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 A RED LETTER DAY After this, the darning-class became the chief feature in the week, and the children were sure never to miss a lesson.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading A RED LETTER DAY After this, the darning-class became the chief feature in the week, and the children were sure never to miss a lesson.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A RED LETTER DAY After this, the darning-class became the chief feature in the week, and the children were sure never to miss a lesson.
Anne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Anne was still the best worker, but Ellen had high hopes of getting the first prize, because she had improved so much.
arm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “She said, you know, the one who had improved the most was to get it,” Ellen remarked to Lois, as they were walking, arm in arm, up the Drapers’ avenue.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The book grew more and more interesting, and so did the darning, as they learned to be less clumsy with their needles; and when the third Saturday came, the little girls were most eager to know who were to have the prizes.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “Now my work was perfectly horrid at first, and I do it a lot better now.”
avenue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “She said, you know, the one who had improved the most was to get it,” Ellen remarked to Lois, as they were walking, arm in arm, up the Drapers’ avenue.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The book grew more and more interesting, and so did the darning, as they learned to be less clumsy with their needles; and when the third Saturday came, the little girls were most eager to know who were to have the prizes.
became
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A RED LETTER DAY After this, the darning-class became the chief feature in the week, and the children were sure never to miss a lesson.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading Anne was still the best worker, but Ellen had high hopes of getting the first prize, because she had improved so much.
best
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Anne was still the best worker, but Ellen had high hopes of getting the first prize, because she had improved so much.
better
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Now my work was perfectly horrid at first, and I do it a lot better now.”
book
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The book grew more and more interesting, and so did the darning, as they learned to be less clumsy with their needles; and when the third Saturday came, the little girls were most eager to know who were to have the prizes.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Anne was still the best worker, but Ellen had high hopes of getting the first prize, because she had improved so much.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The book grew more and more interesting, and so did the darning, as they learned to be less clumsy with their needles; and when the third Saturday came, the little girls were most eager to know who were to have the prizes.
chief
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A RED LETTER DAY After this, the darning-class became the chief feature in the week, and the children were sure never to miss a lesson.
children
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A RED LETTER DAY After this, the darning-class became the chief feature in the week, and the children were sure never to miss a lesson.
clumsyadjectiveUS /ˈklʌmzi/
awkward in movement or handling things
From this reading The book grew more and more interesting, and so did the darning, as they learned to be less clumsy with their needles; and when the third Saturday came, the little girls were most eager to know who were to have the prizes.
darning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The book grew more and more interesting, and so did the darning, as they learned to be less clumsy with their needles; and when the third Saturday came, the little girls were most eager to know who were to have the prizes.
darning-class
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A RED LETTER DAY After this, the darning-class became the chief feature in the week, and the children were sure never to miss a lesson.
DAY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A RED LETTER DAY After this, the darning-class became the chief feature in the week, and the children were sure never to miss a lesson.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The book grew more and more interesting, and so did the darning, as they learned to be less clumsy with their needles; and when the third Saturday came, the little girls were most eager to know who were to have the prizes.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “Now my work was perfectly horrid at first, and I do it a lot better now.”
Drapers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “She said, you know, the one who had improved the most was to get it,” Ellen remarked to Lois, as they were walking, arm in arm, up the Drapers’ avenue.
eager
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The book grew more and more interesting, and so did the darning, as they learned to be less clumsy with their needles; and when the third Saturday came, the little girls were most eager to know who were to have the prizes.
Ellen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Anne was still the best worker, but Ellen had high hopes of getting the first prize, because she had improved so much.
feature
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A RED LETTER DAY After this, the darning-class became the chief feature in the week, and the children were sure never to miss a lesson.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Anne was still the best worker, but Ellen had high hopes of getting the first prize, because she had improved so much.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “She said, you know, the one who had improved the most was to get it,” Ellen remarked to Lois, as they were walking, arm in arm, up the Drapers’ avenue.
getting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Anne was still the best worker, but Ellen had high hopes of getting the first prize, because she had improved so much.
girls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The book grew more and more interesting, and so did the darning, as they learned to be less clumsy with their needles; and when the third Saturday came, the little girls were most eager to know who were to have the prizes.
grew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The book grew more and more interesting, and so did the darning, as they learned to be less clumsy with their needles; and when the third Saturday came, the little girls were most eager to know who were to have the prizes.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Anne was still the best worker, but Ellen had high hopes of getting the first prize, because she had improved so much.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The book grew more and more interesting, and so did the darning, as they learned to be less clumsy with their needles; and when the third Saturday came, the little girls were most eager to know who were to have the prizes.
high
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Anne was still the best worker, but Ellen had high hopes of getting the first prize, because she had improved so much.
hopes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Anne was still the best worker, but Ellen had high hopes of getting the first prize, because she had improved so much.
horrid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Now my work was perfectly horrid at first, and I do it a lot better now.”
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Now my work was perfectly horrid at first, and I do it a lot better now.”
improved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Anne was still the best worker, but Ellen had high hopes of getting the first prize, because she had improved so much.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A RED LETTER DAY After this, the darning-class became the chief feature in the week, and the children were sure never to miss a lesson.
interesting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The book grew more and more interesting, and so did the darning, as they learned to be less clumsy with their needles; and when the third Saturday came, the little girls were most eager to know who were to have the prizes.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “She said, you know, the one who had improved the most was to get it,” Ellen remarked to Lois, as they were walking, arm in arm, up the Drapers’ avenue.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The book grew more and more interesting, and so did the darning, as they learned to be less clumsy with their needles; and when the third Saturday came, the little girls were most eager to know who were to have the prizes.
learned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The book grew more and more interesting, and so did the darning, as they learned to be less clumsy with their needles; and when the third Saturday came, the little girls were most eager to know who were to have the prizes.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The book grew more and more interesting, and so did the darning, as they learned to be less clumsy with their needles; and when the third Saturday came, the little girls were most eager to know who were to have the prizes.
lesson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A RED LETTER DAY After this, the darning-class became the chief feature in the week, and the children were sure never to miss a lesson.
