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Homo Sum — Complete
Homo Sum — Complete

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Homo Sum — Complete is here in full — 131 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/26 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Rocks-naked, hard, red-brown rocks all round; not a bush, not a blade, not a clinging moss such as elsewhere nature has lightly flung on the rocky surface of the heights, as if a breath of her creative life had softly touched the barren stone.
Nothing but smooth granite, and above it a sky as bare of cloud as the rocks are of shrubs and herbs.
And yet in every cave of the mountain wall there moves a human life; two small grey birds too float softly in the pure, light air of the desert that glows in the noonday sun, and then they vanish behind a range of cliffs, which shuts in the deep gorge as though it were a wall built by man.
There it is pleasant enough, for a spring bedews the stony soil and there, as wherever any moisture touches the desert, aromatic plants thrive, and umbrageous bushes grow.
When Osiris embraced the goddess of the desert--so runs the Egyptian myth--he left his green wreath on her couch.
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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.

Homo Sum — Complete

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Homo Sum — Complete is here in full — 131 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/26 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Rocks-naked, hard, red-brown rocks all round; not a bush, not a blade, not a clinging moss such as elsewhere nature has lightly flung on the rocky surface of the heights, as if a breath of her creative life had softly touched the barren stone.
Line 2
Nothing but smooth granite, and above it a sky as bare of cloud as the rocks are of shrubs and herbs.
/ˈnʌθɪŋ bʌt smuːð ˈɡrænət ənd əˈbʌv ɪt ə skaɪ æz ber ʌv klaʊd æz ðə rɑːks ɑːr ʌv ʃrʌbz ənd ɜːrbz/
Line 3
And yet in every cave of the mountain wall there moves a human life; two small grey birds too float softly in the pure, light air of the desert that glows in the noonday sun, and then they vanish behind a range of cliffs, which shuts in the deep gorge as though it were a wall built by man.
Line 4
There it is pleasant enough, for a spring bedews the stony soil and there, as wherever any moisture touches the desert, aromatic plants thrive, and umbrageous bushes grow.
Line 5
When Osiris embraced the goddess of the desert--so runs the Egyptian myth--he left his green wreath on her couch.

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.

aromatic adjective US /ˌerəˈmætɪk/

(chemistry) of or relating to or containing one or more benzene rings

From this reading “There it is pleasant enough, for a spring bedews the stony soil and there, as wherever any moisture touches the desert, aromatic plants thrive, and umbrageous bushes grow.”

creative adjective US /kriˈeɪtɪv/

having the ability or power to create

From this reading “Rocks-naked, hard, red-brown rocks all round; not a bush, not a blade, not a clinging moss such as elsewhere nature has lightly flung on the rocky surface of the heights, as if a breath of her creative life had softly touched the barren stone.”

glows noun US /ɡloʊz/

plural of “glow” — an alert and refreshed state

From this reading “And yet in every cave of the mountain wall there moves a human life; two small grey birds too float softly in the pure, light air of the desert that glows in the noonday sun, and then they vanish behind a range of cliffs, which shuts in the deep gorge as though it were a wall built by man.”

moisture noun US /ˈmɔɪstʃər/

wetness caused by water

From this reading “There it is pleasant enough, for a spring bedews the stony soil and there, as wherever any moisture touches the desert, aromatic plants thrive, and umbrageous bushes grow.”

myth noun US /mɪθ/

a traditional story accepted as history; serves to explain the world view of a people

From this reading “When Osiris embraced the goddess of the desert--so runs the Egyptian myth--he left his green wreath on her couch.”

shrubs noun US /ʃrʌbz/

plural of “shrub” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems

From this reading “Nothing but smooth granite, and above it a sky as bare of cloud as the rocks are of shrubs and herbs.”

shuts verb US /ʃʌts/

third-person singular of “shut” — move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut

From this reading “And yet in every cave of the mountain wall there moves a human life; two small grey birds too float softly in the pure, light air of the desert that glows in the noonday sun, and then they vanish behind a range of cliffs, which shuts in the deep gorge as though it were a wall built by man.”

thrive verb US /θraɪv/

grow vigorously

From this reading “There it is pleasant enough, for a spring bedews the stony soil and there, as wherever any moisture touches the desert, aromatic plants thrive, and umbrageous bushes grow.”

