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 He’s had his fellowship this long time, has not he? and really a clergyman’s son, and with the excellent connections he has--I am surprised!”
Ah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Ah, so is everybody,” said Miss Polly, significantly.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading “I am surprised,” said Mr. Reredos, as he drank his coffee beside me, “to hear from Mr. Maurice Harley that he’s not in orders.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Miss Polly was an old-fashioned woman, and had little sympathy with those delicate conscientious scruples which kept our friend Maurice out of the Church.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He’s had his fellowship this long time, has not he? and really a clergyman’s son, and with the excellent connections he has--I am surprised!”
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “I am surprised,” said Mr. Reredos, as he drank his coffee beside me, “to hear from Mr. Maurice Harley that he’s not in orders.
asking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I really felt so sure that he must be that I did not think of asking.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I really felt so sure that he must be that I did not think of asking.
besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/
next to; at the side of
From this reading “I am surprised,” said Mr. Reredos, as he drank his coffee beside me, “to hear from Mr. Maurice Harley that he’s not in orders.
Church
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Polly was an old-fashioned woman, and had little sympathy with those delicate conscientious scruples which kept our friend Maurice out of the Church.
clergyman's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He’s had his fellowship this long time, has not he? and really a clergyman’s son, and with the excellent connections he has--I am surprised!”
coffee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am surprised,” said Mr. Reredos, as he drank his coffee beside me, “to hear from Mr. Maurice Harley that he’s not in orders.
connections
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He’s had his fellowship this long time, has not he? and really a clergyman’s son, and with the excellent connections he has--I am surprised!”
conscientious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Polly was an old-fashioned woman, and had little sympathy with those delicate conscientious scruples which kept our friend Maurice out of the Church.
delicate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Polly was an old-fashioned woman, and had little sympathy with those delicate conscientious scruples which kept our friend Maurice out of the Church.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading I really felt so sure that he must be that I did not think of asking.
drank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am surprised,” said Mr. Reredos, as he drank his coffee beside me, “to hear from Mr. Maurice Harley that he’s not in orders.
everybodypronounUS /ˈevribɑːdi/
every person
From this reading “Ah, so is everybody,” said Miss Polly, significantly.
excellent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He’s had his fellowship this long time, has not he? and really a clergyman’s son, and with the excellent connections he has--I am surprised!”
fellowship
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He’s had his fellowship this long time, has not he? and really a clergyman’s son, and with the excellent connections he has--I am surprised!”
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I really felt so sure that he must be that I did not think of asking.
friend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Polly was an old-fashioned woman, and had little sympathy with those delicate conscientious scruples which kept our friend Maurice out of the Church.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “I am surprised,” said Mr. Reredos, as he drank his coffee beside me, “to hear from Mr. Maurice Harley that he’s not in orders.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He’s had his fellowship this long time, has not he? and really a clergyman’s son, and with the excellent connections he has--I am surprised!”
Harley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am surprised,” said Mr. Reredos, as he drank his coffee beside me, “to hear from Mr. Maurice Harley that he’s not in orders.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He’s had his fellowship this long time, has not he? and really a clergyman’s son, and with the excellent connections he has--I am surprised!”
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “I am surprised,” said Mr. Reredos, as he drank his coffee beside me, “to hear from Mr. Maurice Harley that he’s not in orders.
he's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am surprised,” said Mr. Reredos, as he drank his coffee beside me, “to hear from Mr. Maurice Harley that he’s not in orders.
hearnounUS /hear/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I am surprised,” said Mr. Reredos, as he drank his coffee beside me, “to hear from Mr. Maurice Harley that he’s not in orders.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “I am surprised,” said Mr. Reredos, as he drank his coffee beside me, “to hear from Mr. Maurice Harley that he’s not in orders.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I am surprised,” said Mr. Reredos, as he drank his coffee beside me, “to hear from Mr. Maurice Harley that he’s not in orders.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “I am surprised,” said Mr. Reredos, as he drank his coffee beside me, “to hear from Mr. Maurice Harley that he’s not in orders.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Ah, so is everybody,” said Miss Polly, significantly.
kept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Polly was an old-fashioned woman, and had little sympathy with those delicate conscientious scruples which kept our friend Maurice out of the Church.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Miss Polly was an old-fashioned woman, and had little sympathy with those delicate conscientious scruples which kept our friend Maurice out of the Church.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He’s had his fellowship this long time, has not he? and really a clergyman’s son, and with the excellent connections he has--I am surprised!”
