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The Man-Wolf and Other Tales
The Man-Wolf and Other Tales

Chapter IX · Chapter 9

Chapter 9 of The Man-Wolf and Other Tales is here in full — 118 sentences across 24 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Man-Wolf and Other Tales
Context Illustration Reading 1/23 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The lord of Nideck was in a dying state.
What can science do in presence of the great mortal strife between Death and Life?
At the supreme hour, when the invisible wrestlers are writhed together body to body and limb to limb, panting, each in turn overthrowing and overthrown, what avails the healing art?
One can but watch, and tremble, and listen!
At times the struggle seems suspended--a truce has sounded; Life has retired into her hold.
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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 Man-Wolf and Other Tales

Chapter IX · Chapter 9

Chapter 9 of The Man-Wolf and Other Tales is here in full — 118 sentences across 24 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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

Line 1
The lord of Nideck was in a dying state.
Line 2
What can science do in presence of the great mortal strife between Death and Life?
/wʌt kæn ˈsaɪəns duː ɪn ˈprezəns ʌv ðə ɡreɪt ˈmɔːrtəl straɪf bɪˈtwiːn deθ ənd laɪf/
Line 3
At the supreme hour, when the invisible wrestlers are writhed together body to body and limb to limb, panting, each in turn overthrowing and overthrown, what avails the healing art?
Line 4
One can but watch, and tremble, and listen!
/wʌn kæn bʌt wɑːtʃ ənd ˈtrembəl ənd ˈlɪsən/
Line 5
At times the struggle seems suspended--a truce has sounded; Life has retired into her hold.

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.

healing noun US /ˈhiːlɪŋ/

the natural process by which the body repairs itself

From this reading “At the supreme hour, when the invisible wrestlers are writhed together body to body and limb to limb, panting, each in turn overthrowing and overthrown, what avails the healing art?”

overthrowing verb US /ˈoʊvərθroʊɪŋ/

-ing form of “overthrow” — cause the downfall of; of rulers

From this reading “At the supreme hour, when the invisible wrestlers are writhed together body to body and limb to limb, panting, each in turn overthrowing and overthrown, what avails the healing art?”

overthrown verb US /ˌoʊvərˈθroʊn/

inflected form of “overthrow” — cause the downfall of; of rulers

From this reading “At the supreme hour, when the invisible wrestlers are writhed together body to body and limb to limb, panting, each in turn overthrowing and overthrown, what avails the healing art?”

strife noun US /straɪf/

lack of agreement or harmony

From this reading “What can science do in presence of the great mortal strife between Death and Life?”

suspended adjective US /səˈspendɪd/

(of undissolved particles in a fluid) supported or kept from sinking or falling by buoyancy and without apparent attachment

From this reading “At times the struggle seems suspended--a truce has sounded; Life has retired into her hold.”

truce noun US /truːs/

a state of peace agreed to between opponents so they can discuss peace terms

From this reading “At times the struggle seems suspended--a truce has sounded; Life has retired into her hold.”

wrestlers noun US /ˈreslərz/

plural of “wrestler” — combatant who tries to throw opponent to the ground

From this reading “At the supreme hour, when the invisible wrestlers are writhed together body to body and limb to limb, panting, each in turn overthrowing and overthrown, what avails the healing art?”

writhed adjective US /rɪθd/

twisted (especially as in pain or struggle)

From this reading “At the supreme hour, when the invisible wrestlers are writhed together body to body and limb to limb, panting, each in turn overthrowing and overthrown, what avails the healing art?”

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 The lord of Nideck was in a dying state.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading What can science do in presence of the great mortal strife between Death and Life?

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading At the supreme hour, when the invisible wrestlers are writhed together body to body and limb to limb, panting, each in turn overthrowing and overthrown, what avails the healing art?

artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/

an old form of “are”, used with “thou”

From this reading At the supreme hour, when the invisible wrestlers are writhed together body to body and limb to limb, panting, each in turn overthrowing and overthrown, what avails the healing art?

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At the supreme hour, when the invisible wrestlers are writhed together body to body and limb to limb, panting, each in turn overthrowing and overthrown, what avails the healing art?

avails

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

From this reading At the supreme hour, when the invisible wrestlers are writhed together body to body and limb to limb, panting, each in turn overthrowing and overthrown, what avails the healing art?