All words in this reading · 118

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 Rocks-naked, hard, red-brown rocks all round; not a bush, not a blade, not a clinging moss such as elsewhere nature has lightly flung on the rocky surface of the heights, as if a breath of her creative life had softly touched the barren stone.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading Nothing but smooth granite, and above it a sky as bare of cloud as the rocks are of shrubs and herbs.

airnounUS /er/

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading And yet in every cave of the mountain wall there moves a human life; two small grey birds too float softly in the pure, light air of the desert that glows in the noonday sun, and then they vanish behind a range of cliffs, which shuts in the deep gorge as though it were a wall built by man.

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 Rocks-naked, hard, red-brown rocks all round; not a bush, not a blade, not a clinging moss such as elsewhere nature has lightly flung on the rocky surface of the heights, as if a breath of her creative life had softly touched the barren stone.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Nothing but smooth granite, and above it a sky as bare of cloud as the rocks are of shrubs and herbs.

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading There it is pleasant enough, for a spring bedews the stony soil and there, as wherever any moisture touches the desert, aromatic plants thrive, and umbrageous bushes grow.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Nothing but smooth granite, and above it a sky as bare of cloud as the rocks are of shrubs and herbs.

aromaticadjectiveUS /ˌerəˈmætɪk/

(chemistry) of or relating to or containing one or more benzene rings

From this reading There it is pleasant enough, for a spring bedews the stony soil and there, as wherever any moisture touches the desert, aromatic plants thrive, and umbrageous bushes grow.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Rocks-naked, hard, red-brown rocks all round; not a bush, not a blade, not a clinging moss such as elsewhere nature has lightly flung on the rocky surface of the heights, as if a breath of her creative life had softly touched the barren stone.

bareadjectiveUS /ber/

completely unclothed

From this reading Nothing but smooth granite, and above it a sky as bare of cloud as the rocks are of shrubs and herbs.

barrenadjectiveUS /ˈbærən/

providing no shelter or sustenance

From this reading Rocks-naked, hard, red-brown rocks all round; not a bush, not a blade, not a clinging moss such as elsewhere nature has lightly flung on the rocky surface of the heights, as if a breath of her creative life had softly touched the barren stone.

bedews

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

From this reading There it is pleasant enough, for a spring bedews the stony soil and there, as wherever any moisture touches the desert, aromatic plants thrive, and umbrageous bushes grow.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading And yet in every cave of the mountain wall there moves a human life; two small grey birds too float softly in the pure, light air of the desert that glows in the noonday sun, and then they vanish behind a range of cliffs, which shuts in the deep gorge as though it were a wall built by man.

birdsnounUS /bɜːrdz/

plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading And yet in every cave of the mountain wall there moves a human life; two small grey birds too float softly in the pure, light air of the desert that glows in the noonday sun, and then they vanish behind a range of cliffs, which shuts in the deep gorge as though it were a wall built by man.

bladenounUS /bleɪd/

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

From this reading Rocks-naked, hard, red-brown rocks all round; not a bush, not a blade, not a clinging moss such as elsewhere nature has lightly flung on the rocky surface of the heights, as if a breath of her creative life had softly touched the barren stone.

breathnounUS /breθ/

the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing

From this reading Rocks-naked, hard, red-brown rocks all round; not a bush, not a blade, not a clinging moss such as elsewhere nature has lightly flung on the rocky surface of the heights, as if a breath of her creative life had softly touched the barren stone.

builtadjectiveUS /bɪlt/

(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness

From this reading And yet in every cave of the mountain wall there moves a human life; two small grey birds too float softly in the pure, light air of the desert that glows in the noonday sun, and then they vanish behind a range of cliffs, which shuts in the deep gorge as though it were a wall built by man.

bushnounUS /bʊʃ/

a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems

From this reading Rocks-naked, hard, red-brown rocks all round; not a bush, not a blade, not a clinging moss such as elsewhere nature has lightly flung on the rocky surface of the heights, as if a breath of her creative life had softly touched the barren stone.

