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Over the Teacups
Over the Teacups

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of Over the Teacups is here in full — 142 sentences across 29 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Over the Teacups
Context Illustration Reading 1/28 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Your incident is a typical example of cerebral induction from a source containing stored cerebricity.
I use this word, not to be found in my dictionaries, as expressing the brain-cell power corresponding to electricity.
Think how long it was before we had attained any real conception of the laws that govern the wonderful agent, which now works in harness with the other trained and subdued forces!
It is natural that cerebricity should be the last of the unweighable agencies to be understood.
The human eye had seen heaven and earth and all that in them is before it saw itself as our instruments enable us to see it.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Over the Teacups

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of Over the Teacups is here in full — 142 sentences across 29 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/28 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Your incident is a typical example of cerebral induction from a source containing stored cerebricity.
Line 2
I use this word, not to be found in my dictionaries, as expressing the brain-cell power corresponding to electricity.
Line 3
Think how long it was before we had attained any real conception of the laws that govern the wonderful agent, which now works in harness with the other trained and subdued forces!
Line 4
It is natural that cerebricity should be the last of the unweighable agencies to be understood.
Line 5
The human eye had seen heaven and earth and all that in them is before it saw itself as our instruments enable us to see it.
/ðə ˈhjuːmən aɪ hæd siːn ˈhevən ənd ɜːrθ ənd ɔːl ðæt ɪn ðem ɪz bɪˈfɔːr ɪt sɔː ˌɪtˈself æz ˈaʊər ˈɪnstrəmənts eˈneɪbəl ʌs tuː siː ɪt/

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.

agencies noun US /ˈeɪdʒənsiz/

plural of “agency” — an administrative unit of government

From this reading “It is natural that cerebricity should be the last of the unweighable agencies to be understood.”

cerebral adjective US /ˈserəbrəl/

involving intelligence rather than emotions or instinct

From this reading ““Your incident is a typical example of cerebral induction from a source containing stored cerebricity.”

corresponding adjective US /ˌkɔːrəˈspɑːndɪŋ/

accompanying

From this reading “I use this word, not to be found in my dictionaries, as expressing the brain-cell power corresponding to electricity.”

dictionaries noun US /ˈdɪkʃəneriz/

plural of “dictionary” — a reference book containing an alphabetical list of words with information about them

From this reading “I use this word, not to be found in my dictionaries, as expressing the brain-cell power corresponding to electricity.”

electricity noun US /ɪˌlekˈtrɪsəti/

a physical phenomenon associated with stationary or moving electrons and protons

From this reading “I use this word, not to be found in my dictionaries, as expressing the brain-cell power corresponding to electricity.”

govern verb US /ˈɡʌvərn/

bring into conformity with rules or principles or usage; impose regulations

From this reading “Think how long it was before we had attained any real conception of the laws that govern the wonderful agent, which now works in harness with the other trained and subdued forces!”

induction noun US /ˌɪnˈdʌkʃən/

a formal entry into an organization or position or office

From this reading ““Your incident is a typical example of cerebral induction from a source containing stored cerebricity.”

typical adjective US /ˈtɪpəkəl/

exhibiting the qualities or characteristics that identify a group or kind or category

From this reading ““Your incident is a typical example of cerebral induction from a source containing stored cerebricity.”

All words in this reading · 79

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 “Your incident is a typical example of cerebral induction from a source containing stored cerebricity.

agenciesnounUS /ˈeɪdʒənsiz/

plural of “agency” — an administrative unit of government

From this reading It is natural that cerebricity should be the last of the unweighable agencies to be understood.

agentnounUS /ˈeɪdʒənt/

an active and efficient cause; capable of producing a certain effect

From this reading Think how long it was before we had attained any real conception of the laws that govern the wonderful agent, which now works in harness with the other trained and subdued forces!

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 eye had seen heaven and earth and all that in them is before it saw itself as our instruments enable us to see it.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Think how long it was before we had attained any real conception of the laws that govern the wonderful agent, which now works in harness with the other trained and subdued forces!

