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The Wisdom of Fools
The Wisdom of Fools

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of The Wisdom of Fools is here in full — 420 sentences across 84 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Wisdom of Fools
Context Illustration Reading 1/84 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Italic text is denoted by _underscores_.
Text in Old English (blackletter) font is denoted by =equal signs=.
Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and consultation of external sources.
All misspellings in the text, and inconsistent or archaic usage, have been retained.
THE OLD GARDEN, AND OTHER VERSES.
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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 Wisdom of Fools

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of The Wisdom of Fools is here in full — 420 sentences across 84 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/84 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Italic text is denoted by _underscores_.
/aɪˈtælɪk tekst ɪz dɪˈnoʊtəd baɪ ˌʌndərˈskɔːrz/
Line 2
Text in Old English (blackletter) font is denoted by =equal signs=.
Line 3
Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and consultation of external sources.
/ˈɑːbviəs ˌtaɪpəˈɡræfɪkəl ˈerərz ənd ˌpʌŋktʃuːˈeɪʃən ˈerərz hæv bɪn kərˈektəd ˈæftər ˈkerfəl kəmˈperəsən wɪð ˈʌðər əˈkɜːrənsɪz wɪˈðɪn ðə tekst ənd ˌkɑːnsəlˈteɪʃən ʌv ɪkˈstɜːrnəl ˈsɔːrsəz/
Line 4
All misspellings in the text, and inconsistent or archaic usage, have been retained.
Line 5
THE OLD GARDEN, AND OTHER VERSES.
/ðə oʊld ˈɡɑːrdən ənd ˈʌðər ˈvɜːrsəz/

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.

archaic adjective US /ɑːrˈkeɪɪk/

so extremely old as seeming to belong to an earlier period

From this reading “All misspellings in the text, and inconsistent or archaic usage, have been retained.”

denoted verb US /dɪˈnoʊtəd/

past form of “denote” — be a sign or indication of

From this reading “Italic text is denoted by _underscores_.”

font noun US /fɑːnt/

a specific size and style of type within a type family

From this reading “Text in Old English (blackletter) font is denoted by =equal signs=.”

Italic noun US /aɪˈtælɪk/

a style of handwriting with the letters slanting to the right

From this reading “Italic text is denoted by _underscores_.”

occurrences noun US /əˈkɜːrənsɪz/

plural of “occurrence” — an event that happens

From this reading “Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and consultation of external sources.”

punctuation noun US /ˌpʌŋktʃuːˈeɪʃən/

something that makes repeated and regular interruptions or divisions

From this reading “Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and consultation of external sources.”

typographical adjective US /ˌtaɪpəˈɡræfɪkəl/

relating to or occurring or used in typography

From this reading “Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and consultation of external sources.”

underscores noun US /ˌʌndərˈskɔːrz/

plural of “underscore” — a line drawn underneath (especially under written matter)

All words in this reading · 42

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.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and consultation of external sources.

AlladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading All misspellings in the text, and inconsistent or archaic usage, have been retained.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and consultation of external sources.

archaicadjectiveUS /ɑːrˈkeɪɪk/

so extremely old as seeming to belong to an earlier period

From this reading All misspellings in the text, and inconsistent or archaic usage, have been retained.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and consultation of external sources.

blackletter

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

From this reading Text in Old English (blackletter) font is denoted by =equal signs=.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Italic text is denoted by _underscores_.

carefuladjectiveUS /ˈkerfəl/

exercising caution or showing care or attention

From this reading Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and consultation of external sources.

comparisonnounUS /kəmˈperəsən/

the act of examining resemblances

From this reading Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and consultation of external sources.

consultationnounUS /ˌkɑːnsəlˈteɪʃən/

a conference (usually with someone important)

From this reading Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and consultation of external sources.

correctedadjectiveUS /kərˈektəd/

having something undesirable neutralized

From this reading Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and consultation of external sources.

denotedverbUS /dɪˈnoʊtəd/

past form of “denote” — be a sign or indication of

From this reading Italic text is denoted by _underscores_.

