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The Disentanglers
The Disentanglers

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of The Disentanglers is here in full — 406 sentences across 82 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Disentanglers
Context Illustration Reading 1/81 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Merton, who had no mathematical head, scribbled on a piece of paper.
The result of his calculations (which I, not without some fever of the brow, have personally verified) proved that 'six figures' might be anything between 100,000_l_. and 999,000_l_.
19_s_.
11.75_d_.
'Certainly it is very considerable,' Merton said, after a few minutes passed in arithmetical calculation.
0:00 / 0:00
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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 Disentanglers

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of The Disentanglers is here in full — 406 sentences across 82 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/81 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Merton, who had no mathematical head, scribbled on a piece of paper.
/ˈmɜːrtən huː hæd noʊ ˌmæθəˈmætɪkəl hed ˈskrɪbəld ɑːn ə piːs ʌv ˈpeɪpər/
Line 2
The result of his calculations (which I, not without some fever of the brow, have personally verified) proved that 'six figures' might be anything between 100,000_l_. and 999,000_l_.
Line 3
19_s_.
Line 4
11.75_d_.
Line 5
'Certainly it is very considerable,' Merton said, after a few minutes passed in arithmetical calculation.

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.

calculation noun US /ˌkælkjəˈleɪʃən/

the procedure of calculating; determining something by mathematical or logical methods

From this reading “'Certainly it is very considerable,' Merton said, after a few minutes passed in arithmetical calculation.”

calculations noun US /ˌkælkjəˈleɪʃənz/

plural of “calculation” — the procedure of calculating; determining something by mathematical or logical methods

From this reading “The result of his calculations (which I, not without some fever of the brow, have personally verified) proved that 'six figures' might be anything between 100,000_l_. and 999,000_l_.”

fever noun US /ˈfiːvər/

a rise in the temperature of the body; frequently a symptom of infection

From this reading “The result of his calculations (which I, not without some fever of the brow, have personally verified) proved that 'six figures' might be anything between 100,000_l_. and 999,000_l_.”

mathematical adjective US /ˌmæθəˈmætɪkəl/

of or pertaining to or of the nature of mathematics

From this reading “Merton, who had no mathematical head, scribbled on a piece of paper.”

Merton noun US /ˈmɜːrtən/

United States religious and writer (1915-1968)

From this reading “Merton, who had no mathematical head, scribbled on a piece of paper.”

personally adverb US /ˈpɜːrsənəli/

as yourself

From this reading “The result of his calculations (which I, not without some fever of the brow, have personally verified) proved that 'six figures' might be anything between 100,000_l_. and 999,000_l_.”

scribbled verb US /ˈskrɪbəld/

past form of “scribble” — write down quickly without much attention to detail

From this reading “Merton, who had no mathematical head, scribbled on a piece of paper.”

verified adjective US /ˈverəfaɪd/

proved to be true

From this reading “The result of his calculations (which I, not without some fever of the brow, have personally verified) proved that 'six figures' might be anything between 100,000_l_. and 999,000_l_.”

All words in this reading · 55

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.

100,000

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

From this reading The result of his calculations (which I, not without some fever of the brow, have personally verified) proved that 'six figures' might be anything between 100,000_l_. and 999,000_l_.

11.75

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

From this reading 11.75_d_.

19

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

From this reading 19_s_.

999,000

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

From this reading The result of his calculations (which I, not without some fever of the brow, have personally verified) proved that 'six figures' might be anything between 100,000_l_. and 999,000_l_.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading Merton, who had no mathematical head, scribbled on a piece of paper.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading 'Certainly it is very considerable,' Merton said, after a few minutes passed in arithmetical calculation.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The result of his calculations (which I, not without some fever of the brow, have personally verified) proved that 'six figures' might be anything between 100,000_l_. and 999,000_l_.

