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General Bramble
General Bramble

Chapter XIII

Chapter 13 of General Bramble is here in full — 77 sentences across 16 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/15 · 5 lines
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THE CURE "Le _Schein_ et le _Wesen_ sont, pour l'esprit allemand, une seule et meme chose."--Jacques Riviere.
"The only decent whisky," said the doctor, "is Irish whisky."
Whereupon he helped himself to a generous allowance of Scotch whisky, and as they had just been talking about Ludendorff's coming offensive, he began to discourse upon the Germans.
"One of the most astounding things about German psychology," he said, "is their passion for suggesting the appearance of results which they know they are powerless to attain.
A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

General Bramble

Chapter XIII

Chapter 13 of General Bramble is here in full — 77 sentences across 16 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/15 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE CURE "Le _Schein_ et le _Wesen_ sont, pour l'esprit allemand, une seule et meme chose."--Jacques Riviere.
Line 2
"The only decent whisky," said the doctor, "is Irish whisky."
/ðə ˈoʊnli ˈdiːsənt ˈwɪski sed ðə ˈdɑːktər ɪz ˈaɪrɪʃ ˈwɪski/
Line 3
Whereupon he helped himself to a generous allowance of Scotch whisky, and as they had just been talking about Ludendorff's coming offensive, he began to discourse upon the Germans.
Line 4
"One of the most astounding things about German psychology," he said, "is their passion for suggesting the appearance of results which they know they are powerless to attain.
/wʌn ʌv ðə moʊst əˈstaʊndɪŋ θɪŋz əˈbaʊt ˈdʒɜːrmən saɪˈkɑːlədʒi hiː sed ɪz ðer ˈpæʃən fɔːr səˈdʒestɪŋ ðə əˈpɪrəns ʌv rɪˈzʌlts wɪtʃ ðeɪ noʊ ðeɪ ɑːr ˈpaʊərləs tuː əˈteɪn/
Line 5
A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

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.

astounding adjective US /əˈstaʊndɪŋ/

bewildering or striking dumb with wonder

From this reading “"One of the most astounding things about German psychology," he said, "is their passion for suggesting the appearance of results which they know they are powerless to attain.”

cutler noun US /ˈkʌtlər/

a dealer in cutlery

From this reading “A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.”

deludes verb US /dɪˈluːdz/

third-person singular of “delude” — be false to; be dishonest with

From this reading “A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.”

invoke verb US /ˌɪnˈvoʊk/

summon into action or bring into existence, often as if by magic

From this reading “A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.”

meme noun US /miːm/

a cultural unit (an idea or value or pattern of behavior) that is passed from one person to another by non-genetic means (as by imitation)

From this reading “THE CURE "Le _Schein_ et le _Wesen_ sont, pour l'esprit allemand, une seule et meme chose."--Jacques Riviere.”

metaphysical adjective US /ˌmetəˈfɪzɪkəl/

pertaining to or of the nature of metaphysics

From this reading “A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.”

psychology noun US /saɪˈkɑːlədʒi/

the science of mental life

From this reading “"One of the most astounding things about German psychology," he said, "is their passion for suggesting the appearance of results which they know they are powerless to attain.”

Solingen noun US /ˈsoʊlɪŋɡen/

a city in west central Germany noted for cutlery

From this reading “A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.”

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.

sharp blades adjective + noun counted as “sharp blade”

In this reading “A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.”

most astounding adverb + adjective

In this reading “"One of the most astounding things about German psychology," he said, "is their passion for suggesting the appearance of results which they know they are powerless to attain.”

strike terror verb + noun

In this reading “A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.”

All words in this reading · 111

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 Whereupon he helped himself to a generous allowance of Scotch whisky, and as they had just been talking about Ludendorff's coming offensive, he began to discourse upon the Germans.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Whereupon he helped himself to a generous allowance of Scotch whisky, and as they had just been talking about Ludendorff's coming offensive, he began to discourse upon the Germans.

absurdadjectiveUS /əbˈsɜːrd/

inconsistent with reason or logic or common sense

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

allemand

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

From this reading THE CURE "Le _Schein_ et le _Wesen_ sont, pour l'esprit allemand, une seule et meme chose."--Jacques Riviere.

allowancenounUS /əˈlaʊəns/

an amount allowed or granted (as during a given period)

From this reading Whereupon he helped himself to a generous allowance of Scotch whisky, and as they had just been talking about Ludendorff's coming offensive, he began to discourse upon the Germans.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Whereupon he helped himself to a generous allowance of Scotch whisky, and as they had just been talking about Ludendorff's coming offensive, he began to discourse upon the Germans.

