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Homo Sum — Volume 05
Homo Sum — Volume 05

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of Homo Sum — Volume 05 is here in full — 66 sentences across 14 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/13 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.
They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.
"Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.
I shall find it harder to forget.
The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.
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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 — Volume 05

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of Homo Sum — Volume 05 is here in full — 66 sentences across 14 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/13 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.
Line 2
They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.
/ðeɪ ˈlaɪtəd ðə weɪ fɔːr ðə ˈwuːndɪd ˈskʌlptər huː wɑːz ˈbiːɪŋ bɔːrn hoʊm tuː ðə oʊˈeɪsɪs ˈlaɪɪŋ ɪn hɪz ˈmʌðərz ˈiːzi ˈlɪtər ənd əˈkʌmpənid baɪ hɪz ˈfɑːðər ənd hɪz ˈsɪstər/
Line 3
"Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.
Line 4
I shall find it harder to forget.
/aɪ ʃæl faɪnd ɪt ˈhɑːrdər tuː fərˈɡet/
Line 5
The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.
/ðə ˈlædər wɪtʃ fɔːr soʊ ˈmeni jɪrz aɪ hæd ˈleɪbərd tuː kənˈstrʌkt ɑːn wɪtʃ aɪ θɔːt tuː skeɪl ˈhevən ənd wɪtʃ lʊkt tuː miː soʊ ˈlɔːfti ənd soʊ seɪf ðer ɪt laɪz ˈbroʊkən tuː ˈpiːsəz ənd ðə hænd ðæt strʌk ɪt daʊn wɑːz maɪ oʊn ˈwiːknəs/

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.

bearers noun US /ˈberərz/

plural of “bearer” — someone whose employment involves carrying something

From this reading “Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.”

construct verb US /kənˈstrʌkt/

make by combining materials and parts

From this reading “The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.”

labored adjective US /ˈleɪbərd/

lacking natural ease

From this reading “The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.”

lessened adjective US /ˈlesənd/

impaired by diminution

From this reading “Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.”

oasis noun US /oʊˈeɪsɪs/

a fertile tract in a desert (where the water table approaches the surface)

From this reading “They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.”

scar noun US /skɑːr/

a mark left (usually on the skin) by the healing of injured tissue

From this reading “"Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.”

sculptor noun US /ˈskʌlptər/

an artist who creates sculptures

From this reading “They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.”

torches noun US /ˈtɔːrtʃɪz/

plural of “torch” — a light usually carried in the hand; consists of some flammable substance

From this reading “Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.”

All words in this reading · 106

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 "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

accompaniedadjectiveUS /əˈkʌmpənid/

having companions or an escort

From this reading They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.

againadverbUS /əˈɡen/

anew

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

anchoritenoun

one retired from society for religious reasons

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

bearersnounUS /ˈberərz/

plural of “bearer” — someone whose employment involves carrying something

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

bednounUS /bed/

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.

borneverbUS /bɔːrn/

inflected form of “bear” — have

From this reading They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.

brokenadjectiveUS /ˈbroʊkən/

physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.

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 Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

constructverbUS /kənˈstrʌkt/

make by combining materials and parts

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

easyadjectiveUS /ˈiːzi/

posing no difficulty; requiring little effort

From this reading They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.

fartheradjectiveUS /ˈfɑːrðər/

more distant in especially space or time

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

fathernounUS /ˈfɑːðər/

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.

findverbUS /faɪnd/

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading I shall find it harder to forget.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.

forgetverbUS /fərˈɡet/

dismiss from the mind; stop remembering

From this reading I shall find it harder to forget.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

frontnounUS /frʌnt/

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

Gaulish

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

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

handnounUS /hænd/

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

harderadverbUS /ˈhɑːrdər/

comparative of “hard” — with effort or force or vigor

From this reading I shall find it harder to forget.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

heavennounUS /ˈhevən/

any place of complete bliss and delight and peace

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.

homenounUS /hoʊm/

where you live at a particular time

From this reading They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.

hournounUS /ˈaʊər/

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

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading I shall find it harder to forget.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I shall find it harder to forget.

kissnounUS /kɪs/

the act of caressing with the lips (or an instance thereof)

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

laboredadjectiveUS /ˈleɪbərd/

lacking natural ease

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

laddernounUS /ˈlædər/

steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs; for climbing up or down

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

lessenedadjectiveUS /ˈlesənd/

impaired by diminution

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

liesnounUS /laɪz/

plural of “lie” — a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

lightedadjectiveUS /ˈlaɪtəd/

set afire or burning

From this reading They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.

