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Told by the death's head
Told by the death's head

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Told by the death's head is here in full — 11 sentences across 3 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Mór Jókai • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Told by the death's head
Context Illustration Reading 1/2 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
_Translator of Prof. Haeckel's "India and Ceylon," Maurus Jokai's "The Nameless Castle," etc._ PREFACE.
In Part II, Vol. 2, of the Rhenish _Antiquarius_, I once came across a skull that is said--see page 612--to swing, enclosed in a metal casket, from an iron bar in the foundry of Ehrenbreitstein fortress.
Distinction of this order does not fall to an ordinary mortal.
Yon empty shell of human wisdom once bore the burden of no less than twenty-one mortal sins--the seven _originalia_ trebled.
Each crime is noted.
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Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Told by the death's head

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Told by the death's head is here in full — 11 sentences across 3 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/2 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
_Translator of Prof. Haeckel's "India and Ceylon," Maurus Jokai's "The Nameless Castle," etc._ PREFACE.
Line 2
In Part II, Vol. 2, of the Rhenish _Antiquarius_, I once came across a skull that is said--see page 612--to swing, enclosed in a metal casket, from an iron bar in the foundry of Ehrenbreitstein fortress.
Line 3
Distinction of this order does not fall to an ordinary mortal.
/dɪˈstɪŋkʃən ʌv ðɪs ˈɔːrdər dʌz nɑːt fɔːl tuː æn ˈɔːrdəneri ˈmɔːrtəl/
Line 4
Yon empty shell of human wisdom once bore the burden of no less than twenty-one mortal sins--the seven _originalia_ trebled.
Line 5
Each crime is noted.
/iːtʃ kraɪm ɪz ˈnoʊtəd/

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.

casket noun US /ˈkæskət/

box in which a corpse is buried or cremated

From this reading “In Part II, Vol. 2, of the Rhenish _Antiquarius_, I once came across a skull that is said--see page 612--to swing, enclosed in a metal casket, from an iron bar in the foundry of Ehrenbreitstein fortress.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Ceylon noun US /sɪˈlɑːn/

an island in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of India

From this reading “_Translator of Prof. Haeckel's "India and Ceylon," Maurus Jokai's "The Nameless Castle," etc._ PREFACE.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
foundry noun US /ˈfaʊndri/

factory where metal castings are produced

From this reading “In Part II, Vol. 2, of the Rhenish _Antiquarius_, I once came across a skull that is said--see page 612--to swing, enclosed in a metal casket, from an iron bar in the foundry of Ehrenbreitstein fortress.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Nameless adjective US /ˈneɪm.ləs/

Having no name, or having a name that is kept secret or unknown.

From this reading “_Translator of Prof. Haeckel's "India and Ceylon," Maurus Jokai's "The Nameless Castle," etc._ PREFACE.”

Velmora curated lexicon
preface noun US /ˈprefəs/

a short introductory essay preceding the text of a book

From this reading “_Translator of Prof. Haeckel's "India and Ceylon," Maurus Jokai's "The Nameless Castle," etc._ PREFACE.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Translator noun US /trænˈsleɪtər/

a person who translates written messages from one language to another

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
trebled verb US /ˈtrebəld/

past form of “treble” — sing treble

From this reading “Yon empty shell of human wisdom once bore the burden of no less than twenty-one mortal sins--the seven _originalia_ trebled.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
twenty-one noun US /ˈtwentiwɔːn/

the cardinal number that is the sum of twenty and one

From this reading “Yon empty shell of human wisdom once bore the burden of no less than twenty-one mortal sins--the seven _originalia_ trebled.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

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.

iron bar noun + noun

In this reading “In Part II, Vol. 2, of the Rhenish _Antiquarius_, I once came across a skull that is said--see page 612--to swing, enclosed in a metal casket, from an iron bar in the foundry of Ehrenbreitstein fortress.”

1,012 times in 225,867 chapters
empty shell verb + noun

In this reading “Yon empty shell of human wisdom once bore the burden of no less than twenty-one mortal sins--the seven _originalia_ trebled.”

