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 AN old man sat by an open fire in a strange-looking room with a little boy on his knee.
ANdeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN old man sat by an open fire in a strange-looking room with a little boy on his knee.
ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading BENJAMIN AND BENJAMIN.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Brother Josiah," said the old man, "I have had a hard, disappointed life, but I have done the best that I could, and there has nothing happened since my own children died and my hair turned gray that has made me so happy as that letter that you sent to me in England in which you told me that you had named this boy for me."
BENJAMIN
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From this reading BENJAMIN AND BENJAMIN.
BesideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/
next to; at the side of
From this reading Beside him was a middle-aged man, the father of the boy.
best
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From this reading "Brother Josiah," said the old man, "I have had a hard, disappointed life, but I have done the best that I could, and there has nothing happened since my own children died and my hair turned gray that has made me so happy as that letter that you sent to me in England in which you told me that you had named this boy for me."
boy
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From this reading AN old man sat by an open fire in a strange-looking room with a little boy on his knee.
Brother
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From this reading "Brother Josiah," said the old man, "I have had a hard, disappointed life, but I have done the best that I could, and there has nothing happened since my own children died and my hair turned gray that has made me so happy as that letter that you sent to me in England in which you told me that you had named this boy for me."
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Brother Josiah," said the old man, "I have had a hard, disappointed life, but I have done the best that I could, and there has nothing happened since my own children died and my hair turned gray that has made me so happy as that letter that you sent to me in England in which you told me that you had named this boy for me."
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading AN old man sat by an open fire in a strange-looking room with a little boy on his knee.
children
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From this reading "Brother Josiah," said the old man, "I have had a hard, disappointed life, but I have done the best that I could, and there has nothing happened since my own children died and my hair turned gray that has made me so happy as that letter that you sent to me in England in which you told me that you had named this boy for me."
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "Brother Josiah," said the old man, "I have had a hard, disappointed life, but I have done the best that I could, and there has nothing happened since my own children died and my hair turned gray that has made me so happy as that letter that you sent to me in England in which you told me that you had named this boy for me."
died
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From this reading "Brother Josiah," said the old man, "I have had a hard, disappointed life, but I have done the best that I could, and there has nothing happened since my own children died and my hair turned gray that has made me so happy as that letter that you sent to me in England in which you told me that you had named this boy for me."
disappointed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Brother Josiah," said the old man, "I have had a hard, disappointed life, but I have done the best that I could, and there has nothing happened since my own children died and my hair turned gray that has made me so happy as that letter that you sent to me in England in which you told me that you had named this boy for me."
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Brother Josiah," said the old man, "I have had a hard, disappointed life, but I have done the best that I could, and there has nothing happened since my own children died and my hair turned gray that has made me so happy as that letter that you sent to me in England in which you told me that you had named this boy for me."
England
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Brother Josiah," said the old man, "I have had a hard, disappointed life, but I have done the best that I could, and there has nothing happened since my own children died and my hair turned gray that has made me so happy as that letter that you sent to me in England in which you told me that you had named this boy for me."
father
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From this reading Beside him was a middle-aged man, the father of the boy.
fire
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From this reading AN old man sat by an open fire in a strange-looking room with a little boy on his knee.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Brother Josiah," said the old man, "I have had a hard, disappointed life, but I have done the best that I could, and there has nothing happened since my own children died and my hair turned gray that has made me so happy as that letter that you sent to me in England in which you told me that you had named this boy for me."
gray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Brother Josiah," said the old man, "I have had a hard, disappointed life, but I have done the best that I could, and there has nothing happened since my own children died and my hair turned gray that has made me so happy as that letter that you sent to me in England in which you told me that you had named this boy for me."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "Brother Josiah," said the old man, "I have had a hard, disappointed life, but I have done the best that I could, and there has nothing happened since my own children died and my hair turned gray that has made me so happy as that letter that you sent to me in England in which you told me that you had named this boy for me."
hair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Brother Josiah," said the old man, "I have had a hard, disappointed life, but I have done the best that I could, and there has nothing happened since my own children died and my hair turned gray that has made me so happy as that letter that you sent to me in England in which you told me that you had named this boy for me."