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading What can science do in presence of the great mortal strife between Death and Life?

bodynounUS /ˈbɑːdi/

the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)

From this reading At the supreme hour, when the invisible wrestlers are writhed together body to body and limb to limb, panting, each in turn overthrowing and overthrown, what avails the healing art?

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading One can but watch, and tremble, and listen!

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading What can science do in presence of the great mortal strife between Death and Life?

DeathnounUS /deθ/

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading What can science do in presence of the great mortal strife between Death and Life?

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading What can science do in presence of the great mortal strife between Death and Life?

dyingadjectiveUS /ˈdaɪɪŋ/

in or associated with the process of passing from life or ceasing to be

From this reading The lord of Nideck was in a dying state.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading At the supreme hour, when the invisible wrestlers are writhed together body to body and limb to limb, panting, each in turn overthrowing and overthrown, what avails the healing art?

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading What can science do in presence of the great mortal strife between Death and Life?

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading At times the struggle seems suspended--a truce has sounded; Life has retired into her hold.

healingnounUS /ˈhiːlɪŋ/

the natural process by which the body repairs itself

From this reading At the supreme hour, when the invisible wrestlers are writhed together body to body and limb to limb, panting, each in turn overthrowing and overthrown, what avails the healing art?

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading At times the struggle seems suspended--a truce has sounded; Life has retired into her hold.

holdverbUS /hoʊld/

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading At times the struggle seems suspended--a truce has sounded; Life has retired into her hold.

hournounUS /ˈaʊər/

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading At the supreme hour, when the invisible wrestlers are writhed together body to body and limb to limb, panting, each in turn overthrowing and overthrown, what avails the healing art?

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The lord of Nideck was in a dying state.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading At times the struggle seems suspended--a truce has sounded; Life has retired into her hold.

invisibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvɪzəbəl/

impossible or nearly impossible to see; imperceptible by the eye

From this reading At the supreme hour, when the invisible wrestlers are writhed together body to body and limb to limb, panting, each in turn overthrowing and overthrown, what avails the healing art?

LifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading What can science do in presence of the great mortal strife between Death and Life?

limbnounUS /lɪm/

one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper

From this reading At the supreme hour, when the invisible wrestlers are writhed together body to body and limb to limb, panting, each in turn overthrowing and overthrown, what avails the healing art?

listenverbUS /ˈlɪsən/

hear with intention

From this reading One can but watch, and tremble, and listen!

lordnounUS /lɔːrd/

terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God

From this reading The lord of Nideck was in a dying state.

mortaladjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrtəl/

subject to death

From this reading What can science do in presence of the great mortal strife between Death and Life?

Nideck

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

From this reading The lord of Nideck was in a dying state.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The lord of Nideck was in a dying state.

OnepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One can but watch, and tremble, and listen!

overthrowingverbUS /ˈoʊvərθroʊɪŋ/

-ing form of “overthrow” — cause the downfall of; of rulers

From this reading At the supreme hour, when the invisible wrestlers are writhed together body to body and limb to limb, panting, each in turn overthrowing and overthrown, what avails the healing art?

overthrownverbUS /ˌoʊvərˈθroʊn/

inflected form of “overthrow” — cause the downfall of; of rulers

From this reading At the supreme hour, when the invisible wrestlers are writhed together body to body and limb to limb, panting, each in turn overthrowing and overthrown, what avails the healing art?

pantingnounUS /ˈpæntɪŋ/

breathing heavily (as after exertion)

From this reading At the supreme hour, when the invisible wrestlers are writhed together body to body and limb to limb, panting, each in turn overthrowing and overthrown, what avails the healing art?

presencenounUS /ˈprezəns/

the state of being present; current existence

From this reading What can science do in presence of the great mortal strife between Death and Life?

retiredadjectiveUS /rɪˈtaɪrd/

no longer active in your work or profession

From this reading At times the struggle seems suspended--a truce has sounded; Life has retired into her hold.

sciencenounUS /ˈsaɪəns/

a particular branch of scientific knowledge

From this reading What can science do in presence of the great mortal strife between Death and Life?