377 times in 225,867 chapters
human wisdom adjective + noun

In this reading “Yon empty shell of human wisdom once bore the burden of no less than twenty-one mortal sins--the seven _originalia_ trebled.”

270 times in 225,867 chapters
came across verb + particle counted as “come across”

find unexpectedly

In this reading “In Part II, Vol. 2, of the Rhenish _Antiquarius_, I once came across a skull that is said--see page 612--to swing, enclosed in a metal casket, from an iron bar in the foundry of Ehrenbreitstein fortress.”

11,706 times in 225,867 chapters

All words in this reading · 71

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

2

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

From this reading In Part II, Vol. 2, of the Rhenish _Antiquarius_, I once came across a skull that is said--see page 612--to swing, enclosed in a metal casket, from an iron bar in the foundry of Ehrenbreitstein fortress.

Pending verification
612

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

From this reading In Part II, Vol. 2, of the Rhenish _Antiquarius_, I once came across a skull that is said--see page 612--to swing, enclosed in a metal casket, from an iron bar in the foundry of Ehrenbreitstein fortress.

Pending verification
adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading In Part II, Vol. 2, of the Rhenish _Antiquarius_, I once came across a skull that is said--see page 612--to swing, enclosed in a metal casket, from an iron bar in the foundry of Ehrenbreitstein fortress.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading In Part II, Vol. 2, of the Rhenish _Antiquarius_, I once came across a skull that is said--see page 612--to swing, enclosed in a metal casket, from an iron bar in the foundry of Ehrenbreitstein fortress.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading In Part II, Vol. 2, of the Rhenish _Antiquarius_, I once came across a skull that is said--see page 612--to swing, enclosed in a metal casket, from an iron bar in the foundry of Ehrenbreitstein fortress.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading _Translator of Prof. Haeckel's "India and Ceylon," Maurus Jokai's "The Nameless Castle," etc._ PREFACE.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
Antiquarius

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

From this reading In Part II, Vol. 2, of the Rhenish _Antiquarius_, I once came across a skull that is said--see page 612--to swing, enclosed in a metal casket, from an iron bar in the foundry of Ehrenbreitstein fortress.

Pending verification
barnounUS /bɑːr/

a room or establishment where alcoholic drinks are served over a counter

From this reading In Part II, Vol. 2, of the Rhenish _Antiquarius_, I once came across a skull that is said--see page 612--to swing, enclosed in a metal casket, from an iron bar in the foundry of Ehrenbreitstein fortress.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
boreverbUS /bɔːr/

cause to be bored

From this reading Yon empty shell of human wisdom once bore the burden of no less than twenty-one mortal sins--the seven _originalia_ trebled.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
burdennounUS /ˈbɜːrdən/

an onerous or difficult concern

From this reading Yon empty shell of human wisdom once bore the burden of no less than twenty-one mortal sins--the seven _originalia_ trebled.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
cameverbUS /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading In Part II, Vol. 2, of the Rhenish _Antiquarius_, I once came across a skull that is said--see page 612--to swing, enclosed in a metal casket, from an iron bar in the foundry of Ehrenbreitstein fortress.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
casketnounUS /ˈkæskət/

box in which a corpse is buried or cremated

From this reading In Part II, Vol. 2, of the Rhenish _Antiquarius_, I once came across a skull that is said--see page 612--to swing, enclosed in a metal casket, from an iron bar in the foundry of Ehrenbreitstein fortress.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
CastlenounUS /ˈkæsəl/

a large and stately mansion

From this reading _Translator of Prof. Haeckel's "India and Ceylon," Maurus Jokai's "The Nameless Castle," etc._ PREFACE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
CeylonnounUS /sɪˈlɑːn/

an island in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of India

From this reading _Translator of Prof. Haeckel's "India and Ceylon," Maurus Jokai's "The Nameless Castle," etc._ PREFACE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
crimenounUS /kraɪm/

(criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act

From this reading Each crime is noted.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
DistinctionnounUS /dɪˈstɪŋkʃən/

a discrimination between things as different and distinct on the basis of their characteristics or attributes

From this reading Distinction of this order does not fall to an ordinary mortal.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/

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

From this reading Distinction of this order does not fall to an ordinary mortal.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
EachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

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

From this reading Each crime is noted.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
Ehrenbreitstein

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

From this reading In Part II, Vol. 2, of the Rhenish _Antiquarius_, I once came across a skull that is said--see page 612--to swing, enclosed in a metal casket, from an iron bar in the foundry of Ehrenbreitstein fortress.

