Chapter 8 of Light is here in full — 189 sentences across 38 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter VIII
Chapter 8 of Light is here in full — 189 sentences across 38 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
THE STORM "There's going to be war," said Benoît, on our doorsteps in July. "No," said Crillon, who was there, too, "I know well enough there'll be war some day, seeing there's always been war after war since the world was a world, and therefore there'll be another; but just now--at once--a big job like that? Nonsense! It's not true. No."
Chapter 8 of Light is here in full — 189 sentences across 38 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/37 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
plural of “doorstep” — the sill of a door; a horizontal piece of wood or stone that forms the bottom of a doorway and offers support when passing through a doorway
From this reading “THE STORM "There's going to be war," said Benoît, on our doorsteps in July.”
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading “"No," said Crillon, who was there, too, "I know well enough there'll be war some day, seeing there's always been war after war since the world was a world, and therefore there'll be another; but just now--at once--a big job like that?”
the month following June and preceding August
From this reading “THE STORM "There's going to be war," said Benoît, on our doorsteps in July.”
a message that seems to convey no meaning
From this reading “Nonsense!”
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading “"No," said Crillon, who was there, too, "I know well enough there'll be war some day, seeing there's always been war after war since the world was a world, and therefore there'll be another; but just now--at once--a big job like that?”
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading “THE STORM "There's going to be war," said Benoît, on our doorsteps in July.”
for that reason; as a result
From this reading “"No," said Crillon, who was there, too, "I know well enough there'll be war some day, seeing there's always been war after war since the world was a world, and therefore there'll be another; but just now--at once--a big job like that?”
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading “THE STORM "There's going to be war," said Benoît, on our doorsteps in July.”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "No," said Crillon, who was there, too, "I know well enough there'll be war some day, seeing there's always been war after war since the world was a world, and therefore there'll be another; but just now--at once--a big job like that?
later than; following
From this reading "No," said Crillon, who was there, too, "I know well enough there'll be war some day, seeing there's always been war after war since the world was a world, and therefore there'll be another; but just now--at once--a big job like that?
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading "No," said Crillon, who was there, too, "I know well enough there'll be war some day, seeing there's always been war after war since the world was a world, and therefore there'll be another; but just now--at once--a big job like that?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "No," said Crillon, who was there, too, "I know well enough there'll be war some day, seeing there's always been war after war since the world was a world, and therefore there'll be another; but just now--at once--a big job like that?
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading "No," said Crillon, who was there, too, "I know well enough there'll be war some day, seeing there's always been war after war since the world was a world, and therefore there'll be another; but just now--at once--a big job like that?
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "No," said Crillon, who was there, too, "I know well enough there'll be war some day, seeing there's always been war after war since the world was a world, and therefore there'll be another; but just now--at once--a big job like that?
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading THE STORM "There's going to be war," said Benoît, on our doorsteps in July.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "No," said Crillon, who was there, too, "I know well enough there'll be war some day, seeing there's always been war after war since the world was a world, and therefore there'll be another; but just now--at once--a big job like that?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE STORM "There's going to be war," said Benoît, on our doorsteps in July.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "No," said Crillon, who was there, too, "I know well enough there'll be war some day, seeing there's always been war after war since the world was a world, and therefore there'll be another; but just now--at once--a big job like that?
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "No," said Crillon, who was there, too, "I know well enough there'll be war some day, seeing there's always been war after war since the world was a world, and therefore there'll be another; but just now--at once--a big job like that?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No," said Crillon, who was there, too, "I know well enough there'll be war some day, seeing there's always been war after war since the world was a world, and therefore there'll be another; but just now--at once--a big job like that?
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading "No," said Crillon, who was there, too, "I know well enough there'll be war some day, seeing there's always been war after war since the world was a world, and therefore there'll be another; but just now--at once--a big job like that?
plural of “doorstep” — the sill of a door; a horizontal piece of wood or stone that forms the bottom of a doorway and offers support when passing through a doorway
From this reading THE STORM "There's going to be war," said Benoît, on our doorsteps in July.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading "No," said Crillon, who was there, too, "I know well enough there'll be war some day, seeing there's always been war after war since the world was a world, and therefore there'll be another; but just now--at once--a big job like that?
the act of departing
From this reading THE STORM "There's going to be war," said Benoît, on our doorsteps in July.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "No," said Crillon, who was there, too, "I know well enough there'll be war some day, seeing there's always been war after war since the world was a world, and therefore there'll be another; but just now--at once--a big job like that?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE STORM "There's going to be war," said Benoît, on our doorsteps in July.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It's not true.
