Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
1760
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.
1775
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Fifteen years have gone by, and a few months.
ago
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the assailants of Great Britain now were her own children; and the man who led them was a British subject still, and but three years ago had been a British officer.
All
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.
almost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.
American
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Fifteen years have gone by, and a few months.
assailants
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the assailants of Great Britain now were her own children; and the man who led them was a British subject still, and but three years ago had been a British officer.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For the assailants of Great Britain now were her own children; and the man who led them was a British subject still, and but three years ago had been a British officer.
Britain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.
British
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading For the assailants of Great Britain now were her own children; and the man who led them was a British subject still, and but three years ago had been a British officer.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Fifteen years have gone by, and a few months.
Canada
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.
children
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the assailants of Great Britain now were her own children; and the man who led them was a British subject still, and but three years ago had been a British officer.
close
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.
clungnounUS /clung/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.
completely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.
daylight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.
December
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.
defenders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.
desperate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.
fallen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fifteen years have gone by, and a few months.
Fifteen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fifteen years have gone by, and a few months.
fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the assailants of Great Britain now were her own children; and the man who led them was a British subject still, and but three years ago had been a British officer.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.
gone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fifteen years have gone by, and a few months.
GreatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.
grip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Fifteen years have gone by, and a few months.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.
hours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.
incessantly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.
kept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.
led
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the assailants of Great Britain now were her own children; and the man who led them was a British subject still, and but three years ago had been a British officer.
lodgings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the assailants of Great Britain now were her own children; and the man who led them was a British subject still, and but three years ago had been a British officer.
months
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fifteen years have gone by, and a few months.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the assailants of Great Britain now were her own children; and the man who led them was a British subject still, and but three years ago had been a British officer.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.
officer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the assailants of Great Britain now were her own children; and the man who led them was a British subject still, and but three years ago had been a British officer.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the assailants of Great Britain now were her own children; and the man who led them was a British subject still, and but three years ago had been a British officer.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.
PRES-DE-VILLE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PRES-DE-VILLE.
Quebec
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.
riflemen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.
rock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.
September
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.
snow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For the assailants of Great Britain now were her own children; and the man who led them was a British subject still, and but three years ago had been a British officer.
subject
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the assailants of Great Britain now were her own children; and the man who led them was a British subject still, and but three years ago had been a British officer.
suburbs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading For the assailants of Great Britain now were her own children; and the man who led them was a British subject still, and but three years ago had been a British officer.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the assailants of Great Britain now were her own children; and the man who led them was a British subject still, and but three years ago had been a British officer.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.
walls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For the assailants of Great Britain now were her own children; and the man who led them was a British subject still, and but three years ago had been a British officer.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading For the assailants of Great Britain now were her own children; and the man who led them was a British subject still, and but three years ago had been a British officer.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading For the assailants of Great Britain now were her own children; and the man who led them was a British subject still, and but three years ago had been a British officer.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fifteen years have gone by, and a few months.