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The Disturbing Charm
The Disturbing Charm

Chapter VI

Chapter 6 of The Disturbing Charm is here in full — 259 sentences across 52 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Disturbing Charm
Context Illustration Reading 1/51 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE CLUTCHING OF THE CHARM "Fights all his battles o'er again; And thrice he charged the foe, and thrice he slew the slain."
Dryden.
"Un aviateur, un de ces demi-dieux dont l'existence sur terre doit etre courte.
(La lumiere dont ils procedent les rappelle bientot.
On croit qu'ils tombent, mais ils remontent.)"
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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 Disturbing Charm

Chapter VI

Chapter 6 of The Disturbing Charm is here in full — 259 sentences across 52 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/51 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE CLUTCHING OF THE CHARM "Fights all his battles o'er again; And thrice he charged the foe, and thrice he slew the slain."
Line 2
Dryden.
/ˈdraɪdən/
Line 3
"Un aviateur, un de ces demi-dieux dont l'existence sur terre doit etre courte.
Line 4
(La lumiere dont ils procedent les rappelle bientot.
Line 5
On croit qu'ils tombent, mais ils remontent.)"

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.

battles noun US /ˈbætəlz/

plural of “battle” — a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war

From this reading “THE CLUTCHING OF THE CHARM "Fights all his battles o'er again; And thrice he charged the foe, and thrice he slew the slain."”

clutching verb US /ˈklʌtʃɪŋ/

-ing form of “clutch” — take hold of; grab

From this reading “THE CLUTCHING OF THE CHARM "Fights all his battles o'er again; And thrice he charged the foe, and thrice he slew the slain."”

Dryden noun US /ˈdraɪdən/

the outstanding poet and dramatist of the Restoration (1631-1700)

From this reading “Dryden.”

Fights noun US /faɪts/

plural of “fight” — a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war

From this reading “THE CLUTCHING OF THE CHARM "Fights all his battles o'er again; And thrice he charged the foe, and thrice he slew the slain."”

les noun US /les/

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

From this reading “(La lumiere dont ils procedent les rappelle bientot.”

slew verb US /sluː/

turn sharply; change direction abruptly

From this reading “THE CLUTCHING OF THE CHARM "Fights all his battles o'er again; And thrice he charged the foe, and thrice he slew the slain."”

sur noun US /sɜːr/

a port in southern Lebanon on the Mediterranean Sea; formerly a major Phoenician seaport famous for silks

From this reading “"Un aviateur, un de ces demi-dieux dont l'existence sur terre doit etre courte.”

thrice adverb US /θraɪs/

three times

From this reading “THE CLUTCHING OF THE CHARM "Fights all his battles o'er again; And thrice he charged the foe, and thrice he slew the slain."”

All words in this reading · 43

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.

againadverbUS /əˈɡen/

anew

From this reading THE CLUTCHING OF THE CHARM "Fights all his battles o'er again; And thrice he charged the foe, and thrice he slew the slain."

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 THE CLUTCHING OF THE CHARM "Fights all his battles o'er again; And thrice he charged the foe, and thrice he slew the slain."

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading THE CLUTCHING OF THE CHARM "Fights all his battles o'er again; And thrice he charged the foe, and thrice he slew the slain."

aviateur

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

From this reading "Un aviateur, un de ces demi-dieux dont l'existence sur terre doit etre courte.

battlesnounUS /ˈbætəlz/

plural of “battle” — a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war

From this reading THE CLUTCHING OF THE CHARM "Fights all his battles o'er again; And thrice he charged the foe, and thrice he slew the slain."

bientot

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

From this reading (La lumiere dont ils procedent les rappelle bientot.

ces

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

From this reading "Un aviateur, un de ces demi-dieux dont l'existence sur terre doit etre courte.

chargedadjectiveUS /tʃɑːrdʒd/

of a particle or body or system; having a net amount of positive or negative electric charge

From this reading THE CLUTCHING OF THE CHARM "Fights all his battles o'er again; And thrice he charged the foe, and thrice he slew the slain."

CHARMnounUS /tʃɑːrm/

attractiveness that interests or pleases or stimulates

From this reading THE CLUTCHING OF THE CHARM "Fights all his battles o'er again; And thrice he charged the foe, and thrice he slew the slain."

CLUTCHINGverbUS /ˈklʌtʃɪŋ/

-ing form of “clutch” — take hold of; grab

From this reading THE CLUTCHING OF THE CHARM "Fights all his battles o'er again; And thrice he charged the foe, and thrice he slew the slain."

courte

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

From this reading "Un aviateur, un de ces demi-dieux dont l'existence sur terre doit etre courte.

croit

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

From this reading On croit qu'ils tombent, mais ils remontent.)"

denounUS /diː/

a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies

From this reading "Un aviateur, un de ces demi-dieux dont l'existence sur terre doit etre courte.

demi-dieux

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

From this reading "Un aviateur, un de ces demi-dieux dont l'existence sur terre doit etre courte.

doit

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

From this reading "Un aviateur, un de ces demi-dieux dont l'existence sur terre doit etre courte.

dont

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

From this reading "Un aviateur, un de ces demi-dieux dont l'existence sur terre doit etre courte.

