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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 There would be not more than half a dozen boys out of each remove promoted then, and, as his place was seventeenth in the list of the half-term results lately published, only a first-class miracle, the sort that does not occur, would do it for him.
altogether
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just received a letter on the subject from his father, who, as usual, David thought, failed to grasp the situation altogether.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
Archdeacon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But as David had not dreamed of telling his father what the situation really was, it was not much to be wondered at that the Archdeacon failed to grasp it.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There would be not more than half a dozen boys out of each remove promoted then, and, as his place was seventeenth in the list of the half-term results lately published, only a first-class miracle, the sort that does not occur, would do it for him.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There would be not more than half a dozen boys out of each remove promoted then, and, as his place was seventeenth in the list of the half-term results lately published, only a first-class miracle, the sort that does not occur, would do it for him.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
boys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There would be not more than half a dozen boys out of each remove promoted then, and, as his place was seventeenth in the list of the half-term results lately published, only a first-class miracle, the sort that does not occur, would do it for him.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
Christmas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
couldn't
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From this reading But there were things you couldn’t tell your people, and this was one.
David
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From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
division
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From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading There would be not more than half a dozen boys out of each remove promoted then, and, as his place was seventeenth in the list of the half-term results lately published, only a first-class miracle, the sort that does not occur, would do it for him.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There would be not more than half a dozen boys out of each remove promoted then, and, as his place was seventeenth in the list of the half-term results lately published, only a first-class miracle, the sort that does not occur, would do it for him.
dozen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There would be not more than half a dozen boys out of each remove promoted then, and, as his place was seventeenth in the list of the half-term results lately published, only a first-class miracle, the sort that does not occur, would do it for him.
dreamed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But as David had not dreamed of telling his father what the situation really was, it was not much to be wondered at that the Archdeacon failed to grasp it.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading There would be not more than half a dozen boys out of each remove promoted then, and, as his place was seventeenth in the list of the half-term results lately published, only a first-class miracle, the sort that does not occur, would do it for him.
Easter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
entered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
fact
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
failed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
father
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From this reading He had just received a letter on the subject from his father, who, as usual, David thought, failed to grasp the situation altogether.
fifth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
first-class
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There would be not more than half a dozen boys out of each remove promoted then, and, as his place was seventeenth in the list of the half-term results lately published, only a first-class miracle, the sort that does not occur, would do it for him.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There would be not more than half a dozen boys out of each remove promoted then, and, as his place was seventeenth in the list of the half-term results lately published, only a first-class miracle, the sort that does not occur, would do it for him.
form
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
forms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He had just received a letter on the subject from his father, who, as usual, David thought, failed to grasp the situation altogether.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
graspnounUS /ɡræsp/
a firm hold in a specific situation in this story
From this reading He had just received a letter on the subject from his father, who, as usual, David thought, failed to grasp the situation altogether.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There would be not more than half a dozen boys out of each remove promoted then, and, as his place was seventeenth in the list of the half-term results lately published, only a first-class miracle, the sort that does not occur, would do it for him.
half-term
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There would be not more than half a dozen boys out of each remove promoted then, and, as his place was seventeenth in the list of the half-term results lately published, only a first-class miracle, the sort that does not occur, would do it for him.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading There would be not more than half a dozen boys out of each remove promoted then, and, as his place was seventeenth in the list of the half-term results lately published, only a first-class miracle, the sort that does not occur, would do it for him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
lately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There would be not more than half a dozen boys out of each remove promoted then, and, as his place was seventeenth in the list of the half-term results lately published, only a first-class miracle, the sort that does not occur, would do it for him.
Lent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
letter
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From this reading He had just received a letter on the subject from his father, who, as usual, David thought, failed to grasp the situation altogether.
list
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There would be not more than half a dozen boys out of each remove promoted then, and, as his place was seventeenth in the list of the half-term results lately published, only a first-class miracle, the sort that does not occur, would do it for him.
