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The Shield of Silence
The Shield of Silence

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Shield of Silence is here in full — 225 sentences across 45 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Shield of Silence
Context Illustration Reading 1/45 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"_Wait and thy soul shall speak._" There is, in the human soul, as in the depths of the ocean, a state of eternal calm.
Around it the waves of unrest may surge and roar but there peace reigns.
In that sanctuary the tides are born and, in their appointed time, swelling and rising, they carry the poor jetsam and flotsam of life before them.
The tide was rising in the soul of Meredith Thornton; she was awake at last.
Awake as people are who have lived with their faculties drugged.
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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 Shield of Silence

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Shield of Silence is here in full — 225 sentences across 45 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/45 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"_Wait and thy soul shall speak._" There is, in the human soul, as in the depths of the ocean, a state of eternal calm.
/weɪt ənd ðaɪ soʊl ʃæl spiːk ðer ɪz ɪn ðə ˈhjuːmən soʊl æz ɪn ðə depθs ʌv ðə ˈoʊʃən ə steɪt ʌv ɪˈtɜːrnəl kɑːm/
Line 2
Around it the waves of unrest may surge and roar but there peace reigns.
/ərˈaʊnd ɪt ðə weɪvz ʌv ənˈrest meɪ sɜːrdʒ ənd rɔːr bʌt ðer piːs reɪnz/
Line 3
In that sanctuary the tides are born and, in their appointed time, swelling and rising, they carry the poor jetsam and flotsam of life before them.
Line 4
The tide was rising in the soul of Meredith Thornton; she was awake at last.
/ðə taɪd wɑːz ˈraɪzɪŋ ɪn ðə soʊl ʌv ˈmerɪdɪθ ˈθɔːrntən ʃiː wɑːz əˈweɪk æt læst/
Line 5
Awake as people are who have lived with their faculties drugged.
/əˈweɪk æz ˈpiːpəl ɑːr huː hæv lɪvd wɪð ðer ˈfækəltiz drʌɡd/

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.

drugged adjective US /drʌɡd/

under the influence of narcotics

From this reading “Awake as people are who have lived with their faculties drugged.”

flotsam noun US /ˈflɑːtsəm/

the floating wreckage of a ship

From this reading “In that sanctuary the tides are born and, in their appointed time, swelling and rising, they carry the poor jetsam and flotsam of life before them.”

Meredith noun US /ˈmerɪdɪθ/

United States civil rights leader whose college registration caused riots in traditionally segregated Mississippi (born in 1933)

From this reading “The tide was rising in the soul of Meredith Thornton; she was awake at last.”

reigns noun US /reɪnz/

plural of “reign” — a period during which something or somebody is dominant or powerful

From this reading “Around it the waves of unrest may surge and roar but there peace reigns.”

surge verb US /sɜːrdʒ/

rise and move, as in waves or billows

From this reading “Around it the waves of unrest may surge and roar but there peace reigns.”

Thornton noun US /ˈθɔːrntən/

American architect (1759-1828)

From this reading “The tide was rising in the soul of Meredith Thornton; she was awake at last.”

tides noun US /taɪdz/

plural of “tide” — the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon

From this reading “In that sanctuary the tides are born and, in their appointed time, swelling and rising, they carry the poor jetsam and flotsam of life before them.”

unrest noun US /ənˈrest/

a state of agitation or turbulent change or development

From this reading “Around it the waves of unrest may surge and roar but there peace reigns.”

All words in this reading · 62

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 "_Wait and thy soul shall speak._" There is, in the human soul, as in the depths of the ocean, a state of eternal calm.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "_Wait and thy soul shall speak._" There is, in the human soul, as in the depths of the ocean, a state of eternal calm.

appointedadjectiveUS /əˈpɔɪntɪd/

subject to appointment

From this reading In that sanctuary the tides are born and, in their appointed time, swelling and rising, they carry the poor jetsam and flotsam of life before them.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading In that sanctuary the tides are born and, in their appointed time, swelling and rising, they carry the poor jetsam and flotsam of life before them.

AroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading Around it the waves of unrest may surge and roar but there peace reigns.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading "_Wait and thy soul shall speak._" There is, in the human soul, as in the depths of the ocean, a state of eternal calm.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The tide was rising in the soul of Meredith Thornton; she was awake at last.

awakeadjectiveUS /əˈweɪk/

not in a state of sleep; completely conscious

From this reading The tide was rising in the soul of Meredith Thornton; she was awake at last.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading In that sanctuary the tides are born and, in their appointed time, swelling and rising, they carry the poor jetsam and flotsam of life before them.

bornadjectiveUS /bɔːrn/

brought into existence

From this reading In that sanctuary the tides are born and, in their appointed time, swelling and rising, they carry the poor jetsam and flotsam of life before them.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Around it the waves of unrest may surge and roar but there peace reigns.

calmverbUS /kɑːm/

make calm or still

From this reading "_Wait and thy soul shall speak._" There is, in the human soul, as in the depths of the ocean, a state of eternal calm.

carryverbUS /ˈkæri/

move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading In that sanctuary the tides are born and, in their appointed time, swelling and rising, they carry the poor jetsam and flotsam of life before them.

depthsnounUS /depθs/

(plural) the deepest and most remote part

From this reading "_Wait and thy soul shall speak._" There is, in the human soul, as in the depths of the ocean, a state of eternal calm.

druggedadjectiveUS /drʌɡd/

under the influence of narcotics

From this reading Awake as people are who have lived with their faculties drugged.

eternaladjectiveUS /ɪˈtɜːrnəl/

continuing forever or indefinitely

From this reading "_Wait and thy soul shall speak._" There is, in the human soul, as in the depths of the ocean, a state of eternal calm.

facultiesnounUS /ˈfækəltiz/

plural of “faculty” — one of the inherent cognitive or perceptual powers of the mind

From this reading Awake as people are who have lived with their faculties drugged.

flotsamnounUS /ˈflɑːtsəm/

the floating wreckage of a ship

From this reading In that sanctuary the tides are born and, in their appointed time, swelling and rising, they carry the poor jetsam and flotsam of life before them.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Awake as people are who have lived with their faculties drugged.

humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/

characteristic of humanity

From this reading "_Wait and thy soul shall speak._" There is, in the human soul, as in the depths of the ocean, a state of eternal calm.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "_Wait and thy soul shall speak._" There is, in the human soul, as in the depths of the ocean, a state of eternal calm.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "_Wait and thy soul shall speak._" There is, in the human soul, as in the depths of the ocean, a state of eternal calm.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Around it the waves of unrest may surge and roar but there peace reigns.

jetsamnoun

the part of a ship's equipment or cargo that is thrown overboard to lighten the load in a storm

From this reading In that sanctuary the tides are born and, in their appointed time, swelling and rising, they carry the poor jetsam and flotsam of life before them.

lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading The tide was rising in the soul of Meredith Thornton; she was awake at last.

lifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading In that sanctuary the tides are born and, in their appointed time, swelling and rising, they carry the poor jetsam and flotsam of life before them.

livedverbUS /lɪvd/

past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading Awake as people are who have lived with their faculties drugged.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading Around it the waves of unrest may surge and roar but there peace reigns.

MeredithnounUS /ˈmerɪdɪθ/

United States civil rights leader whose college registration caused riots in traditionally segregated Mississippi (born in 1933)

From this reading The tide was rising in the soul of Meredith Thornton; she was awake at last.

oceannounUS /ˈoʊʃən/

a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere

From this reading "_Wait and thy soul shall speak._" There is, in the human soul, as in the depths of the ocean, a state of eternal calm.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "_Wait and thy soul shall speak._" There is, in the human soul, as in the depths of the ocean, a state of eternal calm.

peacenounUS /piːs/

the state prevailing during the absence of war

From this reading Around it the waves of unrest may surge and roar but there peace reigns.

peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading Awake as people are who have lived with their faculties drugged.

pooradjectiveUS /puːr/

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading In that sanctuary the tides are born and, in their appointed time, swelling and rising, they carry the poor jetsam and flotsam of life before them.

reignsnounUS /reɪnz/

plural of “reign” — a period during which something or somebody is dominant or powerful

From this reading Around it the waves of unrest may surge and roar but there peace reigns.

risingadjectiveUS /ˈraɪzɪŋ/

advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status

From this reading In that sanctuary the tides are born and, in their appointed time, swelling and rising, they carry the poor jetsam and flotsam of life before them.

roarverbUS /rɔːr/

make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles

From this reading Around it the waves of unrest may surge and roar but there peace reigns.

sanctuarynounUS /ˈsæŋk.tʃu.er.i/

A place of safety, refuge, or holy retreat within the academy.