Maurice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am surprised,” said Mr. Reredos, as he drank his coffee beside me, “to hear from Mr. Maurice Harley that he’s not in orders.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “I am surprised,” said Mr. Reredos, as he drank his coffee beside me, “to hear from Mr. Maurice Harley that he’s not in orders.
Miss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Ah, so is everybody,” said Miss Polly, significantly.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am surprised,” said Mr. Reredos, as he drank his coffee beside me, “to hear from Mr. Maurice Harley that he’s not in orders.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading I really felt so sure that he must be that I did not think of asking.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “I am surprised,” said Mr. Reredos, as he drank his coffee beside me, “to hear from Mr. Maurice Harley that he’s not in orders.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I really felt so sure that he must be that I did not think of asking.
old-fashioned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Polly was an old-fashioned woman, and had little sympathy with those delicate conscientious scruples which kept our friend Maurice out of the Church.
orders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am surprised,” said Mr. Reredos, as he drank his coffee beside me, “to hear from Mr. Maurice Harley that he’s not in orders.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Miss Polly was an old-fashioned woman, and had little sympathy with those delicate conscientious scruples which kept our friend Maurice out of the Church.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Polly was an old-fashioned woman, and had little sympathy with those delicate conscientious scruples which kept our friend Maurice out of the Church.
Polly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Ah, so is everybody,” said Miss Polly, significantly.
really
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I really felt so sure that he must be that I did not think of asking.
Reredos
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am surprised,” said Mr. Reredos, as he drank his coffee beside me, “to hear from Mr. Maurice Harley that he’s not in orders.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am surprised,” said Mr. Reredos, as he drank his coffee beside me, “to hear from Mr. Maurice Harley that he’s not in orders.
scruples
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Polly was an old-fashioned woman, and had little sympathy with those delicate conscientious scruples which kept our friend Maurice out of the Church.
significantly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Ah, so is everybody,” said Miss Polly, significantly.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I really felt so sure that he must be that I did not think of asking.
son
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He’s had his fellowship this long time, has not he? and really a clergyman’s son, and with the excellent connections he has--I am surprised!”
surenounUS /sure/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I really felt so sure that he must be that I did not think of asking.
surprisednounUS /surprised/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I am surprised,” said Mr. Reredos, as he drank his coffee beside me, “to hear from Mr. Maurice Harley that he’s not in orders.
sympathy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Polly was an old-fashioned woman, and had little sympathy with those delicate conscientious scruples which kept our friend Maurice out of the Church.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “I am surprised,” said Mr. Reredos, as he drank his coffee beside me, “to hear from Mr. Maurice Harley that he’s not in orders.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He’s had his fellowship this long time, has not he? and really a clergyman’s son, and with the excellent connections he has--I am surprised!”
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I really felt so sure that he must be that I did not think of asking.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He’s had his fellowship this long time, has not he? and really a clergyman’s son, and with the excellent connections he has--I am surprised!”
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Miss Polly was an old-fashioned woman, and had little sympathy with those delicate conscientious scruples which kept our friend Maurice out of the Church.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He’s had his fellowship this long time, has not he? and really a clergyman’s son, and with the excellent connections he has--I am surprised!”
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “I am surprised,” said Mr. Reredos, as he drank his coffee beside me, “to hear from Mr. Maurice Harley that he’s not in orders.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Miss Polly was an old-fashioned woman, and had little sympathy with those delicate conscientious scruples which kept our friend Maurice out of the Church.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Miss Polly was an old-fashioned woman, and had little sympathy with those delicate conscientious scruples which kept our friend Maurice out of the Church.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He’s had his fellowship this long time, has not he? and really a clergyman’s son, and with the excellent connections he has--I am surprised!”
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Polly was an old-fashioned woman, and had little sympathy with those delicate conscientious scruples which kept our friend Maurice out of the Church.
