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Marius the Epicurean — Volume 1
Marius the Epicurean — Volume 1

Chapter VI · Chapter 6

Chapter 6 of Marius the Epicurean — Volume 1 is here in full — 115 sentences across 23 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Marius the Epicurean — Volume 1
Context Illustration Reading 1/23 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
EUPHUISM So the famous story composed itself in the memory of Marius, with an expression changed in some ways from the original and on the whole graver.
The petulant, boyish Cupid of Apuleius was become more like that Lord, of terrible aspect,” who stood at Dante’s bedside and wept, or had at least grown to the manly earnestness of the Erôs of Praxiteles.
Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and cleanan ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.
The human body in its beauty, as the highest potency of all the beauty of material objects, seemed to him just then to be matter no longer, but, having taken celestial fire, to assert itself as indeed the true, though visible, soul or spirit in things.
In contrast with that ideal, in all the pure brilliancy, and as it were in the happy light, of youth and morning and the springtide, men’s actual loves, with which at many points the book brings one into close contact, might appear to him, like the general tenor of their lives, to be somewhat mean and sordid.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Marius the Epicurean — Volume 1

Chapter VI · Chapter 6

Chapter 6 of Marius the Epicurean — Volume 1 is here in full — 115 sentences across 23 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/23 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
EUPHUISM So the famous story composed itself in the memory of Marius, with an expression changed in some ways from the original and on the whole graver.
Line 2
The petulant, boyish Cupid of Apuleius was become more like thatLord, of terrible aspect,” who stood at Dante’s bedside and wept, or had at least grown to the manly earnestness of the Erôs of Praxiteles.
Line 3
Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and cleanan ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.
Line 4
The human body in its beauty, as the highest potency of all the beauty of material objects, seemed to him just then to be matter no longer, but, having taken celestial fire, to assert itself as indeed the true, though visible, soul or spirit in things.
/ðə ˈhjuːmən ˈbɑːdi ɪn ɪts ˈbjuːti æz ðə ˈhaɪəst ˈpoʊtənsi ʌv ɔːl ðə ˈbjuːti ʌv məˈtɪriəl ˈɑːbdʒekts siːmd tuː hɪm dʒʌst ðen tuː biː ˈmætər noʊ ˈlɔːŋɡər bʌt ˈhævɪŋ ˈteɪkən səˈlestʃəl ˈfaɪər tuː əˈsɜːrt ˌɪtˈself æz ˌɪnˈdiːd ðə truː ðoʊ ˈvɪzəbəl soʊl ɔːr ˈspɪrət ɪn θɪŋz/
Line 5
In contrast with that ideal, in all the pure brilliancy, and as it were in the happy light, of youth and morning and the springtide, men’s actual loves, with which at many points the book brings one into close contact, might appear to him, like the general tenor of their lives, to be somewhat mean and sordid.

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.

centered adjective US /ˈsentərd/

being or placed in the center

From this reading “Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.”

coarser adjective US /ˈkɔːrsər/

comparative of “coarse” — of textures that are rough to the touch or substances consisting of relatively large particles

From this reading “Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.”

Dante's noun US /ˈdæntiz/

possessive form of “dante” — an Italian poet famous for writing the Divine Comedy that describes a journey through Hell and purgatory and paradise guided by Virgil and his idealized Beatrice (1265-1321)

flawless adjective US /ˈflɔːləs/

without a flaw

From this reading “Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.”

graver noun US /ˈɡreɪvər/

a tool used by an engraver

From this reading “EUPHUISM So the famous story composed itself in the memory of Marius, with an expression changed in some ways from the original and on the whole graver.”

petulant adjective US /ˈpetʃələnt/

easily irritated or annoyed

From this reading “The petulant, boyish Cupid of Apuleius was become more like that “Lord, of terrible aspect,” who stood at Dante’s bedside and wept, or had at least grown to the manly earnestness of the Erôs of Praxiteles.”

potency noun US /ˈpoʊtənsi/

the power or right to give orders or make decisions

From this reading “The human body in its beauty, as the highest potency of all the beauty of material objects, seemed to him just then to be matter no longer, but, having taken celestial fire, to assert itself as indeed the true, though visible, soul or spirit in things.”

Psyche noun US /ˈsaɪki/

that which is responsible for one's thoughts, feelings, and conscious brain functions; the seat of the faculty of reason

From this reading “Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.”

