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The Spell
The Spell

Chapter V

Chapter 5 of The Spell is here in full — 413 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/82 · 5 lines
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VICTIM OF FATE XII All Florence--social, literary, and artistic--was at the Londi reception.
The ancient villa, once the possession of the great Dante, fell into gentle hands when the present owner, thirty years before, entered into an appreciative enjoyment of his newly acquired property.
The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.
Florentine society possesses two strong characteristics--hospitality and sincerity.
No people in the world so cordially welcome strangers who come properly introduced to settle temporarily in their midst; no people so plainly manifest their estimates of their adopted aliens.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Spell

Chapter V

Chapter 5 of The Spell is here in full — 413 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/82 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
VICTIM OF FATE XII All Florence--social, literary, and artistic--was at the Londi reception.
Line 2
The ancient villa, once the possession of the great Dante, fell into gentle hands when the present owner, thirty years before, entered into an appreciative enjoyment of his newly acquired property.
/ðə ˈeɪn.ʃənt ˈvɪlə wʌns ðə pəˈzeʃən ʌv ðə ɡreɪt ˈdɑːnteɪ fel ˈɪntuː ˈdʒentəl hændz wen ðə ˈprezənt ˈoʊnər ˈθɜːrdiː jɪrz bɪˈfɔːr ˈentərd ˈɪntuː æn əˈpriːʃieɪtɪv ˌenˈdʒɔɪmənt ʌv hɪz ˈnuːli əˈkwaɪərd ˈprɑːpərti/
Line 3
The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.
/ðə ˈstrʌktʃər ˌɪtˈself wɑːz prəˈzɜːrvd ənd rɪˈstɔːrd wɪˈθaʊt dɪˈstrɔɪɪŋ ðə ərˈɪdʒənəl ˈbjuːti ʌv ɪts ˈɑːrkətektʃər ðə wɔːlz wɜːr ˈrenəveɪtɪd ənd hʌŋ wɪð rɪtʃ ˈtæpəstriz ənd rer ˈpeɪntɪŋz ˈpraɪsləs ˈstætʃuːeri faʊnd ə pleɪs ɪn ðə kɔːrts ənd ˈkɔːrɪdərz bʌt wɪð sʌtʃ pərˈfekt teɪst ðæt wʌn felt ˌɪnˈstɪŋktɪvliː ðæt iːtʃ piːs bɪˈlɔːŋd ɪɡˈzæktli wer ɪt stʊd æz ə pɑːrt ʌv ðə kəmˈpliːt ˈhɑːrməni/
Line 4
Florentine society possesses two strong characteristics--hospitality and sincerity.
Line 5
No people in the world so cordially welcome strangers who come properly introduced to settle temporarily in their midst; no people so plainly manifest their estimates of their adopted aliens.
/noʊ ˈpiːpəl ɪn ðə wɜːrld soʊ ˈkɔːrdʒəli ˈwelkəm ˈstreɪndʒərz huː kʌm ˈprɑːpərli ˌɪntrəˈduːst tuː ˈsetəl ˌtempərˈerəli ɪn ðer mɪdst noʊ ˈpiːpəl soʊ ˈpleɪnli ˈmænəfest ðer ˈestəməts ʌv ðer əˈdɑːptɪd ˈeɪliənz/

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.

aliens noun US /ˈeɪliənz/

plural of “alien” — a person who comes from a foreign country; someone who does not owe allegiance to your country

From this reading “No people in the world so cordially welcome strangers who come properly introduced to settle temporarily in their midst; no people so plainly manifest their estimates of their adopted aliens.”

appreciative adjective US /əˈpriːʃieɪtɪv/

feeling or expressive of gratitude

From this reading “The ancient villa, once the possession of the great Dante, fell into gentle hands when the present owner, thirty years before, entered into an appreciative enjoyment of his newly acquired property.”

Dante noun US /ˈdɑːnteɪ/

an Italian poet famous for writing the Divine Comedy that describes a journey through Hell and purgatory and paradise guided by Virgil and his idealized Beatrice (1265-1321)

From this reading “The ancient villa, once the possession of the great Dante, fell into gentle hands when the present owner, thirty years before, entered into an appreciative enjoyment of his newly acquired property.”

estimates noun US /ˈestəməts/

plural of “estimate” — an approximate calculation of quantity or degree or worth

From this reading “No people in the world so cordially welcome strangers who come properly introduced to settle temporarily in their midst; no people so plainly manifest their estimates of their adopted aliens.”

