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Nature
Nature

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of Nature is here in full — 23 sentences across 5 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Nature
Context Illustration Reading 1/4 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
COMMODITY.
WHOEVER considers the final cause of the world, will discern a multitude of uses that result.
They all admit of being thrown into one of the following classes; Commodity; Beauty; Language; and Discipline.
Under the general name of Commodity, I rank all those advantages which our senses owe to nature.
This, of course, is a benefit which is temporary and mediate, not ultimate, like its service to the soul.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Nature

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of Nature is here in full — 23 sentences across 5 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/4 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
COMMODITY.
/kəˈmɑːdəti/
Line 2
WHOEVER considers the final cause of the world, will discern a multitude of uses that result.
Line 3
They all admit of being thrown into one of the following classes; Commodity; Beauty; Language; and Discipline.
/ðeɪ ɔːl ədˈmɪt ʌv ˈbiːɪŋ θroʊn ˈɪntuː wʌn ʌv ðə ˈfɑːloʊɪŋ ˈklæsəz kəˈmɑːdəti ˈbjuːti ˈlæŋɡwədʒ ənd ˈdɪsəplən/
Line 4
Under the general name of Commodity, I rank all those advantages which our senses owe to nature.
/ˈʌndər ðə ˈdʒenərəl neɪm ʌv kəˈmɑːdəti aɪ ræŋk ɔːl ðoʊz ædˈvæntɪdʒɪz wɪtʃ ˈaʊər ˈsensɪz oʊ tuː ˈneɪtʃər/
Line 5
This, of course, is a benefit which is temporary and mediate, not ultimate, like its service to the soul.
/ðɪs ʌv kɔːrs ɪz ə ˈbenəfɪt wɪtʃ ɪz ˈtempəreri ənd ˈmiːdieɪt nɑːt ˈʌltəmət laɪk ɪts ˈsɜːrvəs tuː ðə soʊl/

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.

commodity noun US /kəˈmɑːdəti/

articles of commerce

From this reading “COMMODITY.”

considers verb US /kənˈsɪdərz/

third-person singular of “consider” — deem to be

From this reading “WHOEVER considers the final cause of the world, will discern a multitude of uses that result.”

discern verb US /dɪˈsɜːrn/

detect with the senses

From this reading “WHOEVER considers the final cause of the world, will discern a multitude of uses that result.”

Discipline noun US /ˈdɪsəplən/

a branch of knowledge

From this reading “They all admit of being thrown into one of the following classes; Commodity; Beauty; Language; and Discipline.”

mediate verb US /ˈmiːdieɪt/

act between parties with a view to reconciling differences

From this reading “This, of course, is a benefit which is temporary and mediate, not ultimate, like its service to the soul.”

temporary adjective US /ˈtempəreri/

not permanent; not lasting

From this reading “This, of course, is a benefit which is temporary and mediate, not ultimate, like its service to the soul.”

ultimate adjective US /ˈʌltəmət/

furthest or highest in degree or order; utmost or extreme

From this reading “This, of course, is a benefit which is temporary and mediate, not ultimate, like its service to the soul.”

uses noun US /ˈjuːsəz/

plural of “use” — the act of using

From this reading “WHOEVER considers the final cause of the world, will discern a multitude of uses that result.”

All words in this reading · 53

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 WHOEVER considers the final cause of the world, will discern a multitude of uses that result.

admitverbUS /ədˈmɪt/

declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of

From this reading They all admit of being thrown into one of the following classes; Commodity; Beauty; Language; and Discipline.

advantagesnounUS /ædˈvæntɪdʒɪz/

plural of “advantage” — the quality of having a superior or more favorable position

From this reading Under the general name of Commodity, I rank all those advantages which our senses owe to nature.

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 They all admit of being thrown into one of the following classes; Commodity; Beauty; Language; and Discipline.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading They all admit of being thrown into one of the following classes; Commodity; Beauty; Language; and Discipline.

BeautynounUS /ˈbjuːti/

the qualities that give pleasure to the senses

From this reading They all admit of being thrown into one of the following classes; Commodity; Beauty; Language; and Discipline.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading They all admit of being thrown into one of the following classes; Commodity; Beauty; Language; and Discipline.

benefitnounUS /ˈbenəfɪt/

financial assistance in time of need

From this reading This, of course, is a benefit which is temporary and mediate, not ultimate, like its service to the soul.

causenounUS /kɑːz/

events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something

From this reading WHOEVER considers the final cause of the world, will discern a multitude of uses that result.

classesnounUS /ˈklæsəz/

plural of “class” — a collection of things sharing a common attribute

From this reading They all admit of being thrown into one of the following classes; Commodity; Beauty; Language; and Discipline.

COMMODITYnounUS /kəˈmɑːdəti/

articles of commerce

From this reading COMMODITY.

considersverbUS /kənˈsɪdərz/

third-person singular of “consider” — deem to be

From this reading WHOEVER considers the final cause of the world, will discern a multitude of uses that result.

coursenounUS /kɔːrs/

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading This, of course, is a benefit which is temporary and mediate, not ultimate, like its service to the soul.

discernverbUS /dɪˈsɜːrn/

detect with the senses

From this reading WHOEVER considers the final cause of the world, will discern a multitude of uses that result.

