Chapter 4 of Joking apart is here in full — 439 sentences across 88 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter IV
Chapter 4 of Joking apart is here in full — 439 sentences across 88 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
“Why were you so frank, Polly?” I asked when we were alone. “I am always pleased to back you up, but do you think it is any good?” “Of course not,” said Polly; “I should have bitten my tongue out if it were. But, anyway, we shan’t have it on our consciences that we didn’t warn her.”
Chapter 4 of Joking apart is here in full — 439 sentences across 88 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/87 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
Having no one else present.
From this reading “I asked when we were alone.”
used to indicate that a statement explains or supports a previous statement
From this reading “But, anyway, we shan’t have it on our consciences that we didn’t warn her.””
inflected form of “bite” — to grip, cut off, or tear with or as if with the teeth or jaws
From this reading ““Of course not,” said Polly; “I should have bitten my tongue out if it were.”
plural of “conscience” — motivation deriving logically from ethical or moral principles that govern a person's thoughts and actions
From this reading “But, anyway, we shan’t have it on our consciences that we didn’t warn her.””
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading ““Why were you so frank, Polly?””
experiencing or manifesting pleasure
From this reading ““I am always pleased to back you up, but do you think it is any good?””
a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity
From this reading ““Of course not,” said Polly; “I should have bitten my tongue out if it were.”
notify of danger, potential harm, or risk
From this reading “But, anyway, we shan’t have it on our consciences that we didn’t warn her.””
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.
as might be expected
In this reading ““Of course not,” said Polly; “I should have bitten my tongue out if it were.”
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.
Having no one else present.
From this reading I asked when we were alone.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading “I am always pleased to back you up, but do you think it is any good?”
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading “I am always pleased to back you up, but do you think it is any good?”
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading “I am always pleased to back you up, but do you think it is any good?”
used to indicate that a statement explains or supports a previous statement
From this reading But, anyway, we shan’t have it on our consciences that we didn’t warn her.”
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading I asked when we were alone.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading “I am always pleased to back you up, but do you think it is any good?”
inflected form of “bite” — to grip, cut off, or tear with or as if with the teeth or jaws
From this reading “Of course not,” said Polly; “I should have bitten my tongue out if it were.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “I am always pleased to back you up, but do you think it is any good?”
plural of “conscience” — motivation deriving logically from ethical or moral principles that govern a person's thoughts and actions
From this reading But, anyway, we shan’t have it on our consciences that we didn’t warn her.”
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading “Of course not,” said Polly; “I should have bitten my tongue out if it were.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, anyway, we shan’t have it on our consciences that we didn’t warn her.”
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “I am always pleased to back you up, but do you think it is any good?”
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading “Why were you so frank, Polly?”
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading “I am always pleased to back you up, but do you think it is any good?”
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Of course not,” said Polly; “I should have bitten my tongue out if it were.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But, anyway, we shan’t have it on our consciences that we didn’t warn her.”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I asked when we were alone.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “Of course not,” said Polly; “I should have bitten my tongue out if it were.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “I am always pleased to back you up, but do you think it is any good?”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “I am always pleased to back you up, but do you think it is any good?”
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “Of course not,” said Polly; “I should have bitten my tongue out if it were.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “Of course not,” said Polly; “I should have bitten my tongue out if it were.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Of course not,” said Polly; “I should have bitten my tongue out if it were.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But, anyway, we shan’t have it on our consciences that we didn’t warn her.”
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading But, anyway, we shan’t have it on our consciences that we didn’t warn her.”
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading “Of course not,” said Polly; “I should have bitten my tongue out if it were.
experiencing or manifesting pleasure
From this reading “I am always pleased to back you up, but do you think it is any good?”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why were you so frank, Polly?”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Of course not,” said Polly; “I should have bitten my tongue out if it were.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, anyway, we shan’t have it on our consciences that we didn’t warn her.”
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading “Of course not,” said Polly; “I should have bitten my tongue out if it were.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “Why were you so frank, Polly?”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But, anyway, we shan’t have it on our consciences that we didn’t warn her.”
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading “I am always pleased to back you up, but do you think it is any good?”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “I am always pleased to back you up, but do you think it is any good?”
a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity
From this reading “Of course not,” said Polly; “I should have bitten my tongue out if it were.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading “I am always pleased to back you up, but do you think it is any good?”
notify of danger, potential harm, or risk
From this reading But, anyway, we shan’t have it on our consciences that we didn’t warn her.”
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading I asked when we were alone.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “Why were you so frank, Polly?”
at the time that
From this reading I asked when we were alone.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading “Why were you so frank, Polly?”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Why were you so frank, Polly?”
Chapter 4 of Joking apart by Mrs. Dowdall holds 439 sentences, grouped into 88 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.
Chapter 4 holds 439 sentences of Joking apart, unabridged, divided into 88 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 4 of Joking apart by Mrs. Dowdall exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 439 sentences, grouped into 88 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.
Work through the 88 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 88 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.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 4 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.
Common questions about reading Joking apart by Mrs. Dowdall on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 3410 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #70958 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #70958, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 284 minutes of reading across 682 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Joking apart section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 8 chapters of Joking apart to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in Joking apart, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
