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The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 03
The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 03

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 03 is here in full — 180 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 03
Context Illustration Reading 7/36 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
For those the sculptor's laurelled bust, The builder's marble piles, The anthems pealing o'er their dust Through long cathedral aisles.
For these the blossom-sprinkled turf That floods the lonely graves When Spring rolls in her sea-green surf In flowery-foaming waves.
Two paths lead upward from below, And angels wait above, Who count each burning life-drop's flow, Each falling tear of Love.
Though from the Hero's bleeding breast Her pulses Freedom drew, Though the white lilies in her crest Sprang from that scarlet dew,-- While Valor's haughty champions wait Till all their scars are shown, Love walks unchallenged through the gate, To sit beside the Throne.
THE STETHOSCOPE SONG A PROFESSIONAL BALLAD THERE was a young man in Boston town, He bought him a stethoscope nice and new, All mounted and finished and polished down, With an ivory cap and a stopper too.
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Speed 0.75x
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 Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 03

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 03 is here in full — 180 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 7/36 · 5 reading units · Lines 31–35

Line 1
For those the sculptor's laurelled bust, The builder's marble piles, The anthems pealing o'er their dust Through long cathedral aisles.
Line 2
For these the blossom-sprinkled turf That floods the lonely graves When Spring rolls in her sea-green surf In flowery-foaming waves.
Line 3
Two paths lead upward from below, And angels wait above, Who count each burning life-drop's flow, Each falling tear of Love.
Line 4
Though from the Hero's bleeding breast Her pulses Freedom drew, Though the white lilies in her crest Sprang from that scarlet dew,-- While Valor's haughty champions wait Till all their scars are shown, Love walks unchallenged through the gate, To sit beside the Throne.
Line 5
THE STETHOSCOPE SONG A PROFESSIONAL BALLAD THERE was a young man in Boston town, He bought him a stethoscope nice and new, All mounted and finished and polished down, With an ivory cap and a stopper too.
/ðə ˈsteθəskoʊp sɔːŋ ə prəˈfeʃənəl ˈbæləd ðer wɑːz ə jʌŋ mæn ɪn ˈbɑːstən taʊn hiː bɑːt hɪm ə ˈsteθəskoʊp naɪs ənd nuː ɔːl ˈmaʊntəd ənd ˈfɪnɪʃt ənd ˈpɑːlɪʃt daʊn wɪð æn ˈaɪvəri kæp ənd ə ˈstɑːpər tuː/

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.

aisles noun US /aɪlz/

plural of “aisle” — a long narrow passage (as in a cave or woods)

From this reading “For those the sculptor's laurelled bust, The builder's marble piles, The anthems pealing o'er their dust Through long cathedral aisles.”

anthems noun US /ˈænθəmz/

plural of “anthem” — a song of devotion or loyalty (as to a nation or school)

From this reading “For those the sculptor's laurelled bust, The builder's marble piles, The anthems pealing o'er their dust Through long cathedral aisles.”

builder's noun US /ˈbɪldərz/

possessive form of “builder” — a substance added to soaps or detergents to increase their cleansing action

From this reading “For those the sculptor's laurelled bust, The builder's marble piles, The anthems pealing o'er their dust Through long cathedral aisles.”

champions noun US /ˈtʃæmpiənz/

plural of “champion” — someone who has won first place in a competition

From this reading “Though from the Hero's bleeding breast Her pulses Freedom drew, Though the white lilies in her crest Sprang from that scarlet dew,-- While Valor's haughty champions wait Till all their scars are shown, Love walks unchallenged through the gate, To sit beside the Throne.”