EnglishnounUS /ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ/

an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries

From this reading Text in Old English (blackletter) font is denoted by =equal signs=.

equalverbUS /ˈiːkwəl/

be identical or equivalent to

From this reading Text in Old English (blackletter) font is denoted by =equal signs=.

errorsnounUS /ˈerərz/

plural of “error” — a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention

From this reading Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and consultation of external sources.

externaladjectiveUS /ɪkˈstɜːrnəl/

happening or arising or located outside or beyond some limits or especially surface

From this reading Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and consultation of external sources.

fontnounUS /fɑːnt/

a specific size and style of type within a type family

From this reading Text in Old English (blackletter) font is denoted by =equal signs=.

GARDENnounUS /ˈɡɑːrdən/

a plot of ground where plants are cultivated

From this reading THE OLD GARDEN, AND OTHER VERSES.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and consultation of external sources.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Text in Old English (blackletter) font is denoted by =equal signs=.

inconsistentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnkənˈsɪstənt/

displaying a lack of consistency

From this reading All misspellings in the text, and inconsistent or archaic usage, have been retained.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Italic text is denoted by _underscores_.

ItalicnounUS /aɪˈtælɪk/

a style of handwriting with the letters slanting to the right

From this reading Italic text is denoted by _underscores_.

misspellings

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

From this reading All misspellings in the text, and inconsistent or archaic usage, have been retained.

ObviousadjectiveUS /ˈɑːbviəs/

easily perceived by the senses or grasped by the mind

From this reading Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and consultation of external sources.

occurrencesnounUS /əˈkɜːrənsɪz/

plural of “occurrence” — an event that happens

From this reading Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and consultation of external sources.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and consultation of external sources.

OldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading Text in Old English (blackletter) font is denoted by =equal signs=.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading All misspellings in the text, and inconsistent or archaic usage, have been retained.

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and consultation of external sources.

punctuationnounUS /ˌpʌŋktʃuːˈeɪʃən/

something that makes repeated and regular interruptions or divisions

From this reading Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and consultation of external sources.

retainedadjectiveUS /rɪˈteɪnd/

continued in your keeping or use or memory

From this reading All misspellings in the text, and inconsistent or archaic usage, have been retained.

signsnounUS /saɪnz/

plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)

From this reading Text in Old English (blackletter) font is denoted by =equal signs=.

sourcesnounUS /ˈsɔːrsəz/

plural of “source” — the place where something begins, where it springs into being

From this reading Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and consultation of external sources.

textnounUS /tekst/

the words of something written

From this reading Italic text is denoted by _underscores_.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and consultation of external sources.

typographicaladjectiveUS /ˌtaɪpəˈɡræfɪkəl/

relating to or occurring or used in typography

From this reading Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and consultation of external sources.

underscoresnounUS /ˌʌndərˈskɔːrz/

plural of “underscore” — a line drawn underneath (especially under written matter)

From this reading Italic text is denoted by _underscores_.

usagenounUS /ˈjuːsədʒ/

the act of using

From this reading All misspellings in the text, and inconsistent or archaic usage, have been retained.

VERSESnounUS /ˈvɜːrsəz/

plural of “verse” — literature in metrical form

From this reading THE OLD GARDEN, AND OTHER VERSES.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and consultation of external sources.

withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and consultation of external sources.

Chapter 1 of The Wisdom of Fools by Margaret Wade Campbell Deland holds 420 sentences, grouped into 84 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 Wisdom of Fools contain?

Chapter 1 holds 420 sentences of The Wisdom of Fools, unabridged, divided into 84 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Wisdom of Fools by Margaret Wade Campbell Deland exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 420 sentences, grouped into 84 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 Wisdom of Fools?

Work through the 84 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 84 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 Wisdom of Fools

Common questions about reading The Wisdom of Fools by Margaret Wade Campbell Deland on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Wisdom of Fools?

Yes. All 2520 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #53579 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Wisdom of Fools is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #53579, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Wisdom of Fools take to read?

About 210 minutes of reading across 504 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Wisdom of Fools section by section

How to work through The Wisdom of Fools section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 6 chapters of The Wisdom of Fools 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 Wisdom of Fools

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

Italic
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Wisdom of Fools; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Denoted
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Wisdom of Fools; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Underscores
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Wisdom of Fools; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
English
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Wisdom of Fools; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.