Pending verification
emptyverbUS /ˈempti/

make void or empty of contents

From this reading Yon empty shell of human wisdom once bore the burden of no less than twenty-one mortal sins--the seven _originalia_ trebled.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
enclosedadjectiveUS /enˈkloʊzd/

closed in or surrounded or included within

From this reading In Part II, Vol. 2, of the Rhenish _Antiquarius_, I once came across a skull that is said--see page 612--to swing, enclosed in a metal casket, from an iron bar in the foundry of Ehrenbreitstein fortress.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
etc

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

From this reading _Translator of Prof. Haeckel's "India and Ceylon," Maurus Jokai's "The Nameless Castle," etc._ PREFACE.

Pending verification
fallverbUS /fɔːl/

descend in free fall under the influence of gravity

From this reading Distinction of this order does not fall to an ordinary mortal.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fortressnounUS /ˈfɔːrtrəs/

a fortified defensive structure

From this reading In Part II, Vol. 2, of the Rhenish _Antiquarius_, I once came across a skull that is said--see page 612--to swing, enclosed in a metal casket, from an iron bar in the foundry of Ehrenbreitstein fortress.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
foundrynounUS /ˈfaʊndri/

factory where metal castings are produced

From this reading In Part II, Vol. 2, of the Rhenish _Antiquarius_, I once came across a skull that is said--see page 612--to swing, enclosed in a metal casket, from an iron bar in the foundry of Ehrenbreitstein fortress.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading In Part II, Vol. 2, of the Rhenish _Antiquarius_, I once came across a skull that is said--see page 612--to swing, enclosed in a metal casket, from an iron bar in the foundry of Ehrenbreitstein fortress.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
Haeckel's

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

From this reading _Translator of Prof. Haeckel's "India and Ceylon," Maurus Jokai's "The Nameless Castle," etc._ PREFACE.

Pending verification
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/

characteristic of humanity

From this reading Yon empty shell of human wisdom once bore the burden of no less than twenty-one mortal sins--the seven _originalia_ trebled.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading In Part II, Vol. 2, of the Rhenish _Antiquarius_, I once came across a skull that is said--see page 612--to swing, enclosed in a metal casket, from an iron bar in the foundry of Ehrenbreitstein fortress.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
IInoun

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

From this reading In Part II, Vol. 2, of the Rhenish _Antiquarius_, I once came across a skull that is said--see page 612--to swing, enclosed in a metal casket, from an iron bar in the foundry of Ehrenbreitstein fortress.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In Part II, Vol. 2, of the Rhenish _Antiquarius_, I once came across a skull that is said--see page 612--to swing, enclosed in a metal casket, from an iron bar in the foundry of Ehrenbreitstein fortress.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
IndianounUS /ˈɪndiə/

a republic in the Asian subcontinent in southern Asia; second most populous country in the world; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1947

From this reading _Translator of Prof. Haeckel's "India and Ceylon," Maurus Jokai's "The Nameless Castle," etc._ PREFACE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
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 In Part II, Vol. 2, of the Rhenish _Antiquarius_, I once came across a skull that is said--see page 612--to swing, enclosed in a metal casket, from an iron bar in the foundry of Ehrenbreitstein fortress.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading In Part II, Vol. 2, of the Rhenish _Antiquarius_, I once came across a skull that is said--see page 612--to swing, enclosed in a metal casket, from an iron bar in the foundry of Ehrenbreitstein fortress.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
Jokai's

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

From this reading _Translator of Prof. Haeckel's "India and Ceylon," Maurus Jokai's "The Nameless Castle," etc._ PREFACE.

