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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 Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I have always said you must rise in the world, and here is the opportunity for you.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The master was old, and wanted somebody of trust to superintend and manage his business, with a reasonable hope of succeeding to him.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.
arrived
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From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.
better
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From this reading “You had better come up and talk it over,” wrote Val, ever peremptory.
boating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.
business
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From this reading The master was old, and wanted somebody of trust to superintend and manage his business, with a reasonable hope of succeeding to him.
character
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “You had better come up and talk it over,” wrote Val, ever peremptory.
crisis
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From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.
Dick
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From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.
establishments
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.
Eton
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From this reading Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “You had better come up and talk it over,” wrote Val, ever peremptory.
exciting
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From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “I have always said you must rise in the world, and here is the opportunity for you.
forget
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.
held
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I have always said you must rise in the world, and here is the opportunity for you.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The master was old, and wanted somebody of trust to superintend and manage his business, with a reasonable hope of succeeding to him.
hope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The master was old, and wanted somebody of trust to superintend and manage his business, with a reasonable hope of succeeding to him.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I have always said you must rise in the world, and here is the opportunity for you.
important
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.
invite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “I have always said you must rise in the world, and here is the opportunity for you.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “You had better come up and talk it over,” wrote Val, ever peremptory.
ItsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.
letter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.
manage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The master was old, and wanted somebody of trust to superintend and manage his business, with a reasonable hope of succeeding to him.
master
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The master was old, and wanted somebody of trust to superintend and manage his business, with a reasonable hope of succeeding to him.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading “I have always said you must rise in the world, and here is the opportunity for you.
object
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The master was old, and wanted somebody of trust to superintend and manage his business, with a reasonable hope of succeeding to him.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.
opportunity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I have always said you must rise in the world, and here is the opportunity for you.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading “You had better come up and talk it over,” wrote Val, ever peremptory.
Oxford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.
peremptory
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You had better come up and talk it over,” wrote Val, ever peremptory.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.
reasonable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The master was old, and wanted somebody of trust to superintend and manage his business, with a reasonable hope of succeeding to him.
rise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I have always said you must rise in the world, and here is the opportunity for you.
river
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I have always said you must rise in the world, and here is the opportunity for you.
similar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.
somebodypronounUS /ˈsʌmbɑːdi/
a person, without saying who
From this reading The master was old, and wanted somebody of trust to superintend and manage his business, with a reasonable hope of succeeding to him.
somewhat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.
succeeding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The master was old, and wanted somebody of trust to superintend and manage his business, with a reasonable hope of succeeding to him.
sufficiently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.
superintend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The master was old, and wanted somebody of trust to superintend and manage his business, with a reasonable hope of succeeding to him.
talk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You had better come up and talk it over,” wrote Val, ever peremptory.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Its object was to invite him to Oxford, to a place somewhat similar to that which he had held at Eton, in one of the great boating establishments on the river.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.
thus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.
trust
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The master was old, and wanted somebody of trust to superintend and manage his business, with a reasonable hope of succeeding to him.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You had better come up and talk it over,” wrote Val, ever peremptory.
Val
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You had better come up and talk it over,” wrote Val, ever peremptory.
Val's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.
wanted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The master was old, and wanted somebody of trust to superintend and manage his business, with a reasonable hope of succeeding to him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Val’s letter was of a character sufficiently exciting to have made Dick forget anything less important than the crisis which had thus arrived.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The master was old, and wanted somebody of trust to superintend and manage his business, with a reasonable hope of succeeding to him.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I have always said you must rise in the world, and here is the opportunity for you.
wrote
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You had better come up and talk it over,” wrote Val, ever peremptory.
YoupronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You had better come up and talk it over,” wrote Val, ever peremptory.