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The Follies of a Day
The Follies of a Day

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of The Follies of a Day is here in full — 463 sentences across 93 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Follies of a Day
Context Illustration Reading 1/92 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Original stage directions were usually in italic and placed in parentheses ( ).
A few inconsistencies--no closing parenthesis, use of [ instead of (, no italic--have been left unchanged.
Stage directions were usually right-aligned with varying indentation on the left, sometimes beginning on the same line as the dialog, sometimes on a new line.
This etext generally puts them on a new right-aligned line(s) with an indentation on the left of 12 spaces.
They have been kept in-line with the dialog when it made sense to do so.
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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 Follies of a Day

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of The Follies of a Day is here in full — 463 sentences across 93 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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

Line 1
Original stage directions were usually in italic and placed in parentheses ( ).
/ərˈɪdʒənəl steɪdʒ dərˈekʃənz wɜːr ˈjuːʒəwəli ɪn aɪˈtælɪk ənd pleɪst ɪn pərˈenθəsiːz/
Line 2
A few inconsistencies--no closing parenthesis, use of [ instead of (, no italic--have been left unchanged.
Line 3
Stage directions were usually right-aligned with varying indentation on the left, sometimes beginning on the same line as the dialog, sometimes on a new line.
Line 4
This etext generally puts them on a new right-aligned line(s) with an indentation on the left of 12 spaces.
Line 5
They have been kept in-line with the dialog when it made sense to do so.

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.

dialog noun US /ˈdaɪəlɔːɡ/

a conversation between two persons

From this reading “Stage directions were usually right-aligned with varying indentation on the left, sometimes beginning on the same line as the dialog, sometimes on a new line.”

inconsistencies noun US /ˌɪŋˈkɑːnsɪstensiz/

plural of “inconsistency” — the relation between propositions that cannot both be true at the same time

From this reading “A few inconsistencies--no closing parenthesis, use of [ instead of (, no italic--have been left unchanged.”

indentation noun US /ˌɪndenˈteɪʃən/

a concave cut into a surface or edge (as in a coastline)

From this reading “Stage directions were usually right-aligned with varying indentation on the left, sometimes beginning on the same line as the dialog, sometimes on a new line.”

italic noun US /aɪˈtælɪk/

a style of handwriting with the letters slanting to the right

From this reading “Original stage directions were usually in italic and placed in parentheses ( ).”

parentheses noun US /pərˈenθəsiːz/

plural of “parenthesis” — either of two punctuation marks (or) used to enclose textual material

From this reading “Original stage directions were usually in italic and placed in parentheses ( ).”

parenthesis noun US /pərˈenθəsɪs/

either of two punctuation marks (or) used to enclose textual material

From this reading “A few inconsistencies--no closing parenthesis, use of [ instead of (, no italic--have been left unchanged.”

unchanged adjective US /ənˈtʃeɪndʒd/

not made or become different

From this reading “A few inconsistencies--no closing parenthesis, use of [ instead of (, no italic--have been left unchanged.”

varying adjective US /ˈveriɪŋ/

marked by diversity or difference

From this reading “Stage directions were usually right-aligned with varying indentation on the left, sometimes beginning on the same line as the dialog, sometimes on a new line.”

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.

stage directions noun + noun counted as “stage direction”

an instruction written as part of the script of a play

In this reading “Original stage directions were usually in italic and placed in parentheses ( ).”

All words in this reading · 55

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.

12

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

From this reading This etext generally puts them on a new right-aligned line(s) with an indentation on the left of 12 spaces.

AdeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading A few inconsistencies--no closing parenthesis, use of [ instead of (, no italic--have been left unchanged.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading This etext generally puts them on a new right-aligned line(s) with an indentation on the left of 12 spaces.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Original stage directions were usually in italic and placed in parentheses ( ).