All words in this reading · 147

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 Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.

actualadjectiveUS /ˈæktʃəwəl/

presently existing in fact and not merely potential or possible

From this reading In contrast with that ideal, in all the pure brilliancy, and as it were in the happy light, of youth and morning and the springtide, men’s actual loves, with which at many points the book brings one into close contact, might appear to him, like the general tenor of their lives, to be somewhat mean and sordid.

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 The human body in its beauty, as the highest potency of all the beauty of material objects, seemed to him just then to be matter no longer, but, having taken celestial fire, to assert itself as indeed the true, though visible, soul or spirit in things.

alreadyadverbUS /ɔːlˈredi/

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.

amidprepositionUS /əˈmɪd/

in the middle of; surrounded by

From this reading Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading EUPHUISM So the famous story composed itself in the memory of Marius, with an expression changed in some ways from the original and on the whole graver.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading EUPHUISM So the famous story composed itself in the memory of Marius, with an expression changed in some ways from the original and on the whole graver.

appearverbUS /əˈpɪr/

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading In contrast with that ideal, in all the pure brilliancy, and as it were in the happy light, of youth and morning and the springtide, men’s actual loves, with which at many points the book brings one into close contact, might appear to him, like the general tenor of their lives, to be somewhat mean and sordid.

Apuleius

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

From this reading The petulant, boyish Cupid of Apuleius was become more like that “Lord, of terrible aspect,” who stood at Dante’s bedside and wept, or had at least grown to the manly earnestness of the Erôs of Praxiteles.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The human body in its beauty, as the highest potency of all the beauty of material objects, seemed to him just then to be matter no longer, but, having taken celestial fire, to assert itself as indeed the true, though visible, soul or spirit in things.

aspectnounUS /ˈæspekt/

a distinct feature or element in a problem

From this reading The petulant, boyish Cupid of Apuleius was become more like that “Lord, of terrible aspect,” who stood at Dante’s bedside and wept, or had at least grown to the manly earnestness of the Erôs of Praxiteles.

assertverbUS /əˈsɜːrt/

state categorically

From this reading The human body in its beauty, as the highest potency of all the beauty of material objects, seemed to him just then to be matter no longer, but, having taken celestial fire, to assert itself as indeed the true, though visible, soul or spirit in things.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The petulant, boyish Cupid of Apuleius was become more like that “Lord, of terrible aspect,” who stood at Dante’s bedside and wept, or had at least grown to the manly earnestness of the Erôs of Praxiteles.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading The human body in its beauty, as the highest potency of all the beauty of material objects, seemed to him just then to be matter no longer, but, having taken celestial fire, to assert itself as indeed the true, though visible, soul or spirit in things.

beautynounUS /ˈbjuːti/

the qualities that give pleasure to the senses

From this reading Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.

becomeverbUS /bɪˈkʌm/

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading The petulant, boyish Cupid of Apuleius was become more like that “Lord, of terrible aspect,” who stood at Dante’s bedside and wept, or had at least grown to the manly earnestness of the Erôs of Praxiteles.

bedsidenounUS /ˈbedsaɪd/

space by the side of a bed (especially the bed of a sick or dying person)

From this reading The petulant, boyish Cupid of Apuleius was become more like that “Lord, of terrible aspect,” who stood at Dante’s bedside and wept, or had at least grown to the manly earnestness of the Erôs of Praxiteles.

bodynounUS /ˈbɑːdi/

the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)

From this reading The human body in its beauty, as the highest potency of all the beauty of material objects, seemed to him just then to be matter no longer, but, having taken celestial fire, to assert itself as indeed the true, though visible, soul or spirit in things.

booknounUS /bʊk/

a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)

From this reading Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.

boyishadjectiveUS /ˈbɔɪɪʃ/

befitting or characteristic of a young boy

From this reading The petulant, boyish Cupid of Apuleius was become more like that “Lord, of terrible aspect,” who stood at Dante’s bedside and wept, or had at least grown to the manly earnestness of the Erôs of Praxiteles.

brilliancynoun

a quality that outshines the usual

From this reading In contrast with that ideal, in all the pure brilliancy, and as it were in the happy light, of youth and morning and the springtide, men’s actual loves, with which at many points the book brings one into close contact, might appear to him, like the general tenor of their lives, to be somewhat mean and sordid.

