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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 “I used to have a billet at Coxon & Woodhouse, of Drapers’ Gardens, but they were let in early in the spring through the Venezuelan loan, as no doubt you remember, and came a nasty cropper.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading I had been taking three pounds a week at Coxon’s, and I had saved about seventy of them, but I soon worked my way through that and out at the other end.
adrift
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From this reading I had been with them five years, and old Coxon gave me a ripping good testimonial when the smash came, but of course we clerks were all turned adrift, the twenty-seven of us.
advertisements
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From this reading I was fairly at the end of my tether at last, and could hardly find the stamps to answer the advertisements or the envelopes to stick them to.
all
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From this reading I had been with them five years, and old Coxon gave me a ripping good testimonial when the smash came, but of course we clerks were all turned adrift, the twenty-seven of us.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “I used to have a billet at Coxon & Woodhouse, of Drapers’ Gardens, but they were let in early in the spring through the Venezuelan loan, as no doubt you remember, and came a nasty cropper.
answer
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From this reading I was fairly at the end of my tether at last, and could hardly find the stamps to answer the advertisements or the envelopes to stick them to.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “I used to have a billet at Coxon & Woodhouse, of Drapers’ Gardens, but they were let in early in the spring through the Venezuelan loan, as no doubt you remember, and came a nasty cropper.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “I used to have a billet at Coxon & Woodhouse, of Drapers’ Gardens, but they were let in early in the spring through the Venezuelan loan, as no doubt you remember, and came a nasty cropper.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading I had been with them five years, and old Coxon gave me a ripping good testimonial when the smash came, but of course we clerks were all turned adrift, the twenty-seven of us.
billet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I used to have a billet at Coxon & Woodhouse, of Drapers’ Gardens, but they were let in early in the spring through the Venezuelan loan, as no doubt you remember, and came a nasty cropper.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “I used to have a billet at Coxon & Woodhouse, of Drapers’ Gardens, but they were let in early in the spring through the Venezuelan loan, as no doubt you remember, and came a nasty cropper.
came
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From this reading “I used to have a billet at Coxon & Woodhouse, of Drapers’ Gardens, but they were let in early in the spring through the Venezuelan loan, as no doubt you remember, and came a nasty cropper.
chaps
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From this reading I tried here and tried there, but there were lots of other chaps on the same lay as myself, and it was a perfect frost for a long time.
clerks
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From this reading I had been with them five years, and old Coxon gave me a ripping good testimonial when the smash came, but of course we clerks were all turned adrift, the twenty-seven of us.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I was fairly at the end of my tether at last, and could hardly find the stamps to answer the advertisements or the envelopes to stick them to.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I had been with them five years, and old Coxon gave me a ripping good testimonial when the smash came, but of course we clerks were all turned adrift, the twenty-seven of us.
Coxon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I used to have a billet at Coxon & Woodhouse, of Drapers’ Gardens, but they were let in early in the spring through the Venezuelan loan, as no doubt you remember, and came a nasty cropper.
Coxon's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had been taking three pounds a week at Coxon’s, and I had saved about seventy of them, but I soon worked my way through that and out at the other end.
cropper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I used to have a billet at Coxon & Woodhouse, of Drapers’ Gardens, but they were let in early in the spring through the Venezuelan loan, as no doubt you remember, and came a nasty cropper.
doubt
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From this reading “I used to have a billet at Coxon & Woodhouse, of Drapers’ Gardens, but they were let in early in the spring through the Venezuelan loan, as no doubt you remember, and came a nasty cropper.
Drapers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I used to have a billet at Coxon & Woodhouse, of Drapers’ Gardens, but they were let in early in the spring through the Venezuelan loan, as no doubt you remember, and came a nasty cropper.
early
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I used to have a billet at Coxon & Woodhouse, of Drapers’ Gardens, but they were let in early in the spring through the Venezuelan loan, as no doubt you remember, and came a nasty cropper.
end
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had been taking three pounds a week at Coxon’s, and I had saved about seventy of them, but I soon worked my way through that and out at the other end.
envelopes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was fairly at the end of my tether at last, and could hardly find the stamps to answer the advertisements or the envelopes to stick them to.
fairly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was fairly at the end of my tether at last, and could hardly find the stamps to answer the advertisements or the envelopes to stick them to.
find
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From this reading I was fairly at the end of my tether at last, and could hardly find the stamps to answer the advertisements or the envelopes to stick them to.
five
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From this reading I had been with them five years, and old Coxon gave me a ripping good testimonial when the smash came, but of course we clerks were all turned adrift, the twenty-seven of us.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I tried here and tried there, but there were lots of other chaps on the same lay as myself, and it was a perfect frost for a long time.
frost
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From this reading I tried here and tried there, but there were lots of other chaps on the same lay as myself, and it was a perfect frost for a long time.
