adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading About thirty years ago there was at the top of the right-hand side of Orange Street, in Polchester, a large stone house.
AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading About thirty years ago there was at the top of the right-hand side of Orange Street, in Polchester, a large stone house.
agoadverbUS /əˈɡoʊ/
in the past
From this reading About thirty years ago there was at the top of the right-hand side of Orange Street, in Polchester, a large stone house.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I say “was”; the shell of it is still there, and the people who now live in it are quite unaware, I suppose, that anything has happened to the inside of it, except that they are certainly assured that their furniture is vastly superior to the furniture of their predecessors.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading I say “was”; the shell of it is still there, and the people who now live in it are quite unaware, I suppose, that anything has happened to the inside of it, except that they are certainly assured that their furniture is vastly superior to the furniture of their predecessors.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading I say “was”; the shell of it is still there, and the people who now live in it are quite unaware, I suppose, that anything has happened to the inside of it, except that they are certainly assured that their furniture is vastly superior to the furniture of their predecessors.
assuredadjectiveUS /əˈʃʊrd/
marked by assurance; exhibiting confidence
From this reading I say “was”; the shell of it is still there, and the people who now live in it are quite unaware, I suppose, that anything has happened to the inside of it, except that they are certainly assured that their furniture is vastly superior to the furniture of their predecessors.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading About thirty years ago there was at the top of the right-hand side of Orange Street, in Polchester, a large stone house.
backadverbUS /bæk/
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading They have a gramophone, a pianola, and a lift to bring the plates from the kitchen into the dining-room, and a small motor garage at the back where the old pump used to be, and a very modern rock garden where once was the pond with the fountain that never worked.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They have a gramophone, a pianola, and a lift to bring the plates from the kitchen into the dining-room, and a small motor garage at the back where the old pump used to be, and a very modern rock garden where once was the pond with the fountain that never worked.
bringverbUS /brɪŋ/
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading They have a gramophone, a pianola, and a lift to bring the plates from the kitchen into the dining-room, and a small motor garage at the back where the old pump used to be, and a very modern rock garden where once was the pond with the fountain that never worked.
certainlyadverbUS /ˈsɜːrtənli/
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading I say “was”; the shell of it is still there, and the people who now live in it are quite unaware, I suppose, that anything has happened to the inside of it, except that they are certainly assured that their furniture is vastly superior to the furniture of their predecessors.
cherishverbUS /ˈtʃerɪʃ/
be fond of; be attached to
From this reading Let them cherish their satisfaction.
dining-roomnoun
a room used for dining
From this reading They have a gramophone, a pianola, and a lift to bring the plates from the kitchen into the dining-room, and a small motor garage at the back where the old pump used to be, and a very modern rock garden where once was the pond with the fountain that never worked.
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading I say “was”; the shell of it is still there, and the people who now live in it are quite unaware, I suppose, that anything has happened to the inside of it, except that they are certainly assured that their furniture is vastly superior to the furniture of their predecessors.
fountainnounUS /ˈfaʊntən/
a structure from which an artificially produced jet of water arises
From this reading They have a gramophone, a pianola, and a lift to bring the plates from the kitchen into the dining-room, and a small motor garage at the back where the old pump used to be, and a very modern rock garden where once was the pond with the fountain that never worked.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading They have a gramophone, a pianola, and a lift to bring the plates from the kitchen into the dining-room, and a small motor garage at the back where the old pump used to be, and a very modern rock garden where once was the pond with the fountain that never worked.
furniturenounUS /ˈfɜːrnɪtʃər/
furnishings that make a room or other area ready for occupancy
From this reading I say “was”; the shell of it is still there, and the people who now live in it are quite unaware, I suppose, that anything has happened to the inside of it, except that they are certainly assured that their furniture is vastly superior to the furniture of their predecessors.
garagenounUS /ɡərˈɑːʒ/
an outbuilding (or part of a building) for housing automobiles
From this reading They have a gramophone, a pianola, and a lift to bring the plates from the kitchen into the dining-room, and a small motor garage at the back where the old pump used to be, and a very modern rock garden where once was the pond with the fountain that never worked.
gardennounUS /ˈɡɑːrdən/
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading They have a gramophone, a pianola, and a lift to bring the plates from the kitchen into the dining-room, and a small motor garage at the back where the old pump used to be, and a very modern rock garden where once was the pond with the fountain that never worked.
