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The Serf
The Serf

Chapter IX

Chapter 9 of The Serf is here in full — 187 sentences across 38 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/37 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"Justorum Animae in Manu dei sunt, et non Tanget Illos Tormentum Malitiae: Visi sunt Oculis Insipientium Mori, Illi Autem sunt in Pace."
The chapter-house at Icomb was a low, vaulted chamber divided into three compartments by rows of pillars bearing arches.
A stone seat ran all round it for the monks, and the prior's seat was opposite the entrance.
Two arches on each side of the doorway--there was no actual door--allowed the deliberations to be heard outside in the cloister.
This was according to the invariable Cistercian plan.
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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 Serf

Chapter IX

Chapter 9 of The Serf is here in full — 187 sentences across 38 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/37 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"Justorum Animae in Manu dei sunt, et non Tanget Illos Tormentum Malitiae: Visi sunt Oculis Insipientium Mori, Illi Autem sunt in Pace."
Line 2
The chapter-house at Icomb was a low, vaulted chamber divided into three compartments by rows of pillars bearing arches.
Line 3
A stone seat ran all round it for the monks, and the prior's seat was opposite the entrance.
Line 4
Two arches on each side of the doorway--there was no actual door--allowed the deliberations to be heard outside in the cloister.
Line 5
This was according to the invariable Cistercian plan.
/ðɪs wɑːz əˈkɔːrdɪŋ tuː ðə ˌɪnˈveriəbəl sɪˈstɜːrʃən plæn/

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.

arches noun US /ˈɑːrtʃəz/

plural of “arch” — a curved shape in the vertical plane that spans an opening

From this reading “The chapter-house at Icomb was a low, vaulted chamber divided into three compartments by rows of pillars bearing arches.”

Cistercian noun US /sɪˈstɜːrʃən/

member of an order of monks noted for austerity and a vow of silence

From this reading “This was according to the invariable Cistercian plan.”

cloister verb US /ˈklɔɪstər/

surround with a cloister, as of a garden

From this reading “Two arches on each side of the doorway--there was no actual door--allowed the deliberations to be heard outside in the cloister.”

compartments noun US /kəmˈpɑːrtmənts/

plural of “compartment” — a space into which an area is subdivided

From this reading “The chapter-house at Icomb was a low, vaulted chamber divided into three compartments by rows of pillars bearing arches.”

deliberations noun US /dɪˌlɪbərˈeɪʃənz/

plural of “deliberation” — (usually plural) discussion of all sides of a question

From this reading “Two arches on each side of the doorway--there was no actual door--allowed the deliberations to be heard outside in the cloister.”

invariable adjective US /ˌɪnˈveriəbəl/

not liable to or capable of change

From this reading “This was according to the invariable Cistercian plan.”

non adverb US /nɑːn/

negation of a word or group of words

From this reading “"Justorum Animae in Manu dei sunt, et non Tanget Illos Tormentum Malitiae: Visi sunt Oculis Insipientium Mori, Illi Autem sunt in Pace."”

vaulted adjective US /ˈvɔːltɪd/

having a hemispherical vault or dome

From this reading “The chapter-house at Icomb was a low, vaulted chamber divided into three compartments by rows of pillars bearing arches.”

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.

vaulted chamber adjective + noun

In this reading “The chapter-house at Icomb was a low, vaulted chamber divided into three compartments by rows of pillars bearing arches.”

stone seat noun + noun

In this reading “A stone seat ran all round it for the monks, and the prior's seat was opposite the entrance.”

all round adjective + noun

In this reading “A stone seat ran all round it for the monks, and the prior's seat was opposite the entrance.”

All words in this reading · 71

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 chapter-house at Icomb was a low, vaulted chamber divided into three compartments by rows of pillars bearing arches.

accordingadjectiveUS /əˈkɔːrdɪŋ/

(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with

From this reading This was according to the invariable Cistercian plan.

actualadjectiveUS /ˈæktʃəwəl/

presently existing in fact and not merely potential or possible

From this reading Two arches on each side of the doorway--there was no actual door--allowed the deliberations to be heard outside in the cloister.

