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Miscellaneous Writings and Speeches — Volume 2
Miscellaneous Writings and Speeches — Volume 2

Chapter XXXI · Chapter 31

Chapter 31 of Miscellaneous Writings and Speeches — Volume 2 is here in full — 145 sentences across 29 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/29 · 5 lines
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With such feelings we read this book, and compared it with other accounts of the events in which Barere bore a part.
It is now our duty to express the opinion to which this investigation has led us.
Our opinion then is this: that Barere approached nearer than any person mentioned in history or fiction, whether man or devil, to the idea of consummate and universal depravity.
In him the qualities which are the proper objects of hatred, and the qualities which are the proper objects of contempt, preserve an exquisite and absolute harmony.
In almost every particular sort of wickedness he has had rivals.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Miscellaneous Writings and Speeches — Volume 2

Chapter XXXI · Chapter 31

Chapter 31 of Miscellaneous Writings and Speeches — Volume 2 is here in full — 145 sentences across 29 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/29 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
With such feelings we read this book, and compared it with other accounts of the events in which Barere bore a part.
Line 2
It is now our duty to express the opinion to which this investigation has led us.
/ɪt ɪz naʊ ˈaʊər ˈduːti tuː ɪkˈspres ðə əˈpɪnjən tuː wɪtʃ ðɪs ˌɪnvestəˈɡeɪʃən hæz led ʌs/
Line 3
Our opinion then is this: that Barere approached nearer than any person mentioned in history or fiction, whether man or devil, to the idea of consummate and universal depravity.
Line 4
In him the qualities which are the proper objects of hatred, and the qualities which are the proper objects of contempt, preserve an exquisite and absolute harmony.
/ɪn hɪm ðə ˈkwɑːlətiz wɪtʃ ɑːr ðə ˈprɑːpər ˈɑːbdʒekts ʌv ˈheɪtrəd ənd ðə ˈkwɑːlətiz wɪtʃ ɑːr ðə ˈprɑːpər ˈɑːbdʒekts ʌv kənˈtempt prəˈzɜːrv æn ˈekskwəzət ənd ˈæbsəluːt ˈhɑːrməni/
Line 5
In almost every particular sort of wickedness he has had rivals.
/ɪn ˈɔːlmoʊst ˈevəri pərˈtɪkjələr sɔːrt ʌv ˈwɪkədnəs hiː hæz hæd ˈraɪvəlz/

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.

consummate verb US /ˈkɑːnsəmət/

fulfill sexually

From this reading “Our opinion then is this: that Barere approached nearer than any person mentioned in history or fiction, whether man or devil, to the idea of consummate and universal depravity.”

depravity noun US /dɪˈprævəti/

moral perversion; impairment of virtue and moral principles

From this reading “Our opinion then is this: that Barere approached nearer than any person mentioned in history or fiction, whether man or devil, to the idea of consummate and universal depravity.”

fiction noun US /ˈfɪkʃən/

a literary work based on the imagination and not necessarily on fact

From this reading “Our opinion then is this: that Barere approached nearer than any person mentioned in history or fiction, whether man or devil, to the idea of consummate and universal depravity.”

harmony noun US /ˈhɑːrməni/

compatibility in opinion and action

From this reading “In him the qualities which are the proper objects of hatred, and the qualities which are the proper objects of contempt, preserve an exquisite and absolute harmony.”

investigation noun US /ˌɪnvestəˈɡeɪʃən/

an inquiry into unfamiliar or questionable activities

From this reading “It is now our duty to express the opinion to which this investigation has led us.”

preserve verb US /prəˈzɜːrv/

keep or maintain in unaltered condition; cause to remain or last

From this reading “In him the qualities which are the proper objects of hatred, and the qualities which are the proper objects of contempt, preserve an exquisite and absolute harmony.”

rivals noun US /ˈraɪvəlz/

plural of “rival” — the contestant you hope to defeat

From this reading “In almost every particular sort of wickedness he has had rivals.”

wickedness noun US /ˈwɪkədnəs/

morally objectionable behavior

From this reading “In almost every particular sort of wickedness he has had rivals.”

All words in this reading · 70

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 With such feelings we read this book, and compared it with other accounts of the events in which Barere bore a part.

absoluteadjectiveUS /ˈæbsəluːt/

perfect or complete or pure

From this reading In him the qualities which are the proper objects of hatred, and the qualities which are the proper objects of contempt, preserve an exquisite and absolute harmony.

accountsnounUS /əˈkaʊnts/

plural of “account” — a record or narrative description of past events

From this reading With such feelings we read this book, and compared it with other accounts of the events in which Barere bore a part.

almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading In almost every particular sort of wickedness he has had rivals.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading In him the qualities which are the proper objects of hatred, and the qualities which are the proper objects of contempt, preserve an exquisite and absolute harmony.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading With such feelings we read this book, and compared it with other accounts of the events in which Barere bore a part.

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading Our opinion then is this: that Barere approached nearer than any person mentioned in history or fiction, whether man or devil, to the idea of consummate and universal depravity.

approachedverbUS /əˈproʊtʃt/

past form of “approach” — move towards

From this reading Our opinion then is this: that Barere approached nearer than any person mentioned in history or fiction, whether man or devil, to the idea of consummate and universal depravity.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading In him the qualities which are the proper objects of hatred, and the qualities which are the proper objects of contempt, preserve an exquisite and absolute harmony.