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading "No," said Crillon, who was there, too, "I know well enough there'll be war some day, seeing there's always been war after war since the world was a world, and therefore there'll be another; but just now--at once--a big job like that?
the month following June and preceding August
From this reading THE STORM "There's going to be war," said Benoît, on our doorsteps in July.
and nothing more
From this reading "No," said Crillon, who was there, too, "I know well enough there'll be war some day, seeing there's always been war after war since the world was a world, and therefore there'll be another; but just now--at once--a big job like that?
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "No," said Crillon, who was there, too, "I know well enough there'll be war some day, seeing there's always been war after war since the world was a world, and therefore there'll be another; but just now--at once--a big job like that?
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "No," said Crillon, who was there, too, "I know well enough there'll be war some day, seeing there's always been war after war since the world was a world, and therefore there'll be another; but just now--at once--a big job like that?
not any; not one
From this reading "No," said Crillon, who was there, too, "I know well enough there'll be war some day, seeing there's always been war after war since the world was a world, and therefore there'll be another; but just now--at once--a big job like that?
a message that seems to convey no meaning
From this reading Nonsense!
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It's not true.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "No," said Crillon, who was there, too, "I know well enough there'll be war some day, seeing there's always been war after war since the world was a world, and therefore there'll be another; but just now--at once--a big job like that?
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE STORM "There's going to be war," said Benoît, on our doorsteps in July.
on one occasion
From this reading "No," said Crillon, who was there, too, "I know well enough there'll be war some day, seeing there's always been war after war since the world was a world, and therefore there'll be another; but just now--at once--a big job like that?
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading THE STORM "There's going to be war," said Benoît, on our doorsteps in July.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading THE STORM "There's going to be war," said Benoît, on our doorsteps in July.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading "No," said Crillon, who was there, too, "I know well enough there'll be war some day, seeing there's always been war after war since the world was a world, and therefore there'll be another; but just now--at once--a big job like that?
from a time in the past until now
From this reading "No," said Crillon, who was there, too, "I know well enough there'll be war some day, seeing there's always been war after war since the world was a world, and therefore there'll be another; but just now--at once--a big job like that?
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading "No," said Crillon, who was there, too, "I know well enough there'll be war some day, seeing there's always been war after war since the world was a world, and therefore there'll be another; but just now--at once--a big job like that?
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading THE STORM "There's going to be war," said Benoît, on our doorsteps in July.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "No," said Crillon, who was there, too, "I know well enough there'll be war some day, seeing there's always been war after war since the world was a world, and therefore there'll be another; but just now--at once--a big job like that?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE STORM "There's going to be war," said Benoît, on our doorsteps in July.
in or at that place or location
From this reading "No," said Crillon, who was there, too, "I know well enough there'll be war some day, seeing there's always been war after war since the world was a world, and therefore there'll be another; but just now--at once--a big job like that?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No," said Crillon, who was there, too, "I know well enough there'll be war some day, seeing there's always been war after war since the world was a world, and therefore there'll be another; but just now--at once--a big job like that?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE STORM "There's going to be war," said Benoît, on our doorsteps in July.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading "No," said Crillon, who was there, too, "I know well enough there'll be war some day, seeing there's always been war after war since the world was a world, and therefore there'll be another; but just now--at once--a big job like that?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE STORM "There's going to be war," said Benoît, on our doorsteps in July.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading "No," said Crillon, who was there, too, "I know well enough there'll be war some day, seeing there's always been war after war since the world was a world, and therefore there'll be another; but just now--at once--a big job like that?
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading It's not true.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading THE STORM "There's going to be war," said Benoît, on our doorsteps in July.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "No," said Crillon, who was there, too, "I know well enough there'll be war some day, seeing there's always been war after war since the world was a world, and therefore there'll be another; but just now--at once--a big job like that?
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading "No," said Crillon, who was there, too, "I know well enough there'll be war some day, seeing there's always been war after war since the world was a world, and therefore there'll be another; but just now--at once--a big job like that?
which person or people
From this reading "No," said Crillon, who was there, too, "I know well enough there'll be war some day, seeing there's always been war after war since the world was a world, and therefore there'll be another; but just now--at once--a big job like that?
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading "No," said Crillon, who was there, too, "I know well enough there'll be war some day, seeing there's always been war after war since the world was a world, and therefore there'll be another; but just now--at once--a big job like that?
Chapter 8 of Light by Henri Barbusse holds 189 sentences, grouped into 38 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.
Chapter 8 holds 189 sentences of Light, unabridged, divided into 38 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 8 of Light by Henri Barbusse exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 189 sentences, grouped into 38 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.
Work through the 38 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 38 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.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 8 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.
Common questions about reading Light by Henri Barbusse on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 5323 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #12904 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #12904, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 443 minutes of reading across 1065 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Light section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 22 chapters of Light to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in Light, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
