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April's Lady: A Novel
April's Lady: A Novel

Chapter VII

Cover illustration for April's Lady: A Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/46 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"Nature has sometimes made a fool."
The fiddles are squeaking, the 'cellos are groaning, the man with the cornet is making a most ungodly row.
As yet, the band have the ballroom all to themselves, and are certainly making the most of their time.
Such unearthly noises rarely, if ever, have been heard in it before.
Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.
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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.

April's Lady: A Novel

Chapter VII

Reading 1/46 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"Nature has sometimes made a fool."
Line 2
The fiddles are squeaking, the 'cellos are groaning, the man with the cornet is making a most ungodly row.
Line 3
As yet, the band have the ballroom all to themselves, and are certainly making the most of their time.
Line 4
Such unearthly noises rarely, if ever, have been heard in it before.
Line 5
Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Such unearthly noises rarely, if ever, have been heard in it before.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Such unearthly noises rarely, if ever, have been heard in it before.”

Ever noun US /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Such unearthly noises rarely, if ever, have been heard in it before.”

Fool noun US /fool/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Nature has sometimes made a fool."”

Has auxiliary verb US /hæz/

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

From this reading “"Nature has sometimes made a fool."”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “As yet, the band have the ballroom all to themselves, and are certainly making the most of their time.”

Journey noun US /ˈjourney/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.”

Perhaps noun US /perhaps/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.”

Question noun US /ˈquestion/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.”

Sometimes noun US /sometimes/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Nature has sometimes made a fool."”

Themselves pronoun US /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading “As yet, the band have the ballroom all to themselves, and are certainly making the most of their time.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “As yet, the band have the ballroom all to themselves, and are certainly making the most of their time.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “As yet, the band have the ballroom all to themselves, and are certainly making the most of their time.”

All words in this reading · 70

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading "Nature has sometimes made a fool."

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.

all

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

From this reading As yet, the band have the ballroom all to themselves, and are certainly making the most of their time.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading As yet, the band have the ballroom all to themselves, and are certainly making the most of their time.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading The fiddles are squeaking, the 'cellos are groaning, the man with the cornet is making a most ungodly row.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading As yet, the band have the ballroom all to themselves, and are certainly making the most of their time.

ballroom

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

From this reading As yet, the band have the ballroom all to themselves, and are certainly making the most of their time.

band

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

From this reading As yet, the band have the ballroom all to themselves, and are certainly making the most of their time.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Such unearthly noises rarely, if ever, have been heard in it before.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Such unearthly noises rarely, if ever, have been heard in it before.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.

butler's

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

From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.

cellos

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

From this reading The fiddles are squeaking, the 'cellos are groaning, the man with the cornet is making a most ungodly row.

certainly

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

From this reading As yet, the band have the ballroom all to themselves, and are certainly making the most of their time.

coming

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

From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.

cornet

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

From this reading The fiddles are squeaking, the 'cellos are groaning, the man with the cornet is making a most ungodly row.

couldn't

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

From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.

disconsolate

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

From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.

down

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

From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.

Dublin

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

From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.

evernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Such unearthly noises rarely, if ever, have been heard in it before.

fiddles

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

From this reading The fiddles are squeaking, the 'cellos are groaning, the man with the cornet is making a most ungodly row.

fills

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

From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.

foolnounUS /fool/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Nature has sometimes made a fool."

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.

groaning

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

From this reading The fiddles are squeaking, the 'cellos are groaning, the man with the cornet is making a most ungodly row.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading "Nature has sometimes made a fool."

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading As yet, the band have the ballroom all to themselves, and are certainly making the most of their time.

heard

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

From this reading Such unearthly noises rarely, if ever, have been heard in it before.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Such unearthly noises rarely, if ever, have been heard in it before.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Such unearthly noises rarely, if ever, have been heard in it before.

instruments

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

From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading The fiddles are squeaking, the 'cellos are groaning, the man with the cornet is making a most ungodly row.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Such unearthly noises rarely, if ever, have been heard in it before.

journeynounUS /ˈjourney/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.

made

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

From this reading "Nature has sometimes made a fool."

making

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

From this reading The fiddles are squeaking, the 'cellos are groaning, the man with the cornet is making a most ungodly row.

man

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

From this reading The fiddles are squeaking, the 'cellos are groaning, the man with the cornet is making a most ungodly row.

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.

most

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

From this reading The fiddles are squeaking, the 'cellos are groaning, the man with the cornet is making a most ungodly row.

Nature

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

From this reading "Nature has sometimes made a fool."

noises

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

From this reading Such unearthly noises rarely, if ever, have been heard in it before.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading As yet, the band have the ballroom all to themselves, and are certainly making the most of their time.

perhaps

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

From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.

players

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

From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.

questionnounUS /ˈquestion/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.

rarely

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

From this reading Such unearthly noises rarely, if ever, have been heard in it before.

row

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

From this reading The fiddles are squeaking, the 'cellos are groaning, the man with the cornet is making a most ungodly row.

sometimes

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

From this reading "Nature has sometimes made a fool."

squeaking

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

From this reading The fiddles are squeaking, the 'cellos are groaning, the man with the cornet is making a most ungodly row.

SuchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Such unearthly noises rarely, if ever, have been heard in it before.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The fiddles are squeaking, the 'cellos are groaning, the man with the cornet is making a most ungodly row.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading As yet, the band have the ballroom all to themselves, and are certainly making the most of their time.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.

themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading As yet, the band have the ballroom all to themselves, and are certainly making the most of their time.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading As yet, the band have the ballroom all to themselves, and are certainly making the most of their time.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading As yet, the band have the ballroom all to themselves, and are certainly making the most of their time.

tuned

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

From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.

unearthly

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

From this reading Such unearthly noises rarely, if ever, have been heard in it before.

ungodly

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

From this reading The fiddles are squeaking, the 'cellos are groaning, the man with the cornet is making a most ungodly row.

untuned

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

From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.

Why

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

From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The fiddles are squeaking, the 'cellos are groaning, the man with the cornet is making a most ungodly row.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.

wrath

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

From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading As yet, the band have the ballroom all to themselves, and are certainly making the most of their time.