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Zarah the Cruel
Zarah the Cruel

Chapter VIII

Chapter 8 of Zarah the Cruel is here in full — 145 sentences across 29 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Zarah the Cruel
Context Illustration Reading 1/29 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
“_If the moon be with thee thou need’st not mind about the stars._”—ARABIC PROVERB.
The desert is the cradle of love!
The love of God or the love of solitude, or the love which seeks its soul-mate and finds it, in the immensity of the sands.
There is no room for doubt in the minds of those who love and who pass their days together in the desert’s great spaces.
If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Zarah the Cruel

Chapter VIII

Chapter 8 of Zarah the Cruel is here in full — 145 sentences across 29 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/29 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
“_If the moon be with thee thou need’st not mind about the stars._”—ARABIC PROVERB.
Line 2
The desert is the cradle of love!
/ðə ˈdezərt ɪz ðə ˈkreɪdəl ʌv lʌv/
Line 3
The love of God or the love of solitude, or the love which seeks its soul-mate and finds it, in the immensity of the sands.
Line 4
There is no room for doubt in the minds of those who love and who pass their days together in the desert’s great spaces.
Line 5
If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

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.

arabic noun US /ˈærəbɪk/

the Semitic language of the Arabs; spoken in a variety of dialects

From this reading ““_If the moon be with thee thou need’st not mind about the stars._”—ARABIC PROVERB.”

enlightenment noun US /ˌenˈlaɪtənmənt/

education that results in understanding and the spread of knowledge

From this reading “If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.”

floods noun US /flʌdz/

plural of “flood” — the rising of a body of water and its overflowing onto normally dry land

From this reading “If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.”

heralding verb US /ˈherəldɪŋ/

-ing form of “herald” — foreshadow or presage

From this reading “If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.”

quench verb US /kwentʃ/

satisfy

From this reading “If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.”

radiate verb US /ˈreɪdiət/

send out rays or waves

From this reading “If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.”

stumble verb US /ˈstʌmbəl/

walk unsteadily

From this reading “If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.”

swirl verb US /swɜːrl/

turn in a twisting or spinning motion

From this reading “If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.”

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.

mountain peak noun + noun

the summit of a mountain

In this reading “If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.”

once more adverb + adjective

anew

In this reading “If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.”

towards the horizon preposition + article + noun counted as “towards … horizon”

In this reading “If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.”

reach the end verb + article + noun counted as “reach … end”

In this reading “If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.”

All words in this reading · 103

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 If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “_If the moon be with thee thou need’st not mind about the stars._”—ARABIC PROVERB.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The love of God or the love of solitude, or the love which seeks its soul-mate and finds it, in the immensity of the sands.

ARABICnounUS /ˈærəbɪk/

the Semitic language of the Arabs; spoken in a variety of dialects

From this reading “_If the moon be with thee thou need’st not mind about the stars._”—ARABIC PROVERB.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading “_If the moon be with thee thou need’st not mind about the stars._”—ARABIC PROVERB.

blindlyadverbUS /ˈblaɪndli/

without seeing or looking

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

booknounUS /bʊk/

a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

bornadjectiveUS /bɔːrn/

brought into existence

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

cannot

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

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

comesnounUS /kʌmz/

plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

cradlenounUS /ˈkreɪdəl/

a baby bed with sides and rockers

From this reading The desert is the cradle of love!

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

daysnounUS /deɪz/

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading There is no room for doubt in the minds of those who love and who pass their days together in the desert’s great spaces.

desertverbUS /ˈdezərt/

leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch

From this reading The desert is the cradle of love!

desert's

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

From this reading There is no room for doubt in the minds of those who love and who pass their days together in the desert’s great spaces.

doubtnounUS /daʊt/

the state of being unsure of something

From this reading There is no room for doubt in the minds of those who love and who pass their days together in the desert’s great spaces.

dreamnounUS /driːm/

A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

drownverbUS /draʊn/

cover completely or make imperceptible

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

endnounUS /end/

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

endureth

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

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

enlightenmentnounUS /ˌenˈlaɪtənmənt/

education that results in understanding and the spread of knowledge

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

everadverbUS /ˈevər/

at any time

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

fallverbUS /fɔːl/

descend in free fall under the influence of gravity

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

filledadjectiveUS /fɪld/

(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

findsnounUS /faɪndz/

plural of “find” — a productive insight

From this reading The love of God or the love of solitude, or the love which seeks its soul-mate and finds it, in the immensity of the sands.

floodsnounUS /flʌdz/

plural of “flood” — the rising of a body of water and its overflowing onto normally dry land

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading There is no room for doubt in the minds of those who love and who pass their days together in the desert’s great spaces.

