Learn English through classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The Professor at the Breakfast-Table
The Professor at the Breakfast-Table

Chapter XIV · Chapter 14

Chapter 14 of The Professor at the Breakfast-Table is here in full — 136 sentences across 28 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Professor at the Breakfast-Table
Context Illustration Reading 1/27 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Fair play for all.
But don't claim incompatible qualities for anybody.
Justice is a very rare virtue in our community.
Everything that public sentiment cares about is put into a Papin's digester, and boiled under high pressure till all is turned into one homogeneous pulp, and the very bones give up their jelly.
What are all the strongest epithets of our dictionary to us now?
0:00 / 0:00
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 Professor at the Breakfast-Table

Chapter XIV · Chapter 14

Chapter 14 of The Professor at the Breakfast-Table is here in full — 136 sentences across 28 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/27 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Fair play for all.
/fer pleɪ fɔːr ɔːl/
Line 2
But don't claim incompatible qualities for anybody.
Line 3
Justice is a very rare virtue in our community.
/ˈdʒʌstəs ɪz ə ˈveri rer ˈvɝː.tʃuː ɪn ˈaʊər kəˈmjuːnəti/
Line 4
Everything that public sentiment cares about is put into a Papin's digester, and boiled under high pressure till all is turned into one homogeneous pulp, and the very bones give up their jelly.
Line 5
What are all the strongest epithets of our dictionary to us now?
/wʌt ɑːr ɔːl ðə ˈstrɔːŋɡəst ˈepəθets ʌv ˈaʊər ˈdɪkʃəneri tuː ʌs naʊ/

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.

boiled adjective US /bɔɪld/

cooked in hot water

From this reading “Everything that public sentiment cares about is put into a Papin's digester, and boiled under high pressure till all is turned into one homogeneous pulp, and the very bones give up their jelly.”

dictionary noun US /ˈdɪkʃəneri/

a reference book containing an alphabetical list of words with information about them

From this reading “What are all the strongest epithets of our dictionary to us now?”

digester noun US /ˈdaɪdʒestər/

autoclave consisting of a vessel in which plant or animal materials are digested

From this reading “Everything that public sentiment cares about is put into a Papin's digester, and boiled under high pressure till all is turned into one homogeneous pulp, and the very bones give up their jelly.”

epithets noun US /ˈepəθets/

plural of “epithet” — a defamatory or abusive word or phrase

From this reading “What are all the strongest epithets of our dictionary to us now?”

homogeneous adjective US /ˌhoʊməˈdʒiːniəs/

all of the same or similar kind or nature

From this reading “Everything that public sentiment cares about is put into a Papin's digester, and boiled under high pressure till all is turned into one homogeneous pulp, and the very bones give up their jelly.”

incompatible adjective US /ˌɪnkəmˈpætəbəl/

not compatible

From this reading “But don't claim incompatible qualities for anybody.”

jelly noun US /ˈdʒeli/

an edible jelly (sweet or pungent) made with gelatin and used as a dessert or salad base or a coating for foods

From this reading “Everything that public sentiment cares about is put into a Papin's digester, and boiled under high pressure till all is turned into one homogeneous pulp, and the very bones give up their jelly.”

pulp noun US /pʌlp/

any soft or soggy mass

From this reading “Everything that public sentiment cares about is put into a Papin's digester, and boiled under high pressure till all is turned into one homogeneous pulp, and the very bones give up their jelly.”

All words in this reading · 54

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 Justice is a very rare virtue in our community.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Everything that public sentiment cares about is put into a Papin's digester, and boiled under high pressure till all is turned into one homogeneous pulp, and the very bones give up their jelly.