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading The result of his calculations (which I, not without some fever of the brow, have personally verified) proved that 'six figures' might be anything between 100,000_l_. and 999,000_l_.

arithmeticaladjective

relating to or involving arithmetic

From this reading 'Certainly it is very considerable,' Merton said, after a few minutes passed in arithmetical calculation.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading The result of his calculations (which I, not without some fever of the brow, have personally verified) proved that 'six figures' might be anything between 100,000_l_. and 999,000_l_.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading The result of his calculations (which I, not without some fever of the brow, have personally verified) proved that 'six figures' might be anything between 100,000_l_. and 999,000_l_.

brownounUS /braʊ/

the part of the face above the eyes

From this reading The result of his calculations (which I, not without some fever of the brow, have personally verified) proved that 'six figures' might be anything between 100,000_l_. and 999,000_l_.

calculationnounUS /ˌkælkjəˈleɪʃən/

the procedure of calculating; determining something by mathematical or logical methods

From this reading 'Certainly it is very considerable,' Merton said, after a few minutes passed in arithmetical calculation.

calculationsnounUS /ˌkælkjəˈleɪʃənz/

plural of “calculation” — the procedure of calculating; determining something by mathematical or logical methods

From this reading The result of his calculations (which I, not without some fever of the brow, have personally verified) proved that 'six figures' might be anything between 100,000_l_. and 999,000_l_.

CertainlyadverbUS /ˈsɜːrtənli/

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading 'Certainly it is very considerable,' Merton said, after a few minutes passed in arithmetical calculation.

considerableadjectiveUS /kənˈsɪdərəbəl/

large or relatively large in number or amount or extent or degree

From this reading 'Certainly it is very considerable,' Merton said, after a few minutes passed in arithmetical calculation.

dnounUS /diː/

a fat-soluble vitamin that prevents rickets

From this reading 11.75_d_.

fevernounUS /ˈfiːvər/

a rise in the temperature of the body; frequently a symptom of infection

From this reading The result of his calculations (which I, not without some fever of the brow, have personally verified) proved that 'six figures' might be anything between 100,000_l_. and 999,000_l_.

fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading 'Certainly it is very considerable,' Merton said, after a few minutes passed in arithmetical calculation.

figuresnounUS /ˈfɪɡjərz/

plural of “figure” — a diagram or picture illustrating textual material

From this reading The result of his calculations (which I, not without some fever of the brow, have personally verified) proved that 'six figures' might be anything between 100,000_l_. and 999,000_l_.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Merton, who had no mathematical head, scribbled on a piece of paper.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The result of his calculations (which I, not without some fever of the brow, have personally verified) proved that 'six figures' might be anything between 100,000_l_. and 999,000_l_.

headnounUS /hed/

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading Merton, who had no mathematical head, scribbled on a piece of paper.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The result of his calculations (which I, not without some fever of the brow, have personally verified) proved that 'six figures' might be anything between 100,000_l_. and 999,000_l_.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading The result of his calculations (which I, not without some fever of the brow, have personally verified) proved that 'six figures' might be anything between 100,000_l_. and 999,000_l_.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading 'Certainly it is very considerable,' Merton said, after a few minutes passed in arithmetical calculation.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading 'Certainly it is very considerable,' Merton said, after a few minutes passed in arithmetical calculation.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading 'Certainly it is very considerable,' Merton said, after a few minutes passed in arithmetical calculation.

lnounUS /el/

a metric unit of capacity, formerly defined as the volume of one kilogram of pure water under standard conditions; now equal to 1,000 cubic centimeters (or approximately 1.75 pints)

From this reading The result of his calculations (which I, not without some fever of the brow, have personally verified) proved that 'six figures' might be anything between 100,000_l_. and 999,000_l_.

mathematicaladjectiveUS /ˌmæθəˈmætɪkəl/

of or pertaining to or of the nature of mathematics

From this reading Merton, who had no mathematical head, scribbled on a piece of paper.