appallingnounUS /əˈpɔːlɪŋ/

an experience that appalls

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

appearancenounUS /əˈpɪrəns/

outward or visible aspect of a person or thing

From this reading "One of the most astounding things about German psychology," he said, "is their passion for suggesting the appearance of results which they know they are powerless to attain.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading "One of the most astounding things about German psychology," he said, "is their passion for suggesting the appearance of results which they know they are powerless to attain.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Whereupon he helped himself to a generous allowance of Scotch whisky, and as they had just been talking about Ludendorff's coming offensive, he began to discourse upon the Germans.

astoundingadjectiveUS /əˈstaʊndɪŋ/

bewildering or striking dumb with wonder

From this reading "One of the most astounding things about German psychology," he said, "is their passion for suggesting the appearance of results which they know they are powerless to attain.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

attacknounUS /əˈtæk/

(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

attainverbUS /əˈteɪn/

to gain with effort

From this reading "One of the most astounding things about German psychology," he said, "is their passion for suggesting the appearance of results which they know they are powerless to attain.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Whereupon he helped himself to a generous allowance of Scotch whisky, and as they had just been talking about Ludendorff's coming offensive, he began to discourse upon the Germans.

beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading Whereupon he helped himself to a generous allowance of Scotch whisky, and as they had just been talking about Ludendorff's coming offensive, he began to discourse upon the Germans.

believingnounUS /bɪˈliːvɪŋ/

the cognitive process that leads to convictions

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

bladenounUS /bleɪd/

especially a leaf of grass or the broad portion of a leaf as distinct from the petiole

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

bladesnounUS /bleɪdz/

plural of “blade” — especially a leaf of grass or the broad portion of a leaf as distinct from the petiole

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

cannot

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

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

choseverbUS /tʃoʊz/

inflected form of “choose” — pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives

From this reading THE CURE "Le _Schein_ et le _Wesen_ sont, pour l'esprit allemand, une seule et meme chose."--Jacques Riviere.

comingnounUS /ˈkʌmɪŋ/

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading Whereupon he helped himself to a generous allowance of Scotch whisky, and as they had just been talking about Ludendorff's coming offensive, he began to discourse upon the Germans.

CUREverbUS /kjʊr/

provide a cure for, make healthy again

From this reading THE CURE "Le _Schein_ et le _Wesen_ sont, pour l'esprit allemand, une seule et meme chose."--Jacques Riviere.

cutlernounUS /ˈkʌtlər/

a dealer in cutlery

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

decentadjectiveUS /ˈdiːsənt/

socially or conventionally correct; refined or virtuous

From this reading "The only decent whisky," said the doctor, "is Irish whisky."

deludesverbUS /dɪˈluːdz/

third-person singular of “delude” — be false to; be dishonest with

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

describingverbUS /dɪˈskraɪbɪŋ/

-ing form of “describe” — give a description of

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

discoursenounUS /ˈdɪskɔːrs/

extended verbal expression in speech or writing

From this reading Whereupon he helped himself to a generous allowance of Scotch whisky, and as they had just been talking about Ludendorff's coming offensive, he began to discourse upon the Germans.

doctornounUS /ˈdɑːktər/

a licensed medical practitioner

From this reading "The only decent whisky," said the doctor, "is Irish whisky."

endeavournounUS /ɪnˈdevər/

a purposeful or industrious undertaking (especially one that requires effort or boldness)

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

et

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

From this reading THE CURE "Le _Schein_ et le _Wesen_ sont, pour l'esprit allemand, une seule et meme chose."--Jacques Riviere.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "One of the most astounding things about German psychology," he said, "is their passion for suggesting the appearance of results which they know they are powerless to attain.

generaladjectiveUS /ˈdʒenərəl/

applying to all or most members of a category or group

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

generousadjectiveUS /ˈdʒenərəs/

willing to give and share unstintingly

From this reading Whereupon he helped himself to a generous allowance of Scotch whisky, and as they had just been talking about Ludendorff's coming offensive, he began to discourse upon the Germans.

GermannounUS /ˈdʒɜːrmən/

a person of German nationality

From this reading "One of the most astounding things about German psychology," he said, "is their passion for suggesting the appearance of results which they know they are powerless to attain.

GermansnounUS /ˈdʒɜːrmənz/

plural of “german” — a person of German nationality

From this reading Whereupon he helped himself to a generous allowance of Scotch whisky, and as they had just been talking about Ludendorff's coming offensive, he began to discourse upon the Germans.

giveverbUS /ɡɪv/

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Whereupon he helped himself to a generous allowance of Scotch whisky, and as they had just been talking about Ludendorff's coming offensive, he began to discourse upon the Germans.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Whereupon he helped himself to a generous allowance of Scotch whisky, and as they had just been talking about Ludendorff's coming offensive, he began to discourse upon the Germans.

helpedverbUS /helpt/

past form of “help” — give help or assistance; be of service

From this reading Whereupon he helped himself to a generous allowance of Scotch whisky, and as they had just been talking about Ludendorff's coming offensive, he began to discourse upon the Germans.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading Whereupon he helped himself to a generous allowance of Scotch whisky, and as they had just been talking about Ludendorff's coming offensive, he began to discourse upon the Germans.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

illusionnounUS /ˌɪˈluːʒən/

an erroneous mental representation

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

instrumentnounUS /ˈɪnstrəmənt/

a device that requires skill for proper use

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

invokeverbUS /ˌɪnˈvoʊk/

summon into action or bring into existence, often as if by magic

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

IrishnounUS /ˈaɪrɪʃ/

people of Ireland or of Irish extraction

From this reading "The only decent whisky," said the doctor, "is Irish whisky."

