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The Anatomy of Melancholy
The Anatomy of Melancholy

Chapter XVI · Chapter 16

Chapter 16 of The Anatomy of Melancholy is here in full — 921 sentences across 185 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/184 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
with many such inconveniences: say the best, she is a commanding servant; thou hadst better have taken a good housewife maid in her smock.
Since then there is such hazard, if thou be wise keep thyself as thou art, 'tis good to match, much better to be free.
[5801]—procreare liberos lepidissimum.
Hercle vero liberum esse, id multo est lepidius.
[5802]Art thou young? then match not yet; if old, match not at all.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Anatomy of Melancholy

Chapter XVI · Chapter 16

Chapter 16 of The Anatomy of Melancholy is here in full — 921 sentences across 185 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/184 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
with many such inconveniences: say the best, she is a commanding servant; thou hadst better have taken a good housewife maid in her smock.
Line 2
Since then there is such hazard, if thou be wise keep thyself as thou art, 'tis good to match, much better to be free.
Line 3
[5801]—procreare liberos lepidissimum.
Line 4
Hercle vero liberum esse, id multo est lepidius.
Line 5
[5802]Art thou young? then match not yet; if old, match not at all.

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.

commanding adjective US /kəˈmændɪŋ/

used of a height or viewpoint

From this reading “with many such inconveniences: say the best, she is a commanding servant; thou hadst better have taken a good housewife maid in her smock.”

est noun US /est/

standard time in the 5th time zone west of Greenwich, reckoned at the 75th meridian; used in the eastern United States

From this reading “Hercle vero liberum esse, id multo est lepidius.”

hazard noun US /ˈhæzərd/

a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune

From this reading “Since then there is such hazard, if thou be wise keep thyself as thou art, 'tis good to match, much better to be free.”

housewife noun US /ˈhaʊswaɪf/

a wife who manages a household while her husband earns the family income

From this reading “with many such inconveniences: say the best, she is a commanding servant; thou hadst better have taken a good housewife maid in her smock.”

inconveniences noun US /ˌɪnkənˈviːnjənsɪz/

plural of “inconvenience” — an inconvenient discomfort

From this reading “with many such inconveniences: say the best, she is a commanding servant; thou hadst better have taken a good housewife maid in her smock.”

maid noun US /meɪd/

a female domestic

From this reading “with many such inconveniences: say the best, she is a commanding servant; thou hadst better have taken a good housewife maid in her smock.”

match verb US /mætʃ/

be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics

From this reading “Since then there is such hazard, if thou be wise keep thyself as thou art, 'tis good to match, much better to be free.”

smock noun US /smɑːk/

a loose coverall (coat or frock) reaching down to the ankles

From this reading “with many such inconveniences: say the best, she is a commanding servant; thou hadst better have taken a good housewife maid in her smock.”

All words in this reading · 58

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.

5801

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

From this reading [5801]—procreare liberos lepidissimum.

5802

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

From this reading [5802]Art thou young? then match not yet; if old, match not at all.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading with many such inconveniences: say the best, she is a commanding servant; thou hadst better have taken a good housewife maid in her smock.

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 [5802]Art thou young? then match not yet; if old, match not at all.

artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/

an old form of “are”, used with “thou”

From this reading Since then there is such hazard, if thou be wise keep thyself as thou art, 'tis good to match, much better to be free.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Since then there is such hazard, if thou be wise keep thyself as thou art, 'tis good to match, much better to be free.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading [5802]Art thou young? then match not yet; if old, match not at all.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Since then there is such hazard, if thou be wise keep thyself as thou art, 'tis good to match, much better to be free.

bestnounUS /best/

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading with many such inconveniences: say the best, she is a commanding servant; thou hadst better have taken a good housewife maid in her smock.

betteradjectiveUS /ˈbetər/

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading with many such inconveniences: say the best, she is a commanding servant; thou hadst better have taken a good housewife maid in her smock.

commandingadjectiveUS /kəˈmændɪŋ/

used of a height or viewpoint

From this reading with many such inconveniences: say the best, she is a commanding servant; thou hadst better have taken a good housewife maid in her smock.

esse

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

From this reading Hercle vero liberum esse, id multo est lepidius.

estnounUS /est/

standard time in the 5th time zone west of Greenwich, reckoned at the 75th meridian; used in the eastern United States

From this reading Hercle vero liberum esse, id multo est lepidius.

freeverbUS /friː/

grant freedom to; free from confinement

From this reading Since then there is such hazard, if thou be wise keep thyself as thou art, 'tis good to match, much better to be free.

goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading with many such inconveniences: say the best, she is a commanding servant; thou hadst better have taken a good housewife maid in her smock.

hadst

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

From this reading with many such inconveniences: say the best, she is a commanding servant; thou hadst better have taken a good housewife maid in her smock.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading with many such inconveniences: say the best, she is a commanding servant; thou hadst better have taken a good housewife maid in her smock.

hazardnounUS /ˈhæzərd/

a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune

From this reading Since then there is such hazard, if thou be wise keep thyself as thou art, 'tis good to match, much better to be free.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading with many such inconveniences: say the best, she is a commanding servant; thou hadst better have taken a good housewife maid in her smock.

