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The Devil's Elixir, Vol. 1 (of 2)
The Devil's Elixir, Vol. 1 (of 2)

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of The Devil's Elixir, Vol. 1 (of 2) is here in full — 8 sentences across 2 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Devil's Elixir, Vol. 1 (of 2)
Context Illustration Reading 1/1 · 8 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 8
THE DEVIL'S ELIXIR.
FROM THE GERMAN OF E. T. A. HOFFMANN.
_In diesem Jahre wandelte auch her Deuvel offentlich auf den Strassen von Berlin.----_ _Haftit Microc.
Berol. p.
1043._ In that yeare, the Deville was alsoe seene walking publiclie on the streetes of Berline.---- VOL.
I.
WILLIAM BLACKWOOD, EDINBURGH: AND T. CADELL, LONDON.
THE DEVIL'S ELIXIR.
0:00 / 0:00
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.

The Devil's Elixir, Vol. 1 (of 2)

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of The Devil's Elixir, Vol. 1 (of 2) is here in full — 8 sentences across 2 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/1 · 8 reading units · Lines 1–8

Line 1
THE DEVIL'S ELIXIR.
/ðə ˈdevəlz ɪˈlɪksər/
Line 2
FROM THE GERMAN OF E. T. A. HOFFMANN.
/frʌm ðə ˈdʒɜːrmən ʌv iː tiː ə ˈhɔːfmən/
Line 3
_In diesem Jahre wandelte auch her Deuvel offentlich auf den Strassen von Berlin.----_ _Haftit Microc.
Line 4
Berol. p.
Line 5
1043._ In that yeare, the Deville was alsoe seene walking publiclie on the streetes of Berline.---- VOL.
Line 6
I.
/aɪ/
Line 7
WILLIAM BLACKWOOD, EDINBURGH: AND T. CADELL, LONDON.
Line 8
THE DEVIL'S ELIXIR.
/ðə ˈdevəlz ɪˈlɪksər/

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.

Berlin noun US /bərˈlɪn/

capital of Germany located in eastern Germany

From this reading “_In diesem Jahre wandelte auch her Deuvel offentlich auf den Strassen von Berlin.----_ _Haftit Microc.”

blackwood noun US /ˈblækwʊd/

very dark wood of any of several blackwood trees

From this reading “WILLIAM BLACKWOOD, EDINBURGH: AND T. CADELL, LONDON.”

den noun US /den/

the habitation of wild animals

From this reading “_In diesem Jahre wandelte auch her Deuvel offentlich auf den Strassen von Berlin.----_ _Haftit Microc.”

devil's noun US /ˈdevəlz/

possessive form of “devil” — (Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions) chief spirit of evil and adversary of God; tempter of mankind; master of Hell

From this reading “THE DEVIL'S ELIXIR.”

edinburgh noun US /ˈedənbəroʊ/

the capital of Scotland; located in the Lothian Region on the south side of the Firth of Forth

From this reading “WILLIAM BLACKWOOD, EDINBURGH: AND T. CADELL, LONDON.”

elixir noun US /ɪˈlɪksər/

a sweet flavored liquid (usually containing a small amount of alcohol) used in compounding medicines to be taken by mouth in order to mask an unpleasant taste

From this reading “THE DEVIL'S ELIXIR.”

german noun US /ˈdʒɜːrmən/

a person of German nationality

From this reading “FROM THE GERMAN OF E. T. A. HOFFMANN.”

hoffmann noun US /ˈhɔːfmən/

Austrian architect known for his use of rectilinear units (1870-1956)

From this reading “FROM THE GERMAN OF E. T. A. HOFFMANN.”

All words in this reading · 47

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.

1043

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

From this reading 1043._ In that yeare, the Deville was alsoe seene walking publiclie on the streetes of Berline.---- VOL.

AdeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading FROM THE GERMAN OF E. T. A. HOFFMANN.

alsoe

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

From this reading 1043._ In that yeare, the Deville was alsoe seene walking publiclie on the streetes of Berline.---- VOL.