Florentine adjective US /ˈflɔːrəntiːn/

of or relating to or characteristic of the city of Florence, Italy

From this reading “Florentine society possesses two strong characteristics--hospitality and sincerity.”

renovated verb US /ˈrenəveɪtɪd/

past form of “renovate” — restore to a previous or better condition

From this reading “The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.”

statuary noun US /ˈstætʃuːeri/

statues collectively

From this reading “The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.”

tapestries noun US /ˈtæpəstriz/

plural of “tapestry” — something that resembles a tapestry in its intricacy

From this reading “The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.”

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.

newly acquired adverb + adjective

In this reading “The ancient villa, once the possession of the great Dante, fell into gentle hands when the present owner, thirty years before, entered into an appreciative enjoyment of his newly acquired property.”

thirty years noun + noun

In this reading “The ancient villa, once the possession of the great Dante, fell into gentle hands when the present owner, thirty years before, entered into an appreciative enjoyment of his newly acquired property.”

felt instinctively verb + particle

In this reading “The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.”

entered into verb + particle counted as “enter into”

In this reading “The ancient villa, once the possession of the great Dante, fell into gentle hands when the present owner, thirty years before, entered into an appreciative enjoyment of his newly acquired property.”

fell into verb + particle

In this reading “The ancient villa, once the possession of the great Dante, fell into gentle hands when the present owner, thirty years before, entered into an appreciative enjoyment of his newly acquired property.”

present owner verb + noun

In this reading “The ancient villa, once the possession of the great Dante, fell into gentle hands when the present owner, thirty years before, entered into an appreciative enjoyment of his newly acquired property.”

in the world preposition + article + noun counted as “in … world”

In this reading “No people in the world so cordially welcome strangers who come properly introduced to settle temporarily in their midst; no people so plainly manifest their estimates of their adopted aliens.”

All words in this reading · 114

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 structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

acquiredadjectiveUS /əˈkwaɪərd/

gotten through environmental forces

From this reading The ancient villa, once the possession of the great Dante, fell into gentle hands when the present owner, thirty years before, entered into an appreciative enjoyment of his newly acquired property.

adoptedadjectiveUS /əˈdɑːptɪd/

acquired as your own by free choice

From this reading No people in the world so cordially welcome strangers who come properly introduced to settle temporarily in their midst; no people so plainly manifest their estimates of their adopted aliens.

aliensnounUS /ˈeɪliənz/

plural of “alien” — a person who comes from a foreign country; someone who does not owe allegiance to your country

From this reading No people in the world so cordially welcome strangers who come properly introduced to settle temporarily in their midst; no people so plainly manifest their estimates of their adopted aliens.

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 VICTIM OF FATE XII All Florence--social, literary, and artistic--was at the Londi reception.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading The ancient villa, once the possession of the great Dante, fell into gentle hands when the present owner, thirty years before, entered into an appreciative enjoyment of his newly acquired property.

ancientadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.

From this reading The ancient villa, once the possession of the great Dante, fell into gentle hands when the present owner, thirty years before, entered into an appreciative enjoyment of his newly acquired property.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading VICTIM OF FATE XII All Florence--social, literary, and artistic--was at the Londi reception.

appreciativeadjectiveUS /əˈpriːʃieɪtɪv/

feeling or expressive of gratitude

From this reading The ancient villa, once the possession of the great Dante, fell into gentle hands when the present owner, thirty years before, entered into an appreciative enjoyment of his newly acquired property.

architecturenounUS /ˈɑːrkətektʃər/

an architectural product or work

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

artisticadjectiveUS /ɑːrˈtɪstɪk/

relating to or characteristic of art or artists

From this reading VICTIM OF FATE XII All Florence--social, literary, and artistic--was at the Londi reception.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading VICTIM OF FATE XII All Florence--social, literary, and artistic--was at the Londi reception.

beautynounUS /ˈbjuːti/

the qualities that give pleasure to the senses

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading The ancient villa, once the possession of the great Dante, fell into gentle hands when the present owner, thirty years before, entered into an appreciative enjoyment of his newly acquired property.

belongedverbUS /bɪˈlɔːŋd/

past form of “belong” — be owned by; be in the possession of

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

characteristicsnounUS /ˌkerəktərˈɪstɪks/

plural of “characteristic” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something

From this reading Florentine society possesses two strong characteristics--hospitality and sincerity.

comeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading No people in the world so cordially welcome strangers who come properly introduced to settle temporarily in their midst; no people so plainly manifest their estimates of their adopted aliens.

completeverbUS /kəmˈpliːt/

come or bring to a finish or an end

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

cordiallyadverbUS /ˈkɔːrdʒəli/

in a hearty manner

From this reading No people in the world so cordially welcome strangers who come properly introduced to settle temporarily in their midst; no people so plainly manifest their estimates of their adopted aliens.

