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The Atheist's Mass
The Atheist's Mass

Chapter I

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Context Illustration Reading 1/28 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.
His earliest studies were guided by one of the greatest of French surgeons, the illustrious Desplein, who flashed across science like a meteor.
By the consensus even of his enemies, he took with him to the tomb an incommunicable method.
Like all men of genius, he had no heirs; he carried everything in him, and carried it away with him.
The glory of a surgeon is like that of an actor: they live only so long as they are alive, and their talent leaves no trace when they are gone.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Atheist's Mass

Chapter I

Reading 1/28 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.
Line 2
His earliest studies were guided by one of the greatest of French surgeons, the illustrious Desplein, who flashed across science like a meteor.
Line 3
By the consensus even of his enemies, he took with him to the tomb an incommunicable method.
Line 4
Like all men of genius, he had no heirs; he carried everything in him, and carried it away with him.
Line 5
The glory of a surgeon is like that of an actor: they live only so long as they are alive, and their talent leaves no trace when they are gone.

Learner Dictionary

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

Across preposition US /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading “His earliest studies were guided by one of the greatest of French surgeons, the illustrious Desplein, who flashed across science like a meteor.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “By the consensus even of his enemies, he took with him to the tomb an incommunicable method.”

Everything pronoun US /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

From this reading “Like all men of genius, he had no heirs; he carried everything in him, and carried it away with him.”

Fine noun US /fine/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “His earliest studies were guided by one of the greatest of French surgeons, the illustrious Desplein, who flashed across science like a meteor.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.”

All words in this reading · 102

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 This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading His earliest studies were guided by one of the greatest of French surgeons, the illustrious Desplein, who flashed across science like a meteor.

actor

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

From this reading The glory of a surgeon is like that of an actor: they live only so long as they are alive, and their talent leaves no trace when they are gone.

alive

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

From this reading The glory of a surgeon is like that of an actor: they live only so long as they are alive, and their talent leaves no trace when they are gone.

all

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

From this reading Like all men of genius, he had no heirs; he carried everything in him, and carried it away with him.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading By the consensus even of his enemies, he took with him to the tomb an incommunicable method.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading The glory of a surgeon is like that of an actor: they live only so long as they are alive, and their talent leaves no trace when they are gone.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The glory of a surgeon is like that of an actor: they live only so long as they are alive, and their talent leaves no trace when they are gone.

Auguste

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

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

away

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

From this reading Like all men of genius, he had no heirs; he carried everything in him, and carried it away with him.

Balzac

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

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

Bianchon

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

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

Borget

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

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

carried

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

From this reading Like all men of genius, he had no heirs; he carried everything in him, and carried it away with him.

celebrity

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

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

central

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

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

consensus

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

From this reading By the consensus even of his enemies, he took with him to the tomb an incommunicable method.

De

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

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

dedicated

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

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

Desplein

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

From this reading His earliest studies were guided by one of the greatest of French surgeons, the illustrious Desplein, who flashed across science like a meteor.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

doctors

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

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

earliest

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

From this reading His earliest studies were guided by one of the greatest of French surgeons, the illustrious Desplein, who flashed across science like a meteor.

enemies

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

From this reading By the consensus even of his enemies, he took with him to the tomb an incommunicable method.

European

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

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading By the consensus even of his enemies, he took with him to the tomb an incommunicable method.

everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

From this reading Like all men of genius, he had no heirs; he carried everything in him, and carried it away with him.

finenounUS /fine/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

flashed

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

From this reading His earliest studies were guided by one of the greatest of French surgeons, the illustrious Desplein, who flashed across science like a meteor.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

French

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

From this reading His earliest studies were guided by one of the greatest of French surgeons, the illustrious Desplein, who flashed across science like a meteor.

friend

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

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

genius

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

From this reading Like all men of genius, he had no heirs; he carried everything in him, and carried it away with him.

glory

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

From this reading The glory of a surgeon is like that of an actor: they live only so long as they are alive, and their talent leaves no trace when they are gone.

