Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A NEW life began from that day forward for little Bertie.
alive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could hardly have defined the change that had passed over his head, but he was keenly alive to it day by day, and as grateful as he was happy at the thing that had come to him.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He could hardly have defined the change that had passed over his head, but he was keenly alive to it day by day, and as grateful as he was happy at the thing that had come to him.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He could hardly have defined the change that had passed over his head, but he was keenly alive to it day by day, and as grateful as he was happy at the thing that had come to him.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He could hardly have defined the change that had passed over his head, but he was keenly alive to it day by day, and as grateful as he was happy at the thing that had come to him.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading He was no longer a chance guest in this hospitable house, entertained there simply because no other home opened to him, and the master was too kind-hearted to turn him out upon the mercy of a cold world.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He was no longer the lonely little outcast he once had been.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A NEW life began from that day forward for little Bertie.
BERTIE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHAT BERTIE DID.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He could hardly have defined the change that had passed over his head, but he was keenly alive to it day by day, and as grateful as he was happy at the thing that had come to him.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He could hardly have defined the change that had passed over his head, but he was keenly alive to it day by day, and as grateful as he was happy at the thing that had come to him.
chance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was no longer a chance guest in this hospitable house, entertained there simply because no other home opened to him, and the master was too kind-hearted to turn him out upon the mercy of a cold world.
change
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could hardly have defined the change that had passed over his head, but he was keenly alive to it day by day, and as grateful as he was happy at the thing that had come to him.
cold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was no longer a chance guest in this hospitable house, entertained there simply because no other home opened to him, and the master was too kind-hearted to turn him out upon the mercy of a cold world.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He could hardly have defined the change that had passed over his head, but he was keenly alive to it day by day, and as grateful as he was happy at the thing that had come to him.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could hardly have defined the change that had passed over his head, but he was keenly alive to it day by day, and as grateful as he was happy at the thing that had come to him.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A NEW life began from that day forward for little Bertie.
defined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could hardly have defined the change that had passed over his head, but he was keenly alive to it day by day, and as grateful as he was happy at the thing that had come to him.
DIDauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading WHAT BERTIE DID.
entertained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was no longer a chance guest in this hospitable house, entertained there simply because no other home opened to him, and the master was too kind-hearted to turn him out upon the mercy of a cold world.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A NEW life began from that day forward for little Bertie.
forwardnounUS /forward/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A NEW life began from that day forward for little Bertie.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A NEW life began from that day forward for little Bertie.
grateful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could hardly have defined the change that had passed over his head, but he was keenly alive to it day by day, and as grateful as he was happy at the thing that had come to him.
guest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was no longer a chance guest in this hospitable house, entertained there simply because no other home opened to him, and the master was too kind-hearted to turn him out upon the mercy of a cold world.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He could hardly have defined the change that had passed over his head, but he was keenly alive to it day by day, and as grateful as he was happy at the thing that had come to him.
happy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could hardly have defined the change that had passed over his head, but he was keenly alive to it day by day, and as grateful as he was happy at the thing that had come to him.
hardly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could hardly have defined the change that had passed over his head, but he was keenly alive to it day by day, and as grateful as he was happy at the thing that had come to him.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He could hardly have defined the change that had passed over his head, but he was keenly alive to it day by day, and as grateful as he was happy at the thing that had come to him.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He could hardly have defined the change that had passed over his head, but he was keenly alive to it day by day, and as grateful as he was happy at the thing that had come to him.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could hardly have defined the change that had passed over his head, but he was keenly alive to it day by day, and as grateful as he was happy at the thing that had come to him.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He could hardly have defined the change that had passed over his head, but he was keenly alive to it day by day, and as grateful as he was happy at the thing that had come to him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He could hardly have defined the change that had passed over his head, but he was keenly alive to it day by day, and as grateful as he was happy at the thing that had come to him.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was no longer a chance guest in this hospitable house, entertained there simply because no other home opened to him, and the master was too kind-hearted to turn him out upon the mercy of a cold world.
