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The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table

Chapter IX · Chapter 9

Chapter 9 of The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table is here in full — 266 sentences across 54 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Oliver Wendell Holmes • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

[_Aquí está encerrada el alma del licenciado Pedro Garcias_.

If I should ever make a little book out of these papers, which I hope you are not getting tired of, I suppose I ought to save the above sentence for a motto on the title-page.

But I want it now, and must use it.

I need not say to you that the words are Spanish, nor that they are to be found in the short Introduction to “Gil Blas,” nor that they mean, “Here lies buried the soul of the licentiate Pedro Garcias.”

I warned all young people off the premises when I began my notes referring to old age.

Narrator

Speed 0.75x

AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English

LEARNER DICTIONARY

Archivist

/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/

Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Chapter IX Reading 1/53

The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table Oliver Wendell Holmes

Cover illustration for The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table

Chapter IX

Chapter 9

Chapter 9 of The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table is here in full — 266 sentences across 54 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

[_Aquí está encerrada el alma del licenciado Pedro Garcias_. If I should ever make a little book out of these papers, which I hope you are not getting tired of, I suppose I ought to save the above sentence for a motto on the title-page. But I want it now, and must use it. I need not say to you that the words are Spanish, nor that they are to be found in the short Introduction to “Gil Blas,” nor that they mean, “Here lies buried the soul of the licentiate Pedro Garcias.” I warned all young people off the premises when I began my notes referring to old age.

The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table

Chapter IX · Chapter 9

Chapter 9 of The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table is here in full — 266 sentences across 54 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/53 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

[_Aquí está encerrada el alma del licenciado Pedro Garcias_.

Line 2

If I should ever make a little book out of these papers, which I hope you are not getting tired of, I suppose I ought to save the above sentence for a motto on the title-page.

Line 3

But I want it now, and must use it.

Line 4

I need not say to you that the words are Spanish, nor that they are to be found in the short Introduction to “Gil Blas,” nor that they mean, “Here lies buried the soul of the licentiate Pedro Garcias.”

Line 5

I warned all young people off the premises when I began my notes referring to old age.

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.

a

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

From this reading If I should ever make a little book out of these papers, which I hope you are not getting tired of, I suppose I ought to save the above sentence for a motto on the title-page.

above

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

From this reading If I should ever make a little book out of these papers, which I hope you are not getting tired of, I suppose I ought to save the above sentence for a motto on the title-page.

age

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

From this reading I warned all young people off the premises when I began my notes referring to old age.

all

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

From this reading I warned all young people off the premises when I began my notes referring to old age.

alma

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

From this reading [_Aquí está encerrada el alma del licenciado Pedro Garcias_.

and

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

From this reading But I want it now, and must use it.

Aquí

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

From this reading [_Aquí está encerrada el alma del licenciado Pedro Garcias_.

are

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

From this reading If I should ever make a little book out of these papers, which I hope you are not getting tired of, I suppose I ought to save the above sentence for a motto on the title-page.

be

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

From this reading I need not say to you that the words are Spanish, nor that they are to be found in the short Introduction to “Gil Blas,” nor that they mean, “Here lies buried the soul of the licentiate Pedro Garcias.”

began

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

From this reading I warned all young people off the premises when I began my notes referring to old age.

Blas

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

From this reading I need not say to you that the words are Spanish, nor that they are to be found in the short Introduction to “Gil Blas,” nor that they mean, “Here lies buried the soul of the licentiate Pedro Garcias.”

book

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

From this reading If I should ever make a little book out of these papers, which I hope you are not getting tired of, I suppose I ought to save the above sentence for a motto on the title-page.

buried

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

From this reading I need not say to you that the words are Spanish, nor that they are to be found in the short Introduction to “Gil Blas,” nor that they mean, “Here lies buried the soul of the licentiate Pedro Garcias.”

But

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

From this reading But I want it now, and must use it.

del

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

From this reading [_Aquí está encerrada el alma del licenciado Pedro Garcias_.

el

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

From this reading [_Aquí está encerrada el alma del licenciado Pedro Garcias_.

encerrada

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

From this reading [_Aquí está encerrada el alma del licenciado Pedro Garcias_.

está

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

From this reading [_Aquí está encerrada el alma del licenciado Pedro Garcias_.

ever

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

From this reading If I should ever make a little book out of these papers, which I hope you are not getting tired of, I suppose I ought to save the above sentence for a motto on the title-page.

for

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

From this reading If I should ever make a little book out of these papers, which I hope you are not getting tired of, I suppose I ought to save the above sentence for a motto on the title-page.

found

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

From this reading I need not say to you that the words are Spanish, nor that they are to be found in the short Introduction to “Gil Blas,” nor that they mean, “Here lies buried the soul of the licentiate Pedro Garcias.”

