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A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers
A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers

Chapter VIII

Cover illustration for A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers
Context Illustration Reading 1/78 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
If I but love that virtue which he is, Though it be scented in the morning air, Still shall we be truest acquaintances, Nor mortals know a sympathy more rare.
Friendship is evanescent in every man’s experience, and remembered like heat lightning in past summers.
Fair and flitting like a summer cloud;—there is always some vapor in the air, no matter how long the drought; there are even April showers.
Surely from time to time, for its vestiges never depart, it floats through our atmosphere.
It takes place, like vegetation in so many materials, because there is such a law, but always without permanent form, though ancient and familiar as the sun and moon, and as sure to come again.
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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.

A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers

Chapter VIII

Reading 1/78 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
If I but love that virtue which he is, Though it be scented in the morning air, Still shall we be truest acquaintances, Nor mortals know a sympathy more rare.
Line 2
Friendship is evanescent in every man’s experience, and remembered like heat lightning in past summers.
Line 3
Fair and flitting like a summer cloud;—there is always some vapor in the air, no matter how long the drought; there are even April showers.
Line 4
Surely from time to time, for its vestiges never depart, it floats through our atmosphere.
Line 5
It takes place, like vegetation in so many materials, because there is such a law, but always without permanent form, though ancient and familiar as the sun and moon, and as sure to come again.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It takes place, like vegetation in so many materials, because there is such a law, but always without permanent form, though ancient and familiar as the sun and moon, and as sure to come again.”

Ancient adjective US /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/

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

From this reading “It takes place, like vegetation in so many materials, because there is such a law, but always without permanent form, though ancient and familiar as the sun and moon, and as sure to come again.”

Because conjunction US /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading “It takes place, like vegetation in so many materials, because there is such a law, but always without permanent form, though ancient and familiar as the sun and moon, and as sure to come again.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It takes place, like vegetation in so many materials, because there is such a law, but always without permanent form, though ancient and familiar as the sun and moon, and as sure to come again.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Fair and flitting like a summer cloud;—there is always some vapor in the air, no matter how long the drought; there are even April showers.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “Friendship is evanescent in every man’s experience, and remembered like heat lightning in past summers.”

Fair noun US /fair/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Fair and flitting like a summer cloud;—there is always some vapor in the air, no matter how long the drought; there are even April showers.”

Know noun US /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “If I but love that virtue which he is, Though it be scented in the morning air, Still shall we be truest acquaintances, Nor mortals know a sympathy more rare.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Fair and flitting like a summer cloud;—there is always some vapor in the air, no matter how long the drought; there are even April showers.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “If I but love that virtue which he is, Though it be scented in the morning air, Still shall we be truest acquaintances, Nor mortals know a sympathy more rare.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Surely from time to time, for its vestiges never depart, it floats through our atmosphere.”

Shall modal verb US /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading “If I but love that virtue which he is, Though it be scented in the morning air, Still shall we be truest acquaintances, Nor mortals know a sympathy more rare.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “If I but love that virtue which he is, Though it be scented in the morning air, Still shall we be truest acquaintances, Nor mortals know a sympathy more rare.”

Sure noun US /sure/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It takes place, like vegetation in so many materials, because there is such a law, but always without permanent form, though ancient and familiar as the sun and moon, and as sure to come again.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “If I but love that virtue which he is, Though it be scented in the morning air, Still shall we be truest acquaintances, Nor mortals know a sympathy more rare.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “Surely from time to time, for its vestiges never depart, it floats through our atmosphere.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Surely from time to time, for its vestiges never depart, it floats through our atmosphere.”

Virtue noun US /ˈvɝː.tʃuː/

Moral excellence and goodness of character; the highest human attainment in Stoic philosophy.

From this reading “If I but love that virtue which he is, Though it be scented in the morning air, Still shall we be truest acquaintances, Nor mortals know a sympathy more rare.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “It takes place, like vegetation in so many materials, because there is such a law, but always without permanent form, though ancient and familiar as the sun and moon, and as sure to come again.”

