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The Travels of Marco Polo — Volume 1
The Travels of Marco Polo — Volume 1

Chapter XXXIX · Chapter 39

Chapter 39 of The Travels of Marco Polo — Volume 1 is here in full — 89 sentences across 18 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/17 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
CONCERNING THE CITY OF COBINAN AND THE THINGS THAT ARE MADE THERE.
Cobinan is a large town.{1} The people worship Mahommet.
There is much Iron and Steel and _Ondanique_, and they make steel mirrors of great size and beauty.
They also prepare both _Tutia_ (a thing very good for the eyes) and _Spodium_; and I will tell you the process.
They have a vein of a certain earth which has the required quality, and this they put into a great flaming furnace, whilst over the furnace there is an iron grating.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Travels of Marco Polo — Volume 1

Chapter XXXIX · Chapter 39

Chapter 39 of The Travels of Marco Polo — Volume 1 is here in full — 89 sentences across 18 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/17 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
CONCERNING THE CITY OF COBINAN AND THE THINGS THAT ARE MADE THERE.
Line 2
Cobinan is a large town.{1} The people worship Mahommet.
Line 3
There is much Iron and Steel and _Ondanique_, and they make steel mirrors of great size and beauty.
Line 4
They also prepare both _Tutia_ (a thing very good for the eyes) and _Spodium_; and I will tell you the process.
Line 5
They have a vein of a certain earth which has the required quality, and this they put into a great flaming furnace, whilst over the furnace there is an iron grating.
/ðeɪ hæv ə veɪn ʌv ə ˈsɜːrtən ɜːrθ wɪtʃ hæz ðə riˈkwaɪərd ˈkwɑːləti ənd ðɪs ðeɪ pʊt ˈɪntuː ə ɡreɪt ˈfleɪmɪŋ ˈfɜːrnəs waɪlst ˈoʊvər ðə ˈfɜːrnəs ðer ɪz æn ˈaɪərn ˈɡreɪtɪŋ/

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.

flaming adjective US /ˈfleɪmɪŋ/

informal intensifiers

From this reading “They have a vein of a certain earth which has the required quality, and this they put into a great flaming furnace, whilst over the furnace there is an iron grating.”

furnace noun US /ˈfɜːrnəs/

an enclosed chamber in which heat is produced to heat buildings, destroy refuse, smelt or refine ores, etc.

From this reading “They have a vein of a certain earth which has the required quality, and this they put into a great flaming furnace, whilst over the furnace there is an iron grating.”

grating noun US /ˈɡreɪtɪŋ/

a barrier that has parallel or crossed bars blocking a passage but admitting air

From this reading “They have a vein of a certain earth which has the required quality, and this they put into a great flaming furnace, whilst over the furnace there is an iron grating.”

mirrors noun US /ˈmɪrərz/

plural of “mirror” — polished surface that forms images by reflecting light

From this reading “There is much Iron and Steel and _Ondanique_, and they make steel mirrors of great size and beauty.”

prepare verb US /priˈper/

make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc

From this reading “They also prepare both _Tutia_ (a thing very good for the eyes) and _Spodium_; and I will tell you the process.”

process verb US /ˈprɑːses/

subject to a process or treatment, with the aim of readying for some purpose, improving, or remedying a condition

From this reading “They also prepare both _Tutia_ (a thing very good for the eyes) and _Spodium_; and I will tell you the process.”

steel noun US /stiːl/

an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range

From this reading “There is much Iron and Steel and _Ondanique_, and they make steel mirrors of great size and beauty.”

vein noun US /veɪn/

a blood vessel that carries blood from the capillaries toward the heart

From this reading “They have a vein of a certain earth which has the required quality, and this they put into a great flaming furnace, whilst over the furnace there is an iron grating.”

All words in this reading · 61

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.

1

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

From this reading Cobinan is a large town.{1} The people worship Mahommet.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Cobinan is a large town.{1} The people worship Mahommet.

alsoadverbUS /ˈɔːlsoʊ/

in addition

From this reading They also prepare both _Tutia_ (a thing very good for the eyes) and _Spodium_; and I will tell you the process.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading They have a vein of a certain earth which has the required quality, and this they put into a great flaming furnace, whilst over the furnace there is an iron grating.

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading CONCERNING THE CITY OF COBINAN AND THE THINGS THAT ARE MADE THERE.

AREauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading CONCERNING THE CITY OF COBINAN AND THE THINGS THAT ARE MADE THERE.

beautynounUS /ˈbjuːti/

the qualities that give pleasure to the senses

From this reading There is much Iron and Steel and _Ondanique_, and they make steel mirrors of great size and beauty.