bushesnounUS /ˈbʊʃəz/

plural of “bush” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems

From this reading There it is pleasant enough, for a spring bedews the stony soil and there, as wherever any moisture touches the desert, aromatic plants thrive, and umbrageous bushes grow.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Nothing but smooth granite, and above it a sky as bare of cloud as the rocks are of shrubs and herbs.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading And yet in every cave of the mountain wall there moves a human life; two small grey birds too float softly in the pure, light air of the desert that glows in the noonday sun, and then they vanish behind a range of cliffs, which shuts in the deep gorge as though it were a wall built by man.

cavenounUS /keɪv/

a geological formation consisting of an underground enclosure with access from the surface of the ground or from the sea

From this reading And yet in every cave of the mountain wall there moves a human life; two small grey birds too float softly in the pure, light air of the desert that glows in the noonday sun, and then they vanish behind a range of cliffs, which shuts in the deep gorge as though it were a wall built by man.

cliffsnounUS /klɪfs/

plural of “cliff” — a steep high face of rock

From this reading And yet in every cave of the mountain wall there moves a human life; two small grey birds too float softly in the pure, light air of the desert that glows in the noonday sun, and then they vanish behind a range of cliffs, which shuts in the deep gorge as though it were a wall built by man.

clingingverbUS /ˈklɪŋɪŋ/

-ing form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation

From this reading Rocks-naked, hard, red-brown rocks all round; not a bush, not a blade, not a clinging moss such as elsewhere nature has lightly flung on the rocky surface of the heights, as if a breath of her creative life had softly touched the barren stone.

cloudverbUS /klaʊd/

make overcast or cloudy

From this reading Nothing but smooth granite, and above it a sky as bare of cloud as the rocks are of shrubs and herbs.

couchnounUS /kaʊtʃ/

an upholstered seat for more than one person

From this reading When Osiris embraced the goddess of the desert--so runs the Egyptian myth--he left his green wreath on her couch.

creativeadjectiveUS /kriˈeɪtɪv/

having the ability or power to create

From this reading Rocks-naked, hard, red-brown rocks all round; not a bush, not a blade, not a clinging moss such as elsewhere nature has lightly flung on the rocky surface of the heights, as if a breath of her creative life had softly touched the barren stone.

deepadjectiveUS /diːp/

relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply

From this reading And yet in every cave of the mountain wall there moves a human life; two small grey birds too float softly in the pure, light air of the desert that glows in the noonday sun, and then they vanish behind a range of cliffs, which shuts in the deep gorge as though it were a wall built by man.

desertverbUS /ˈdezərt/

leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch

From this reading And yet in every cave of the mountain wall there moves a human life; two small grey birds too float softly in the pure, light air of the desert that glows in the noonday sun, and then they vanish behind a range of cliffs, which shuts in the deep gorge as though it were a wall built by man.

EgyptiannounUS /ɪˈdʒɪpʃən/

a native or inhabitant of Egypt

From this reading When Osiris embraced the goddess of the desert--so runs the Egyptian myth--he left his green wreath on her couch.

elsewhereadverbUS /ˈelswer/

in or to another place

From this reading Rocks-naked, hard, red-brown rocks all round; not a bush, not a blade, not a clinging moss such as elsewhere nature has lightly flung on the rocky surface of the heights, as if a breath of her creative life had softly touched the barren stone.

embracedverbUS /emˈbreɪst/

past form of “embrace” — include in scope; include as part of something broader; have as one's sphere or territory

From this reading When Osiris embraced the goddess of the desert--so runs the Egyptian myth--he left his green wreath on her couch.

enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading There it is pleasant enough, for a spring bedews the stony soil and there, as wherever any moisture touches the desert, aromatic plants thrive, and umbrageous bushes grow.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading And yet in every cave of the mountain wall there moves a human life; two small grey birds too float softly in the pure, light air of the desert that glows in the noonday sun, and then they vanish behind a range of cliffs, which shuts in the deep gorge as though it were a wall built by man.

floatverbUS /floʊt/

be in motion due to some air or water current

From this reading And yet in every cave of the mountain wall there moves a human life; two small grey birds too float softly in the pure, light air of the desert that glows in the noonday sun, and then they vanish behind a range of cliffs, which shuts in the deep gorge as though it were a wall built by man.