All words in this reading · 91

Every word is available to listen to. 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 I but love that virtue which he is, Though it be scented in the morning air, Still shall we be truest acquaintances, Nor mortals know a sympathy more rare.

acquaintances

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

From this reading If I but love that virtue which he is, Though it be scented in the morning air, Still shall we be truest acquaintances, Nor mortals know a sympathy more rare.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It takes place, like vegetation in so many materials, because there is such a law, but always without permanent form, though ancient and familiar as the sun and moon, and as sure to come again.

air

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

From this reading If I but love that virtue which he is, Though it be scented in the morning air, Still shall we be truest acquaintances, Nor mortals know a sympathy more rare.

always

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

From this reading Fair and flitting like a summer cloud;—there is always some vapor in the air, no matter how long the drought; there are even April showers.

ancientadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/

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

From this reading It takes place, like vegetation in so many materials, because there is such a law, but always without permanent form, though ancient and familiar as the sun and moon, and as sure to come again.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Friendship is evanescent in every man’s experience, and remembered like heat lightning in past summers.

April

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

From this reading Fair and flitting like a summer cloud;—there is always some vapor in the air, no matter how long the drought; there are even April showers.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Fair and flitting like a summer cloud;—there is always some vapor in the air, no matter how long the drought; there are even April showers.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading It takes place, like vegetation in so many materials, because there is such a law, but always without permanent form, though ancient and familiar as the sun and moon, and as sure to come again.

atmosphere

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

From this reading Surely from time to time, for its vestiges never depart, it floats through our atmosphere.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading If I but love that virtue which he is, Though it be scented in the morning air, Still shall we be truest acquaintances, Nor mortals know a sympathy more rare.

becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading It takes place, like vegetation in so many materials, because there is such a law, but always without permanent form, though ancient and familiar as the sun and moon, and as sure to come again.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading If I but love that virtue which he is, Though it be scented in the morning air, Still shall we be truest acquaintances, Nor mortals know a sympathy more rare.

cloud

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

From this reading Fair and flitting like a summer cloud;—there is always some vapor in the air, no matter how long the drought; there are even April showers.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It takes place, like vegetation in so many materials, because there is such a law, but always without permanent form, though ancient and familiar as the sun and moon, and as sure to come again.

depart

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

From this reading Surely from time to time, for its vestiges never depart, it floats through our atmosphere.

drought

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

From this reading Fair and flitting like a summer cloud;—there is always some vapor in the air, no matter how long the drought; there are even April showers.

evanescent

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

From this reading Friendship is evanescent in every man’s experience, and remembered like heat lightning in past summers.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Fair and flitting like a summer cloud;—there is always some vapor in the air, no matter how long the drought; there are even April showers.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Friendship is evanescent in every man’s experience, and remembered like heat lightning in past summers.

experience

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

From this reading Friendship is evanescent in every man’s experience, and remembered like heat lightning in past summers.

FairnounUS /fair/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Fair and flitting like a summer cloud;—there is always some vapor in the air, no matter how long the drought; there are even April showers.

familiar

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

From this reading It takes place, like vegetation in so many materials, because there is such a law, but always without permanent form, though ancient and familiar as the sun and moon, and as sure to come again.

flitting

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

From this reading Fair and flitting like a summer cloud;—there is always some vapor in the air, no matter how long the drought; there are even April showers.

floats

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

From this reading Surely from time to time, for its vestiges never depart, it floats through our atmosphere.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Surely from time to time, for its vestiges never depart, it floats through our atmosphere.

form

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

From this reading It takes place, like vegetation in so many materials, because there is such a law, but always without permanent form, though ancient and familiar as the sun and moon, and as sure to come again.

