flavor to its one roast with the burned souls of many generations.
/ˈnɑːlədʒ θruː ˈpeɪʃənt ənd ˈfruːɡəl ˈsentʃəriz ɪnˈlɑːrdʒɪz dɪˈskʌvəri ənd meɪks rəˈkɔːrd ʌv ɪt ˈɪɡnərəns ˈwɑːntɪŋ ɪts deɪz ˈdɪnər laɪts ə ˈfaɪər wɪð ðə rəˈkɔːrd ənd ɡɪvz ə ˈfleɪvər tuː ɪts wʌn roʊst wɪð ðə bɜːrnd soʊlz ʌv ˈmeni ˌdʒenərˈeɪʃənz/
Line 4
Knowledge, instructing the sense, refining and multiplying needs, transforms itself into skill and makes life various with a new six dayswork; comes Ignorance drunk on the seventh, with a firkin of oil and a match and an easyLet there not be,” and the many-colored creation is shriveled up in blackness.
Line 5
Of a truth, Knowledge is power, but it is a power reined by scruple, having a conscience of what must be and what may be; whereas Ignorance is a blind giant who, let him but wax unbound, would make it a sport to seize the pillars that hold up the long-wrought fabric of human good, and turn all the places of joy dark as a buried Babylon.

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.

builds noun US /bɪldz/

plural of “build” — constitution of the human body

From this reading “Knowledge slowly builds up what Ignorance in an hour pulls down.”

enlarges verb US /ɪnˈlɑːrdʒɪz/

third-person singular of “enlarge” — make larger

From this reading “Knowledge, through patient and frugal centuries, enlarges discovery and makes record of it; Ignorance, wanting its day’s dinner, lights a fire with the record, and gives a flavor to its one roast with the burned souls of many generations.”

instructing verb US /ˌɪnˈstrʌktɪŋ/

-ing form of “instruct” — impart skills or knowledge to

From this reading “Knowledge, instructing the sense, refining and multiplying needs, transforms itself into skill and makes life various with a new six days’ work; comes Ignorance drunk on the seventh, with a firkin of oil and a match and an easy “Let there not be,” and the many-colored creation is shriveled up in blackness.”

multiplying verb US /ˈmʌltəplaɪɪŋ/

-ing form of “multiply” — combine by multiplication

From this reading “Knowledge, instructing the sense, refining and multiplying needs, transforms itself into skill and makes life various with a new six days’ work; comes Ignorance drunk on the seventh, with a firkin of oil and a match and an easy “Let there not be,” and the many-colored creation is shriveled up in blackness.”

refining noun US /rəˈfaɪnɪŋ/

the process of removing impurities (as from oil or metals or sugar etc.)

From this reading “Knowledge, instructing the sense, refining and multiplying needs, transforms itself into skill and makes life various with a new six days’ work; comes Ignorance drunk on the seventh, with a firkin of oil and a match and an easy “Let there not be,” and the many-colored creation is shriveled up in blackness.”

shriveled adjective US /ˈʃrɪvəld/

(used especially of vegetation) having lost all moisture

From this reading “Knowledge, instructing the sense, refining and multiplying needs, transforms itself into skill and makes life various with a new six days’ work; comes Ignorance drunk on the seventh, with a firkin of oil and a match and an easy “Let there not be,” and the many-colored creation is shriveled up in blackness.”

transforms verb US /trænˈsfɔːrmz/

third-person singular of “transform” — subject to a mathematical transformation

From this reading “Knowledge, instructing the sense, refining and multiplying needs, transforms itself into skill and makes life various with a new six days’ work; comes Ignorance drunk on the seventh, with a firkin of oil and a match and an easy “Let there not be,” and the many-colored creation is shriveled up in blackness.”

unbound adjective US /ʌnˈbaʊnd/

Released from physical or magical bonds; free and unrestricted.

From this reading “Of a truth, Knowledge is power, but it is a power reined by scruple, having a conscience of what must be and what may be; whereas Ignorance is a blind giant who, let him but wax unbound, would make it a sport to seize the pillars that hold up the long-wrought fabric of human good, and turn all the places of joy dark as a buried Babylon.”

All words in this reading · 116

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 It is a common sentence that Knowledge is power; but who hath duly considered or set forth the power of Ignorance?