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading WILLIAM BLACKWOOD, EDINBURGH: AND T. CADELL, LONDON.

auch

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

From this reading _In diesem Jahre wandelte auch her Deuvel offentlich auf den Strassen von Berlin.----_ _Haftit Microc.

auf

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

From this reading _In diesem Jahre wandelte auch her Deuvel offentlich auf den Strassen von Berlin.----_ _Haftit Microc.

BerlinnounUS /bərˈlɪn/

capital of Germany located in eastern Germany

From this reading _In diesem Jahre wandelte auch her Deuvel offentlich auf den Strassen von Berlin.----_ _Haftit Microc.

Berline

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

From this reading 1043._ In that yeare, the Deville was alsoe seene walking publiclie on the streetes of Berline.---- VOL.

Berol

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

From this reading Berol. p.

BLACKWOODnounUS /ˈblækwʊd/

very dark wood of any of several blackwood trees

From this reading WILLIAM BLACKWOOD, EDINBURGH: AND T. CADELL, LONDON.

CADELL

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

From this reading WILLIAM BLACKWOOD, EDINBURGH: AND T. CADELL, LONDON.

dennounUS /den/

the habitation of wild animals

From this reading _In diesem Jahre wandelte auch her Deuvel offentlich auf den Strassen von Berlin.----_ _Haftit Microc.

Deuvel

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

From this reading _In diesem Jahre wandelte auch her Deuvel offentlich auf den Strassen von Berlin.----_ _Haftit Microc.

DEVIL'SnounUS /ˈdevəlz/

possessive form of “devil” — (Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions) chief spirit of evil and adversary of God; tempter of mankind; master of Hell

From this reading THE DEVIL'S ELIXIR.

Deville

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

From this reading 1043._ In that yeare, the Deville was alsoe seene walking publiclie on the streetes of Berline.---- VOL.

diesem

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

From this reading _In diesem Jahre wandelte auch her Deuvel offentlich auf den Strassen von Berlin.----_ _Haftit Microc.

EnounUS /iː/

a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for normal reproduction; an important antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals in the body

From this reading FROM THE GERMAN OF E. T. A. HOFFMANN.

EDINBURGHnounUS /ˈedənbəroʊ/

the capital of Scotland; located in the Lothian Region on the south side of the Firth of Forth

From this reading WILLIAM BLACKWOOD, EDINBURGH: AND T. CADELL, LONDON.

ELIXIRnounUS /ɪˈlɪksər/

a sweet flavored liquid (usually containing a small amount of alcohol) used in compounding medicines to be taken by mouth in order to mask an unpleasant taste

From this reading THE DEVIL'S ELIXIR.

FROMprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading FROM THE GERMAN OF E. T. A. HOFFMANN.

GERMANnounUS /ˈdʒɜːrmən/

a person of German nationality

From this reading FROM THE GERMAN OF E. T. A. HOFFMANN.

Haftit

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

From this reading _In diesem Jahre wandelte auch her Deuvel offentlich auf den Strassen von Berlin.----_ _Haftit Microc.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading _In diesem Jahre wandelte auch her Deuvel offentlich auf den Strassen von Berlin.----_ _Haftit Microc.

HOFFMANNnounUS /ˈhɔːfmən/

Austrian architect known for his use of rectilinear units (1870-1956)

From this reading FROM THE GERMAN OF E. T. A. HOFFMANN.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading _In diesem Jahre wandelte auch her Deuvel offentlich auf den Strassen von Berlin.----_ _Haftit Microc.

Jahre

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

From this reading _In diesem Jahre wandelte auch her Deuvel offentlich auf den Strassen von Berlin.----_ _Haftit Microc.

LONDONnounUS /ˈlʌndən/

the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center

From this reading WILLIAM BLACKWOOD, EDINBURGH: AND T. CADELL, LONDON.