Garcias

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

From this reading [_Aquí está encerrada el alma del licenciado Pedro Garcias_.

getting

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

From this reading If I should ever make a little book out of these papers, which I hope you are not getting tired of, I suppose I ought to save the above sentence for a motto on the title-page.

Gil

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

From this reading I need not say to you that the words are Spanish, nor that they are to be found in the short Introduction to “Gil Blas,” nor that they mean, “Here lies buried the soul of the licentiate Pedro Garcias.”

Here

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

From this reading I need not say to you that the words are Spanish, nor that they are to be found in the short Introduction to “Gil Blas,” nor that they mean, “Here lies buried the soul of the licentiate Pedro Garcias.”

hope

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

From this reading If I should ever make a little book out of these papers, which I hope you are not getting tired of, I suppose I ought to save the above sentence for a motto on the title-page.

I

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

From this reading If I should ever make a little book out of these papers, which I hope you are not getting tired of, I suppose I ought to save the above sentence for a motto on the title-page.

If

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

From this reading If I should ever make a little book out of these papers, which I hope you are not getting tired of, I suppose I ought to save the above sentence for a motto on the title-page.

in

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

From this reading I need not say to you that the words are Spanish, nor that they are to be found in the short Introduction to “Gil Blas,” nor that they mean, “Here lies buried the soul of the licentiate Pedro Garcias.”

Introduction

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

From this reading I need not say to you that the words are Spanish, nor that they are to be found in the short Introduction to “Gil Blas,” nor that they mean, “Here lies buried the soul of the licentiate Pedro Garcias.”

it

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

From this reading But I want it now, and must use it.

licenciado

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

From this reading [_Aquí está encerrada el alma del licenciado Pedro Garcias_.

licentiate

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

From this reading I need not say to you that the words are Spanish, nor that they are to be found in the short Introduction to “Gil Blas,” nor that they mean, “Here lies buried the soul of the licentiate Pedro Garcias.”

lies

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

From this reading I need not say to you that the words are Spanish, nor that they are to be found in the short Introduction to “Gil Blas,” nor that they mean, “Here lies buried the soul of the licentiate Pedro Garcias.”

little

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

From this reading If I should ever make a little book out of these papers, which I hope you are not getting tired of, I suppose I ought to save the above sentence for a motto on the title-page.

make

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

From this reading If I should ever make a little book out of these papers, which I hope you are not getting tired of, I suppose I ought to save the above sentence for a motto on the title-page.

mean

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

From this reading I need not say to you that the words are Spanish, nor that they are to be found in the short Introduction to “Gil Blas,” nor that they mean, “Here lies buried the soul of the licentiate Pedro Garcias.”

motto

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

From this reading If I should ever make a little book out of these papers, which I hope you are not getting tired of, I suppose I ought to save the above sentence for a motto on the title-page.

must

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

From this reading But I want it now, and must use it.

my

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

From this reading I warned all young people off the premises when I began my notes referring to old age.

need

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

From this reading I need not say to you that the words are Spanish, nor that they are to be found in the short Introduction to “Gil Blas,” nor that they mean, “Here lies buried the soul of the licentiate Pedro Garcias.”

nor

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

From this reading I need not say to you that the words are Spanish, nor that they are to be found in the short Introduction to “Gil Blas,” nor that they mean, “Here lies buried the soul of the licentiate Pedro Garcias.”

not

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

From this reading If I should ever make a little book out of these papers, which I hope you are not getting tired of, I suppose I ought to save the above sentence for a motto on the title-page.

notes

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

From this reading I warned all young people off the premises when I began my notes referring to old age.

now

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

From this reading But I want it now, and must use it.

of

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

From this reading If I should ever make a little book out of these papers, which I hope you are not getting tired of, I suppose I ought to save the above sentence for a motto on the title-page.

off

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

From this reading I warned all young people off the premises when I began my notes referring to old age.

old

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

From this reading I warned all young people off the premises when I began my notes referring to old age.

on

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

From this reading If I should ever make a little book out of these papers, which I hope you are not getting tired of, I suppose I ought to save the above sentence for a motto on the title-page.

ought

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

From this reading If I should ever make a little book out of these papers, which I hope you are not getting tired of, I suppose I ought to save the above sentence for a motto on the title-page.

out

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

From this reading If I should ever make a little book out of these papers, which I hope you are not getting tired of, I suppose I ought to save the above sentence for a motto on the title-page.

papers

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

From this reading If I should ever make a little book out of these papers, which I hope you are not getting tired of, I suppose I ought to save the above sentence for a motto on the title-page.

