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Ida Nicolari
Ida Nicolari

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Ida Nicolari is here in full — 114 sentences across 23 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Eglanton Thorne • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Ida Nicolari
Context Illustration Reading 1/22 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
AUTHOR OF “THE OLD WORCESTER JUG,” “IT’S ALL REAL TRUE,” “IN LONDON FIELDS,” “THE TWO CROWNS,” ETC.
“THERE, child, you are free.
The light is going too rapidly for me to attempt more this afternoon.
How is it that the days seem to get shorter, although we are long past the shortest?”
The speaker was Antonio Nicolari, a sculptor who had won a high place in the world of art.
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.

Ida Nicolari

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Ida Nicolari is here in full — 114 sentences across 23 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/22 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
AUTHOR OF “THE OLD WORCESTER JUG,” “IT’S ALL REAL TRUE,” “IN LONDON FIELDS,” “THE TWO CROWNS,” ETC.
Line 2
“THERE, child, you are free.
/ðer tʃaɪld juː ɑːr friː/
Line 3
The light is going too rapidly for me to attempt more this afternoon.
/ðə laɪt ɪz ˈɡoʊɪŋ tuː ˈræpədli fɔːr miː tuː əˈtempt mɔːr ðɪs ˌæftərˈnuːn/
Line 4
How is it that the days seem to get shorter, although we are long past the shortest?”
Line 5
The speaker was Antonio Nicolari, a sculptor who had won a high place in the world of art.

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

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

crowns noun US /kraʊnz/

plural of “crown” — the Crown (or the reigning monarch) as the symbol of the power and authority of a monarchy

From this reading “AUTHOR OF “THE OLD WORCESTER JUG,” “IT’S ALL REAL TRUE,” “IN LONDON FIELDS,” “THE TWO CROWNS,” ETC.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fields noun US /fiːldz/

United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)

From this reading “AUTHOR OF “THE OLD WORCESTER JUG,” “IT’S ALL REAL TRUE,” “IN LONDON FIELDS,” “THE TWO CROWNS,” ETC.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
jug noun US /dʒʌɡ/

a large bottle with a narrow mouth

From this reading “AUTHOR OF “THE OLD WORCESTER JUG,” “IT’S ALL REAL TRUE,” “IN LONDON FIELDS,” “THE TWO CROWNS,” ETC.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sculptor noun US /ˈskʌlptər/

an artist who creates sculptures

From this reading “The speaker was Antonio Nicolari, a sculptor who had won a high place in the world of art.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
shorter adjective US /ˈʃɔːrtər/

comparative of “short” — primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading “How is it that the days seem to get shorter, although we are long past the shortest?””

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
shortest adjective US /ˈʃɔːrtɪst/

superlative of “short” — primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading “How is it that the days seem to get shorter, although we are long past the shortest?””

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
speaker noun US /ˈspiːkər/

someone who expresses in language; someone who talks (especially someone who delivers a public speech or someone especially garrulous)

From this reading “The speaker was Antonio Nicolari, a sculptor who had won a high place in the world of art.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
worcester noun US /ˈwʊstər/

United States lexicographer who was accused of plagiarism by Noah Webster (1784-1865)

From this reading “AUTHOR OF “THE OLD WORCESTER JUG,” “IT’S ALL REAL TRUE,” “IN LONDON FIELDS,” “THE TWO CROWNS,” ETC.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

in the world preposition + article + noun counted as “in … world”

In this reading “The speaker was Antonio Nicolari, a sculptor who had won a high place in the world of art.”

107,541 times in 426,211 chapters
high place adjective + noun

In this reading “The speaker was Antonio Nicolari, a sculptor who had won a high place in the world of art.”

3,138 times in 426,211 chapters
long past adjective + noun

In this reading “How is it that the days seem to get shorter, although we are long past the shortest?””

2,211 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 58

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading The speaker was Antonio Nicolari, a sculptor who had won a high place in the world of art.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
afternoonnounUS /ˌæftərˈnuːn/

the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading The light is going too rapidly for me to attempt more this afternoon.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ALLadjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading AUTHOR OF “THE OLD WORCESTER JUG,” “IT’S ALL REAL TRUE,” “IN LONDON FIELDS,” “THE TWO CROWNS,” ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
althoughconjunctionUS /ˌɔːlˈðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading How is it that the days seem to get shorter, although we are long past the shortest?”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
Antonio

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

From this reading The speaker was Antonio Nicolari, a sculptor who had won a high place in the world of art.

