Joking apart

Chapter III

Chapter 3 of Joking apart is here in full — 428 sentences across 86 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Mrs. Dowdall • Curated US English Learning Edition

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

If all the efficient females will sit down quite quietly we will add what we were about to say, that men are just as irritating, but they don’t mean so inexcusably well.

Take, for instance, the man at an inquiry office; he doesn’t mean well.

“I want a ticket to Leamington,” you say.

He gives you a first-class ticket, and you remonstrate.

“You didn’t say which you wanted,” he retorts, getting impudent at once.

Narrator

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.

Chapter III Reading 1/85

Joking apart

Chapter III

Chapter 3 of Joking apart is here in full — 428 sentences across 86 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/85 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

If all the efficient females will sit down quite quietly we will add what we were about to say, that men are just as irritating, but they don’t mean so inexcusably well.

Line 2

Take, for instance, the man at an inquiry office; he doesn’t mean well.

Line 3

“I want a ticket to Leamington,” you say.

Line 4

He gives you a first-class ticket, and you remonstrate.

Line 5

“You didn’t say which you wanted,” he retorts, getting impudent at once.

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.

efficient adjective US /ɪˈfɪʃənt/

being effective without wasting time or effort or expense

From this reading “If all the efficient females will sit down quite quietly we will add what we were about to say, that men are just as irritating, but they don’t mean so inexcusably well.”

females noun US /ˈfiːmeɪlz/

plural of “female” — an animal that produces gametes (ova) that can be fertilized by male gametes

From this reading “If all the efficient females will sit down quite quietly we will add what we were about to say, that men are just as irritating, but they don’t mean so inexcusably well.”

first-class adjective US /ˌfɜːrstˈklæs/

very good; of the highest quality

From this reading “He gives you a first-class ticket, and you remonstrate.”

inexcusably adverb US /ˌɪnɪksˈkjuːzəbli/

in an unpardonable manner or to an unpardonable degree

From this reading “If all the efficient females will sit down quite quietly we will add what we were about to say, that men are just as irritating, but they don’t mean so inexcusably well.”

inquiry noun US /ˌɪnˈkwaɪriː/

a search for knowledge

From this reading “Take, for instance, the man at an inquiry office; he doesn’t mean well.”

irritating adjective US /ˈɪrəteɪtɪŋ/

causing irritation or annoyance

From this reading “If all the efficient females will sit down quite quietly we will add what we were about to say, that men are just as irritating, but they don’t mean so inexcusably well.”

retorts noun US /rɪˈtɔːrts/

plural of “retort” — a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one)

From this reading ““You didn’t say which you wanted,” he retorts, getting impudent at once.”

ticket noun US /ˈtɪkət/

a commercial document showing that the holder is entitled to something (as to ride on public transportation or to enter a public entertainment)

From this reading ““I want a ticket to Leamington,” you say.”

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.

sit down verb + adjective

take a seat

In this reading “If all the efficient females will sit down quite quietly we will add what we were about to say, that men are just as irritating, but they don’t mean so inexcusably well.”

for instance preposition + noun

as an example

In this reading “Take, for instance, the man at an inquiry office; he doesn’t mean well.”

at once preposition + adverb

without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening

In this reading ““You didn’t say which you wanted,” he retorts, getting impudent at once.”

All words in this reading · 57

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 “I want a ticket to Leamington,” you say.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading If all the efficient females will sit down quite quietly we will add what we were about to say, that men are just as irritating, but they don’t mean so inexcusably well.

addverbUS /æd/

make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of

From this reading If all the efficient females will sit down quite quietly we will add what we were about to say, that men are just as irritating, but they don’t mean so inexcusably well.