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 Fair play for all.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Everything that public sentiment cares about is put into a Papin's digester, and boiled under high pressure till all is turned into one homogeneous pulp, and the very bones give up their jelly.

anybodypronounUS /ˈenibədi/

any person at all

From this reading But don't claim incompatible qualities for anybody.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading What are all the strongest epithets of our dictionary to us now?

boiledadjectiveUS /bɔɪld/

cooked in hot water

From this reading Everything that public sentiment cares about is put into a Papin's digester, and boiled under high pressure till all is turned into one homogeneous pulp, and the very bones give up their jelly.

bonesnounUS /boʊnz/

(used in the plural) a percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hollow pieces of wood or bone (usually held between the thumb and fingers) that are made to click together (as by Spanish dancers) in rhythm with the dance

From this reading Everything that public sentiment cares about is put into a Papin's digester, and boiled under high pressure till all is turned into one homogeneous pulp, and the very bones give up their jelly.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But don't claim incompatible qualities for anybody.

caresnounUS /kerz/

plural of “care” — the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading Everything that public sentiment cares about is put into a Papin's digester, and boiled under high pressure till all is turned into one homogeneous pulp, and the very bones give up their jelly.

claimnounUS /kleɪm/

an assertion of a right (as to money or property)

From this reading But don't claim incompatible qualities for anybody.

communitynounUS /kəˈmjuːnəti/

a group of people living in a particular local area

From this reading Justice is a very rare virtue in our community.

dictionarynounUS /ˈdɪkʃəneri/

a reference book containing an alphabetical list of words with information about them

From this reading What are all the strongest epithets of our dictionary to us now?

digesternounUS /ˈdaɪdʒestər/

autoclave consisting of a vessel in which plant or animal materials are digested

From this reading Everything that public sentiment cares about is put into a Papin's digester, and boiled under high pressure till all is turned into one homogeneous pulp, and the very bones give up their jelly.

don't

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

From this reading But don't claim incompatible qualities for anybody.

epithetsnounUS /ˈepəθets/

plural of “epithet” — a defamatory or abusive word or phrase

From this reading What are all the strongest epithets of our dictionary to us now?

EverythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

From this reading Everything that public sentiment cares about is put into a Papin's digester, and boiled under high pressure till all is turned into one homogeneous pulp, and the very bones give up their jelly.

FairadjectiveUS /fer/

free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules

From this reading Fair play for all.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Fair play for all.

giveverbUS /ɡɪv/

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading Everything that public sentiment cares about is put into a Papin's digester, and boiled under high pressure till all is turned into one homogeneous pulp, and the very bones give up their jelly.

highadjectiveUS /haɪ/

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading Everything that public sentiment cares about is put into a Papin's digester, and boiled under high pressure till all is turned into one homogeneous pulp, and the very bones give up their jelly.

homogeneousadjectiveUS /ˌhoʊməˈdʒiːniəs/

all of the same or similar kind or nature

From this reading Everything that public sentiment cares about is put into a Papin's digester, and boiled under high pressure till all is turned into one homogeneous pulp, and the very bones give up their jelly.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Justice is a very rare virtue in our community.

incompatibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnkəmˈpætəbəl/

not compatible

From this reading But don't claim incompatible qualities for anybody.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Everything that public sentiment cares about is put into a Papin's digester, and boiled under high pressure till all is turned into one homogeneous pulp, and the very bones give up their jelly.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Justice is a very rare virtue in our community.

jellynounUS /ˈdʒeli/

an edible jelly (sweet or pungent) made with gelatin and used as a dessert or salad base or a coating for foods

From this reading Everything that public sentiment cares about is put into a Papin's digester, and boiled under high pressure till all is turned into one homogeneous pulp, and the very bones give up their jelly.

JusticenounUS /ˈdʒʌstəs/

the quality of being just or fair

From this reading Justice is a very rare virtue in our community.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading What are all the strongest epithets of our dictionary to us now?

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading What are all the strongest epithets of our dictionary to us now?

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Everything that public sentiment cares about is put into a Papin's digester, and boiled under high pressure till all is turned into one homogeneous pulp, and the very bones give up their jelly.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Justice is a very rare virtue in our community.