Barere

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

From this reading With such feelings we read this book, and compared it with other accounts of the events in which Barere bore a part.

booknounUS /bʊk/

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

From this reading With such feelings we read this book, and compared it with other accounts of the events in which Barere bore a part.

boreverbUS /bɔːr/

cause to be bored

From this reading With such feelings we read this book, and compared it with other accounts of the events in which Barere bore a part.

comparedverbUS /kəmˈperd/

past form of “compare” — examine and note the similarities or differences of

From this reading With such feelings we read this book, and compared it with other accounts of the events in which Barere bore a part.

consummateverbUS /ˈkɑːnsəmət/

fulfill sexually

From this reading Our opinion then is this: that Barere approached nearer than any person mentioned in history or fiction, whether man or devil, to the idea of consummate and universal depravity.

contemptnounUS /kənˈtempt/

lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike

From this reading In him the qualities which are the proper objects of hatred, and the qualities which are the proper objects of contempt, preserve an exquisite and absolute harmony.

depravitynounUS /dɪˈprævəti/

moral perversion; impairment of virtue and moral principles

From this reading Our opinion then is this: that Barere approached nearer than any person mentioned in history or fiction, whether man or devil, to the idea of consummate and universal depravity.

devilnounUS /ˈdevəl/

(Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions) chief spirit of evil and adversary of God; tempter of mankind; master of Hell

From this reading Our opinion then is this: that Barere approached nearer than any person mentioned in history or fiction, whether man or devil, to the idea of consummate and universal depravity.

dutynounUS /ˈduːti/

the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force

From this reading It is now our duty to express the opinion to which this investigation has led us.

eventsnounUS /ɪˈvents/

plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time

From this reading With such feelings we read this book, and compared it with other accounts of the events in which Barere bore a part.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading In almost every particular sort of wickedness he has had rivals.

expressverbUS /ɪkˈspres/

give expression to

From this reading It is now our duty to express the opinion to which this investigation has led us.

exquisiteadjectiveUS /ˈekskwəzət/

intense or sharp

From this reading In him the qualities which are the proper objects of hatred, and the qualities which are the proper objects of contempt, preserve an exquisite and absolute harmony.

feelingsnounUS /ˈfiːlɪŋz/

emotional or moral sensitivity (especially in relation to personal principles or dignity)

From this reading With such feelings we read this book, and compared it with other accounts of the events in which Barere bore a part.

fictionnounUS /ˈfɪkʃən/

a literary work based on the imagination and not necessarily on fact

From this reading Our opinion then is this: that Barere approached nearer than any person mentioned in history or fiction, whether man or devil, to the idea of consummate and universal depravity.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading In almost every particular sort of wickedness he has had rivals.

harmonynounUS /ˈhɑːrməni/

compatibility in opinion and action

From this reading In him the qualities which are the proper objects of hatred, and the qualities which are the proper objects of contempt, preserve an exquisite and absolute harmony.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading It is now our duty to express the opinion to which this investigation has led us.

hatrednounUS /ˈheɪtrəd/

the emotion of intense dislike; a feeling of dislike so strong that it demands action

From this reading In him the qualities which are the proper objects of hatred, and the qualities which are the proper objects of contempt, preserve an exquisite and absolute harmony.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading In almost every particular sort of wickedness he has had rivals.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading In him the qualities which are the proper objects of hatred, and the qualities which are the proper objects of contempt, preserve an exquisite and absolute harmony.

historynounUS /ˈhɪstəri/

the aggregate of past events

From this reading Our opinion then is this: that Barere approached nearer than any person mentioned in history or fiction, whether man or devil, to the idea of consummate and universal depravity.

ideanounUS /aɪˈdiːə/

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

From this reading Our opinion then is this: that Barere approached nearer than any person mentioned in history or fiction, whether man or devil, to the idea of consummate and universal depravity.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading With such feelings we read this book, and compared it with other accounts of the events in which Barere bore a part.

investigationnounUS /ˌɪnvestəˈɡeɪʃən/

an inquiry into unfamiliar or questionable activities

From this reading It is now our duty to express the opinion to which this investigation has led us.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading It is now our duty to express the opinion to which this investigation has led us.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading With such feelings we read this book, and compared it with other accounts of the events in which Barere bore a part.

lednounUS /led/

diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used

From this reading It is now our duty to express the opinion to which this investigation has led us.

mannounUS /mæn/

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

From this reading Our opinion then is this: that Barere approached nearer than any person mentioned in history or fiction, whether man or devil, to the idea of consummate and universal depravity.

mentionedverbUS /ˈmenʃənd/

past form of “mention” — make reference to

From this reading Our opinion then is this: that Barere approached nearer than any person mentioned in history or fiction, whether man or devil, to the idea of consummate and universal depravity.

neareradverbUS /ˈnɪrər/

(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance

From this reading Our opinion then is this: that Barere approached nearer than any person mentioned in history or fiction, whether man or devil, to the idea of consummate and universal depravity.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading It is now our duty to express the opinion to which this investigation has led us.

objectsnounUS /ˈɑːbdʒekts/

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

From this reading In him the qualities which are the proper objects of hatred, and the qualities which are the proper objects of contempt, preserve an exquisite and absolute harmony.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading With such feelings we read this book, and compared it with other accounts of the events in which Barere bore a part.

opinionnounUS /əˈpɪnjən/

a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty

From this reading It is now our duty to express the opinion to which this investigation has led us.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Our opinion then is this: that Barere approached nearer than any person mentioned in history or fiction, whether man or devil, to the idea of consummate and universal depravity.