flungverbUS /flʌŋ/

inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness

From this reading Rocks-naked, hard, red-brown rocks all round; not a bush, not a blade, not a clinging moss such as elsewhere nature has lightly flung on the rocky surface of the heights, as if a breath of her creative life had softly touched the barren stone.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading There it is pleasant enough, for a spring bedews the stony soil and there, as wherever any moisture touches the desert, aromatic plants thrive, and umbrageous bushes grow.

glowsnounUS /ɡloʊz/

plural of “glow” — an alert and refreshed state

From this reading And yet in every cave of the mountain wall there moves a human life; two small grey birds too float softly in the pure, light air of the desert that glows in the noonday sun, and then they vanish behind a range of cliffs, which shuts in the deep gorge as though it were a wall built by man.

goddessnounUS /ˈɡɑːdəs/

a female deity

From this reading When Osiris embraced the goddess of the desert--so runs the Egyptian myth--he left his green wreath on her couch.

gorgeverbUS /ɡɔːrdʒ/

overeat or eat immodestly; make a pig of oneself

From this reading And yet in every cave of the mountain wall there moves a human life; two small grey birds too float softly in the pure, light air of the desert that glows in the noonday sun, and then they vanish behind a range of cliffs, which shuts in the deep gorge as though it were a wall built by man.

granitenounUS /ˈɡrænət/

plutonic igneous rock having visibly crystalline texture; generally composed of feldspar and mica and quartz

From this reading Nothing but smooth granite, and above it a sky as bare of cloud as the rocks are of shrubs and herbs.

greennounUS /ɡriːn/

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading When Osiris embraced the goddess of the desert--so runs the Egyptian myth--he left his green wreath on her couch.

greyadjectiveUS /ɡreɪ/

of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black

From this reading And yet in every cave of the mountain wall there moves a human life; two small grey birds too float softly in the pure, light air of the desert that glows in the noonday sun, and then they vanish behind a range of cliffs, which shuts in the deep gorge as though it were a wall built by man.

growverbUS /ɡroʊ/

pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading There it is pleasant enough, for a spring bedews the stony soil and there, as wherever any moisture touches the desert, aromatic plants thrive, and umbrageous bushes grow.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Rocks-naked, hard, red-brown rocks all round; not a bush, not a blade, not a clinging moss such as elsewhere nature has lightly flung on the rocky surface of the heights, as if a breath of her creative life had softly touched the barren stone.

hardadjectiveUS /hɑːrd/

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading Rocks-naked, hard, red-brown rocks all round; not a bush, not a blade, not a clinging moss such as elsewhere nature has lightly flung on the rocky surface of the heights, as if a breath of her creative life had softly touched the barren stone.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading Rocks-naked, hard, red-brown rocks all round; not a bush, not a blade, not a clinging moss such as elsewhere nature has lightly flung on the rocky surface of the heights, as if a breath of her creative life had softly touched the barren stone.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading When Osiris embraced the goddess of the desert--so runs the Egyptian myth--he left his green wreath on her couch.

heightsnounUS /haɪts/

a high place

From this reading Rocks-naked, hard, red-brown rocks all round; not a bush, not a blade, not a clinging moss such as elsewhere nature has lightly flung on the rocky surface of the heights, as if a breath of her creative life had softly touched the barren stone.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Rocks-naked, hard, red-brown rocks all round; not a bush, not a blade, not a clinging moss such as elsewhere nature has lightly flung on the rocky surface of the heights, as if a breath of her creative life had softly touched the barren stone.

herbsnounUS /ɜːrbz/

plural of “herb” — a plant lacking a permanent woody stem; many are flowering garden plants or potherbs; some having medicinal properties; some are pests

From this reading Nothing but smooth granite, and above it a sky as bare of cloud as the rocks are of shrubs and herbs.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading When Osiris embraced the goddess of the desert--so runs the Egyptian myth--he left his green wreath on her couch.

humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/

characteristic of humanity

From this reading And yet in every cave of the mountain wall there moves a human life; two small grey birds too float softly in the pure, light air of the desert that glows in the noonday sun, and then they vanish behind a range of cliffs, which shuts in the deep gorge as though it were a wall built by man.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Rocks-naked, hard, red-brown rocks all round; not a bush, not a blade, not a clinging moss such as elsewhere nature has lightly flung on the rocky surface of the heights, as if a breath of her creative life had softly touched the barren stone.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading And yet in every cave of the mountain wall there moves a human life; two small grey birds too float softly in the pure, light air of the desert that glows in the noonday sun, and then they vanish behind a range of cliffs, which shuts in the deep gorge as though it were a wall built by man.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading There it is pleasant enough, for a spring bedews the stony soil and there, as wherever any moisture touches the desert, aromatic plants thrive, and umbrageous bushes grow.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Nothing but smooth granite, and above it a sky as bare of cloud as the rocks are of shrubs and herbs.

leftnounUS /left/

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading When Osiris embraced the goddess of the desert--so runs the Egyptian myth--he left his green wreath on her couch.

lifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading Rocks-naked, hard, red-brown rocks all round; not a bush, not a blade, not a clinging moss such as elsewhere nature has lightly flung on the rocky surface of the heights, as if a breath of her creative life had softly touched the barren stone.

lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading And yet in every cave of the mountain wall there moves a human life; two small grey birds too float softly in the pure, light air of the desert that glows in the noonday sun, and then they vanish behind a range of cliffs, which shuts in the deep gorge as though it were a wall built by man.

lightlyadverbUS /ˈlaɪtli/

without good reason

From this reading Rocks-naked, hard, red-brown rocks all round; not a bush, not a blade, not a clinging moss such as elsewhere nature has lightly flung on the rocky surface of the heights, as if a breath of her creative life had softly touched the barren stone.

mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading And yet in every cave of the mountain wall there moves a human life; two small grey birds too float softly in the pure, light air of the desert that glows in the noonday sun, and then they vanish behind a range of cliffs, which shuts in the deep gorge as though it were a wall built by man.

moisturenounUS /ˈmɔɪstʃər/

wetness caused by water

From this reading There it is pleasant enough, for a spring bedews the stony soil and there, as wherever any moisture touches the desert, aromatic plants thrive, and umbrageous bushes grow.

mossnounUS /mɔːs/

tiny leafy-stemmed flowerless plants

From this reading Rocks-naked, hard, red-brown rocks all round; not a bush, not a blade, not a clinging moss such as elsewhere nature has lightly flung on the rocky surface of the heights, as if a breath of her creative life had softly touched the barren stone.

mountainnounUS /ˈmaʊntən/

a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill

From this reading And yet in every cave of the mountain wall there moves a human life; two small grey birds too float softly in the pure, light air of the desert that glows in the noonday sun, and then they vanish behind a range of cliffs, which shuts in the deep gorge as though it were a wall built by man.

movesnounUS /muːvz/

plural of “move” — the act of deciding to do something

From this reading And yet in every cave of the mountain wall there moves a human life; two small grey birds too float softly in the pure, light air of the desert that glows in the noonday sun, and then they vanish behind a range of cliffs, which shuts in the deep gorge as though it were a wall built by man.

mythnounUS /mɪθ/

a traditional story accepted as history; serves to explain the world view of a people

From this reading When Osiris embraced the goddess of the desert--so runs the Egyptian myth--he left his green wreath on her couch.

naturenounUS /ˈneɪtʃər/

the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized

From this reading Rocks-naked, hard, red-brown rocks all round; not a bush, not a blade, not a clinging moss such as elsewhere nature has lightly flung on the rocky surface of the heights, as if a breath of her creative life had softly touched the barren stone.

noondaynoun

the middle of the day

From this reading And yet in every cave of the mountain wall there moves a human life; two small grey birds too float softly in the pure, light air of the desert that glows in the noonday sun, and then they vanish behind a range of cliffs, which shuts in the deep gorge as though it were a wall built by man.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Rocks-naked, hard, red-brown rocks all round; not a bush, not a blade, not a clinging moss such as elsewhere nature has lightly flung on the rocky surface of the heights, as if a breath of her creative life had softly touched the barren stone.

NothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Nothing but smooth granite, and above it a sky as bare of cloud as the rocks are of shrubs and herbs.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Rocks-naked, hard, red-brown rocks all round; not a bush, not a blade, not a clinging moss such as elsewhere nature has lightly flung on the rocky surface of the heights, as if a breath of her creative life had softly touched the barren stone.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Rocks-naked, hard, red-brown rocks all round; not a bush, not a blade, not a clinging moss such as elsewhere nature has lightly flung on the rocky surface of the heights, as if a breath of her creative life had softly touched the barren stone.

Osirisnoun

Egyptian god of the underworld and judge of the dead; husband and brother of Isis; father of Horus

From this reading When Osiris embraced the goddess of the desert--so runs the Egyptian myth--he left his green wreath on her couch.

plantsnounUS /plænts/

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

From this reading There it is pleasant enough, for a spring bedews the stony soil and there, as wherever any moisture touches the desert, aromatic plants thrive, and umbrageous bushes grow.

pleasantadjectiveUS /ˈplezənt/

affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings

From this reading There it is pleasant enough, for a spring bedews the stony soil and there, as wherever any moisture touches the desert, aromatic plants thrive, and umbrageous bushes grow.

pureadjectiveUS /pjʊr/

free of extraneous elements of any kind

From this reading And yet in every cave of the mountain wall there moves a human life; two small grey birds too float softly in the pure, light air of the desert that glows in the noonday sun, and then they vanish behind a range of cliffs, which shuts in the deep gorge as though it were a wall built by man.

rangenounUS /reɪndʒ/

an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"

From this reading And yet in every cave of the mountain wall there moves a human life; two small grey birds too float softly in the pure, light air of the desert that glows in the noonday sun, and then they vanish behind a range of cliffs, which shuts in the deep gorge as though it were a wall built by man.

red-brownadjective

of brown tinged with red

From this reading Rocks-naked, hard, red-brown rocks all round; not a bush, not a blade, not a clinging moss such as elsewhere nature has lightly flung on the rocky surface of the heights, as if a breath of her creative life had softly touched the barren stone.

rocksnounUS /rɑːks/

plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading Rocks-naked, hard, red-brown rocks all round; not a bush, not a blade, not a clinging moss such as elsewhere nature has lightly flung on the rocky surface of the heights, as if a breath of her creative life had softly touched the barren stone.

Rocks-naked

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

From this reading Rocks-naked, hard, red-brown rocks all round; not a bush, not a blade, not a clinging moss such as elsewhere nature has lightly flung on the rocky surface of the heights, as if a breath of her creative life had softly touched the barren stone.

rockyadjectiveUS /ˈrɑːki/

abounding in rocks or stones

From this reading Rocks-naked, hard, red-brown rocks all round; not a bush, not a blade, not a clinging moss such as elsewhere nature has lightly flung on the rocky surface of the heights, as if a breath of her creative life had softly touched the barren stone.

roundnounUS /raʊnd/

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading Rocks-naked, hard, red-brown rocks all round; not a bush, not a blade, not a clinging moss such as elsewhere nature has lightly flung on the rocky surface of the heights, as if a breath of her creative life had softly touched the barren stone.

runsnounUS /rʌnz/

plural of “run” — a score in baseball made by a runner touching all four bases safely

From this reading When Osiris embraced the goddess of the desert--so runs the Egyptian myth--he left his green wreath on her couch.

shrubsnounUS /ʃrʌbz/

plural of “shrub” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems

From this reading Nothing but smooth granite, and above it a sky as bare of cloud as the rocks are of shrubs and herbs.

shutsverbUS /ʃʌts/

third-person singular of “shut” — move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut

From this reading And yet in every cave of the mountain wall there moves a human life; two small grey birds too float softly in the pure, light air of the desert that glows in the noonday sun, and then they vanish behind a range of cliffs, which shuts in the deep gorge as though it were a wall built by man.

skynounUS /skaɪ/

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading Nothing but smooth granite, and above it a sky as bare of cloud as the rocks are of shrubs and herbs.

smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading And yet in every cave of the mountain wall there moves a human life; two small grey birds too float softly in the pure, light air of the desert that glows in the noonday sun, and then they vanish behind a range of cliffs, which shuts in the deep gorge as though it were a wall built by man.