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading Think how long it was before we had attained any real conception of the laws that govern the wonderful agent, which now works in harness with the other trained and subdued forces!

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading I use this word, not to be found in my dictionaries, as expressing the brain-cell power corresponding to electricity.

attainedadjectiveUS /əˈteɪnd/

achieved or reached

From this reading Think how long it was before we had attained any real conception of the laws that govern the wonderful agent, which now works in harness with the other trained and subdued forces!

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading I use this word, not to be found in my dictionaries, as expressing the brain-cell power corresponding to electricity.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Think how long it was before we had attained any real conception of the laws that govern the wonderful agent, which now works in harness with the other trained and subdued forces!

brain-cell

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

From this reading I use this word, not to be found in my dictionaries, as expressing the brain-cell power corresponding to electricity.

cerebraladjectiveUS /ˈserəbrəl/

involving intelligence rather than emotions or instinct

From this reading “Your incident is a typical example of cerebral induction from a source containing stored cerebricity.

cerebricity

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

From this reading “Your incident is a typical example of cerebral induction from a source containing stored cerebricity.

conceptionnounUS /kənˈsepʃən/

an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances

From this reading Think how long it was before we had attained any real conception of the laws that govern the wonderful agent, which now works in harness with the other trained and subdued forces!

containingverbUS /kənˈteɪnɪŋ/

-ing form of “contain” — include or contain; have as a component

From this reading “Your incident is a typical example of cerebral induction from a source containing stored cerebricity.

correspondingadjectiveUS /ˌkɔːrəˈspɑːndɪŋ/

accompanying

From this reading I use this word, not to be found in my dictionaries, as expressing the brain-cell power corresponding to electricity.

dictionariesnounUS /ˈdɪkʃəneriz/

plural of “dictionary” — a reference book containing an alphabetical list of words with information about them

From this reading I use this word, not to be found in my dictionaries, as expressing the brain-cell power corresponding to electricity.

earthnounUS /ɜːrθ/

the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

From this reading The human eye had seen heaven and earth and all that in them is before it saw itself as our instruments enable us to see it.

electricitynounUS /ɪˌlekˈtrɪsəti/

a physical phenomenon associated with stationary or moving electrons and protons

From this reading I use this word, not to be found in my dictionaries, as expressing the brain-cell power corresponding to electricity.

enableverbUS /eˈneɪbəl/

render capable or able for some task

From this reading The human eye had seen heaven and earth and all that in them is before it saw itself as our instruments enable us to see it.

examplenounUS /ɪɡˈzæmpəl/

an item of information that is typical of a class or group

From this reading “Your incident is a typical example of cerebral induction from a source containing stored cerebricity.

expressingverbUS /ɪkˈspresɪŋ/

-ing form of “express” — give expression to

From this reading I use this word, not to be found in my dictionaries, as expressing the brain-cell power corresponding to electricity.

eyenounUS /aɪ/

the organ of sight

From this reading The human eye had seen heaven and earth and all that in them is before it saw itself as our instruments enable us to see it.

forcesnounUS /ˈfɔːrsɪz/

plural of “force” — a powerful effect or influence

From this reading Think how long it was before we had attained any real conception of the laws that govern the wonderful agent, which now works in harness with the other trained and subdued forces!

foundverbUS /faʊnd/

set up or found

From this reading I use this word, not to be found in my dictionaries, as expressing the brain-cell power corresponding to electricity.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading “Your incident is a typical example of cerebral induction from a source containing stored cerebricity.

governverbUS /ˈɡʌvərn/

bring into conformity with rules or principles or usage; impose regulations

From this reading Think how long it was before we had attained any real conception of the laws that govern the wonderful agent, which now works in harness with the other trained and subdued forces!

