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Elsie Venner
Elsie Venner

Chapter VI · Chapter 6

Chapter 6 of Elsie Venner is here in full — 158 sentences across 32 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Elsie Venner
Context Illustration Reading 1/31 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The virtue of the world is not mainly in its leaders.
In the midst of the multitude which follows there is often something better than in the one that goes before.
Old generals wanted to take Toulon, but one of their young colonels showed them how.
The junior counsel has been known not unfrequently to make a better argument than his senior fellow,--if, indeed, he did not make both their arguments.
Good ministers will tell you they have parishioners who beat them in the practice of the virtues.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Elsie Venner

Chapter VI · Chapter 6

Chapter 6 of Elsie Venner is here in full — 158 sentences across 32 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/31 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The virtue of the world is not mainly in its leaders.
/ðə ˈvɝː.tʃuː ʌv ðə wɜːrld ɪz nɑːt ˈmeɪnli ɪn ɪts ˈliːdərz/
Line 2
In the midst of the multitude which follows there is often something better than in the one that goes before.
/ɪn ðə mɪdst ʌv ðə ˈmʌltətuːd wɪtʃ ˈfɑːloʊz ðer ɪz ˈɔːfən ˈsʌmθɪŋ ˈbetər ðæn ɪn ðə wʌn ðæt ɡoʊz bɪˈfɔːr/
Line 3
Old generals wanted to take Toulon, but one of their young colonels showed them how.
Line 4
The junior counsel has been known not unfrequently to make a better argument than his senior fellow,--if, indeed, he did not make both their arguments.
Line 5
Good ministers will tell you they have parishioners who beat them in the practice of the virtues.
/ɡʊd ˈmɪnəstərz wɪl tel juː ðeɪ hæv pərˈɪʃənərz huː biːt ðem ɪn ðə ˈpræktəs ʌv ðə ˈvɜːrtʃuːz/

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.

colonels noun US /ˈkɜːrnəlz/

plural of “colonel” — a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general

From this reading “Old generals wanted to take Toulon, but one of their young colonels showed them how.”

generals noun US /ˈdʒenərəlz/

plural of “general” — a general officer of the highest rank

From this reading “Old generals wanted to take Toulon, but one of their young colonels showed them how.”

junior noun US /ˈdʒuːnjər/

term of address for a disrespectful and annoying male

From this reading “The junior counsel has been known not unfrequently to make a better argument than his senior fellow,--if, indeed, he did not make both their arguments.”

leaders noun US /ˈliːdərz/

the body of people who lead a group

From this reading “The virtue of the world is not mainly in its leaders.”

mainly adverb US /ˈmeɪnli/

for the most part

From this reading “The virtue of the world is not mainly in its leaders.”

ministers noun US /ˈmɪnəstərz/

plural of “minister” — a person authorized to conduct religious worship

From this reading “Good ministers will tell you they have parishioners who beat them in the practice of the virtues.”

parishioners noun US /pərˈɪʃənərz/

plural of “parishioner” — a member of a parish

From this reading “Good ministers will tell you they have parishioners who beat them in the practice of the virtues.”

senior adjective US /ˈsiːnjər/

older; higher in rank; longer in length of tenure or service

From this reading “The junior counsel has been known not unfrequently to make a better argument than his senior fellow,--if, indeed, he did not make both their arguments.”

All words in this reading · 66

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 The junior counsel has been known not unfrequently to make a better argument than his senior fellow,--if, indeed, he did not make both their arguments.

argumentnounUS /ˈɑːrɡjəmənt/

a fact or assertion offered as evidence that something is true

From this reading The junior counsel has been known not unfrequently to make a better argument than his senior fellow,--if, indeed, he did not make both their arguments.

argumentsnounUS /ˈɑːrɡjəmənts/

plural of “argument” — a fact or assertion offered as evidence that something is true

From this reading The junior counsel has been known not unfrequently to make a better argument than his senior fellow,--if, indeed, he did not make both their arguments.

beatverbUS /biːt/

come out better in a competition, race, or conflict

From this reading Good ministers will tell you they have parishioners who beat them in the practice of the virtues.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The junior counsel has been known not unfrequently to make a better argument than his senior fellow,--if, indeed, he did not make both their arguments.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading In the midst of the multitude which follows there is often something better than in the one that goes before.

betteradjectiveUS /ˈbetər/

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading In the midst of the multitude which follows there is often something better than in the one that goes before.

