Chapter 15 of What Is Man? and Other Essays is here in full — 191 sentences across 39 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XV
Chapter 15 of What Is Man? and Other Essays is here in full — 191 sentences across 39 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
“I have finished it,” he said; “read it. I can form no opinion of it myself. If you think it worthy, some day—at the proper time—it can end my autobiography. It is the final chapter.” Four months later—almost to the day—(April 21st) he was with Jean.
Chapter 15 of What Is Man? and Other Essays is here in full — 191 sentences across 39 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/38 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
the month following March and preceding May
From this reading “Four months later—almost to the day—(April 21st) he was with Jean.”
a biography of yourself
From this reading “If you think it worthy, some day—at the proper time—it can end my autobiography.”
a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled
From this reading “It is the final chapter.””
occurring at or forming an end or termination
From this reading “It is the final chapter.””
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading ““I have finished it,” he said; “read it.”
a coarse durable twill-weave cotton fabric
From this reading “Four months later—almost to the day—(April 21st) he was with Jean.”
marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness
From this reading “If you think it worthy, some day—at the proper time—it can end my autobiography.”
Having or showing the qualities or abilities that merit recognition in character or magic.
From this reading “If you think it worthy, some day—at the proper time—it can end my autobiography.”
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Four months later—almost to the day—(April 21st) he was with Jean.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Four months later—almost to the day—(April 21st) he was with Jean.
the month following March and preceding May
From this reading Four months later—almost to the day—(April 21st) he was with Jean.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading If you think it worthy, some day—at the proper time—it can end my autobiography.
a biography of yourself
From this reading If you think it worthy, some day—at the proper time—it can end my autobiography.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading I can form no opinion of it myself.
a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled
From this reading It is the final chapter.”
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading If you think it worthy, some day—at the proper time—it can end my autobiography.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading If you think it worthy, some day—at the proper time—it can end my autobiography.
occurring at or forming an end or termination
From this reading It is the final chapter.”
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading “I have finished it,” he said; “read it.
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading I can form no opinion of it myself.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading Four months later—almost to the day—(April 21st) he was with Jean.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “I have finished it,” he said; “read it.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “I have finished it,” he said; “read it.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I have finished it,” he said; “read it.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If you think it worthy, some day—at the proper time—it can end my autobiography.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is the final chapter.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “I have finished it,” he said; “read it.
a coarse durable twill-weave cotton fabric
From this reading Four months later—almost to the day—(April 21st) he was with Jean.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Four months later—almost to the day—(April 21st) he was with Jean.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading Four months later—almost to the day—(April 21st) he was with Jean.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading If you think it worthy, some day—at the proper time—it can end my autobiography.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading I can form no opinion of it myself.
not any; not one
From this reading I can form no opinion of it myself.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I can form no opinion of it myself.
a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty
From this reading I can form no opinion of it myself.
marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness
From this reading If you think it worthy, some day—at the proper time—it can end my autobiography.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading “I have finished it,” he said; “read it.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “I have finished it,” he said; “read it.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading If you think it worthy, some day—at the proper time—it can end my autobiography.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading If you think it worthy, some day—at the proper time—it can end my autobiography.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading If you think it worthy, some day—at the proper time—it can end my autobiography.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading If you think it worthy, some day—at the proper time—it can end my autobiography.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Four months later—almost to the day—(April 21st) he was with Jean.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Four months later—almost to the day—(April 21st) he was with Jean.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Four months later—almost to the day—(April 21st) he was with Jean.
Having or showing the qualities or abilities that merit recognition in character or magic.
From this reading If you think it worthy, some day—at the proper time—it can end my autobiography.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading If you think it worthy, some day—at the proper time—it can end my autobiography.
Chapter 15 of What Is Man? and Other Essays by Mark Twain holds 191 sentences, grouped into 39 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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.
Chapter 15 holds 191 sentences of What Is Man? and Other Essays, unabridged, divided into 39 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 15 of What Is Man? and Other Essays by Mark Twain exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 191 sentences, grouped into 39 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.
Work through the 39 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 39 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.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 15 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.
Common questions about reading What Is Man? and Other Essays by Mark Twain on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 5187 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #70 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #70, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 432 minutes of reading across 1038 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through What Is Man? and Other Essays section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 32 chapters of What Is Man? and Other Essays to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in What Is Man? and Other Essays, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
