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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 The shape of the letters on my father’s, gave me an odd idea that he was a square, stout, dark man, with curly black hair.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The shape of the letters on my father’s, gave me an odd idea that he was a square, stout, dark man, with curly black hair.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading My father’s family name being Pirrip, and my Christian name Philip, my infant tongue could make of both names nothing longer or more explicit than Pip.
any
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From this reading As I never saw my father or my mother, and never saw any likeness of either of them (for their days were long before the days of photographs), my first fancies regarding what they were like were unreasonably derived from their tombstones.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I give Pirrip as my father’s family name, on the authority of his tombstone and my sister,—Mrs. Joe Gargery, who married the blacksmith.
authority
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From this reading I give Pirrip as my father’s family name, on the authority of his tombstone and my sister,—Mrs. Joe Gargery, who married the blacksmith.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading So, I called myself Pip, and came to be called Pip.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading As I never saw my father or my mother, and never saw any likeness of either of them (for their days were long before the days of photographs), my first fancies regarding what they were like were unreasonably derived from their tombstones.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading My father’s family name being Pirrip, and my Christian name Philip, my infant tongue could make of both names nothing longer or more explicit than Pip.
black
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From this reading The shape of the letters on my father’s, gave me an odd idea that he was a square, stout, dark man, with curly black hair.
blacksmith
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From this reading I give Pirrip as my father’s family name, on the authority of his tombstone and my sister,—Mrs. Joe Gargery, who married the blacksmith.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading My father’s family name being Pirrip, and my Christian name Philip, my infant tongue could make of both names nothing longer or more explicit than Pip.
called
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From this reading So, I called myself Pip, and came to be called Pip.
came
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From this reading So, I called myself Pip, and came to be called Pip.
Christian
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From this reading My father’s family name being Pirrip, and my Christian name Philip, my infant tongue could make of both names nothing longer or more explicit than Pip.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading My father’s family name being Pirrip, and my Christian name Philip, my infant tongue could make of both names nothing longer or more explicit than Pip.
curly
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From this reading The shape of the letters on my father’s, gave me an odd idea that he was a square, stout, dark man, with curly black hair.
dark
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From this reading The shape of the letters on my father’s, gave me an odd idea that he was a square, stout, dark man, with curly black hair.
days
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From this reading As I never saw my father or my mother, and never saw any likeness of either of them (for their days were long before the days of photographs), my first fancies regarding what they were like were unreasonably derived from their tombstones.
derived
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From this reading As I never saw my father or my mother, and never saw any likeness of either of them (for their days were long before the days of photographs), my first fancies regarding what they were like were unreasonably derived from their tombstones.
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading As I never saw my father or my mother, and never saw any likeness of either of them (for their days were long before the days of photographs), my first fancies regarding what they were like were unreasonably derived from their tombstones.
explicit
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From this reading My father’s family name being Pirrip, and my Christian name Philip, my infant tongue could make of both names nothing longer or more explicit than Pip.
family
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From this reading My father’s family name being Pirrip, and my Christian name Philip, my infant tongue could make of both names nothing longer or more explicit than Pip.
fancies
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From this reading As I never saw my father or my mother, and never saw any likeness of either of them (for their days were long before the days of photographs), my first fancies regarding what they were like were unreasonably derived from their tombstones.
fathernounUS /ˈfɑːðər/
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading As I never saw my father or my mother, and never saw any likeness of either of them (for their days were long before the days of photographs), my first fancies regarding what they were like were unreasonably derived from their tombstones.
father's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father’s family name being Pirrip, and my Christian name Philip, my infant tongue could make of both names nothing longer or more explicit than Pip.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As I never saw my father or my mother, and never saw any likeness of either of them (for their days were long before the days of photographs), my first fancies regarding what they were like were unreasonably derived from their tombstones.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading As I never saw my father or my mother, and never saw any likeness of either of them (for their days were long before the days of photographs), my first fancies regarding what they were like were unreasonably derived from their tombstones.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading As I never saw my father or my mother, and never saw any likeness of either of them (for their days were long before the days of photographs), my first fancies regarding what they were like were unreasonably derived from their tombstones.
