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AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A SURPRISE FOR ARTHUR "CAN I speak to you for a few minutes, sir, when I have distributed the letters?" asked Arthur, when Mr. Bristow came in, the morning after he and Molly had been for their walk.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading A SURPRISE FOR ARTHUR "CAN I speak to you for a few minutes, sir, when I have distributed the letters?" asked Arthur, when Mr. Bristow came in, the morning after he and Molly had been for their walk.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A SURPRISE FOR ARTHUR "CAN I speak to you for a few minutes, sir, when I have distributed the letters?" asked Arthur, when Mr. Bristow came in, the morning after he and Molly had been for their walk.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading Is it anything very important?" asked the gentleman.
ARTHUR
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SURPRISE FOR ARTHUR "CAN I speak to you for a few minutes, sir, when I have distributed the letters?" asked Arthur, when Mr. Bristow came in, the morning after he and Molly had been for their walk.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A SURPRISE FOR ARTHUR "CAN I speak to you for a few minutes, sir, when I have distributed the letters?" asked Arthur, when Mr. Bristow came in, the morning after he and Molly had been for their walk.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A SURPRISE FOR ARTHUR "CAN I speak to you for a few minutes, sir, when I have distributed the letters?" asked Arthur, when Mr. Bristow came in, the morning after he and Molly had been for their walk.
Bristow
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From this reading A SURPRISE FOR ARTHUR "CAN I speak to you for a few minutes, sir, when I have distributed the letters?" asked Arthur, when Mr. Bristow came in, the morning after he and Molly had been for their walk.
came
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From this reading A SURPRISE FOR ARTHUR "CAN I speak to you for a few minutes, sir, when I have distributed the letters?" asked Arthur, when Mr. Bristow came in, the morning after he and Molly had been for their walk.
CANmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading A SURPRISE FOR ARTHUR "CAN I speak to you for a few minutes, sir, when I have distributed the letters?" asked Arthur, when Mr. Bristow came in, the morning after he and Molly had been for their walk.
counting-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And when the letter-bags were delivered, Arthur returned to the counting-house and found Mr. Bristow ready to hear what he had to say.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Oh yes, of course!
delivered
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From this reading And when the letter-bags were delivered, Arthur returned to the counting-house and found Mr. Bristow ready to hear what he had to say.
distributed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SURPRISE FOR ARTHUR "CAN I speak to you for a few minutes, sir, when I have distributed the letters?" asked Arthur, when Mr. Bristow came in, the morning after he and Molly had been for their walk.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SURPRISE FOR ARTHUR "CAN I speak to you for a few minutes, sir, when I have distributed the letters?" asked Arthur, when Mr. Bristow came in, the morning after he and Molly had been for their walk.
FORprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A SURPRISE FOR ARTHUR "CAN I speak to you for a few minutes, sir, when I have distributed the letters?" asked Arthur, when Mr. Bristow came in, the morning after he and Molly had been for their walk.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And when the letter-bags were delivered, Arthur returned to the counting-house and found Mr. Bristow ready to hear what he had to say.
gentlemannounUS /ˈgentleman/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Is it anything very important?" asked the gentleman.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A SURPRISE FOR ARTHUR "CAN I speak to you for a few minutes, sir, when I have distributed the letters?" asked Arthur, when Mr. Bristow came in, the morning after he and Molly had been for their walk.
hardly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I hardly know what to think of it myself, and that is why I want to talk to you," replied Arthur.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A SURPRISE FOR ARTHUR "CAN I speak to you for a few minutes, sir, when I have distributed the letters?" asked Arthur, when Mr. Bristow came in, the morning after he and Molly had been for their walk.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A SURPRISE FOR ARTHUR "CAN I speak to you for a few minutes, sir, when I have distributed the letters?" asked Arthur, when Mr. Bristow came in, the morning after he and Molly had been for their walk.
hearnounUS /hear/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And when the letter-bags were delivered, Arthur returned to the counting-house and found Mr. Bristow ready to hear what he had to say.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading A SURPRISE FOR ARTHUR "CAN I speak to you for a few minutes, sir, when I have distributed the letters?" asked Arthur, when Mr. Bristow came in, the morning after he and Molly had been for their walk.
important
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Is it anything very important?" asked the gentleman.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A SURPRISE FOR ARTHUR "CAN I speak to you for a few minutes, sir, when I have distributed the letters?" asked Arthur, when Mr. Bristow came in, the morning after he and Molly had been for their walk.
Isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Is it anything very important?" asked the gentleman.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Is it anything very important?" asked the gentleman.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "I hardly know what to think of it myself, and that is why I want to talk to you," replied Arthur.
letter-bags
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And when the letter-bags were delivered, Arthur returned to the counting-house and found Mr. Bristow ready to hear what he had to say.
letters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SURPRISE FOR ARTHUR "CAN I speak to you for a few minutes, sir, when I have distributed the letters?" asked Arthur, when Mr. Bristow came in, the morning after he and Molly had been for their walk.
minutes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SURPRISE FOR ARTHUR "CAN I speak to you for a few minutes, sir, when I have distributed the letters?" asked Arthur, when Mr. Bristow came in, the morning after he and Molly had been for their walk.
Molly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SURPRISE FOR ARTHUR "CAN I speak to you for a few minutes, sir, when I have distributed the letters?" asked Arthur, when Mr. Bristow came in, the morning after he and Molly had been for their walk.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A SURPRISE FOR ARTHUR "CAN I speak to you for a few minutes, sir, when I have distributed the letters?" asked Arthur, when Mr. Bristow came in, the morning after he and Molly had been for their walk.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SURPRISE FOR ARTHUR "CAN I speak to you for a few minutes, sir, when I have distributed the letters?" asked Arthur, when Mr. Bristow came in, the morning after he and Molly had been for their walk.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading "I hardly know what to think of it myself, and that is why I want to talk to you," replied Arthur.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Oh yes, of course!
Oh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Oh yes, of course!
ready
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And when the letter-bags were delivered, Arthur returned to the counting-house and found Mr. Bristow ready to hear what he had to say.
repliednounUS /replied/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "I hardly know what to think of it myself, and that is why I want to talk to you," replied Arthur.
returnednounUS /ˈreturned/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading And when the letter-bags were delivered, Arthur returned to the counting-house and found Mr. Bristow ready to hear what he had to say.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And when the letter-bags were delivered, Arthur returned to the counting-house and found Mr. Bristow ready to hear what he had to say.
sir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SURPRISE FOR ARTHUR "CAN I speak to you for a few minutes, sir, when I have distributed the letters?" asked Arthur, when Mr. Bristow came in, the morning after he and Molly had been for their walk.
speak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SURPRISE FOR ARTHUR "CAN I speak to you for a few minutes, sir, when I have distributed the letters?" asked Arthur, when Mr. Bristow came in, the morning after he and Molly had been for their walk.
SURPRISE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SURPRISE FOR ARTHUR "CAN I speak to you for a few minutes, sir, when I have distributed the letters?" asked Arthur, when Mr. Bristow came in, the morning after he and Molly had been for their walk.
talk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I hardly know what to think of it myself, and that is why I want to talk to you," replied Arthur.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "I hardly know what to think of it myself, and that is why I want to talk to you," replied Arthur.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A SURPRISE FOR ARTHUR "CAN I speak to you for a few minutes, sir, when I have distributed the letters?" asked Arthur, when Mr. Bristow came in, the morning after he and Molly had been for their walk.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading A SURPRISE FOR ARTHUR "CAN I speak to you for a few minutes, sir, when I have distributed the letters?" asked Arthur, when Mr. Bristow came in, the morning after he and Molly had been for their walk.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "I hardly know what to think of it myself, and that is why I want to talk to you," replied Arthur.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A SURPRISE FOR ARTHUR "CAN I speak to you for a few minutes, sir, when I have distributed the letters?" asked Arthur, when Mr. Bristow came in, the morning after he and Molly had been for their walk.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Is it anything very important?" asked the gentleman.
walk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SURPRISE FOR ARTHUR "CAN I speak to you for a few minutes, sir, when I have distributed the letters?" asked Arthur, when Mr. Bristow came in, the morning after he and Molly had been for their walk.
want
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I hardly know what to think of it myself, and that is why I want to talk to you," replied Arthur.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading And when the letter-bags were delivered, Arthur returned to the counting-house and found Mr. Bristow ready to hear what he had to say.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "I hardly know what to think of it myself, and that is why I want to talk to you," replied Arthur.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading A SURPRISE FOR ARTHUR "CAN I speak to you for a few minutes, sir, when I have distributed the letters?" asked Arthur, when Mr. Bristow came in, the morning after he and Molly had been for their walk.
why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I hardly know what to think of it myself, and that is why I want to talk to you," replied Arthur.
yes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Oh yes, of course!
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading A SURPRISE FOR ARTHUR "CAN I speak to you for a few minutes, sir, when I have distributed the letters?" asked Arthur, when Mr. Bristow came in, the morning after he and Molly had been for their walk.