Pending verification
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading “THERE, child, you are free.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/

an old form of “are”, used with “thou”

From this reading The speaker was Antonio Nicolari, a sculptor who had won a high place in the world of art.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
attemptnounUS /əˈtempt/

earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something

From this reading The light is going too rapidly for me to attempt more this afternoon.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
AUTHORnounUS /ˈɔːθər/

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading AUTHOR OF “THE OLD WORCESTER JUG,” “IT’S ALL REAL TRUE,” “IN LONDON FIELDS,” “THE TWO CROWNS,” ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
childnounUS /tʃaɪld/

a young person of either sex

From this reading “THERE, child, you are free.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
CROWNSnounUS /kraʊnz/

plural of “crown” — the Crown (or the reigning monarch) as the symbol of the power and authority of a monarchy

From this reading AUTHOR OF “THE OLD WORCESTER JUG,” “IT’S ALL REAL TRUE,” “IN LONDON FIELDS,” “THE TWO CROWNS,” ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
daysnounUS /deɪz/

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading How is it that the days seem to get shorter, although we are long past the shortest?”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ETC

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF “THE OLD WORCESTER JUG,” “IT’S ALL REAL TRUE,” “IN LONDON FIELDS,” “THE TWO CROWNS,” ETC.

Pending verification
FIELDSnounUS /fiːldz/

United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)

From this reading AUTHOR OF “THE OLD WORCESTER JUG,” “IT’S ALL REAL TRUE,” “IN LONDON FIELDS,” “THE TWO CROWNS,” ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The light is going too rapidly for me to attempt more this afternoon.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
freeverbUS /friː/

grant freedom to; free from confinement

From this reading “THERE, child, you are free.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
getverbUS /ɡet/

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading How is it that the days seem to get shorter, although we are long past the shortest?”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/

the act of departing

From this reading The light is going too rapidly for me to attempt more this afternoon.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The speaker was Antonio Nicolari, a sculptor who had won a high place in the world of art.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
highadjectiveUS /haɪ/

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading The speaker was Antonio Nicolari, a sculptor who had won a high place in the world of art.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
How

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

From this reading How is it that the days seem to get shorter, although we are long past the shortest?”

Pending verification
INprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF “THE OLD WORCESTER JUG,” “IT’S ALL REAL TRUE,” “IN LONDON FIELDS,” “THE TWO CROWNS,” ETC.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading The light is going too rapidly for me to attempt more this afternoon.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading How is it that the days seem to get shorter, although we are long past the shortest?”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
IT'S

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF “THE OLD WORCESTER JUG,” “IT’S ALL REAL TRUE,” “IN LONDON FIELDS,” “THE TWO CROWNS,” ETC.

Pending verification
JUGnounUS /dʒʌɡ/

a large bottle with a narrow mouth

From this reading AUTHOR OF “THE OLD WORCESTER JUG,” “IT’S ALL REAL TRUE,” “IN LONDON FIELDS,” “THE TWO CROWNS,” ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading The light is going too rapidly for me to attempt more this afternoon.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
LONDONnounUS /ˈlʌndən/

the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center

From this reading AUTHOR OF “THE OLD WORCESTER JUG,” “IT’S ALL REAL TRUE,” “IN LONDON FIELDS,” “THE TWO CROWNS,” ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading How is it that the days seem to get shorter, although we are long past the shortest?”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading The light is going too rapidly for me to attempt more this afternoon.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

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

From this reading The light is going too rapidly for me to attempt more this afternoon.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Nicolari

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

From this reading The speaker was Antonio Nicolari, a sculptor who had won a high place in the world of art.