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Stage directions were usually right-aligned with varying indentation on the left, sometimes beginning on the same line as the dialog, sometimes on a new line.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading A few inconsistencies--no closing parenthesis, use of [ instead of (, no italic--have been left unchanged.

beginningnounUS /bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ/

the event consisting of the start of something

From this reading Stage directions were usually right-aligned with varying indentation on the left, sometimes beginning on the same line as the dialog, sometimes on a new line.

closingnounUS /ˈkloʊzɪŋ/

the act of closing something

From this reading A few inconsistencies--no closing parenthesis, use of [ instead of (, no italic--have been left unchanged.

dialognounUS /ˈdaɪəlɔːɡ/

a conversation between two persons

From this reading Stage directions were usually right-aligned with varying indentation on the left, sometimes beginning on the same line as the dialog, sometimes on a new line.

directionsnounUS /dərˈekʃənz/

plural of “direction” — a line leading to a place or point

From this reading Original stage directions were usually in italic and placed in parentheses ( ).

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading They have been kept in-line with the dialog when it made sense to do so.

etext

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

From this reading This etext generally puts them on a new right-aligned line(s) with an indentation on the left of 12 spaces.

fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading A few inconsistencies--no closing parenthesis, use of [ instead of (, no italic--have been left unchanged.

generallyadverbUS /ˈdʒenərəli/

usually; as a rule

From this reading This etext generally puts them on a new right-aligned line(s) with an indentation on the left of 12 spaces.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading A few inconsistencies--no closing parenthesis, use of [ instead of (, no italic--have been left unchanged.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Original stage directions were usually in italic and placed in parentheses ( ).

in-line

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

From this reading They have been kept in-line with the dialog when it made sense to do so.

inconsistenciesnounUS /ˌɪŋˈkɑːnsɪstensiz/

plural of “inconsistency” — the relation between propositions that cannot both be true at the same time

From this reading A few inconsistencies--no closing parenthesis, use of [ instead of (, no italic--have been left unchanged.

indentationnounUS /ˌɪndenˈteɪʃən/

a concave cut into a surface or edge (as in a coastline)

From this reading Stage directions were usually right-aligned with varying indentation on the left, sometimes beginning on the same line as the dialog, sometimes on a new line.

insteadadverbUS /ˌɪnˈsted/

in place of, or as an alternative to

From this reading A few inconsistencies--no closing parenthesis, use of [ instead of (, no italic--have been left unchanged.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading They have been kept in-line with the dialog when it made sense to do so.

italicnounUS /aɪˈtælɪk/

a style of handwriting with the letters slanting to the right

From this reading Original stage directions were usually in italic and placed in parentheses ( ).

keptadjectiveUS /kept/

(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded

From this reading They have been kept in-line with the dialog when it made sense to do so.

leftnounUS /left/

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading A few inconsistencies--no closing parenthesis, use of [ instead of (, no italic--have been left unchanged.

linenounUS /laɪn/

a formation of people or things one beside another

From this reading Stage directions were usually right-aligned with varying indentation on the left, sometimes beginning on the same line as the dialog, sometimes on a new line.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading They have been kept in-line with the dialog when it made sense to do so.

newadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading Stage directions were usually right-aligned with varying indentation on the left, sometimes beginning on the same line as the dialog, sometimes on a new line.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading A few inconsistencies--no closing parenthesis, use of [ instead of (, no italic--have been left unchanged.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A few inconsistencies--no closing parenthesis, use of [ instead of (, no italic--have been left unchanged.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Stage directions were usually right-aligned with varying indentation on the left, sometimes beginning on the same line as the dialog, sometimes on a new line.