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(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 Of a truth, Knowledge is power, but it is a power reined by scruple, having a conscience of what must be and what may be; whereas Ignorance is a blind giant who, let him but wax unbound, would make it a sport to seize the pillars that hold up the long-wrought fabric of human good, and turn all the places of joy dark as a buried Babylon.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Knowledge slowly builds up what Ignorance in an hour pulls down.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Knowledge, through patient and frugal centuries, enlarges discovery and makes record of it; Ignorance, wanting its day’s dinner, lights a fire with the record, and gives a flavor to its one roast with the burned souls of many generations.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Of a truth, Knowledge is power, but it is a power reined by scruple, having a conscience of what must be and what may be; whereas Ignorance is a blind giant who, let him but wax unbound, would make it a sport to seize the pillars that hold up the long-wrought fabric of human good, and turn all the places of joy dark as a buried Babylon.

BabylonnounUS /ˈbæbəlɑːn/

the chief city of ancient Mesopotamia and capital of the ancient kingdom of Babylonia

From this reading Of a truth, Knowledge is power, but it is a power reined by scruple, having a conscience of what must be and what may be; whereas Ignorance is a blind giant who, let him but wax unbound, would make it a sport to seize the pillars that hold up the long-wrought fabric of human good, and turn all the places of joy dark as a buried Babylon.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Knowledge, instructing the sense, refining and multiplying needs, transforms itself into skill and makes life various with a new six days’ work; comes Ignorance drunk on the seventh, with a firkin of oil and a match and an easy “Let there not be,” and the many-colored creation is shriveled up in blackness.

blacknessnounUS /ˈblæknəs/

the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)

From this reading Knowledge, instructing the sense, refining and multiplying needs, transforms itself into skill and makes life various with a new six days’ work; comes Ignorance drunk on the seventh, with a firkin of oil and a match and an easy “Let there not be,” and the many-colored creation is shriveled up in blackness.

blindnounUS /blaɪnd/

people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group

From this reading Of a truth, Knowledge is power, but it is a power reined by scruple, having a conscience of what must be and what may be; whereas Ignorance is a blind giant who, let him but wax unbound, would make it a sport to seize the pillars that hold up the long-wrought fabric of human good, and turn all the places of joy dark as a buried Babylon.

buildsnounUS /bɪldz/

plural of “build” — constitution of the human body

From this reading Knowledge slowly builds up what Ignorance in an hour pulls down.

buriedadjectiveUS /ˈberid/

placed in a grave

From this reading Of a truth, Knowledge is power, but it is a power reined by scruple, having a conscience of what must be and what may be; whereas Ignorance is a blind giant who, let him but wax unbound, would make it a sport to seize the pillars that hold up the long-wrought fabric of human good, and turn all the places of joy dark as a buried Babylon.

burnedadjectiveUS /bɜːrnd/

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

From this reading Knowledge, through patient and frugal centuries, enlarges discovery and makes record of it; Ignorance, wanting its day’s dinner, lights a fire with the record, and gives a flavor to its one roast with the burned souls of many generations.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It is a common sentence that Knowledge is power; but who hath duly considered or set forth the power of Ignorance?

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Of a truth, Knowledge is power, but it is a power reined by scruple, having a conscience of what must be and what may be; whereas Ignorance is a blind giant who, let him but wax unbound, would make it a sport to seize the pillars that hold up the long-wrought fabric of human good, and turn all the places of joy dark as a buried Babylon.

centuriesnounUS /ˈsentʃəriz/

plural of “century” — a period of 100 years

From this reading Knowledge, through patient and frugal centuries, enlarges discovery and makes record of it; Ignorance, wanting its day’s dinner, lights a fire with the record, and gives a flavor to its one roast with the burned souls of many generations.

comesnounUS /kʌmz/

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

From this reading Knowledge, instructing the sense, refining and multiplying needs, transforms itself into skill and makes life various with a new six days’ work; comes Ignorance drunk on the seventh, with a firkin of oil and a match and an easy “Let there not be,” and the many-colored creation is shriveled up in blackness.

commonadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmən/

belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public

From this reading It is a common sentence that Knowledge is power; but who hath duly considered or set forth the power of Ignorance?

consciencenounUS /ˈkɑːnʃəns/

motivation deriving logically from ethical or moral principles that govern a person's thoughts and actions

From this reading Of a truth, Knowledge is power, but it is a power reined by scruple, having a conscience of what must be and what may be; whereas Ignorance is a blind giant who, let him but wax unbound, would make it a sport to seize the pillars that hold up the long-wrought fabric of human good, and turn all the places of joy dark as a buried Babylon.

consideredadjectiveUS /kənˈsɪdərd/

carefully weighed

From this reading It is a common sentence that Knowledge is power; but who hath duly considered or set forth the power of Ignorance?

