Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Alice Adams
Alice Adams

Chapter VII

Cover illustration for Alice Adams
Context Illustration Reading 1/41 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
They danced.
Mr. Dowling should have found other forms of exercise and pastime.
Nature has not designed everyone for dancing, though sometimes those she has denied are the last to discover her niggardliness.
But the round young man was at least vigorous enough--too much so, when his knees collided with Alice's--and he was too sturdy to be thrown off his feet, himself, or to allow his partner to fall when he tripped her.
He held her up valiantly, and continued to beat a path through the crowd of other dancers by main force.
0:00 / 0:00
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.

Alice Adams

Chapter VII

Reading 1/41 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
They danced.
Line 2
Mr. Dowling should have found other forms of exercise and pastime.
Line 3
Nature has not designed everyone for dancing, though sometimes those she has denied are the last to discover her niggardliness.
Line 4
But the round young man was at least vigorous enough--too much so, when his knees collided with Alice's--and he was too sturdy to be thrown off his feet, himself, or to allow his partner to fall when he tripped her.
Line 5
He held her up valiantly, and continued to beat a path through the crowd of other dancers by main force.

Learner Dictionary

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

Continued noun US /ˈcontinued/

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

From this reading “He held her up valiantly, and continued to beat a path through the crowd of other dancers by main force.”

Everyone pronoun US /ˈevriwʌn/

every person

From this reading “Nature has not designed everyone for dancing, though sometimes those she has denied are the last to discover her niggardliness.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Mr. Dowling should have found other forms of exercise and pastime.”

Has auxiliary verb US /hæz/

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

From this reading “Nature has not designed everyone for dancing, though sometimes those she has denied are the last to discover her niggardliness.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Mr. Dowling should have found other forms of exercise and pastime.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “But the round young man was at least vigorous enough--too much so, when his knees collided with Alice's--and he was too sturdy to be thrown off his feet, himself, or to allow his partner to fall when he tripped her.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Nature has not designed everyone for dancing, though sometimes those she has denied are the last to discover her niggardliness.”

Least noun US /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But the round young man was at least vigorous enough--too much so, when his knees collided with Alice's--and he was too sturdy to be thrown off his feet, himself, or to allow his partner to fall when he tripped her.”

Sometimes noun US /sometimes/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Nature has not designed everyone for dancing, though sometimes those she has denied are the last to discover her niggardliness.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

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

From this reading “Nature has not designed everyone for dancing, though sometimes those she has denied are the last to discover her niggardliness.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “Nature has not designed everyone for dancing, though sometimes those she has denied are the last to discover her niggardliness.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “He held her up valiantly, and continued to beat a path through the crowd of other dancers by main force.”

All words in this reading · 75

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 He held her up valiantly, and continued to beat a path through the crowd of other dancers by main force.

Alice's

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

From this reading But the round young man was at least vigorous enough--too much so, when his knees collided with Alice's--and he was too sturdy to be thrown off his feet, himself, or to allow his partner to fall when he tripped her.

allow

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

From this reading But the round young man was at least vigorous enough--too much so, when his knees collided with Alice's--and he was too sturdy to be thrown off his feet, himself, or to allow his partner to fall when he tripped her.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Mr. Dowling should have found other forms of exercise and pastime.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Nature has not designed everyone for dancing, though sometimes those she has denied are the last to discover her niggardliness.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading But the round young man was at least vigorous enough--too much so, when his knees collided with Alice's--and he was too sturdy to be thrown off his feet, himself, or to allow his partner to fall when he tripped her.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading But the round young man was at least vigorous enough--too much so, when his knees collided with Alice's--and he was too sturdy to be thrown off his feet, himself, or to allow his partner to fall when he tripped her.

beat

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

From this reading He held her up valiantly, and continued to beat a path through the crowd of other dancers by main force.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But the round young man was at least vigorous enough--too much so, when his knees collided with Alice's--and he was too sturdy to be thrown off his feet, himself, or to allow his partner to fall when he tripped her.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He held her up valiantly, and continued to beat a path through the crowd of other dancers by main force.

collided

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

From this reading But the round young man was at least vigorous enough--too much so, when his knees collided with Alice's--and he was too sturdy to be thrown off his feet, himself, or to allow his partner to fall when he tripped her.