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 A stone seat ran all round it for the monks, and the prior's seat was opposite the entrance.

allowedverbUS /əˈlaʊd/

past form of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen

From this reading Two arches on each side of the doorway--there was no actual door--allowed the deliberations to be heard outside in the cloister.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading A stone seat ran all round it for the monks, and the prior's seat was opposite the entrance.

Animae

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

From this reading "Justorum Animae in Manu dei sunt, et non Tanget Illos Tormentum Malitiae: Visi sunt Oculis Insipientium Mori, Illi Autem sunt in Pace."

archesnounUS /ˈɑːrtʃəz/

plural of “arch” — a curved shape in the vertical plane that spans an opening

From this reading The chapter-house at Icomb was a low, vaulted chamber divided into three compartments by rows of pillars bearing arches.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The chapter-house at Icomb was a low, vaulted chamber divided into three compartments by rows of pillars bearing arches.

Autem

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

From this reading "Justorum Animae in Manu dei sunt, et non Tanget Illos Tormentum Malitiae: Visi sunt Oculis Insipientium Mori, Illi Autem sunt in Pace."

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Two arches on each side of the doorway--there was no actual door--allowed the deliberations to be heard outside in the cloister.

bearingnounUS /ˈberɪŋ/

relevant relation or interconnection

From this reading The chapter-house at Icomb was a low, vaulted chamber divided into three compartments by rows of pillars bearing arches.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The chapter-house at Icomb was a low, vaulted chamber divided into three compartments by rows of pillars bearing arches.

chambernounUS /ˈtʃeɪmbər/

a natural or artificial enclosed space

From this reading The chapter-house at Icomb was a low, vaulted chamber divided into three compartments by rows of pillars bearing arches.

chapter-house

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

From this reading The chapter-house at Icomb was a low, vaulted chamber divided into three compartments by rows of pillars bearing arches.

CisterciannounUS /sɪˈstɜːrʃən/

member of an order of monks noted for austerity and a vow of silence

From this reading This was according to the invariable Cistercian plan.

cloisterverbUS /ˈklɔɪstər/

surround with a cloister, as of a garden

From this reading Two arches on each side of the doorway--there was no actual door--allowed the deliberations to be heard outside in the cloister.

compartmentsnounUS /kəmˈpɑːrtmənts/

plural of “compartment” — a space into which an area is subdivided

From this reading The chapter-house at Icomb was a low, vaulted chamber divided into three compartments by rows of pillars bearing arches.

dei

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

From this reading "Justorum Animae in Manu dei sunt, et non Tanget Illos Tormentum Malitiae: Visi sunt Oculis Insipientium Mori, Illi Autem sunt in Pace."

deliberationsnounUS /dɪˌlɪbərˈeɪʃənz/

plural of “deliberation” — (usually plural) discussion of all sides of a question

From this reading Two arches on each side of the doorway--there was no actual door--allowed the deliberations to be heard outside in the cloister.

dividedadjectiveUS /dɪˈvaɪdɪd/

separated into parts or pieces

From this reading The chapter-house at Icomb was a low, vaulted chamber divided into three compartments by rows of pillars bearing arches.

doornounUS /dɔːr/

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading Two arches on each side of the doorway--there was no actual door--allowed the deliberations to be heard outside in the cloister.

doorwaynounUS /ˈdɔːrweɪ/

the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close

From this reading Two arches on each side of the doorway--there was no actual door--allowed the deliberations to be heard outside in the cloister.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

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

From this reading Two arches on each side of the doorway--there was no actual door--allowed the deliberations to be heard outside in the cloister.

entrancenounUS /ˈentrəns/

something that provides access (to get in or get out)

From this reading A stone seat ran all round it for the monks, and the prior's seat was opposite the entrance.

et

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

From this reading "Justorum Animae in Manu dei sunt, et non Tanget Illos Tormentum Malitiae: Visi sunt Oculis Insipientium Mori, Illi Autem sunt in Pace."