lowest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
Marchester
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
Michaelmas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
middle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
miracle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There would be not more than half a dozen boys out of each remove promoted then, and, as his place was seventeenth in the list of the half-term results lately published, only a first-class miracle, the sort that does not occur, would do it for him.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But as David had not dreamed of telling his father what the situation really was, it was not much to be wondered at that the Archdeacon failed to grasp it.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There would be not more than half a dozen boys out of each remove promoted then, and, as his place was seventeenth in the list of the half-term results lately published, only a first-class miracle, the sort that does not occur, would do it for him.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
occur
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There would be not more than half a dozen boys out of each remove promoted then, and, as his place was seventeenth in the list of the half-term results lately published, only a first-class miracle, the sort that does not occur, would do it for him.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He had just received a letter on the subject from his father, who, as usual, David thought, failed to grasp the situation altogether.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There would be not more than half a dozen boys out of each remove promoted then, and, as his place was seventeenth in the list of the half-term results lately published, only a first-class miracle, the sort that does not occur, would do it for him.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
parallel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
people
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From this reading But there were things you couldn’t tell your people, and this was one.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There would be not more than half a dozen boys out of each remove promoted then, and, as his place was seventeenth in the list of the half-term results lately published, only a first-class miracle, the sort that does not occur, would do it for him.
placed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
promoted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There would be not more than half a dozen boys out of each remove promoted then, and, as his place was seventeenth in the list of the half-term results lately published, only a first-class miracle, the sort that does not occur, would do it for him.
promotion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
published
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There would be not more than half a dozen boys out of each remove promoted then, and, as his place was seventeenth in the list of the half-term results lately published, only a first-class miracle, the sort that does not occur, would do it for him.
really
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But as David had not dreamed of telling his father what the situation really was, it was not much to be wondered at that the Archdeacon failed to grasp it.
received
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just received a letter on the subject from his father, who, as usual, David thought, failed to grasp the situation altogether.
remove
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There would be not more than half a dozen boys out of each remove promoted then, and, as his place was seventeenth in the list of the half-term results lately published, only a first-class miracle, the sort that does not occur, would do it for him.
results
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There would be not more than half a dozen boys out of each remove promoted then, and, as his place was seventeenth in the list of the half-term results lately published, only a first-class miracle, the sort that does not occur, would do it for him.
seventeenth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There would be not more than half a dozen boys out of each remove promoted then, and, as his place was seventeenth in the list of the half-term results lately published, only a first-class miracle, the sort that does not occur, would do it for him.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
situation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just received a letter on the subject from his father, who, as usual, David thought, failed to grasp the situation altogether.
sort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There would be not more than half a dozen boys out of each remove promoted then, and, as his place was seventeenth in the list of the half-term results lately published, only a first-class miracle, the sort that does not occur, would do it for him.
subject
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just received a letter on the subject from his father, who, as usual, David thought, failed to grasp the situation altogether.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But there were things you couldn’t tell your people, and this was one.
telling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But as David had not dreamed of telling his father what the situation really was, it was not much to be wondered at that the Archdeacon failed to grasp it.
term
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There would be not more than half a dozen boys out of each remove promoted then, and, as his place was seventeenth in the list of the half-term results lately published, only a first-class miracle, the sort that does not occur, would do it for him.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There would be not more than half a dozen boys out of each remove promoted then, and, as his place was seventeenth in the list of the half-term results lately published, only a first-class miracle, the sort that does not occur, would do it for him.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But there were things you couldn’t tell your people, and this was one.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But there were things you couldn’t tell your people, and this was one.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had just received a letter on the subject from his father, who, as usual, David thought, failed to grasp the situation altogether.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
unlikely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
usual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just received a letter on the subject from his father, who, as usual, David thought, failed to grasp the situation altogether.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But there were things you couldn’t tell your people, and this was one.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading But as David had not dreamed of telling his father what the situation really was, it was not much to be wondered at that the Archdeacon failed to grasp it.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading He had just received a letter on the subject from his father, who, as usual, David thought, failed to grasp the situation altogether.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
wonderednounUS /wondered/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But as David had not dreamed of telling his father what the situation really was, it was not much to be wondered at that the Archdeacon failed to grasp it.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David had been placed in one of the two parallel forms just below the lowest division of the fifth form when he entered Marchester at Michaelmas, but failed to get his promotion at Christmas, and now in the middle of the Lent term he was face to face with the fact that nothing in the world was more unlikely than that he should get out of it at Easter.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading There would be not more than half a dozen boys out of each remove promoted then, and, as his place was seventeenth in the list of the half-term results lately published, only a first-class miracle, the sort that does not occur, would do it for him.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading But there were things you couldn’t tell your people, and this was one.
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading But there were things you couldn’t tell your people, and this was one.