Pedro

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

From this reading [_Aquí está encerrada el alma del licenciado Pedro Garcias_.

people

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

From this reading I warned all young people off the premises when I began my notes referring to old age.

premises

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

From this reading I warned all young people off the premises when I began my notes referring to old age.

referring

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

From this reading I warned all young people off the premises when I began my notes referring to old age.

save

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

From this reading If I should ever make a little book out of these papers, which I hope you are not getting tired of, I suppose I ought to save the above sentence for a motto on the title-page.

say

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

From this reading I need not say to you that the words are Spanish, nor that they are to be found in the short Introduction to “Gil Blas,” nor that they mean, “Here lies buried the soul of the licentiate Pedro Garcias.”

sentence

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

From this reading If I should ever make a little book out of these papers, which I hope you are not getting tired of, I suppose I ought to save the above sentence for a motto on the title-page.

short

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

From this reading I need not say to you that the words are Spanish, nor that they are to be found in the short Introduction to “Gil Blas,” nor that they mean, “Here lies buried the soul of the licentiate Pedro Garcias.”

should

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

From this reading If I should ever make a little book out of these papers, which I hope you are not getting tired of, I suppose I ought to save the above sentence for a motto on the title-page.

soul

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

From this reading I need not say to you that the words are Spanish, nor that they are to be found in the short Introduction to “Gil Blas,” nor that they mean, “Here lies buried the soul of the licentiate Pedro Garcias.”

Spanish

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

From this reading I need not say to you that the words are Spanish, nor that they are to be found in the short Introduction to “Gil Blas,” nor that they mean, “Here lies buried the soul of the licentiate Pedro Garcias.”

suppose

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

From this reading If I should ever make a little book out of these papers, which I hope you are not getting tired of, I suppose I ought to save the above sentence for a motto on the title-page.

that

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

From this reading I need not say to you that the words are Spanish, nor that they are to be found in the short Introduction to “Gil Blas,” nor that they mean, “Here lies buried the soul of the licentiate Pedro Garcias.”

the

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

From this reading If I should ever make a little book out of these papers, which I hope you are not getting tired of, I suppose I ought to save the above sentence for a motto on the title-page.

these

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

From this reading If I should ever make a little book out of these papers, which I hope you are not getting tired of, I suppose I ought to save the above sentence for a motto on the title-page.

they

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

From this reading I need not say to you that the words are Spanish, nor that they are to be found in the short Introduction to “Gil Blas,” nor that they mean, “Here lies buried the soul of the licentiate Pedro Garcias.”

tired

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

From this reading If I should ever make a little book out of these papers, which I hope you are not getting tired of, I suppose I ought to save the above sentence for a motto on the title-page.

title-page

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

From this reading If I should ever make a little book out of these papers, which I hope you are not getting tired of, I suppose I ought to save the above sentence for a motto on the title-page.

to

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

From this reading If I should ever make a little book out of these papers, which I hope you are not getting tired of, I suppose I ought to save the above sentence for a motto on the title-page.

use

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

From this reading But I want it now, and must use it.

want

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

From this reading But I want it now, and must use it.

warned

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

From this reading I warned all young people off the premises when I began my notes referring to old age.

when

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

From this reading I warned all young people off the premises when I began my notes referring to old age.

which

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

From this reading If I should ever make a little book out of these papers, which I hope you are not getting tired of, I suppose I ought to save the above sentence for a motto on the title-page.

words

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

From this reading I need not say to you that the words are Spanish, nor that they are to be found in the short Introduction to “Gil Blas,” nor that they mean, “Here lies buried the soul of the licentiate Pedro Garcias.”

you

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

From this reading If I should ever make a little book out of these papers, which I hope you are not getting tired of, I suppose I ought to save the above sentence for a motto on the title-page.

young

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

From this reading I warned all young people off the premises when I began my notes referring to old age.

Chapter 9 of The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table by Oliver Wendell Holmes holds 266 sentences, grouped into 54 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 9 of The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table contain?

Chapter 9 holds 266 sentences of The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table, unabridged, divided into 54 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 9 of The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table by Oliver Wendell Holmes exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 266 sentences, grouped into 54 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 9 of The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table?

Work through the 54 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 54 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 9 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 9 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 The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table

Common questions about reading The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table by Oliver Wendell Holmes on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table?

Yes. All 3599 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #751 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #751, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table take to read?

About 299 minutes of reading across 720 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table section by section

How to work through The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

Open a chapter

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Vocabulary met early in The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Going: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Interrupted: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Classifying: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Minds: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.