Gargery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I give Pirrip as my father’s family name, on the authority of his tombstone and my sister,—Mrs. Joe Gargery, who married the blacksmith.
gave
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From this reading The shape of the letters on my father’s, gave me an odd idea that he was a square, stout, dark man, with curly black hair.
give
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I give Pirrip as my father’s family name, on the authority of his tombstone and my sister,—Mrs. Joe Gargery, who married the blacksmith.
hair
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From this reading The shape of the letters on my father’s, gave me an odd idea that he was a square, stout, dark man, with curly black hair.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The shape of the letters on my father’s, gave me an odd idea that he was a square, stout, dark man, with curly black hair.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading I give Pirrip as my father’s family name, on the authority of his tombstone and my sister,—Mrs. Joe Gargery, who married the blacksmith.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading So, I called myself Pip, and came to be called Pip.
idea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shape of the letters on my father’s, gave me an odd idea that he was a square, stout, dark man, with curly black hair.
infant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father’s family name being Pirrip, and my Christian name Philip, my infant tongue could make of both names nothing longer or more explicit than Pip.
Joe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I give Pirrip as my father’s family name, on the authority of his tombstone and my sister,—Mrs. Joe Gargery, who married the blacksmith.
letters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shape of the letters on my father’s, gave me an odd idea that he was a square, stout, dark man, with curly black hair.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I never saw my father or my mother, and never saw any likeness of either of them (for their days were long before the days of photographs), my first fancies regarding what they were like were unreasonably derived from their tombstones.
likeness
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From this reading As I never saw my father or my mother, and never saw any likeness of either of them (for their days were long before the days of photographs), my first fancies regarding what they were like were unreasonably derived from their tombstones.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As I never saw my father or my mother, and never saw any likeness of either of them (for their days were long before the days of photographs), my first fancies regarding what they were like were unreasonably derived from their tombstones.
longer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father’s family name being Pirrip, and my Christian name Philip, my infant tongue could make of both names nothing longer or more explicit than Pip.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading My father’s family name being Pirrip, and my Christian name Philip, my infant tongue could make of both names nothing longer or more explicit than Pip.
man
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From this reading The shape of the letters on my father’s, gave me an odd idea that he was a square, stout, dark man, with curly black hair.
married
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I give Pirrip as my father’s family name, on the authority of his tombstone and my sister,—Mrs. Joe Gargery, who married the blacksmith.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The shape of the letters on my father’s, gave me an odd idea that he was a square, stout, dark man, with curly black hair.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father’s family name being Pirrip, and my Christian name Philip, my infant tongue could make of both names nothing longer or more explicit than Pip.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I never saw my father or my mother, and never saw any likeness of either of them (for their days were long before the days of photographs), my first fancies regarding what they were like were unreasonably derived from their tombstones.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I give Pirrip as my father’s family name, on the authority of his tombstone and my sister,—Mrs. Joe Gargery, who married the blacksmith.
MydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My father’s family name being Pirrip, and my Christian name Philip, my infant tongue could make of both names nothing longer or more explicit than Pip.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading So, I called myself Pip, and came to be called Pip.
namenounUS /name/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading My father’s family name being Pirrip, and my Christian name Philip, my infant tongue could make of both names nothing longer or more explicit than Pip.
names
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father’s family name being Pirrip, and my Christian name Philip, my infant tongue could make of both names nothing longer or more explicit than Pip.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As I never saw my father or my mother, and never saw any likeness of either of them (for their days were long before the days of photographs), my first fancies regarding what they were like were unreasonably derived from their tombstones.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading My father’s family name being Pirrip, and my Christian name Philip, my infant tongue could make of both names nothing longer or more explicit than Pip.
odd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shape of the letters on my father’s, gave me an odd idea that he was a square, stout, dark man, with curly black hair.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading My father’s family name being Pirrip, and my Christian name Philip, my infant tongue could make of both names nothing longer or more explicit than Pip.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I give Pirrip as my father’s family name, on the authority of his tombstone and my sister,—Mrs. Joe Gargery, who married the blacksmith.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading My father’s family name being Pirrip, and my Christian name Philip, my infant tongue could make of both names nothing longer or more explicit than Pip.