bringsverbUS /brɪŋz/

third-person singular of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading In contrast with that ideal, in all the pure brilliancy, and as it were in the happy light, of youth and morning and the springtide, men’s actual loves, with which at many points the book brings one into close contact, might appear to him, like the general tenor of their lives, to be somewhat mean and sordid.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The human body in its beauty, as the highest potency of all the beauty of material objects, seemed to him just then to be matter no longer, but, having taken celestial fire, to assert itself as indeed the true, though visible, soul or spirit in things.

celestialadjectiveUS /səˈlestʃəl/

of or relating to the sky

From this reading The human body in its beauty, as the highest potency of all the beauty of material objects, seemed to him just then to be matter no longer, but, having taken celestial fire, to assert itself as indeed the true, though visible, soul or spirit in things.

centeredadjectiveUS /ˈsentərd/

being or placed in the center

From this reading Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.

changedadjectiveUS /tʃeɪndʒd/

made or become different in nature or form

From this reading EUPHUISM So the famous story composed itself in the memory of Marius, with an expression changed in some ways from the original and on the whole graver.

cleanadjectiveUS /kliːn/

free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits

From this reading Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.

closeadjectiveUS /kloʊs/

at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other

From this reading In contrast with that ideal, in all the pure brilliancy, and as it were in the happy light, of youth and morning and the springtide, men’s actual loves, with which at many points the book brings one into close contact, might appear to him, like the general tenor of their lives, to be somewhat mean and sordid.

coarseradjectiveUS /ˈkɔːrsər/

comparative of “coarse” — of textures that are rough to the touch or substances consisting of relatively large particles

From this reading Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.

combineverbUS /ˈkɑːmbaɪn/

have or possess in combination

From this reading Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.

composedadjectiveUS /kəmˈpoʊzd/

serenely self-possessed and free from agitation especially in times of stress

From this reading EUPHUISM So the famous story composed itself in the memory of Marius, with an expression changed in some ways from the original and on the whole graver.

contactnounUS /ˈkɑːntækt/

close interaction

From this reading In contrast with that ideal, in all the pure brilliancy, and as it were in the happy light, of youth and morning and the springtide, men’s actual loves, with which at many points the book brings one into close contact, might appear to him, like the general tenor of their lives, to be somewhat mean and sordid.

contrastnounUS /ˈkɑːntræst/

the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared

From this reading In contrast with that ideal, in all the pure brilliancy, and as it were in the happy light, of youth and morning and the springtide, men’s actual loves, with which at many points the book brings one into close contact, might appear to him, like the general tenor of their lives, to be somewhat mean and sordid.

CupidnounUS /ˈkjuːpɪd/

(Roman mythology) god of love; counterpart of Greek Eros

From this reading The petulant, boyish Cupid of Apuleius was become more like that “Lord, of terrible aspect,” who stood at Dante’s bedside and wept, or had at least grown to the manly earnestness of the Erôs of Praxiteles.

Dante'snounUS /ˈdæntiz/

possessive form of “dante” — an Italian poet famous for writing the Divine Comedy that describes a journey through Hell and purgatory and paradise guided by Virgil and his idealized Beatrice (1265-1321)

From this reading The petulant, boyish Cupid of Apuleius was become more like that “Lord, of terrible aspect,” who stood at Dante’s bedside and wept, or had at least grown to the manly earnestness of the Erôs of Praxiteles.

degreesnounUS /dɪˈɡriːz/

plural of “degree” — a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality

From this reading Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.

differentadjectiveUS /ˈdɪfərənt/

unlike in nature or quality or form or degree

From this reading Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.

earnestnessnounUS /ˈɜːrnəstnəs/

an earnest and sincere feeling

From this reading The petulant, boyish Cupid of Apuleius was become more like that “Lord, of terrible aspect,” who stood at Dante’s bedside and wept, or had at least grown to the manly earnestness of the Erôs of Praxiteles.

entirelyadverbUS /ɪnˈtaɪərli/

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.

episodenounUS /ˈepəsoʊd/

a happening that is distinctive in a series of related events

From this reading Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.

Erôs

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

From this reading The petulant, boyish Cupid of Apuleius was become more like that “Lord, of terrible aspect,” who stood at Dante’s bedside and wept, or had at least grown to the manly earnestness of the Erôs of Praxiteles.