Microc

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

From this reading _In diesem Jahre wandelte auch her Deuvel offentlich auf den Strassen von Berlin.----_ _Haftit Microc.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading FROM THE GERMAN OF E. T. A. HOFFMANN.

offentlich

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

From this reading _In diesem Jahre wandelte auch her Deuvel offentlich auf den Strassen von Berlin.----_ _Haftit Microc.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading 1043._ In that yeare, the Deville was alsoe seene walking publiclie on the streetes of Berline.---- VOL.

pnounUS /piː/

a multivalent nonmetallic element of the nitrogen family that occurs commonly in inorganic phosphate rocks and as organic phosphates in all living cells; is highly reactive and occurs in several allotropic forms

From this reading Berol. p.

publiclie

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

From this reading 1043._ In that yeare, the Deville was alsoe seene walking publiclie on the streetes of Berline.---- VOL.

seene

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

From this reading 1043._ In that yeare, the Deville was alsoe seene walking publiclie on the streetes of Berline.---- VOL.

Strassen

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

From this reading _In diesem Jahre wandelte auch her Deuvel offentlich auf den Strassen von Berlin.----_ _Haftit Microc.

streetes

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

From this reading 1043._ In that yeare, the Deville was alsoe seene walking publiclie on the streetes of Berline.---- VOL.

TnounUS /tiː/

a base found in DNA (but not in RNA) and derived from pyrimidine; pairs with adenine

From this reading FROM THE GERMAN OF E. T. A. HOFFMANN.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading 1043._ In that yeare, the Deville was alsoe seene walking publiclie on the streetes of Berline.---- VOL.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE DEVIL'S ELIXIR.

VOL

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

From this reading 1043._ In that yeare, the Deville was alsoe seene walking publiclie on the streetes of Berline.---- VOL.

von

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

From this reading _In diesem Jahre wandelte auch her Deuvel offentlich auf den Strassen von Berlin.----_ _Haftit Microc.

walkingadjectiveUS /ˈwɔːkɪŋ/

close enough to be walked to

From this reading 1043._ In that yeare, the Deville was alsoe seene walking publiclie on the streetes of Berline.---- VOL.

wandelte

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

From this reading _In diesem Jahre wandelte auch her Deuvel offentlich auf den Strassen von Berlin.----_ _Haftit Microc.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading 1043._ In that yeare, the Deville was alsoe seene walking publiclie on the streetes of Berline.---- VOL.

WILLIAM

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

From this reading WILLIAM BLACKWOOD, EDINBURGH: AND T. CADELL, LONDON.

yeare

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

From this reading 1043._ In that yeare, the Deville was alsoe seene walking publiclie on the streetes of Berline.---- VOL.

Chapter 1 of The Devil's Elixir, Vol. 1 (of 2) by E. T. A. (Ernst Theodor Amadeus) Hoffmann holds 8 sentences, grouped into 2 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 Devil's Elixir, Vol. 1 (of 2) contain?

Chapter 1 holds 8 sentences of The Devil's Elixir, Vol. 1 (of 2), unabridged, divided into 2 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Devil's Elixir, Vol. 1 (of 2) by E. T. A. (Ernst Theodor Amadeus) Hoffmann exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 8 sentences, grouped into 2 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 Devil's Elixir, Vol. 1 (of 2)?

Work through the 2 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 2 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.

Questions about reading The Devil's Elixir, Vol. 1 (of 2)

Common questions about reading The Devil's Elixir, Vol. 1 (of 2) by E. T. A. (Ernst Theodor Amadeus) Hoffmann on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Devil's Elixir, Vol. 1 (of 2)?

Yes. All 2379 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #36494 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Devil's Elixir, Vol. 1 (of 2) is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #36494, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Devil's Elixir, Vol. 1 (of 2) take to read?

About 198 minutes of reading across 476 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Devil's Elixir, Vol. 1 (of 2) section by section

How to work through The Devil's Elixir, Vol. 1 (of 2) section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 30 chapters of The Devil's Elixir, Vol. 1 (of 2) 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 The Devil's Elixir, Vol. 1 (of 2)

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Devil's Elixir, Vol. 1 (of 2), each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Devil's
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Devil's Elixir, Vol. 1 (of 2); the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Elixir
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Devil's Elixir, Vol. 1 (of 2); the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
German
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Devil's Elixir, Vol. 1 (of 2); the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Hoffmann
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Devil's Elixir, Vol. 1 (of 2); the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.