corridorsnounUS /ˈkɔːrɪdərz/

plural of “corridor” — an enclosed passageway; rooms usually open onto it

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

courtsnounUS /kɔːrts/

plural of “court” — an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

DantenounUS /ˈdɑːnteɪ/

an Italian poet famous for writing the Divine Comedy that describes a journey through Hell and purgatory and paradise guided by Virgil and his idealized Beatrice (1265-1321)

From this reading The ancient villa, once the possession of the great Dante, fell into gentle hands when the present owner, thirty years before, entered into an appreciative enjoyment of his newly acquired property.

destroyingverbUS /dɪˈstrɔɪɪŋ/

-ing form of “destroy” — do away with, cause the destruction or undoing of

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

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

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

enjoymentnounUS /ˌenˈdʒɔɪmənt/

the pleasure felt when having a good time

From this reading The ancient villa, once the possession of the great Dante, fell into gentle hands when the present owner, thirty years before, entered into an appreciative enjoyment of his newly acquired property.

enteredverbUS /ˈentərd/

past form of “enter” — to come or go into

From this reading The ancient villa, once the possession of the great Dante, fell into gentle hands when the present owner, thirty years before, entered into an appreciative enjoyment of his newly acquired property.

estimatesnounUS /ˈestəməts/

plural of “estimate” — an approximate calculation of quantity or degree or worth

From this reading No people in the world so cordially welcome strangers who come properly introduced to settle temporarily in their midst; no people so plainly manifest their estimates of their adopted aliens.

exactlyadverbUS /ɪɡˈzæktli/

indicating exactness or preciseness

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

FATEnounUS /feɪt/

an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future

From this reading VICTIM OF FATE XII All Florence--social, literary, and artistic--was at the Londi reception.

fellverbUS /fel/

cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow

From this reading The ancient villa, once the possession of the great Dante, fell into gentle hands when the present owner, thirty years before, entered into an appreciative enjoyment of his newly acquired property.

feltverbUS /felt/

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

FlorencenounUS /ˈflɔːrəns/

a city in central Italy on the Arno; provincial capital of Tuscany; center of the Italian Renaissance from 14th to 16th centuries

From this reading VICTIM OF FATE XII All Florence--social, literary, and artistic--was at the Londi reception.

FlorentineadjectiveUS /ˈflɔːrəntiːn/

of or relating to or characteristic of the city of Florence, Italy

From this reading Florentine society possesses two strong characteristics--hospitality and sincerity.

foundverbUS /faʊnd/

set up or found

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

gentleadjectiveUS /ˈdʒentəl/

soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe

From this reading The ancient villa, once the possession of the great Dante, fell into gentle hands when the present owner, thirty years before, entered into an appreciative enjoyment of his newly acquired property.

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

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

From this reading The ancient villa, once the possession of the great Dante, fell into gentle hands when the present owner, thirty years before, entered into an appreciative enjoyment of his newly acquired property.

handsnounUS /hændz/

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading The ancient villa, once the possession of the great Dante, fell into gentle hands when the present owner, thirty years before, entered into an appreciative enjoyment of his newly acquired property.

harmonynounUS /ˈhɑːrməni/

compatibility in opinion and action

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading The ancient villa, once the possession of the great Dante, fell into gentle hands when the present owner, thirty years before, entered into an appreciative enjoyment of his newly acquired property.

hospitalitynounUS /ˌhɑːspəˈtæləti/

kindness in welcoming guests or strangers

From this reading Florentine society possesses two strong characteristics--hospitality and sincerity.

hungverbUS /hʌŋ/

inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

instinctivelyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈstɪŋktɪvliː/

as a matter of instinct

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The ancient villa, once the possession of the great Dante, fell into gentle hands when the present owner, thirty years before, entered into an appreciative enjoyment of his newly acquired property.

introducedverbUS /ˌɪntrəˈduːst/

past form of “introduce” — cause to come to know personally

From this reading No people in the world so cordially welcome strangers who come properly introduced to settle temporarily in their midst; no people so plainly manifest their estimates of their adopted aliens.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

literaryadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəreri/

of or relating to or characteristic of literature

From this reading VICTIM OF FATE XII All Florence--social, literary, and artistic--was at the Londi reception.

