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Moby-Dick; or, The Whale
Moby-Dick; or, The Whale

Chapter CIV · The Fossil Whale

The Fossil Whale, section 1: From his mighty bulk the whale affords a most congenial theme whereon to enlarge, amplify, and generally expatiate. Would you, you could not compress him. By good rights he should
Context Illustration Reading 1/11 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
From his mighty bulk the whale affords a most congenial theme whereon to enlarge, amplify, and generally expatiate.
Would you, you could not compress him.
By good rights he should only be treated of in imperial folio.
Not to tell over again his furlongs from spiracle to tail, and the yards he measures about the waist; only think of the gigantic involutions of his intestines, where they lie in him like great cables and hausers coiled away in the subterranean orlop-deck of a line-of-battle-ship.
Since I have undertaken to manhandle this Leviathan, it behoves me to approve myself omnisciently exhaustive in the enterprise; not overlooking the minutest seminal germs of his blood, and spinning him out to the uttermost coil of his bowels.
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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.

Moby-Dick; or, The Whale

Chapter CIV · The Fossil Whale

Reading 1/11 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
From his mighty bulk the whale affords a most congenial theme whereon to enlarge, amplify, and generally expatiate.
Line 2
Would you, you could not compress him.
Line 3
By good rights he should only be treated of in imperial folio.
Line 4
Not to tell over again his furlongs from spiracle to tail, and the yards he measures about the waist; only think of the gigantic involutions of his intestines, where they lie in him like great cables and hausers coiled away in the subterranean orlop-deck of a line-of-battle-ship.
Line 5
Since I have undertaken to manhandle this Leviathan, it behoves me to approve myself omnisciently exhaustive in the enterprise; not overlooking the minutest seminal germs of his blood, and spinning him out to the uttermost coil of his bowels.

Learner Dictionary

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

mighty adjective US /ˈmaɪti/

having or showing great strength or force or intensity

From this reading “From his mighty bulk the whale affords a most congenial theme whereon to enlarge, amplify, and generally expatiate.”

Collocations
From hisA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
his mightyA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
All words in this reading · 87

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 From his mighty bulk the whale affords a most congenial theme whereon to enlarge, amplify, and generally expatiate.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Not to tell over again his furlongs from spiracle to tail, and the yards he measures about the waist; only think of the gigantic involutions of his intestines, where they lie in him like great cables and hausers coiled away in the subterranean orlop-deck of a line-of-battle-ship.

affords

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

From this reading From his mighty bulk the whale affords a most congenial theme whereon to enlarge, amplify, and generally expatiate.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Not to tell over again his furlongs from spiracle to tail, and the yards he measures about the waist; only think of the gigantic involutions of his intestines, where they lie in him like great cables and hausers coiled away in the subterranean orlop-deck of a line-of-battle-ship.

amplify

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

From this reading From his mighty bulk the whale affords a most congenial theme whereon to enlarge, amplify, and generally expatiate.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading From his mighty bulk the whale affords a most congenial theme whereon to enlarge, amplify, and generally expatiate.

approve

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

From this reading Since I have undertaken to manhandle this Leviathan, it behoves me to approve myself omnisciently exhaustive in the enterprise; not overlooking the minutest seminal germs of his blood, and spinning him out to the uttermost coil of his bowels.

away

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

From this reading Not to tell over again his furlongs from spiracle to tail, and the yards he measures about the waist; only think of the gigantic involutions of his intestines, where they lie in him like great cables and hausers coiled away in the subterranean orlop-deck of a line-of-battle-ship.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading By good rights he should only be treated of in imperial folio.

behoves

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

From this reading Since I have undertaken to manhandle this Leviathan, it behoves me to approve myself omnisciently exhaustive in the enterprise; not overlooking the minutest seminal germs of his blood, and spinning him out to the uttermost coil of his bowels.

bloodnounUS /blood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Since I have undertaken to manhandle this Leviathan, it behoves me to approve myself omnisciently exhaustive in the enterprise; not overlooking the minutest seminal germs of his blood, and spinning him out to the uttermost coil of his bowels.

bowels

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

From this reading Since I have undertaken to manhandle this Leviathan, it behoves me to approve myself omnisciently exhaustive in the enterprise; not overlooking the minutest seminal germs of his blood, and spinning him out to the uttermost coil of his bowels.

bulk

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

From this reading From his mighty bulk the whale affords a most congenial theme whereon to enlarge, amplify, and generally expatiate.

ByprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading By good rights he should only be treated of in imperial folio.

cables

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

From this reading Not to tell over again his furlongs from spiracle to tail, and the yards he measures about the waist; only think of the gigantic involutions of his intestines, where they lie in him like great cables and hausers coiled away in the subterranean orlop-deck of a line-of-battle-ship.

coil

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

From this reading Since I have undertaken to manhandle this Leviathan, it behoves me to approve myself omnisciently exhaustive in the enterprise; not overlooking the minutest seminal germs of his blood, and spinning him out to the uttermost coil of his bowels.

coiled

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

From this reading Not to tell over again his furlongs from spiracle to tail, and the yards he measures about the waist; only think of the gigantic involutions of his intestines, where they lie in him like great cables and hausers coiled away in the subterranean orlop-deck of a line-of-battle-ship.

compress

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

From this reading Would you, you could not compress him.

congenial

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

From this reading From his mighty bulk the whale affords a most congenial theme whereon to enlarge, amplify, and generally expatiate.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Would you, you could not compress him.

enlarge

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

From this reading From his mighty bulk the whale affords a most congenial theme whereon to enlarge, amplify, and generally expatiate.

enterprise

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

From this reading Since I have undertaken to manhandle this Leviathan, it behoves me to approve myself omnisciently exhaustive in the enterprise; not overlooking the minutest seminal germs of his blood, and spinning him out to the uttermost coil of his bowels.

exhaustive

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

From this reading Since I have undertaken to manhandle this Leviathan, it behoves me to approve myself omnisciently exhaustive in the enterprise; not overlooking the minutest seminal germs of his blood, and spinning him out to the uttermost coil of his bowels.

expatiate

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

From this reading From his mighty bulk the whale affords a most congenial theme whereon to enlarge, amplify, and generally expatiate.

folio

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

From this reading By good rights he should only be treated of in imperial folio.

FromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading From his mighty bulk the whale affords a most congenial theme whereon to enlarge, amplify, and generally expatiate.

furlongs

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

From this reading Not to tell over again his furlongs from spiracle to tail, and the yards he measures about the waist; only think of the gigantic involutions of his intestines, where they lie in him like great cables and hausers coiled away in the subterranean orlop-deck of a line-of-battle-ship.

generally

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

From this reading From his mighty bulk the whale affords a most congenial theme whereon to enlarge, amplify, and generally expatiate.

germs

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

From this reading Since I have undertaken to manhandle this Leviathan, it behoves me to approve myself omnisciently exhaustive in the enterprise; not overlooking the minutest seminal germs of his blood, and spinning him out to the uttermost coil of his bowels.

gigantic

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

From this reading Not to tell over again his furlongs from spiracle to tail, and the yards he measures about the waist; only think of the gigantic involutions of his intestines, where they lie in him like great cables and hausers coiled away in the subterranean orlop-deck of a line-of-battle-ship.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading By good rights he should only be treated of in imperial folio.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Not to tell over again his furlongs from spiracle to tail, and the yards he measures about the waist; only think of the gigantic involutions of his intestines, where they lie in him like great cables and hausers coiled away in the subterranean orlop-deck of a line-of-battle-ship.

hausers

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

From this reading Not to tell over again his furlongs from spiracle to tail, and the yards he measures about the waist; only think of the gigantic involutions of his intestines, where they lie in him like great cables and hausers coiled away in the subterranean orlop-deck of a line-of-battle-ship.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Since I have undertaken to manhandle this Leviathan, it behoves me to approve myself omnisciently exhaustive in the enterprise; not overlooking the minutest seminal germs of his blood, and spinning him out to the uttermost coil of his bowels.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading By good rights he should only be treated of in imperial folio.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Would you, you could not compress him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading From his mighty bulk the whale affords a most congenial theme whereon to enlarge, amplify, and generally expatiate.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Since I have undertaken to manhandle this Leviathan, it behoves me to approve myself omnisciently exhaustive in the enterprise; not overlooking the minutest seminal germs of his blood, and spinning him out to the uttermost coil of his bowels.

imperial

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

From this reading By good rights he should only be treated of in imperial folio.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading By good rights he should only be treated of in imperial folio.

intestines

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

From this reading Not to tell over again his furlongs from spiracle to tail, and the yards he measures about the waist; only think of the gigantic involutions of his intestines, where they lie in him like great cables and hausers coiled away in the subterranean orlop-deck of a line-of-battle-ship.

involutions

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

From this reading Not to tell over again his furlongs from spiracle to tail, and the yards he measures about the waist; only think of the gigantic involutions of his intestines, where they lie in him like great cables and hausers coiled away in the subterranean orlop-deck of a line-of-battle-ship.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Since I have undertaken to manhandle this Leviathan, it behoves me to approve myself omnisciently exhaustive in the enterprise; not overlooking the minutest seminal germs of his blood, and spinning him out to the uttermost coil of his bowels.