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading A stone seat ran all round it for the monks, and the prior's seat was opposite the entrance.

heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading Two arches on each side of the doorway--there was no actual door--allowed the deliberations to be heard outside in the cloister.

Icomb

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

From this reading The chapter-house at Icomb was a low, vaulted chamber divided into three compartments by rows of pillars bearing arches.

Illi

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

From this reading "Justorum Animae in Manu dei sunt, et non Tanget Illos Tormentum Malitiae: Visi sunt Oculis Insipientium Mori, Illi Autem sunt in Pace."

Illos

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

From this reading "Justorum Animae in Manu dei sunt, et non Tanget Illos Tormentum Malitiae: Visi sunt Oculis Insipientium Mori, Illi Autem sunt in Pace."

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "Justorum Animae in Manu dei sunt, et non Tanget Illos Tormentum Malitiae: Visi sunt Oculis Insipientium Mori, Illi Autem sunt in Pace."

Insipientium

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

From this reading "Justorum Animae in Manu dei sunt, et non Tanget Illos Tormentum Malitiae: Visi sunt Oculis Insipientium Mori, Illi Autem sunt in Pace."

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The chapter-house at Icomb was a low, vaulted chamber divided into three compartments by rows of pillars bearing arches.

invariableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈveriəbəl/

not liable to or capable of change

From this reading This was according to the invariable Cistercian plan.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading A stone seat ran all round it for the monks, and the prior's seat was opposite the entrance.

Justorum

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

From this reading "Justorum Animae in Manu dei sunt, et non Tanget Illos Tormentum Malitiae: Visi sunt Oculis Insipientium Mori, Illi Autem sunt in Pace."

lowadjectiveUS /loʊ/

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading The chapter-house at Icomb was a low, vaulted chamber divided into three compartments by rows of pillars bearing arches.

Malitiae

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

From this reading "Justorum Animae in Manu dei sunt, et non Tanget Illos Tormentum Malitiae: Visi sunt Oculis Insipientium Mori, Illi Autem sunt in Pace."

Manu

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

From this reading "Justorum Animae in Manu dei sunt, et non Tanget Illos Tormentum Malitiae: Visi sunt Oculis Insipientium Mori, Illi Autem sunt in Pace."

monksnounUS /mʌŋks/

plural of “monk” — a male religious living in a cloister and devoting himself to contemplation and prayer and work

From this reading A stone seat ran all round it for the monks, and the prior's seat was opposite the entrance.

Mori

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

From this reading "Justorum Animae in Manu dei sunt, et non Tanget Illos Tormentum Malitiae: Visi sunt Oculis Insipientium Mori, Illi Autem sunt in Pace."

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Two arches on each side of the doorway--there was no actual door--allowed the deliberations to be heard outside in the cloister.

nonadverbUS /nɑːn/

negation of a word or group of words

From this reading "Justorum Animae in Manu dei sunt, et non Tanget Illos Tormentum Malitiae: Visi sunt Oculis Insipientium Mori, Illi Autem sunt in Pace."

Oculis

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

From this reading "Justorum Animae in Manu dei sunt, et non Tanget Illos Tormentum Malitiae: Visi sunt Oculis Insipientium Mori, Illi Autem sunt in Pace."

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The chapter-house at Icomb was a low, vaulted chamber divided into three compartments by rows of pillars bearing arches.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Two arches on each side of the doorway--there was no actual door--allowed the deliberations to be heard outside in the cloister.

oppositeadjectiveUS /ˈɑːpəzət/

being directly across from each other; facing

From this reading A stone seat ran all round it for the monks, and the prior's seat was opposite the entrance.

outsideadjectiveUS /ˈaʊtˈsaɪd/

relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit

From this reading Two arches on each side of the doorway--there was no actual door--allowed the deliberations to be heard outside in the cloister.