seemsverbUS /siːmz/

third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading At times the struggle seems suspended--a truce has sounded; Life has retired into her hold.

soundedverbUS /ˈsaʊndɪd/

past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way

From this reading At times the struggle seems suspended--a truce has sounded; Life has retired into her hold.

statenounUS /steɪt/

the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation

From this reading The lord of Nideck was in a dying state.

strifenounUS /straɪf/

lack of agreement or harmony

From this reading What can science do in presence of the great mortal strife between Death and Life?

struggleverbUS /ˈstrʌɡəl/

make a strenuous or labored effort

From this reading At times the struggle seems suspended--a truce has sounded; Life has retired into her hold.

supremeadjectiveUS /səˈpriːm/

final or last in your life or progress

From this reading At the supreme hour, when the invisible wrestlers are writhed together body to body and limb to limb, panting, each in turn overthrowing and overthrown, what avails the healing art?

suspendedadjectiveUS /səˈspendɪd/

(of undissolved particles in a fluid) supported or kept from sinking or falling by buoyancy and without apparent attachment

From this reading At times the struggle seems suspended--a truce has sounded; Life has retired into her hold.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The lord of Nideck was in a dying state.

timesnounUS /taɪmz/

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading At times the struggle seems suspended--a truce has sounded; Life has retired into her hold.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading At the supreme hour, when the invisible wrestlers are writhed together body to body and limb to limb, panting, each in turn overthrowing and overthrown, what avails the healing art?

togetheradverbUS /təˈɡeðər/

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading At the supreme hour, when the invisible wrestlers are writhed together body to body and limb to limb, panting, each in turn overthrowing and overthrown, what avails the healing art?

trembleverbUS /ˈtrembəl/

move or jerk quickly and involuntarily up and down or sideways

From this reading One can but watch, and tremble, and listen!

trucenounUS /truːs/

a state of peace agreed to between opponents so they can discuss peace terms

From this reading At times the struggle seems suspended--a truce has sounded; Life has retired into her hold.

turnverbUS /tɜːrn/

change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense

From this reading At the supreme hour, when the invisible wrestlers are writhed together body to body and limb to limb, panting, each in turn overthrowing and overthrown, what avails the healing art?

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The lord of Nideck was in a dying state.

watchverbUS /wɑːtʃ/

look attentively

From this reading One can but watch, and tremble, and listen!

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading What can science do in presence of the great mortal strife between Death and Life?

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading At the supreme hour, when the invisible wrestlers are writhed together body to body and limb to limb, panting, each in turn overthrowing and overthrown, what avails the healing art?

wrestlersnounUS /ˈreslərz/

plural of “wrestler” — combatant who tries to throw opponent to the ground

From this reading At the supreme hour, when the invisible wrestlers are writhed together body to body and limb to limb, panting, each in turn overthrowing and overthrown, what avails the healing art?

writhedadjectiveUS /rɪθd/

twisted (especially as in pain or struggle)

From this reading At the supreme hour, when the invisible wrestlers are writhed together body to body and limb to limb, panting, each in turn overthrowing and overthrown, what avails the healing art?

Chapter 9 of The Man-Wolf and Other Tales by Erckmann-Chatrian holds 118 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 Man-Wolf and Other Tales contain?

Chapter 9 holds 118 sentences of The Man-Wolf and Other Tales, unabridged, divided into 24 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 9 of The Man-Wolf and Other Tales by Erckmann-Chatrian exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 118 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 Man-Wolf and Other Tales?

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 Man-Wolf and Other Tales

Common questions about reading The Man-Wolf and Other Tales by Erckmann-Chatrian on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Man-Wolf and Other Tales?

Yes. All 3285 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #15745 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Man-Wolf and Other Tales is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #15745, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Man-Wolf and Other Tales take to read?

About 273 minutes of reading across 657 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Man-Wolf and Other Tales section by section

How to work through The Man-Wolf and Other Tales section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 17 chapters of The Man-Wolf and Other Tales 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 Man-Wolf and Other Tales

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Man-Wolf and Other Tales, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Christmas
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Man-Wolf and Other Tales; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Lying
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Man-Wolf and Other Tales; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Asleep
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Man-Wolf and Other Tales; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cygne
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Man-Wolf and Other Tales; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.