Hero's noun US /ˈhɪroʊz/

possessive form of “hero” — a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength

From this reading “Though from the Hero's bleeding breast Her pulses Freedom drew, Though the white lilies in her crest Sprang from that scarlet dew,-- While Valor's haughty champions wait Till all their scars are shown, Love walks unchallenged through the gate, To sit beside the Throne.”

stethoscope noun US /ˈsteθəskoʊp/

a medical instrument for listening to the sounds generated inside the body

From this reading “THE STETHOSCOPE SONG A PROFESSIONAL BALLAD THERE was a young man in Boston town, He bought him a stethoscope nice and new, All mounted and finished and polished down, With an ivory cap and a stopper too.”

stopper noun US /ˈstɑːpər/

an act so striking or impressive that the show must be delayed until the audience quiets down

From this reading “THE STETHOSCOPE SONG A PROFESSIONAL BALLAD THERE was a young man in Boston town, He bought him a stethoscope nice and new, All mounted and finished and polished down, With an ivory cap and a stopper too.”

unchallenged adjective US /ənˈtʃælɪndʒd/

generally agreed upon; not subject to dispute

From this reading “Though from the Hero's bleeding breast Her pulses Freedom drew, Though the white lilies in her crest Sprang from that scarlet dew,-- While Valor's haughty champions wait Till all their scars are shown, Love walks unchallenged through the gate, To sit beside the Throne.”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

wait Till verb + particle

In this reading “Though from the Hero's bleeding breast Her pulses Freedom drew, Though the white lilies in her crest Sprang from that scarlet dew,-- While Valor's haughty champions wait Till all their scars are shown, Love walks unchallenged through the gate, To sit beside the Throne.”

young man adjective + noun

a teenager or a young adult male

In this reading “THE STETHOSCOPE SONG A PROFESSIONAL BALLAD THERE was a young man in Boston town, He bought him a stethoscope nice and new, All mounted and finished and polished down, With an ivory cap and a stopper too.”

sit beside verb + particle

In this reading “Though from the Hero's bleeding breast Her pulses Freedom drew, Though the white lilies in her crest Sprang from that scarlet dew,-- While Valor's haughty champions wait Till all their scars are shown, Love walks unchallenged through the gate, To sit beside the Throne.”

white lilies noun + noun counted as “white lily”

lily of eastern Mediterranean and the Balkans with broad funnel-shaped white flowers

In this reading “Though from the Hero's bleeding breast Her pulses Freedom drew, Though the white lilies in her crest Sprang from that scarlet dew,-- While Valor's haughty champions wait Till all their scars are shown, Love walks unchallenged through the gate, To sit beside the Throne.”

through the gate preposition + article + noun counted as “through … gate”

In this reading “Though from the Hero's bleeding breast Her pulses Freedom drew, Though the white lilies in her crest Sprang from that scarlet dew,-- While Valor's haughty champions wait Till all their scars are shown, Love walks unchallenged through the gate, To sit beside the Throne.”

Sprang from verb + particle counted as “spring from”

In this reading “Though from the Hero's bleeding breast Her pulses Freedom drew, Though the white lilies in her crest Sprang from that scarlet dew,-- While Valor's haughty champions wait Till all their scars are shown, Love walks unchallenged through the gate, To sit beside the Throne.”

All words in this reading · 109

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 STETHOSCOPE SONG A PROFESSIONAL BALLAD THERE was a young man in Boston town, He bought him a stethoscope nice and new, All mounted and finished and polished down, With an ivory cap and a stopper too.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading Two paths lead upward from below, And angels wait above, Who count each burning life-drop's flow, Each falling tear of Love.

aislesnounUS /aɪlz/

plural of “aisle” — a long narrow passage (as in a cave or woods)

From this reading For those the sculptor's laurelled bust, The builder's marble piles, The anthems pealing o'er their dust Through long cathedral aisles.

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 Though from the Hero's bleeding breast Her pulses Freedom drew, Though the white lilies in her crest Sprang from that scarlet dew,-- While Valor's haughty champions wait Till all their scars are shown, Love walks unchallenged through the gate, To sit beside the Throne.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading THE STETHOSCOPE SONG A PROFESSIONAL BALLAD THERE was a young man in Boston town, He bought him a stethoscope nice and new, All mounted and finished and polished down, With an ivory cap and a stopper too.

