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A Christmas Posy
A Christmas Posy

Chapter XI

Cover illustration for A Christmas Posy
Context Illustration Reading 1/15 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
EVER since Persis and I were quite little there was one thing we longed for more than anything else.
I think most children have some great wish, or fancy, perhaps grown-up people would call it, like that.
But with many it changes, especially of course if they get the thing--_then_ they set to work longing and planning for something else.
But Persis and I didn't change--not even when we got it, or thought we had got it, for good.
We wished for it for so long that it really seemed to grow with us; the older and bigger we grew, the stronger and bigger our wish seemed to grow.
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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.

A Christmas Posy

Chapter XI

Reading 1/15 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
EVER since Persis and I were quite little there was one thing we longed for more than anything else.
Line 2
I think most children have some great wish, or fancy, perhaps grown-up people would call it, like that.
Line 3
But with many it changes, especially of course if they get the thing--_then_ they set to work longing and planning for something else.
Line 4
But Persis and I didn't change--not even when we got it, or thought we had got it, for good.
Line 5
We wished for it for so long that it really seemed to grow with us; the older and bigger we grew, the stronger and bigger our wish seemed to grow.

Learner Dictionary

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

Anything pronoun US /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading “EVER since Persis and I were quite little there was one thing we longed for more than anything else.”

Course noun US /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But with many it changes, especially of course if they get the thing--_then_ they set to work longing and planning for something else.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But Persis and I didn't change--not even when we got it, or thought we had got it, for good.”

EVER noun US /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “EVER since Persis and I were quite little there was one thing we longed for more than anything else.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But Persis and I didn't change--not even when we got it, or thought we had got it, for good.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I think most children have some great wish, or fancy, perhaps grown-up people would call it, like that.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “I think most children have some great wish, or fancy, perhaps grown-up people would call it, like that.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “EVER since Persis and I were quite little there was one thing we longed for more than anything else.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “We wished for it for so long that it really seemed to grow with us; the older and bigger we grew, the stronger and bigger our wish seemed to grow.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “EVER since Persis and I were quite little there was one thing we longed for more than anything else.”

Perhaps noun US /perhaps/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I think most children have some great wish, or fancy, perhaps grown-up people would call it, like that.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “EVER since Persis and I were quite little there was one thing we longed for more than anything else.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “We wished for it for so long that it really seemed to grow with us; the older and bigger we grew, the stronger and bigger our wish seemed to grow.”

Since preposition US /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading “EVER since Persis and I were quite little there was one thing we longed for more than anything else.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “But with many it changes, especially of course if they get the thing--_then_ they set to work longing and planning for something else.”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “EVER since Persis and I were quite little there was one thing we longed for more than anything else.”

Think noun US /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I think most children have some great wish, or fancy, perhaps grown-up people would call it, like that.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But Persis and I didn't change--not even when we got it, or thought we had got it, for good.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “I think most children have some great wish, or fancy, perhaps grown-up people would call it, like that.”

All words in this reading · 75

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading EVER since Persis and I were quite little there was one thing we longed for more than anything else.

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading EVER since Persis and I were quite little there was one thing we longed for more than anything else.

bigger

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

From this reading We wished for it for so long that it really seemed to grow with us; the older and bigger we grew, the stronger and bigger our wish seemed to grow.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But with many it changes, especially of course if they get the thing--_then_ they set to work longing and planning for something else.

call

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

From this reading I think most children have some great wish, or fancy, perhaps grown-up people would call it, like that.

change

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

From this reading But Persis and I didn't change--not even when we got it, or thought we had got it, for good.

changes

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

From this reading But with many it changes, especially of course if they get the thing--_then_ they set to work longing and planning for something else.

children

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

From this reading I think most children have some great wish, or fancy, perhaps grown-up people would call it, like that.

coursenounUS /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But with many it changes, especially of course if they get the thing--_then_ they set to work longing and planning for something else.

didn't

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

From this reading But Persis and I didn't change--not even when we got it, or thought we had got it, for good.

else

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

From this reading EVER since Persis and I were quite little there was one thing we longed for more than anything else.

especially

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

From this reading But with many it changes, especially of course if they get the thing--_then_ they set to work longing and planning for something else.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But Persis and I didn't change--not even when we got it, or thought we had got it, for good.

EVERnounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading EVER since Persis and I were quite little there was one thing we longed for more than anything else.

fancy

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

From this reading I think most children have some great wish, or fancy, perhaps grown-up people would call it, like that.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading EVER since Persis and I were quite little there was one thing we longed for more than anything else.

get

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

From this reading But with many it changes, especially of course if they get the thing--_then_ they set to work longing and planning for something else.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But Persis and I didn't change--not even when we got it, or thought we had got it, for good.

got

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

From this reading But Persis and I didn't change--not even when we got it, or thought we had got it, for good.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I think most children have some great wish, or fancy, perhaps grown-up people would call it, like that.

grew

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

From this reading We wished for it for so long that it really seemed to grow with us; the older and bigger we grew, the stronger and bigger our wish seemed to grow.

grow

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

From this reading We wished for it for so long that it really seemed to grow with us; the older and bigger we grew, the stronger and bigger our wish seemed to grow.

