Chapter 4 of The Seven Conundrums is here in full — 432 sentences across 87 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter IV
Chapter 4 of The Seven Conundrums is here in full — 432 sentences across 87 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
"I fear," the Baroness confided, "that my apartment resembles too much a restaurant. Still, what can one do? My friends love dancing informally, the men love their supper, and this huge apartment, which was built for a music room, would be wasted if I used it in any other fashion. We have a custom here which always prevails. Supper is served at 12.30.
Chapter 4 of The Seven Conundrums is here in full — 432 sentences across 87 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/86 · 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 noblewoman who holds the rank of baron or who is the wife or widow of a baron
From this reading “"I fear," the Baroness confided, "that my apartment resembles too much a restaurant.”
past form of “confide” — reveal in private; tell confidentially
From this reading “"I fear," the Baroness confided, "that my apartment resembles too much a restaurant.”
accepted or habitual practice
From this reading “We have a custom here which always prevails.”
without formality
From this reading “My friends love dancing informally, the men love their supper, and this huge apartment, which was built for a music room, would be wasted if I used it in any other fashion.”
third-person singular of “prevail” — be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance
From this reading “We have a custom here which always prevails.”
third-person singular of “resemble” — appear like; be similar or bear a likeness to
From this reading “"I fear," the Baroness confided, "that my apartment resembles too much a restaurant.”
a building where people go to eat
From this reading “"I fear," the Baroness confided, "that my apartment resembles too much a restaurant.”
serving no useful purpose; having no excuse for being
From this reading “My friends love dancing informally, the men love their supper, and this huge apartment, which was built for a music room, would be wasted if I used it in any other fashion.”
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.
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Supper is served at 12.30.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "I fear," the Baroness confided, "that my apartment resembles too much a restaurant.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading We have a custom here which always prevails.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading My friends love dancing informally, the men love their supper, and this huge apartment, which was built for a music room, would be wasted if I used it in any other fashion.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading My friends love dancing informally, the men love their supper, and this huge apartment, which was built for a music room, would be wasted if I used it in any other fashion.
a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house
From this reading "I fear," the Baroness confided, "that my apartment resembles too much a restaurant.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Supper is served at 12.30.
a noblewoman who holds the rank of baron or who is the wife or widow of a baron
From this reading "I fear," the Baroness confided, "that my apartment resembles too much a restaurant.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading My friends love dancing informally, the men love their supper, and this huge apartment, which was built for a music room, would be wasted if I used it in any other fashion.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading My friends love dancing informally, the men love their supper, and this huge apartment, which was built for a music room, would be wasted if I used it in any other fashion.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Still, what can one do?
past form of “confide” — reveal in private; tell confidentially
From this reading "I fear," the Baroness confided, "that my apartment resembles too much a restaurant.
accepted or habitual practice
From this reading We have a custom here which always prevails.
taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music
From this reading My friends love dancing informally, the men love their supper, and this huge apartment, which was built for a music room, would be wasted if I used it in any other fashion.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Still, what can one do?
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading My friends love dancing informally, the men love their supper, and this huge apartment, which was built for a music room, would be wasted if I used it in any other fashion.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading "I fear," the Baroness confided, "that my apartment resembles too much a restaurant.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading My friends love dancing informally, the men love their supper, and this huge apartment, which was built for a music room, would be wasted if I used it in any other fashion.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading My friends love dancing informally, the men love their supper, and this huge apartment, which was built for a music room, would be wasted if I used it in any other fashion.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading We have a custom here which always prevails.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading We have a custom here which always prevails.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading My friends love dancing informally, the men love their supper, and this huge apartment, which was built for a music room, would be wasted if I used it in any other fashion.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I fear," the Baroness confided, "that my apartment resembles too much a restaurant.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading My friends love dancing informally, the men love their supper, and this huge apartment, which was built for a music room, would be wasted if I used it in any other fashion.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading My friends love dancing informally, the men love their supper, and this huge apartment, which was built for a music room, would be wasted if I used it in any other fashion.
without formality
From this reading My friends love dancing informally, the men love their supper, and this huge apartment, which was built for a music room, would be wasted if I used it in any other fashion.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Supper is served at 12.30.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading My friends love dancing informally, the men love their supper, and this huge apartment, which was built for a music room, would be wasted if I used it in any other fashion.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading My friends love dancing informally, the men love their supper, and this huge apartment, which was built for a music room, would be wasted if I used it in any other fashion.
the force of workers available
From this reading My friends love dancing informally, the men love their supper, and this huge apartment, which was built for a music room, would be wasted if I used it in any other fashion.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading "I fear," the Baroness confided, "that my apartment resembles too much a restaurant.
an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
From this reading My friends love dancing informally, the men love their supper, and this huge apartment, which was built for a music room, would be wasted if I used it in any other fashion.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "I fear," the Baroness confided, "that my apartment resembles too much a restaurant.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Still, what can one do?
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading My friends love dancing informally, the men love their supper, and this huge apartment, which was built for a music room, would be wasted if I used it in any other fashion.
third-person singular of “prevail” — be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance
From this reading We have a custom here which always prevails.
third-person singular of “resemble” — appear like; be similar or bear a likeness to
From this reading "I fear," the Baroness confided, "that my apartment resembles too much a restaurant.
a building where people go to eat
From this reading "I fear," the Baroness confided, "that my apartment resembles too much a restaurant.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading My friends love dancing informally, the men love their supper, and this huge apartment, which was built for a music room, would be wasted if I used it in any other fashion.
past form of “serve” — serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading Supper is served at 12.30.
not in physical motion
From this reading Still, what can one do?
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading My friends love dancing informally, the men love their supper, and this huge apartment, which was built for a music room, would be wasted if I used it in any other fashion.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "I fear," the Baroness confided, "that my apartment resembles too much a restaurant.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "I fear," the Baroness confided, "that my apartment resembles too much a restaurant.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading My friends love dancing informally, the men love their supper, and this huge apartment, which was built for a music room, would be wasted if I used it in any other fashion.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading My friends love dancing informally, the men love their supper, and this huge apartment, which was built for a music room, would be wasted if I used it in any other fashion.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading "I fear," the Baroness confided, "that my apartment resembles too much a restaurant.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading My friends love dancing informally, the men love their supper, and this huge apartment, which was built for a music room, would be wasted if I used it in any other fashion.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading My friends love dancing informally, the men love their supper, and this huge apartment, which was built for a music room, would be wasted if I used it in any other fashion.
serving no useful purpose; having no excuse for being
From this reading My friends love dancing informally, the men love their supper, and this huge apartment, which was built for a music room, would be wasted if I used it in any other fashion.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We have a custom here which always prevails.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Still, what can one do?
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading My friends love dancing informally, the men love their supper, and this huge apartment, which was built for a music room, would be wasted if I used it in any other fashion.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading My friends love dancing informally, the men love their supper, and this huge apartment, which was built for a music room, would be wasted if I used it in any other fashion.
Chapter 4 of The Seven Conundrums by E. Phillips (Edward Phillips) Oppenheim holds 432 sentences, grouped into 87 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 432 sentences of The Seven Conundrums, unabridged, divided into 87 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 4 of The Seven Conundrums by E. Phillips (Edward Phillips) Oppenheim exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 432 sentences, grouped into 87 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 87 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 87 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 Seven Conundrums by E. Phillips (Edward Phillips) Oppenheim on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 3470 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #59198 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #59198, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 289 minutes of reading across 694 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Seven Conundrums section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 8 chapters of The Seven Conundrums 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 Seven Conundrums, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