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Two paths lead upward from below, And angels wait above, Who count each burning life-drop's flow, Each falling tear of Love.

angelsnounUS /ˈeɪndʒəlz/

plural of “angel” — spiritual being attendant upon God

From this reading Two paths lead upward from below, And angels wait above, Who count each burning life-drop's flow, Each falling tear of Love.

anthemsnounUS /ˈænθəmz/

plural of “anthem” — a song of devotion or loyalty (as to a nation or school)

From this reading For those the sculptor's laurelled bust, The builder's marble piles, The anthems pealing o'er their dust Through long cathedral aisles.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Though from the Hero's bleeding breast Her pulses Freedom drew, Though the white lilies in her crest Sprang from that scarlet dew,-- While Valor's haughty champions wait Till all their scars are shown, Love walks unchallenged through the gate, To sit beside the Throne.

BALLADnounUS /ˈbæləd/

a narrative song with a recurrent refrain

From this reading THE STETHOSCOPE SONG A PROFESSIONAL BALLAD THERE was a young man in Boston town, He bought him a stethoscope nice and new, All mounted and finished and polished down, With an ivory cap and a stopper too.

belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading Two paths lead upward from below, And angels wait above, Who count each burning life-drop's flow, Each falling tear of Love.

besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/

next to; at the side of

From this reading Though from the Hero's bleeding breast Her pulses Freedom drew, Though the white lilies in her crest Sprang from that scarlet dew,-- While Valor's haughty champions wait Till all their scars are shown, Love walks unchallenged through the gate, To sit beside the Throne.

bleedingnounUS /ˈbliːdɪŋ/

the flow of blood from a ruptured blood vessel

From this reading Though from the Hero's bleeding breast Her pulses Freedom drew, Though the white lilies in her crest Sprang from that scarlet dew,-- While Valor's haughty champions wait Till all their scars are shown, Love walks unchallenged through the gate, To sit beside the Throne.

blossom-sprinkled

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

From this reading For these the blossom-sprinkled turf That floods the lonely graves When Spring rolls in her sea-green surf In flowery-foaming waves.

BostonnounUS /ˈbɑːstən/

state capital and largest city of Massachusetts; a major center for banking and financial services

From this reading THE STETHOSCOPE SONG A PROFESSIONAL BALLAD THERE was a young man in Boston town, He bought him a stethoscope nice and new, All mounted and finished and polished down, With an ivory cap and a stopper too.

boughtverbUS /bɑːt/

inflected form of “buy” — obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction

From this reading THE STETHOSCOPE SONG A PROFESSIONAL BALLAD THERE was a young man in Boston town, He bought him a stethoscope nice and new, All mounted and finished and polished down, With an ivory cap and a stopper too.

breastnounUS /brest/

the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen

From this reading Though from the Hero's bleeding breast Her pulses Freedom drew, Though the white lilies in her crest Sprang from that scarlet dew,-- While Valor's haughty champions wait Till all their scars are shown, Love walks unchallenged through the gate, To sit beside the Throne.

builder'snounUS /ˈbɪldərz/

possessive form of “builder” — a substance added to soaps or detergents to increase their cleansing action

From this reading For those the sculptor's laurelled bust, The builder's marble piles, The anthems pealing o'er their dust Through long cathedral aisles.

burningnounUS /ˈbɜːrnɪŋ/

the act of burning something

From this reading Two paths lead upward from below, And angels wait above, Who count each burning life-drop's flow, Each falling tear of Love.

bustverbUS /bʌst/

ruin completely

From this reading For those the sculptor's laurelled bust, The builder's marble piles, The anthems pealing o'er their dust Through long cathedral aisles.

capnounUS /kæp/

a tight-fitting headdress

From this reading THE STETHOSCOPE SONG A PROFESSIONAL BALLAD THERE was a young man in Boston town, He bought him a stethoscope nice and new, All mounted and finished and polished down, With an ivory cap and a stopper too.

cathedralnounUS /kəˈθiːdrəl/

any large and important church

From this reading For those the sculptor's laurelled bust, The builder's marble piles, The anthems pealing o'er their dust Through long cathedral aisles.

championsnounUS /ˈtʃæmpiənz/

plural of “champion” — someone who has won first place in a competition

From this reading Though from the Hero's bleeding breast Her pulses Freedom drew, Though the white lilies in her crest Sprang from that scarlet dew,-- While Valor's haughty champions wait Till all their scars are shown, Love walks unchallenged through the gate, To sit beside the Throne.