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "The only decent whisky," said the doctor, "is Irish whisky."

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

Jacques

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

From this reading THE CURE "Le _Schein_ et le _Wesen_ sont, pour l'esprit allemand, une seule et meme chose."--Jacques Riviere.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading Whereupon he helped himself to a generous allowance of Scotch whisky, and as they had just been talking about Ludendorff's coming offensive, he began to discourse upon the Germans.

knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading "One of the most astounding things about German psychology," he said, "is their passion for suggesting the appearance of results which they know they are powerless to attain.

l'esprit

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

From this reading THE CURE "Le _Schein_ et le _Wesen_ sont, pour l'esprit allemand, une seule et meme chose."--Jacques Riviere.

LenounUS /lə/

a chronic inflammatory collagen disease affecting connective tissue (skin or joints)

From this reading THE CURE "Le _Schein_ et le _Wesen_ sont, pour l'esprit allemand, une seule et meme chose."--Jacques Riviere.

Ludendorff's

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

From this reading Whereupon he helped himself to a generous allowance of Scotch whisky, and as they had just been talking about Ludendorff's coming offensive, he began to discourse upon the Germans.

manufactureverbUS /ˌmænjəˈfæktʃər/

put together out of artificial or natural components or parts

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

memenounUS /miːm/

a cultural unit (an idea or value or pattern of behavior) that is passed from one person to another by non-genetic means (as by imitation)

From this reading THE CURE "Le _Schein_ et le _Wesen_ sont, pour l'esprit allemand, une seule et meme chose."--Jacques Riviere.

metaphysicaladjectiveUS /ˌmetəˈfɪzɪkəl/

pertaining to or of the nature of metaphysics

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

mostadverbUS /moʊst/

used to form the superlative

From this reading "One of the most astounding things about German psychology," he said, "is their passion for suggesting the appearance of results which they know they are powerless to attain.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Whereupon he helped himself to a generous allowance of Scotch whisky, and as they had just been talking about Ludendorff's coming offensive, he began to discourse upon the Germans.

offensiveadjectiveUS /əˈfensɪv/

violating or tending to violate or offend against

From this reading Whereupon he helped himself to a generous allowance of Scotch whisky, and as they had just been talking about Ludendorff's coming offensive, he began to discourse upon the Germans.

OnepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading "One of the most astounding things about German psychology," he said, "is their passion for suggesting the appearance of results which they know they are powerless to attain.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading "The only decent whisky," said the doctor, "is Irish whisky."

opponentnounUS /əˈpoʊnənt/

a contestant that you are matched against

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

ownernounUS /ˈoʊnər/

(law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

passionnounUS /ˈpæʃən/

a strong feeling or emotion

From this reading "One of the most astounding things about German psychology," he said, "is their passion for suggesting the appearance of results which they know they are powerless to attain.

positionnounUS /pəˈzɪʃən/

the particular portion of space occupied by something

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

pourverbUS /pɔːr/

cause to run

From this reading THE CURE "Le _Schein_ et le _Wesen_ sont, pour l'esprit allemand, une seule et meme chose."--Jacques Riviere.

powerlessadjectiveUS /ˈpaʊərləs/

lacking power

From this reading "One of the most astounding things about German psychology," he said, "is their passion for suggesting the appearance of results which they know they are powerless to attain.

pricenounUS /praɪs/

the property of having material worth (often indicated by the amount of money something would bring if sold)

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

psychologynounUS /saɪˈkɑːlədʒi/

the science of mental life

From this reading "One of the most astounding things about German psychology," he said, "is their passion for suggesting the appearance of results which they know they are powerless to attain.

realadjectiveUS /riːl/

being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

reallyadverbUS /ˈrɪli/

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

reportsnounUS /rɪˈpɔːrts/

plural of “report” — a written document describing the findings of some individual or group

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

requiredadjectiveUS /riˈkwaɪərd/

necessary for relief or supply

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

resultsnounUS /rɪˈzʌlts/

plural of “result” — a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading "One of the most astounding things about German psychology," he said, "is their passion for suggesting the appearance of results which they know they are powerless to attain.