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 If all the efficient females will sit down quite quietly we will add what we were about to say, that men are just as irritating, but they don’t mean so inexcusably well.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Take, for instance, the man at an inquiry office; he doesn’t mean well.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He gives you a first-class ticket, and you remonstrate.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading If all the efficient females will sit down quite quietly we will add what we were about to say, that men are just as irritating, but they don’t mean so inexcusably well.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading If all the efficient females will sit down quite quietly we will add what we were about to say, that men are just as irritating, but they don’t mean so inexcusably well.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Take, for instance, the man at an inquiry office; he doesn’t mean well.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading If all the efficient females will sit down quite quietly we will add what we were about to say, that men are just as irritating, but they don’t mean so inexcusably well.

didn't

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

From this reading “You didn’t say which you wanted,” he retorts, getting impudent at once.

doesn't

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

From this reading Take, for instance, the man at an inquiry office; he doesn’t mean well.

don't

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

From this reading If all the efficient females will sit down quite quietly we will add what we were about to say, that men are just as irritating, but they don’t mean so inexcusably well.

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading If all the efficient females will sit down quite quietly we will add what we were about to say, that men are just as irritating, but they don’t mean so inexcusably well.

efficientadjectiveUS /ɪˈfɪʃənt/

being effective without wasting time or effort or expense

From this reading If all the efficient females will sit down quite quietly we will add what we were about to say, that men are just as irritating, but they don’t mean so inexcusably well.

femalesnounUS /ˈfiːmeɪlz/

plural of “female” — an animal that produces gametes (ova) that can be fertilized by male gametes

From this reading If all the efficient females will sit down quite quietly we will add what we were about to say, that men are just as irritating, but they don’t mean so inexcusably well.

first-classadjectiveUS /ˌfɜːrstˈklæs/

very good; of the highest quality

From this reading He gives you a first-class ticket, and you remonstrate.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Take, for instance, the man at an inquiry office; he doesn’t mean well.

gettingnounUS /ˈɡetɪŋ/

the act of acquiring something

From this reading “You didn’t say which you wanted,” he retorts, getting impudent at once.

givesnounUS /ɡɪvz/

plural of “give” — the elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length

From this reading He gives you a first-class ticket, and you remonstrate.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Take, for instance, the man at an inquiry office; he doesn’t mean well.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading “I want a ticket to Leamington,” you say.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If all the efficient females will sit down quite quietly we will add what we were about to say, that men are just as irritating, but they don’t mean so inexcusably well.

impudentadjective

marked by casual disrespect

From this reading “You didn’t say which you wanted,” he retorts, getting impudent at once.

inexcusablyadverbUS /ˌɪnɪksˈkjuːzəbli/

in an unpardonable manner or to an unpardonable degree

From this reading If all the efficient females will sit down quite quietly we will add what we were about to say, that men are just as irritating, but they don’t mean so inexcusably well.

inquirynounUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪriː/

a search for knowledge

From this reading Take, for instance, the man at an inquiry office; he doesn’t mean well.

instancenounUS /ˈɪnstəns/

an occurrence of something

From this reading Take, for instance, the man at an inquiry office; he doesn’t mean well.

irritatingadjectiveUS /ˈɪrəteɪtɪŋ/

causing irritation or annoyance

From this reading If all the efficient females will sit down quite quietly we will add what we were about to say, that men are just as irritating, but they don’t mean so inexcusably well.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading If all the efficient females will sit down quite quietly we will add what we were about to say, that men are just as irritating, but they don’t mean so inexcusably well.

Leamington

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

From this reading “I want a ticket to Leamington,” you say.

mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading Take, for instance, the man at an inquiry office; he doesn’t mean well.

meanverbUS /miːn/

mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading If all the efficient females will sit down quite quietly we will add what we were about to say, that men are just as irritating, but they don’t mean so inexcusably well.

mennounUS /men/

the force of workers available

From this reading If all the efficient females will sit down quite quietly we will add what we were about to say, that men are just as irritating, but they don’t mean so inexcusably well.

officenounUS /ˈɔːfɪs/

place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed

From this reading Take, for instance, the man at an inquiry office; he doesn’t mean well.

onceadverbUS /wʌns/

on one occasion

From this reading “You didn’t say which you wanted,” he retorts, getting impudent at once.

quietlyadverbUS /ˈkwaɪətli/

with low volume

From this reading If all the efficient females will sit down quite quietly we will add what we were about to say, that men are just as irritating, but they don’t mean so inexcusably well.