From this reading In that sanctuary the tides are born and, in their appointed time, swelling and rising, they carry the poor jetsam and flotsam of life before them.

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading "_Wait and thy soul shall speak._" There is, in the human soul, as in the depths of the ocean, a state of eternal calm.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The tide was rising in the soul of Meredith Thornton; she was awake at last.

soulnounUS /soʊl/

the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life

From this reading "_Wait and thy soul shall speak._" There is, in the human soul, as in the depths of the ocean, a state of eternal calm.

speakverbUS /spiːk/

express in speech

From this reading "_Wait and thy soul shall speak._" There is, in the human soul, as in the depths of the ocean, a state of eternal calm.

statenounUS /steɪt/

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

From this reading "_Wait and thy soul shall speak._" There is, in the human soul, as in the depths of the ocean, a state of eternal calm.

surgeverbUS /sɜːrdʒ/

rise and move, as in waves or billows

From this reading Around it the waves of unrest may surge and roar but there peace reigns.

swellingnounUS /ˈswelɪŋ/

an abnormal protuberance or localized enlargement

From this reading In that sanctuary the tides are born and, in their appointed time, swelling and rising, they carry the poor jetsam and flotsam of life before them.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading In that sanctuary the tides are born and, in their appointed time, swelling and rising, they carry the poor jetsam and flotsam of life before them.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "_Wait and thy soul shall speak._" There is, in the human soul, as in the depths of the ocean, a state of eternal calm.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading In that sanctuary the tides are born and, in their appointed time, swelling and rising, they carry the poor jetsam and flotsam of life before them.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading In that sanctuary the tides are born and, in their appointed time, swelling and rising, they carry the poor jetsam and flotsam of life before them.

ThereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading "_Wait and thy soul shall speak._" There is, in the human soul, as in the depths of the ocean, a state of eternal calm.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading In that sanctuary the tides are born and, in their appointed time, swelling and rising, they carry the poor jetsam and flotsam of life before them.

ThorntonnounUS /ˈθɔːrntən/

American architect (1759-1828)

From this reading The tide was rising in the soul of Meredith Thornton; she was awake at last.

thydeterminerUS /ðaɪ/

an old word for “your”, speaking to one person

From this reading "_Wait and thy soul shall speak._" There is, in the human soul, as in the depths of the ocean, a state of eternal calm.

tidenounUS /taɪd/

the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon

From this reading The tide was rising in the soul of Meredith Thornton; she was awake at last.

tidesnounUS /taɪdz/

plural of “tide” — the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon

From this reading In that sanctuary the tides are born and, in their appointed time, swelling and rising, they carry the poor jetsam and flotsam of life before them.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading In that sanctuary the tides are born and, in their appointed time, swelling and rising, they carry the poor jetsam and flotsam of life before them.

unrestnounUS /ənˈrest/

a state of agitation or turbulent change or development

From this reading Around it the waves of unrest may surge and roar but there peace reigns.

WaitverbUS /weɪt/

stay in one place and anticipate or expect something

From this reading "_Wait and thy soul shall speak._" There is, in the human soul, as in the depths of the ocean, a state of eternal calm.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The tide was rising in the soul of Meredith Thornton; she was awake at last.

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 Around it the waves of unrest may surge and roar but there peace reigns.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Awake as people are who have lived with their faculties drugged.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Awake as people are who have lived with their faculties drugged.

Chapter 1 of The Shield of Silence by Harriet T. (Harriet Theresa) Comstock holds 225 sentences, grouped into 45 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 Shield of Silence contain?

Chapter 1 holds 225 sentences of The Shield of Silence, unabridged, divided into 45 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Shield of Silence by Harriet T. (Harriet Theresa) Comstock exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 225 sentences, grouped into 45 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 Shield of Silence?

Work through the 45 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 45 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 Shield of Silence

Common questions about reading The Shield of Silence by Harriet T. (Harriet Theresa) Comstock on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Shield of Silence?

Yes. All 7056 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #18225 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Shield of Silence is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #18225, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Shield of Silence take to read?

About 588 minutes of reading across 1412 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Shield of Silence section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 25 chapters of The Shield of Silence 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 Shield of Silence

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

Shall
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Shield of Silence; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Speak
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Shield of Silence; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Human
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Shield of Silence; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Depths
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Shield of Silence; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.