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Little Sunbeam
Little Sunbeam

Chapter VII

Cover illustration for Little Sunbeam
Context Illustration Reading 1/25 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A GREAT SURPRISE NOT quite a week later, Mr. Tiddy, crossing the fields in his usual leisurely fashion towards the house at dinner-time, caught sight of his wife and Peggy, standing at the garden gate, evidently waiting for him.
As he drew near enough to see the expression of their faces, he noticed that both appeared excited, and as he joined them the little girl cried eagerly:
"Oh, Mr. Tiddy, we've had a visitor!
She came and knocked at the door and asked if she might go round the garden.
And who do you think she was?"
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Little Sunbeam

Chapter VII

Reading 1/25 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A GREAT SURPRISE NOT quite a week later, Mr. Tiddy, crossing the fields in his usual leisurely fashion towards the house at dinner-time, caught sight of his wife and Peggy, standing at the garden gate, evidently waiting for him.
Line 2
As he drew near enough to see the expression of their faces, he noticed that both appeared excited, and as he joined them the little girl cried eagerly:
Line 3
"Oh, Mr. Tiddy, we've had a visitor!
Line 4
She came and knocked at the door and asked if she might go round the garden.
Line 5
And who do you think she was?"
/ənd huː duː juː think ʃiː wɑːz/

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Asked noun US /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She came and knocked at the door and asked if she might go round the garden.”

Cried noun US /cried/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “As he drew near enough to see the expression of their faces, he noticed that both appeared excited, and as he joined them the little girl cried eagerly:”

Drew noun US /drew/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “As he drew near enough to see the expression of their faces, he noticed that both appeared excited, and as he joined them the little girl cried eagerly:”

Excited adjective US /ɪkˈsaɪtɪd/

very enthusiastic or eager

From this reading “As he drew near enough to see the expression of their faces, he noticed that both appeared excited, and as he joined them the little girl cried eagerly:”

GREAT noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A GREAT SURPRISE NOT quite a week later, Mr. Tiddy, crossing the fields in his usual leisurely fashion towards the house at dinner-time, caught sight of his wife and Peggy, standing at the garden gate, evidently waiting for him.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “As he drew near enough to see the expression of their faces, he noticed that both appeared excited, and as he joined them the little girl cried eagerly:”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “She came and knocked at the door and asked if she might go round the garden.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A GREAT SURPRISE NOT quite a week later, Mr. Tiddy, crossing the fields in his usual leisurely fashion towards the house at dinner-time, caught sight of his wife and Peggy, standing at the garden gate, evidently waiting for him.”

Standing noun US /ˈstanding/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “A GREAT SURPRISE NOT quite a week later, Mr. Tiddy, crossing the fields in his usual leisurely fashion towards the house at dinner-time, caught sight of his wife and Peggy, standing at the garden gate, evidently waiting for him.”

Think noun US /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And who do you think she was?"”

Towards preposition US /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading “A GREAT SURPRISE NOT quite a week later, Mr. Tiddy, crossing the fields in his usual leisurely fashion towards the house at dinner-time, caught sight of his wife and Peggy, standing at the garden gate, evidently waiting for him.”

Waiting noun US /ˈwaiting/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “A GREAT SURPRISE NOT quite a week later, Mr. Tiddy, crossing the fields in his usual leisurely fashion towards the house at dinner-time, caught sight of his wife and Peggy, standing at the garden gate, evidently waiting for him.”

All words in this reading · 73

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 GREAT SURPRISE NOT quite a week later, Mr. Tiddy, crossing the fields in his usual leisurely fashion towards the house at dinner-time, caught sight of his wife and Peggy, standing at the garden gate, evidently waiting for him.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE NOT quite a week later, Mr. Tiddy, crossing the fields in his usual leisurely fashion towards the house at dinner-time, caught sight of his wife and Peggy, standing at the garden gate, evidently waiting for him.

appeared

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading As he drew near enough to see the expression of their faces, he noticed that both appeared excited, and as he joined them the little girl cried eagerly:

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading As he drew near enough to see the expression of their faces, he noticed that both appeared excited, and as he joined them the little girl cried eagerly:

askednounUS /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She came and knocked at the door and asked if she might go round the garden.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE NOT quite a week later, Mr. Tiddy, crossing the fields in his usual leisurely fashion towards the house at dinner-time, caught sight of his wife and Peggy, standing at the garden gate, evidently waiting for him.