EUPHUISMnoun

any artificially elegant style of language

From this reading EUPHUISM So the famous story composed itself in the memory of Marius, with an expression changed in some ways from the original and on the whole graver.

expressionnounUS /ɪkˈspreʃən/

the feelings expressed on a person's face

From this reading EUPHUISM So the famous story composed itself in the memory of Marius, with an expression changed in some ways from the original and on the whole graver.

fadedadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪdəd/

having lost freshness or brilliance of color

From this reading Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.

familiaradjectiveUS /fəˈmɪljər/

well known or easily recognized

From this reading Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.

famousadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪməs/

widely known and esteemed

From this reading EUPHUISM So the famous story composed itself in the memory of Marius, with an expression changed in some ways from the original and on the whole graver.

fireverbUS /ˈfaɪər/

start firing a weapon

From this reading The human body in its beauty, as the highest potency of all the beauty of material objects, seemed to him just then to be matter no longer, but, having taken celestial fire, to assert itself as indeed the true, though visible, soul or spirit in things.

flawlessadjectiveUS /ˈflɔːləs/

without a flaw

From this reading Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading EUPHUISM So the famous story composed itself in the memory of Marius, with an expression changed in some ways from the original and on the whole graver.

generaladjectiveUS /ˈdʒenərəl/

applying to all or most members of a category or group

From this reading In contrast with that ideal, in all the pure brilliancy, and as it were in the happy light, of youth and morning and the springtide, men’s actual loves, with which at many points the book brings one into close contact, might appear to him, like the general tenor of their lives, to be somewhat mean and sordid.

gravernounUS /ˈɡreɪvər/

a tool used by an engraver

From this reading EUPHUISM So the famous story composed itself in the memory of Marius, with an expression changed in some ways from the original and on the whole graver.

grownadjectiveUS /ɡroʊn/

(of animals) fully developed

From this reading The petulant, boyish Cupid of Apuleius was become more like that “Lord, of terrible aspect,” who stood at Dante’s bedside and wept, or had at least grown to the manly earnestness of the Erôs of Praxiteles.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The petulant, boyish Cupid of Apuleius was become more like that “Lord, of terrible aspect,” who stood at Dante’s bedside and wept, or had at least grown to the manly earnestness of the Erôs of Praxiteles.

happyadjectiveUS /ˈhæpi/

enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure

From this reading In contrast with that ideal, in all the pure brilliancy, and as it were in the happy light, of youth and morning and the springtide, men’s actual loves, with which at many points the book brings one into close contact, might appear to him, like the general tenor of their lives, to be somewhat mean and sordid.

havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading The human body in its beauty, as the highest potency of all the beauty of material objects, seemed to him just then to be matter no longer, but, having taken celestial fire, to assert itself as indeed the true, though visible, soul or spirit in things.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.

highestadjectiveUS /ˈhaɪəst/

superlative of “high” — greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading The human body in its beauty, as the highest potency of all the beauty of material objects, seemed to him just then to be matter no longer, but, having taken celestial fire, to assert itself as indeed the true, though visible, soul or spirit in things.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The human body in its beauty, as the highest potency of all the beauty of material objects, seemed to him just then to be matter no longer, but, having taken celestial fire, to assert itself as indeed the true, though visible, soul or spirit in things.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.

humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/

characteristic of humanity

From this reading The human body in its beauty, as the highest potency of all the beauty of material objects, seemed to him just then to be matter no longer, but, having taken celestial fire, to assert itself as indeed the true, though visible, soul or spirit in things.

idealadjectiveUS /aɪˈdiːl/

conforming to an ultimate standard of perfection or excellence; embodying an ideal

From this reading Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.

imaginativeadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈmædʒənətɪv/

(used of persons or artifacts) marked by independence and creativity in thought or action

From this reading Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading EUPHUISM So the famous story composed itself in the memory of Marius, with an expression changed in some ways from the original and on the whole graver.

indeedadverbUS /ˌɪnˈdiːd/

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading The human body in its beauty, as the highest potency of all the beauty of material objects, seemed to him just then to be matter no longer, but, having taken celestial fire, to assert itself as indeed the true, though visible, soul or spirit in things.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The human body in its beauty, as the highest potency of all the beauty of material objects, seemed to him just then to be matter no longer, but, having taken celestial fire, to assert itself as indeed the true, though visible, soul or spirit in things.

itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading EUPHUISM So the famous story composed itself in the memory of Marius, with an expression changed in some ways from the original and on the whole graver.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading The human body in its beauty, as the highest potency of all the beauty of material objects, seemed to him just then to be matter no longer, but, having taken celestial fire, to assert itself as indeed the true, though visible, soul or spirit in things.

leastadjectiveUS /liːst/

the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree

From this reading The petulant, boyish Cupid of Apuleius was become more like that “Lord, of terrible aspect,” who stood at Dante’s bedside and wept, or had at least grown to the manly earnestness of the Erôs of Praxiteles.

lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading In contrast with that ideal, in all the pure brilliancy, and as it were in the happy light, of youth and morning and the springtide, men’s actual loves, with which at many points the book brings one into close contact, might appear to him, like the general tenor of their lives, to be somewhat mean and sordid.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading The petulant, boyish Cupid of Apuleius was become more like that “Lord, of terrible aspect,” who stood at Dante’s bedside and wept, or had at least grown to the manly earnestness of the Erôs of Praxiteles.

linesnounUS /laɪnz/

plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another

From this reading Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.

livesnounUS /lɪvz/

plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading In contrast with that ideal, in all the pure brilliancy, and as it were in the happy light, of youth and morning and the springtide, men’s actual loves, with which at many points the book brings one into close contact, might appear to him, like the general tenor of their lives, to be somewhat mean and sordid.

longeradverbUS /ˈlɔːŋɡər/

for more time

From this reading The human body in its beauty, as the highest potency of all the beauty of material objects, seemed to him just then to be matter no longer, but, having taken celestial fire, to assert itself as indeed the true, though visible, soul or spirit in things.

LordnounUS /lɔːrd/

terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God

From this reading The petulant, boyish Cupid of Apuleius was become more like that “Lord, of terrible aspect,” who stood at Dante’s bedside and wept, or had at least grown to the manly earnestness of the Erôs of Praxiteles.

lovenounUS /lʌv/

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.

lovesnounUS /lʌvz/

plural of “love” — a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading In contrast with that ideal, in all the pure brilliancy, and as it were in the happy light, of youth and morning and the springtide, men’s actual loves, with which at many points the book brings one into close contact, might appear to him, like the general tenor of their lives, to be somewhat mean and sordid.

manlyadjectiveUS /ˈmænli/

possessing qualities befitting a man

From this reading The petulant, boyish Cupid of Apuleius was become more like that “Lord, of terrible aspect,” who stood at Dante’s bedside and wept, or had at least grown to the manly earnestness of the Erôs of Praxiteles.

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 Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.

Marius

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

From this reading EUPHUISM So the famous story composed itself in the memory of Marius, with an expression changed in some ways from the original and on the whole graver.

materialadjectiveUS /məˈtɪriəl/

concerned with worldly rather than spiritual interests

From this reading The human body in its beauty, as the highest potency of all the beauty of material objects, seemed to him just then to be matter no longer, but, having taken celestial fire, to assert itself as indeed the true, though visible, soul or spirit in things.

matternounUS /ˈmætər/

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.

meanverbUS /miːn/

mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading In contrast with that ideal, in all the pure brilliancy, and as it were in the happy light, of youth and morning and the springtide, men’s actual loves, with which at many points the book brings one into close contact, might appear to him, like the general tenor of their lives, to be somewhat mean and sordid.

meditationnounUS /ˌmedəˈteɪʃən/

continuous and profound contemplation or musing on a subject or series of subjects of a deep or abstruse nature

From this reading Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.

memorynounUS /ˈmem.ər.i/

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading EUPHUISM So the famous story composed itself in the memory of Marius, with an expression changed in some ways from the original and on the whole graver.

men'snounUS /menz/

a public toilet for men

From this reading In contrast with that ideal, in all the pure brilliancy, and as it were in the happy light, of youth and morning and the springtide, men’s actual loves, with which at many points the book brings one into close contact, might appear to him, like the general tenor of their lives, to be somewhat mean and sordid.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading In contrast with that ideal, in all the pure brilliancy, and as it were in the happy light, of youth and morning and the springtide, men’s actual loves, with which at many points the book brings one into close contact, might appear to him, like the general tenor of their lives, to be somewhat mean and sordid.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading The petulant, boyish Cupid of Apuleius was become more like that “Lord, of terrible aspect,” who stood at Dante’s bedside and wept, or had at least grown to the manly earnestness of the Erôs of Praxiteles.

morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading In contrast with that ideal, in all the pure brilliancy, and as it were in the happy light, of youth and morning and the springtide, men’s actual loves, with which at many points the book brings one into close contact, might appear to him, like the general tenor of their lives, to be somewhat mean and sordid.

neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading The human body in its beauty, as the highest potency of all the beauty of material objects, seemed to him just then to be matter no longer, but, having taken celestial fire, to assert itself as indeed the true, though visible, soul or spirit in things.

objectsnounUS /ˈɑːbdʒekts/

plural of “object” — a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow

From this reading The human body in its beauty, as the highest potency of all the beauty of material objects, seemed to him just then to be matter no longer, but, having taken celestial fire, to assert itself as indeed the true, though visible, soul or spirit in things.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading EUPHUISM So the famous story composed itself in the memory of Marius, with an expression changed in some ways from the original and on the whole graver.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading EUPHUISM So the famous story composed itself in the memory of Marius, with an expression changed in some ways from the original and on the whole graver.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading In contrast with that ideal, in all the pure brilliancy, and as it were in the happy light, of youth and morning and the springtide, men’s actual loves, with which at many points the book brings one into close contact, might appear to him, like the general tenor of their lives, to be somewhat mean and sordid.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading The petulant, boyish Cupid of Apuleius was become more like that “Lord, of terrible aspect,” who stood at Dante’s bedside and wept, or had at least grown to the manly earnestness of the Erôs of Praxiteles.

originaladjectiveUS /ərˈɪdʒənəl/

preceding all others in time or being as first made or performed

From this reading EUPHUISM So the famous story composed itself in the memory of Marius, with an expression changed in some ways from the original and on the whole graver.

perfectadjectiveUS /pərˈfekt/

being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish

From this reading Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.

petulantadjectiveUS /ˈpetʃələnt/

easily irritated or annoyed

From this reading The petulant, boyish Cupid of Apuleius was become more like that “Lord, of terrible aspect,” who stood at Dante’s bedside and wept, or had at least grown to the manly earnestness of the Erôs of Praxiteles.

pointsnounUS /pɔɪnts/

plural of “point” — a geometric element that has position but no extension

From this reading In contrast with that ideal, in all the pure brilliancy, and as it were in the happy light, of youth and morning and the springtide, men’s actual loves, with which at many points the book brings one into close contact, might appear to him, like the general tenor of their lives, to be somewhat mean and sordid.

potencynounUS /ˈpoʊtənsi/

the power or right to give orders or make decisions

From this reading The human body in its beauty, as the highest potency of all the beauty of material objects, seemed to him just then to be matter no longer, but, having taken celestial fire, to assert itself as indeed the true, though visible, soul or spirit in things.

Praxitelesnoun

ancient Greek sculptor (circa 370-330 BC)

From this reading The petulant, boyish Cupid of Apuleius was become more like that “Lord, of terrible aspect,” who stood at Dante’s bedside and wept, or had at least grown to the manly earnestness of the Erôs of Praxiteles.

PsychenounUS /ˈsaɪki/

that which is responsible for one's thoughts, feelings, and conscious brain functions; the seat of the faculty of reason

From this reading Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.

pureadjectiveUS /pjʊr/

free of extraneous elements of any kind

From this reading In contrast with that ideal, in all the pure brilliancy, and as it were in the happy light, of youth and morning and the springtide, men’s actual loves, with which at many points the book brings one into close contact, might appear to him, like the general tenor of their lives, to be somewhat mean and sordid.

reliefnounUS /rɪˈliːf/

the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced

From this reading Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.

seemedverbUS /siːmd/

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading The human body in its beauty, as the highest potency of all the beauty of material objects, seemed to him just then to be matter no longer, but, having taken celestial fire, to assert itself as indeed the true, though visible, soul or spirit in things.

servedverbUS /sɜːrvd/

past form of “serve” — serve a purpose, role, or function

From this reading Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.