continuednounUS /ˈcontinued/

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

From this reading He held her up valiantly, and continued to beat a path through the crowd of other dancers by main force.

crowd

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

From this reading He held her up valiantly, and continued to beat a path through the crowd of other dancers by main force.

danced

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

From this reading They danced.

dancers

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

From this reading He held her up valiantly, and continued to beat a path through the crowd of other dancers by main force.

dancing

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

From this reading Nature has not designed everyone for dancing, though sometimes those she has denied are the last to discover her niggardliness.

denied

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

From this reading Nature has not designed everyone for dancing, though sometimes those she has denied are the last to discover her niggardliness.

designed

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

From this reading Nature has not designed everyone for dancing, though sometimes those she has denied are the last to discover her niggardliness.

discover

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

From this reading Nature has not designed everyone for dancing, though sometimes those she has denied are the last to discover her niggardliness.

Dowling

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

From this reading Mr. Dowling should have found other forms of exercise and pastime.

enough

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

From this reading But the round young man was at least vigorous enough--too much so, when his knees collided with Alice's--and he was too sturdy to be thrown off his feet, himself, or to allow his partner to fall when he tripped her.

everyonepronounUS /ˈevriwʌn/

every person

From this reading Nature has not designed everyone for dancing, though sometimes those she has denied are the last to discover her niggardliness.

exercise

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

From this reading Mr. Dowling should have found other forms of exercise and pastime.

fall

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

From this reading But the round young man was at least vigorous enough--too much so, when his knees collided with Alice's--and he was too sturdy to be thrown off his feet, himself, or to allow his partner to fall when he tripped her.

feet

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

From this reading But the round young man was at least vigorous enough--too much so, when his knees collided with Alice's--and he was too sturdy to be thrown off his feet, himself, or to allow his partner to fall when he tripped her.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Nature has not designed everyone for dancing, though sometimes those she has denied are the last to discover her niggardliness.

force

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

From this reading He held her up valiantly, and continued to beat a path through the crowd of other dancers by main force.

forms

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

From this reading Mr. Dowling should have found other forms of exercise and pastime.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Mr. Dowling should have found other forms of exercise and pastime.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading Nature has not designed everyone for dancing, though sometimes those she has denied are the last to discover her niggardliness.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Mr. Dowling should have found other forms of exercise and pastime.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading But the round young man was at least vigorous enough--too much so, when his knees collided with Alice's--and he was too sturdy to be thrown off his feet, himself, or to allow his partner to fall when he tripped her.

held

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

From this reading He held her up valiantly, and continued to beat a path through the crowd of other dancers by main force.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Nature has not designed everyone for dancing, though sometimes those she has denied are the last to discover her niggardliness.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading But the round young man was at least vigorous enough--too much so, when his knees collided with Alice's--and he was too sturdy to be thrown off his feet, himself, or to allow his partner to fall when he tripped her.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading But the round young man was at least vigorous enough--too much so, when his knees collided with Alice's--and he was too sturdy to be thrown off his feet, himself, or to allow his partner to fall when he tripped her.

knees

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

From this reading But the round young man was at least vigorous enough--too much so, when his knees collided with Alice's--and he was too sturdy to be thrown off his feet, himself, or to allow his partner to fall when he tripped her.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Nature has not designed everyone for dancing, though sometimes those she has denied are the last to discover her niggardliness.

leastnounUS /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But the round young man was at least vigorous enough--too much so, when his knees collided with Alice's--and he was too sturdy to be thrown off his feet, himself, or to allow his partner to fall when he tripped her.

main

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

From this reading He held her up valiantly, and continued to beat a path through the crowd of other dancers by main force.

man

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

From this reading But the round young man was at least vigorous enough--too much so, when his knees collided with Alice's--and he was too sturdy to be thrown off his feet, himself, or to allow his partner to fall when he tripped her.

Mr

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

From this reading Mr. Dowling should have found other forms of exercise and pastime.

much

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

From this reading But the round young man was at least vigorous enough--too much so, when his knees collided with Alice's--and he was too sturdy to be thrown off his feet, himself, or to allow his partner to fall when he tripped her.

