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Chapter VII · Chapter 7

Chapter 7 of Light is here in full — 239 sentences across 48 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Light
Context Illustration Reading 1/47 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE BRAWLER At the time of the great military maneuvers of September, 1913, Viviers was an important center of the operations.
All the district was brightened with a swarming of red and blue and with martial ardor.
Alone and systematically, Brisbille was the reviler.
From the top of Chestnut Hill, where we were watching a strategical display, he pointed at the military mass.
"Maneuvers, do they call them?
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Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Light

Chapter VII · Chapter 7

Chapter 7 of Light is here in full — 239 sentences across 48 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/47 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE BRAWLER At the time of the great military maneuvers of September, 1913, Viviers was an important center of the operations.
Line 2
All the district was brightened with a swarming of red and blue and with martial ardor.
/ɔːl ðə ˈdɪstrɪkt wɑːz ˈbraɪtənd wɪð ə ˈswɔːrmɪŋ ʌv red ənd bluː ənd wɪð ˈmɑːrʃəl ˈɑːrdər/
Line 3
Alone and systematically, Brisbille was the reviler.
Line 4
From the top of Chestnut Hill, where we were watching a strategical display, he pointed at the military mass.
/frʌm ðə tɑːp ʌv ˈtʃesnʌt hɪl wer wiː wɜːr ˈwɑːtʃɪŋ ə strəˈtiːdʒɪkəl dɪˈspleɪ hiː ˈpɔɪntɪd æt ðə ˈmɪləteri mæs/
Line 5
"Maneuvers, do they call them?
/məˈnuːvərz duː ðeɪ kɔːl ðem/

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.

ardor noun US /ˈɑːrdər/

a feeling of strong eagerness (usually in favor of a person or cause)

From this reading “All the district was brightened with a swarming of red and blue and with martial ardor.”

Chestnut adjective US /ˈtʃesnʌt/

(of hair or feathers) of a golden brown to reddish brown color

From this reading “From the top of Chestnut Hill, where we were watching a strategical display, he pointed at the military mass.”

maneuvers noun US /məˈnuːvərz/

plural of “maneuver” — a military training exercise

From this reading “THE BRAWLER At the time of the great military maneuvers of September, 1913, Viviers was an important center of the operations.”

martial adjective US /ˈmɑːrʃəl/

(of persons) befitting a warrior

From this reading “All the district was brightened with a swarming of red and blue and with martial ardor.”

operations noun US /ˌɑːpərˈeɪʃənz/

financial transactions at a brokerage; having to do with the execution of trades and keeping customer records

From this reading “THE BRAWLER At the time of the great military maneuvers of September, 1913, Viviers was an important center of the operations.”

strategical adjective US /strəˈtiːdʒɪkəl/

relating to or concerned with strategy

From this reading “From the top of Chestnut Hill, where we were watching a strategical display, he pointed at the military mass.”

swarming verb US /ˈswɔːrmɪŋ/

-ing form of “swarm” — be teeming, be abuzz

From this reading “All the district was brightened with a swarming of red and blue and with martial ardor.”

systematically adverb US /ˌsɪstəˈmætɪkli/

in a systematic or consistent manner

From this reading “Alone and systematically, Brisbille was the reviler.”

All words in this reading · 48

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.

1913

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

From this reading THE BRAWLER At the time of the great military maneuvers of September, 1913, Viviers was an important center of the operations.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading All the district was brightened with a swarming of red and blue and with martial ardor.

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 All the district was brightened with a swarming of red and blue and with martial ardor.

AloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/

Having no one else present.

From this reading Alone and systematically, Brisbille was the reviler.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading THE BRAWLER At the time of the great military maneuvers of September, 1913, Viviers was an important center of the operations.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading All the district was brightened with a swarming of red and blue and with martial ardor.

ardornounUS /ˈɑːrdər/

a feeling of strong eagerness (usually in favor of a person or cause)

From this reading All the district was brightened with a swarming of red and blue and with martial ardor.

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THE BRAWLER At the time of the great military maneuvers of September, 1913, Viviers was an important center of the operations.

blueadjectiveUS /bluː/

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading All the district was brightened with a swarming of red and blue and with martial ardor.

BRAWLERnoun

a fighter (especially one who participates in brawls)

From this reading THE BRAWLER At the time of the great military maneuvers of September, 1913, Viviers was an important center of the operations.

brightenedverbUS /ˈbraɪtənd/

past form of “brighten” — make more cheerful through the use of color

From this reading All the district was brightened with a swarming of red and blue and with martial ardor.

Brisbille

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

From this reading Alone and systematically, Brisbille was the reviler.

callverbUS /kɔːl/

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading "Maneuvers, do they call them?

centernounUS /ˈsɛn.tər/

The middle point or core of an area.

From this reading THE BRAWLER At the time of the great military maneuvers of September, 1913, Viviers was an important center of the operations.