countverbUS /kaʊnt/

determine the number or amount of

From this reading Two paths lead upward from below, And angels wait above, Who count each burning life-drop's flow, Each falling tear of Love.

crestnounUS /krest/

the top line of a hill, mountain, or wave

From this reading Though from the Hero's bleeding breast Her pulses Freedom drew, Though the white lilies in her crest Sprang from that scarlet dew,-- While Valor's haughty champions wait Till all their scars are shown, Love walks unchallenged through the gate, To sit beside the Throne.

dewnounUS /duː/

water that has condensed on a cool surface overnight from water vapor in the air

From this reading Though from the Hero's bleeding breast Her pulses Freedom drew, Though the white lilies in her crest Sprang from that scarlet dew,-- While Valor's haughty champions wait Till all their scars are shown, Love walks unchallenged through the gate, To sit beside the Throne.

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading THE STETHOSCOPE SONG A PROFESSIONAL BALLAD THERE was a young man in Boston town, He bought him a stethoscope nice and new, All mounted and finished and polished down, With an ivory cap and a stopper too.

drewnounUS /druː/

United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)

From this reading Though from the Hero's bleeding breast Her pulses Freedom drew, Though the white lilies in her crest Sprang from that scarlet dew,-- While Valor's haughty champions wait Till all their scars are shown, Love walks unchallenged through the gate, To sit beside the Throne.

dustverbUS /dʌst/

remove the dust from

From this reading For those the sculptor's laurelled bust, The builder's marble piles, The anthems pealing o'er their dust Through long cathedral aisles.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

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

From this reading Two paths lead upward from below, And angels wait above, Who count each burning life-drop's flow, Each falling tear of Love.

fallingadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːlɪŋ/

decreasing in amount or degree

From this reading Two paths lead upward from below, And angels wait above, Who count each burning life-drop's flow, Each falling tear of Love.

finishedadjectiveUS /ˈfɪnɪʃt/

(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state

From this reading THE STETHOSCOPE SONG A PROFESSIONAL BALLAD THERE was a young man in Boston town, He bought him a stethoscope nice and new, All mounted and finished and polished down, With an ivory cap and a stopper too.

floodsnounUS /flʌdz/

plural of “flood” — the rising of a body of water and its overflowing onto normally dry land

From this reading For these the blossom-sprinkled turf That floods the lonely graves When Spring rolls in her sea-green surf In flowery-foaming waves.

flownounUS /floʊ/

the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases)

From this reading Two paths lead upward from below, And angels wait above, Who count each burning life-drop's flow, Each falling tear of Love.

flowery-foaming

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

From this reading For these the blossom-sprinkled turf That floods the lonely graves When Spring rolls in her sea-green surf In flowery-foaming waves.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For those the sculptor's laurelled bust, The builder's marble piles, The anthems pealing o'er their dust Through long cathedral aisles.

FreedomnounUS /ˈfriːdəm/

the condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints

From this reading Though from the Hero's bleeding breast Her pulses Freedom drew, Though the white lilies in her crest Sprang from that scarlet dew,-- While Valor's haughty champions wait Till all their scars are shown, Love walks unchallenged through the gate, To sit beside the Throne.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Two paths lead upward from below, And angels wait above, Who count each burning life-drop's flow, Each falling tear of Love.

gatenounUS /ɡeɪt/

a movable barrier in a fence or wall

From this reading Though from the Hero's bleeding breast Her pulses Freedom drew, Though the white lilies in her crest Sprang from that scarlet dew,-- While Valor's haughty champions wait Till all their scars are shown, Love walks unchallenged through the gate, To sit beside the Throne.

gravesnounUS /ɡreɪvz/

English writer known for his interest in mythology and in the classics (1895-1985)

From this reading For these the blossom-sprinkled turf That floods the lonely graves When Spring rolls in her sea-green surf In flowery-foaming waves.

haughtyadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːti/

having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy

From this reading Though from the Hero's bleeding breast Her pulses Freedom drew, Though the white lilies in her crest Sprang from that scarlet dew,-- While Valor's haughty champions wait Till all their scars are shown, Love walks unchallenged through the gate, To sit beside the Throne.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading THE STETHOSCOPE SONG A PROFESSIONAL BALLAD THERE was a young man in Boston town, He bought him a stethoscope nice and new, All mounted and finished and polished down, With an ivory cap and a stopper too.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading For these the blossom-sprinkled turf That floods the lonely graves When Spring rolls in her sea-green surf In flowery-foaming waves.

