Chapter 4 of The Merry-Go-Round is here in full — 498 sentences across 100 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter IV
Chapter 4 of The Merry-Go-Round is here in full — 498 sentences across 100 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
"When will you look up the little _Polonaise_?" I asked, as we sipped _Amer Picon_ and stared with fresh interest at each new boot and ankle that passed. Paris in August is like another place in May. "Why don't you come along?" queried Sitgreaves in reply, "and we could go at once.... Oh, I know that you are in no mood for pleasure.
Chapter 4 of The Merry-Go-Round is here in full — 498 sentences across 100 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/99 · 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.
a gliding joint between the distal ends of the tibia and fibula and the proximal end of the talus
From this reading “I asked, as we sipped _Amer Picon_ and stared with fresh interest at each new boot and ankle that passed.”
the month following July and preceding September
From this reading “Paris in August is like another place in May.”
footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg
From this reading “I asked, as we sipped _Amer Picon_ and stared with fresh interest at each new boot and ankle that passed.”
a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading “Oh, I know that you are in no mood for pleasure.”
a woman's dress with a tight bodice and an overskirt drawn back to reveal a colorful underskirt
inflected form of “query” — pose a question
From this reading “"Why don't you come along?" queried Sitgreaves in reply, "and we could go at once....”
inflected form of “sip” — drink in sips
From this reading “I asked, as we sipped _Amer Picon_ and stared with fresh interest at each new boot and ankle that passed.”
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading “I asked, as we sipped _Amer Picon_ and stared with fresh interest at each new boot and ankle that passed.”
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.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
In this reading “"Why don't you come along?" queried Sitgreaves in reply, "and we could go at once....”
come into being or existence, or appear on the scene
In this reading “"Why don't you come along?" queried Sitgreaves in reply, "and we could go at once....”
seek information from
In this reading “"When will you look up the little _Polonaise_?"”
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.
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading "Why don't you come along?" queried Sitgreaves in reply, "and we could go at once....
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I asked, as we sipped _Amer Picon_ and stared with fresh interest at each new boot and ankle that passed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I asked, as we sipped _Amer Picon_ and stared with fresh interest at each new boot and ankle that passed.
a gliding joint between the distal ends of the tibia and fibula and the proximal end of the talus
From this reading I asked, as we sipped _Amer Picon_ and stared with fresh interest at each new boot and ankle that passed.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Paris in August is like another place in May.
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Oh, I know that you are in no mood for pleasure.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I asked, as we sipped _Amer Picon_ and stared with fresh interest at each new boot and ankle that passed.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading I asked, as we sipped _Amer Picon_ and stared with fresh interest at each new boot and ankle that passed.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I asked, as we sipped _Amer Picon_ and stared with fresh interest at each new boot and ankle that passed.
the month following July and preceding September
From this reading Paris in August is like another place in May.
footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg
From this reading I asked, as we sipped _Amer Picon_ and stared with fresh interest at each new boot and ankle that passed.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "Why don't you come along?" queried Sitgreaves in reply, "and we could go at once....
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "Why don't you come along?" queried Sitgreaves in reply, "and we could go at once....
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why don't you come along?" queried Sitgreaves in reply, "and we could go at once....
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading I asked, as we sipped _Amer Picon_ and stared with fresh interest at each new boot and ankle that passed.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Oh, I know that you are in no mood for pleasure.
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading I asked, as we sipped _Amer Picon_ and stared with fresh interest at each new boot and ankle that passed.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "Why don't you come along?" queried Sitgreaves in reply, "and we could go at once....
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I asked, as we sipped _Amer Picon_ and stared with fresh interest at each new boot and ankle that passed.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Paris in August is like another place in May.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading I asked, as we sipped _Amer Picon_ and stared with fresh interest at each new boot and ankle that passed.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Paris in August is like another place in May.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Oh, I know that you are in no mood for pleasure.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Paris in August is like another place in May.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "When will you look up the little _Polonaise_?"
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading "When will you look up the little _Polonaise_?"
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Paris in August is like another place in May.
a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading Oh, I know that you are in no mood for pleasure.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading I asked, as we sipped _Amer Picon_ and stared with fresh interest at each new boot and ankle that passed.
not any; not one
From this reading Oh, I know that you are in no mood for pleasure.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading Oh, I know that you are in no mood for pleasure.
on one occasion
From this reading "Why don't you come along?" queried Sitgreaves in reply, "and we could go at once....
the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce
From this reading Paris in August is like another place in May.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading I asked, as we sipped _Amer Picon_ and stared with fresh interest at each new boot and ankle that passed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I asked, as we sipped _Amer Picon_ and stared with fresh interest at each new boot and ankle that passed.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Paris in August is like another place in May.
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading Oh, I know that you are in no mood for pleasure.
a woman's dress with a tight bodice and an overskirt drawn back to reveal a colorful underskirt
From this reading "When will you look up the little _Polonaise_?"
inflected form of “query” — pose a question
From this reading "Why don't you come along?" queried Sitgreaves in reply, "and we could go at once....
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading "Why don't you come along?" queried Sitgreaves in reply, "and we could go at once....
inflected form of “sip” — drink in sips
From this reading I asked, as we sipped _Amer Picon_ and stared with fresh interest at each new boot and ankle that passed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why don't you come along?" queried Sitgreaves in reply, "and we could go at once....
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading I asked, as we sipped _Amer Picon_ and stared with fresh interest at each new boot and ankle that passed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I asked, as we sipped _Amer Picon_ and stared with fresh interest at each new boot and ankle that passed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "When will you look up the little _Polonaise_?"
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "When will you look up the little _Polonaise_?"
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading I asked, as we sipped _Amer Picon_ and stared with fresh interest at each new boot and ankle that passed.
at the time that
From this reading "When will you look up the little _Polonaise_?"
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "Why don't you come along?" queried Sitgreaves in reply, "and we could go at once....
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "When will you look up the little _Polonaise_?"
in the company of; together with
From this reading I asked, as we sipped _Amer Picon_ and stared with fresh interest at each new boot and ankle that passed.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "When will you look up the little _Polonaise_?"
Chapter 4 of The Merry-Go-Round by Carl Van Vechten holds 498 sentences, grouped into 100 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 498 sentences of The Merry-Go-Round, unabridged, divided into 100 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 4 of The Merry-Go-Round by Carl Van Vechten exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 498 sentences, grouped into 100 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 100 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 100 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 The Merry-Go-Round by Carl Van Vechten on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 2747 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #26320 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #26320, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 228 minutes of reading across 550 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Merry-Go-Round section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 6 chapters of The Merry-Go-Round 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 Merry-Go-Round, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
