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 CUT OFF WITH A SHILLING.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Anne felt that the days of poverty for the family were over; the days for scraping and toiling were at an end.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A secret--quite a great secret--had been burning a hole in her heart ever since Monday, and to-night she expected this secret to result in something grand.
Anne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Never was a little maid-of-all-work more excited than Anne on the night on which her mistress was expected home from Torquay.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Anne felt that the days of poverty for the family were over; the days for scraping and toiling were at an end.
Australia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The uncle from Australia would give her missis everything that money could buy; he must be a very rich man indeed, for had he not given her a sovereign?
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The uncle from Australia would give her missis everything that money could buy; he must be a very rich man indeed, for had he not given her a sovereign?
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A secret--quite a great secret--had been burning a hole in her heart ever since Monday, and to-night she expected this secret to result in something grand.
burning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A secret--quite a great secret--had been burning a hole in her heart ever since Monday, and to-night she expected this secret to result in something grand.
buy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The uncle from Australia would give her missis everything that money could buy; he must be a very rich man indeed, for had he not given her a sovereign?
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The uncle from Australia would give her missis everything that money could buy; he must be a very rich man indeed, for had he not given her a sovereign?
CUT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CUT OFF WITH A SHILLING.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Anne felt that the days of poverty for the family were over; the days for scraping and toiling were at an end.
end
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Anne felt that the days of poverty for the family were over; the days for scraping and toiling were at an end.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A secret--quite a great secret--had been burning a hole in her heart ever since Monday, and to-night she expected this secret to result in something grand.
everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading The uncle from Australia would give her missis everything that money could buy; he must be a very rich man indeed, for had he not given her a sovereign?
excitedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsaɪtɪd/
very enthusiastic or eager
From this reading Never was a little maid-of-all-work more excited than Anne on the night on which her mistress was expected home from Torquay.
expected
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From this reading Never was a little maid-of-all-work more excited than Anne on the night on which her mistress was expected home from Torquay.
family
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Anne felt that the days of poverty for the family were over; the days for scraping and toiling were at an end.
felt
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From this reading Anne felt that the days of poverty for the family were over; the days for scraping and toiling were at an end.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Anne felt that the days of poverty for the family were over; the days for scraping and toiling were at an end.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Never was a little maid-of-all-work more excited than Anne on the night on which her mistress was expected home from Torquay.
give
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The uncle from Australia would give her missis everything that money could buy; he must be a very rich man indeed, for had he not given her a sovereign?
given
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The uncle from Australia would give her missis everything that money could buy; he must be a very rich man indeed, for had he not given her a sovereign?
grand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A secret--quite a great secret--had been burning a hole in her heart ever since Monday, and to-night she expected this secret to result in something grand.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A secret--quite a great secret--had been burning a hole in her heart ever since Monday, and to-night she expected this secret to result in something grand.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A secret--quite a great secret--had been burning a hole in her heart ever since Monday, and to-night she expected this secret to result in something grand.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The uncle from Australia would give her missis everything that money could buy; he must be a very rich man indeed, for had he not given her a sovereign?
heart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A secret--quite a great secret--had been burning a hole in her heart ever since Monday, and to-night she expected this secret to result in something grand.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Never was a little maid-of-all-work more excited than Anne on the night on which her mistress was expected home from Torquay.
hole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A secret--quite a great secret--had been burning a hole in her heart ever since Monday, and to-night she expected this secret to result in something grand.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Never was a little maid-of-all-work more excited than Anne on the night on which her mistress was expected home from Torquay.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A secret--quite a great secret--had been burning a hole in her heart ever since Monday, and to-night she expected this secret to result in something grand.
indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The uncle from Australia would give her missis everything that money could buy; he must be a very rich man indeed, for had he not given her a sovereign?
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Never was a little maid-of-all-work more excited than Anne on the night on which her mistress was expected home from Torquay.
maid-of-all-work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Never was a little maid-of-all-work more excited than Anne on the night on which her mistress was expected home from Torquay.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The uncle from Australia would give her missis everything that money could buy; he must be a very rich man indeed, for had he not given her a sovereign?
missis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The uncle from Australia would give her missis everything that money could buy; he must be a very rich man indeed, for had he not given her a sovereign?
mistress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Never was a little maid-of-all-work more excited than Anne on the night on which her mistress was expected home from Torquay.