MertonnounUS /ˈmɜːrtən/

United States religious and writer (1915-1968)

From this reading Merton, who had no mathematical head, scribbled on a piece of paper.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading The result of his calculations (which I, not without some fever of the brow, have personally verified) proved that 'six figures' might be anything between 100,000_l_. and 999,000_l_.

minutesnounUS /ˈmɪnəts/

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading 'Certainly it is very considerable,' Merton said, after a few minutes passed in arithmetical calculation.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Merton, who had no mathematical head, scribbled on a piece of paper.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The result of his calculations (which I, not without some fever of the brow, have personally verified) proved that 'six figures' might be anything between 100,000_l_. and 999,000_l_.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Merton, who had no mathematical head, scribbled on a piece of paper.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Merton, who had no mathematical head, scribbled on a piece of paper.

papernounUS /ˈpeɪpər/

a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses

From this reading Merton, who had no mathematical head, scribbled on a piece of paper.

passedverbUS /pæst/

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading 'Certainly it is very considerable,' Merton said, after a few minutes passed in arithmetical calculation.

personallyadverbUS /ˈpɜːrsənəli/

as yourself

From this reading The result of his calculations (which I, not without some fever of the brow, have personally verified) proved that 'six figures' might be anything between 100,000_l_. and 999,000_l_.

piecenounUS /piːs/

a separate part of a whole

From this reading Merton, who had no mathematical head, scribbled on a piece of paper.

provedadjectiveUS /pruːvd/

established beyond doubt

From this reading The result of his calculations (which I, not without some fever of the brow, have personally verified) proved that 'six figures' might be anything between 100,000_l_. and 999,000_l_.

resultnounUS /rɪˈzʌlt/

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading The result of his calculations (which I, not without some fever of the brow, have personally verified) proved that 'six figures' might be anything between 100,000_l_. and 999,000_l_.

snounUS /es/

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading 19_s_.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading 'Certainly it is very considerable,' Merton said, after a few minutes passed in arithmetical calculation.

scribbledverbUS /ˈskrɪbəld/

past form of “scribble” — write down quickly without much attention to detail

From this reading Merton, who had no mathematical head, scribbled on a piece of paper.

sixnounUS /sɪks/

the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one

From this reading The result of his calculations (which I, not without some fever of the brow, have personally verified) proved that 'six figures' might be anything between 100,000_l_. and 999,000_l_.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading The result of his calculations (which I, not without some fever of the brow, have personally verified) proved that 'six figures' might be anything between 100,000_l_. and 999,000_l_.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The result of his calculations (which I, not without some fever of the brow, have personally verified) proved that 'six figures' might be anything between 100,000_l_. and 999,000_l_.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The result of his calculations (which I, not without some fever of the brow, have personally verified) proved that 'six figures' might be anything between 100,000_l_. and 999,000_l_.

verifiedadjectiveUS /ˈverəfaɪd/

proved to be true

From this reading The result of his calculations (which I, not without some fever of the brow, have personally verified) proved that 'six figures' might be anything between 100,000_l_. and 999,000_l_.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading 'Certainly it is very considerable,' Merton said, after a few minutes passed in arithmetical calculation.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The result of his calculations (which I, not without some fever of the brow, have personally verified) proved that 'six figures' might be anything between 100,000_l_. and 999,000_l_.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Merton, who had no mathematical head, scribbled on a piece of paper.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading The result of his calculations (which I, not without some fever of the brow, have personally verified) proved that 'six figures' might be anything between 100,000_l_. and 999,000_l_.

Chapter 5 of The Disentanglers by Andrew Lang holds 406 sentences, grouped into 82 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 5 of The Disentanglers contain?

Chapter 5 holds 406 sentences of The Disentanglers, unabridged, divided into 82 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 5 of The Disentanglers by Andrew Lang exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 406 sentences, grouped into 82 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 5 of The Disentanglers?

Work through the 82 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 82 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 5 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 5 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 Disentanglers

Common questions about reading The Disentanglers by Andrew Lang on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Disentanglers?

Yes. All 7308 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #17031 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Disentanglers is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #17031, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Disentanglers take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1462 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Disentanglers section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 18 chapters of The Disentanglers 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 Disentanglers

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

Illustrations
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Disentanglers; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Suggested
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Disentanglers; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Disentanglers; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Incident
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Disentanglers; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.