creationnounUS /kriˈeɪʃən/

the human act of creating

From this reading Knowledge, instructing the sense, refining and multiplying needs, transforms itself into skill and makes life various with a new six days’ work; comes Ignorance drunk on the seventh, with a firkin of oil and a match and an easy “Let there not be,” and the many-colored creation is shriveled up in blackness.

darknounUS /dɑːrk/

absence of light or illumination

From this reading Of a truth, Knowledge is power, but it is a power reined by scruple, having a conscience of what must be and what may be; whereas Ignorance is a blind giant who, let him but wax unbound, would make it a sport to seize the pillars that hold up the long-wrought fabric of human good, and turn all the places of joy dark as a buried Babylon.

day'snounUS /deɪz/

possessive form of “day” — time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading Knowledge, through patient and frugal centuries, enlarges discovery and makes record of it; Ignorance, wanting its day’s dinner, lights a fire with the record, and gives a flavor to its one roast with the burned souls of many generations.

daysnounUS /deɪz/

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading Knowledge, instructing the sense, refining and multiplying needs, transforms itself into skill and makes life various with a new six days’ work; comes Ignorance drunk on the seventh, with a firkin of oil and a match and an easy “Let there not be,” and the many-colored creation is shriveled up in blackness.

dinnernounUS /ˈdɪnər/

the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday

From this reading Knowledge, through patient and frugal centuries, enlarges discovery and makes record of it; Ignorance, wanting its day’s dinner, lights a fire with the record, and gives a flavor to its one roast with the burned souls of many generations.

discoverynounUS /dɪˈskʌvəri/

the act of discovering something

From this reading Knowledge, through patient and frugal centuries, enlarges discovery and makes record of it; Ignorance, wanting its day’s dinner, lights a fire with the record, and gives a flavor to its one roast with the burned souls of many generations.

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Knowledge slowly builds up what Ignorance in an hour pulls down.

drunkadjectiveUS /drʌŋk/

stupefied or excited by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)

From this reading Knowledge, instructing the sense, refining and multiplying needs, transforms itself into skill and makes life various with a new six days’ work; comes Ignorance drunk on the seventh, with a firkin of oil and a match and an easy “Let there not be,” and the many-colored creation is shriveled up in blackness.

dulyadverbUS /ˈduːli/

in accordance with what is appropriate or suitable for the circumstances

From this reading It is a common sentence that Knowledge is power; but who hath duly considered or set forth the power of Ignorance?

easyadjectiveUS /ˈiːzi/

posing no difficulty; requiring little effort

From this reading Knowledge, instructing the sense, refining and multiplying needs, transforms itself into skill and makes life various with a new six days’ work; comes Ignorance drunk on the seventh, with a firkin of oil and a match and an easy “Let there not be,” and the many-colored creation is shriveled up in blackness.

enlargesverbUS /ɪnˈlɑːrdʒɪz/

third-person singular of “enlarge” — make larger

From this reading Knowledge, through patient and frugal centuries, enlarges discovery and makes record of it; Ignorance, wanting its day’s dinner, lights a fire with the record, and gives a flavor to its one roast with the burned souls of many generations.

fabricnounUS /ˈfæbrɪk/

artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers

From this reading Of a truth, Knowledge is power, but it is a power reined by scruple, having a conscience of what must be and what may be; whereas Ignorance is a blind giant who, let him but wax unbound, would make it a sport to seize the pillars that hold up the long-wrought fabric of human good, and turn all the places of joy dark as a buried Babylon.

fireverbUS /ˈfaɪər/

start firing a weapon

From this reading Knowledge, through patient and frugal centuries, enlarges discovery and makes record of it; Ignorance, wanting its day’s dinner, lights a fire with the record, and gives a flavor to its one roast with the burned souls of many generations.

firkinnoun

a British unit of capacity equal to 9 imperial gallons

From this reading Knowledge, instructing the sense, refining and multiplying needs, transforms itself into skill and makes life various with a new six days’ work; comes Ignorance drunk on the seventh, with a firkin of oil and a match and an easy “Let there not be,” and the many-colored creation is shriveled up in blackness.

flavornounUS /ˈfleɪvər/

the general atmosphere of a place or situation and the effect that it has on people

From this reading Knowledge, through patient and frugal centuries, enlarges discovery and makes record of it; Ignorance, wanting its day’s dinner, lights a fire with the record, and gives a flavor to its one roast with the burned souls of many generations.

forthadverbUS /fɔːrθ/

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

From this reading It is a common sentence that Knowledge is power; but who hath duly considered or set forth the power of Ignorance?