grown-up

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

From this reading I think most children have some great wish, or fancy, perhaps grown-up people would call it, like that.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading But Persis and I didn't change--not even when we got it, or thought we had got it, for good.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading I think most children have some great wish, or fancy, perhaps grown-up people would call it, like that.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading EVER since Persis and I were quite little there was one thing we longed for more than anything else.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading But with many it changes, especially of course if they get the thing--_then_ they set to work longing and planning for something else.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I think most children have some great wish, or fancy, perhaps grown-up people would call it, like that.

like

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

From this reading I think most children have some great wish, or fancy, perhaps grown-up people would call it, like that.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading EVER since Persis and I were quite little there was one thing we longed for more than anything else.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading We wished for it for so long that it really seemed to grow with us; the older and bigger we grew, the stronger and bigger our wish seemed to grow.

longed

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

From this reading EVER since Persis and I were quite little there was one thing we longed for more than anything else.

longing

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

From this reading But with many it changes, especially of course if they get the thing--_then_ they set to work longing and planning for something else.

many

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

From this reading But with many it changes, especially of course if they get the thing--_then_ they set to work longing and planning for something else.

more

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

From this reading EVER since Persis and I were quite little there was one thing we longed for more than anything else.

most

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

From this reading I think most children have some great wish, or fancy, perhaps grown-up people would call it, like that.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading But Persis and I didn't change--not even when we got it, or thought we had got it, for good.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading But with many it changes, especially of course if they get the thing--_then_ they set to work longing and planning for something else.

older

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

From this reading We wished for it for so long that it really seemed to grow with us; the older and bigger we grew, the stronger and bigger our wish seemed to grow.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading EVER since Persis and I were quite little there was one thing we longed for more than anything else.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading I think most children have some great wish, or fancy, perhaps grown-up people would call it, like that.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading We wished for it for so long that it really seemed to grow with us; the older and bigger we grew, the stronger and bigger our wish seemed to grow.

people

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

From this reading I think most children have some great wish, or fancy, perhaps grown-up people would call it, like that.

perhaps

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

From this reading I think most children have some great wish, or fancy, perhaps grown-up people would call it, like that.

Persis

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

From this reading EVER since Persis and I were quite little there was one thing we longed for more than anything else.

planning

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

From this reading But with many it changes, especially of course if they get the thing--_then_ they set to work longing and planning for something else.

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading EVER since Persis and I were quite little there was one thing we longed for more than anything else.

really

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

From this reading We wished for it for so long that it really seemed to grow with us; the older and bigger we grew, the stronger and bigger our wish seemed to grow.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading We wished for it for so long that it really seemed to grow with us; the older and bigger we grew, the stronger and bigger our wish seemed to grow.

set

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

From this reading But with many it changes, especially of course if they get the thing--_then_ they set to work longing and planning for something else.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading EVER since Persis and I were quite little there was one thing we longed for more than anything else.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading We wished for it for so long that it really seemed to grow with us; the older and bigger we grew, the stronger and bigger our wish seemed to grow.

some

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

From this reading I think most children have some great wish, or fancy, perhaps grown-up people would call it, like that.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading But with many it changes, especially of course if they get the thing--_then_ they set to work longing and planning for something else.

stronger

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

From this reading We wished for it for so long that it really seemed to grow with us; the older and bigger we grew, the stronger and bigger our wish seemed to grow.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading EVER since Persis and I were quite little there was one thing we longed for more than anything else.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I think most children have some great wish, or fancy, perhaps grown-up people would call it, like that.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading But with many it changes, especially of course if they get the thing--_then_ they set to work longing and planning for something else.

then

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

From this reading But with many it changes, especially of course if they get the thing--_then_ they set to work longing and planning for something else.

there

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

From this reading EVER since Persis and I were quite little there was one thing we longed for more than anything else.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading But with many it changes, especially of course if they get the thing--_then_ they set to work longing and planning for something else.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading EVER since Persis and I were quite little there was one thing we longed for more than anything else.

thinknounUS /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I think most children have some great wish, or fancy, perhaps grown-up people would call it, like that.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But Persis and I didn't change--not even when we got it, or thought we had got it, for good.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading But with many it changes, especially of course if they get the thing--_then_ they set to work longing and planning for something else.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading We wished for it for so long that it really seemed to grow with us; the older and bigger we grew, the stronger and bigger our wish seemed to grow.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading EVER since Persis and I were quite little there was one thing we longed for more than anything else.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading EVER since Persis and I were quite little there was one thing we longed for more than anything else.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading EVER since Persis and I were quite little there was one thing we longed for more than anything else.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading But Persis and I didn't change--not even when we got it, or thought we had got it, for good.

wish

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

From this reading I think most children have some great wish, or fancy, perhaps grown-up people would call it, like that.

wished

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

From this reading We wished for it for so long that it really seemed to grow with us; the older and bigger we grew, the stronger and bigger our wish seemed to grow.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading But with many it changes, especially of course if they get the thing--_then_ they set to work longing and planning for something else.

work

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

From this reading But with many it changes, especially of course if they get the thing--_then_ they set to work longing and planning for something else.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading I think most children have some great wish, or fancy, perhaps grown-up people would call it, like that.