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The Diary of a Nobody
The Diary of a Nobody

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of The Diary of a Nobody is here in full — 102 sentences across 21 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By George Grossmith • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for The Diary of a Nobody
Context Illustration Reading 1/20 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The ball at the Mansion House.
APRIL 30.—Perfectly astounded at receiving an invitation for Carrie and myself from the Lord and Lady Mayoress to the Mansion House, to “meet the Representatives of Trades and Commerce.”
My heart beat like that of a schoolboy’s.
Carrie and I read the invitation over two or three times.
I could scarcely eat my breakfast.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Diary of a Nobody

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of The Diary of a Nobody is here in full — 102 sentences across 21 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/20 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The ball at the Mansion House.
/ðə bɔːl æt ðə ˈmænʃən haʊs/
Line 2
APRIL 30.—Perfectly astounded at receiving an invitation for Carrie and myself from the Lord and Lady Mayoress to the Mansion House, to “meet the Representatives of Trades and Commerce.”
Line 3
My heart beat like that of a schoolboy’s.
Line 4
Carrie and I read the invitation over two or three times.
Line 5
I could scarcely eat my breakfast.
/aɪ kʊd ˈskersli iːt maɪ ˈbrekfəst/

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.

april noun US /ˈeɪprəl/

the month following March and preceding May

From this reading “APRIL 30.—Perfectly astounded at receiving an invitation for Carrie and myself from the Lord and Lady Mayoress to the Mansion House, to “meet the Representatives of Trades and Commerce.””

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
astounded adjective US /əˈstaʊndɪd/

filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock

From this reading “APRIL 30.—Perfectly astounded at receiving an invitation for Carrie and myself from the Lord and Lady Mayoress to the Mansion House, to “meet the Representatives of Trades and Commerce.””

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Commerce noun US /ˈkɑːmərs/

transactions (sales and purchases) having the objective of supplying commodities (goods and services)

From this reading “APRIL 30.—Perfectly astounded at receiving an invitation for Carrie and myself from the Lord and Lady Mayoress to the Mansion House, to “meet the Representatives of Trades and Commerce.””

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
invitation noun US /ˌɪnvɪˈteɪʃən/

a request (spoken or written) to participate or be present or take part in something

From this reading “APRIL 30.—Perfectly astounded at receiving an invitation for Carrie and myself from the Lord and Lady Mayoress to the Mansion House, to “meet the Representatives of Trades and Commerce.””

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Mansion noun US /ˈmænʃən/

(astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided

From this reading “The ball at the Mansion House.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
receiving verb US /rəˈsiːvɪŋ/

-ing form of “receive” — get something; come into possession of

From this reading “APRIL 30.—Perfectly astounded at receiving an invitation for Carrie and myself from the Lord and Lady Mayoress to the Mansion House, to “meet the Representatives of Trades and Commerce.””

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Representatives noun US /ˌreprəˈzentətɪvz/

plural of “representative” — a person who represents others

From this reading “APRIL 30.—Perfectly astounded at receiving an invitation for Carrie and myself from the Lord and Lady Mayoress to the Mansion House, to “meet the Representatives of Trades and Commerce.””

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Trades noun US /treɪdz/

plural of “trade” — the commercial exchange (buying and selling on domestic or international markets) of goods and services

From this reading “APRIL 30.—Perfectly astounded at receiving an invitation for Carrie and myself from the Lord and Lady Mayoress to the Mansion House, to “meet the Representatives of Trades and Commerce.””

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

All words in this reading · 44

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.

30

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

From this reading APRIL 30.—Perfectly astounded at receiving an invitation for Carrie and myself from the Lord and Lady Mayoress to the Mansion House, to “meet the Representatives of Trades and Commerce.”

Pending verification
adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading My heart beat like that of a schoolboy’s.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading APRIL 30.—Perfectly astounded at receiving an invitation for Carrie and myself from the Lord and Lady Mayoress to the Mansion House, to “meet the Representatives of Trades and Commerce.”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading APRIL 30.—Perfectly astounded at receiving an invitation for Carrie and myself from the Lord and Lady Mayoress to the Mansion House, to “meet the Representatives of Trades and Commerce.”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
APRILnounUS /ˈeɪprəl/

the month following March and preceding May

From this reading APRIL 30.—Perfectly astounded at receiving an invitation for Carrie and myself from the Lord and Lady Mayoress to the Mansion House, to “meet the Representatives of Trades and Commerce.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
astoundedadjectiveUS /əˈstaʊndɪd/

filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock

From this reading APRIL 30.—Perfectly astounded at receiving an invitation for Carrie and myself from the Lord and Lady Mayoress to the Mansion House, to “meet the Representatives of Trades and Commerce.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The ball at the Mansion House.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ballnounUS /bɔːl/

round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games

From this reading The ball at the Mansion House.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
beatverbUS /biːt/

come out better in a competition, race, or conflict

From this reading My heart beat like that of a schoolboy’s.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
breakfastverbUS /ˈbrekfəst/

eat an early morning meal

From this reading I could scarcely eat my breakfast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Carrie

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

From this reading APRIL 30.—Perfectly astounded at receiving an invitation for Carrie and myself from the Lord and Lady Mayoress to the Mansion House, to “meet the Representatives of Trades and Commerce.”