frugaladjectiveUS /ˈfruːɡəl/

avoiding waste

From this reading Knowledge, through patient and frugal centuries, enlarges discovery and makes record of it; Ignorance, wanting its day’s dinner, lights a fire with the record, and gives a flavor to its one roast with the burned souls of many generations.

generationsnounUS /ˌdʒenərˈeɪʃənz/

plural of “generation” — all the people living at the same time or of approximately the same age

From this reading Knowledge, through patient and frugal centuries, enlarges discovery and makes record of it; Ignorance, wanting its day’s dinner, lights a fire with the record, and gives a flavor to its one roast with the burned souls of many generations.

giantnounUS /ˈdʒaɪənt/

any creature of exceptional size

From this reading Of a truth, Knowledge is power, but it is a power reined by scruple, having a conscience of what must be and what may be; whereas Ignorance is a blind giant who, let him but wax unbound, would make it a sport to seize the pillars that hold up the long-wrought fabric of human good, and turn all the places of joy dark as a buried Babylon.

givesnounUS /ɡɪvz/

plural of “give” — the elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length

From this reading Knowledge, through patient and frugal centuries, enlarges discovery and makes record of it; Ignorance, wanting its day’s dinner, lights a fire with the record, and gives a flavor to its one roast with the burned souls of many generations.

goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading Of a truth, Knowledge is power, but it is a power reined by scruple, having a conscience of what must be and what may be; whereas Ignorance is a blind giant who, let him but wax unbound, would make it a sport to seize the pillars that hold up the long-wrought fabric of human good, and turn all the places of joy dark as a buried Babylon.

hathauxiliary verbUS /hæθ/

an old form of “has”

From this reading It is a common sentence that Knowledge is power; but who hath duly considered or set forth the power of Ignorance?

havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading Of a truth, Knowledge is power, but it is a power reined by scruple, having a conscience of what must be and what may be; whereas Ignorance is a blind giant who, let him but wax unbound, would make it a sport to seize the pillars that hold up the long-wrought fabric of human good, and turn all the places of joy dark as a buried Babylon.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Of a truth, Knowledge is power, but it is a power reined by scruple, having a conscience of what must be and what may be; whereas Ignorance is a blind giant who, let him but wax unbound, would make it a sport to seize the pillars that hold up the long-wrought fabric of human good, and turn all the places of joy dark as a buried Babylon.

holdverbUS /hoʊld/

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading Of a truth, Knowledge is power, but it is a power reined by scruple, having a conscience of what must be and what may be; whereas Ignorance is a blind giant who, let him but wax unbound, would make it a sport to seize the pillars that hold up the long-wrought fabric of human good, and turn all the places of joy dark as a buried Babylon.

hournounUS /ˈaʊər/

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading Knowledge slowly builds up what Ignorance in an hour pulls down.

humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/

characteristic of humanity

From this reading Of a truth, Knowledge is power, but it is a power reined by scruple, having a conscience of what must be and what may be; whereas Ignorance is a blind giant who, let him but wax unbound, would make it a sport to seize the pillars that hold up the long-wrought fabric of human good, and turn all the places of joy dark as a buried Babylon.

IgnorancenounUS /ˈɪɡnərəns/

the lack of knowledge or education

From this reading It is a common sentence that Knowledge is power; but who hath duly considered or set forth the power of Ignorance?

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Knowledge slowly builds up what Ignorance in an hour pulls down.

instructingverbUS /ˌɪnˈstrʌktɪŋ/

-ing form of “instruct” — impart skills or knowledge to

From this reading Knowledge, instructing the sense, refining and multiplying needs, transforms itself into skill and makes life various with a new six days’ work; comes Ignorance drunk on the seventh, with a firkin of oil and a match and an easy “Let there not be,” and the many-colored creation is shriveled up in blackness.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Knowledge, instructing the sense, refining and multiplying needs, transforms itself into skill and makes life various with a new six days’ work; comes Ignorance drunk on the seventh, with a firkin of oil and a match and an easy “Let there not be,” and the many-colored creation is shriveled up in blackness.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading It is a common sentence that Knowledge is power; but who hath duly considered or set forth the power of Ignorance?

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It is a common sentence that Knowledge is power; but who hath duly considered or set forth the power of Ignorance?