DrydennounUS /ˈdraɪdən/

the outstanding poet and dramatist of the Restoration (1631-1700)

From this reading Dryden.

etre

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

From this reading "Un aviateur, un de ces demi-dieux dont l'existence sur terre doit etre courte.

FightsnounUS /faɪts/

plural of “fight” — a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war

From this reading THE CLUTCHING OF THE CHARM "Fights all his battles o'er again; And thrice he charged the foe, and thrice he slew the slain."

foenounUS /foʊ/

an armed adversary (especially a member of an opposing military force)

From this reading THE CLUTCHING OF THE CHARM "Fights all his battles o'er again; And thrice he charged the foe, and thrice he slew the slain."

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading THE CLUTCHING OF THE CHARM "Fights all his battles o'er again; And thrice he charged the foe, and thrice he slew the slain."

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading THE CLUTCHING OF THE CHARM "Fights all his battles o'er again; And thrice he charged the foe, and thrice he slew the slain."

ils

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

From this reading (La lumiere dont ils procedent les rappelle bientot.

l'existence

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

From this reading "Un aviateur, un de ces demi-dieux dont l'existence sur terre doit etre courte.

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 lumiere dont ils procedent les rappelle bientot.

lesnounUS /les/

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

From this reading (La lumiere dont ils procedent les rappelle bientot.

lumiere

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

From this reading (La lumiere dont ils procedent les rappelle bientot.

mais

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

From this reading On croit qu'ils tombent, mais ils remontent.)"

o'eradverb

throughout a period of time

From this reading THE CLUTCHING OF THE CHARM "Fights all his battles o'er again; And thrice he charged the foe, and thrice he slew the slain."

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE CLUTCHING OF THE CHARM "Fights all his battles o'er again; And thrice he charged the foe, and thrice he slew the slain."

OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading On croit qu'ils tombent, mais ils remontent.)"

procedent

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

From this reading (La lumiere dont ils procedent les rappelle bientot.

qu'ils

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

From this reading On croit qu'ils tombent, mais ils remontent.)"

rappelle

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

From this reading (La lumiere dont ils procedent les rappelle bientot.

remontent

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

From this reading On croit qu'ils tombent, mais ils remontent.)"

slainnounUS /sleɪn/

people who have been slain (as in battle)

From this reading THE CLUTCHING OF THE CHARM "Fights all his battles o'er again; And thrice he charged the foe, and thrice he slew the slain."

slewverbUS /sluː/

turn sharply; change direction abruptly

From this reading THE CLUTCHING OF THE CHARM "Fights all his battles o'er again; And thrice he charged the foe, and thrice he slew the slain."

surnounUS /sɜːr/

a port in southern Lebanon on the Mediterranean Sea; formerly a major Phoenician seaport famous for silks

From this reading "Un aviateur, un de ces demi-dieux dont l'existence sur terre doit etre courte.

terre

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

From this reading "Un aviateur, un de ces demi-dieux dont l'existence sur terre doit etre courte.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE CLUTCHING OF THE CHARM "Fights all his battles o'er again; And thrice he charged the foe, and thrice he slew the slain."

thriceadverbUS /θraɪs/

three times

From this reading THE CLUTCHING OF THE CHARM "Fights all his battles o'er again; And thrice he charged the foe, and thrice he slew the slain."

tombent

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

From this reading On croit qu'ils tombent, mais ils remontent.)"

UnnounUS /ʌn/

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

From this reading "Un aviateur, un de ces demi-dieux dont l'existence sur terre doit etre courte.

Chapter 6 of The Disturbing Charm by Berta Ruck holds 259 sentences, grouped into 52 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 6 of The Disturbing Charm contain?

Chapter 6 holds 259 sentences of The Disturbing Charm, unabridged, divided into 52 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 6 of The Disturbing Charm by Berta Ruck exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 259 sentences, grouped into 52 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 6 of The Disturbing Charm?

Work through the 52 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 52 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 6 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 6 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 Disturbing Charm

Common questions about reading The Disturbing Charm by Berta Ruck on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Disturbing Charm?

Yes. All 5925 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #36442 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Disturbing Charm is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #36442, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Disturbing Charm take to read?

About 493 minutes of reading across 1185 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Disturbing Charm section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 32 chapters of The Disturbing Charm 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 Disturbing Charm

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

Bewitched
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Disturbing Charm; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Rogue's
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Disturbing Charm; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Company
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Disturbing Charm; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Rascal
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Disturbing Charm; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.