Pending verification
CommercenounUS /ˈkɑːmərs/

transactions (sales and purchases) having the objective of supplying commodities (goods and services)

From this reading APRIL 30.—Perfectly astounded at receiving an invitation for Carrie and myself from the Lord and Lady Mayoress to the Mansion House, to “meet the Representatives of Trades and Commerce.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading I could scarcely eat my breakfast.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
eatverbUS /iːt/

take in solid food

From this reading I could scarcely eat my breakfast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading APRIL 30.—Perfectly astounded at receiving an invitation for Carrie and myself from the Lord and Lady Mayoress to the Mansion House, to “meet the Representatives of Trades and Commerce.”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading APRIL 30.—Perfectly astounded at receiving an invitation for Carrie and myself from the Lord and Lady Mayoress to the Mansion House, to “meet the Representatives of Trades and Commerce.”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
heartnounUS /hɑːrt/

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading My heart beat like that of a schoolboy’s.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
HousenounUS /haʊs/

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading The ball at the Mansion House.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Carrie and I read the invitation over two or three times.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
invitationnounUS /ˌɪnvɪˈteɪʃən/

a request (spoken or written) to participate or be present or take part in something

From this reading APRIL 30.—Perfectly astounded at receiving an invitation for Carrie and myself from the Lord and Lady Mayoress to the Mansion House, to “meet the Representatives of Trades and Commerce.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
LadynounUS /ˈleɪdi/

a polite name for any woman

From this reading APRIL 30.—Perfectly astounded at receiving an invitation for Carrie and myself from the Lord and Lady Mayoress to the Mansion House, to “meet the Representatives of Trades and Commerce.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading My heart beat like that of a schoolboy’s.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
LordnounUS /lɔːrd/

terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God

From this reading APRIL 30.—Perfectly astounded at receiving an invitation for Carrie and myself from the Lord and Lady Mayoress to the Mansion House, to “meet the Representatives of Trades and Commerce.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MansionnounUS /ˈmænʃən/

(astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided

From this reading The ball at the Mansion House.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Mayoressnoun

the wife of a mayor

From this reading APRIL 30.—Perfectly astounded at receiving an invitation for Carrie and myself from the Lord and Lady Mayoress to the Mansion House, to “meet the Representatives of Trades and Commerce.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
meetverbUS /miːt/

come together

From this reading APRIL 30.—Perfectly astounded at receiving an invitation for Carrie and myself from the Lord and Lady Mayoress to the Mansion House, to “meet the Representatives of Trades and Commerce.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading My heart beat like that of a schoolboy’s.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading APRIL 30.—Perfectly astounded at receiving an invitation for Carrie and myself from the Lord and Lady Mayoress to the Mansion House, to “meet the Representatives of Trades and Commerce.”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading APRIL 30.—Perfectly astounded at receiving an invitation for Carrie and myself from the Lord and Lady Mayoress to the Mansion House, to “meet the Representatives of Trades and Commerce.”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Carrie and I read the invitation over two or three times.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Carrie and I read the invitation over two or three times.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
PerfectlyadverbUS /ˈpɜːrfəktli/

completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers

From this reading APRIL 30.—Perfectly astounded at receiving an invitation for Carrie and myself from the Lord and Lady Mayoress to the Mansion House, to “meet the Representatives of Trades and Commerce.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
readverbUS /red/

interpret something that is written or printed

From this reading Carrie and I read the invitation over two or three times.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
receivingverbUS /rəˈsiːvɪŋ/

-ing form of “receive” — get something; come into possession of

From this reading APRIL 30.—Perfectly astounded at receiving an invitation for Carrie and myself from the Lord and Lady Mayoress to the Mansion House, to “meet the Representatives of Trades and Commerce.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
RepresentativesnounUS /ˌreprəˈzentətɪvz/

plural of “representative” — a person who represents others

From this reading APRIL 30.—Perfectly astounded at receiving an invitation for Carrie and myself from the Lord and Lady Mayoress to the Mansion House, to “meet the Representatives of Trades and Commerce.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
scarcelyadverbUS /ˈskersli/

only a very short time before

From this reading I could scarcely eat my breakfast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
schoolboy's

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

From this reading My heart beat like that of a schoolboy’s.

Pending verification
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading My heart beat like that of a schoolboy’s.

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 The ball at the Mansion House.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
threenounUS /θriː/

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

From this reading Carrie and I read the invitation over two or three times.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
timesnounUS /taɪmz/

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

From this reading Carrie and I read the invitation over two or three times.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading APRIL 30.—Perfectly astounded at receiving an invitation for Carrie and myself from the Lord and Lady Mayoress to the Mansion House, to “meet the Representatives of Trades and Commerce.”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
TradesnounUS /treɪdz/

plural of “trade” — the commercial exchange (buying and selling on domestic or international markets) of goods and services

From this reading APRIL 30.—Perfectly astounded at receiving an invitation for Carrie and myself from the Lord and Lady Mayoress to the Mansion House, to “meet the Representatives of Trades and Commerce.”

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 Carrie and I read the invitation over two or three times.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Chapter 4 of The Diary of a Nobody by George Grossmith holds 102 sentences, grouped into 21 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 4 of The Diary of a Nobody contain?

Chapter 4 holds 102 sentences of The Diary of a Nobody, unabridged, divided into 21 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of The Diary of a Nobody by George Grossmith exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 102 sentences, grouped into 21 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 4 of The Diary of a Nobody?

Work through the 21 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 21 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 4 be read aloud to me?

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.

Questions about reading The Diary of a Nobody

Common questions about reading The Diary of a Nobody by George Grossmith on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Diary of a Nobody?

Yes. All 2463 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #1026 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Diary of a Nobody is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #1026, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Diary of a Nobody take to read?

About 205 minutes of reading across 493 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Diary of a Nobody section by section

How to work through The Diary of a Nobody section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 23 chapters of The Diary of a Nobody 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 The Diary of a Nobody

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Diary of a Nobody, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Settle
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Diary of a Nobody; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Resolve
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Diary of a Nobody; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Diary
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Diary of a Nobody; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Tradesmen
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Diary of a Nobody; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.