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Knowledge, through patient and frugal centuries, enlarges discovery and makes record of it; Ignorance, wanting its day’s dinner, lights a fire with the record, and gives a flavor to its one roast with the burned souls of many generations.

itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading Knowledge, instructing the sense, refining and multiplying needs, transforms itself into skill and makes life various with a new six days’ work; comes Ignorance drunk on the seventh, with a firkin of oil and a match and an easy “Let there not be,” and the many-colored creation is shriveled up in blackness.

joynounUS /dʒɔɪ/

the emotion of great happiness

From this reading Of a truth, Knowledge is power, but it is a power reined by scruple, having a conscience of what must be and what may be; whereas Ignorance is a blind giant who, let him but wax unbound, would make it a sport to seize the pillars that hold up the long-wrought fabric of human good, and turn all the places of joy dark as a buried Babylon.

KnowledgenounUS /ˈnɑːlədʒ/

the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning

From this reading It is a common sentence that Knowledge is power; but who hath duly considered or set forth the power of Ignorance?

Letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading Knowledge, instructing the sense, refining and multiplying needs, transforms itself into skill and makes life various with a new six days’ work; comes Ignorance drunk on the seventh, with a firkin of oil and a match and an easy “Let there not be,” and the many-colored creation is shriveled up in blackness.

lifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading Knowledge, instructing the sense, refining and multiplying needs, transforms itself into skill and makes life various with a new six days’ work; comes Ignorance drunk on the seventh, with a firkin of oil and a match and an easy “Let there not be,” and the many-colored creation is shriveled up in blackness.

lightsnounUS /laɪts/

plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation

From this reading Knowledge, through patient and frugal centuries, enlarges discovery and makes record of it; Ignorance, wanting its day’s dinner, lights a fire with the record, and gives a flavor to its one roast with the burned souls of many generations.

long-wrought

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

From this reading Of a truth, Knowledge is power, but it is a power reined by scruple, having a conscience of what must be and what may be; whereas Ignorance is a blind giant who, let him but wax unbound, would make it a sport to seize the pillars that hold up the long-wrought fabric of human good, and turn all the places of joy dark as a buried Babylon.

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading Of a truth, Knowledge is power, but it is a power reined by scruple, having a conscience of what must be and what may be; whereas Ignorance is a blind giant who, let him but wax unbound, would make it a sport to seize the pillars that hold up the long-wrought fabric of human good, and turn all the places of joy dark as a buried Babylon.

makesnounUS /meɪks/

plural of “make” — a recognizable kind

From this reading Knowledge, through patient and frugal centuries, enlarges discovery and makes record of it; Ignorance, wanting its day’s dinner, lights a fire with the record, and gives a flavor to its one roast with the burned souls of many generations.

manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading Knowledge, through patient and frugal centuries, enlarges discovery and makes record of it; Ignorance, wanting its day’s dinner, lights a fire with the record, and gives a flavor to its one roast with the burned souls of many generations.

many-colored

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

From this reading Knowledge, instructing the sense, refining and multiplying needs, transforms itself into skill and makes life various with a new six days’ work; comes Ignorance drunk on the seventh, with a firkin of oil and a match and an easy “Let there not be,” and the many-colored creation is shriveled up in blackness.

matchverbUS /mætʃ/

be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics

From this reading Knowledge, instructing the sense, refining and multiplying needs, transforms itself into skill and makes life various with a new six days’ work; comes Ignorance drunk on the seventh, with a firkin of oil and a match and an easy “Let there not be,” and the many-colored creation is shriveled up in blackness.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading Of a truth, Knowledge is power, but it is a power reined by scruple, having a conscience of what must be and what may be; whereas Ignorance is a blind giant who, let him but wax unbound, would make it a sport to seize the pillars that hold up the long-wrought fabric of human good, and turn all the places of joy dark as a buried Babylon.

multiplyingverbUS /ˈmʌltəplaɪɪŋ/

-ing form of “multiply” — combine by multiplication

From this reading Knowledge, instructing the sense, refining and multiplying needs, transforms itself into skill and makes life various with a new six days’ work; comes Ignorance drunk on the seventh, with a firkin of oil and a match and an easy “Let there not be,” and the many-colored creation is shriveled up in blackness.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading Of a truth, Knowledge is power, but it is a power reined by scruple, having a conscience of what must be and what may be; whereas Ignorance is a blind giant who, let him but wax unbound, would make it a sport to seize the pillars that hold up the long-wrought fabric of human good, and turn all the places of joy dark as a buried Babylon.

needsadverbUS /niːdz/

in such a manner as could not be otherwise

From this reading Knowledge, instructing the sense, refining and multiplying needs, transforms itself into skill and makes life various with a new six days’ work; comes Ignorance drunk on the seventh, with a firkin of oil and a match and an easy “Let there not be,” and the many-colored creation is shriveled up in blackness.

newadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading Knowledge, instructing the sense, refining and multiplying needs, transforms itself into skill and makes life various with a new six days’ work; comes Ignorance drunk on the seventh, with a firkin of oil and a match and an easy “Let there not be,” and the many-colored creation is shriveled up in blackness.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Knowledge, instructing the sense, refining and multiplying needs, transforms itself into skill and makes life various with a new six days’ work; comes Ignorance drunk on the seventh, with a firkin of oil and a match and an easy “Let there not be,” and the many-colored creation is shriveled up in blackness.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It is a common sentence that Knowledge is power; but who hath duly considered or set forth the power of Ignorance?

oilnounUS /ɔɪl/

A viscous liquid derived from petroleum or plants, stored in large earthen jars.

From this reading Knowledge, instructing the sense, refining and multiplying needs, transforms itself into skill and makes life various with a new six days’ work; comes Ignorance drunk on the seventh, with a firkin of oil and a match and an easy “Let there not be,” and the many-colored creation is shriveled up in blackness.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Knowledge, instructing the sense, refining and multiplying needs, transforms itself into skill and makes life various with a new six days’ work; comes Ignorance drunk on the seventh, with a firkin of oil and a match and an easy “Let there not be,” and the many-colored creation is shriveled up in blackness.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Knowledge, through patient and frugal centuries, enlarges discovery and makes record of it; Ignorance, wanting its day’s dinner, lights a fire with the record, and gives a flavor to its one roast with the burned souls of many generations.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading It is a common sentence that Knowledge is power; but who hath duly considered or set forth the power of Ignorance?

patientnounUS /ˈpeɪʃənt/

a person who requires medical care

From this reading Knowledge, through patient and frugal centuries, enlarges discovery and makes record of it; Ignorance, wanting its day’s dinner, lights a fire with the record, and gives a flavor to its one roast with the burned souls of many generations.

pillarsnounUS /ˈpɪlərz/

plural of “pillar” — a fundamental principle or practice

From this reading Of a truth, Knowledge is power, but it is a power reined by scruple, having a conscience of what must be and what may be; whereas Ignorance is a blind giant who, let him but wax unbound, would make it a sport to seize the pillars that hold up the long-wrought fabric of human good, and turn all the places of joy dark as a buried Babylon.

placesnounUS /ˈpleɪsəz/

plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading Of a truth, Knowledge is power, but it is a power reined by scruple, having a conscience of what must be and what may be; whereas Ignorance is a blind giant who, let him but wax unbound, would make it a sport to seize the pillars that hold up the long-wrought fabric of human good, and turn all the places of joy dark as a buried Babylon.

powernounUS /ˈpaʊər/

possession of controlling influence

From this reading It is a common sentence that Knowledge is power; but who hath duly considered or set forth the power of Ignorance?

pullsnounUS /pʊlz/

plural of “pull” — the act of pulling; applying force to move something toward or with you

From this reading Knowledge slowly builds up what Ignorance in an hour pulls down.

recordnounUS /rəˈkɔːrd/

anything (such as a document or a phonograph record or a photograph) providing permanent evidence of or information about past events

From this reading Knowledge, through patient and frugal centuries, enlarges discovery and makes record of it; Ignorance, wanting its day’s dinner, lights a fire with the record, and gives a flavor to its one roast with the burned souls of many generations.

refiningnounUS /rəˈfaɪnɪŋ/

the process of removing impurities (as from oil or metals or sugar etc.)

From this reading Knowledge, instructing the sense, refining and multiplying needs, transforms itself into skill and makes life various with a new six days’ work; comes Ignorance drunk on the seventh, with a firkin of oil and a match and an easy “Let there not be,” and the many-colored creation is shriveled up in blackness.

reinedverbUS /reɪnd/

past form of “rein” — control and direct with or as if by reins

From this reading Of a truth, Knowledge is power, but it is a power reined by scruple, having a conscience of what must be and what may be; whereas Ignorance is a blind giant who, let him but wax unbound, would make it a sport to seize the pillars that hold up the long-wrought fabric of human good, and turn all the places of joy dark as a buried Babylon.

roastverbUS /roʊst/

cook with dry heat, usually in an oven

From this reading Knowledge, through patient and frugal centuries, enlarges discovery and makes record of it; Ignorance, wanting its day’s dinner, lights a fire with the record, and gives a flavor to its one roast with the burned souls of many generations.

scruplenounUS /ˈskruːpəl/

a unit of apothecary weight equal to 20 grains

From this reading Of a truth, Knowledge is power, but it is a power reined by scruple, having a conscience of what must be and what may be; whereas Ignorance is a blind giant who, let him but wax unbound, would make it a sport to seize the pillars that hold up the long-wrought fabric of human good, and turn all the places of joy dark as a buried Babylon.