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading With such feelings we read this book, and compared it with other accounts of the events in which Barere bore a part.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading It is now our duty to express the opinion to which this investigation has led us.

partnounUS /pɑːrt/

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading With such feelings we read this book, and compared it with other accounts of the events in which Barere bore a part.

particularadjectiveUS /pərˈtɪkjələr/

unique or specific to a person or thing or category

From this reading In almost every particular sort of wickedness he has had rivals.

personnounUS /ˈpɜːrsən/

a human being

From this reading Our opinion then is this: that Barere approached nearer than any person mentioned in history or fiction, whether man or devil, to the idea of consummate and universal depravity.

preserveverbUS /prəˈzɜːrv/

keep or maintain in unaltered condition; cause to remain or last

From this reading In him the qualities which are the proper objects of hatred, and the qualities which are the proper objects of contempt, preserve an exquisite and absolute harmony.

properadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːpər/

marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness

From this reading In him the qualities which are the proper objects of hatred, and the qualities which are the proper objects of contempt, preserve an exquisite and absolute harmony.

qualitiesnounUS /ˈkwɑːlətiz/

plural of “quality” — an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone

From this reading In him the qualities which are the proper objects of hatred, and the qualities which are the proper objects of contempt, preserve an exquisite and absolute harmony.

readverbUS /red/

interpret something that is written or printed

From this reading With such feelings we read this book, and compared it with other accounts of the events in which Barere bore a part.

rivalsnounUS /ˈraɪvəlz/

plural of “rival” — the contestant you hope to defeat

From this reading In almost every particular sort of wickedness he has had rivals.

sortnounUS /sɔːrt/

a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading In almost every particular sort of wickedness he has had rivals.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading With such feelings we read this book, and compared it with other accounts of the events in which Barere bore a part.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Our opinion then is this: that Barere approached nearer than any person mentioned in history or fiction, whether man or devil, to the idea of consummate and universal depravity.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Our opinion then is this: that Barere approached nearer than any person mentioned in history or fiction, whether man or devil, to the idea of consummate and universal depravity.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading With such feelings we read this book, and compared it with other accounts of the events in which Barere bore a part.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Our opinion then is this: that Barere approached nearer than any person mentioned in history or fiction, whether man or devil, to the idea of consummate and universal depravity.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading With such feelings we read this book, and compared it with other accounts of the events in which Barere bore a part.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It is now our duty to express the opinion to which this investigation has led us.

universaladjectiveUS /ˌjuːnəˈvɜːrsəl/

of worldwide scope or applicability

From this reading Our opinion then is this: that Barere approached nearer than any person mentioned in history or fiction, whether man or devil, to the idea of consummate and universal depravity.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading It is now our duty to express the opinion to which this investigation has led us.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading With such feelings we read this book, and compared it with other accounts of the events in which Barere bore a part.

whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading Our opinion then is this: that Barere approached nearer than any person mentioned in history or fiction, whether man or devil, to the idea of consummate and universal depravity.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading With such feelings we read this book, and compared it with other accounts of the events in which Barere bore a part.

wickednessnounUS /ˈwɪkədnəs/

morally objectionable behavior

From this reading In almost every particular sort of wickedness he has had rivals.

WithprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading With such feelings we read this book, and compared it with other accounts of the events in which Barere bore a part.

Chapter 31 of Miscellaneous Writings and Speeches — Volume 2 by Thomas Babington Macaulay, Baron Macaulay holds 145 sentences, grouped into 29 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 31 of Miscellaneous Writings and Speeches — Volume 2 contain?

Chapter 31 holds 145 sentences of Miscellaneous Writings and Speeches — Volume 2, unabridged, divided into 29 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 31 of Miscellaneous Writings and Speeches — Volume 2 by Thomas Babington Macaulay, Baron Macaulay exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 145 sentences, grouped into 29 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 31 of Miscellaneous Writings and Speeches — Volume 2?

Work through the 29 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 29 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 31 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 31 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.

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Vocabulary met early in Miscellaneous Writings and Speeches — Volume 2

Words and structures a reader meets early in Miscellaneous Writings and Speeches — Volume 2, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Miscellaneous
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Miscellaneous Writings and Speeches — Volume 2; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Writings
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Miscellaneous Writings and Speeches — Volume 2; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Speeches
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Miscellaneous Writings and Speeches — Volume 2; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Macaulay
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Miscellaneous Writings and Speeches — Volume 2; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.