Hero'snounUS /ˈhɪroʊz/

possessive form of “hero” — a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength

From this reading Though from the Hero's bleeding breast Her pulses Freedom drew, Though the white lilies in her crest Sprang from that scarlet dew,-- While Valor's haughty champions wait Till all their scars are shown, Love walks unchallenged through the gate, To sit beside the Throne.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading THE STETHOSCOPE SONG A PROFESSIONAL BALLAD THERE was a young man in Boston town, He bought him a stethoscope nice and new, All mounted and finished and polished down, With an ivory cap and a stopper too.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading For these the blossom-sprinkled turf That floods the lonely graves When Spring rolls in her sea-green surf In flowery-foaming waves.

ivorynounUS /ˈaɪvəri/

a hard smooth ivory colored dentine that makes up most of the tusks of elephants and walruses

From this reading THE STETHOSCOPE SONG A PROFESSIONAL BALLAD THERE was a young man in Boston town, He bought him a stethoscope nice and new, All mounted and finished and polished down, With an ivory cap and a stopper too.

laurelledadjective

crowned with or as if with laurel symbolizing victory

From this reading For those the sculptor's laurelled bust, The builder's marble piles, The anthems pealing o'er their dust Through long cathedral aisles.

leadverbUS /led/

take somebody somewhere

From this reading Two paths lead upward from below, And angels wait above, Who count each burning life-drop's flow, Each falling tear of Love.

life-drop's

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

From this reading Two paths lead upward from below, And angels wait above, Who count each burning life-drop's flow, Each falling tear of Love.

liliesnounUS /ˈlɪliz/

plural of “lily” — any liliaceous plant of the genus Lilium having showy pendulous flowers

From this reading Though from the Hero's bleeding breast Her pulses Freedom drew, Though the white lilies in her crest Sprang from that scarlet dew,-- While Valor's haughty champions wait Till all their scars are shown, Love walks unchallenged through the gate, To sit beside the Throne.

lonelyadjectiveUS /ˈloʊnli/

lacking companions or companionship

From this reading For these the blossom-sprinkled turf That floods the lonely graves When Spring rolls in her sea-green surf In flowery-foaming waves.

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 For those the sculptor's laurelled bust, The builder's marble piles, The anthems pealing o'er their dust Through long cathedral aisles.

LovenounUS /lʌv/

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading Two paths lead upward from below, And angels wait above, Who count each burning life-drop's flow, Each falling tear of Love.

mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading THE STETHOSCOPE SONG A PROFESSIONAL BALLAD THERE was a young man in Boston town, He bought him a stethoscope nice and new, All mounted and finished and polished down, With an ivory cap and a stopper too.

marblenounUS /ˈmɑːrbəl/

a hard crystalline metamorphic rock that takes a high polish; used for sculpture and as building material

From this reading For those the sculptor's laurelled bust, The builder's marble piles, The anthems pealing o'er their dust Through long cathedral aisles.

mountedadjectiveUS /ˈmaʊntəd/

assembled for use; especially by being attached to a support

From this reading THE STETHOSCOPE SONG A PROFESSIONAL BALLAD THERE was a young man in Boston town, He bought him a stethoscope nice and new, All mounted and finished and polished down, With an ivory cap and a stopper too.

newadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading THE STETHOSCOPE SONG A PROFESSIONAL BALLAD THERE was a young man in Boston town, He bought him a stethoscope nice and new, All mounted and finished and polished down, With an ivory cap and a stopper too.

niceadjectiveUS /naɪs/

pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance

From this reading THE STETHOSCOPE SONG A PROFESSIONAL BALLAD THERE was a young man in Boston town, He bought him a stethoscope nice and new, All mounted and finished and polished down, With an ivory cap and a stopper too.

