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The Duke's Prize
The Duke's Prize

Chapter IX · Chapter 9

Chapter 9 of The Duke's Prize is here in full — 117 sentences across 24 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/23 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE DUEL.
What folly 'tis to hazard life for ill.
-Timon of Athens.
AS we have said, Petro, finding that nothing short of an open and downright insult could bring Carlton to be the challenging party, therefore resolved to make a bold attempt to accomplish this.
He was revolving this matter over in his mind, when an event occurred which led him to be the challenger in fact.
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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 Duke's Prize

Chapter IX · Chapter 9

Chapter 9 of The Duke's Prize is here in full — 117 sentences across 24 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/23 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE DUEL.
/ðə ˈduːəl/
Line 2
What folly 'tis to hazard life for ill.
/wʌt ˈfɑːli tɪz tuː ˈhæzərd laɪf fɔːr ɪl/
Line 3
-Timon of Athens.
Line 4
AS we have said, Petro, finding that nothing short of an open and downright insult could bring Carlton to be the challenging party, therefore resolved to make a bold attempt to accomplish this.
Line 5
He was revolving this matter over in his mind, when an event occurred which led him to be the challenger in fact.
/hiː wɑːz riˈvɑːlvɪŋ ðɪs ˈmætər ˈoʊvər ɪn hɪz maɪnd wen æn ɪˈvent əˈkɜːrd wɪtʃ led hɪm tuː biː ðə ˈtʃæləndʒər ɪn fækt/

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.

accomplish verb US /əˈkɑːmplɪʃ/

put in effect

From this reading “AS we have said, Petro, finding that nothing short of an open and downright insult could bring Carlton to be the challenging party, therefore resolved to make a bold attempt to accomplish this.”

Athens noun US /ˈæθənz/

the capital and largest city of Greece; named after Athena (its patron goddess)

From this reading “-Timon of Athens.”

challenger noun US /ˈtʃæləndʒər/

the contestant you hope to defeat

From this reading “He was revolving this matter over in his mind, when an event occurred which led him to be the challenger in fact.”

challenging adjective US /ˈtʃæləndʒɪŋ/

requiring full use of your abilities or resources

From this reading “AS we have said, Petro, finding that nothing short of an open and downright insult could bring Carlton to be the challenging party, therefore resolved to make a bold attempt to accomplish this.”

downright adverb US /ˈdaʊnraɪt/

thoroughgoing

From this reading “AS we have said, Petro, finding that nothing short of an open and downright insult could bring Carlton to be the challenging party, therefore resolved to make a bold attempt to accomplish this.”

duel noun US /ˈduːəl/

a prearranged fight with deadly weapons by two people (accompanied by seconds) in order to settle a quarrel over a point of honor

From this reading “THE DUEL.”

hazard noun US /ˈhæzərd/

a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune

From this reading “What folly 'tis to hazard life for ill.”

revolving verb US /riˈvɑːlvɪŋ/

-ing form of “revolve” — turn on or around an axis or a center

From this reading “He was revolving this matter over in his mind, when an event occurred which led him to be the challenger in fact.”

All words in this reading · 57

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 AS we have said, Petro, finding that nothing short of an open and downright insult could bring Carlton to be the challenging party, therefore resolved to make a bold attempt to accomplish this.

accomplishverbUS /əˈkɑːmplɪʃ/

put in effect

From this reading AS we have said, Petro, finding that nothing short of an open and downright insult could bring Carlton to be the challenging party, therefore resolved to make a bold attempt to accomplish this.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading AS we have said, Petro, finding that nothing short of an open and downright insult could bring Carlton to be the challenging party, therefore resolved to make a bold attempt to accomplish this.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading AS we have said, Petro, finding that nothing short of an open and downright insult could bring Carlton to be the challenging party, therefore resolved to make a bold attempt to accomplish this.

ASconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading AS we have said, Petro, finding that nothing short of an open and downright insult could bring Carlton to be the challenging party, therefore resolved to make a bold attempt to accomplish this.