gramophonenoun
an antique record player; the sound of the vibrating needle is amplified acoustically
From this reading They have a gramophone, a pianola, and a lift to bring the plates from the kitchen into the dining-room, and a small motor garage at the back where the old pump used to be, and a very modern rock garden where once was the pond with the fountain that never worked.
grudgesnounUS /ˈɡrʌdʒɪz/
plural of “grudge” — a resentment strong enough to justify retaliation
From this reading No one grudges it to them.
happenedverbUS /ˈhæpənd/
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading I say “was”; the shell of it is still there, and the people who now live in it are quite unaware, I suppose, that anything has happened to the inside of it, except that they are certainly assured that their furniture is vastly superior to the furniture of their predecessors.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I say “was”; the shell of it is still there, and the people who now live in it are quite unaware, I suppose, that anything has happened to the inside of it, except that they are certainly assured that their furniture is vastly superior to the furniture of their predecessors.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading They have a gramophone, a pianola, and a lift to bring the plates from the kitchen into the dining-room, and a small motor garage at the back where the old pump used to be, and a very modern rock garden where once was the pond with the fountain that never worked.
housenounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading About thirty years ago there was at the top of the right-hand side of Orange Street, in Polchester, a large stone house.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I say “was”; the shell of it is still there, and the people who now live in it are quite unaware, I suppose, that anything has happened to the inside of it, except that they are certainly assured that their furniture is vastly superior to the furniture of their predecessors.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading About thirty years ago there was at the top of the right-hand side of Orange Street, in Polchester, a large stone house.
insideadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈsaɪd/
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading I say “was”; the shell of it is still there, and the people who now live in it are quite unaware, I suppose, that anything has happened to the inside of it, except that they are certainly assured that their furniture is vastly superior to the furniture of their predecessors.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading They have a gramophone, a pianola, and a lift to bring the plates from the kitchen into the dining-room, and a small motor garage at the back where the old pump used to be, and a very modern rock garden where once was the pond with the fountain that never worked.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I say “was”; the shell of it is still there, and the people who now live in it are quite unaware, I suppose, that anything has happened to the inside of it, except that they are certainly assured that their furniture is vastly superior to the furniture of their predecessors.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I say “was”; the shell of it is still there, and the people who now live in it are quite unaware, I suppose, that anything has happened to the inside of it, except that they are certainly assured that their furniture is vastly superior to the furniture of their predecessors.
kitchennounUS /ˈkɪtʃən/
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading They have a gramophone, a pianola, and a lift to bring the plates from the kitchen into the dining-room, and a small motor garage at the back where the old pump used to be, and a very modern rock garden where once was the pond with the fountain that never worked.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading About thirty years ago there was at the top of the right-hand side of Orange Street, in Polchester, a large stone house.
Letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading Let them cherish their satisfaction.
liftverbUS /lɪft/
raise from a lower to a higher position
From this reading They have a gramophone, a pianola, and a lift to bring the plates from the kitchen into the dining-room, and a small motor garage at the back where the old pump used to be, and a very modern rock garden where once was the pond with the fountain that never worked.
liveverbUS /laɪv/
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading I say “was”; the shell of it is still there, and the people who now live in it are quite unaware, I suppose, that anything has happened to the inside of it, except that they are certainly assured that their furniture is vastly superior to the furniture of their predecessors.
modernadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːdərn/
belonging to the modern era; since the Middle Ages
From this reading They have a gramophone, a pianola, and a lift to bring the plates from the kitchen into the dining-room, and a small motor garage at the back where the old pump used to be, and a very modern rock garden where once was the pond with the fountain that never worked.
motornounUS /ˈmoʊtər/
machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion
From this reading They have a gramophone, a pianola, and a lift to bring the plates from the kitchen into the dining-room, and a small motor garage at the back where the old pump used to be, and a very modern rock garden where once was the pond with the fountain that never worked.
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading They have a gramophone, a pianola, and a lift to bring the plates from the kitchen into the dining-room, and a small motor garage at the back where the old pump used to be, and a very modern rock garden where once was the pond with the fountain that never worked.
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading No one grudges it to them.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading I say “was”; the shell of it is still there, and the people who now live in it are quite unaware, I suppose, that anything has happened to the inside of it, except that they are certainly assured that their furniture is vastly superior to the furniture of their predecessors.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading About thirty years ago there was at the top of the right-hand side of Orange Street, in Polchester, a large stone house.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading They have a gramophone, a pianola, and a lift to bring the plates from the kitchen into the dining-room, and a small motor garage at the back where the old pump used to be, and a very modern rock garden where once was the pond with the fountain that never worked.
onceadverbUS /wʌns/
on one occasion
From this reading They have a gramophone, a pianola, and a lift to bring the plates from the kitchen into the dining-room, and a small motor garage at the back where the old pump used to be, and a very modern rock garden where once was the pond with the fountain that never worked.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading No one grudges it to them.