Londi

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

From this reading VICTIM OF FATE XII All Florence--social, literary, and artistic--was at the Londi reception.

manifestverbUS /ˈmænəfest/

provide evidence for; stand as proof of; show by one's behavior, attitude, or external attributes

From this reading No people in the world so cordially welcome strangers who come properly introduced to settle temporarily in their midst; no people so plainly manifest their estimates of their adopted aliens.

midstnounUS /mɪdst/

the location of something surrounded by other things

From this reading No people in the world so cordially welcome strangers who come properly introduced to settle temporarily in their midst; no people so plainly manifest their estimates of their adopted aliens.

newlyadverbUS /ˈnuːli/

very recently

From this reading The ancient villa, once the possession of the great Dante, fell into gentle hands when the present owner, thirty years before, entered into an appreciative enjoyment of his newly acquired property.

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading No people in the world so cordially welcome strangers who come properly introduced to settle temporarily in their midst; no people so plainly manifest their estimates of their adopted aliens.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading VICTIM OF FATE XII All Florence--social, literary, and artistic--was at the Londi reception.

onceadverbUS /wʌns/

on one occasion

From this reading The ancient villa, once the possession of the great Dante, fell into gentle hands when the present owner, thirty years before, entered into an appreciative enjoyment of his newly acquired property.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

originaladjectiveUS /ərˈɪdʒənəl/

preceding all others in time or being as first made or performed

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

ownernounUS /ˈoʊnər/

(law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business

From this reading The ancient villa, once the possession of the great Dante, fell into gentle hands when the present owner, thirty years before, entered into an appreciative enjoyment of his newly acquired property.

paintingsnounUS /ˈpeɪntɪŋz/

plural of “painting” — graphic art consisting of an artistic composition made by applying paints to a surface

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

partnounUS /pɑːrt/

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/

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

From this reading No people in the world so cordially welcome strangers who come properly introduced to settle temporarily in their midst; no people so plainly manifest their estimates of their adopted aliens.

perfectadjectiveUS /pərˈfekt/

being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

piecenounUS /piːs/

a separate part of a whole

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

placenounUS /pleɪs/

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

plainlyadverbUS /ˈpleɪnli/

unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)

From this reading No people in the world so cordially welcome strangers who come properly introduced to settle temporarily in their midst; no people so plainly manifest their estimates of their adopted aliens.

possessesverbUS /pəˈzesəz/

third-person singular of “possess” — have as an attribute, knowledge, or skill

From this reading Florentine society possesses two strong characteristics--hospitality and sincerity.

possessionnounUS /pəˈzeʃən/

the act of having and controlling property

From this reading The ancient villa, once the possession of the great Dante, fell into gentle hands when the present owner, thirty years before, entered into an appreciative enjoyment of his newly acquired property.

presentverbUS /ˈprezənt/

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading The ancient villa, once the possession of the great Dante, fell into gentle hands when the present owner, thirty years before, entered into an appreciative enjoyment of his newly acquired property.

preservedadjectiveUS /prəˈzɜːrvd/

prevented from decaying or spoiling and prepared for future use

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

pricelessadjectiveUS /ˈpraɪsləs/

having incalculable monetary, intellectual, or spiritual worth

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

properlyadverbUS /ˈprɑːpərli/

in the right manner; correctly; suitably

From this reading No people in the world so cordially welcome strangers who come properly introduced to settle temporarily in their midst; no people so plainly manifest their estimates of their adopted aliens.

propertynounUS /ˈprɑːpərti/

something owned; any tangible or intangible possession that is owned by someone

From this reading The ancient villa, once the possession of the great Dante, fell into gentle hands when the present owner, thirty years before, entered into an appreciative enjoyment of his newly acquired property.

rareadjectiveUS /rer/

not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

receptionnounUS /rɪˈsepʃən/

the manner in which something is greeted

From this reading VICTIM OF FATE XII All Florence--social, literary, and artistic--was at the Londi reception.

renovatedverbUS /ˈrenəveɪtɪd/

past form of “renovate” — restore to a previous or better condition

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

restoredverbUS /rɪˈstɔːrd/

past form of “restore” — return to its original or usable and functioning condition

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

richadjectiveUS /rɪtʃ/

possessing material wealth

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

settleverbUS /ˈsetəl/

settle into a position, usually on a surface or ground

From this reading No people in the world so cordially welcome strangers who come properly introduced to settle temporarily in their midst; no people so plainly manifest their estimates of their adopted aliens.

sinceritynounUS /sɪnˈserəti/

an earnest and sincere feeling

From this reading Florentine society possesses two strong characteristics--hospitality and sincerity.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading No people in the world so cordially welcome strangers who come properly introduced to settle temporarily in their midst; no people so plainly manifest their estimates of their adopted aliens.