AthensnounUS /ˈæθənz/

the capital and largest city of Greece; named after Athena (its patron goddess)

From this reading -Timon of Athens.

attemptnounUS /əˈtempt/

earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something

From this reading AS we have said, Petro, finding that nothing short of an open and downright insult could bring Carlton to be the challenging party, therefore resolved to make a bold attempt to accomplish this.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading AS we have said, Petro, finding that nothing short of an open and downright insult could bring Carlton to be the challenging party, therefore resolved to make a bold attempt to accomplish this.

boldadjectiveUS /boʊld/

fearless and daring

From this reading AS we have said, Petro, finding that nothing short of an open and downright insult could bring Carlton to be the challenging party, therefore resolved to make a bold attempt to accomplish this.

bringverbUS /brɪŋ/

take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading AS we have said, Petro, finding that nothing short of an open and downright insult could bring Carlton to be the challenging party, therefore resolved to make a bold attempt to accomplish this.

Carlton

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

From this reading AS we have said, Petro, finding that nothing short of an open and downright insult could bring Carlton to be the challenging party, therefore resolved to make a bold attempt to accomplish this.

challengernounUS /ˈtʃæləndʒər/

the contestant you hope to defeat

From this reading He was revolving this matter over in his mind, when an event occurred which led him to be the challenger in fact.

challengingadjectiveUS /ˈtʃæləndʒɪŋ/

requiring full use of your abilities or resources

From this reading AS we have said, Petro, finding that nothing short of an open and downright insult could bring Carlton to be the challenging party, therefore resolved to make a bold attempt to accomplish this.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading AS we have said, Petro, finding that nothing short of an open and downright insult could bring Carlton to be the challenging party, therefore resolved to make a bold attempt to accomplish this.

downrightadverbUS /ˈdaʊnraɪt/

thoroughgoing

From this reading AS we have said, Petro, finding that nothing short of an open and downright insult could bring Carlton to be the challenging party, therefore resolved to make a bold attempt to accomplish this.

DUELnounUS /ˈduːəl/

a prearranged fight with deadly weapons by two people (accompanied by seconds) in order to settle a quarrel over a point of honor

From this reading THE DUEL.

eventnounUS /ɪˈvent/

something that happens at a given place and time

From this reading He was revolving this matter over in his mind, when an event occurred which led him to be the challenger in fact.

factnounUS /fækt/

a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading He was revolving this matter over in his mind, when an event occurred which led him to be the challenger in fact.

findingnounUS /ˈfaɪndɪŋ/

the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation

From this reading AS we have said, Petro, finding that nothing short of an open and downright insult could bring Carlton to be the challenging party, therefore resolved to make a bold attempt to accomplish this.

follynounUS /ˈfɑːli/

the trait of acting stupidly or rashly

From this reading What folly 'tis to hazard life for ill.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading What folly 'tis to hazard life for ill.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading AS we have said, Petro, finding that nothing short of an open and downright insult could bring Carlton to be the challenging party, therefore resolved to make a bold attempt to accomplish this.

hazardnounUS /ˈhæzərd/

a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune

From this reading What folly 'tis to hazard life for ill.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He was revolving this matter over in his mind, when an event occurred which led him to be the challenger in fact.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading He was revolving this matter over in his mind, when an event occurred which led him to be the challenger in fact.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He was revolving this matter over in his mind, when an event occurred which led him to be the challenger in fact.

illadjectiveUS /ɪl/

affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function

From this reading What folly 'tis to hazard life for ill.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading He was revolving this matter over in his mind, when an event occurred which led him to be the challenger in fact.

insultnounUS /ˌɪnˈsʌlt/

a rude expression intended to offend or hurt

From this reading AS we have said, Petro, finding that nothing short of an open and downright insult could bring Carlton to be the challenging party, therefore resolved to make a bold attempt to accomplish this.

lednounUS /led/

diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used

From this reading He was revolving this matter over in his mind, when an event occurred which led him to be the challenger in fact.

lifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading What folly 'tis to hazard life for ill.