o'eradverb

throughout a period of time

From this reading For those the sculptor's laurelled bust, The builder's marble piles, The anthems pealing o'er their dust Through long cathedral aisles.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Two paths lead upward from below, And angels wait above, Who count each burning life-drop's flow, Each falling tear of Love.

pathsnounUS /pæðz/

plural of “path” — a course of conduct

From this reading Two paths lead upward from below, And angels wait above, Who count each burning life-drop's flow, Each falling tear of Love.

pealingnoun

a deep prolonged sound (as of thunder or large bells)

From this reading For those the sculptor's laurelled bust, The builder's marble piles, The anthems pealing o'er their dust Through long cathedral aisles.

pilesnounUS /paɪlz/

venous swelling external or internal to the anal sphincter

From this reading For those the sculptor's laurelled bust, The builder's marble piles, The anthems pealing o'er their dust Through long cathedral aisles.

polishedadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːlɪʃt/

perfected or made shiny and smooth

From this reading THE STETHOSCOPE SONG A PROFESSIONAL BALLAD THERE was a young man in Boston town, He bought him a stethoscope nice and new, All mounted and finished and polished down, With an ivory cap and a stopper too.

PROFESSIONALadjectiveUS /prəˈfeʃənəl/

engaged in a profession or engaging in as a profession or means of livelihood

From this reading THE STETHOSCOPE SONG A PROFESSIONAL BALLAD THERE was a young man in Boston town, He bought him a stethoscope nice and new, All mounted and finished and polished down, With an ivory cap and a stopper too.

pulsesnounUS /ˈpʌlsɪz/

plural of “pulse” — (electronics) a sharp transient wave in the normal electrical state (or a series of such transients)

From this reading Though from the Hero's bleeding breast Her pulses Freedom drew, Though the white lilies in her crest Sprang from that scarlet dew,-- While Valor's haughty champions wait Till all their scars are shown, Love walks unchallenged through the gate, To sit beside the Throne.

rollsnounUS /roʊlz/

plural of “roll” — rotary motion of an object around its own axis

From this reading For these the blossom-sprinkled turf That floods the lonely graves When Spring rolls in her sea-green surf In flowery-foaming waves.

scarletnounUS /ˈskɑːrlət/

a variable color that is vivid red but sometimes with an orange tinge

From this reading Though from the Hero's bleeding breast Her pulses Freedom drew, Though the white lilies in her crest Sprang from that scarlet dew,-- While Valor's haughty champions wait Till all their scars are shown, Love walks unchallenged through the gate, To sit beside the Throne.

scarsnounUS /skɑːrz/

plural of “scar” — a mark left (usually on the skin) by the healing of injured tissue

From this reading Though from the Hero's bleeding breast Her pulses Freedom drew, Though the white lilies in her crest Sprang from that scarlet dew,-- While Valor's haughty champions wait Till all their scars are shown, Love walks unchallenged through the gate, To sit beside the Throne.

sculptor's

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

From this reading For those the sculptor's laurelled bust, The builder's marble piles, The anthems pealing o'er their dust Through long cathedral aisles.

sea-greenadjective

of the color of the sea; bluish green

From this reading For these the blossom-sprinkled turf That floods the lonely graves When Spring rolls in her sea-green surf In flowery-foaming waves.

shownverbUS /ʃoʊn/

inflected form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading Though from the Hero's bleeding breast Her pulses Freedom drew, Though the white lilies in her crest Sprang from that scarlet dew,-- While Valor's haughty champions wait Till all their scars are shown, Love walks unchallenged through the gate, To sit beside the Throne.

sitverbUS /sɪt/

be seated

From this reading Though from the Hero's bleeding breast Her pulses Freedom drew, Though the white lilies in her crest Sprang from that scarlet dew,-- While Valor's haughty champions wait Till all their scars are shown, Love walks unchallenged through the gate, To sit beside the Throne.

SONGnounUS /sɔːŋ/

a short musical composition with words

From this reading THE STETHOSCOPE SONG A PROFESSIONAL BALLAD THERE was a young man in Boston town, He bought him a stethoscope nice and new, All mounted and finished and polished down, With an ivory cap and a stopper too.

