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 There was to be a convocation of Barnacles on the occasion, in order that that very high and very large family might shed as much lustre on the marriage as so dim an event was capable of receiving.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Firstly, because no building could have held all the members and connections of that illustrious house.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There was to be a convocation of Barnacles on the occasion, in order that that very high and very large family might shed as much lustre on the marriage as so dim an event was capable of receiving.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mr Henry Gowan and the dog were established frequenters of the cottage, and the day was fixed for the wedding.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There was to be a convocation of Barnacles on the occasion, in order that that very high and very large family might shed as much lustre on the marriage as so dim an event was capable of receiving.
Barnacle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To have got the whole Barnacle family together would have been impossible for two reasons.
Barnacles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was to be a convocation of Barnacles on the occasion, in order that that very high and very large family might shed as much lustre on the marriage as so dim an event was capable of receiving.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There was to be a convocation of Barnacles on the occasion, in order that that very high and very large family might shed as much lustre on the marriage as so dim an event was capable of receiving.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading Firstly, because no building could have held all the members and connections of that illustrious house.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading To have got the whole Barnacle family together would have been impossible for two reasons.
British
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Secondly, because wherever there was a square yard of ground in British occupation under the sun or moon, with a public post upon it, sticking to that post was a Barnacle.
building
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Firstly, because no building could have held all the members and connections of that illustrious house.
capable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was to be a convocation of Barnacles on the occasion, in order that that very high and very large family might shed as much lustre on the marriage as so dim an event was capable of receiving.
connections
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Firstly, because no building could have held all the members and connections of that illustrious house.
convocation
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From this reading There was to be a convocation of Barnacles on the occasion, in order that that very high and very large family might shed as much lustre on the marriage as so dim an event was capable of receiving.
cottage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Henry Gowan and the dog were established frequenters of the cottage, and the day was fixed for the wedding.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Firstly, because no building could have held all the members and connections of that illustrious house.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Henry Gowan and the dog were established frequenters of the cottage, and the day was fixed for the wedding.
dim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was to be a convocation of Barnacles on the occasion, in order that that very high and very large family might shed as much lustre on the marriage as so dim an event was capable of receiving.
dog
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Henry Gowan and the dog were established frequenters of the cottage, and the day was fixed for the wedding.
established
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Henry Gowan and the dog were established frequenters of the cottage, and the day was fixed for the wedding.
event
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was to be a convocation of Barnacles on the occasion, in order that that very high and very large family might shed as much lustre on the marriage as so dim an event was capable of receiving.
family
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was to be a convocation of Barnacles on the occasion, in order that that very high and very large family might shed as much lustre on the marriage as so dim an event was capable of receiving.
Firstly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Firstly, because no building could have held all the members and connections of that illustrious house.
fixed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Henry Gowan and the dog were established frequenters of the cottage, and the day was fixed for the wedding.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Mr Henry Gowan and the dog were established frequenters of the cottage, and the day was fixed for the wedding.
frequenters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Henry Gowan and the dog were established frequenters of the cottage, and the day was fixed for the wedding.
got
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To have got the whole Barnacle family together would have been impossible for two reasons.
Gowan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Henry Gowan and the dog were established frequenters of the cottage, and the day was fixed for the wedding.
ground
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Secondly, because wherever there was a square yard of ground in British occupation under the sun or moon, with a public post upon it, sticking to that post was a Barnacle.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading To have got the whole Barnacle family together would have been impossible for two reasons.
held
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Firstly, because no building could have held all the members and connections of that illustrious house.
Henry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Henry Gowan and the dog were established frequenters of the cottage, and the day was fixed for the wedding.
high
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was to be a convocation of Barnacles on the occasion, in order that that very high and very large family might shed as much lustre on the marriage as so dim an event was capable of receiving.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Firstly, because no building could have held all the members and connections of that illustrious house.
illustrious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Firstly, because no building could have held all the members and connections of that illustrious house.
impossible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To have got the whole Barnacle family together would have been impossible for two reasons.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was to be a convocation of Barnacles on the occasion, in order that that very high and very large family might shed as much lustre on the marriage as so dim an event was capable of receiving.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Secondly, because wherever there was a square yard of ground in British occupation under the sun or moon, with a public post upon it, sticking to that post was a Barnacle.
large
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was to be a convocation of Barnacles on the occasion, in order that that very high and very large family might shed as much lustre on the marriage as so dim an event was capable of receiving.
lustre
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was to be a convocation of Barnacles on the occasion, in order that that very high and very large family might shed as much lustre on the marriage as so dim an event was capable of receiving.
marriage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was to be a convocation of Barnacles on the occasion, in order that that very high and very large family might shed as much lustre on the marriage as so dim an event was capable of receiving.
members
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Firstly, because no building could have held all the members and connections of that illustrious house.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading There was to be a convocation of Barnacles on the occasion, in order that that very high and very large family might shed as much lustre on the marriage as so dim an event was capable of receiving.