gone

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

From this reading The glory of a surgeon is like that of an actor: they live only so long as they are alive, and their talent leaves no trace when they are gone.

greatest

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

From this reading His earliest studies were guided by one of the greatest of French surgeons, the illustrious Desplein, who flashed across science like a meteor.

guided

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

From this reading His earliest studies were guided by one of the greatest of French surgeons, the illustrious Desplein, who flashed across science like a meteor.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Like all men of genius, he had no heirs; he carried everything in him, and carried it away with him.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

heirs

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

From this reading Like all men of genius, he had no heirs; he carried everything in him, and carried it away with him.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading By the consensus even of his enemies, he took with him to the tomb an incommunicable method.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

homage

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

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

illustrious

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

From this reading His earliest studies were guided by one of the greatest of French surgeons, the illustrious Desplein, who flashed across science like a meteor.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

incommunicable

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

From this reading By the consensus even of his enemies, he took with him to the tomb an incommunicable method.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Like all men of genius, he had no heirs; he carried everything in him, and carried it away with him.

leaves

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

From this reading The glory of a surgeon is like that of an actor: they live only so long as they are alive, and their talent leaves no trace when they are gone.

like

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

From this reading His earliest studies were guided by one of the greatest of French surgeons, the illustrious Desplein, who flashed across science like a meteor.

live

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

From this reading The glory of a surgeon is like that of an actor: they live only so long as they are alive, and their talent leaves no trace when they are gone.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

luminary

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

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

made

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

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

medical

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

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

medicine

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

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

men

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

From this reading Like all men of genius, he had no heirs; he carried everything in him, and carried it away with him.

meteor

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

From this reading His earliest studies were guided by one of the greatest of French surgeons, the illustrious Desplein, who flashed across science like a meteor.

method

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

From this reading By the consensus even of his enemies, he took with him to the tomb an incommunicable method.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Like all men of genius, he had no heirs; he carried everything in him, and carried it away with him.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading His earliest studies were guided by one of the greatest of French surgeons, the illustrious Desplein, who flashed across science like a meteor.

only

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

From this reading The glory of a surgeon is like that of an actor: they live only so long as they are alive, and their talent leaves no trace when they are gone.

owes

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

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

Paris

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

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

physician

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

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

physiology

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

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

practised

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

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

school

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

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

science

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

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The glory of a surgeon is like that of an actor: they live only so long as they are alive, and their talent leaves no trace when they are gone.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

studies

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

From this reading His earliest studies were guided by one of the greatest of French surgeons, the illustrious Desplein, who flashed across science like a meteor.

surgeon

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

From this reading The glory of a surgeon is like that of an actor: they live only so long as they are alive, and their talent leaves no trace when they are gone.

surgeons

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

From this reading His earliest studies were guided by one of the greatest of French surgeons, the illustrious Desplein, who flashed across science like a meteor.

surgery

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

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

system

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

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

talent

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

From this reading The glory of a surgeon is like that of an actor: they live only so long as they are alive, and their talent leaves no trace when they are gone.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The glory of a surgeon is like that of an actor: they live only so long as they are alive, and their talent leaves no trace when they are gone.

theoretical

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

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading The glory of a surgeon is like that of an actor: they live only so long as they are alive, and their talent leaves no trace when they are gone.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

tomb

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

From this reading By the consensus even of his enemies, he took with him to the tomb an incommunicable method.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

trace

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

From this reading The glory of a surgeon is like that of an actor: they live only so long as they are alive, and their talent leaves no trace when they are gone.

up

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

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading His earliest studies were guided by one of the greatest of French surgeons, the illustrious Desplein, who flashed across science like a meteor.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading The glory of a surgeon is like that of an actor: they live only so long as they are alive, and their talent leaves no trace when they are gone.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading By the consensus even of his enemies, he took with him to the tomb an incommunicable method.

young

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

From this reading This is dedicated to Auguste Borget by his friend De Balzac Bianchon, a physician to whom science owes a fine system of theoretical physiology, and who, while still young, made himself a celebrity in the medical school of Paris, that central luminary to which European doctors do homage, practised surgery for a long time before he took up medicine.