Monday
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A secret--quite a great secret--had been burning a hole in her heart ever since Monday, and to-night she expected this secret to result in something grand.
money
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The uncle from Australia would give her missis everything that money could buy; he must be a very rich man indeed, for had he not given her a sovereign?
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Never was a little maid-of-all-work more excited than Anne on the night on which her mistress was expected home from Torquay.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading The uncle from Australia would give her missis everything that money could buy; he must be a very rich man indeed, for had he not given her a sovereign?
NevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Never was a little maid-of-all-work more excited than Anne on the night on which her mistress was expected home from Torquay.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Never was a little maid-of-all-work more excited than Anne on the night on which her mistress was expected home from Torquay.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The uncle from Australia would give her missis everything that money could buy; he must be a very rich man indeed, for had he not given her a sovereign?
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Anne felt that the days of poverty for the family were over; the days for scraping and toiling were at an end.
OFF
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CUT OFF WITH A SHILLING.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Never was a little maid-of-all-work more excited than Anne on the night on which her mistress was expected home from Torquay.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Anne felt that the days of poverty for the family were over; the days for scraping and toiling were at an end.
poverty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Anne felt that the days of poverty for the family were over; the days for scraping and toiling were at an end.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A secret--quite a great secret--had been burning a hole in her heart ever since Monday, and to-night she expected this secret to result in something grand.
result
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A secret--quite a great secret--had been burning a hole in her heart ever since Monday, and to-night she expected this secret to result in something grand.
rich
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The uncle from Australia would give her missis everything that money could buy; he must be a very rich man indeed, for had he not given her a sovereign?
scraping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Anne felt that the days of poverty for the family were over; the days for scraping and toiling were at an end.
secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading A secret--quite a great secret--had been burning a hole in her heart ever since Monday, and to-night she expected this secret to result in something grand.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A secret--quite a great secret--had been burning a hole in her heart ever since Monday, and to-night she expected this secret to result in something grand.
SHILLING
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CUT OFF WITH A SHILLING.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading A secret--quite a great secret--had been burning a hole in her heart ever since Monday, and to-night she expected this secret to result in something grand.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading A secret--quite a great secret--had been burning a hole in her heart ever since Monday, and to-night she expected this secret to result in something grand.
sovereignadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːv.rən/
Possessing supreme or ultimate power; autonomous and commanding.
From this reading The uncle from Australia would give her missis everything that money could buy; he must be a very rich man indeed, for had he not given her a sovereign?
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Never was a little maid-of-all-work more excited than Anne on the night on which her mistress was expected home from Torquay.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Anne felt that the days of poverty for the family were over; the days for scraping and toiling were at an end.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Never was a little maid-of-all-work more excited than Anne on the night on which her mistress was expected home from Torquay.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading A secret--quite a great secret--had been burning a hole in her heart ever since Monday, and to-night she expected this secret to result in something grand.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A secret--quite a great secret--had been burning a hole in her heart ever since Monday, and to-night she expected this secret to result in something grand.
to-night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A secret--quite a great secret--had been burning a hole in her heart ever since Monday, and to-night she expected this secret to result in something grand.
toiling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Anne felt that the days of poverty for the family were over; the days for scraping and toiling were at an end.
Torquay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Never was a little maid-of-all-work more excited than Anne on the night on which her mistress was expected home from Torquay.
uncle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The uncle from Australia would give her missis everything that money could buy; he must be a very rich man indeed, for had he not given her a sovereign?
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The uncle from Australia would give her missis everything that money could buy; he must be a very rich man indeed, for had he not given her a sovereign?
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Never was a little maid-of-all-work more excited than Anne on the night on which her mistress was expected home from Torquay.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Anne felt that the days of poverty for the family were over; the days for scraping and toiling were at an end.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Never was a little maid-of-all-work more excited than Anne on the night on which her mistress was expected home from Torquay.
WITHprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading CUT OFF WITH A SHILLING.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The uncle from Australia would give her missis everything that money could buy; he must be a very rich man indeed, for had he not given her a sovereign?