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading As he drew near enough to see the expression of their faces, he noticed that both appeared excited, and as he joined them the little girl cried eagerly:

came

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She came and knocked at the door and asked if she might go round the garden.

caught

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE NOT quite a week later, Mr. Tiddy, crossing the fields in his usual leisurely fashion towards the house at dinner-time, caught sight of his wife and Peggy, standing at the garden gate, evidently waiting for him.

criednounUS /cried/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading As he drew near enough to see the expression of their faces, he noticed that both appeared excited, and as he joined them the little girl cried eagerly:

crossing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE NOT quite a week later, Mr. Tiddy, crossing the fields in his usual leisurely fashion towards the house at dinner-time, caught sight of his wife and Peggy, standing at the garden gate, evidently waiting for him.

dinner-time

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE NOT quite a week later, Mr. Tiddy, crossing the fields in his usual leisurely fashion towards the house at dinner-time, caught sight of his wife and Peggy, standing at the garden gate, evidently waiting for him.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading And who do you think she was?"

door

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She came and knocked at the door and asked if she might go round the garden.

drewnounUS /drew/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading As he drew near enough to see the expression of their faces, he noticed that both appeared excited, and as he joined them the little girl cried eagerly:

eagerly

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading As he drew near enough to see the expression of their faces, he noticed that both appeared excited, and as he joined them the little girl cried eagerly:

enough

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading As he drew near enough to see the expression of their faces, he noticed that both appeared excited, and as he joined them the little girl cried eagerly:

evidently

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE NOT quite a week later, Mr. Tiddy, crossing the fields in his usual leisurely fashion towards the house at dinner-time, caught sight of his wife and Peggy, standing at the garden gate, evidently waiting for him.

excitedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsaɪtɪd/

very enthusiastic or eager

From this reading As he drew near enough to see the expression of their faces, he noticed that both appeared excited, and as he joined them the little girl cried eagerly:

expression

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading As he drew near enough to see the expression of their faces, he noticed that both appeared excited, and as he joined them the little girl cried eagerly:

faces

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading As he drew near enough to see the expression of their faces, he noticed that both appeared excited, and as he joined them the little girl cried eagerly:

fashion

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE NOT quite a week later, Mr. Tiddy, crossing the fields in his usual leisurely fashion towards the house at dinner-time, caught sight of his wife and Peggy, standing at the garden gate, evidently waiting for him.

fields

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE NOT quite a week later, Mr. Tiddy, crossing the fields in his usual leisurely fashion towards the house at dinner-time, caught sight of his wife and Peggy, standing at the garden gate, evidently waiting for him.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE NOT quite a week later, Mr. Tiddy, crossing the fields in his usual leisurely fashion towards the house at dinner-time, caught sight of his wife and Peggy, standing at the garden gate, evidently waiting for him.

garden

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE NOT quite a week later, Mr. Tiddy, crossing the fields in his usual leisurely fashion towards the house at dinner-time, caught sight of his wife and Peggy, standing at the garden gate, evidently waiting for him.

gate

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE NOT quite a week later, Mr. Tiddy, crossing the fields in his usual leisurely fashion towards the house at dinner-time, caught sight of his wife and Peggy, standing at the garden gate, evidently waiting for him.

girl

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading As he drew near enough to see the expression of their faces, he noticed that both appeared excited, and as he joined them the little girl cried eagerly:

go

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She came and knocked at the door and asked if she might go round the garden.

GREATnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE NOT quite a week later, Mr. Tiddy, crossing the fields in his usual leisurely fashion towards the house at dinner-time, caught sight of his wife and Peggy, standing at the garden gate, evidently waiting for him.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading "Oh, Mr. Tiddy, we've had a visitor!

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading As he drew near enough to see the expression of their faces, he noticed that both appeared excited, and as he joined them the little girl cried eagerly:

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE NOT quite a week later, Mr. Tiddy, crossing the fields in his usual leisurely fashion towards the house at dinner-time, caught sight of his wife and Peggy, standing at the garden gate, evidently waiting for him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE NOT quite a week later, Mr. Tiddy, crossing the fields in his usual leisurely fashion towards the house at dinner-time, caught sight of his wife and Peggy, standing at the garden gate, evidently waiting for him.

house

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE NOT quite a week later, Mr. Tiddy, crossing the fields in his usual leisurely fashion towards the house at dinner-time, caught sight of his wife and Peggy, standing at the garden gate, evidently waiting for him.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading She came and knocked at the door and asked if she might go round the garden.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE NOT quite a week later, Mr. Tiddy, crossing the fields in his usual leisurely fashion towards the house at dinner-time, caught sight of his wife and Peggy, standing at the garden gate, evidently waiting for him.

joined

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading As he drew near enough to see the expression of their faces, he noticed that both appeared excited, and as he joined them the little girl cried eagerly:

knocked

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She came and knocked at the door and asked if she might go round the garden.

later

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE NOT quite a week later, Mr. Tiddy, crossing the fields in his usual leisurely fashion towards the house at dinner-time, caught sight of his wife and Peggy, standing at the garden gate, evidently waiting for him.

leisurely

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE NOT quite a week later, Mr. Tiddy, crossing the fields in his usual leisurely fashion towards the house at dinner-time, caught sight of his wife and Peggy, standing at the garden gate, evidently waiting for him.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading As he drew near enough to see the expression of their faces, he noticed that both appeared excited, and as he joined them the little girl cried eagerly:

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading She came and knocked at the door and asked if she might go round the garden.