Philip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father’s family name being Pirrip, and my Christian name Philip, my infant tongue could make of both names nothing longer or more explicit than Pip.
photographs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I never saw my father or my mother, and never saw any likeness of either of them (for their days were long before the days of photographs), my first fancies regarding what they were like were unreasonably derived from their tombstones.
Pip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father’s family name being Pirrip, and my Christian name Philip, my infant tongue could make of both names nothing longer or more explicit than Pip.
Pirrip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father’s family name being Pirrip, and my Christian name Philip, my infant tongue could make of both names nothing longer or more explicit than Pip.
regarding
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From this reading As I never saw my father or my mother, and never saw any likeness of either of them (for their days were long before the days of photographs), my first fancies regarding what they were like were unreasonably derived from their tombstones.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I never saw my father or my mother, and never saw any likeness of either of them (for their days were long before the days of photographs), my first fancies regarding what they were like were unreasonably derived from their tombstones.
shape
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shape of the letters on my father’s, gave me an odd idea that he was a square, stout, dark man, with curly black hair.
sister
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I give Pirrip as my father’s family name, on the authority of his tombstone and my sister,—Mrs. Joe Gargery, who married the blacksmith.
SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So, I called myself Pip, and came to be called Pip.
square
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shape of the letters on my father’s, gave me an odd idea that he was a square, stout, dark man, with curly black hair.
stout
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shape of the letters on my father’s, gave me an odd idea that he was a square, stout, dark man, with curly black hair.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading My father’s family name being Pirrip, and my Christian name Philip, my infant tongue could make of both names nothing longer or more explicit than Pip.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The shape of the letters on my father’s, gave me an odd idea that he was a square, stout, dark man, with curly black hair.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I give Pirrip as my father’s family name, on the authority of his tombstone and my sister,—Mrs. Joe Gargery, who married the blacksmith.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading As I never saw my father or my mother, and never saw any likeness of either of them (for their days were long before the days of photographs), my first fancies regarding what they were like were unreasonably derived from their tombstones.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading As I never saw my father or my mother, and never saw any likeness of either of them (for their days were long before the days of photographs), my first fancies regarding what they were like were unreasonably derived from their tombstones.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As I never saw my father or my mother, and never saw any likeness of either of them (for their days were long before the days of photographs), my first fancies regarding what they were like were unreasonably derived from their tombstones.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading So, I called myself Pip, and came to be called Pip.
tombstone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I give Pirrip as my father’s family name, on the authority of his tombstone and my sister,—Mrs. Joe Gargery, who married the blacksmith.
tombstones
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I never saw my father or my mother, and never saw any likeness of either of them (for their days were long before the days of photographs), my first fancies regarding what they were like were unreasonably derived from their tombstones.
tonguenounUS /tongue/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading My father’s family name being Pirrip, and my Christian name Philip, my infant tongue could make of both names nothing longer or more explicit than Pip.
unreasonably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I never saw my father or my mother, and never saw any likeness of either of them (for their days were long before the days of photographs), my first fancies regarding what they were like were unreasonably derived from their tombstones.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The shape of the letters on my father’s, gave me an odd idea that he was a square, stout, dark man, with curly black hair.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading As I never saw my father or my mother, and never saw any likeness of either of them (for their days were long before the days of photographs), my first fancies regarding what they were like were unreasonably derived from their tombstones.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading As I never saw my father or my mother, and never saw any likeness of either of them (for their days were long before the days of photographs), my first fancies regarding what they were like were unreasonably derived from their tombstones.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading I give Pirrip as my father’s family name, on the authority of his tombstone and my sister,—Mrs. Joe Gargery, who married the blacksmith.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The shape of the letters on my father’s, gave me an odd idea that he was a square, stout, dark man, with curly black hair.