Gardens
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From this reading “I used to have a billet at Coxon & Woodhouse, of Drapers’ Gardens, but they were let in early in the spring through the Venezuelan loan, as no doubt you remember, and came a nasty cropper.
gave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had been with them five years, and old Coxon gave me a ripping good testimonial when the smash came, but of course we clerks were all turned adrift, the twenty-seven of us.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I had been with them five years, and old Coxon gave me a ripping good testimonial when the smash came, but of course we clerks were all turned adrift, the twenty-seven of us.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had been with them five years, and old Coxon gave me a ripping good testimonial when the smash came, but of course we clerks were all turned adrift, the twenty-seven of us.
hardly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was fairly at the end of my tether at last, and could hardly find the stamps to answer the advertisements or the envelopes to stick them to.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “I used to have a billet at Coxon & Woodhouse, of Drapers’ Gardens, but they were let in early in the spring through the Venezuelan loan, as no doubt you remember, and came a nasty cropper.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I tried here and tried there, but there were lots of other chaps on the same lay as myself, and it was a perfect frost for a long time.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I used to have a billet at Coxon & Woodhouse, of Drapers’ Gardens, but they were let in early in the spring through the Venezuelan loan, as no doubt you remember, and came a nasty cropper.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “I used to have a billet at Coxon & Woodhouse, of Drapers’ Gardens, but they were let in early in the spring through the Venezuelan loan, as no doubt you remember, and came a nasty cropper.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I tried here and tried there, but there were lots of other chaps on the same lay as myself, and it was a perfect frost for a long time.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I was fairly at the end of my tether at last, and could hardly find the stamps to answer the advertisements or the envelopes to stick them to.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I tried here and tried there, but there were lots of other chaps on the same lay as myself, and it was a perfect frost for a long time.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading “I used to have a billet at Coxon & Woodhouse, of Drapers’ Gardens, but they were let in early in the spring through the Venezuelan loan, as no doubt you remember, and came a nasty cropper.
loan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I used to have a billet at Coxon & Woodhouse, of Drapers’ Gardens, but they were let in early in the spring through the Venezuelan loan, as no doubt you remember, and came a nasty cropper.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I tried here and tried there, but there were lots of other chaps on the same lay as myself, and it was a perfect frost for a long time.
lots
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From this reading I tried here and tried there, but there were lots of other chaps on the same lay as myself, and it was a perfect frost for a long time.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I had been with them five years, and old Coxon gave me a ripping good testimonial when the smash came, but of course we clerks were all turned adrift, the twenty-seven of us.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I had been taking three pounds a week at Coxon’s, and I had saved about seventy of them, but I soon worked my way through that and out at the other end.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading I tried here and tried there, but there were lots of other chaps on the same lay as myself, and it was a perfect frost for a long time.
nasty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I used to have a billet at Coxon & Woodhouse, of Drapers’ Gardens, but they were let in early in the spring through the Venezuelan loan, as no doubt you remember, and came a nasty cropper.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading “I used to have a billet at Coxon & Woodhouse, of Drapers’ Gardens, but they were let in early in the spring through the Venezuelan loan, as no doubt you remember, and came a nasty cropper.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “I used to have a billet at Coxon & Woodhouse, of Drapers’ Gardens, but they were let in early in the spring through the Venezuelan loan, as no doubt you remember, and came a nasty cropper.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had been with them five years, and old Coxon gave me a ripping good testimonial when the smash came, but of course we clerks were all turned adrift, the twenty-seven of us.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I tried here and tried there, but there were lots of other chaps on the same lay as myself, and it was a perfect frost for a long time.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading I was fairly at the end of my tether at last, and could hardly find the stamps to answer the advertisements or the envelopes to stick them to.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I tried here and tried there, but there were lots of other chaps on the same lay as myself, and it was a perfect frost for a long time.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had been taking three pounds a week at Coxon’s, and I had saved about seventy of them, but I soon worked my way through that and out at the other end.
perfect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I tried here and tried there, but there were lots of other chaps on the same lay as myself, and it was a perfect frost for a long time.
pounds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had been taking three pounds a week at Coxon’s, and I had saved about seventy of them, but I soon worked my way through that and out at the other end.
rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/
To recall to mind.
From this reading “I used to have a billet at Coxon & Woodhouse, of Drapers’ Gardens, but they were let in early in the spring through the Venezuelan loan, as no doubt you remember, and came a nasty cropper.
ripping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had been with them five years, and old Coxon gave me a ripping good testimonial when the smash came, but of course we clerks were all turned adrift, the twenty-seven of us.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I tried here and tried there, but there were lots of other chaps on the same lay as myself, and it was a perfect frost for a long time.
savednounUS /saved/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I had been taking three pounds a week at Coxon’s, and I had saved about seventy of them, but I soon worked my way through that and out at the other end.
seventy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had been taking three pounds a week at Coxon’s, and I had saved about seventy of them, but I soon worked my way through that and out at the other end.
smash
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had been with them five years, and old Coxon gave me a ripping good testimonial when the smash came, but of course we clerks were all turned adrift, the twenty-seven of us.