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading They also prepare both _Tutia_ (a thing very good for the eyes) and _Spodium_; and I will tell you the process.

certainadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrtən/

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading They have a vein of a certain earth which has the required quality, and this they put into a great flaming furnace, whilst over the furnace there is an iron grating.

CITYnounUS /ˈsɪti/

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading CONCERNING THE CITY OF COBINAN AND THE THINGS THAT ARE MADE THERE.

COBINAN

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

From this reading CONCERNING THE CITY OF COBINAN AND THE THINGS THAT ARE MADE THERE.

CONCERNINGverbUS /kənˈsɜːrnɪŋ/

-ing form of “concern” — be relevant to

From this reading CONCERNING THE CITY OF COBINAN AND THE THINGS THAT ARE MADE THERE.

earthnounUS /ɜːrθ/

the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

From this reading They have a vein of a certain earth which has the required quality, and this they put into a great flaming furnace, whilst over the furnace there is an iron grating.

eyesnounUS /aɪz/

opinion or judgment

From this reading They also prepare both _Tutia_ (a thing very good for the eyes) and _Spodium_; and I will tell you the process.

flamingadjectiveUS /ˈfleɪmɪŋ/

informal intensifiers

From this reading They have a vein of a certain earth which has the required quality, and this they put into a great flaming furnace, whilst over the furnace there is an iron grating.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading They also prepare both _Tutia_ (a thing very good for the eyes) and _Spodium_; and I will tell you the process.

furnacenounUS /ˈfɜːrnəs/

an enclosed chamber in which heat is produced to heat buildings, destroy refuse, smelt or refine ores, etc.

From this reading They have a vein of a certain earth which has the required quality, and this they put into a great flaming furnace, whilst over the furnace there is an iron grating.

goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading They also prepare both _Tutia_ (a thing very good for the eyes) and _Spodium_; and I will tell you the process.

gratingnounUS /ˈɡreɪtɪŋ/

a barrier that has parallel or crossed bars blocking a passage but admitting air

From this reading They have a vein of a certain earth which has the required quality, and this they put into a great flaming furnace, whilst over the furnace there is an iron grating.

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

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

From this reading There is much Iron and Steel and _Ondanique_, and they make steel mirrors of great size and beauty.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading They have a vein of a certain earth which has the required quality, and this they put into a great flaming furnace, whilst over the furnace there is an iron grating.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading They have a vein of a certain earth which has the required quality, and this they put into a great flaming furnace, whilst over the furnace there is an iron grating.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading They also prepare both _Tutia_ (a thing very good for the eyes) and _Spodium_; and I will tell you the process.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading They have a vein of a certain earth which has the required quality, and this they put into a great flaming furnace, whilst over the furnace there is an iron grating.

IronnounUS /ˈaɪərn/

a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood

From this reading There is much Iron and Steel and _Ondanique_, and they make steel mirrors of great size and beauty.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Cobinan is a large town.{1} The people worship Mahommet.

largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Cobinan is a large town.{1} The people worship Mahommet.

MADEadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading CONCERNING THE CITY OF COBINAN AND THE THINGS THAT ARE MADE THERE.

Mahommet

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

From this reading Cobinan is a large town.{1} The people worship Mahommet.

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading There is much Iron and Steel and _Ondanique_, and they make steel mirrors of great size and beauty.

mirrorsnounUS /ˈmɪrərz/

plural of “mirror” — polished surface that forms images by reflecting light

From this reading There is much Iron and Steel and _Ondanique_, and they make steel mirrors of great size and beauty.

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading There is much Iron and Steel and _Ondanique_, and they make steel mirrors of great size and beauty.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading CONCERNING THE CITY OF COBINAN AND THE THINGS THAT ARE MADE THERE.