DisciplinenounUS /ˈdɪsəplən/

a branch of knowledge

From this reading They all admit of being thrown into one of the following classes; Commodity; Beauty; Language; and Discipline.

finaladjectiveUS /ˈfaɪnəl/

occurring at or forming an end or termination

From this reading WHOEVER considers the final cause of the world, will discern a multitude of uses that result.

followingadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːloʊɪŋ/

about to be mentioned or specified

From this reading They all admit of being thrown into one of the following classes; Commodity; Beauty; Language; and Discipline.

generaladjectiveUS /ˈdʒenərəl/

applying to all or most members of a category or group

From this reading Under the general name of Commodity, I rank all those advantages which our senses owe to nature.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Under the general name of Commodity, I rank all those advantages which our senses owe to nature.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading They all admit of being thrown into one of the following classes; Commodity; Beauty; Language; and Discipline.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading This, of course, is a benefit which is temporary and mediate, not ultimate, like its service to the soul.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading This, of course, is a benefit which is temporary and mediate, not ultimate, like its service to the soul.

LanguagenounUS /ˈlæŋɡwədʒ/

a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols

From this reading They all admit of being thrown into one of the following classes; Commodity; Beauty; Language; and Discipline.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading This, of course, is a benefit which is temporary and mediate, not ultimate, like its service to the soul.

mediateverbUS /ˈmiːdieɪt/

act between parties with a view to reconciling differences

From this reading This, of course, is a benefit which is temporary and mediate, not ultimate, like its service to the soul.

multitudenounUS /ˈmʌltətuːd/

a large indefinite number

From this reading WHOEVER considers the final cause of the world, will discern a multitude of uses that result.

nameverbUS /neɪm/

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading Under the general name of Commodity, I rank all those advantages which our senses owe to nature.

naturenounUS /ˈneɪtʃər/

the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized

From this reading Under the general name of Commodity, I rank all those advantages which our senses owe to nature.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading This, of course, is a benefit which is temporary and mediate, not ultimate, like its service to the soul.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading WHOEVER considers the final cause of the world, will discern a multitude of uses that result.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading They all admit of being thrown into one of the following classes; Commodity; Beauty; Language; and Discipline.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Under the general name of Commodity, I rank all those advantages which our senses owe to nature.

oweverbUS /oʊ/

be obliged to pay or repay

From this reading Under the general name of Commodity, I rank all those advantages which our senses owe to nature.

ranknounUS /ræŋk/

a row or line of people (especially soldiers or police) standing abreast of one another

From this reading Under the general name of Commodity, I rank all those advantages which our senses owe to nature.

resultnounUS /rɪˈzʌlt/

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading WHOEVER considers the final cause of the world, will discern a multitude of uses that result.

sensesnounUS /ˈsensɪz/

plural of “sens” — street names for marijuana

From this reading Under the general name of Commodity, I rank all those advantages which our senses owe to nature.

servicenounUS /ˈsɜːrvəs/

work done by one person or group that benefits another

From this reading This, of course, is a benefit which is temporary and mediate, not ultimate, like its service to the soul.

soulnounUS /soʊl/

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

From this reading This, of course, is a benefit which is temporary and mediate, not ultimate, like its service to the soul.

temporaryadjectiveUS /ˈtempəreri/

not permanent; not lasting

From this reading This, of course, is a benefit which is temporary and mediate, not ultimate, like its service to the soul.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading WHOEVER considers the final cause of the world, will discern a multitude of uses that result.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading WHOEVER considers the final cause of the world, will discern a multitude of uses that result.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading They all admit of being thrown into one of the following classes; Commodity; Beauty; Language; and Discipline.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading This, of course, is a benefit which is temporary and mediate, not ultimate, like its service to the soul.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading Under the general name of Commodity, I rank all those advantages which our senses owe to nature.

thrownadjectiveUS /θroʊn/

caused to fall to the ground

From this reading They all admit of being thrown into one of the following classes; Commodity; Beauty; Language; and Discipline.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Under the general name of Commodity, I rank all those advantages which our senses owe to nature.

ultimateadjectiveUS /ˈʌltəmət/

furthest or highest in degree or order; utmost or extreme

From this reading This, of course, is a benefit which is temporary and mediate, not ultimate, like its service to the soul.

UnderprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Under the general name of Commodity, I rank all those advantages which our senses owe to nature.

usesnounUS /ˈjuːsəz/

plural of “use” — the act of using

From this reading WHOEVER considers the final cause of the world, will discern a multitude of uses that result.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Under the general name of Commodity, I rank all those advantages which our senses owe to nature.

WHOEVER

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

From this reading WHOEVER considers the final cause of the world, will discern a multitude of uses that result.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading WHOEVER considers the final cause of the world, will discern a multitude of uses that result.

worldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading WHOEVER considers the final cause of the world, will discern a multitude of uses that result.

Chapter 3 of Nature by Ralph Waldo Emerson holds 23 sentences, grouped into 5 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 3 of Nature contain?

Chapter 3 holds 23 sentences of Nature, unabridged, divided into 5 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 3 of Nature by Ralph Waldo Emerson exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 23 sentences, grouped into 5 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 3 of Nature?

Work through the 5 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 5 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 3 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 3 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 Nature

Common questions about reading Nature by Ralph Waldo Emerson on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Nature?

Yes. All 782 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #29433 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Nature is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #29433, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Nature take to read?

About 65 minutes of reading across 157 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Nature section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 9 chapters of Nature 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 Nature

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

Subtle
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Nature; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Chain
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Nature; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Countless
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Nature; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Rings
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Nature; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.