seizeverbUS /siːz/

take hold of; grab

From this reading Of a truth, Knowledge is power, but it is a power reined by scruple, having a conscience of what must be and what may be; whereas Ignorance is a blind giant who, let him but wax unbound, would make it a sport to seize the pillars that hold up the long-wrought fabric of human good, and turn all the places of joy dark as a buried Babylon.

sensenounUS /sens/

a general conscious awareness

From this reading Knowledge, instructing the sense, refining and multiplying needs, transforms itself into skill and makes life various with a new six days’ work; comes Ignorance drunk on the seventh, with a firkin of oil and a match and an easy “Let there not be,” and the many-colored creation is shriveled up in blackness.

sentencenounUS /ˈsentəns/

a string of words satisfying the grammatical rules of a language

From this reading It is a common sentence that Knowledge is power; but who hath duly considered or set forth the power of Ignorance?

setverbUS /set/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading It is a common sentence that Knowledge is power; but who hath duly considered or set forth the power of Ignorance?

seventhadjectiveUS /ˈsevənθ/

coming next after the sixth and just before the eighth in position

From this reading Knowledge, instructing the sense, refining and multiplying needs, transforms itself into skill and makes life various with a new six days’ work; comes Ignorance drunk on the seventh, with a firkin of oil and a match and an easy “Let there not be,” and the many-colored creation is shriveled up in blackness.

shriveledadjectiveUS /ˈʃrɪvəld/

(used especially of vegetation) having lost all moisture

From this reading Knowledge, instructing the sense, refining and multiplying needs, transforms itself into skill and makes life various with a new six days’ work; comes Ignorance drunk on the seventh, with a firkin of oil and a match and an easy “Let there not be,” and the many-colored creation is shriveled up in blackness.

sixnounUS /sɪks/

the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one

From this reading Knowledge, instructing the sense, refining and multiplying needs, transforms itself into skill and makes life various with a new six days’ work; comes Ignorance drunk on the seventh, with a firkin of oil and a match and an easy “Let there not be,” and the many-colored creation is shriveled up in blackness.

skillnounUS /skɪl/

an ability that has been acquired by training

From this reading Knowledge, instructing the sense, refining and multiplying needs, transforms itself into skill and makes life various with a new six days’ work; comes Ignorance drunk on the seventh, with a firkin of oil and a match and an easy “Let there not be,” and the many-colored creation is shriveled up in blackness.

slowlyadverbUS /ˈsloʊli/

without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)

From this reading Knowledge slowly builds up what Ignorance in an hour pulls down.

soulsnounUS /soʊlz/

plural of “soul” — the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life

From this reading Knowledge, through patient and frugal centuries, enlarges discovery and makes record of it; Ignorance, wanting its day’s dinner, lights a fire with the record, and gives a flavor to its one roast with the burned souls of many generations.

sportnounUS /spɔːrt/

an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition

From this reading Of a truth, Knowledge is power, but it is a power reined by scruple, having a conscience of what must be and what may be; whereas Ignorance is a blind giant who, let him but wax unbound, would make it a sport to seize the pillars that hold up the long-wrought fabric of human good, and turn all the places of joy dark as a buried Babylon.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It is a common sentence that Knowledge is power; but who hath duly considered or set forth the power of Ignorance?

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading It is a common sentence that Knowledge is power; but who hath duly considered or set forth the power of Ignorance?

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading Knowledge, instructing the sense, refining and multiplying needs, transforms itself into skill and makes life various with a new six days’ work; comes Ignorance drunk on the seventh, with a firkin of oil and a match and an easy “Let there not be,” and the many-colored creation is shriveled up in blackness.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Knowledge, through patient and frugal centuries, enlarges discovery and makes record of it; Ignorance, wanting its day’s dinner, lights a fire with the record, and gives a flavor to its one roast with the burned souls of many generations.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Knowledge, through patient and frugal centuries, enlarges discovery and makes record of it; Ignorance, wanting its day’s dinner, lights a fire with the record, and gives a flavor to its one roast with the burned souls of many generations.

transformsverbUS /trænˈsfɔːrmz/

third-person singular of “transform” — subject to a mathematical transformation

From this reading Knowledge, instructing the sense, refining and multiplying needs, transforms itself into skill and makes life various with a new six days’ work; comes Ignorance drunk on the seventh, with a firkin of oil and a match and an easy “Let there not be,” and the many-colored creation is shriveled up in blackness.

