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Kora in Hell: Improvisations
Kora in Hell: Improvisations

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Kora in Hell: Improvisations is here in full — 460 sentences across 92 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Kora in Hell: Improvisations
Context Illustration Reading 1/92 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Following the author’s intent, this e-text preserves the original’s spelling and stylistic features, including extra spacing between words (created using the U+2003 EM SPACE character ( ) three times in a row)
The Tempers Al Que Quiere!
Kora in Hell The Four Seas Press Boston, Mass., U. S. A.
Her voice was like rose-fragrance waltzing in the wind.
She seemed a shadow, stained with shadow colors, Swimming through waves of sunlight.…
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.

Kora in Hell: Improvisations

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Kora in Hell: Improvisations is here in full — 460 sentences across 92 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/92 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Following the author’s intent, this e-text preserves the original’s spelling and stylistic features, including extra spacing between words (created using the U+2003 EM SPACE character ( ) three times in a row)
Line 2
The Tempers Al Que Quiere!
Line 3
Kora in Hell The Four Seas Press Boston, Mass., U. S. A.
Line 4
Her voice was like rose-fragrance waltzing in the wind.
Line 5
She seemed a shadow, stained with shadow colors, Swimming through waves of sunlight.…
/ʃiː siːmd ə ˈʃæd.oʊ steɪnd wɪð ˈʃæd.oʊ ˈkʌlərz ˈswɪmɪŋ θruː weɪvz ʌv ˈsʌnlaɪt/

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.

author's noun US /ˈɔːθərz/

possessive form of “author” — writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

preserves noun US /prəˈzɜːrvz/

fruit preserved by cooking with sugar

From this reading “Following the author’s intent, this e-text preserves the original’s spelling and stylistic features, including extra spacing between words (created using the U+2003 EM SPACE character ( ) three times in a row)”

spacing noun US /ˈspeɪsɪŋ/

the time between occurrences of a repeating event

From this reading “Following the author’s intent, this e-text preserves the original’s spelling and stylistic features, including extra spacing between words (created using the U+2003 EM SPACE character ( ) three times in a row)”

spelling noun US /ˈspelɪŋ/

forming words with letters according to the principles underlying accepted usage

From this reading “Following the author’s intent, this e-text preserves the original’s spelling and stylistic features, including extra spacing between words (created using the U+2003 EM SPACE character ( ) three times in a row)”

stained adjective US /steɪnd/

marked or dyed or discolored with foreign matter

From this reading “She seemed a shadow, stained with shadow colors, Swimming through waves of sunlight.…”

stylistic adjective US /staɪˈlɪstɪk/

of or relating to style (especially in the use of language)

From this reading “Following the author’s intent, this e-text preserves the original’s spelling and stylistic features, including extra spacing between words (created using the U+2003 EM SPACE character ( ) three times in a row)”

Tempers noun US /ˈtempərz/

plural of “temper” — a sudden outburst of anger

From this reading “The Tempers Al Que Quiere!”

waltzing verb US /ˈwɔːltsɪŋ/

-ing form of “waltz” — dance a waltz

From this reading “Her voice was like rose-fragrance waltzing in the wind.”

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.

three times noun + noun

by a factor of three

In this reading “Following the author’s intent, this e-text preserves the original’s spelling and stylistic features, including extra spacing between words (created using the U+2003 EM SPACE character ( ) three times in a row)”

in Hell preposition + noun

In this reading “Kora in Hell The Four Seas Press Boston, Mass., U. S. A.”

All words in this reading · 59

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.

2003

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

From this reading Following the author’s intent, this e-text preserves the original’s spelling and stylistic features, including extra spacing between words (created using the U+2003 EM SPACE character ( ) three times in a row)

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading Following the author’s intent, this e-text preserves the original’s spelling and stylistic features, including extra spacing between words (created using the U+2003 EM SPACE character ( ) three times in a row)

AlnounUS /æl/

a silvery ductile metallic element found primarily in bauxite

From this reading The Tempers Al Que Quiere!

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Following the author’s intent, this e-text preserves the original’s spelling and stylistic features, including extra spacing between words (created using the U+2003 EM SPACE character ( ) three times in a row)

author'snounUS /ˈɔːθərz/

possessive form of “author” — writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading Following the author’s intent, this e-text preserves the original’s spelling and stylistic features, including extra spacing between words (created using the U+2003 EM SPACE character ( ) three times in a row)

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading Following the author’s intent, this e-text preserves the original’s spelling and stylistic features, including extra spacing between words (created using the U+2003 EM SPACE character ( ) three times in a row)

BostonnounUS /ˈbɑːstən/

state capital and largest city of Massachusetts; a major center for banking and financial services

From this reading Kora in Hell The Four Seas Press Boston, Mass., U. S. A.

characternounUS /ˈkerɪktər/

an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)