LETTER
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A RED LETTER DAY After this, the darning-class became the chief feature in the week, and the children were sure never to miss a lesson.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The book grew more and more interesting, and so did the darning, as they learned to be less clumsy with their needles; and when the third Saturday came, the little girls were most eager to know who were to have the prizes.
Lois
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “She said, you know, the one who had improved the most was to get it,” Ellen remarked to Lois, as they were walking, arm in arm, up the Drapers’ avenue.
lot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Now my work was perfectly horrid at first, and I do it a lot better now.”
miss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A RED LETTER DAY After this, the darning-class became the chief feature in the week, and the children were sure never to miss a lesson.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The book grew more and more interesting, and so did the darning, as they learned to be less clumsy with their needles; and when the third Saturday came, the little girls were most eager to know who were to have the prizes.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The book grew more and more interesting, and so did the darning, as they learned to be less clumsy with their needles; and when the third Saturday came, the little girls were most eager to know who were to have the prizes.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Anne was still the best worker, but Ellen had high hopes of getting the first prize, because she had improved so much.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “Now my work was perfectly horrid at first, and I do it a lot better now.”
needles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The book grew more and more interesting, and so did the darning, as they learned to be less clumsy with their needles; and when the third Saturday came, the little girls were most eager to know who were to have the prizes.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A RED LETTER DAY After this, the darning-class became the chief feature in the week, and the children were sure never to miss a lesson.
Now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Now my work was perfectly horrid at first, and I do it a lot better now.”
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Anne was still the best worker, but Ellen had high hopes of getting the first prize, because she had improved so much.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “She said, you know, the one who had improved the most was to get it,” Ellen remarked to Lois, as they were walking, arm in arm, up the Drapers’ avenue.
perfectly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Now my work was perfectly horrid at first, and I do it a lot better now.”
prize
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Anne was still the best worker, but Ellen had high hopes of getting the first prize, because she had improved so much.
prizes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The book grew more and more interesting, and so did the darning, as they learned to be less clumsy with their needles; and when the third Saturday came, the little girls were most eager to know who were to have the prizes.
RED
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A RED LETTER DAY After this, the darning-class became the chief feature in the week, and the children were sure never to miss a lesson.
remarked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “She said, you know, the one who had improved the most was to get it,” Ellen remarked to Lois, as they were walking, arm in arm, up the Drapers’ avenue.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “She said, you know, the one who had improved the most was to get it,” Ellen remarked to Lois, as they were walking, arm in arm, up the Drapers’ avenue.
Saturday
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The book grew more and more interesting, and so did the darning, as they learned to be less clumsy with their needles; and when the third Saturday came, the little girls were most eager to know who were to have the prizes.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Anne was still the best worker, but Ellen had high hopes of getting the first prize, because she had improved so much.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The book grew more and more interesting, and so did the darning, as they learned to be less clumsy with their needles; and when the third Saturday came, the little girls were most eager to know who were to have the prizes.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Anne was still the best worker, but Ellen had high hopes of getting the first prize, because she had improved so much.
surenounUS /sure/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A RED LETTER DAY After this, the darning-class became the chief feature in the week, and the children were sure never to miss a lesson.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A RED LETTER DAY After this, the darning-class became the chief feature in the week, and the children were sure never to miss a lesson.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The book grew more and more interesting, and so did the darning, as they learned to be less clumsy with their needles; and when the third Saturday came, the little girls were most eager to know who were to have the prizes.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The book grew more and more interesting, and so did the darning, as they learned to be less clumsy with their needles; and when the third Saturday came, the little girls were most eager to know who were to have the prizes.
thirdnounUS /third/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The book grew more and more interesting, and so did the darning, as they learned to be less clumsy with their needles; and when the third Saturday came, the little girls were most eager to know who were to have the prizes.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading A RED LETTER DAY After this, the darning-class became the chief feature in the week, and the children were sure never to miss a lesson.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A RED LETTER DAY After this, the darning-class became the chief feature in the week, and the children were sure never to miss a lesson.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “She said, you know, the one who had improved the most was to get it,” Ellen remarked to Lois, as they were walking, arm in arm, up the Drapers’ avenue.
walking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “She said, you know, the one who had improved the most was to get it,” Ellen remarked to Lois, as they were walking, arm in arm, up the Drapers’ avenue.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Anne was still the best worker, but Ellen had high hopes of getting the first prize, because she had improved so much.
week
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A RED LETTER DAY After this, the darning-class became the chief feature in the week, and the children were sure never to miss a lesson.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A RED LETTER DAY After this, the darning-class became the chief feature in the week, and the children were sure never to miss a lesson.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading The book grew more and more interesting, and so did the darning, as they learned to be less clumsy with their needles; and when the third Saturday came, the little girls were most eager to know who were to have the prizes.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading The book grew more and more interesting, and so did the darning, as they learned to be less clumsy with their needles; and when the third Saturday came, the little girls were most eager to know who were to have the prizes.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The book grew more and more interesting, and so did the darning, as they learned to be less clumsy with their needles; and when the third Saturday came, the little girls were most eager to know who were to have the prizes.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Now my work was perfectly horrid at first, and I do it a lot better now.”
worker
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Anne was still the best worker, but Ellen had high hopes of getting the first prize, because she had improved so much.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “She said, you know, the one who had improved the most was to get it,” Ellen remarked to Lois, as they were walking, arm in arm, up the Drapers’ avenue.