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading AS we have said, Petro, finding that nothing short of an open and downright insult could bring Carlton to be the challenging party, therefore resolved to make a bold attempt to accomplish this.

matternounUS /ˈmætər/

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading He was revolving this matter over in his mind, when an event occurred which led him to be the challenger in fact.

mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading He was revolving this matter over in his mind, when an event occurred which led him to be the challenger in fact.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading AS we have said, Petro, finding that nothing short of an open and downright insult could bring Carlton to be the challenging party, therefore resolved to make a bold attempt to accomplish this.

occurredverbUS /əˈkɜːrd/

inflected form of “occur” — come to pass

From this reading He was revolving this matter over in his mind, when an event occurred which led him to be the challenger in fact.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading -Timon of Athens.

openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading AS we have said, Petro, finding that nothing short of an open and downright insult could bring Carlton to be the challenging party, therefore resolved to make a bold attempt to accomplish this.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading He was revolving this matter over in his mind, when an event occurred which led him to be the challenger in fact.

partynounUS /ˈpɑːrti/

an organization to gain political power

From this reading AS we have said, Petro, finding that nothing short of an open and downright insult could bring Carlton to be the challenging party, therefore resolved to make a bold attempt to accomplish this.

Petro

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

From this reading AS we have said, Petro, finding that nothing short of an open and downright insult could bring Carlton to be the challenging party, therefore resolved to make a bold attempt to accomplish this.

resolvedadjectiveUS /riˈzɑːlvd/

determined

From this reading AS we have said, Petro, finding that nothing short of an open and downright insult could bring Carlton to be the challenging party, therefore resolved to make a bold attempt to accomplish this.

revolvingverbUS /riˈvɑːlvɪŋ/

-ing form of “revolve” — turn on or around an axis or a center

From this reading He was revolving this matter over in his mind, when an event occurred which led him to be the challenger in fact.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading AS we have said, Petro, finding that nothing short of an open and downright insult could bring Carlton to be the challenging party, therefore resolved to make a bold attempt to accomplish this.

shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔːrt/

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading AS we have said, Petro, finding that nothing short of an open and downright insult could bring Carlton to be the challenging party, therefore resolved to make a bold attempt to accomplish this.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading AS we have said, Petro, finding that nothing short of an open and downright insult could bring Carlton to be the challenging party, therefore resolved to make a bold attempt to accomplish this.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE DUEL.

thereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/

for that reason; as a result

From this reading AS we have said, Petro, finding that nothing short of an open and downright insult could bring Carlton to be the challenging party, therefore resolved to make a bold attempt to accomplish this.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading AS we have said, Petro, finding that nothing short of an open and downright insult could bring Carlton to be the challenging party, therefore resolved to make a bold attempt to accomplish this.

Timon

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

From this reading -Timon of Athens.

tisnounUS /tɪz/

plural of “ti” — a light strong grey lustrous corrosion-resistant metallic element used in strong lightweight alloys (as for airplane parts); the main sources are rutile and ilmenite

From this reading What folly 'tis to hazard life for ill.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading What folly 'tis to hazard life for ill.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He was revolving this matter over in his mind, when an event occurred which led him to be the challenger in fact.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading AS we have said, Petro, finding that nothing short of an open and downright insult could bring Carlton to be the challenging party, therefore resolved to make a bold attempt to accomplish this.

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading What folly 'tis to hazard life for ill.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading He was revolving this matter over in his mind, when an event occurred which led him to be the challenger in fact.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading He was revolving this matter over in his mind, when an event occurred which led him to be the challenger in fact.

Chapter 9 of The Duke's Prize by Maturin M. (Maturin Murray) Ballou holds 117 sentences, grouped into 24 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 9 of The Duke's Prize contain?

Chapter 9 holds 117 sentences of The Duke's Prize, unabridged, divided into 24 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 9 of The Duke's Prize by Maturin M. (Maturin Murray) Ballou exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 117 sentences, grouped into 24 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 9 of The Duke's Prize?

Work through the 24 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 24 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 9 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 9 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 Duke's Prize

Common questions about reading The Duke's Prize by Maturin M. (Maturin Murray) Ballou on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Duke's Prize?

Yes. All 3268 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #4956 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Duke's Prize is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #4956, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Duke's Prize take to read?

About 272 minutes of reading across 654 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Duke's Prize section by section

How to work through The Duke's Prize section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 22 chapters of The Duke's Prize 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 Duke's Prize

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Duke's Prize, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Florence
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Duke's Prize; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Serious
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Duke's Prize; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Hearing
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Duke's Prize; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Shall
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Duke's Prize; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.