Chapter 1 of De Mortuis Nil Nisi Bona is here in full — 409 sentences across 82 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
Chapter 1 of De Mortuis Nil Nisi Bona is here in full — 409 sentences across 82 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Three minor typographical errors were found and corrected, none of which affected the sense of the text. The FOREWORD is in Latin. For the reader's convenience it is repeated at the end of the text with a free English translation inserted. By SPICER and PEGLER. By ERNEST EVAN SPICER, F.C.A.
Chapter 1 of De Mortuis Nil Nisi Bona is here in full — 409 sentences across 82 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/81 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.
the state of being suitable or opportune
From this reading “For the reader's convenience it is repeated at the end of the text with a free English translation inserted.”
plural of “error” — a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading “Three minor typographical errors were found and corrected, none of which affected the sense of the text.”
a short introductory essay preceding the text of a book
From this reading “The FOREWORD is in Latin.”
past form of “insert” — put or introduce into something
From this reading “For the reader's convenience it is repeated at the end of the text with a free English translation inserted.”
possessive form of “reader” — a person who enjoys reading
From this reading “For the reader's convenience it is repeated at the end of the text with a free English translation inserted.”
comparative of “spic” — completely neat and clean
From this reading “By SPICER and PEGLER.”
a written communication in a second language having the same meaning as the written communication in a first language
From this reading “For the reader's convenience it is repeated at the end of the text with a free English translation inserted.”
relating to or occurring or used in typography
From this reading “Three minor typographical errors were found and corrected, none of which affected the sense of the text.”
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.
In this reading “For the reader's convenience it is repeated at the end of the text with a free English translation inserted.”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For the reader's convenience it is repeated at the end of the text with a free English translation inserted.
acted upon; influenced
From this reading Three minor typographical errors were found and corrected, none of which affected the sense of the text.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Three minor typographical errors were found and corrected, none of which affected the sense of the text.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading For the reader's convenience it is repeated at the end of the text with a free English translation inserted.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By SPICER and PEGLER.
a degree on the centigrade scale of temperature
From this reading By ERNEST EVAN SPICER, F.C.A.
the state of being suitable or opportune
From this reading For the reader's convenience it is repeated at the end of the text with a free English translation inserted.
having something undesirable neutralized
From this reading Three minor typographical errors were found and corrected, none of which affected the sense of the text.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading For the reader's convenience it is repeated at the end of the text with a free English translation inserted.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading For the reader's convenience it is repeated at the end of the text with a free English translation inserted.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By ERNEST EVAN SPICER, F.C.A.
plural of “error” — a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading Three minor typographical errors were found and corrected, none of which affected the sense of the text.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By ERNEST EVAN SPICER, F.C.A.
a degree on the Fahrenheit scale of temperature
From this reading By ERNEST EVAN SPICER, F.C.A.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the reader's convenience it is repeated at the end of the text with a free English translation inserted.
a short introductory essay preceding the text of a book
From this reading The FOREWORD is in Latin.
set up or found
From this reading Three minor typographical errors were found and corrected, none of which affected the sense of the text.
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading For the reader's convenience it is repeated at the end of the text with a free English translation inserted.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The FOREWORD is in Latin.
past form of “insert” — put or introduce into something
From this reading For the reader's convenience it is repeated at the end of the text with a free English translation inserted.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The FOREWORD is in Latin.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading For the reader's convenience it is repeated at the end of the text with a free English translation inserted.
of or relating to the ancient Latins or the Latin language
From this reading The FOREWORD is in Latin.
of lesser importance or stature or rank
From this reading Three minor typographical errors were found and corrected, none of which affected the sense of the text.
not one, and not any
From this reading Three minor typographical errors were found and corrected, none of which affected the sense of the text.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Three minor typographical errors were found and corrected, none of which affected the sense of the text.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By SPICER and PEGLER.
possessive form of “reader” — a person who enjoys reading
From this reading For the reader's convenience it is repeated at the end of the text with a free English translation inserted.
recurring again and again
From this reading For the reader's convenience it is repeated at the end of the text with a free English translation inserted.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading Three minor typographical errors were found and corrected, none of which affected the sense of the text.
comparative of “spic” — completely neat and clean
From this reading By SPICER and PEGLER.
the words of something written
From this reading Three minor typographical errors were found and corrected, none of which affected the sense of the text.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Three minor typographical errors were found and corrected, none of which affected the sense of the text.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Three minor typographical errors were found and corrected, none of which affected the sense of the text.
a written communication in a second language having the same meaning as the written communication in a first language
From this reading For the reader's convenience it is repeated at the end of the text with a free English translation inserted.
relating to or occurring or used in typography
From this reading Three minor typographical errors were found and corrected, none of which affected the sense of the text.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Three minor typographical errors were found and corrected, none of which affected the sense of the text.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Three minor typographical errors were found and corrected, none of which affected the sense of the text.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For the reader's convenience it is repeated at the end of the text with a free English translation inserted.
Chapter 1 of De Mortuis Nil Nisi Bona by Ernest Evan Spicer holds 409 sentences, grouped into 82 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.
Chapter 1 holds 409 sentences of De Mortuis Nil Nisi Bona, unabridged, divided into 82 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of De Mortuis Nil Nisi Bona by Ernest Evan Spicer exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 409 sentences, grouped into 82 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.
Work through the 82 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 82 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 can be played aloud in United States English.
Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.
Common questions about reading De Mortuis Nil Nisi Bona by Ernest Evan Spicer on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 811 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #41888 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #41888, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 67 minutes of reading across 163 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through De Mortuis Nil Nisi Bona section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 2 chapters of De Mortuis Nil Nisi Bona to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in De Mortuis Nil Nisi Bona, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