Pending verification
lessadverbUS /les/

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading Yon empty shell of human wisdom once bore the burden of no less than twenty-one mortal sins--the seven _originalia_ trebled.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Maurus

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

From this reading _Translator of Prof. Haeckel's "India and Ceylon," Maurus Jokai's "The Nameless Castle," etc._ PREFACE.

Pending verification
metalnounUS /ˈmetəl/

any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc.

From this reading In Part II, Vol. 2, of the Rhenish _Antiquarius_, I once came across a skull that is said--see page 612--to swing, enclosed in a metal casket, from an iron bar in the foundry of Ehrenbreitstein fortress.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mortaladjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrtəl/

subject to death

From this reading Distinction of this order does not fall to an ordinary mortal.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
NamelessadjectiveUS /ˈneɪm.ləs/

Having no name, or having a name that is kept secret or unknown.

From this reading _Translator of Prof. Haeckel's "India and Ceylon," Maurus Jokai's "The Nameless Castle," etc._ PREFACE.

Velmora curated lexicon
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Yon empty shell of human wisdom once bore the burden of no less than twenty-one mortal sins--the seven _originalia_ trebled.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Distinction of this order does not fall to an ordinary mortal.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
notedadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊtəd/

widely known and esteemed

From this reading Each crime is noted.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading _Translator of Prof. Haeckel's "India and Ceylon," Maurus Jokai's "The Nameless Castle," etc._ PREFACE.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
onceadverbUS /wʌns/

on one occasion

From this reading In Part II, Vol. 2, of the Rhenish _Antiquarius_, I once came across a skull that is said--see page 612--to swing, enclosed in a metal casket, from an iron bar in the foundry of Ehrenbreitstein fortress.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ordernounUS /ˈɔːrdər/

(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed

From this reading Distinction of this order does not fall to an ordinary mortal.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ordinarynounUS /ˈɔːrdəneri/

a judge of a probate court

From this reading Distinction of this order does not fall to an ordinary mortal.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
originalia

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

From this reading Yon empty shell of human wisdom once bore the burden of no less than twenty-one mortal sins--the seven _originalia_ trebled.

Pending verification
pagenounUS /peɪdʒ/

one side of one leaf (of a book or magazine or newspaper or letter etc.) or the written or pictorial matter it contains

From this reading In Part II, Vol. 2, of the Rhenish _Antiquarius_, I once came across a skull that is said--see page 612--to swing, enclosed in a metal casket, from an iron bar in the foundry of Ehrenbreitstein fortress.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
PartnounUS /pɑːrt/

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading In Part II, Vol. 2, of the Rhenish _Antiquarius_, I once came across a skull that is said--see page 612--to swing, enclosed in a metal casket, from an iron bar in the foundry of Ehrenbreitstein fortress.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
PREFACEnounUS /ˈprefəs/

a short introductory essay preceding the text of a book

From this reading _Translator of Prof. Haeckel's "India and Ceylon," Maurus Jokai's "The Nameless Castle," etc._ PREFACE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Profnoun

someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university

From this reading _Translator of Prof. Haeckel's "India and Ceylon," Maurus Jokai's "The Nameless Castle," etc._ PREFACE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Rhenishnoun

any of several white wines from the Rhine River valley in Germany (“hock” is British usage)

From this reading In Part II, Vol. 2, of the Rhenish _Antiquarius_, I once came across a skull that is said--see page 612--to swing, enclosed in a metal casket, from an iron bar in the foundry of Ehrenbreitstein fortress.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading In Part II, Vol. 2, of the Rhenish _Antiquarius_, I once came across a skull that is said--see page 612--to swing, enclosed in a metal casket, from an iron bar in the foundry of Ehrenbreitstein fortress.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading In Part II, Vol. 2, of the Rhenish _Antiquarius_, I once came across a skull that is said--see page 612--to swing, enclosed in a metal casket, from an iron bar in the foundry of Ehrenbreitstein fortress.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sevennounUS /ˈsevən/

the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one

From this reading Yon empty shell of human wisdom once bore the burden of no less than twenty-one mortal sins--the seven _originalia_ trebled.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
shellnounUS /ʃel/

ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun

From this reading Yon empty shell of human wisdom once bore the burden of no less than twenty-one mortal sins--the seven _originalia_ trebled.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sinsnounUS /sɪnz/

plural of “sin” — estrangement from god

From this reading Yon empty shell of human wisdom once bore the burden of no less than twenty-one mortal sins--the seven _originalia_ trebled.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
skullnounUS /skʌl/

the bony skeleton of the head of vertebrates

From this reading In Part II, Vol. 2, of the Rhenish _Antiquarius_, I once came across a skull that is said--see page 612--to swing, enclosed in a metal casket, from an iron bar in the foundry of Ehrenbreitstein fortress.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
swingverbUS /swɪŋ/

move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting

From this reading In Part II, Vol. 2, of the Rhenish _Antiquarius_, I once came across a skull that is said--see page 612--to swing, enclosed in a metal casket, from an iron bar in the foundry of Ehrenbreitstein fortress.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Yon empty shell of human wisdom once bore the burden of no less than twenty-one mortal sins--the seven _originalia_ trebled.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading In Part II, Vol. 2, of the Rhenish _Antiquarius_, I once came across a skull that is said--see page 612--to swing, enclosed in a metal casket, from an iron bar in the foundry of Ehrenbreitstein fortress.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading _Translator of Prof. Haeckel's "India and Ceylon," Maurus Jokai's "The Nameless Castle," etc._ PREFACE.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Distinction of this order does not fall to an ordinary mortal.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading In Part II, Vol. 2, of the Rhenish _Antiquarius_, I once came across a skull that is said--see page 612--to swing, enclosed in a metal casket, from an iron bar in the foundry of Ehrenbreitstein fortress.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
TranslatornounUS /trænˈsleɪtər/

a person who translates written messages from one language to another

From this reading _Translator of Prof. Haeckel's "India and Ceylon," Maurus Jokai's "The Nameless Castle," etc._ PREFACE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
trebledverbUS /ˈtrebəld/

past form of “treble” — sing treble

From this reading Yon empty shell of human wisdom once bore the burden of no less than twenty-one mortal sins--the seven _originalia_ trebled.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
twenty-onenounUS /ˈtwentiwɔːn/

the cardinal number that is the sum of twenty and one

From this reading Yon empty shell of human wisdom once bore the burden of no less than twenty-one mortal sins--the seven _originalia_ trebled.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Vol

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

From this reading In Part II, Vol. 2, of the Rhenish _Antiquarius_, I once came across a skull that is said--see page 612--to swing, enclosed in a metal casket, from an iron bar in the foundry of Ehrenbreitstein fortress.

Pending verification
wisdomnounUS /ˈwɪzdəm/

accumulated knowledge or erudition or enlightenment

From this reading Yon empty shell of human wisdom once bore the burden of no less than twenty-one mortal sins--the seven _originalia_ trebled.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
YonadjectiveUS /jɑːn/

distant but within sight (“yon” is dialectal)

From this reading Yon empty shell of human wisdom once bore the burden of no less than twenty-one mortal sins--the seven _originalia_ trebled.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Chapter 1 of Told by the death's head by Mór Jókai holds 11 sentences, grouped into 3 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 Told by the death's head contain?

Chapter 1 holds 11 sentences of Told by the death's head, unabridged, divided into 3 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Told by the death's head by Mór Jókai exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 11 sentences, grouped into 3 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 Told by the death's head?

Work through the 3 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 3 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 Told by the death's head

Common questions about reading Told by the death's head by Mór Jókai on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Told by the death's head?

Yes. All 4313 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #34770 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Told by the death's head is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #34770, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Told by the death's head take to read?

About 359 minutes of reading across 863 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Told by the death's head section by section

How to work through Told by the death's head section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 25 chapters of Told by the death's head 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 Told by the death's head

Words and structures a reader meets early in Told by the death's head, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Translator
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Told by the death's head; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Haeckel's
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Told by the death's head; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
India
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Told by the death's head; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Ceylon
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Told by the death's head; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.