Riviere

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

From this reading THE CURE "Le _Schein_ et le _Wesen_ sont, pour l'esprit allemand, une seule et meme chose."--Jacques Riviere.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "The only decent whisky," said the doctor, "is Irish whisky."

Schein

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

From this reading THE CURE "Le _Schein_ et le _Wesen_ sont, pour l'esprit allemand, une seule et meme chose."--Jacques Riviere.

ScotchnounUS /skɑːtʃ/

a slight surface cut (especially a notch that is made to keep a tally)

From this reading Whereupon he helped himself to a generous allowance of Scotch whisky, and as they had just been talking about Ludendorff's coming offensive, he began to discourse upon the Germans.

seule

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

From this reading THE CURE "Le _Schein_ et le _Wesen_ sont, pour l'esprit allemand, une seule et meme chose."--Jacques Riviere.

sharpadjectiveUS /ʃɑːrp/

(of something seen or heard) clearly defined

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

SolingennounUS /ˈsoʊlɪŋɡen/

a city in west central Germany noted for cutlery

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

sont

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

From this reading THE CURE "Le _Schein_ et le _Wesen_ sont, pour l'esprit allemand, une seule et meme chose."--Jacques Riviere.

sortnounUS /sɔːrt/

a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

strikeverbUS /straɪk/

deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

suggestingverbUS /səˈdʒestɪŋ/

-ing form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something

From this reading "One of the most astounding things about German psychology," he said, "is their passion for suggesting the appearance of results which they know they are powerless to attain.

talkingnounUS /ˈtɔːkɪŋ/

an exchange of ideas via conversation

From this reading Whereupon he helped himself to a generous allowance of Scotch whisky, and as they had just been talking about Ludendorff's coming offensive, he began to discourse upon the Germans.

terrornounUS /ˈterər/

an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE CURE "Le _Schein_ et le _Wesen_ sont, pour l'esprit allemand, une seule et meme chose."--Jacques Riviere.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading "One of the most astounding things about German psychology," he said, "is their passion for suggesting the appearance of results which they know they are powerless to attain.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading Whereupon he helped himself to a generous allowance of Scotch whisky, and as they had just been talking about Ludendorff's coming offensive, he began to discourse upon the Germans.

thingsnounUS /θɪŋz/

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading "One of the most astounding things about German psychology," he said, "is their passion for suggesting the appearance of results which they know they are powerless to attain.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Whereupon he helped himself to a generous allowance of Scotch whisky, and as they had just been talking about Ludendorff's coming offensive, he began to discourse upon the Germans.

undertakeverbUS /ˈʌndərteɪk/

enter upon an activity or enterprise

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

une

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

From this reading THE CURE "Le _Schein_ et le _Wesen_ sont, pour l'esprit allemand, une seule et meme chose."--Jacques Riviere.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Whereupon he helped himself to a generous allowance of Scotch whisky, and as they had just been talking about Ludendorff's coming offensive, he began to discourse upon the Germans.

usefuladjectiveUS /ˈjuːsfəl/

being of use or service

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

Wesen

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

From this reading THE CURE "Le _Schein_ et le _Wesen_ sont, pour l'esprit allemand, une seule et meme chose."--Jacques Riviere.

Whereupon

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

From this reading Whereupon he helped himself to a generous allowance of Scotch whisky, and as they had just been talking about Ludendorff's coming offensive, he began to discourse upon the Germans.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading "One of the most astounding things about German psychology," he said, "is their passion for suggesting the appearance of results which they know they are powerless to attain.

whiskynounUS /ˈwɪski/

a liquor made from fermented mash of grain

From this reading "The only decent whisky," said the doctor, "is Irish whisky."

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading A German general who is not in a position to undertake a real offensive deludes himself into believing that he will strike terror into his opponent by describing an absurd and appalling attack in his reports; and a Solingen cutler, if he cannot manufacture really sharp blades at the required price, will endeavour to invoke a sort of metaphysical blade which can give its owner the illusion of a useful instrument.

Chapter 13 of General Bramble by André Maurois holds 77 sentences, grouped into 16 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 13 of General Bramble contain?

Chapter 13 holds 77 sentences of General Bramble, unabridged, divided into 16 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 13 of General Bramble by André Maurois exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 77 sentences, grouped into 16 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 13 of General Bramble?

Work through the 16 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 16 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.

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Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 13 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.

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Common questions about reading General Bramble by André Maurois on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of General Bramble?

Yes. All 1495 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #30596 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of General Bramble is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #30596, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does General Bramble take to read?

About 124 minutes of reading across 299 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in General Bramble

Words and structures a reader meets early in General Bramble, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Picture
A word that appears in the opening chapter of General Bramble; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Represents
A word that appears in the opening chapter of General Bramble; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Depends
A word that appears in the opening chapter of General Bramble; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Looks
A word that appears in the opening chapter of General Bramble; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.