Nature

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

From this reading Nature has not designed everyone for dancing, though sometimes those she has denied are the last to discover her niggardliness.

niggardliness

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

From this reading Nature has not designed everyone for dancing, though sometimes those she has denied are the last to discover her niggardliness.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Nature has not designed everyone for dancing, though sometimes those she has denied are the last to discover her niggardliness.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Mr. Dowling should have found other forms of exercise and pastime.

off

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

From this reading But the round young man was at least vigorous enough--too much so, when his knees collided with Alice's--and he was too sturdy to be thrown off his feet, himself, or to allow his partner to fall when he tripped her.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading But the round young man was at least vigorous enough--too much so, when his knees collided with Alice's--and he was too sturdy to be thrown off his feet, himself, or to allow his partner to fall when he tripped her.

other

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

From this reading Mr. Dowling should have found other forms of exercise and pastime.

partner

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

From this reading But the round young man was at least vigorous enough--too much so, when his knees collided with Alice's--and he was too sturdy to be thrown off his feet, himself, or to allow his partner to fall when he tripped her.

pastime

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

From this reading Mr. Dowling should have found other forms of exercise and pastime.

path

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

From this reading He held her up valiantly, and continued to beat a path through the crowd of other dancers by main force.

round

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

From this reading But the round young man was at least vigorous enough--too much so, when his knees collided with Alice's--and he was too sturdy to be thrown off his feet, himself, or to allow his partner to fall when he tripped her.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Nature has not designed everyone for dancing, though sometimes those she has denied are the last to discover her niggardliness.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Mr. Dowling should have found other forms of exercise and pastime.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading But the round young man was at least vigorous enough--too much so, when his knees collided with Alice's--and he was too sturdy to be thrown off his feet, himself, or to allow his partner to fall when he tripped her.

sometimes

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

From this reading Nature has not designed everyone for dancing, though sometimes those she has denied are the last to discover her niggardliness.

sturdy

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

From this reading But the round young man was at least vigorous enough--too much so, when his knees collided with Alice's--and he was too sturdy to be thrown off his feet, himself, or to allow his partner to fall when he tripped her.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Nature has not designed everyone for dancing, though sometimes those she has denied are the last to discover her niggardliness.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading They danced.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

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

From this reading Nature has not designed everyone for dancing, though sometimes those she has denied are the last to discover her niggardliness.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Nature has not designed everyone for dancing, though sometimes those she has denied are the last to discover her niggardliness.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading He held her up valiantly, and continued to beat a path through the crowd of other dancers by main force.

thrown

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

From this reading But the round young man was at least vigorous enough--too much so, when his knees collided with Alice's--and he was too sturdy to be thrown off his feet, himself, or to allow his partner to fall when he tripped her.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Nature has not designed everyone for dancing, though sometimes those she has denied are the last to discover her niggardliness.

too

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

From this reading But the round young man was at least vigorous enough--too much so, when his knees collided with Alice's--and he was too sturdy to be thrown off his feet, himself, or to allow his partner to fall when he tripped her.

tripped

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

From this reading But the round young man was at least vigorous enough--too much so, when his knees collided with Alice's--and he was too sturdy to be thrown off his feet, himself, or to allow his partner to fall when he tripped her.

up

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

From this reading He held her up valiantly, and continued to beat a path through the crowd of other dancers by main force.

valiantly

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

From this reading He held her up valiantly, and continued to beat a path through the crowd of other dancers by main force.

vigorous

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

From this reading But the round young man was at least vigorous enough--too much so, when his knees collided with Alice's--and he was too sturdy to be thrown off his feet, himself, or to allow his partner to fall when he tripped her.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading But the round young man was at least vigorous enough--too much so, when his knees collided with Alice's--and he was too sturdy to be thrown off his feet, himself, or to allow his partner to fall when he tripped her.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading But the round young man was at least vigorous enough--too much so, when his knees collided with Alice's--and he was too sturdy to be thrown off his feet, himself, or to allow his partner to fall when he tripped her.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading But the round young man was at least vigorous enough--too much so, when his knees collided with Alice's--and he was too sturdy to be thrown off his feet, himself, or to allow his partner to fall when he tripped her.

young

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

From this reading But the round young man was at least vigorous enough--too much so, when his knees collided with Alice's--and he was too sturdy to be thrown off his feet, himself, or to allow his partner to fall when he tripped her.