soon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had been taking three pounds a week at Coxon’s, and I had saved about seventy of them, but I soon worked my way through that and out at the other end.
spring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I used to have a billet at Coxon & Woodhouse, of Drapers’ Gardens, but they were let in early in the spring through the Venezuelan loan, as no doubt you remember, and came a nasty cropper.
stamps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was fairly at the end of my tether at last, and could hardly find the stamps to answer the advertisements or the envelopes to stick them to.
stick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was fairly at the end of my tether at last, and could hardly find the stamps to answer the advertisements or the envelopes to stick them to.
taking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had been taking three pounds a week at Coxon’s, and I had saved about seventy of them, but I soon worked my way through that and out at the other end.
testimonial
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had been with them five years, and old Coxon gave me a ripping good testimonial when the smash came, but of course we clerks were all turned adrift, the twenty-seven of us.
tether
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was fairly at the end of my tether at last, and could hardly find the stamps to answer the advertisements or the envelopes to stick them to.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I had been taking three pounds a week at Coxon’s, and I had saved about seventy of them, but I soon worked my way through that and out at the other end.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “I used to have a billet at Coxon & Woodhouse, of Drapers’ Gardens, but they were let in early in the spring through the Venezuelan loan, as no doubt you remember, and came a nasty cropper.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading I had been with them five years, and old Coxon gave me a ripping good testimonial when the smash came, but of course we clerks were all turned adrift, the twenty-seven of us.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I tried here and tried there, but there were lots of other chaps on the same lay as myself, and it was a perfect frost for a long time.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “I used to have a billet at Coxon & Woodhouse, of Drapers’ Gardens, but they were let in early in the spring through the Venezuelan loan, as no doubt you remember, and came a nasty cropper.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had been taking three pounds a week at Coxon’s, and I had saved about seventy of them, but I soon worked my way through that and out at the other end.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “I used to have a billet at Coxon & Woodhouse, of Drapers’ Gardens, but they were let in early in the spring through the Venezuelan loan, as no doubt you remember, and came a nasty cropper.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I tried here and tried there, but there were lots of other chaps on the same lay as myself, and it was a perfect frost for a long time.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “I used to have a billet at Coxon & Woodhouse, of Drapers’ Gardens, but they were let in early in the spring through the Venezuelan loan, as no doubt you remember, and came a nasty cropper.
tried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I tried here and tried there, but there were lots of other chaps on the same lay as myself, and it was a perfect frost for a long time.
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had been with them five years, and old Coxon gave me a ripping good testimonial when the smash came, but of course we clerks were all turned adrift, the twenty-seven of us.
twenty-seven
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had been with them five years, and old Coxon gave me a ripping good testimonial when the smash came, but of course we clerks were all turned adrift, the twenty-seven of us.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I had been with them five years, and old Coxon gave me a ripping good testimonial when the smash came, but of course we clerks were all turned adrift, the twenty-seven of us.
used
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I used to have a billet at Coxon & Woodhouse, of Drapers’ Gardens, but they were let in early in the spring through the Venezuelan loan, as no doubt you remember, and came a nasty cropper.
Venezuelan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I used to have a billet at Coxon & Woodhouse, of Drapers’ Gardens, but they were let in early in the spring through the Venezuelan loan, as no doubt you remember, and came a nasty cropper.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I tried here and tried there, but there were lots of other chaps on the same lay as myself, and it was a perfect frost for a long time.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had been taking three pounds a week at Coxon’s, and I had saved about seventy of them, but I soon worked my way through that and out at the other end.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading I had been with them five years, and old Coxon gave me a ripping good testimonial when the smash came, but of course we clerks were all turned adrift, the twenty-seven of us.
week
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had been taking three pounds a week at Coxon’s, and I had saved about seventy of them, but I soon worked my way through that and out at the other end.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “I used to have a billet at Coxon & Woodhouse, of Drapers’ Gardens, but they were let in early in the spring through the Venezuelan loan, as no doubt you remember, and came a nasty cropper.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading I had been with them five years, and old Coxon gave me a ripping good testimonial when the smash came, but of course we clerks were all turned adrift, the twenty-seven of us.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading I had been with them five years, and old Coxon gave me a ripping good testimonial when the smash came, but of course we clerks were all turned adrift, the twenty-seven of us.
Woodhouse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I used to have a billet at Coxon & Woodhouse, of Drapers’ Gardens, but they were let in early in the spring through the Venezuelan loan, as no doubt you remember, and came a nasty cropper.
worked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had been taking three pounds a week at Coxon’s, and I had saved about seventy of them, but I soon worked my way through that and out at the other end.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had been with them five years, and old Coxon gave me a ripping good testimonial when the smash came, but of course we clerks were all turned adrift, the twenty-seven of us.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I used to have a billet at Coxon & Woodhouse, of Drapers’ Gardens, but they were let in early in the spring through the Venezuelan loan, as no doubt you remember, and came a nasty cropper.
