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The Disowned — Complete
The Disowned — Complete

Chapter XXIII · Chapter 23

Chapter 23 of The Disowned — Complete is here in full — 176 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Disowned — Complete
Context Illustration Reading 1/35 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
La vie eat un sommeil.
Les vieillards sont ceux donc le sommeil a ete plus long: ils ne commencent a se reveiller que quand il faut mourir.
--LA BRUYERE.
[“Life is a sleep.
The aged are those whose sleep has been the longest they begin to awaken themselves just as they are obliged to die.”]
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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 Disowned — Complete

Chapter XXIII · Chapter 23

Chapter 23 of The Disowned — Complete is here in full — 176 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/35 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
La vie eat un sommeil.
Line 2
Les vieillards sont ceux donc le sommeil a ete plus long: ils ne commencent a se reveiller que quand il faut mourir.
Line 3
--LA BRUYERE.
Line 4
[“Life is a sleep.
/laɪf ɪz ə sliːp/
Line 5
The aged are those whose sleep has been the longest they begin to awaken themselves just as they are obliged to die.”]
/ðə eɪdʒd ɑːr ðoʊz huːz sliːp hæz bɪn ðə ˈlɔːŋɡəst ðeɪ bɪˈɡɪn tuː əˈweɪkən ðemˈselvz dʒʌst æz ðeɪ ɑːr əˈblaɪdʒd tuː daɪ/

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.

aged adjective US /eɪdʒd/

advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)

From this reading “The aged are those whose sleep has been the longest they begin to awaken themselves just as they are obliged to die.”]”

awaken verb US /əˈweɪkən/

cause to become awake or conscious

From this reading “The aged are those whose sleep has been the longest they begin to awaken themselves just as they are obliged to die.”]”

begin verb US /bɪˈɡɪn/

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading “The aged are those whose sleep has been the longest they begin to awaken themselves just as they are obliged to die.”]”

Les noun US /les/

plural of “le” — a chronic inflammatory collagen disease affecting connective tissue (skin or joints)

From this reading “Les vieillards sont ceux donc le sommeil a ete plus long: ils ne commencent a se reveiller que quand il faut mourir.”

longest adverb US /ˈlɔːŋɡəst/

for the most time

From this reading “The aged are those whose sleep has been the longest they begin to awaken themselves just as they are obliged to die.”]”

obliged adjective US /əˈblaɪdʒd/

under a moral obligation to do something

From this reading “The aged are those whose sleep has been the longest they begin to awaken themselves just as they are obliged to die.”]”

plus noun US /plʌs/

a useful or valuable quality

From this reading “Les vieillards sont ceux donc le sommeil a ete plus long: ils ne commencent a se reveiller que quand il faut mourir.”

vie verb US /vaɪ/

compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others

From this reading “La vie eat un sommeil.”

All words in this reading · 46

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 Les vieillards sont ceux donc le sommeil a ete plus long: ils ne commencent a se reveiller que quand il faut mourir.

agedadjectiveUS /eɪdʒd/

advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)

From this reading The aged are those whose sleep has been the longest they begin to awaken themselves just as they are obliged to die.”]

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The aged are those whose sleep has been the longest they begin to awaken themselves just as they are obliged to die.”]

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The aged are those whose sleep has been the longest they begin to awaken themselves just as they are obliged to die.”]

awakenverbUS /əˈweɪkən/

cause to become awake or conscious

From this reading The aged are those whose sleep has been the longest they begin to awaken themselves just as they are obliged to die.”]

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The aged are those whose sleep has been the longest they begin to awaken themselves just as they are obliged to die.”]

beginverbUS /bɪˈɡɪn/

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading The aged are those whose sleep has been the longest they begin to awaken themselves just as they are obliged to die.”]

BRUYERE

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

From this reading --LA BRUYERE.

ceux

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

From this reading Les vieillards sont ceux donc le sommeil a ete plus long: ils ne commencent a se reveiller que quand il faut mourir.

commencent

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

From this reading Les vieillards sont ceux donc le sommeil a ete plus long: ils ne commencent a se reveiller que quand il faut mourir.

dieverbUS /daɪ/

pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life

From this reading The aged are those whose sleep has been the longest they begin to awaken themselves just as they are obliged to die.”]

donc

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

From this reading Les vieillards sont ceux donc le sommeil a ete plus long: ils ne commencent a se reveiller que quand il faut mourir.

eatverbUS /iːt/

take in solid food

From this reading La vie eat un sommeil.

ete

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

From this reading Les vieillards sont ceux donc le sommeil a ete plus long: ils ne commencent a se reveiller que quand il faut mourir.

faut

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

From this reading Les vieillards sont ceux donc le sommeil a ete plus long: ils ne commencent a se reveiller que quand il faut mourir.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading The aged are those whose sleep has been the longest they begin to awaken themselves just as they are obliged to die.”]

ilnounUS /ɪl/

a midwestern state in north-central United States

From this reading Les vieillards sont ceux donc le sommeil a ete plus long: ils ne commencent a se reveiller que quand il faut mourir.

ils

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

From this reading Les vieillards sont ceux donc le sommeil a ete plus long: ils ne commencent a se reveiller que quand il faut mourir.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading [“Life is a sleep.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading The aged are those whose sleep has been the longest they begin to awaken themselves just as they are obliged to die.”]

