The dark mother

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of The dark mother is here in full — 417 sentences across 84 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Waldo David Frank • Curated US English Learning Edition

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

_She is Flesh moving through Flesh She is Spirit_ BONI & LIVERIGHT, INC.

_Printed in the United States of America_ MARGARET NAUMBURG The air moved toward the mountain: the waves and the trees and the earth moved toward the mountain.

All the world moved gently upward toward the mountain like a Tide.

The mountain moved downward toward earth, spilled water and spread trees in it.

A full-grown boy sat low in a canoe with his hands in the sharp water, and let it drift with the wind.

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 I Reading 1/83

The dark mother

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of The dark mother is here in full — 417 sentences across 84 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/83 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

_She is Flesh moving through Flesh She is Spirit_ BONI & LIVERIGHT, INC.

Line 2

_Printed in the United States of America_ MARGARET NAUMBURG The air moved toward the mountain: the waves and the trees and the earth moved toward the mountain.

Line 3

All the world moved gently upward toward the mountain like a Tide.

/ɔːl ðə wɜːrld muːvd ˈdʒentli ˈʌpwərd təˈwɔːrd ðə ˈmaʊntən laɪk ə taɪd/

Line 4

The mountain moved downward toward earth, spilled water and spread trees in it.

/ðə ˈmaʊntən muːvd ˈdaʊnwərd təˈwɔːrd ɜːrθ spɪld ˈwɔːtər ənd spred triːz ɪn ɪt/

Line 5

A full-grown boy sat low in a canoe with his hands in the sharp water, and let it drift with the wind.

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.

canoe noun US /kəˈnuː/

small and light boat; pointed at both ends; propelled with a paddle

From this reading “A full-grown boy sat low in a canoe with his hands in the sharp water, and let it drift with the wind.”

downward adjective US /ˈdaʊnwərd/

extending or moving from a higher to a lower place

From this reading “The mountain moved downward toward earth, spilled water and spread trees in it.”

drift verb US /drɪft/

be in motion due to some air or water current

From this reading “A full-grown boy sat low in a canoe with his hands in the sharp water, and let it drift with the wind.”

inc noun US /ɪŋk/

a heterogeneous collection of groups united in their opposition to Saddam Hussein's government of Iraq; formed in 1992 it is comprised of Sunni and Shiite Arabs and Kurds who hope to build a new government

From this reading “_She is Flesh moving through Flesh She is Spirit_ BONI & LIVERIGHT, INC.”

Printed verb US /ˈprɪntɪd/

past form of “print” — put into print

spilled verb US /spɪld/

past form of “spill” — cause or allow (a liquid substance) to run or flow from a container

From this reading “The mountain moved downward toward earth, spilled water and spread trees in it.”

Tide noun US /taɪd/

the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon

From this reading “All the world moved gently upward toward the mountain like a Tide.”

upward adjective US /ˈʌpwərd/

directed up

From this reading “All the world moved gently upward toward the mountain like a Tide.”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

toward the mountain preposition + article + noun counted as “toward … mountain”

In this reading “_Printed in the United States of America_ MARGARET NAUMBURG The air moved toward the mountain: the waves and the trees and the earth moved toward the mountain.”

in a canoe preposition + article + noun counted as “in … canoe”

In this reading “A full-grown boy sat low in a canoe with his hands in the sharp water, and let it drift with the wind.”

All words in this reading · 50

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 All the world moved gently upward toward the mountain like a Tide.

airnounUS /er/

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ MARGARET NAUMBURG The air moved toward the mountain: the waves and the trees and the earth moved toward the mountain.

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 All the world moved gently upward toward the mountain like a Tide.

AmericanounUS /əˈmerəkə/

North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776

From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ MARGARET NAUMBURG The air moved toward the mountain: the waves and the trees and the earth moved toward the mountain.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ MARGARET NAUMBURG The air moved toward the mountain: the waves and the trees and the earth moved toward the mountain.

BONI

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

From this reading _She is Flesh moving through Flesh She is Spirit_ BONI & LIVERIGHT, INC.

boynounUS /bɔɪ/

a youthful male person

From this reading A full-grown boy sat low in a canoe with his hands in the sharp water, and let it drift with the wind.

canoenounUS /kəˈnuː/

small and light boat; pointed at both ends; propelled with a paddle

From this reading A full-grown boy sat low in a canoe with his hands in the sharp water, and let it drift with the wind.

downwardadjectiveUS /ˈdaʊnwərd/

extending or moving from a higher to a lower place

From this reading The mountain moved downward toward earth, spilled water and spread trees in it.

driftverbUS /drɪft/

be in motion due to some air or water current

From this reading A full-grown boy sat low in a canoe with his hands in the sharp water, and let it drift with the wind.

earthnounUS /ɜːrθ/

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

From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ MARGARET NAUMBURG The air moved toward the mountain: the waves and the trees and the earth moved toward the mountain.

FleshnounUS /fleʃ/

the soft tissue of the body of a vertebrate: mainly muscle tissue and fat

From this reading _She is Flesh moving through Flesh She is Spirit_ BONI & LIVERIGHT, INC.

full-grownadjective

(of animals) fully developed

From this reading A full-grown boy sat low in a canoe with his hands in the sharp water, and let it drift with the wind.

gentlyadverbUS /ˈdʒentli/

in a gradual manner

From this reading All the world moved gently upward toward the mountain like a Tide.

handsnounUS /hændz/

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading A full-grown boy sat low in a canoe with his hands in the sharp water, and let it drift with the wind.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading A full-grown boy sat low in a canoe with his hands in the sharp water, and let it drift with the wind.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ MARGARET NAUMBURG The air moved toward the mountain: the waves and the trees and the earth moved toward the mountain.