SprangverbUS /spræŋ/

inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds

From this reading Though from the Hero's bleeding breast Her pulses Freedom drew, Though the white lilies in her crest Sprang from that scarlet dew,-- While Valor's haughty champions wait Till all their scars are shown, Love walks unchallenged through the gate, To sit beside the Throne.

SpringnounUS /sprɪŋ/

the season of growth

From this reading For these the blossom-sprinkled turf That floods the lonely graves When Spring rolls in her sea-green surf In flowery-foaming waves.

STETHOSCOPEnounUS /ˈsteθəskoʊp/

a medical instrument for listening to the sounds generated inside the body

From this reading THE STETHOSCOPE SONG A PROFESSIONAL BALLAD THERE was a young man in Boston town, He bought him a stethoscope nice and new, All mounted and finished and polished down, With an ivory cap and a stopper too.

stoppernounUS /ˈstɑːpər/

an act so striking or impressive that the show must be delayed until the audience quiets down

From this reading THE STETHOSCOPE SONG A PROFESSIONAL BALLAD THERE was a young man in Boston town, He bought him a stethoscope nice and new, All mounted and finished and polished down, With an ivory cap and a stopper too.

surfnounUS /sɜːrf/

waves breaking on the shore

From this reading For these the blossom-sprinkled turf That floods the lonely graves When Spring rolls in her sea-green surf In flowery-foaming waves.

tearverbUS /ter/

separate or cause to separate abruptly

From this reading Two paths lead upward from below, And angels wait above, Who count each burning life-drop's flow, Each falling tear of Love.

ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading For these the blossom-sprinkled turf That floods the lonely graves When Spring rolls in her sea-green surf In flowery-foaming waves.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading For those the sculptor's laurelled bust, The builder's marble piles, The anthems pealing o'er their dust Through long cathedral aisles.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading For those the sculptor's laurelled bust, The builder's marble piles, The anthems pealing o'er their dust Through long cathedral aisles.

THEREadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading THE STETHOSCOPE SONG A PROFESSIONAL BALLAD THERE was a young man in Boston town, He bought him a stethoscope nice and new, All mounted and finished and polished down, With an ivory cap and a stopper too.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading For these the blossom-sprinkled turf That floods the lonely graves When Spring rolls in her sea-green surf In flowery-foaming waves.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

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

From this reading For those the sculptor's laurelled bust, The builder's marble piles, The anthems pealing o'er their dust Through long cathedral aisles.

ThoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Though from the Hero's bleeding breast Her pulses Freedom drew, Though the white lilies in her crest Sprang from that scarlet dew,-- While Valor's haughty champions wait Till all their scars are shown, Love walks unchallenged through the gate, To sit beside the Throne.

ThronenounUS /θroʊn/

the chair of state for a monarch, bishop, etc.

From this reading Though from the Hero's bleeding breast Her pulses Freedom drew, Though the white lilies in her crest Sprang from that scarlet dew,-- While Valor's haughty champions wait Till all their scars are shown, Love walks unchallenged through the gate, To sit beside the Throne.

ThroughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading For those the sculptor's laurelled bust, The builder's marble piles, The anthems pealing o'er their dust Through long cathedral aisles.

TillprepositionUS /tɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading Though from the Hero's bleeding breast Her pulses Freedom drew, Though the white lilies in her crest Sprang from that scarlet dew,-- While Valor's haughty champions wait Till all their scars are shown, Love walks unchallenged through the gate, To sit beside the Throne.

ToparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Though from the Hero's bleeding breast Her pulses Freedom drew, Though the white lilies in her crest Sprang from that scarlet dew,-- While Valor's haughty champions wait Till all their scars are shown, Love walks unchallenged through the gate, To sit beside the Throne.

tooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading THE STETHOSCOPE SONG A PROFESSIONAL BALLAD THERE was a young man in Boston town, He bought him a stethoscope nice and new, All mounted and finished and polished down, With an ivory cap and a stopper too.

townnounUS /taʊn/

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading THE STETHOSCOPE SONG A PROFESSIONAL BALLAD THERE was a young man in Boston town, He bought him a stethoscope nice and new, All mounted and finished and polished down, With an ivory cap and a stopper too.

turfnounUS /tɜːrf/

surface layer of ground containing a mat of grass and grass roots

From this reading For these the blossom-sprinkled turf That floods the lonely graves When Spring rolls in her sea-green surf In flowery-foaming waves.

TwonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading Two paths lead upward from below, And angels wait above, Who count each burning life-drop's flow, Each falling tear of Love.

unchallengedadjectiveUS /ənˈtʃælɪndʒd/

generally agreed upon; not subject to dispute

From this reading Though from the Hero's bleeding breast Her pulses Freedom drew, Though the white lilies in her crest Sprang from that scarlet dew,-- While Valor's haughty champions wait Till all their scars are shown, Love walks unchallenged through the gate, To sit beside the Throne.

upwardadjectiveUS /ˈʌpwərd/

directed up

From this reading Two paths lead upward from below, And angels wait above, Who count each burning life-drop's flow, Each falling tear of Love.

Valor's

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

From this reading Though from the Hero's bleeding breast Her pulses Freedom drew, Though the white lilies in her crest Sprang from that scarlet dew,-- While Valor's haughty champions wait Till all their scars are shown, Love walks unchallenged through the gate, To sit beside the Throne.

waitverbUS /weɪt/

stay in one place and anticipate or expect something

From this reading Two paths lead upward from below, And angels wait above, Who count each burning life-drop's flow, Each falling tear of Love.

walksnounUS /wɔːks/

plural of “walk” — the act of traveling by foot

From this reading Though from the Hero's bleeding breast Her pulses Freedom drew, Though the white lilies in her crest Sprang from that scarlet dew,-- While Valor's haughty champions wait Till all their scars are shown, Love walks unchallenged through the gate, To sit beside the Throne.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading THE STETHOSCOPE SONG A PROFESSIONAL BALLAD THERE was a young man in Boston town, He bought him a stethoscope nice and new, All mounted and finished and polished down, With an ivory cap and a stopper too.

wavesnounUS /weɪvz/

plural of “wave” — one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)

From this reading For these the blossom-sprinkled turf That floods the lonely graves When Spring rolls in her sea-green surf In flowery-foaming waves.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading For these the blossom-sprinkled turf That floods the lonely graves When Spring rolls in her sea-green surf In flowery-foaming waves.

WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading Though from the Hero's bleeding breast Her pulses Freedom drew, Though the white lilies in her crest Sprang from that scarlet dew,-- While Valor's haughty champions wait Till all their scars are shown, Love walks unchallenged through the gate, To sit beside the Throne.

whitenounUS /waɪt/

a Caucasian

From this reading Though from the Hero's bleeding breast Her pulses Freedom drew, Though the white lilies in her crest Sprang from that scarlet dew,-- While Valor's haughty champions wait Till all their scars are shown, Love walks unchallenged through the gate, To sit beside the Throne.

WhopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Two paths lead upward from below, And angels wait above, Who count each burning life-drop's flow, Each falling tear of Love.

WithprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading THE STETHOSCOPE SONG A PROFESSIONAL BALLAD THERE was a young man in Boston town, He bought him a stethoscope nice and new, All mounted and finished and polished down, With an ivory cap and a stopper too.

youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading THE STETHOSCOPE SONG A PROFESSIONAL BALLAD THERE was a young man in Boston town, He bought him a stethoscope nice and new, All mounted and finished and polished down, With an ivory cap and a stopper too.

Chapter 1 of The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 03 by Oliver Wendell Holmes holds 180 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 1 of The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 03 contain?

Chapter 1 holds 180 sentences of The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 03, unabridged, divided into 36 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 03 by Oliver Wendell Holmes exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 180 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 1 of The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 03?

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 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 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 Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 03

Common questions about reading The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 03 by Oliver Wendell Holmes on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 03?

Yes. All 180 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #7390 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 03 is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #7390, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 03 take to read?

About 15 minutes of reading across 36 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 03 section by section

How to work through The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 03 section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 1 chapters of The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 03 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 Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 03

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 03, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Morning
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 03; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Visit
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 03; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Armies
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 03; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Stethoscope
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 03; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.