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading The junior counsel has been known not unfrequently to make a better argument than his senior fellow,--if, indeed, he did not make both their arguments.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Old generals wanted to take Toulon, but one of their young colonels showed them how.

colonelsnounUS /ˈkɜːrnəlz/

plural of “colonel” — a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general

From this reading Old generals wanted to take Toulon, but one of their young colonels showed them how.

counselnounUS /ˈkaʊnsəl/

a lawyer who pleads cases in court

From this reading The junior counsel has been known not unfrequently to make a better argument than his senior fellow,--if, indeed, he did not make both their arguments.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading The junior counsel has been known not unfrequently to make a better argument than his senior fellow,--if, indeed, he did not make both their arguments.

fellownounUS /ˈfeloʊ/

a boy or man

From this reading The junior counsel has been known not unfrequently to make a better argument than his senior fellow,--if, indeed, he did not make both their arguments.

followsverbUS /ˈfɑːloʊz/

third-person singular of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading In the midst of the multitude which follows there is often something better than in the one that goes before.

generalsnounUS /ˈdʒenərəlz/

plural of “general” — a general officer of the highest rank

From this reading Old generals wanted to take Toulon, but one of their young colonels showed them how.

goesnounUS /ɡoʊz/

plural of “go” — a time period for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)

From this reading In the midst of the multitude which follows there is often something better than in the one that goes before.

GoodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

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

From this reading Good ministers will tell you they have parishioners who beat them in the practice of the virtues.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading The junior counsel has been known not unfrequently to make a better argument than his senior fellow,--if, indeed, he did not make both their arguments.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Good ministers will tell you they have parishioners who beat them in the practice of the virtues.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The junior counsel has been known not unfrequently to make a better argument than his senior fellow,--if, indeed, he did not make both their arguments.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading The junior counsel has been known not unfrequently to make a better argument than his senior fellow,--if, indeed, he did not make both their arguments.

how

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

From this reading Old generals wanted to take Toulon, but one of their young colonels showed them how.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading The junior counsel has been known not unfrequently to make a better argument than his senior fellow,--if, indeed, he did not make both their arguments.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The virtue of the world is not mainly in its leaders.

indeedadverbUS /ˌɪnˈdiːd/

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading The junior counsel has been known not unfrequently to make a better argument than his senior fellow,--if, indeed, he did not make both their arguments.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading The virtue of the world is not mainly in its leaders.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The virtue of the world is not mainly in its leaders.

juniornounUS /ˈdʒuːnjər/

term of address for a disrespectful and annoying male

From this reading The junior counsel has been known not unfrequently to make a better argument than his senior fellow,--if, indeed, he did not make both their arguments.

knownadjectiveUS /noʊn/

apprehended with certainty

From this reading The junior counsel has been known not unfrequently to make a better argument than his senior fellow,--if, indeed, he did not make both their arguments.

leadersnounUS /ˈliːdərz/

the body of people who lead a group

From this reading The virtue of the world is not mainly in its leaders.

mainlyadverbUS /ˈmeɪnli/

for the most part

From this reading The virtue of the world is not mainly in its leaders.

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading The junior counsel has been known not unfrequently to make a better argument than his senior fellow,--if, indeed, he did not make both their arguments.

midstnounUS /mɪdst/

the location of something surrounded by other things

From this reading In the midst of the multitude which follows there is often something better than in the one that goes before.

ministersnounUS /ˈmɪnəstərz/

plural of “minister” — a person authorized to conduct religious worship

From this reading Good ministers will tell you they have parishioners who beat them in the practice of the virtues.

multitudenounUS /ˈmʌltətuːd/

a large indefinite number

From this reading In the midst of the multitude which follows there is often something better than in the one that goes before.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The virtue of the world is not mainly in its leaders.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The virtue of the world is not mainly in its leaders.

oftenadverbUS /ˈɔːfən/

many times at short intervals

From this reading In the midst of the multitude which follows there is often something better than in the one that goes before.

OldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading Old generals wanted to take Toulon, but one of their young colonels showed them how.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading In the midst of the multitude which follows there is often something better than in the one that goes before.

parishionersnounUS /pərˈɪʃənərz/

plural of “parishioner” — a member of a parish

From this reading Good ministers will tell you they have parishioners who beat them in the practice of the virtues.

practicenounUS /ˈpræktəs/

a customary way of operation or behavior

From this reading Good ministers will tell you they have parishioners who beat them in the practice of the virtues.

senioradjectiveUS /ˈsiːnjər/

older; higher in rank; longer in length of tenure or service

From this reading The junior counsel has been known not unfrequently to make a better argument than his senior fellow,--if, indeed, he did not make both their arguments.

showedverbUS /ʃoʊd/

past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading Old generals wanted to take Toulon, but one of their young colonels showed them how.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading In the midst of the multitude which follows there is often something better than in the one that goes before.

takeverbUS /teɪk/

carry out

From this reading Old generals wanted to take Toulon, but one of their young colonels showed them how.

tellverbUS /tel/

express in words

From this reading Good ministers will tell you they have parishioners who beat them in the practice of the virtues.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading In the midst of the multitude which follows there is often something better than in the one that goes before.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading In the midst of the multitude which follows there is often something better than in the one that goes before.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The virtue of the world is not mainly in its leaders.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Old generals wanted to take Toulon, but one of their young colonels showed them how.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Old generals wanted to take Toulon, but one of their young colonels showed them how.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading In the midst of the multitude which follows there is often something better than in the one that goes before.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading Good ministers will tell you they have parishioners who beat them in the practice of the virtues.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Old generals wanted to take Toulon, but one of their young colonels showed them how.

Toulonnoun

a port city and naval base in southeastern France on the Mediterranean coast

From this reading Old generals wanted to take Toulon, but one of their young colonels showed them how.

unfrequently

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

From this reading The junior counsel has been known not unfrequently to make a better argument than his senior fellow,--if, indeed, he did not make both their arguments.

virtuenounUS /ˈvɝː.tʃuː/

Moral excellence and goodness of character; the highest human attainment in Stoic philosophy.

From this reading The virtue of the world is not mainly in its leaders.

virtuesnounUS /ˈvɜːrtʃuːz/

plural of “virtue” — the quality of doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong

From this reading Good ministers will tell you they have parishioners who beat them in the practice of the virtues.

wantedadjectiveUS /ˈwɔːntɪd/

desired or wished for or sought

From this reading Old generals wanted to take Toulon, but one of their young colonels showed them how.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading In the midst of the multitude which follows there is often something better than in the one that goes before.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Good ministers will tell you they have parishioners who beat them in the practice of the virtues.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading Good ministers will tell you they have parishioners who beat them in the practice of the virtues.

worldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading The virtue of the world is not mainly in its leaders.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Good ministers will tell you they have parishioners who beat them in the practice of the virtues.

youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading Old generals wanted to take Toulon, but one of their young colonels showed them how.

Chapter 6 of Elsie Venner by Oliver Wendell Holmes holds 158 sentences, grouped into 32 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 6 of Elsie Venner contain?

Chapter 6 holds 158 sentences of Elsie Venner, unabridged, divided into 32 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 6 of Elsie Venner by Oliver Wendell Holmes exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 158 sentences, grouped into 32 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 6 of Elsie Venner?

Work through the 32 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 32 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 6 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 6 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 Elsie Venner

Common questions about reading Elsie Venner by Oliver Wendell Holmes on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Elsie Venner?

Yes. All 5636 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #2696 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Elsie Venner is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #2696, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Elsie Venner take to read?

About 469 minutes of reading across 1128 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Elsie Venner section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 32 chapters of Elsie Venner 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 Elsie Venner

Words and structures a reader meets early in Elsie Venner, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Nothing
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Elsie Venner; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
England
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Elsie Venner; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Corresponding
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Elsie Venner; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Feudal
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Elsie Venner; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.