hospitable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was no longer a chance guest in this hospitable house, entertained there simply because no other home opened to him, and the master was too kind-hearted to turn him out upon the mercy of a cold world.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was no longer a chance guest in this hospitable house, entertained there simply because no other home opened to him, and the master was too kind-hearted to turn him out upon the mercy of a cold world.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was no longer a chance guest in this hospitable house, entertained there simply because no other home opened to him, and the master was too kind-hearted to turn him out upon the mercy of a cold world.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He could hardly have defined the change that had passed over his head, but he was keenly alive to it day by day, and as grateful as he was happy at the thing that had come to him.
keenlyadverbUS /ˈkiːnli/
with sharp attention or strong interest
From this reading He could hardly have defined the change that had passed over his head, but he was keenly alive to it day by day, and as grateful as he was happy at the thing that had come to him.
kind-hearted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was no longer a chance guest in this hospitable house, entertained there simply because no other home opened to him, and the master was too kind-hearted to turn him out upon the mercy of a cold world.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A NEW life began from that day forward for little Bertie.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A NEW life began from that day forward for little Bertie.
lonely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was no longer the lonely little outcast he once had been.
longer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was no longer the lonely little outcast he once had been.
master
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was no longer a chance guest in this hospitable house, entertained there simply because no other home opened to him, and the master was too kind-hearted to turn him out upon the mercy of a cold world.
mercy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was no longer a chance guest in this hospitable house, entertained there simply because no other home opened to him, and the master was too kind-hearted to turn him out upon the mercy of a cold world.
NEW
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A NEW life began from that day forward for little Bertie.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading He was no longer the lonely little outcast he once had been.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was no longer a chance guest in this hospitable house, entertained there simply because no other home opened to him, and the master was too kind-hearted to turn him out upon the mercy of a cold world.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was no longer the lonely little outcast he once had been.
opened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was no longer a chance guest in this hospitable house, entertained there simply because no other home opened to him, and the master was too kind-hearted to turn him out upon the mercy of a cold world.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was no longer a chance guest in this hospitable house, entertained there simply because no other home opened to him, and the master was too kind-hearted to turn him out upon the mercy of a cold world.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was no longer a chance guest in this hospitable house, entertained there simply because no other home opened to him, and the master was too kind-hearted to turn him out upon the mercy of a cold world.
outcast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was no longer the lonely little outcast he once had been.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He could hardly have defined the change that had passed over his head, but he was keenly alive to it day by day, and as grateful as he was happy at the thing that had come to him.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He could hardly have defined the change that had passed over his head, but he was keenly alive to it day by day, and as grateful as he was happy at the thing that had come to him.
simply
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was no longer a chance guest in this hospitable house, entertained there simply because no other home opened to him, and the master was too kind-hearted to turn him out upon the mercy of a cold world.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A NEW life began from that day forward for little Bertie.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He could hardly have defined the change that had passed over his head, but he was keenly alive to it day by day, and as grateful as he was happy at the thing that had come to him.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was no longer a chance guest in this hospitable house, entertained there simply because no other home opened to him, and the master was too kind-hearted to turn him out upon the mercy of a cold world.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He could hardly have defined the change that had passed over his head, but he was keenly alive to it day by day, and as grateful as he was happy at the thing that had come to him.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He was no longer a chance guest in this hospitable house, entertained there simply because no other home opened to him, and the master was too kind-hearted to turn him out upon the mercy of a cold world.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He could hardly have defined the change that had passed over his head, but he was keenly alive to it day by day, and as grateful as he was happy at the thing that had come to him.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was no longer a chance guest in this hospitable house, entertained there simply because no other home opened to him, and the master was too kind-hearted to turn him out upon the mercy of a cold world.
turn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was no longer a chance guest in this hospitable house, entertained there simply because no other home opened to him, and the master was too kind-hearted to turn him out upon the mercy of a cold world.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He was no longer a chance guest in this hospitable house, entertained there simply because no other home opened to him, and the master was too kind-hearted to turn him out upon the mercy of a cold world.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He could hardly have defined the change that had passed over his head, but he was keenly alive to it day by day, and as grateful as he was happy at the thing that had come to him.
WHATpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading WHAT BERTIE DID.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was no longer a chance guest in this hospitable house, entertained there simply because no other home opened to him, and the master was too kind-hearted to turn him out upon the mercy of a cold world.