Chapter 1 of The Diary of an Ennuyée is here in full — 388 sentences across 78 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
Chapter 1 of The Diary of an Ennuyée is here in full — 388 sentences across 78 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
AN ENNUYEE. _A NEW EDITION_. AUTHOR OF "VISITS AND SKETCHES AT HOME AND ABROAD," ETC. ETC. Sad, solemn, soure, and full of fancies fraile, She woxe: yet wist she neither how nor why: She wist not, silly Mayd, what she did aile, Yet wist she was not well at ease, perdie; Yet thought it was not Love, but some Melancholie.
Chapter 1 of The Diary of an Ennuyée is here in full — 388 sentences across 78 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/77 · 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.
to or in a foreign country
From this reading “AUTHOR OF "VISITS AND SKETCHES AT HOME AND ABROAD," ETC.”
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading “AUTHOR OF "VISITS AND SKETCHES AT HOME AND ABROAD," ETC.”
the form in which a text (especially a printed book) is published
plural of “fancy” — something many people believe that is false
From this reading “Sad, solemn, soure, and full of fancies fraile, She woxe: yet wist she neither how nor why: She wist not, silly Mayd, what she did aile, Yet wist she was not well at ease, perdie; Yet thought it was not Love, but some Melancholie.”
ludicrous, foolish
From this reading “Sad, solemn, soure, and full of fancies fraile, She woxe: yet wist she neither how nor why: She wist not, silly Mayd, what she did aile, Yet wist she was not well at ease, perdie; Yet thought it was not Love, but some Melancholie.”
plural of “sketch” — preliminary drawing for later elaboration
From this reading “AUTHOR OF "VISITS AND SKETCHES AT HOME AND ABROAD," ETC.”
dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises
From this reading “Sad, solemn, soure, and full of fancies fraile, She woxe: yet wist she neither how nor why: She wist not, silly Mayd, what she did aile, Yet wist she was not well at ease, perdie; Yet thought it was not Love, but some Melancholie.”
plural of “visit” — the act of going to see some person or place or thing for a short time
From this reading “AUTHOR OF "VISITS AND SKETCHES AT HOME AND ABROAD," ETC.”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading _A NEW EDITION_.
to or in a foreign country
From this reading AUTHOR OF "VISITS AND SKETCHES AT HOME AND ABROAD," ETC.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sad, solemn, soure, and full of fancies fraile, She woxe: yet wist she neither how nor why: She wist not, silly Mayd, what she did aile, Yet wist she was not well at ease, perdie; Yet thought it was not Love, but some Melancholie.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN ENNUYEE.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AUTHOR OF "VISITS AND SKETCHES AT HOME AND ABROAD," ETC.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading AUTHOR OF "VISITS AND SKETCHES AT HOME AND ABROAD," ETC.
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading AUTHOR OF "VISITS AND SKETCHES AT HOME AND ABROAD," ETC.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Sad, solemn, soure, and full of fancies fraile, She woxe: yet wist she neither how nor why: She wist not, silly Mayd, what she did aile, Yet wist she was not well at ease, perdie; Yet thought it was not Love, but some Melancholie.
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Sad, solemn, soure, and full of fancies fraile, She woxe: yet wist she neither how nor why: She wist not, silly Mayd, what she did aile, Yet wist she was not well at ease, perdie; Yet thought it was not Love, but some Melancholie.
move gently or carefully
From this reading Sad, solemn, soure, and full of fancies fraile, She woxe: yet wist she neither how nor why: She wist not, silly Mayd, what she did aile, Yet wist she was not well at ease, perdie; Yet thought it was not Love, but some Melancholie.
the form in which a text (especially a printed book) is published
From this reading _A NEW EDITION_.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN ENNUYEE.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AUTHOR OF "VISITS AND SKETCHES AT HOME AND ABROAD," ETC.
plural of “fancy” — something many people believe that is false
From this reading Sad, solemn, soure, and full of fancies fraile, She woxe: yet wist she neither how nor why: She wist not, silly Mayd, what she did aile, Yet wist she was not well at ease, perdie; Yet thought it was not Love, but some Melancholie.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sad, solemn, soure, and full of fancies fraile, She woxe: yet wist she neither how nor why: She wist not, silly Mayd, what she did aile, Yet wist she was not well at ease, perdie; Yet thought it was not Love, but some Melancholie.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading Sad, solemn, soure, and full of fancies fraile, She woxe: yet wist she neither how nor why: She wist not, silly Mayd, what she did aile, Yet wist she was not well at ease, perdie; Yet thought it was not Love, but some Melancholie.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading AUTHOR OF "VISITS AND SKETCHES AT HOME AND ABROAD," ETC.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sad, solemn, soure, and full of fancies fraile, She woxe: yet wist she neither how nor why: She wist not, silly Mayd, what she did aile, Yet wist she was not well at ease, perdie; Yet thought it was not Love, but some Melancholie.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Sad, solemn, soure, and full of fancies fraile, She woxe: yet wist she neither how nor why: She wist not, silly Mayd, what she did aile, Yet wist she was not well at ease, perdie; Yet thought it was not Love, but some Melancholie.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading Sad, solemn, soure, and full of fancies fraile, She woxe: yet wist she neither how nor why: She wist not, silly Mayd, what she did aile, Yet wist she was not well at ease, perdie; Yet thought it was not Love, but some Melancholie.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sad, solemn, soure, and full of fancies fraile, She woxe: yet wist she neither how nor why: She wist not, silly Mayd, what she did aile, Yet wist she was not well at ease, perdie; Yet thought it was not Love, but some Melancholie.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sad, solemn, soure, and full of fancies fraile, She woxe: yet wist she neither how nor why: She wist not, silly Mayd, what she did aile, Yet wist she was not well at ease, perdie; Yet thought it was not Love, but some Melancholie.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading Sad, solemn, soure, and full of fancies fraile, She woxe: yet wist she neither how nor why: She wist not, silly Mayd, what she did aile, Yet wist she was not well at ease, perdie; Yet thought it was not Love, but some Melancholie.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading _A NEW EDITION_.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Sad, solemn, soure, and full of fancies fraile, She woxe: yet wist she neither how nor why: She wist not, silly Mayd, what she did aile, Yet wist she was not well at ease, perdie; Yet thought it was not Love, but some Melancholie.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Sad, solemn, soure, and full of fancies fraile, She woxe: yet wist she neither how nor why: She wist not, silly Mayd, what she did aile, Yet wist she was not well at ease, perdie; Yet thought it was not Love, but some Melancholie.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AUTHOR OF "VISITS AND SKETCHES AT HOME AND ABROAD," ETC.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sad, solemn, soure, and full of fancies fraile, She woxe: yet wist she neither how nor why: She wist not, silly Mayd, what she did aile, Yet wist she was not well at ease, perdie; Yet thought it was not Love, but some Melancholie.
experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness
From this reading Sad, solemn, soure, and full of fancies fraile, She woxe: yet wist she neither how nor why: She wist not, silly Mayd, what she did aile, Yet wist she was not well at ease, perdie; Yet thought it was not Love, but some Melancholie.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Sad, solemn, soure, and full of fancies fraile, She woxe: yet wist she neither how nor why: She wist not, silly Mayd, what she did aile, Yet wist she was not well at ease, perdie; Yet thought it was not Love, but some Melancholie.
ludicrous, foolish
From this reading Sad, solemn, soure, and full of fancies fraile, She woxe: yet wist she neither how nor why: She wist not, silly Mayd, what she did aile, Yet wist she was not well at ease, perdie; Yet thought it was not Love, but some Melancholie.
plural of “sketch” — preliminary drawing for later elaboration
From this reading AUTHOR OF "VISITS AND SKETCHES AT HOME AND ABROAD," ETC.
dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises
From this reading Sad, solemn, soure, and full of fancies fraile, She woxe: yet wist she neither how nor why: She wist not, silly Mayd, what she did aile, Yet wist she was not well at ease, perdie; Yet thought it was not Love, but some Melancholie.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Sad, solemn, soure, and full of fancies fraile, She woxe: yet wist she neither how nor why: She wist not, silly Mayd, what she did aile, Yet wist she was not well at ease, perdie; Yet thought it was not Love, but some Melancholie.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sad, solemn, soure, and full of fancies fraile, She woxe: yet wist she neither how nor why: She wist not, silly Mayd, what she did aile, Yet wist she was not well at ease, perdie; Yet thought it was not Love, but some Melancholie.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Sad, solemn, soure, and full of fancies fraile, She woxe: yet wist she neither how nor why: She wist not, silly Mayd, what she did aile, Yet wist she was not well at ease, perdie; Yet thought it was not Love, but some Melancholie.
plural of “visit” — the act of going to see some person or place or thing for a short time
From this reading AUTHOR OF "VISITS AND SKETCHES AT HOME AND ABROAD," ETC.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Sad, solemn, soure, and full of fancies fraile, She woxe: yet wist she neither how nor why: She wist not, silly Mayd, what she did aile, Yet wist she was not well at ease, perdie; Yet thought it was not Love, but some Melancholie.
(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 Sad, solemn, soure, and full of fancies fraile, She woxe: yet wist she neither how nor why: She wist not, silly Mayd, what she did aile, Yet wist she was not well at ease, perdie; Yet thought it was not Love, but some Melancholie.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Sad, solemn, soure, and full of fancies fraile, She woxe: yet wist she neither how nor why: She wist not, silly Mayd, what she did aile, Yet wist she was not well at ease, perdie; Yet thought it was not Love, but some Melancholie.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Sad, solemn, soure, and full of fancies fraile, She woxe: yet wist she neither how nor why: She wist not, silly Mayd, what she did aile, Yet wist she was not well at ease, perdie; Yet thought it was not Love, but some Melancholie.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sad, solemn, soure, and full of fancies fraile, She woxe: yet wist she neither how nor why: She wist not, silly Mayd, what she did aile, Yet wist she was not well at ease, perdie; Yet thought it was not Love, but some Melancholie.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sad, solemn, soure, and full of fancies fraile, She woxe: yet wist she neither how nor why: She wist not, silly Mayd, what she did aile, Yet wist she was not well at ease, perdie; Yet thought it was not Love, but some Melancholie.
but in spite of that
From this reading Sad, solemn, soure, and full of fancies fraile, She woxe: yet wist she neither how nor why: She wist not, silly Mayd, what she did aile, Yet wist she was not well at ease, perdie; Yet thought it was not Love, but some Melancholie.
Chapter 1 of The Diary of an Ennuyée by Mrs. (Anna) Jameson holds 388 sentences, grouped into 78 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 1 holds 388 sentences of The Diary of an Ennuyée, unabridged, divided into 78 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of The Diary of an Ennuyée by Mrs. (Anna) Jameson exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 388 sentences, grouped into 78 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 78 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 78 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 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.
Common questions about reading The Diary of an Ennuyée by Mrs. (Anna) Jameson on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 2399 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #18049 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #18049, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 199 minutes of reading across 480 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Diary of an Ennuyée section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 6 chapters of The Diary of an Ennuyée 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 The Diary of an Ennuyée, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