Pending verification
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading AUTHOR OF “THE OLD WORCESTER JUG,” “IT’S ALL REAL TRUE,” “IN LONDON FIELDS,” “THE TWO CROWNS,” ETC.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
OLDadjectiveUS /oʊld/

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading AUTHOR OF “THE OLD WORCESTER JUG,” “IT’S ALL REAL TRUE,” “IN LONDON FIELDS,” “THE TWO CROWNS,” ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
pastnounUS /pæst/

the time that has elapsed

From this reading How is it that the days seem to get shorter, although we are long past the shortest?”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
placenounUS /pleɪs/

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading The speaker was Antonio Nicolari, a sculptor who had won a high place in the world of art.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rapidlyadverbUS /ˈræpədli/

with speed

From this reading The light is going too rapidly for me to attempt more this afternoon.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
REALadjectiveUS /riːl/

being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory

From this reading AUTHOR OF “THE OLD WORCESTER JUG,” “IT’S ALL REAL TRUE,” “IN LONDON FIELDS,” “THE TWO CROWNS,” ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sculptornounUS /ˈskʌlptər/

an artist who creates sculptures

From this reading The speaker was Antonio Nicolari, a sculptor who had won a high place in the world of art.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
seemverbUS /siːm/

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading How is it that the days seem to get shorter, although we are long past the shortest?”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
shorteradjectiveUS /ˈʃɔːrtər/

comparative of “short” — primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading How is it that the days seem to get shorter, although we are long past the shortest?”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
shortestadjectiveUS /ˈʃɔːrtɪst/

superlative of “short” — primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading How is it that the days seem to get shorter, although we are long past the shortest?”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
speakernounUS /ˈspiːkər/

someone who expresses in language; someone who talks (especially someone who delivers a public speech or someone especially garrulous)

From this reading The speaker was Antonio Nicolari, a sculptor who had won a high place in the world of art.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading How is it that the days seem to get shorter, although we are long past the shortest?”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF “THE OLD WORCESTER JUG,” “IT’S ALL REAL TRUE,” “IN LONDON FIELDS,” “THE TWO CROWNS,” ETC.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
THEREadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading “THERE, child, you are free.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading The light is going too rapidly for me to attempt more this afternoon.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The light is going too rapidly for me to attempt more this afternoon.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
tooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading The light is going too rapidly for me to attempt more this afternoon.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
TRUEadjectiveUS /truː/

consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading AUTHOR OF “THE OLD WORCESTER JUG,” “IT’S ALL REAL TRUE,” “IN LONDON FIELDS,” “THE TWO CROWNS,” ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
TWOnounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading AUTHOR OF “THE OLD WORCESTER JUG,” “IT’S ALL REAL TRUE,” “IN LONDON FIELDS,” “THE TWO CROWNS,” ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The speaker was Antonio Nicolari, a sculptor who had won a high place in the world of art.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading How is it that the days seem to get shorter, although we are long past the shortest?”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading The speaker was Antonio Nicolari, a sculptor who had won a high place in the world of art.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wonnounUS /wʌn/

the basic unit of money in South Korea

From this reading The speaker was Antonio Nicolari, a sculptor who had won a high place in the world of art.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
WORCESTERnounUS /ˈwʊstər/

United States lexicographer who was accused of plagiarism by Noah Webster (1784-1865)

From this reading AUTHOR OF “THE OLD WORCESTER JUG,” “IT’S ALL REAL TRUE,” “IN LONDON FIELDS,” “THE TWO CROWNS,” ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
worldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading The speaker was Antonio Nicolari, a sculptor who had won a high place in the world of art.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “THERE, child, you are free.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 1 of Ida Nicolari by Eglanton Thorne holds 114 sentences, grouped into 23 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 1 of Ida Nicolari contain?

Chapter 1 holds 114 sentences of Ida Nicolari, unabridged, divided into 23 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Ida Nicolari by Eglanton Thorne exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 114 sentences, grouped into 23 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 1 of Ida Nicolari?

Work through the 23 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 23 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading Ida Nicolari

Common questions about reading Ida Nicolari by Eglanton Thorne on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Ida Nicolari?

Yes. All 4853 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #76917 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Ida Nicolari is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #76917, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Ida Nicolari take to read?

About 404 minutes of reading across 971 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Ida Nicolari section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 25 chapters of Ida Nicolari to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Ida Nicolari

Words and structures a reader meets early in Ida Nicolari, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Ida Nicolari; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Worcester
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Ida Nicolari; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
London
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Ida Nicolari; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Fields
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Ida Nicolari; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.