ChestnutadjectiveUS /ˈtʃesnʌt/

(of hair or feathers) of a golden brown to reddish brown color

From this reading From the top of Chestnut Hill, where we were watching a strategical display, he pointed at the military mass.

displaynounUS /dɪˈspleɪ/

something intended to communicate a particular impression

From this reading From the top of Chestnut Hill, where we were watching a strategical display, he pointed at the military mass.

districtnounUS /ˈdɪstrɪkt/

a region marked off for administrative or other purposes

From this reading All the district was brightened with a swarming of red and blue and with martial ardor.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading "Maneuvers, do they call them?

FromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading From the top of Chestnut Hill, where we were watching a strategical display, he pointed at the military mass.

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading THE BRAWLER At the time of the great military maneuvers of September, 1913, Viviers was an important center of the operations.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading From the top of Chestnut Hill, where we were watching a strategical display, he pointed at the military mass.

HillnounUS /hɪl/

a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading From the top of Chestnut Hill, where we were watching a strategical display, he pointed at the military mass.

importantadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpɔːrtənt/

of great significance or value

From this reading THE BRAWLER At the time of the great military maneuvers of September, 1913, Viviers was an important center of the operations.

maneuversnounUS /məˈnuːvərz/

plural of “maneuver” — a military training exercise

From this reading THE BRAWLER At the time of the great military maneuvers of September, 1913, Viviers was an important center of the operations.

martialadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːrʃəl/

(of persons) befitting a warrior

From this reading All the district was brightened with a swarming of red and blue and with martial ardor.

massnounUS /mæs/

the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field

From this reading From the top of Chestnut Hill, where we were watching a strategical display, he pointed at the military mass.

militaryadjectiveUS /ˈmɪləteri/

of or relating to the study of the principles of warfare

From this reading THE BRAWLER At the time of the great military maneuvers of September, 1913, Viviers was an important center of the operations.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE BRAWLER At the time of the great military maneuvers of September, 1913, Viviers was an important center of the operations.

operationsnounUS /ˌɑːpərˈeɪʃənz/

financial transactions at a brokerage; having to do with the execution of trades and keeping customer records

From this reading THE BRAWLER At the time of the great military maneuvers of September, 1913, Viviers was an important center of the operations.

pointedadjectiveUS /ˈpɔɪntɪd/

having a point

From this reading From the top of Chestnut Hill, where we were watching a strategical display, he pointed at the military mass.

rednounUS /red/

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading All the district was brightened with a swarming of red and blue and with martial ardor.

reviler

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

From this reading Alone and systematically, Brisbille was the reviler.

SeptembernounUS /sepˈtembər/

the month following August and preceding October

From this reading THE BRAWLER At the time of the great military maneuvers of September, 1913, Viviers was an important center of the operations.

strategicaladjectiveUS /strəˈtiːdʒɪkəl/

relating to or concerned with strategy

From this reading From the top of Chestnut Hill, where we were watching a strategical display, he pointed at the military mass.

swarmingverbUS /ˈswɔːrmɪŋ/

-ing form of “swarm” — be teeming, be abuzz

From this reading All the district was brightened with a swarming of red and blue and with martial ardor.

systematicallyadverbUS /ˌsɪstəˈmætɪkli/

in a systematic or consistent manner

From this reading Alone and systematically, Brisbille was the reviler.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE BRAWLER At the time of the great military maneuvers of September, 1913, Viviers was an important center of the operations.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading "Maneuvers, do they call them?

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading "Maneuvers, do they call them?

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading THE BRAWLER At the time of the great military maneuvers of September, 1913, Viviers was an important center of the operations.

topnounUS /tɑːp/

the upper part of anything

From this reading From the top of Chestnut Hill, where we were watching a strategical display, he pointed at the military mass.

Viviers

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

From this reading THE BRAWLER At the time of the great military maneuvers of September, 1913, Viviers was an important center of the operations.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading THE BRAWLER At the time of the great military maneuvers of September, 1913, Viviers was an important center of the operations.

watchingnounUS /ˈwɑːtʃɪŋ/

the act of observing; taking a patient look

From this reading From the top of Chestnut Hill, where we were watching a strategical display, he pointed at the military mass.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading From the top of Chestnut Hill, where we were watching a strategical display, he pointed at the military mass.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading From the top of Chestnut Hill, where we were watching a strategical display, he pointed at the military mass.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading From the top of Chestnut Hill, where we were watching a strategical display, he pointed at the military mass.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading All the district was brightened with a swarming of red and blue and with martial ardor.

Chapter 7 of Light by Henri Barbusse holds 239 sentences, grouped into 48 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 7 of Light contain?

Chapter 7 holds 239 sentences of Light, unabridged, divided into 48 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 7 of Light by Henri Barbusse exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 239 sentences, grouped into 48 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 7 of Light?

Work through the 48 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 48 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 7 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 7 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 Light

Common questions about reading Light by Henri Barbusse on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Light?

Yes. All 5323 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #12904 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Light is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #12904, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Light take to read?

About 443 minutes of reading across 1065 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Light section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 22 chapters of Light 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 Light

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

Sunday
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Light; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Through
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Light; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Window
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Light; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Living
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Light; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.