GodnounUS /ɡɑːd/

the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions

From this reading The love of God or the love of solitude, or the love which seeks its soul-mate and finds it, in the immensity of the sands.

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

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

From this reading There is no room for doubt in the minds of those who love and who pass their days together in the desert’s great spaces.

handwritingnounUS /ˈhændraɪtɪŋ/

something written by hand

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

heraldingverbUS /ˈherəldɪŋ/

-ing form of “herald” — foreshadow or presage

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

horizonnounUS /hərˈaɪzən/

the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading “_If the moon be with thee thou need’st not mind about the stars._”—ARABIC PROVERB.

immensitynoun

unusual largeness in size or extent or number

From this reading The love of God or the love of solitude, or the love which seeks its soul-mate and finds it, in the immensity of the sands.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The love of God or the love of solitude, or the love which seeks its soul-mate and finds it, in the immensity of the sands.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading The desert is the cradle of love!

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The love of God or the love of solitude, or the love which seeks its soul-mate and finds it, in the immensity of the sands.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The love of God or the love of solitude, or the love which seeks its soul-mate and finds it, in the immensity of the sands.

lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

looksnounUS /lʊks/

plural of “look” — the feelings expressed on a person's face

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

lovenounUS /lʌv/

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading The desert is the cradle of love!

manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading “_If the moon be with thee thou need’st not mind about the stars._”—ARABIC PROVERB.

mindsnounUS /maɪndz/

plural of “mind” — that which is responsible for one's thoughts, feelings, and conscious brain functions; the seat of the faculty of reason

From this reading There is no room for doubt in the minds of those who love and who pass their days together in the desert’s great spaces.

mistverbUS /mɪst/

become covered with mist

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

moonnounUS /muːn/

the natural satellite of the Earth

From this reading “_If the moon be with thee thou need’st not mind about the stars._”—ARABIC PROVERB.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

mountainnounUS /ˈmaʊntən/

a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

need'st

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

From this reading “_If the moon be with thee thou need’st not mind about the stars._”—ARABIC PROVERB.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading There is no room for doubt in the minds of those who love and who pass their days together in the desert’s great spaces.

norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading “_If the moon be with thee thou need’st not mind about the stars._”—ARABIC PROVERB.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The desert is the cradle of love!

onceadverbUS /wʌns/

on one occasion

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading The love of God or the love of solitude, or the love which seeks its soul-mate and finds it, in the immensity of the sands.

passverbUS /pæs/

go across or through

From this reading There is no room for doubt in the minds of those who love and who pass their days together in the desert’s great spaces.

peaknounUS /piːk/

the most extreme possible amount or value

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

PROVERBnounUS /ˈprɑːvərb/

a condensed but memorable saying embodying some important fact of experience that is taken as true by many people

From this reading “_If the moon be with thee thou need’st not mind about the stars._”—ARABIC PROVERB.

quenchverbUS /kwentʃ/

satisfy

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

radiateverbUS /ˈreɪdiət/

send out rays or waves

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

reachverbUS /riːtʃ/

reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

riseverbUS /raɪz/

move upward

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

roadnounUS /roʊd/

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

roomnounUS /ruːm/

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading There is no room for doubt in the minds of those who love and who pass their days together in the desert’s great spaces.

sandsnounUS /sændz/

the region of the shore of a lake or sea or ocean

From this reading The love of God or the love of solitude, or the love which seeks its soul-mate and finds it, in the immensity of the sands.