Leviathan

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

From this reading Since I have undertaken to manhandle this Leviathan, it behoves me to approve myself omnisciently exhaustive in the enterprise; not overlooking the minutest seminal germs of his blood, and spinning him out to the uttermost coil of his bowels.

lie

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

From this reading Not to tell over again his furlongs from spiracle to tail, and the yards he measures about the waist; only think of the gigantic involutions of his intestines, where they lie in him like great cables and hausers coiled away in the subterranean orlop-deck of a line-of-battle-ship.

like

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

From this reading Not to tell over again his furlongs from spiracle to tail, and the yards he measures about the waist; only think of the gigantic involutions of his intestines, where they lie in him like great cables and hausers coiled away in the subterranean orlop-deck of a line-of-battle-ship.

line-of-battle-ship

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

From this reading Not to tell over again his furlongs from spiracle to tail, and the yards he measures about the waist; only think of the gigantic involutions of his intestines, where they lie in him like great cables and hausers coiled away in the subterranean orlop-deck of a line-of-battle-ship.

manhandle

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

From this reading Since I have undertaken to manhandle this Leviathan, it behoves me to approve myself omnisciently exhaustive in the enterprise; not overlooking the minutest seminal germs of his blood, and spinning him out to the uttermost coil of his bowels.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Since I have undertaken to manhandle this Leviathan, it behoves me to approve myself omnisciently exhaustive in the enterprise; not overlooking the minutest seminal germs of his blood, and spinning him out to the uttermost coil of his bowels.

measures

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

From this reading Not to tell over again his furlongs from spiracle to tail, and the yards he measures about the waist; only think of the gigantic involutions of his intestines, where they lie in him like great cables and hausers coiled away in the subterranean orlop-deck of a line-of-battle-ship.

mightyadjectiveUS /ˈmaɪti/

having or showing great strength or force or intensity

From this reading From his mighty bulk the whale affords a most congenial theme whereon to enlarge, amplify, and generally expatiate.

minutest

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

From this reading Since I have undertaken to manhandle this Leviathan, it behoves me to approve myself omnisciently exhaustive in the enterprise; not overlooking the minutest seminal germs of his blood, and spinning him out to the uttermost coil of his bowels.

most

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

From this reading From his mighty bulk the whale affords a most congenial theme whereon to enlarge, amplify, and generally expatiate.

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading Since I have undertaken to manhandle this Leviathan, it behoves me to approve myself omnisciently exhaustive in the enterprise; not overlooking the minutest seminal germs of his blood, and spinning him out to the uttermost coil of his bowels.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Would you, you could not compress him.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading By good rights he should only be treated of in imperial folio.

omnisciently

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

From this reading Since I have undertaken to manhandle this Leviathan, it behoves me to approve myself omnisciently exhaustive in the enterprise; not overlooking the minutest seminal germs of his blood, and spinning him out to the uttermost coil of his bowels.

only

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

From this reading By good rights he should only be treated of in imperial folio.

orlop-deck

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

From this reading Not to tell over again his furlongs from spiracle to tail, and the yards he measures about the waist; only think of the gigantic involutions of his intestines, where they lie in him like great cables and hausers coiled away in the subterranean orlop-deck of a line-of-battle-ship.

out

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

From this reading Since I have undertaken to manhandle this Leviathan, it behoves me to approve myself omnisciently exhaustive in the enterprise; not overlooking the minutest seminal germs of his blood, and spinning him out to the uttermost coil of his bowels.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Not to tell over again his furlongs from spiracle to tail, and the yards he measures about the waist; only think of the gigantic involutions of his intestines, where they lie in him like great cables and hausers coiled away in the subterranean orlop-deck of a line-of-battle-ship.

overlooking

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

From this reading Since I have undertaken to manhandle this Leviathan, it behoves me to approve myself omnisciently exhaustive in the enterprise; not overlooking the minutest seminal germs of his blood, and spinning him out to the uttermost coil of his bowels.

rights

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

From this reading By good rights he should only be treated of in imperial folio.

seminal

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

From this reading Since I have undertaken to manhandle this Leviathan, it behoves me to approve myself omnisciently exhaustive in the enterprise; not overlooking the minutest seminal germs of his blood, and spinning him out to the uttermost coil of his bowels.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading By good rights he should only be treated of in imperial folio.

SinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading Since I have undertaken to manhandle this Leviathan, it behoves me to approve myself omnisciently exhaustive in the enterprise; not overlooking the minutest seminal germs of his blood, and spinning him out to the uttermost coil of his bowels.

spinningnounUS /ˈspɪnɪŋ/

the act of making thread from fibers

From this reading Since I have undertaken to manhandle this Leviathan, it behoves me to approve myself omnisciently exhaustive in the enterprise; not overlooking the minutest seminal germs of his blood, and spinning him out to the uttermost coil of his bowels.

spiracle

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

From this reading Not to tell over again his furlongs from spiracle to tail, and the yards he measures about the waist; only think of the gigantic involutions of his intestines, where they lie in him like great cables and hausers coiled away in the subterranean orlop-deck of a line-of-battle-ship.

subterraneanadjectiveUS /ˌsʌb.təˈreɪ.ni.ən/

Existing, occurring, or done under the earth's surface.

From this reading Not to tell over again his furlongs from spiracle to tail, and the yards he measures about the waist; only think of the gigantic involutions of his intestines, where they lie in him like great cables and hausers coiled away in the subterranean orlop-deck of a line-of-battle-ship.

tail

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

From this reading Not to tell over again his furlongs from spiracle to tail, and the yards he measures about the waist; only think of the gigantic involutions of his intestines, where they lie in him like great cables and hausers coiled away in the subterranean orlop-deck of a line-of-battle-ship.

tellnounUS /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Not to tell over again his furlongs from spiracle to tail, and the yards he measures about the waist; only think of the gigantic involutions of his intestines, where they lie in him like great cables and hausers coiled away in the subterranean orlop-deck of a line-of-battle-ship.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading From his mighty bulk the whale affords a most congenial theme whereon to enlarge, amplify, and generally expatiate.

theme

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

From this reading From his mighty bulk the whale affords a most congenial theme whereon to enlarge, amplify, and generally expatiate.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading Not to tell over again his furlongs from spiracle to tail, and the yards he measures about the waist; only think of the gigantic involutions of his intestines, where they lie in him like great cables and hausers coiled away in the subterranean orlop-deck of a line-of-battle-ship.

thinknounUS /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Not to tell over again his furlongs from spiracle to tail, and the yards he measures about the waist; only think of the gigantic involutions of his intestines, where they lie in him like great cables and hausers coiled away in the subterranean orlop-deck of a line-of-battle-ship.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Since I have undertaken to manhandle this Leviathan, it behoves me to approve myself omnisciently exhaustive in the enterprise; not overlooking the minutest seminal germs of his blood, and spinning him out to the uttermost coil of his bowels.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading From his mighty bulk the whale affords a most congenial theme whereon to enlarge, amplify, and generally expatiate.

treated

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

From this reading By good rights he should only be treated of in imperial folio.

undertaken

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

From this reading Since I have undertaken to manhandle this Leviathan, it behoves me to approve myself omnisciently exhaustive in the enterprise; not overlooking the minutest seminal germs of his blood, and spinning him out to the uttermost coil of his bowels.

uttermost

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

From this reading Since I have undertaken to manhandle this Leviathan, it behoves me to approve myself omnisciently exhaustive in the enterprise; not overlooking the minutest seminal germs of his blood, and spinning him out to the uttermost coil of his bowels.

waist

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

From this reading Not to tell over again his furlongs from spiracle to tail, and the yards he measures about the waist; only think of the gigantic involutions of his intestines, where they lie in him like great cables and hausers coiled away in the subterranean orlop-deck of a line-of-battle-ship.

whale

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

From this reading From his mighty bulk the whale affords a most congenial theme whereon to enlarge, amplify, and generally expatiate.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading Not to tell over again his furlongs from spiracle to tail, and the yards he measures about the waist; only think of the gigantic involutions of his intestines, where they lie in him like great cables and hausers coiled away in the subterranean orlop-deck of a line-of-battle-ship.

whereon

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

From this reading From his mighty bulk the whale affords a most congenial theme whereon to enlarge, amplify, and generally expatiate.

Wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Would you, you could not compress him.

yards

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

From this reading Not to tell over again his furlongs from spiracle to tail, and the yards he measures about the waist; only think of the gigantic involutions of his intestines, where they lie in him like great cables and hausers coiled away in the subterranean orlop-deck of a line-of-battle-ship.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Would you, you could not compress him.