Chapter X
‘The Christmas-tree! Oh, mamma, do let it be the Christmas-tree. It is quite well. We’ve been to look at it.’ ‘Christmas-trees have got so stale, Val,’ said Gillian.
The Two Sides of the Shield
Chapter X
English subtitles · tap any word to listen
1 / 5
‘The
Christmas-tree!
Oh,
mamma,
do
let
it
be
the
Christmas-tree.
It
is
quite
well.
We’ve
been
to
look
at
it.’
‘Christmas-trees
have
got
so
stale,
Val,’
said
Gillian.
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Line 1
‘The
Christmas-tree!
Line 2
Oh,
mamma,
do
let
it
be
the
Christmas-tree.
Line 3
It
is
quite
well.
Line 4
We’ve
been
to
look
at
it.’
Line 5
‘Christmas-trees
have
got
so
stale,
Val,’
said
Gillian.
Learner Dictionary
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
Been
auxiliary verb
US /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “We’ve been to look at it.’”
Have
auxiliary verb
US /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “‘Christmas-trees have got so stale, Val,’ said Gillian.”
Let
auxiliary verb
US /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading “Oh, mamma, do let it be the Christmas-tree.”
Look
noun
US /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “We’ve been to look at it.’”
Quite
noun
US /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “It is quite well.”
Well
noun
US /well/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “It is quite well.”
All words in this reading · 24
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading We’ve been to look at it.’
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Oh, mamma, do let it be the Christmas-tree.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading We’ve been to look at it.’
Christmas-tree
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘The Christmas-tree!
Christmas-trees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Christmas-trees have got so stale, Val,’ said Gillian.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Oh, mamma, do let it be the Christmas-tree.
Gillian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Christmas-trees have got so stale, Val,’ said Gillian.
got
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Christmas-trees have got so stale, Val,’ said Gillian.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading ‘Christmas-trees have got so stale, Val,’ said Gillian.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is quite well.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Oh, mamma, do let it be the Christmas-tree.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading Oh, mamma, do let it be the Christmas-tree.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We’ve been to look at it.’
mamma
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Oh, mamma, do let it be the Christmas-tree.
Oh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Oh, mamma, do let it be the Christmas-tree.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It is quite well.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Christmas-trees have got so stale, Val,’ said Gillian.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading ‘Christmas-trees have got so stale, Val,’ said Gillian.
stale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Christmas-trees have got so stale, Val,’ said Gillian.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ‘The Christmas-tree!
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading We’ve been to look at it.’
Val
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Christmas-trees have got so stale, Val,’ said Gillian.
We've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We’ve been to look at it.’
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is quite well.