OrangenounUS /ˈɔːrəndʒ/
round yellow to orange fruit of any of several citrus trees
From this reading About thirty years ago there was at the top of the right-hand side of Orange Street, in Polchester, a large stone house.
peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading I say “was”; the shell of it is still there, and the people who now live in it are quite unaware, I suppose, that anything has happened to the inside of it, except that they are certainly assured that their furniture is vastly superior to the furniture of their predecessors.
pianolanoun
a mechanically operated piano that uses a roll of perforated paper to activate the keys
From this reading They have a gramophone, a pianola, and a lift to bring the plates from the kitchen into the dining-room, and a small motor garage at the back where the old pump used to be, and a very modern rock garden where once was the pond with the fountain that never worked.
platesnounUS /pleɪts/
plural of “plate” — (baseball) base consisting of a rubber slab where the batter stands; it must be touched by a base runner in order to score
From this reading They have a gramophone, a pianola, and a lift to bring the plates from the kitchen into the dining-room, and a small motor garage at the back where the old pump used to be, and a very modern rock garden where once was the pond with the fountain that never worked.
Polchester
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading About thirty years ago there was at the top of the right-hand side of Orange Street, in Polchester, a large stone house.
pondnounUS /pɑːnd/
a small lake
From this reading They have a gramophone, a pianola, and a lift to bring the plates from the kitchen into the dining-room, and a small motor garage at the back where the old pump used to be, and a very modern rock garden where once was the pond with the fountain that never worked.
predecessorsnounUS /ˈpredəsesərz/
plural of “predecessor” — one who precedes you in time (as in holding a position or office)
From this reading I say “was”; the shell of it is still there, and the people who now live in it are quite unaware, I suppose, that anything has happened to the inside of it, except that they are certainly assured that their furniture is vastly superior to the furniture of their predecessors.
pumpverbUS /pʌmp/
operate like a pump; move up and down, like a handle or a pedal
From this reading They have a gramophone, a pianola, and a lift to bring the plates from the kitchen into the dining-room, and a small motor garage at the back where the old pump used to be, and a very modern rock garden where once was the pond with the fountain that never worked.
quiteadverbUS /kwaɪt/
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading I say “was”; the shell of it is still there, and the people who now live in it are quite unaware, I suppose, that anything has happened to the inside of it, except that they are certainly assured that their furniture is vastly superior to the furniture of their predecessors.
right-handadjectiveUS /raɪtˈhænd/
located on or directed toward the right
From this reading About thirty years ago there was at the top of the right-hand side of Orange Street, in Polchester, a large stone house.
rocknounUS /rɑːk/
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading They have a gramophone, a pianola, and a lift to bring the plates from the kitchen into the dining-room, and a small motor garage at the back where the old pump used to be, and a very modern rock garden where once was the pond with the fountain that never worked.
satisfactionnounUS /ˌsætəˈsfækʃən/
the contentment one feels when one has fulfilled a desire, need, or expectation
From this reading Let them cherish their satisfaction.
sayverbUS /seɪ/
express in words
From this reading I say “was”; the shell of it is still there, and the people who now live in it are quite unaware, I suppose, that anything has happened to the inside of it, except that they are certainly assured that their furniture is vastly superior to the furniture of their predecessors.
shellnounUS /ʃel/
ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun
From this reading I say “was”; the shell of it is still there, and the people who now live in it are quite unaware, I suppose, that anything has happened to the inside of it, except that they are certainly assured that their furniture is vastly superior to the furniture of their predecessors.
sidenounUS /saɪd/
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading About thirty years ago there was at the top of the right-hand side of Orange Street, in Polchester, a large stone house.
smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading They have a gramophone, a pianola, and a lift to bring the plates from the kitchen into the dining-room, and a small motor garage at the back where the old pump used to be, and a very modern rock garden where once was the pond with the fountain that never worked.
stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/
not in physical motion
From this reading I say “was”; the shell of it is still there, and the people who now live in it are quite unaware, I suppose, that anything has happened to the inside of it, except that they are certainly assured that their furniture is vastly superior to the furniture of their predecessors.
stonenounUS /stoʊn/
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading About thirty years ago there was at the top of the right-hand side of Orange Street, in Polchester, a large stone house.