LanounUS /lɑː/

a white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily; occurs in rare earth minerals and is usually classified as a rare earth

From this reading La vie eat un sommeil.

lenounUS /lə/

a chronic inflammatory collagen disease affecting connective tissue (skin or joints)

From this reading Les vieillards sont ceux donc le sommeil a ete plus long: ils ne commencent a se reveiller que quand il faut mourir.

LesnounUS /les/

plural of “le” — a chronic inflammatory collagen disease affecting connective tissue (skin or joints)

From this reading Les vieillards sont ceux donc le sommeil a ete plus long: ils ne commencent a se reveiller que quand il faut mourir.

LifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading [“Life is a sleep.

longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading Les vieillards sont ceux donc le sommeil a ete plus long: ils ne commencent a se reveiller que quand il faut mourir.

longestadverbUS /ˈlɔːŋɡəst/

for the most time

From this reading The aged are those whose sleep has been the longest they begin to awaken themselves just as they are obliged to die.”]

mourir

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

From this reading Les vieillards sont ceux donc le sommeil a ete plus long: ils ne commencent a se reveiller que quand il faut mourir.

nenounUS /niː/

a colorless odorless gaseous element that give a red glow in a vacuum tube; one of the six inert gasses; occurs in the air in small amounts

From this reading Les vieillards sont ceux donc le sommeil a ete plus long: ils ne commencent a se reveiller que quand il faut mourir.

obligedadjectiveUS /əˈblaɪdʒd/

under a moral obligation to do something

From this reading The aged are those whose sleep has been the longest they begin to awaken themselves just as they are obliged to die.”]

plusnounUS /plʌs/

a useful or valuable quality

From this reading Les vieillards sont ceux donc le sommeil a ete plus long: ils ne commencent a se reveiller que quand il faut mourir.

quand

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

From this reading Les vieillards sont ceux donc le sommeil a ete plus long: ils ne commencent a se reveiller que quand il faut mourir.

que

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

From this reading Les vieillards sont ceux donc le sommeil a ete plus long: ils ne commencent a se reveiller que quand il faut mourir.

reveiller

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

From this reading Les vieillards sont ceux donc le sommeil a ete plus long: ils ne commencent a se reveiller que quand il faut mourir.

senounUS /seɪ/

a toxic nonmetallic element related to sulfur and tellurium

From this reading Les vieillards sont ceux donc le sommeil a ete plus long: ils ne commencent a se reveiller que quand il faut mourir.

sleepnounUS /sliːp/

a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended

From this reading [“Life is a sleep.

sommeil

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

From this reading La vie eat un sommeil.

sont

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

From this reading Les vieillards sont ceux donc le sommeil a ete plus long: ils ne commencent a se reveiller que quand il faut mourir.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The aged are those whose sleep has been the longest they begin to awaken themselves just as they are obliged to die.”]

themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading The aged are those whose sleep has been the longest they begin to awaken themselves just as they are obliged to die.”]

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The aged are those whose sleep has been the longest they begin to awaken themselves just as they are obliged to die.”]

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading The aged are those whose sleep has been the longest they begin to awaken themselves just as they are obliged to die.”]

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The aged are those whose sleep has been the longest they begin to awaken themselves just as they are obliged to die.”]

unnounUS /ʌn/

an organization of independent states formed in 1945 to promote international peace and security

From this reading La vie eat un sommeil.

vieverbUS /vaɪ/

compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others

From this reading La vie eat un sommeil.

vieillards

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

From this reading Les vieillards sont ceux donc le sommeil a ete plus long: ils ne commencent a se reveiller que quand il faut mourir.

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading The aged are those whose sleep has been the longest they begin to awaken themselves just as they are obliged to die.”]

Chapter 23 of The Disowned — Complete by Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron Lytton holds 176 sentences, grouped into 36 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 23 of The Disowned — Complete contain?

Chapter 23 holds 176 sentences of The Disowned — Complete, unabridged, divided into 36 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 23 of The Disowned — Complete by Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron Lytton exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 176 sentences, grouped into 36 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 23 of The Disowned — Complete?

Work through the 36 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 36 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 23 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 23 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 Disowned — Complete

Common questions about reading The Disowned — Complete by Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron Lytton on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Disowned — Complete?

Yes. All 6060 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #7639 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Disowned — Complete is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #7639, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Disowned — Complete take to read?

About 505 minutes of reading across 1212 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Disowned — Complete section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

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  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

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Vocabulary met early in The Disowned — Complete

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

Story
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Disowned — Complete; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Please
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Disowned — Complete; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Attend
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Disowned — Complete; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Knight
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Disowned — Complete; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.