moon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Secondly, because wherever there was a square yard of ground in British occupation under the sun or moon, with a public post upon it, sticking to that post was a Barnacle.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Henry Gowan and the dog were established frequenters of the cottage, and the day was fixed for the wedding.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was to be a convocation of Barnacles on the occasion, in order that that very high and very large family might shed as much lustre on the marriage as so dim an event was capable of receiving.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Firstly, because no building could have held all the members and connections of that illustrious house.
occasion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was to be a convocation of Barnacles on the occasion, in order that that very high and very large family might shed as much lustre on the marriage as so dim an event was capable of receiving.
occupation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Secondly, because wherever there was a square yard of ground in British occupation under the sun or moon, with a public post upon it, sticking to that post was a Barnacle.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mr Henry Gowan and the dog were established frequenters of the cottage, and the day was fixed for the wedding.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There was to be a convocation of Barnacles on the occasion, in order that that very high and very large family might shed as much lustre on the marriage as so dim an event was capable of receiving.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Secondly, because wherever there was a square yard of ground in British occupation under the sun or moon, with a public post upon it, sticking to that post was a Barnacle.
ordernounUS /order/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There was to be a convocation of Barnacles on the occasion, in order that that very high and very large family might shed as much lustre on the marriage as so dim an event was capable of receiving.
post
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Secondly, because wherever there was a square yard of ground in British occupation under the sun or moon, with a public post upon it, sticking to that post was a Barnacle.
public
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Secondly, because wherever there was a square yard of ground in British occupation under the sun or moon, with a public post upon it, sticking to that post was a Barnacle.
reasonsnounUS /ˈreasons/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading To have got the whole Barnacle family together would have been impossible for two reasons.
receiving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was to be a convocation of Barnacles on the occasion, in order that that very high and very large family might shed as much lustre on the marriage as so dim an event was capable of receiving.
Secondly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Secondly, because wherever there was a square yard of ground in British occupation under the sun or moon, with a public post upon it, sticking to that post was a Barnacle.
shed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was to be a convocation of Barnacles on the occasion, in order that that very high and very large family might shed as much lustre on the marriage as so dim an event was capable of receiving.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading There was to be a convocation of Barnacles on the occasion, in order that that very high and very large family might shed as much lustre on the marriage as so dim an event was capable of receiving.
square
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Secondly, because wherever there was a square yard of ground in British occupation under the sun or moon, with a public post upon it, sticking to that post was a Barnacle.
sticking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Secondly, because wherever there was a square yard of ground in British occupation under the sun or moon, with a public post upon it, sticking to that post was a Barnacle.
sun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Secondly, because wherever there was a square yard of ground in British occupation under the sun or moon, with a public post upon it, sticking to that post was a Barnacle.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was to be a convocation of Barnacles on the occasion, in order that that very high and very large family might shed as much lustre on the marriage as so dim an event was capable of receiving.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mr Henry Gowan and the dog were established frequenters of the cottage, and the day was fixed for the wedding.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was to be a convocation of Barnacles on the occasion, in order that that very high and very large family might shed as much lustre on the marriage as so dim an event was capable of receiving.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was to be a convocation of Barnacles on the occasion, in order that that very high and very large family might shed as much lustre on the marriage as so dim an event was capable of receiving.
together
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To have got the whole Barnacle family together would have been impossible for two reasons.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To have got the whole Barnacle family together would have been impossible for two reasons.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Secondly, because wherever there was a square yard of ground in British occupation under the sun or moon, with a public post upon it, sticking to that post was a Barnacle.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Secondly, because wherever there was a square yard of ground in British occupation under the sun or moon, with a public post upon it, sticking to that post was a Barnacle.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was to be a convocation of Barnacles on the occasion, in order that that very high and very large family might shed as much lustre on the marriage as so dim an event was capable of receiving.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mr Henry Gowan and the dog were established frequenters of the cottage, and the day was fixed for the wedding.
wedding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Henry Gowan and the dog were established frequenters of the cottage, and the day was fixed for the wedding.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Mr Henry Gowan and the dog were established frequenters of the cottage, and the day was fixed for the wedding.
whereverconjunctionUS /weˈrevər/
in or to any place at all
From this reading Secondly, because wherever there was a square yard of ground in British occupation under the sun or moon, with a public post upon it, sticking to that post was a Barnacle.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To have got the whole Barnacle family together would have been impossible for two reasons.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Secondly, because wherever there was a square yard of ground in British occupation under the sun or moon, with a public post upon it, sticking to that post was a Barnacle.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading To have got the whole Barnacle family together would have been impossible for two reasons.
yard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Secondly, because wherever there was a square yard of ground in British occupation under the sun or moon, with a public post upon it, sticking to that post was a Barnacle.