From this reading Following the author’s intent, this e-text preserves the original’s spelling and stylistic features, including extra spacing between words (created using the U+2003 EM SPACE character ( ) three times in a row)

colorsnounUS /ˈkʌlərz/

a flag that shows its nationality

From this reading She seemed a shadow, stained with shadow colors, Swimming through waves of sunlight.…

createdverbUS /kriˈeɪtəd/

past form of “create” — make or cause to be or to become

From this reading Following the author’s intent, this e-text preserves the original’s spelling and stylistic features, including extra spacing between words (created using the U+2003 EM SPACE character ( ) three times in a row)

e-text

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

From this reading Following the author’s intent, this e-text preserves the original’s spelling and stylistic features, including extra spacing between words (created using the U+2003 EM SPACE character ( ) three times in a row)

EMnounUS /em/

a quad with a square body

From this reading Following the author’s intent, this e-text preserves the original’s spelling and stylistic features, including extra spacing between words (created using the U+2003 EM SPACE character ( ) three times in a row)

extraadjectiveUS /ˈekstrə/

more than is needed, desired, or required

From this reading Following the author’s intent, this e-text preserves the original’s spelling and stylistic features, including extra spacing between words (created using the U+2003 EM SPACE character ( ) three times in a row)

featuresnounUS /ˈfiːtʃərz/

plural of “feature” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something

From this reading Following the author’s intent, this e-text preserves the original’s spelling and stylistic features, including extra spacing between words (created using the U+2003 EM SPACE character ( ) three times in a row)

FollowingadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːloʊɪŋ/

about to be mentioned or specified

From this reading Following the author’s intent, this e-text preserves the original’s spelling and stylistic features, including extra spacing between words (created using the U+2003 EM SPACE character ( ) three times in a row)

FournounUS /fɔːr/

the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

From this reading Kora in Hell The Four Seas Press Boston, Mass., U. S. A.

HellnounUS /hel/

any place of pain and turmoil

From this reading Kora in Hell The Four Seas Press Boston, Mass., U. S. A.

HerdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Her voice was like rose-fragrance waltzing in the wind.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Following the author’s intent, this e-text preserves the original’s spelling and stylistic features, including extra spacing between words (created using the U+2003 EM SPACE character ( ) three times in a row)

includingverbUS /ˌɪnˈkluːdɪŋ/

-ing form of “include” — have as a part, be made up out of

From this reading Following the author’s intent, this e-text preserves the original’s spelling and stylistic features, including extra spacing between words (created using the U+2003 EM SPACE character ( ) three times in a row)

intentnounUS /ˌɪnˈtent/

an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions

From this reading Following the author’s intent, this e-text preserves the original’s spelling and stylistic features, including extra spacing between words (created using the U+2003 EM SPACE character ( ) three times in a row)

Kora

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

From this reading Kora in Hell The Four Seas Press Boston, Mass., U. S. A.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Her voice was like rose-fragrance waltzing in the wind.

MassnounUS /mæs/

the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field

From this reading Kora in Hell The Four Seas Press Boston, Mass., U. S. A.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading She seemed a shadow, stained with shadow colors, Swimming through waves of sunlight.…

original's

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

From this reading Following the author’s intent, this e-text preserves the original’s spelling and stylistic features, including extra spacing between words (created using the U+2003 EM SPACE character ( ) three times in a row)

preservesnounUS /prəˈzɜːrvz/

fruit preserved by cooking with sugar

From this reading Following the author’s intent, this e-text preserves the original’s spelling and stylistic features, including extra spacing between words (created using the U+2003 EM SPACE character ( ) three times in a row)

PressverbUS /pres/

exert pressure or force to or upon

From this reading Kora in Hell The Four Seas Press Boston, Mass., U. S. A.

Que

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

From this reading The Tempers Al Que Quiere!

Quiere

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

From this reading The Tempers Al Que Quiere!

rose-fragrance

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

From this reading Her voice was like rose-fragrance waltzing in the wind.

rownounUS /roʊ/

an arrangement of objects or people side by side in a line

From this reading Following the author’s intent, this e-text preserves the original’s spelling and stylistic features, including extra spacing between words (created using the U+2003 EM SPACE character ( ) three times in a row)

SnounUS /es/

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading Kora in Hell The Four Seas Press Boston, Mass., U. S. A.

SeasnounUS /siːz/

plural of “sea” — a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land

From this reading Kora in Hell The Four Seas Press Boston, Mass., U. S. A.

seemedverbUS /siːmd/

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading She seemed a shadow, stained with shadow colors, Swimming through waves of sunlight.…

shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/

A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

From this reading She seemed a shadow, stained with shadow colors, Swimming through waves of sunlight.…

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She seemed a shadow, stained with shadow colors, Swimming through waves of sunlight.…