truthnounUS /truːθ/

a fact that has been verified

From this reading Of a truth, Knowledge is power, but it is a power reined by scruple, having a conscience of what must be and what may be; whereas Ignorance is a blind giant who, let him but wax unbound, would make it a sport to seize the pillars that hold up the long-wrought fabric of human good, and turn all the places of joy dark as a buried Babylon.

turnverbUS /tɜːrn/

change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense

From this reading Of a truth, Knowledge is power, but it is a power reined by scruple, having a conscience of what must be and what may be; whereas Ignorance is a blind giant who, let him but wax unbound, would make it a sport to seize the pillars that hold up the long-wrought fabric of human good, and turn all the places of joy dark as a buried Babylon.

unboundadjectiveUS /ʌnˈbaʊnd/

Released from physical or magical bonds; free and unrestricted.

From this reading Of a truth, Knowledge is power, but it is a power reined by scruple, having a conscience of what must be and what may be; whereas Ignorance is a blind giant who, let him but wax unbound, would make it a sport to seize the pillars that hold up the long-wrought fabric of human good, and turn all the places of joy dark as a buried Babylon.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

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

From this reading Knowledge slowly builds up what Ignorance in an hour pulls down.

variousadjectiveUS /ˈveriəs/

of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity

From this reading Knowledge, instructing the sense, refining and multiplying needs, transforms itself into skill and makes life various with a new six days’ work; comes Ignorance drunk on the seventh, with a firkin of oil and a match and an easy “Let there not be,” and the many-colored creation is shriveled up in blackness.

wantingadjectiveUS /ˈwɑːntɪŋ/

nonexistent

From this reading Knowledge, through patient and frugal centuries, enlarges discovery and makes record of it; Ignorance, wanting its day’s dinner, lights a fire with the record, and gives a flavor to its one roast with the burned souls of many generations.

waxverbUS /wæks/

cover with wax

From this reading Of a truth, Knowledge is power, but it is a power reined by scruple, having a conscience of what must be and what may be; whereas Ignorance is a blind giant who, let him but wax unbound, would make it a sport to seize the pillars that hold up the long-wrought fabric of human good, and turn all the places of joy dark as a buried Babylon.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Knowledge slowly builds up what Ignorance in an hour pulls down.

whereasconjunctionUS /weˈræz/

in contrast with the fact that

From this reading Of a truth, Knowledge is power, but it is a power reined by scruple, having a conscience of what must be and what may be; whereas Ignorance is a blind giant who, let him but wax unbound, would make it a sport to seize the pillars that hold up the long-wrought fabric of human good, and turn all the places of joy dark as a buried Babylon.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading It is a common sentence that Knowledge is power; but who hath duly considered or set forth the power of Ignorance?

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Knowledge, through patient and frugal centuries, enlarges discovery and makes record of it; Ignorance, wanting its day’s dinner, lights a fire with the record, and gives a flavor to its one roast with the burned souls of many generations.

workverbUS /wɜːrk/

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading Knowledge, instructing the sense, refining and multiplying needs, transforms itself into skill and makes life various with a new six days’ work; comes Ignorance drunk on the seventh, with a firkin of oil and a match and an easy “Let there not be,” and the many-colored creation is shriveled up in blackness.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Of a truth, Knowledge is power, but it is a power reined by scruple, having a conscience of what must be and what may be; whereas Ignorance is a blind giant who, let him but wax unbound, would make it a sport to seize the pillars that hold up the long-wrought fabric of human good, and turn all the places of joy dark as a buried Babylon.

Chapter 12 of Daniel Deronda by George Eliot holds 472 sentences, grouped into 95 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 12 of Daniel Deronda contain?

Chapter 12 holds 472 sentences of Daniel Deronda, unabridged, divided into 95 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 12 of Daniel Deronda by George Eliot exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 472 sentences, grouped into 95 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 12 of Daniel Deronda?

Work through the 95 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 95 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 12 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 12 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading Daniel Deronda

Common questions about reading Daniel Deronda by George Eliot on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Daniel Deronda?

Yes. All 13559 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #7469 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Daniel Deronda is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #7469, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Daniel Deronda take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 2712 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Daniel Deronda section by section

How to work through Daniel Deronda section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 40 chapters of Daniel Deronda 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 Daniel Deronda

Words and structures a reader meets early in Daniel Deronda, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Contrives
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Daniel Deronda; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Secret
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Daniel Deronda; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Twixt
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Daniel Deronda; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Quell
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Daniel Deronda; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.