Friendship

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

From this reading Friendship is evanescent in every man’s experience, and remembered like heat lightning in past summers.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Surely from time to time, for its vestiges never depart, it floats through our atmosphere.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading If I but love that virtue which he is, Though it be scented in the morning air, Still shall we be truest acquaintances, Nor mortals know a sympathy more rare.

heat

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

From this reading Friendship is evanescent in every man’s experience, and remembered like heat lightning in past summers.

how

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

From this reading Fair and flitting like a summer cloud;—there is always some vapor in the air, no matter how long the drought; there are even April showers.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading If I but love that virtue which he is, Though it be scented in the morning air, Still shall we be truest acquaintances, Nor mortals know a sympathy more rare.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If I but love that virtue which he is, Though it be scented in the morning air, Still shall we be truest acquaintances, Nor mortals know a sympathy more rare.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading If I but love that virtue which he is, Though it be scented in the morning air, Still shall we be truest acquaintances, Nor mortals know a sympathy more rare.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading If I but love that virtue which he is, Though it be scented in the morning air, Still shall we be truest acquaintances, Nor mortals know a sympathy more rare.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading If I but love that virtue which he is, Though it be scented in the morning air, Still shall we be truest acquaintances, Nor mortals know a sympathy more rare.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Surely from time to time, for its vestiges never depart, it floats through our atmosphere.

knownounUS /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading If I but love that virtue which he is, Though it be scented in the morning air, Still shall we be truest acquaintances, Nor mortals know a sympathy more rare.

law

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

From this reading It takes place, like vegetation in so many materials, because there is such a law, but always without permanent form, though ancient and familiar as the sun and moon, and as sure to come again.

lightning

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

From this reading Friendship is evanescent in every man’s experience, and remembered like heat lightning in past summers.

like

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

From this reading Friendship is evanescent in every man’s experience, and remembered like heat lightning in past summers.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Fair and flitting like a summer cloud;—there is always some vapor in the air, no matter how long the drought; there are even April showers.

love

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

From this reading If I but love that virtue which he is, Though it be scented in the morning air, Still shall we be truest acquaintances, Nor mortals know a sympathy more rare.

man's

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

From this reading Friendship is evanescent in every man’s experience, and remembered like heat lightning in past summers.

many

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

From this reading It takes place, like vegetation in so many materials, because there is such a law, but always without permanent form, though ancient and familiar as the sun and moon, and as sure to come again.

materials

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

From this reading It takes place, like vegetation in so many materials, because there is such a law, but always without permanent form, though ancient and familiar as the sun and moon, and as sure to come again.

matter

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

From this reading Fair and flitting like a summer cloud;—there is always some vapor in the air, no matter how long the drought; there are even April showers.

moon

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

From this reading It takes place, like vegetation in so many materials, because there is such a law, but always without permanent form, though ancient and familiar as the sun and moon, and as sure to come again.

more

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

From this reading If I but love that virtue which he is, Though it be scented in the morning air, Still shall we be truest acquaintances, Nor mortals know a sympathy more rare.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading If I but love that virtue which he is, Though it be scented in the morning air, Still shall we be truest acquaintances, Nor mortals know a sympathy more rare.

mortals

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

From this reading If I but love that virtue which he is, Though it be scented in the morning air, Still shall we be truest acquaintances, Nor mortals know a sympathy more rare.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Surely from time to time, for its vestiges never depart, it floats through our atmosphere.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Fair and flitting like a summer cloud;—there is always some vapor in the air, no matter how long the drought; there are even April showers.

NorconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

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

From this reading If I but love that virtue which he is, Though it be scented in the morning air, Still shall we be truest acquaintances, Nor mortals know a sympathy more rare.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Surely from time to time, for its vestiges never depart, it floats through our atmosphere.

past

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

From this reading Friendship is evanescent in every man’s experience, and remembered like heat lightning in past summers.

permanent

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

From this reading It takes place, like vegetation in so many materials, because there is such a law, but always without permanent form, though ancient and familiar as the sun and moon, and as sure to come again.

place

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

From this reading It takes place, like vegetation in so many materials, because there is such a law, but always without permanent form, though ancient and familiar as the sun and moon, and as sure to come again.

rare

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

From this reading If I but love that virtue which he is, Though it be scented in the morning air, Still shall we be truest acquaintances, Nor mortals know a sympathy more rare.

remembered

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

From this reading Friendship is evanescent in every man’s experience, and remembered like heat lightning in past summers.

scented

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

From this reading If I but love that virtue which he is, Though it be scented in the morning air, Still shall we be truest acquaintances, Nor mortals know a sympathy more rare.