StreetnounUS /striːt/
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading About thirty years ago there was at the top of the right-hand side of Orange Street, in Polchester, a large stone house.
superioradjectiveUS /suːˈpɪriər/
of high or superior quality or performance
From this reading I say “was”; the shell of it is still there, and the people who now live in it are quite unaware, I suppose, that anything has happened to the inside of it, except that they are certainly assured that their furniture is vastly superior to the furniture of their predecessors.
supposeverbUS /səˈpoʊz/
express a supposition
From this reading I say “was”; the shell of it is still there, and the people who now live in it are quite unaware, I suppose, that anything has happened to the inside of it, except that they are certainly assured that their furniture is vastly superior to the furniture of their predecessors.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I say “was”; the shell of it is still there, and the people who now live in it are quite unaware, I suppose, that anything has happened to the inside of it, except that they are certainly assured that their furniture is vastly superior to the furniture of their predecessors.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading About thirty years ago there was at the top of the right-hand side of Orange Street, in Polchester, a large stone house.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading I say “was”; the shell of it is still there, and the people who now live in it are quite unaware, I suppose, that anything has happened to the inside of it, except that they are certainly assured that their furniture is vastly superior to the furniture of their predecessors.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Let them cherish their satisfaction.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading About thirty years ago there was at the top of the right-hand side of Orange Street, in Polchester, a large stone house.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I say “was”; the shell of it is still there, and the people who now live in it are quite unaware, I suppose, that anything has happened to the inside of it, except that they are certainly assured that their furniture is vastly superior to the furniture of their predecessors.
thirtynounUS /ˈθɜːrdiː/
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three
From this reading About thirty years ago there was at the top of the right-hand side of Orange Street, in Polchester, a large stone house.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I say “was”; the shell of it is still there, and the people who now live in it are quite unaware, I suppose, that anything has happened to the inside of it, except that they are certainly assured that their furniture is vastly superior to the furniture of their predecessors.
topnounUS /tɑːp/
the upper part of anything
From this reading About thirty years ago there was at the top of the right-hand side of Orange Street, in Polchester, a large stone house.
unawareadjectiveUS /ˌʌnəˈwer/
(often followed by “of”) not aware
From this reading I say “was”; the shell of it is still there, and the people who now live in it are quite unaware, I suppose, that anything has happened to the inside of it, except that they are certainly assured that their furniture is vastly superior to the furniture of their predecessors.
usedadjectiveUS /juːzd/
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading They have a gramophone, a pianola, and a lift to bring the plates from the kitchen into the dining-room, and a small motor garage at the back where the old pump used to be, and a very modern rock garden where once was the pond with the fountain that never worked.
vastlyadverbUS /ˈvæstli/
to an exceedingly great extent or degree
From this reading I say “was”; the shell of it is still there, and the people who now live in it are quite unaware, I suppose, that anything has happened to the inside of it, except that they are certainly assured that their furniture is vastly superior to the furniture of their predecessors.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading They have a gramophone, a pianola, and a lift to bring the plates from the kitchen into the dining-room, and a small motor garage at the back where the old pump used to be, and a very modern rock garden where once was the pond with the fountain that never worked.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading About thirty years ago there was at the top of the right-hand side of Orange Street, in Polchester, a large stone house.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading They have a gramophone, a pianola, and a lift to bring the plates from the kitchen into the dining-room, and a small motor garage at the back where the old pump used to be, and a very modern rock garden where once was the pond with the fountain that never worked.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading I say “was”; the shell of it is still there, and the people who now live in it are quite unaware, I suppose, that anything has happened to the inside of it, except that they are certainly assured that their furniture is vastly superior to the furniture of their predecessors.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading They have a gramophone, a pianola, and a lift to bring the plates from the kitchen into the dining-room, and a small motor garage at the back where the old pump used to be, and a very modern rock garden where once was the pond with the fountain that never worked.
workedverbUS /wɜːrkt/
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading They have a gramophone, a pianola, and a lift to bring the plates from the kitchen into the dining-room, and a small motor garage at the back where the old pump used to be, and a very modern rock garden where once was the pond with the fountain that never worked.
yearsnounUS /jɪrz/
a late time of life
From this reading About thirty years ago there was at the top of the right-hand side of Orange Street, in Polchester, a large stone house.