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Think how long it was before we had attained any real conception of the laws that govern the wonderful agent, which now works in harness with the other trained and subdued forces!

harnessverbUS /ˈhɑːrnəs/

put a harness

From this reading Think how long it was before we had attained any real conception of the laws that govern the wonderful agent, which now works in harness with the other trained and subdued forces!

heavennounUS /ˈhevən/

any place of complete bliss and delight and peace

From this reading The human eye had seen heaven and earth and all that in them is before it saw itself as our instruments enable us to see it.

how

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

From this reading Think how long it was before we had attained any real conception of the laws that govern the wonderful agent, which now works in harness with the other trained and subdued forces!

humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/

characteristic of humanity

From this reading The human eye had seen heaven and earth and all that in them is before it saw itself as our instruments enable us to see it.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I use this word, not to be found in my dictionaries, as expressing the brain-cell power corresponding to electricity.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading I use this word, not to be found in my dictionaries, as expressing the brain-cell power corresponding to electricity.

incidentnounUS /ˈɪnsədənt/

a single distinct event

From this reading “Your incident is a typical example of cerebral induction from a source containing stored cerebricity.

inductionnounUS /ˌɪnˈdʌkʃən/

a formal entry into an organization or position or office

From this reading “Your incident is a typical example of cerebral induction from a source containing stored cerebricity.

instrumentsnounUS /ˈɪnstrəmənts/

plural of “instrument” — a device that requires skill for proper use

From this reading The human eye had seen heaven and earth and all that in them is before it saw itself as our instruments enable us to see it.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading “Your incident is a typical example of cerebral induction from a source containing stored cerebricity.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Think how long it was before we had attained any real conception of the laws that govern the wonderful agent, which now works in harness with the other trained and subdued forces!

itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading The human eye had seen heaven and earth and all that in them is before it saw itself as our instruments enable us to see it.

lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading It is natural that cerebricity should be the last of the unweighable agencies to be understood.

lawsnounUS /lɔːz/

the first of three divisions of the Hebrew Scriptures comprising the first five books of the Hebrew Bible considered as a unit

From this reading Think how long it was before we had attained any real conception of the laws that govern the wonderful agent, which now works in harness with the other trained and subdued forces!

longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading Think how long it was before we had attained any real conception of the laws that govern the wonderful agent, which now works in harness with the other trained and subdued forces!

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I use this word, not to be found in my dictionaries, as expressing the brain-cell power corresponding to electricity.

naturaladjectiveUS /ˈnætʃərəl/

in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature

From this reading It is natural that cerebricity should be the last of the unweighable agencies to be understood.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading I use this word, not to be found in my dictionaries, as expressing the brain-cell power corresponding to electricity.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

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

From this reading Think how long it was before we had attained any real conception of the laws that govern the wonderful agent, which now works in harness with the other trained and subdued forces!

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “Your incident is a typical example of cerebral induction from a source containing stored cerebricity.

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Think how long it was before we had attained any real conception of the laws that govern the wonderful agent, which now works in harness with the other trained and subdued forces!

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading The human eye had seen heaven and earth and all that in them is before it saw itself as our instruments enable us to see it.

powernounUS /ˈpaʊər/

possession of controlling influence

From this reading I use this word, not to be found in my dictionaries, as expressing the brain-cell power corresponding to electricity.

realadjectiveUS /riːl/

being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory

From this reading Think how long it was before we had attained any real conception of the laws that govern the wonderful agent, which now works in harness with the other trained and subdued forces!

sawverbUS /sɔː/

cut with a saw

From this reading The human eye had seen heaven and earth and all that in them is before it saw itself as our instruments enable us to see it.

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading The human eye had seen heaven and earth and all that in them is before it saw itself as our instruments enable us to see it.

seenverbUS /siːn/

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading The human eye had seen heaven and earth and all that in them is before it saw itself as our instruments enable us to see it.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading It is natural that cerebricity should be the last of the unweighable agencies to be understood.

sourcenounUS /sɔːrs/

the place where something begins, where it springs into being

From this reading “Your incident is a typical example of cerebral induction from a source containing stored cerebricity.

storedverbUS /stɔːrd/

past form of “store” — keep or lay aside for future use

From this reading “Your incident is a typical example of cerebral induction from a source containing stored cerebricity.

subduedadjectiveUS /səbˈduːd/

in a softened tone

From this reading Think how long it was before we had attained any real conception of the laws that govern the wonderful agent, which now works in harness with the other trained and subdued forces!