PacenounUS /peɪs/

the rate of moving (especially walking or running)

From this reading "Justorum Animae in Manu dei sunt, et non Tanget Illos Tormentum Malitiae: Visi sunt Oculis Insipientium Mori, Illi Autem sunt in Pace."

pillarsnounUS /ˈpɪlərz/

plural of “pillar” — a fundamental principle or practice

From this reading The chapter-house at Icomb was a low, vaulted chamber divided into three compartments by rows of pillars bearing arches.

planverbUS /plæn/

have the will and intention to carry out some action

From this reading This was according to the invariable Cistercian plan.

prior's

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

From this reading A stone seat ran all round it for the monks, and the prior's seat was opposite the entrance.

ranverbUS /ræn/

inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading A stone seat ran all round it for the monks, and the prior's seat was opposite the entrance.

roundnounUS /raʊnd/

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading A stone seat ran all round it for the monks, and the prior's seat was opposite the entrance.

rowsnounUS /roʊz/

plural of “row” — an arrangement of objects or people side by side in a line

From this reading The chapter-house at Icomb was a low, vaulted chamber divided into three compartments by rows of pillars bearing arches.

seatnounUS /siːt/

a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)

From this reading A stone seat ran all round it for the monks, and the prior's seat was opposite the entrance.

sidenounUS /saɪd/

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading Two arches on each side of the doorway--there was no actual door--allowed the deliberations to be heard outside in the cloister.

stonenounUS /stoʊn/

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading A stone seat ran all round it for the monks, and the prior's seat was opposite the entrance.

sunt

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

From this reading "Justorum Animae in Manu dei sunt, et non Tanget Illos Tormentum Malitiae: Visi sunt Oculis Insipientium Mori, Illi Autem sunt in Pace."

Tanget

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

From this reading "Justorum Animae in Manu dei sunt, et non Tanget Illos Tormentum Malitiae: Visi sunt Oculis Insipientium Mori, Illi Autem sunt in Pace."

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The chapter-house at Icomb was a low, vaulted chamber divided into three compartments by rows of pillars bearing arches.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading Two arches on each side of the doorway--there was no actual door--allowed the deliberations to be heard outside in the cloister.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading This was according to the invariable Cistercian plan.

threenounUS /θriː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading The chapter-house at Icomb was a low, vaulted chamber divided into three compartments by rows of pillars bearing arches.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Two arches on each side of the doorway--there was no actual door--allowed the deliberations to be heard outside in the cloister.

Tormentum

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

From this reading "Justorum Animae in Manu dei sunt, et non Tanget Illos Tormentum Malitiae: Visi sunt Oculis Insipientium Mori, Illi Autem sunt in Pace."

TwonounUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Two arches on each side of the doorway--there was no actual door--allowed the deliberations to be heard outside in the cloister.

vaultedadjectiveUS /ˈvɔːltɪd/

having a hemispherical vault or dome

From this reading The chapter-house at Icomb was a low, vaulted chamber divided into three compartments by rows of pillars bearing arches.

Visi

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

From this reading "Justorum Animae in Manu dei sunt, et non Tanget Illos Tormentum Malitiae: Visi sunt Oculis Insipientium Mori, Illi Autem sunt in Pace."

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The chapter-house at Icomb was a low, vaulted chamber divided into three compartments by rows of pillars bearing arches.

Chapter 9 of The Serf by Guy Thorne holds 187 sentences, grouped into 38 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 Serf contain?

Chapter 9 holds 187 sentences of The Serf, unabridged, divided into 38 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 9 of The Serf by Guy Thorne exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 187 sentences, grouped into 38 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 Serf?

Work through the 38 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 38 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 Serf

Common questions about reading The Serf by Guy Thorne on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Serf?

Yes. All 3706 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #41829 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Serf is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #41829, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Serf take to read?

About 308 minutes of reading across 742 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Serf section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 17 chapters of The Serf 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 Serf

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

Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Serf; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cause
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Serf; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Fenno
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Serf; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Company
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Serf; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.