OriginaladjectiveUS /ərˈɪdʒənəl/

preceding all others in time or being as first made or performed

From this reading Original stage directions were usually in italic and placed in parentheses ( ).

parenthesesnounUS /pərˈenθəsiːz/

plural of “parenthesis” — either of two punctuation marks (or) used to enclose textual material

From this reading Original stage directions were usually in italic and placed in parentheses ( ).

parenthesisnounUS /pərˈenθəsɪs/

either of two punctuation marks (or) used to enclose textual material

From this reading A few inconsistencies--no closing parenthesis, use of [ instead of (, no italic--have been left unchanged.

placedadjectiveUS /pleɪst/

situated in a particular spot or position

From this reading Original stage directions were usually in italic and placed in parentheses ( ).

putsnounUS /pʊts/

plural of “put” — the option to sell a given stock (or stock index or commodity future) at a given price before a given date

From this reading This etext generally puts them on a new right-aligned line(s) with an indentation on the left of 12 spaces.

right-aligned

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

From this reading Stage directions were usually right-aligned with varying indentation on the left, sometimes beginning on the same line as the dialog, sometimes on a new line.

snounUS /es/

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

From this reading This etext generally puts them on a new right-aligned line(s) with an indentation on the left of 12 spaces.

sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/

Identical; not different.

From this reading Stage directions were usually right-aligned with varying indentation on the left, sometimes beginning on the same line as the dialog, sometimes on a new line.

sensenounUS /sens/

a general conscious awareness

From this reading They have been kept in-line with the dialog when it made sense to do so.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading They have been kept in-line with the dialog when it made sense to do so.

sometimesadverbUS /səmˈtaɪmz/

on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always

From this reading Stage directions were usually right-aligned with varying indentation on the left, sometimes beginning on the same line as the dialog, sometimes on a new line.

spacesnounUS /ˈspeɪsəz/

plural of “space” — the unlimited expanse in which everything is located

From this reading This etext generally puts them on a new right-aligned line(s) with an indentation on the left of 12 spaces.

stagenounUS /steɪdʒ/

any distinct time period in a sequence of events

From this reading Original stage directions were usually in italic and placed in parentheses ( ).

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Stage directions were usually right-aligned with varying indentation on the left, sometimes beginning on the same line as the dialog, sometimes on a new line.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading This etext generally puts them on a new right-aligned line(s) with an indentation on the left of 12 spaces.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading They have been kept in-line with the dialog when it made sense to do so.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading This etext generally puts them on a new right-aligned line(s) with an indentation on the left of 12 spaces.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading They have been kept in-line with the dialog when it made sense to do so.

unchangedadjectiveUS /ənˈtʃeɪndʒd/

not made or become different

From this reading A few inconsistencies--no closing parenthesis, use of [ instead of (, no italic--have been left unchanged.

usenounUS /juːs/

the act of using

From this reading A few inconsistencies--no closing parenthesis, use of [ instead of (, no italic--have been left unchanged.

usuallyadverbUS /ˈjuːʒəwəli/

under normal conditions

From this reading Original stage directions were usually in italic and placed in parentheses ( ).

varyingadjectiveUS /ˈveriɪŋ/

marked by diversity or difference

From this reading Stage directions were usually right-aligned with varying indentation on the left, sometimes beginning on the same line as the dialog, sometimes on a new line.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Original stage directions were usually in italic and placed in parentheses ( ).

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading They have been kept in-line with the dialog when it made sense to do so.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Stage directions were usually right-aligned with varying indentation on the left, sometimes beginning on the same line as the dialog, sometimes on a new line.

Chapter 1 of The Follies of a Day by Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais holds 463 sentences, grouped into 93 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 The Follies of a Day contain?

Chapter 1 holds 463 sentences of The Follies of a Day, unabridged, divided into 93 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Follies of a Day by Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 463 sentences, grouped into 93 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 The Follies of a Day?

Work through the 93 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 93 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 The Follies of a Day

Common questions about reading The Follies of a Day by Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Follies of a Day?

Yes. All 1850 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #64953 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Follies of a Day is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #64953, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Follies of a Day take to read?

About 154 minutes of reading across 370 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Follies of a Day section by section

How to work through The Follies of a Day section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 4 chapters of The Follies of a Day 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 Follies of a Day

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Follies of a Day, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Original
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Follies of a Day; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Stage
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Follies of a Day; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Directions
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Follies of a Day; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Usually
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Follies of a Day; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.