smoothadjectiveUS /smuːð/

having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities

From this reading Nothing but smooth granite, and above it a sky as bare of cloud as the rocks are of shrubs and herbs.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading When Osiris embraced the goddess of the desert--so runs the Egyptian myth--he left his green wreath on her couch.

softlyadverbUS /ˈsɔːftli/

with low volume

From this reading Rocks-naked, hard, red-brown rocks all round; not a bush, not a blade, not a clinging moss such as elsewhere nature has lightly flung on the rocky surface of the heights, as if a breath of her creative life had softly touched the barren stone.

soilnounUS /sɔɪl/

the state of being covered with unclean things

From this reading There it is pleasant enough, for a spring bedews the stony soil and there, as wherever any moisture touches the desert, aromatic plants thrive, and umbrageous bushes grow.

springnounUS /sprɪŋ/

the season of growth

From this reading There it is pleasant enough, for a spring bedews the stony soil and there, as wherever any moisture touches the desert, aromatic plants thrive, and umbrageous bushes grow.

stonenounUS /stoʊn/

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading Rocks-naked, hard, red-brown rocks all round; not a bush, not a blade, not a clinging moss such as elsewhere nature has lightly flung on the rocky surface of the heights, as if a breath of her creative life had softly touched the barren stone.

stonyadjectiveUS /ˈstoʊni/

abounding in rocks or stones

From this reading There it is pleasant enough, for a spring bedews the stony soil and there, as wherever any moisture touches the desert, aromatic plants thrive, and umbrageous bushes grow.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Rocks-naked, hard, red-brown rocks all round; not a bush, not a blade, not a clinging moss such as elsewhere nature has lightly flung on the rocky surface of the heights, as if a breath of her creative life had softly touched the barren stone.

sunnounUS /sʌn/

the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system

From this reading And yet in every cave of the mountain wall there moves a human life; two small grey birds too float softly in the pure, light air of the desert that glows in the noonday sun, and then they vanish behind a range of cliffs, which shuts in the deep gorge as though it were a wall built by man.

surfacenounUS /ˈsɜːrfəs/

the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary

From this reading Rocks-naked, hard, red-brown rocks all round; not a bush, not a blade, not a clinging moss such as elsewhere nature has lightly flung on the rocky surface of the heights, as if a breath of her creative life had softly touched the barren stone.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading And yet in every cave of the mountain wall there moves a human life; two small grey birds too float softly in the pure, light air of the desert that glows in the noonday sun, and then they vanish behind a range of cliffs, which shuts in the deep gorge as though it were a wall built by man.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Rocks-naked, hard, red-brown rocks all round; not a bush, not a blade, not a clinging moss such as elsewhere nature has lightly flung on the rocky surface of the heights, as if a breath of her creative life had softly touched the barren stone.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading And yet in every cave of the mountain wall there moves a human life; two small grey birds too float softly in the pure, light air of the desert that glows in the noonday sun, and then they vanish behind a range of cliffs, which shuts in the deep gorge as though it were a wall built by man.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading And yet in every cave of the mountain wall there moves a human life; two small grey birds too float softly in the pure, light air of the desert that glows in the noonday sun, and then they vanish behind a range of cliffs, which shuts in the deep gorge as though it were a wall built by man.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading And yet in every cave of the mountain wall there moves a human life; two small grey birds too float softly in the pure, light air of the desert that glows in the noonday sun, and then they vanish behind a range of cliffs, which shuts in the deep gorge as though it were a wall built by man.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading And yet in every cave of the mountain wall there moves a human life; two small grey birds too float softly in the pure, light air of the desert that glows in the noonday sun, and then they vanish behind a range of cliffs, which shuts in the deep gorge as though it were a wall built by man.

thriveverbUS /θraɪv/

grow vigorously

From this reading There it is pleasant enough, for a spring bedews the stony soil and there, as wherever any moisture touches the desert, aromatic plants thrive, and umbrageous bushes grow.

tooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading And yet in every cave of the mountain wall there moves a human life; two small grey birds too float softly in the pure, light air of the desert that glows in the noonday sun, and then they vanish behind a range of cliffs, which shuts in the deep gorge as though it were a wall built by man.

touchedadjectiveUS /tʌtʃt/

having come into contact

From this reading Rocks-naked, hard, red-brown rocks all round; not a bush, not a blade, not a clinging moss such as elsewhere nature has lightly flung on the rocky surface of the heights, as if a breath of her creative life had softly touched the barren stone.

touchesnounUS /ˈtʌtʃəz/

plural of “touch” — the event of something coming in contact with the body

From this reading There it is pleasant enough, for a spring bedews the stony soil and there, as wherever any moisture touches the desert, aromatic plants thrive, and umbrageous bushes grow.

twonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading And yet in every cave of the mountain wall there moves a human life; two small grey birds too float softly in the pure, light air of the desert that glows in the noonday sun, and then they vanish behind a range of cliffs, which shuts in the deep gorge as though it were a wall built by man.

umbrageousadjective

filled with shade

From this reading There it is pleasant enough, for a spring bedews the stony soil and there, as wherever any moisture touches the desert, aromatic plants thrive, and umbrageous bushes grow.

vanishverbUS /ˈvænɪʃ/

get lost, as without warning or explanation

From this reading And yet in every cave of the mountain wall there moves a human life; two small grey birds too float softly in the pure, light air of the desert that glows in the noonday sun, and then they vanish behind a range of cliffs, which shuts in the deep gorge as though it were a wall built by man.

wallnounUS /wɔːl/

an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading And yet in every cave of the mountain wall there moves a human life; two small grey birds too float softly in the pure, light air of the desert that glows in the noonday sun, and then they vanish behind a range of cliffs, which shuts in the deep gorge as though it were a wall built by man.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading And yet in every cave of the mountain wall there moves a human life; two small grey birds too float softly in the pure, light air of the desert that glows in the noonday sun, and then they vanish behind a range of cliffs, which shuts in the deep gorge as though it were a wall built by man.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When Osiris embraced the goddess of the desert--so runs the Egyptian myth--he left his green wreath on her couch.

whereverconjunctionUS /weˈrevər/

in or to any place at all

From this reading There it is pleasant enough, for a spring bedews the stony soil and there, as wherever any moisture touches the desert, aromatic plants thrive, and umbrageous bushes grow.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading And yet in every cave of the mountain wall there moves a human life; two small grey birds too float softly in the pure, light air of the desert that glows in the noonday sun, and then they vanish behind a range of cliffs, which shuts in the deep gorge as though it were a wall built by man.

wreathnounUS /riːθ/

flower arrangement consisting of a circular band of foliage or flowers for ornamental purposes

From this reading When Osiris embraced the goddess of the desert--so runs the Egyptian myth--he left his green wreath on her couch.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading And yet in every cave of the mountain wall there moves a human life; two small grey birds too float softly in the pure, light air of the desert that glows in the noonday sun, and then they vanish behind a range of cliffs, which shuts in the deep gorge as though it were a wall built by man.

Chapter 1 of Homo Sum — Complete by Georg Ebers holds 131 sentences, grouped into 27 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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 1 of Homo Sum — Complete contain?

Chapter 1 holds 131 sentences of Homo Sum — Complete, unabridged, divided into 27 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Homo Sum — Complete by Georg Ebers exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 131 sentences, grouped into 27 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 1 of Homo Sum — Complete?

Work through the 27 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 27 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 1 be read aloud to me?

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.

Questions about reading Homo Sum — Complete

Common questions about reading Homo Sum — Complete by Georg Ebers on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Homo Sum — Complete?

Yes. All 3258 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #5499 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Homo Sum — Complete is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #5499, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Homo Sum — Complete take to read?

About 271 minutes of reading across 652 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Homo Sum — Complete section by section

How to work through Homo Sum — Complete section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 22 chapters of Homo Sum — Complete 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 Homo Sum — Complete

Words and structures a reader meets early in Homo Sum — Complete, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Rocks-naked
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Homo Sum — Complete; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Red-brown
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Homo Sum — Complete; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Rocks
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Homo Sum — Complete; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Round
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Homo Sum — Complete; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.