Mr

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE NOT quite a week later, Mr. Tiddy, crossing the fields in his usual leisurely fashion towards the house at dinner-time, caught sight of his wife and Peggy, standing at the garden gate, evidently waiting for him.

near

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading As he drew near enough to see the expression of their faces, he noticed that both appeared excited, and as he joined them the little girl cried eagerly:

NOTadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE NOT quite a week later, Mr. Tiddy, crossing the fields in his usual leisurely fashion towards the house at dinner-time, caught sight of his wife and Peggy, standing at the garden gate, evidently waiting for him.

noticed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading As he drew near enough to see the expression of their faces, he noticed that both appeared excited, and as he joined them the little girl cried eagerly:

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE NOT quite a week later, Mr. Tiddy, crossing the fields in his usual leisurely fashion towards the house at dinner-time, caught sight of his wife and Peggy, standing at the garden gate, evidently waiting for him.

Oh

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Oh, Mr. Tiddy, we've had a visitor!

Peggy

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE NOT quite a week later, Mr. Tiddy, crossing the fields in his usual leisurely fashion towards the house at dinner-time, caught sight of his wife and Peggy, standing at the garden gate, evidently waiting for him.

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE NOT quite a week later, Mr. Tiddy, crossing the fields in his usual leisurely fashion towards the house at dinner-time, caught sight of his wife and Peggy, standing at the garden gate, evidently waiting for him.

round

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She came and knocked at the door and asked if she might go round the garden.

see

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading As he drew near enough to see the expression of their faces, he noticed that both appeared excited, and as he joined them the little girl cried eagerly:

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She came and knocked at the door and asked if she might go round the garden.

sight

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE NOT quite a week later, Mr. Tiddy, crossing the fields in his usual leisurely fashion towards the house at dinner-time, caught sight of his wife and Peggy, standing at the garden gate, evidently waiting for him.

standingnounUS /ˈstanding/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE NOT quite a week later, Mr. Tiddy, crossing the fields in his usual leisurely fashion towards the house at dinner-time, caught sight of his wife and Peggy, standing at the garden gate, evidently waiting for him.

SURPRISE

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE NOT quite a week later, Mr. Tiddy, crossing the fields in his usual leisurely fashion towards the house at dinner-time, caught sight of his wife and Peggy, standing at the garden gate, evidently waiting for him.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading As he drew near enough to see the expression of their faces, he noticed that both appeared excited, and as he joined them the little girl cried eagerly:

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE NOT quite a week later, Mr. Tiddy, crossing the fields in his usual leisurely fashion towards the house at dinner-time, caught sight of his wife and Peggy, standing at the garden gate, evidently waiting for him.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading As he drew near enough to see the expression of their faces, he noticed that both appeared excited, and as he joined them the little girl cried eagerly:

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading As he drew near enough to see the expression of their faces, he noticed that both appeared excited, and as he joined them the little girl cried eagerly:

thinknounUS /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And who do you think she was?"

Tiddy

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE NOT quite a week later, Mr. Tiddy, crossing the fields in his usual leisurely fashion towards the house at dinner-time, caught sight of his wife and Peggy, standing at the garden gate, evidently waiting for him.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading As he drew near enough to see the expression of their faces, he noticed that both appeared excited, and as he joined them the little girl cried eagerly:

towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE NOT quite a week later, Mr. Tiddy, crossing the fields in his usual leisurely fashion towards the house at dinner-time, caught sight of his wife and Peggy, standing at the garden gate, evidently waiting for him.

usual

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE NOT quite a week later, Mr. Tiddy, crossing the fields in his usual leisurely fashion towards the house at dinner-time, caught sight of his wife and Peggy, standing at the garden gate, evidently waiting for him.

visitor

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Oh, Mr. Tiddy, we've had a visitor!

waiting

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE NOT quite a week later, Mr. Tiddy, crossing the fields in his usual leisurely fashion towards the house at dinner-time, caught sight of his wife and Peggy, standing at the garden gate, evidently waiting for him.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading And who do you think she was?"

we've

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Oh, Mr. Tiddy, we've had a visitor!

week

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE NOT quite a week later, Mr. Tiddy, crossing the fields in his usual leisurely fashion towards the house at dinner-time, caught sight of his wife and Peggy, standing at the garden gate, evidently waiting for him.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading And who do you think she was?"

wife

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE NOT quite a week later, Mr. Tiddy, crossing the fields in his usual leisurely fashion towards the house at dinner-time, caught sight of his wife and Peggy, standing at the garden gate, evidently waiting for him.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading And who do you think she was?"