Papin's

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

From this reading Everything that public sentiment cares about is put into a Papin's digester, and boiled under high pressure till all is turned into one homogeneous pulp, and the very bones give up their jelly.

playverbUS /pleɪ/

participate in games or sport

From this reading Fair play for all.

pressurenounUS /ˈpreʃər/

the force applied to a unit area of surface; measured in pascals (SI unit) or in dynes (cgs unit)

From this reading Everything that public sentiment cares about is put into a Papin's digester, and boiled under high pressure till all is turned into one homogeneous pulp, and the very bones give up their jelly.

publicnounUS /ˈpʌblɪk/

people in general considered as a whole

From this reading Everything that public sentiment cares about is put into a Papin's digester, and boiled under high pressure till all is turned into one homogeneous pulp, and the very bones give up their jelly.

pulpnounUS /pʌlp/

any soft or soggy mass

From this reading Everything that public sentiment cares about is put into a Papin's digester, and boiled under high pressure till all is turned into one homogeneous pulp, and the very bones give up their jelly.

putverbUS /pʊt/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Everything that public sentiment cares about is put into a Papin's digester, and boiled under high pressure till all is turned into one homogeneous pulp, and the very bones give up their jelly.

qualitiesnounUS /ˈkwɑːlətiz/

plural of “quality” — an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone

From this reading But don't claim incompatible qualities for anybody.

rareadjectiveUS /rer/

not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness

From this reading Justice is a very rare virtue in our community.

sentimentnounUS /ˈsentəmənt/

tender, romantic, or nostalgic feeling or emotion

From this reading Everything that public sentiment cares about is put into a Papin's digester, and boiled under high pressure till all is turned into one homogeneous pulp, and the very bones give up their jelly.

strongestadjectiveUS /ˈstrɔːŋɡəst/

superlative of “strong” — having strength or power greater than average or expected

From this reading What are all the strongest epithets of our dictionary to us now?

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Everything that public sentiment cares about is put into a Papin's digester, and boiled under high pressure till all is turned into one homogeneous pulp, and the very bones give up their jelly.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Everything that public sentiment cares about is put into a Papin's digester, and boiled under high pressure till all is turned into one homogeneous pulp, and the very bones give up their jelly.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Everything that public sentiment cares about is put into a Papin's digester, and boiled under high pressure till all is turned into one homogeneous pulp, and the very bones give up their jelly.

tillprepositionUS /tɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading Everything that public sentiment cares about is put into a Papin's digester, and boiled under high pressure till all is turned into one homogeneous pulp, and the very bones give up their jelly.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading What are all the strongest epithets of our dictionary to us now?

turnedadjectiveUS /tɜːrnd/

moved around an axis or center

From this reading Everything that public sentiment cares about is put into a Papin's digester, and boiled under high pressure till all is turned into one homogeneous pulp, and the very bones give up their jelly.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Everything that public sentiment cares about is put into a Papin's digester, and boiled under high pressure till all is turned into one homogeneous pulp, and the very bones give up their jelly.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading Everything that public sentiment cares about is put into a Papin's digester, and boiled under high pressure till all is turned into one homogeneous pulp, and the very bones give up their jelly.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading What are all the strongest epithets of our dictionary to us now?

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading Justice is a very rare virtue in our community.

virtuenounUS /ˈvɝː.tʃuː/

Moral excellence and goodness of character; the highest human attainment in Stoic philosophy.

From this reading Justice is a very rare virtue in our community.

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading What are all the strongest epithets of our dictionary to us now?

Chapter 14 of The Professor at the Breakfast-Table by Oliver Wendell Holmes holds 136 sentences, grouped into 28 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 14 of The Professor at the Breakfast-Table contain?

Chapter 14 holds 136 sentences of The Professor at the Breakfast-Table, unabridged, divided into 28 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 14 of The Professor at the Breakfast-Table by Oliver Wendell Holmes exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 136 sentences, grouped into 28 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 14 of The Professor at the Breakfast-Table?

Work through the 28 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 28 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 14 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 14 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 Professor at the Breakfast-Table

Common questions about reading The Professor at the Breakfast-Table by Oliver Wendell Holmes on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Professor at the Breakfast-Table?

Yes. All 3744 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #2665 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Professor at the Breakfast-Table is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #2665, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Professor at the Breakfast-Table take to read?

About 312 minutes of reading across 749 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Professor at the Breakfast-Table section by section

How to work through The Professor at the Breakfast-Table section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 27 chapters of The Professor at the Breakfast-Table 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 Professor at the Breakfast-Table

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Professor at the Breakfast-Table, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Reader
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Professor at the Breakfast-Table; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
To-day
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Professor at the Breakfast-Table; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Forget
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Professor at the Breakfast-Table; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Trust
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Professor at the Breakfast-Table; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.