Ondanique

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

From this reading There is much Iron and Steel and _Ondanique_, and they make steel mirrors of great size and beauty.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading They have a vein of a certain earth which has the required quality, and this they put into a great flaming furnace, whilst over the furnace there is an iron grating.

peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/

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

From this reading Cobinan is a large town.{1} The people worship Mahommet.

prepareverbUS /priˈper/

make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc

From this reading They also prepare both _Tutia_ (a thing very good for the eyes) and _Spodium_; and I will tell you the process.

processverbUS /ˈprɑːses/

subject to a process or treatment, with the aim of readying for some purpose, improving, or remedying a condition

From this reading They also prepare both _Tutia_ (a thing very good for the eyes) and _Spodium_; and I will tell you the process.

putverbUS /pʊt/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading They have a vein of a certain earth which has the required quality, and this they put into a great flaming furnace, whilst over the furnace there is an iron grating.

qualitynounUS /ˈkwɑːləti/

an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone

From this reading They have a vein of a certain earth which has the required quality, and this they put into a great flaming furnace, whilst over the furnace there is an iron grating.

requiredadjectiveUS /riˈkwaɪərd/

necessary for relief or supply

From this reading They have a vein of a certain earth which has the required quality, and this they put into a great flaming furnace, whilst over the furnace there is an iron grating.

sizenounUS /saɪz/

the physical magnitude of something (how big it is)

From this reading There is much Iron and Steel and _Ondanique_, and they make steel mirrors of great size and beauty.

Spodium

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

From this reading They also prepare both _Tutia_ (a thing very good for the eyes) and _Spodium_; and I will tell you the process.

SteelnounUS /stiːl/

an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range

From this reading There is much Iron and Steel and _Ondanique_, and they make steel mirrors of great size and beauty.

tellverbUS /tel/

express in words

From this reading They also prepare both _Tutia_ (a thing very good for the eyes) and _Spodium_; and I will tell you the process.

THATconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading CONCERNING THE CITY OF COBINAN AND THE THINGS THAT ARE MADE THERE.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading CONCERNING THE CITY OF COBINAN AND THE THINGS THAT ARE MADE THERE.

THEREadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading CONCERNING THE CITY OF COBINAN AND THE THINGS THAT ARE MADE THERE.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading There is much Iron and Steel and _Ondanique_, and they make steel mirrors of great size and beauty.

thingnounUS /θɪŋ/

a special situation

From this reading They also prepare both _Tutia_ (a thing very good for the eyes) and _Spodium_; and I will tell you the process.

THINGSnounUS /θɪŋz/

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading CONCERNING THE CITY OF COBINAN AND THE THINGS THAT ARE MADE THERE.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading They have a vein of a certain earth which has the required quality, and this they put into a great flaming furnace, whilst over the furnace there is an iron grating.

townnounUS /taʊn/

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

From this reading Cobinan is a large town.{1} The people worship Mahommet.

Tutia

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

From this reading They also prepare both _Tutia_ (a thing very good for the eyes) and _Spodium_; and I will tell you the process.

veinnounUS /veɪn/

a blood vessel that carries blood from the capillaries toward the heart

From this reading They have a vein of a certain earth which has the required quality, and this they put into a great flaming furnace, whilst over the furnace there is an iron grating.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading They also prepare both _Tutia_ (a thing very good for the eyes) and _Spodium_; and I will tell you the process.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading They have a vein of a certain earth which has the required quality, and this they put into a great flaming furnace, whilst over the furnace there is an iron grating.

whilstconjunctionUS /waɪlst/

an old and formal word for “while”

From this reading They have a vein of a certain earth which has the required quality, and this they put into a great flaming furnace, whilst over the furnace there is an iron grating.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading They also prepare both _Tutia_ (a thing very good for the eyes) and _Spodium_; and I will tell you the process.

worshipverbUS /ˈwɜːrʃəp/

love unquestioningly and uncritically or to excess; venerate as an idol

From this reading Cobinan is a large town.{1} The people worship Mahommet.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading They also prepare both _Tutia_ (a thing very good for the eyes) and _Spodium_; and I will tell you the process.

Chapter 39 of The Travels of Marco Polo — Volume 1 by Marco Polo holds 89 sentences, grouped into 18 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 39 of The Travels of Marco Polo — Volume 1 contain?

Chapter 39 holds 89 sentences of The Travels of Marco Polo — Volume 1, unabridged, divided into 18 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 39 of The Travels of Marco Polo — Volume 1 by Marco Polo exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 89 sentences, grouped into 18 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 39 of The Travels of Marco Polo — Volume 1?

Work through the 18 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 18 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 39 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 39 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 Travels of Marco Polo — Volume 1

Common questions about reading The Travels of Marco Polo — Volume 1 by Marco Polo on this page, its source edition and its audio.

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Which edition of The Travels of Marco Polo — Volume 1 is used?

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

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About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in The Travels of Marco Polo — Volume 1

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Travels of Marco Polo — Volume 1, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Chapter 1
One of the 0 chapters of The Travels of Marco Polo — Volume 1, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 2
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Chapter 3
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