SetverbUS /set/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading EUPHUISM So the famous story composed itself in the memory of Marius, with an expression changed in some ways from the original and on the whole graver.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading EUPHUISM So the famous story composed itself in the memory of Marius, with an expression changed in some ways from the original and on the whole graver.

somewhatadverbUS /ˈsʌmˈwʌt/

to a small degree or extent

From this reading In contrast with that ideal, in all the pure brilliancy, and as it were in the happy light, of youth and morning and the springtide, men’s actual loves, with which at many points the book brings one into close contact, might appear to him, like the general tenor of their lives, to be somewhat mean and sordid.

sordidadjectiveUS /ˈsɔːrdəd/

morally degraded

From this reading In contrast with that ideal, in all the pure brilliancy, and as it were in the happy light, of youth and morning and the springtide, men’s actual loves, with which at many points the book brings one into close contact, might appear to him, like the general tenor of their lives, to be somewhat mean and sordid.

soulnounUS /soʊl/

the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life

From this reading The human body in its beauty, as the highest potency of all the beauty of material objects, seemed to him just then to be matter no longer, but, having taken celestial fire, to assert itself as indeed the true, though visible, soul or spirit in things.

spiritnounUS /ˈspɪrət/

the vital principle or animating force within living things

From this reading The human body in its beauty, as the highest potency of all the beauty of material objects, seemed to him just then to be matter no longer, but, having taken celestial fire, to assert itself as indeed the true, though visible, soul or spirit in things.

springtidenoun

a swelling rush of anything

From this reading In contrast with that ideal, in all the pure brilliancy, and as it were in the happy light, of youth and morning and the springtide, men’s actual loves, with which at many points the book brings one into close contact, might appear to him, like the general tenor of their lives, to be somewhat mean and sordid.

stoodverbUS /stʊd/

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading The petulant, boyish Cupid of Apuleius was become more like that “Lord, of terrible aspect,” who stood at Dante’s bedside and wept, or had at least grown to the manly earnestness of the Erôs of Praxiteles.

storynounUS /ˈstɔːri/

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading EUPHUISM So the famous story composed itself in the memory of Marius, with an expression changed in some ways from the original and on the whole graver.

takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading The human body in its beauty, as the highest potency of all the beauty of material objects, seemed to him just then to be matter no longer, but, having taken celestial fire, to assert itself as indeed the true, though visible, soul or spirit in things.

tenornounUS /ˈtenər/

the adult male singing voice above baritone

From this reading In contrast with that ideal, in all the pure brilliancy, and as it were in the happy light, of youth and morning and the springtide, men’s actual loves, with which at many points the book brings one into close contact, might appear to him, like the general tenor of their lives, to be somewhat mean and sordid.

terribleadjectiveUS /ˈterəbəl/

causing fear or dread or terror

From this reading The petulant, boyish Cupid of Apuleius was become more like that “Lord, of terrible aspect,” who stood at Dante’s bedside and wept, or had at least grown to the manly earnestness of the Erôs of Praxiteles.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The petulant, boyish Cupid of Apuleius was become more like that “Lord, of terrible aspect,” who stood at Dante’s bedside and wept, or had at least grown to the manly earnestness of the Erôs of Praxiteles.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading EUPHUISM So the famous story composed itself in the memory of Marius, with an expression changed in some ways from the original and on the whole graver.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading In contrast with that ideal, in all the pure brilliancy, and as it were in the happy light, of youth and morning and the springtide, men’s actual loves, with which at many points the book brings one into close contact, might appear to him, like the general tenor of their lives, to be somewhat mean and sordid.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading The human body in its beauty, as the highest potency of all the beauty of material objects, seemed to him just then to be matter no longer, but, having taken celestial fire, to assert itself as indeed the true, though visible, soul or spirit in things.

thingsnounUS /θɪŋz/

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading The human body in its beauty, as the highest potency of all the beauty of material objects, seemed to him just then to be matter no longer, but, having taken celestial fire, to assert itself as indeed the true, though visible, soul or spirit in things.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.

thoughtsnounUS /θɔːts/

plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.

timesnounUS /taɪmz/

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The petulant, boyish Cupid of Apuleius was become more like that “Lord, of terrible aspect,” who stood at Dante’s bedside and wept, or had at least grown to the manly earnestness of the Erôs of Praxiteles.