INCnounUS /ɪŋk/

From this reading _She is Flesh moving through Flesh She is Spirit_ BONI & LIVERIGHT, INC.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading _She is Flesh moving through Flesh She is Spirit_ BONI & LIVERIGHT, INC.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The mountain moved downward toward earth, spilled water and spread trees in it.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading A full-grown boy sat low in a canoe with his hands in the sharp water, and let it drift with the wind.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading All the world moved gently upward toward the mountain like a Tide.

LIVERIGHT

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

From this reading _She is Flesh moving through Flesh She is Spirit_ BONI & LIVERIGHT, INC.

lowadjectiveUS /loʊ/

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading A full-grown boy sat low in a canoe with his hands in the sharp water, and let it drift with the wind.

MARGARET

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

From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ MARGARET NAUMBURG The air moved toward the mountain: the waves and the trees and the earth moved toward the mountain.

mountainnounUS /ˈmaʊntən/

a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill

From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ MARGARET NAUMBURG The air moved toward the mountain: the waves and the trees and the earth moved toward the mountain.

movedadjectiveUS /muːvd/

being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion

From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ MARGARET NAUMBURG The air moved toward the mountain: the waves and the trees and the earth moved toward the mountain.

movingadjectiveUS /ˈmuːvɪŋ/

in motion

From this reading _She is Flesh moving through Flesh She is Spirit_ BONI & LIVERIGHT, INC.

NAUMBURG

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

From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ MARGARET NAUMBURG The air moved toward the mountain: the waves and the trees and the earth moved toward the mountain.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ MARGARET NAUMBURG The air moved toward the mountain: the waves and the trees and the earth moved toward the mountain.

PrintedverbUS /ˈprɪntɪd/

past form of “print” — put into print

From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ MARGARET NAUMBURG The air moved toward the mountain: the waves and the trees and the earth moved toward the mountain.

satnounUS /sæt/

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading A full-grown boy sat low in a canoe with his hands in the sharp water, and let it drift with the wind.

sharpadjectiveUS /ʃɑːrp/

(of something seen or heard) clearly defined

From this reading A full-grown boy sat low in a canoe with his hands in the sharp water, and let it drift with the wind.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading _She is Flesh moving through Flesh She is Spirit_ BONI & LIVERIGHT, INC.

spilledverbUS /spɪld/

past form of “spill” — cause or allow (a liquid substance) to run or flow from a container

From this reading The mountain moved downward toward earth, spilled water and spread trees in it.

SpiritnounUS /ˈspɪrət/

the vital principle or animating force within living things

From this reading _She is Flesh moving through Flesh She is Spirit_ BONI & LIVERIGHT, INC.

spreadverbUS /spred/

distribute or disperse widely

From this reading The mountain moved downward toward earth, spilled water and spread trees in it.

StatesnounUS /steɪts/

plural of “state” — the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation

From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ MARGARET NAUMBURG The air moved toward the mountain: the waves and the trees and the earth moved toward the mountain.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ MARGARET NAUMBURG The air moved toward the mountain: the waves and the trees and the earth moved toward the mountain.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading _She is Flesh moving through Flesh She is Spirit_ BONI & LIVERIGHT, INC.

TidenounUS /taɪd/

the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon

From this reading All the world moved gently upward toward the mountain like a Tide.

towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ MARGARET NAUMBURG The air moved toward the mountain: the waves and the trees and the earth moved toward the mountain.

treesnounUS /triːz/

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ MARGARET NAUMBURG The air moved toward the mountain: the waves and the trees and the earth moved toward the mountain.

UnitedadjectiveUS /juːˈnaɪtɪd/

characterized by unity; being or joined into a single entity

From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ MARGARET NAUMBURG The air moved toward the mountain: the waves and the trees and the earth moved toward the mountain.

upwardadjectiveUS /ˈʌpwərd/

directed up

From this reading All the world moved gently upward toward the mountain like a Tide.

waternounUS /ˈwɔːtər/

binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent

From this reading The mountain moved downward toward earth, spilled water and spread trees in it.

wavesnounUS /weɪvz/

plural of “wave” — one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)

From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ MARGARET NAUMBURG The air moved toward the mountain: the waves and the trees and the earth moved toward the mountain.

windnounUS /waɪnd/

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading A full-grown boy sat low in a canoe with his hands in the sharp water, and let it drift with the wind.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading A full-grown boy sat low in a canoe with his hands in the sharp water, and let it drift with the wind.

worldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading All the world moved gently upward toward the mountain like a Tide.

Chapter 1 of The dark mother by Waldo David Frank holds 417 sentences, grouped into 84 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 1 of The dark mother contain?

Chapter 1 holds 417 sentences of The dark mother, unabridged, divided into 84 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The dark mother by Waldo David Frank exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 417 sentences, grouped into 84 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 1 of The dark mother?

Work through the 84 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 84 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 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 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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Is this the complete text of The dark mother?

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

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Chapter I

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