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Think how long it was before we had attained any real conception of the laws that govern the wonderful agent, which now works in harness with the other trained and subdued forces!

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading I use this word, not to be found in my dictionaries, as expressing the brain-cell power corresponding to electricity.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The human eye had seen heaven and earth and all that in them is before it saw itself as our instruments enable us to see it.

ThinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading Think how long it was before we had attained any real conception of the laws that govern the wonderful agent, which now works in harness with the other trained and subdued forces!

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading I use this word, not to be found in my dictionaries, as expressing the brain-cell power corresponding to electricity.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I use this word, not to be found in my dictionaries, as expressing the brain-cell power corresponding to electricity.

trainedadjectiveUS /treɪnd/

shaped or conditioned or disciplined by training; often used as a combining form

From this reading Think how long it was before we had attained any real conception of the laws that govern the wonderful agent, which now works in harness with the other trained and subdued forces!

typicaladjectiveUS /ˈtɪpəkəl/

exhibiting the qualities or characteristics that identify a group or kind or category

From this reading “Your incident is a typical example of cerebral induction from a source containing stored cerebricity.

understoodadjectiveUS /ˌʌndərˈstʊd/

fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation

From this reading It is natural that cerebricity should be the last of the unweighable agencies to be understood.

unweighable

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

From this reading It is natural that cerebricity should be the last of the unweighable agencies to be understood.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

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

From this reading The human eye had seen heaven and earth and all that in them is before it saw itself as our instruments enable us to see it.

usenounUS /juːs/

the act of using

From this reading I use this word, not to be found in my dictionaries, as expressing the brain-cell power corresponding to electricity.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Think how long it was before we had attained any real conception of the laws that govern the wonderful agent, which now works in harness with the other trained and subdued forces!

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Think how long it was before we had attained any real conception of the laws that govern the wonderful agent, which now works in harness with the other trained and subdued forces!

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Think how long it was before we had attained any real conception of the laws that govern the wonderful agent, which now works in harness with the other trained and subdued forces!

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Think how long it was before we had attained any real conception of the laws that govern the wonderful agent, which now works in harness with the other trained and subdued forces!

wonderfuladjectiveUS /ˈwʌndərfəl/

extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers

From this reading Think how long it was before we had attained any real conception of the laws that govern the wonderful agent, which now works in harness with the other trained and subdued forces!

wordnounUS /wɜːrd/

a unit of language that native speakers can identify

From this reading I use this word, not to be found in my dictionaries, as expressing the brain-cell power corresponding to electricity.

worksnounUS /wɜːrks/

buildings for carrying on industrial labor

From this reading Think how long it was before we had attained any real conception of the laws that govern the wonderful agent, which now works in harness with the other trained and subdued forces!

YourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Your incident is a typical example of cerebral induction from a source containing stored cerebricity.

Chapter 2 of Over the Teacups by Oliver Wendell Holmes holds 142 sentences, grouped into 29 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 2 of Over the Teacups contain?

Chapter 2 holds 142 sentences of Over the Teacups, unabridged, divided into 29 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of Over the Teacups by Oliver Wendell Holmes exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 142 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 2 of Over the Teacups?

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 2 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 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 Over the Teacups

Common questions about reading Over the Teacups by Oliver Wendell Holmes on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Over the Teacups?

Yes. All 4041 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #2689 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Over the Teacups is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #2689, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Over the Teacups take to read?

About 336 minutes of reading across 809 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Over the Teacups section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

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  3. Listen and tap

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Vocabulary met early in Over the Teacups

Words and structures a reader meets early in Over the Teacups, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Preface
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Over the Teacups; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Series
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Over the Teacups; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Papers
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Over the Teacups; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Received
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Over the Teacups; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.