trueadjectiveUS /truː/

consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading The human body in its beauty, as the highest potency of all the beauty of material objects, seemed to him just then to be matter no longer, but, having taken celestial fire, to assert itself as indeed the true, though visible, soul or spirit in things.

typenounUS /taɪp/

a subdivision of a particular kind of thing

From this reading Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.

valuedadjectiveUS /ˈvæljuːd/

(usually used in combination) having value of a specified kind

From this reading Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.

variousadjectiveUS /ˈveriəs/

of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity

From this reading Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.

visibleadjectiveUS /ˈvɪzəbəl/

capable of being seen; or open to easy view

From this reading The human body in its beauty, as the highest potency of all the beauty of material objects, seemed to him just then to be matter no longer, but, having taken celestial fire, to assert itself as indeed the true, though visible, soul or spirit in things.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The petulant, boyish Cupid of Apuleius was become more like that “Lord, of terrible aspect,” who stood at Dante’s bedside and wept, or had at least grown to the manly earnestness of the Erôs of Praxiteles.

waysnounUS /weɪz/

structure consisting of a sloping way down to the water from the place where ships are built or repaired

From this reading EUPHUISM So the famous story composed itself in the memory of Marius, with an expression changed in some ways from the original and on the whole graver.

weptverbUS /wept/

inflected form of “weep” — shed tears because of sadness, rage, or pain

From this reading The petulant, boyish Cupid of Apuleius was become more like that “Lord, of terrible aspect,” who stood at Dante’s bedside and wept, or had at least grown to the manly earnestness of the Erôs of Praxiteles.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading In contrast with that ideal, in all the pure brilliancy, and as it were in the happy light, of youth and morning and the springtide, men’s actual loves, with which at many points the book brings one into close contact, might appear to him, like the general tenor of their lives, to be somewhat mean and sordid.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading The petulant, boyish Cupid of Apuleius was become more like that “Lord, of terrible aspect,” who stood at Dante’s bedside and wept, or had at least grown to the manly earnestness of the Erôs of Praxiteles.

wholeadjectiveUS /hoʊl/

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

From this reading EUPHUISM So the famous story composed itself in the memory of Marius, with an expression changed in some ways from the original and on the whole graver.

whollyadverbUS /ˈhoʊli/

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading Set in relief amid the coarser matter of the book, this episode of Cupid and Psyche served to combine many lines of meditation, already familiar to Marius, into the ideal of a perfect imaginative love, centered upon a type of beauty entirely flawless and clean—an ideal which never wholly faded from his thoughts, though he valued it at various times in different degrees.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading EUPHUISM So the famous story composed itself in the memory of Marius, with an expression changed in some ways from the original and on the whole graver.

youthnounUS /juːθ/

a young person (especially a young man or boy)

From this reading In contrast with that ideal, in all the pure brilliancy, and as it were in the happy light, of youth and morning and the springtide, men’s actual loves, with which at many points the book brings one into close contact, might appear to him, like the general tenor of their lives, to be somewhat mean and sordid.

Chapter 6 of Marius the Epicurean — Volume 1 by Walter Pater holds 115 sentences, grouped into 23 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 6 of Marius the Epicurean — Volume 1 contain?

Chapter 6 holds 115 sentences of Marius the Epicurean — Volume 1, unabridged, divided into 23 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 6 of Marius the Epicurean — Volume 1 by Walter Pater exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 115 sentences, grouped into 23 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 6 of Marius the Epicurean — Volume 1?

Work through the 23 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 23 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 6 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 6 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 Marius the Epicurean — Volume 1

Common questions about reading Marius the Epicurean — Volume 1 by Walter Pater on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Marius the Epicurean — Volume 1?

Yes. All 1586 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #4057 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Marius the Epicurean — Volume 1 is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #4057, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Marius the Epicurean — Volume 1 take to read?

About 132 minutes of reading across 318 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Marius the Epicurean — Volume 1 section by section

How to work through Marius the Epicurean — Volume 1 section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 14 chapters of Marius the Epicurean — Volume 1 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 Marius the Epicurean — Volume 1

Words and structures a reader meets early in Marius the Epicurean — Volume 1, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Triumph
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Marius the Epicurean — Volume 1; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Christianity
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Marius the Epicurean — Volume 1; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Religion
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Marius the Epicurean — Volume 1; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Lingered
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Marius the Epicurean — Volume 1; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.