seeksnounUS /siːks/

plural of “seek” — the movement of a read/write head to a specific data track on a disk

From this reading The love of God or the love of solitude, or the love which seeks its soul-mate and finds it, in the immensity of the sands.

seesnounUS /siːz/

plural of “see” — the seat within a bishop's diocese where his cathedral is located

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

solitudenounUS /ˈsɑːlətuːd/

a state of social isolation

From this reading The love of God or the love of solitude, or the love which seeks its soul-mate and finds it, in the immensity of the sands.

soul-mate

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

From this reading The love of God or the love of solitude, or the love which seeks its soul-mate and finds it, in the immensity of the sands.

spacesnounUS /ˈspeɪsəz/

plural of “space” — the unlimited expanse in which everything is located

From this reading There is no room for doubt in the minds of those who love and who pass their days together in the desert’s great spaces.

starsnounUS /stɑːrz/

plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior

From this reading “_If the moon be with thee thou need’st not mind about the stars._”—ARABIC PROVERB.

stumbleverbUS /ˈstʌmbəl/

walk unsteadily

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

swirlverbUS /swɜːrl/

turn in a twisting or spinning motion

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading “_If the moon be with thee thou need’st not mind about the stars._”—ARABIC PROVERB.

theepronounUS /ðiː/

an old word for “you”, as the object, speaking to one person

From this reading “_If the moon be with thee thou need’st not mind about the stars._”—ARABIC PROVERB.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading There is no room for doubt in the minds of those who love and who pass their days together in the desert’s great spaces.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

ThereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading There is no room for doubt in the minds of those who love and who pass their days together in the desert’s great spaces.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading There is no room for doubt in the minds of those who love and who pass their days together in the desert’s great spaces.

thoupronounUS /ðaʊ/

an old word for “you”, as the subject, speaking to one person

From this reading “_If the moon be with thee thou need’st not mind about the stars._”—ARABIC PROVERB.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

togetheradverbUS /təˈɡeðər/

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading There is no room for doubt in the minds of those who love and who pass their days together in the desert’s great spaces.

towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

truthnounUS /truːθ/

a fact that has been verified

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

visibleadjectiveUS /ˈvɪzəbəl/

capable of being seen; or open to easy view

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

watersnounUS /ˈwɔːtərz/

United States actress and singer (1896-1977)

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The love of God or the love of solitude, or the love which seeks its soul-mate and finds it, in the immensity of the sands.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading There is no room for doubt in the minds of those who love and who pass their days together in the desert’s great spaces.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

wisdomnounUS /ˈwɪzdəm/

accumulated knowledge or erudition or enlightenment

From this reading If the love is that which endureth, which floods cannot drown nor many waters quench, which looks ever towards the horizon where the light is born heralding the day, then will the desert be as a book filled with much wisdom; a book in which the handwriting is visible only to those who radiate the love which sees the mountain peak above the swirl of mist; the truth of the dream in which, blindly, we stumble and fall, until enlightenment comes to us so that we rise once more and reach the end of the road at last.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading “_If the moon be with thee thou need’st not mind about the stars._”—ARABIC PROVERB.

Chapter 8 of Zarah the Cruel by Joan Conquest holds 145 sentences, grouped into 29 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 8 of Zarah the Cruel contain?

Chapter 8 holds 145 sentences of Zarah the Cruel, unabridged, divided into 29 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 8 of Zarah the Cruel by Joan Conquest exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 145 sentences, grouped into 29 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 8 of Zarah the Cruel?

Work through the 29 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 29 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 8 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 8 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 Zarah the Cruel

Common questions about reading Zarah the Cruel by Joan Conquest on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Zarah the Cruel?

Yes. All 4019 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #61014 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Zarah the Cruel is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #61014, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Zarah the Cruel take to read?

About 334 minutes of reading across 804 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Zarah the Cruel section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 24 chapters of Zarah the Cruel 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 Zarah the Cruel

Words and structures a reader meets early in Zarah the Cruel, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Https
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Zarah the Cruel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Narrower
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Zarah the Cruel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Needle
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Zarah the Cruel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Arabic
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Zarah the Cruel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.