socialadjectiveUS /ˈsoʊʃəl/

relating to human society and its members

From this reading VICTIM OF FATE XII All Florence--social, literary, and artistic--was at the Londi reception.

societynounUS /səˈsaɪəti/

an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization

From this reading Florentine society possesses two strong characteristics--hospitality and sincerity.

statuarynounUS /ˈstætʃuːeri/

statues collectively

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

stoodverbUS /stʊd/

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

strangersnounUS /ˈstreɪndʒərz/

plural of “stranger” — anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found

From this reading No people in the world so cordially welcome strangers who come properly introduced to settle temporarily in their midst; no people so plainly manifest their estimates of their adopted aliens.

strongadjectiveUS /strɔːŋ/

having strength or power greater than average or expected

From this reading Florentine society possesses two strong characteristics--hospitality and sincerity.

structurenounUS /ˈstrʌktʃər/

a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

tapestriesnounUS /ˈtæpəstriz/

plural of “tapestry” — something that resembles a tapestry in its intricacy

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

tasteverbUS /teɪst/

To perceive flavor through the mouth.

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

temporarilyadverbUS /ˌtempərˈerəli/

for a limited time only; not permanently

From this reading No people in the world so cordially welcome strangers who come properly introduced to settle temporarily in their midst; no people so plainly manifest their estimates of their adopted aliens.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading VICTIM OF FATE XII All Florence--social, literary, and artistic--was at the Londi reception.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading No people in the world so cordially welcome strangers who come properly introduced to settle temporarily in their midst; no people so plainly manifest their estimates of their adopted aliens.

thirtynounUS /ˈθɜːrdiː/

the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three

From this reading The ancient villa, once the possession of the great Dante, fell into gentle hands when the present owner, thirty years before, entered into an appreciative enjoyment of his newly acquired property.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading No people in the world so cordially welcome strangers who come properly introduced to settle temporarily in their midst; no people so plainly manifest their estimates of their adopted aliens.

twonounUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Florentine society possesses two strong characteristics--hospitality and sincerity.

VICTIMnounUS /ˈvɪktəm/

an unfortunate person who suffers from some adverse circumstance

From this reading VICTIM OF FATE XII All Florence--social, literary, and artistic--was at the Londi reception.

villanounUS /ˈvɪlə/

Mexican revolutionary leader (1877-1923)

From this reading The ancient villa, once the possession of the great Dante, fell into gentle hands when the present owner, thirty years before, entered into an appreciative enjoyment of his newly acquired property.

wallsnounUS /wɔːlz/

plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading VICTIM OF FATE XII All Florence--social, literary, and artistic--was at the Londi reception.

welcomeverbUS /ˈwelkəm/

accept gladly

From this reading No people in the world so cordially welcome strangers who come properly introduced to settle temporarily in their midst; no people so plainly manifest their estimates of their adopted aliens.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading The ancient villa, once the possession of the great Dante, fell into gentle hands when the present owner, thirty years before, entered into an appreciative enjoyment of his newly acquired property.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading No people in the world so cordially welcome strangers who come properly introduced to settle temporarily in their midst; no people so plainly manifest their estimates of their adopted aliens.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading The structure itself was preserved and restored without destroying the original beauty of its architecture; the walls were renovated and hung with rich tapestries and rare paintings; priceless statuary found a place in the courts and corridors, but with such perfect taste that one felt instinctively that each piece belonged exactly where it stood as a part of the complete harmony.

worldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading No people in the world so cordially welcome strangers who come properly introduced to settle temporarily in their midst; no people so plainly manifest their estimates of their adopted aliens.

XIInoun

the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one

From this reading VICTIM OF FATE XII All Florence--social, literary, and artistic--was at the Londi reception.

yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading The ancient villa, once the possession of the great Dante, fell into gentle hands when the present owner, thirty years before, entered into an appreciative enjoyment of his newly acquired property.

Chapter 5 of The Spell by William Dana Orcutt holds 413 sentences, grouped into 83 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 5 of The Spell contain?

Chapter 5 holds 413 sentences of The Spell, unabridged, divided into 83 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 5 of The Spell by William Dana Orcutt exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 413 sentences, grouped into 83 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 5 of The Spell?

Work through the 83 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 83 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 5 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 5 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 Spell

Common questions about reading The Spell by William Dana Orcutt on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Spell?

Yes. All 5413 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #35607 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Spell is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #35607, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Spell take to read?

About 451 minutes of reading across 1083 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Spell section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 11 chapters of The Spell 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 Spell

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

Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Spell; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Flower
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Spell; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Destiny
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Spell; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Robert
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Spell; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.