quiteadverbUS /kwaɪt/

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading If all the efficient females will sit down quite quietly we will add what we were about to say, that men are just as irritating, but they don’t mean so inexcusably well.

remonstrateverb

argue in protest or opposition

From this reading He gives you a first-class ticket, and you remonstrate.

retortsnounUS /rɪˈtɔːrts/

plural of “retort” — a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one)

From this reading “You didn’t say which you wanted,” he retorts, getting impudent at once.

sayverbUS /seɪ/

express in words

From this reading If all the efficient females will sit down quite quietly we will add what we were about to say, that men are just as irritating, but they don’t mean so inexcusably well.

sitverbUS /sɪt/

be seated

From this reading If all the efficient females will sit down quite quietly we will add what we were about to say, that men are just as irritating, but they don’t mean so inexcusably well.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading If all the efficient females will sit down quite quietly we will add what we were about to say, that men are just as irritating, but they don’t mean so inexcusably well.

TakeverbUS /teɪk/

carry out

From this reading Take, for instance, the man at an inquiry office; he doesn’t mean well.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading If all the efficient females will sit down quite quietly we will add what we were about to say, that men are just as irritating, but they don’t mean so inexcusably well.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading If all the efficient females will sit down quite quietly we will add what we were about to say, that men are just as irritating, but they don’t mean so inexcusably well.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading If all the efficient females will sit down quite quietly we will add what we were about to say, that men are just as irritating, but they don’t mean so inexcusably well.

ticketnounUS /ˈtɪkət/

a commercial document showing that the holder is entitled to something (as to ride on public transportation or to enter a public entertainment)

From this reading “I want a ticket to Leamington,” you say.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading If all the efficient females will sit down quite quietly we will add what we were about to say, that men are just as irritating, but they don’t mean so inexcusably well.

wantverbUS /wɑːnt/

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

From this reading “I want a ticket to Leamington,” you say.

wantedadjectiveUS /ˈwɔːntɪd/

desired or wished for or sought

From this reading “You didn’t say which you wanted,” he retorts, getting impudent at once.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading If all the efficient females will sit down quite quietly we will add what we were about to say, that men are just as irritating, but they don’t mean so inexcusably well.

welladverbUS /wel/

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading If all the efficient females will sit down quite quietly we will add what we were about to say, that men are just as irritating, but they don’t mean so inexcusably well.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading If all the efficient females will sit down quite quietly we will add what we were about to say, that men are just as irritating, but they don’t mean so inexcusably well.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading If all the efficient females will sit down quite quietly we will add what we were about to say, that men are just as irritating, but they don’t mean so inexcusably well.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading “You didn’t say which you wanted,” he retorts, getting impudent at once.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading If all the efficient females will sit down quite quietly we will add what we were about to say, that men are just as irritating, but they don’t mean so inexcusably well.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “I want a ticket to Leamington,” you say.

Chapter 3 of Joking apart by Mrs. Dowdall holds 428 sentences, grouped into 86 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 3 of Joking apart contain?

Chapter 3 holds 428 sentences of Joking apart, unabridged, divided into 86 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 3 of Joking apart by Mrs. Dowdall exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 428 sentences, grouped into 86 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 3 of Joking apart?

Work through the 86 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 86 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 3 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 3 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 Joking apart

Common questions about reading Joking apart by Mrs. Dowdall on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Joking apart?

Yes. All 3410 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #70958 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Joking apart is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #70958, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Joking apart take to read?

About 284 minutes of reading across 682 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Joking apart section by section

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

Open a chapter

Choose one of the 8 chapters of Joking apart to begin.
Read one section

Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Listen and tap

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

Vocabulary met early in Joking apart

Words and structures a reader meets early in Joking apart, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Marriage: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Joking apart; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Henry: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Joking apart; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Second: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Joking apart; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Sister: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Joking apart; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.

Chapter III

What does chapter 3 of Joking apart contain?

How do I study chapter 3 of Joking apart?

Can chapter 3 be read aloud to me?

Questions about reading Joking apart

How to read Joking apart section by section

Open a chapter

Read one section

Listen and tap

Vocabulary met early in Joking apart