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Brother Josiah," said the old man, "I have had a hard, disappointed life, but I have done the best that I could, and there has nothing happened since my own children died and my hair turned gray that has made me so happy as that letter that you sent to me in England in which you told me that you had named this boy for me."
happy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Brother Josiah," said the old man, "I have had a hard, disappointed life, but I have done the best that I could, and there has nothing happened since my own children died and my hair turned gray that has made me so happy as that letter that you sent to me in England in which you told me that you had named this boy for me."
hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Brother Josiah," said the old man, "I have had a hard, disappointed life, but I have done the best that I could, and there has nothing happened since my own children died and my hair turned gray that has made me so happy as that letter that you sent to me in England in which you told me that you had named this boy for me."
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Brother Josiah," said the old man, "I have had a hard, disappointed life, but I have done the best that I could, and there has nothing happened since my own children died and my hair turned gray that has made me so happy as that letter that you sent to me in England in which you told me that you had named this boy for me."
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Brother Josiah," said the old man, "I have had a hard, disappointed life, but I have done the best that I could, and there has nothing happened since my own children died and my hair turned gray that has made me so happy as that letter that you sent to me in England in which you told me that you had named this boy for me."
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "It makes me happy to see you here by my fire to-night, with the boy in your lap," said the father.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Beside him was a middle-aged man, the father of the boy.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading AN old man sat by an open fire in a strange-looking room with a little boy on his knee.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Brother Josiah," said the old man, "I have had a hard, disappointed life, but I have done the best that I could, and there has nothing happened since my own children died and my hair turned gray that has made me so happy as that letter that you sent to me in England in which you told me that you had named this boy for me."
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading AN old man sat by an open fire in a strange-looking room with a little boy on his knee.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "It makes me happy to see you here by my fire to-night, with the boy in your lap," said the father.
Josiah
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From this reading "Brother Josiah," said the old man, "I have had a hard, disappointed life, but I have done the best that I could, and there has nothing happened since my own children died and my hair turned gray that has made me so happy as that letter that you sent to me in England in which you told me that you had named this boy for me."
knee
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From this reading AN old man sat by an open fire in a strange-looking room with a little boy on his knee.
lap
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From this reading "It makes me happy to see you here by my fire to-night, with the boy in your lap," said the father.
letter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Brother Josiah," said the old man, "I have had a hard, disappointed life, but I have done the best that I could, and there has nothing happened since my own children died and my hair turned gray that has made me so happy as that letter that you sent to me in England in which you told me that you had named this boy for me."
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Brother Josiah," said the old man, "I have had a hard, disappointed life, but I have done the best that I could, and there has nothing happened since my own children died and my hair turned gray that has made me so happy as that letter that you sent to me in England in which you told me that you had named this boy for me."
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading AN old man sat by an open fire in a strange-looking room with a little boy on his knee.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Brother Josiah," said the old man, "I have had a hard, disappointed life, but I have done the best that I could, and there has nothing happened since my own children died and my hair turned gray that has made me so happy as that letter that you sent to me in England in which you told me that you had named this boy for me."
makes
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From this reading "It makes me happy to see you here by my fire to-night, with the boy in your lap," said the father.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN old man sat by an open fire in a strange-looking room with a little boy on his knee.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Brother Josiah," said the old man, "I have had a hard, disappointed life, but I have done the best that I could, and there has nothing happened since my own children died and my hair turned gray that has made me so happy as that letter that you sent to me in England in which you told me that you had named this boy for me."
middle-aged
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From this reading Beside him was a middle-aged man, the father of the boy.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "Brother Josiah," said the old man, "I have had a hard, disappointed life, but I have done the best that I could, and there has nothing happened since my own children died and my hair turned gray that has made me so happy as that letter that you sent to me in England in which you told me that you had named this boy for me."
named
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Brother Josiah," said the old man, "I have had a hard, disappointed life, but I have done the best that I could, and there has nothing happened since my own children died and my hair turned gray that has made me so happy as that letter that you sent to me in England in which you told me that you had named this boy for me."
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading "Brother Josiah," said the old man, "I have had a hard, disappointed life, but I have done the best that I could, and there has nothing happened since my own children died and my hair turned gray that has made me so happy as that letter that you sent to me in England in which you told me that you had named this boy for me."