Hercle

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

From this reading Hercle vero liberum esse, id multo est lepidius.

housewifenounUS /ˈhaʊswaɪf/

a wife who manages a household while her husband earns the family income

From this reading with many such inconveniences: say the best, she is a commanding servant; thou hadst better have taken a good housewife maid in her smock.

idnounUS /ɪd/

a state in the Rocky Mountains

From this reading Hercle vero liberum esse, id multo est lepidius.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Since then there is such hazard, if thou be wise keep thyself as thou art, 'tis good to match, much better to be free.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading with many such inconveniences: say the best, she is a commanding servant; thou hadst better have taken a good housewife maid in her smock.

inconveniencesnounUS /ˌɪnkənˈviːnjənsɪz/

plural of “inconvenience” — an inconvenient discomfort

From this reading with many such inconveniences: say the best, she is a commanding servant; thou hadst better have taken a good housewife maid in her smock.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading with many such inconveniences: say the best, she is a commanding servant; thou hadst better have taken a good housewife maid in her smock.

keepverbUS /kiːp/

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading Since then there is such hazard, if thou be wise keep thyself as thou art, 'tis good to match, much better to be free.

lepidissimum

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

From this reading [5801]—procreare liberos lepidissimum.

lepidius

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

From this reading Hercle vero liberum esse, id multo est lepidius.

liberos

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

From this reading [5801]—procreare liberos lepidissimum.

liberum

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

From this reading Hercle vero liberum esse, id multo est lepidius.

maidnounUS /meɪd/

a female domestic

From this reading with many such inconveniences: say the best, she is a commanding servant; thou hadst better have taken a good housewife maid in her smock.

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 with many such inconveniences: say the best, she is a commanding servant; thou hadst better have taken a good housewife maid in her smock.

matchverbUS /mætʃ/

be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics

From this reading Since then there is such hazard, if thou be wise keep thyself as thou art, 'tis good to match, much better to be free.

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading Since then there is such hazard, if thou be wise keep thyself as thou art, 'tis good to match, much better to be free.

multo

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

From this reading Hercle vero liberum esse, id multo est lepidius.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading [5802]Art thou young? then match not yet; if old, match not at all.

oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading [5802]Art thou young? then match not yet; if old, match not at all.

procreare

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

From this reading [5801]—procreare liberos lepidissimum.

sayverbUS /seɪ/

express in words

From this reading with many such inconveniences: say the best, she is a commanding servant; thou hadst better have taken a good housewife maid in her smock.

servantnounUS /ˈsɜːrvənt/

a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)

From this reading with many such inconveniences: say the best, she is a commanding servant; thou hadst better have taken a good housewife maid in her smock.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading with many such inconveniences: say the best, she is a commanding servant; thou hadst better have taken a good housewife maid in her smock.

SinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading Since then there is such hazard, if thou be wise keep thyself as thou art, 'tis good to match, much better to be free.

smocknounUS /smɑːk/

a loose coverall (coat or frock) reaching down to the ankles

From this reading with many such inconveniences: say the best, she is a commanding servant; thou hadst better have taken a good housewife maid in her smock.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading with many such inconveniences: say the best, she is a commanding servant; thou hadst better have taken a good housewife maid in her smock.

takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading with many such inconveniences: say the best, she is a commanding servant; thou hadst better have taken a good housewife maid in her smock.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading with many such inconveniences: say the best, she is a commanding servant; thou hadst better have taken a good housewife maid in her smock.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Since then there is such hazard, if thou be wise keep thyself as thou art, 'tis good to match, much better to be free.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading Since then there is such hazard, if thou be wise keep thyself as thou art, 'tis good to match, much better to be free.

thoupronounUS /ðaʊ/

an old word for “you”, as the subject, speaking to one person

From this reading with many such inconveniences: say the best, she is a commanding servant; thou hadst better have taken a good housewife maid in her smock.

thyself

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

From this reading Since then there is such hazard, if thou be wise keep thyself as thou art, 'tis good to match, much better to be free.

tisnounUS /tɪz/

plural of “ti” — a light strong grey lustrous corrosion-resistant metallic element used in strong lightweight alloys (as for airplane parts); the main sources are rutile and ilmenite

From this reading Since then there is such hazard, if thou be wise keep thyself as thou art, 'tis good to match, much better to be free.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Since then there is such hazard, if thou be wise keep thyself as thou art, 'tis good to match, much better to be free.

vero

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

From this reading Hercle vero liberum esse, id multo est lepidius.

wiseadjectiveUS /waɪz/

having or prompted by wisdom or discernment

From this reading Since then there is such hazard, if thou be wise keep thyself as thou art, 'tis good to match, much better to be free.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading with many such inconveniences: say the best, she is a commanding servant; thou hadst better have taken a good housewife maid in her smock.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading [5802]Art thou young? then match not yet; if old, match not at all.

youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading [5802]Art thou young? then match not yet; if old, match not at all.

Chapter 16 of The Anatomy of Melancholy by Robert Burton holds 921 sentences, grouped into 185 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 16 of The Anatomy of Melancholy contain?

Chapter 16 holds 921 sentences of The Anatomy of Melancholy, unabridged, divided into 185 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 16 of The Anatomy of Melancholy by Robert Burton exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 921 sentences, grouped into 185 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 16 of The Anatomy of Melancholy?

Work through the 185 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

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Can chapter 16 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 16 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 The Anatomy of Melancholy

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Anatomy of Melancholy, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Chapter 1
One of the 0 chapters of The Anatomy of Melancholy, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 2
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Chapter 3
One of the 0 chapters of The Anatomy of Melancholy, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.