SPACEnounUS /speɪs/

the unlimited expanse in which everything is located

From this reading Following the author’s intent, this e-text preserves the original’s spelling and stylistic features, including extra spacing between words (created using the U+2003 EM SPACE character ( ) three times in a row)

spacingnounUS /ˈspeɪsɪŋ/

the time between occurrences of a repeating event

From this reading Following the author’s intent, this e-text preserves the original’s spelling and stylistic features, including extra spacing between words (created using the U+2003 EM SPACE character ( ) three times in a row)

spellingnounUS /ˈspelɪŋ/

forming words with letters according to the principles underlying accepted usage

From this reading Following the author’s intent, this e-text preserves the original’s spelling and stylistic features, including extra spacing between words (created using the U+2003 EM SPACE character ( ) three times in a row)

stainedadjectiveUS /steɪnd/

marked or dyed or discolored with foreign matter

From this reading She seemed a shadow, stained with shadow colors, Swimming through waves of sunlight.…

stylisticadjectiveUS /staɪˈlɪstɪk/

of or relating to style (especially in the use of language)

From this reading Following the author’s intent, this e-text preserves the original’s spelling and stylistic features, including extra spacing between words (created using the U+2003 EM SPACE character ( ) three times in a row)

sunlightnounUS /ˈsʌnlaɪt/

the rays of the sun

From this reading She seemed a shadow, stained with shadow colors, Swimming through waves of sunlight.…

SwimmingnounUS /ˈswɪmɪŋ/

the act of swimming

From this reading She seemed a shadow, stained with shadow colors, Swimming through waves of sunlight.…

TempersnounUS /ˈtempərz/

plural of “temper” — a sudden outburst of anger

From this reading The Tempers Al Que Quiere!

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Following the author’s intent, this e-text preserves the original’s spelling and stylistic features, including extra spacing between words (created using the U+2003 EM SPACE character ( ) three times in a row)

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Following the author’s intent, this e-text preserves the original’s spelling and stylistic features, including extra spacing between words (created using the U+2003 EM SPACE character ( ) three times in a row)

threenounUS /θriː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading Following the author’s intent, this e-text preserves the original’s spelling and stylistic features, including extra spacing between words (created using the U+2003 EM SPACE character ( ) three times in a row)

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading She seemed a shadow, stained with shadow colors, Swimming through waves of sunlight.…

timesnounUS /taɪmz/

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading Following the author’s intent, this e-text preserves the original’s spelling and stylistic features, including extra spacing between words (created using the U+2003 EM SPACE character ( ) three times in a row)

UnounUS /juː/

a base containing nitrogen that is found in RNA (but not in DNA) and derived from pyrimidine; pairs with adenine

From this reading Following the author’s intent, this e-text preserves the original’s spelling and stylistic features, including extra spacing between words (created using the U+2003 EM SPACE character ( ) three times in a row)

usingnounUS /ˈjuːzɪŋ/

an act that exploits or victimizes someone (treats them unfairly)

From this reading Following the author’s intent, this e-text preserves the original’s spelling and stylistic features, including extra spacing between words (created using the U+2003 EM SPACE character ( ) three times in a row)

voicenounUS /vɔɪs/

the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading Her voice was like rose-fragrance waltzing in the wind.

waltzingverbUS /ˈwɔːltsɪŋ/

-ing form of “waltz” — dance a waltz

From this reading Her voice was like rose-fragrance waltzing in the wind.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Her voice was like rose-fragrance waltzing in the wind.

wavesnounUS /weɪvz/

plural of “wave” — one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)

From this reading She seemed a shadow, stained with shadow colors, Swimming through waves of sunlight.…

windnounUS /waɪnd/

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading Her voice was like rose-fragrance waltzing in the wind.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading She seemed a shadow, stained with shadow colors, Swimming through waves of sunlight.…

wordsnounUS /wɜːrdz/

the words that are spoken

From this reading Following the author’s intent, this e-text preserves the original’s spelling and stylistic features, including extra spacing between words (created using the U+2003 EM SPACE character ( ) three times in a row)

Chapter 1 of Kora in Hell: Improvisations by William Carlos Williams holds 460 sentences, grouped into 92 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 Kora in Hell: Improvisations contain?

Chapter 1 holds 460 sentences of Kora in Hell: Improvisations, unabridged, divided into 92 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Kora in Hell: Improvisations by William Carlos Williams exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 460 sentences, grouped into 92 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 Kora in Hell: Improvisations?

Work through the 92 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 92 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 Kora in Hell: Improvisations

Common questions about reading Kora in Hell: Improvisations by William Carlos Williams on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Kora in Hell: Improvisations?

Yes. All 1358 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #56681 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Kora in Hell: Improvisations is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #56681, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Kora in Hell: Improvisations take to read?

About 113 minutes of reading across 272 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Kora in Hell: Improvisations section by section

How to work through Kora in Hell: Improvisations section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 3 chapters of Kora in Hell: Improvisations 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 Kora in Hell: Improvisations

Words and structures a reader meets early in Kora in Hell: Improvisations, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Following
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Kora in Hell: Improvisations; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Kora in Hell: Improvisations; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Intent
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Kora in Hell: Improvisations; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
E-text
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Kora in Hell: Improvisations; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.