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Beside him was a middle-aged man, the father of the boy.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN old man sat by an open fire in a strange-looking room with a little boy on his knee.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading AN old man sat by an open fire in a strange-looking room with a little boy on his knee.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading AN old man sat by an open fire in a strange-looking room with a little boy on his knee.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Brother Josiah," said the old man, "I have had a hard, disappointed life, but I have done the best that I could, and there has nothing happened since my own children died and my hair turned gray that has made me so happy as that letter that you sent to me in England in which you told me that you had named this boy for me."
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN old man sat by an open fire in a strange-looking room with a little boy on his knee.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Brother Josiah," said the old man, "I have had a hard, disappointed life, but I have done the best that I could, and there has nothing happened since my own children died and my hair turned gray that has made me so happy as that letter that you sent to me in England in which you told me that you had named this boy for me."
sat
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From this reading AN old man sat by an open fire in a strange-looking room with a little boy on his knee.
see
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From this reading "It makes me happy to see you here by my fire to-night, with the boy in your lap," said the father.
sent
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From this reading "Brother Josiah," said the old man, "I have had a hard, disappointed life, but I have done the best that I could, and there has nothing happened since my own children died and my hair turned gray that has made me so happy as that letter that you sent to me in England in which you told me that you had named this boy for me."
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading "Brother Josiah," said the old man, "I have had a hard, disappointed life, but I have done the best that I could, and there has nothing happened since my own children died and my hair turned gray that has made me so happy as that letter that you sent to me in England in which you told me that you had named this boy for me."
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "Brother Josiah," said the old man, "I have had a hard, disappointed life, but I have done the best that I could, and there has nothing happened since my own children died and my hair turned gray that has made me so happy as that letter that you sent to me in England in which you told me that you had named this boy for me."
strange-looking
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From this reading AN old man sat by an open fire in a strange-looking room with a little boy on his knee.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Brother Josiah," said the old man, "I have had a hard, disappointed life, but I have done the best that I could, and there has nothing happened since my own children died and my hair turned gray that has made me so happy as that letter that you sent to me in England in which you told me that you had named this boy for me."
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Beside him was a middle-aged man, the father of the boy.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Brother Josiah," said the old man, "I have had a hard, disappointed life, but I have done the best that I could, and there has nothing happened since my own children died and my hair turned gray that has made me so happy as that letter that you sent to me in England in which you told me that you had named this boy for me."
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Brother Josiah," said the old man, "I have had a hard, disappointed life, but I have done the best that I could, and there has nothing happened since my own children died and my hair turned gray that has made me so happy as that letter that you sent to me in England in which you told me that you had named this boy for me."
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Brother Josiah," said the old man, "I have had a hard, disappointed life, but I have done the best that I could, and there has nothing happened since my own children died and my hair turned gray that has made me so happy as that letter that you sent to me in England in which you told me that you had named this boy for me."
to-night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It makes me happy to see you here by my fire to-night, with the boy in your lap," said the father.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Brother Josiah," said the old man, "I have had a hard, disappointed life, but I have done the best that I could, and there has nothing happened since my own children died and my hair turned gray that has made me so happy as that letter that you sent to me in England in which you told me that you had named this boy for me."
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Brother Josiah," said the old man, "I have had a hard, disappointed life, but I have done the best that I could, and there has nothing happened since my own children died and my hair turned gray that has made me so happy as that letter that you sent to me in England in which you told me that you had named this boy for me."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Beside him was a middle-aged man, the father of the boy.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading "Brother Josiah," said the old man, "I have had a hard, disappointed life, but I have done the best that I could, and there has nothing happened since my own children died and my hair turned gray that has made me so happy as that letter that you sent to me in England in which you told me that you had named this boy for me."
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading AN old man sat by an open fire in a strange-looking room with a little boy on his knee.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Brother Josiah," said the old man, "I have had a hard, disappointed life, but I have done the best that I could, and there has nothing happened since my own children died and my hair turned gray that has made me so happy as that letter that you sent to me in England in which you told me that you had named this boy for me."
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "It makes me happy to see you here by my fire to-night, with the boy in your lap," said the father.