lipsnounUS /lɪps/

plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

litternounUS /ˈlɪtər/

the offspring at one birth of a multiparous mammal

From this reading They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.

loftyadjectiveUS /ˈlɔːfti/

of high moral or intellectual value; elevated in nature or style

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

lookedverbUS /lʊkt/

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

lyingnounUS /ˈlaɪɪŋ/

the deliberate act of deviating from the truth

From this reading They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.

manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/

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

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

mothernounUS /ˈmʌðər/

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/

possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

oasisnounUS /oʊˈeɪsɪs/

a fertile tract in a desert (where the water table approaches the surface)

From this reading They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

ownverbUS /oʊn/

have ownership or possession of

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

Paulus

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

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

perhapsadverbUS /pərˈhæps/

by chance

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

piecesnounUS /ˈpiːsəz/

plural of “piece” — a separate part of a whole

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

Polykarp

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

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

pressedadjectiveUS /prest/

compacted by ironing

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/

To recall to mind.

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

riseverbUS /raɪz/

move upward

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

rosyadjectiveUS /ˈroʊzi/

reflecting optimism

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

safeadjectiveUS /seɪf/

free from danger or the risk of harm

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

scalenounUS /skeɪl/

an ordered reference standard

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

scarnounUS /skɑːr/

a mark left (usually on the skin) by the healing of injured tissue

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

sculptornounUS /ˈskʌlptər/

an artist who creates sculptures

From this reading They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading I shall find it harder to forget.

shelteredadjectiveUS /ˈʃeltərd/

protected from danger or bad weather

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

Sirona

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

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

sisternounUS /ˈsɪstər/

a female person who has the same parents as another person

From this reading They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.

sittingnounUS /ˈsɪtɪŋ/

(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

sonnounUS /sʌn/

a male human offspring

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

struckadjectiveUS /strʌk/

(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.

thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.

torchesnounUS /ˈtɔːrtʃɪz/

plural of “torch” — a light usually carried in the hand; consists of some flammable substance

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

valleynounUS /ˈvæli/

a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

watchedverbUS /wɑːtʃt/

past form of “watch” — look attentively

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

waynounUS /weɪ/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.

weaknessnounUS /ˈwiːknəs/

a flaw or weak point

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

weeknounUS /wiːk/

any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

wentverbUS /went/

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading Paulus was sitting in front of the cave that had sheltered Polykarp and Sirona, and he watched the torches whose light lessened as the bearers went farther and farther towards the valley.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

woman'snounUS /ˈwʊmənz/

possessive form of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

woundednounUS /ˈwuːndɪd/

people who are wounded

From this reading They lighted the way for the wounded sculptor, who was being borne home to the oasis, lying in his mother's easy litter, and accompanied by his father and his sister.

yearnounUS /jɪr/

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading The ladder which for so many years I had labored to construct, on which I thought to scale heaven, and which looked to me so lofty and so safe, there it lies broken to pieces, and the hand that struck it down was my own weakness.

yesterdaynounUS /ˈjestərdeɪ/

the day immediately before today

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

YetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading "Yet an hour," thought the anchorite, "and the mother will have her son again, yet a week and Polykarp will rise from his bed, yet a year and he will remember nothing of yesterday but a scar--and perhaps a kiss that he pressed on the Gaulish woman's rosy lips.

Chapter 5 of Homo Sum — Volume 05 by Georg Ebers holds 66 sentences, grouped into 14 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 5 of Homo Sum — Volume 05 contain?

Chapter 5 holds 66 sentences of Homo Sum — Volume 05, unabridged, divided into 14 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 5 of Homo Sum — Volume 05 by Georg Ebers exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 66 sentences, grouped into 14 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 5 of Homo Sum — Volume 05?

Work through the 14 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 14 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 5 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 5 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 — Volume 05

Common questions about reading Homo Sum — Volume 05 by Georg Ebers on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Homo Sum — Volume 05?

Yes. All 673 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #5498 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Homo Sum — Volume 05 is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #5498, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Homo Sum — Volume 05 take to read?

About 56 minutes of reading across 135 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Homo Sum — Volume 05 section by section

How to work through Homo Sum — Volume 05 section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 5 chapters of Homo Sum — Volume 05 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 — Volume 05

Words and structures a reader meets early in Homo Sum — Volume 05, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Common
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Homo Sum — Volume 05; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Natures
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Homo Sum — Volume 05; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Lightly
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Homo Sum — Volume 05; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Touched
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Homo Sum — Volume 05; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.