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading If I but love that virtue which he is, Though it be scented in the morning air, Still shall we be truest acquaintances, Nor mortals know a sympathy more rare.

showers

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

From this reading Fair and flitting like a summer cloud;—there is always some vapor in the air, no matter how long the drought; there are even April showers.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading It takes place, like vegetation in so many materials, because there is such a law, but always without permanent form, though ancient and familiar as the sun and moon, and as sure to come again.

some

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

From this reading Fair and flitting like a summer cloud;—there is always some vapor in the air, no matter how long the drought; there are even April showers.

StillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading If I but love that virtue which he is, Though it be scented in the morning air, Still shall we be truest acquaintances, Nor mortals know a sympathy more rare.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading It takes place, like vegetation in so many materials, because there is such a law, but always without permanent form, though ancient and familiar as the sun and moon, and as sure to come again.

summer

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

From this reading Fair and flitting like a summer cloud;—there is always some vapor in the air, no matter how long the drought; there are even April showers.

summers

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

From this reading Friendship is evanescent in every man’s experience, and remembered like heat lightning in past summers.

sun

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

From this reading It takes place, like vegetation in so many materials, because there is such a law, but always without permanent form, though ancient and familiar as the sun and moon, and as sure to come again.

surenounUS /sure/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It takes place, like vegetation in so many materials, because there is such a law, but always without permanent form, though ancient and familiar as the sun and moon, and as sure to come again.

Surely

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

From this reading Surely from time to time, for its vestiges never depart, it floats through our atmosphere.

sympathy

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

From this reading If I but love that virtue which he is, Though it be scented in the morning air, Still shall we be truest acquaintances, Nor mortals know a sympathy more rare.

takes

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

From this reading It takes place, like vegetation in so many materials, because there is such a law, but always without permanent form, though ancient and familiar as the sun and moon, and as sure to come again.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading If I but love that virtue which he is, Though it be scented in the morning air, Still shall we be truest acquaintances, Nor mortals know a sympathy more rare.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading If I but love that virtue which he is, Though it be scented in the morning air, Still shall we be truest acquaintances, Nor mortals know a sympathy more rare.

there

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

From this reading Fair and flitting like a summer cloud;—there is always some vapor in the air, no matter how long the drought; there are even April showers.

ThoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading If I but love that virtue which he is, Though it be scented in the morning air, Still shall we be truest acquaintances, Nor mortals know a sympathy more rare.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading Surely from time to time, for its vestiges never depart, it floats through our atmosphere.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Surely from time to time, for its vestiges never depart, it floats through our atmosphere.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Surely from time to time, for its vestiges never depart, it floats through our atmosphere.

truest

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

From this reading If I but love that virtue which he is, Though it be scented in the morning air, Still shall we be truest acquaintances, Nor mortals know a sympathy more rare.

vapor

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

From this reading Fair and flitting like a summer cloud;—there is always some vapor in the air, no matter how long the drought; there are even April showers.

vegetation

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

From this reading It takes place, like vegetation in so many materials, because there is such a law, but always without permanent form, though ancient and familiar as the sun and moon, and as sure to come again.

vestiges

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

From this reading Surely from time to time, for its vestiges never depart, it floats through our atmosphere.

virtuenounUS /ˈvɝː.tʃuː/

Moral excellence and goodness of character; the highest human attainment in Stoic philosophy.

From this reading If I but love that virtue which he is, Though it be scented in the morning air, Still shall we be truest acquaintances, Nor mortals know a sympathy more rare.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading If I but love that virtue which he is, Though it be scented in the morning air, Still shall we be truest acquaintances, Nor mortals know a sympathy more rare.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading If I but love that virtue which he is, Though it be scented in the morning air, Still shall we be truest acquaintances, Nor mortals know a sympathy more rare.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading It takes place, like vegetation in so many materials, because there is such a law, but always without permanent form, though ancient and familiar as the sun and moon, and as sure to come again.