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 Clive's father and mother were coming to Devonshire for a holiday; they had taken rooms at a farm in Chagmouth, and they had not only arranged for their own son to join them, but they had also asked Mavis and Merle to be their visitors.
acceptable
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From this reading The girls thought that no invitation could have been more delightfully acceptable.
adored
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From this reading They adored Chagmouth, and the Saturdays they managed to spend there were always red-letter days, so the prospect of three whole weeks in this El Dorado sent their spirits up to fizzing-over point.
also
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Clive's father and mother were coming to Devonshire for a holiday; they had taken rooms at a farm in Chagmouth, and they had not only arranged for their own son to join them, but they had also asked Mavis and Merle to be their visitors.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They adored Chagmouth, and the Saturdays they managed to spend there were always red-letter days, so the prospect of three whole weeks in this El Dorado sent their spirits up to fizzing-over point.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Kittiwake The great Easter secret, which Merle had surprised and preserved with so much difficulty, was out at last.
arranged
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From this reading Clive's father and mother were coming to Devonshire for a holiday; they had taken rooms at a farm in Chagmouth, and they had not only arranged for their own son to join them, but they had also asked Mavis and Merle to be their visitors.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Clive's father and mother were coming to Devonshire for a holiday; they had taken rooms at a farm in Chagmouth, and they had not only arranged for their own son to join them, but they had also asked Mavis and Merle to be their visitors.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The Kittiwake The great Easter secret, which Merle had surprised and preserved with so much difficulty, was out at last.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Clive's father and mother were coming to Devonshire for a holiday; they had taken rooms at a farm in Chagmouth, and they had not only arranged for their own son to join them, but they had also asked Mavis and Merle to be their visitors.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The girls thought that no invitation could have been more delightfully acceptable.
Bevis
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From this reading "Bevis will be at Grimbal's Farm!"
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Clive's father and mother were coming to Devonshire for a holiday; they had taken rooms at a farm in Chagmouth, and they had not only arranged for their own son to join them, but they had also asked Mavis and Merle to be their visitors.
Chagmouth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Clive's father and mother were coming to Devonshire for a holiday; they had taken rooms at a farm in Chagmouth, and they had not only arranged for their own son to join them, but they had also asked Mavis and Merle to be their visitors.
Clive's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Clive's father and mother were coming to Devonshire for a holiday; they had taken rooms at a farm in Chagmouth, and they had not only arranged for their own son to join them, but they had also asked Mavis and Merle to be their visitors.
coming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Clive's father and mother were coming to Devonshire for a holiday; they had taken rooms at a farm in Chagmouth, and they had not only arranged for their own son to join them, but they had also asked Mavis and Merle to be their visitors.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The girls thought that no invitation could have been more delightfully acceptable.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They adored Chagmouth, and the Saturdays they managed to spend there were always red-letter days, so the prospect of three whole weeks in this El Dorado sent their spirits up to fizzing-over point.
delightfully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The girls thought that no invitation could have been more delightfully acceptable.
Devonshire
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From this reading Clive's father and mother were coming to Devonshire for a holiday; they had taken rooms at a farm in Chagmouth, and they had not only arranged for their own son to join them, but they had also asked Mavis and Merle to be their visitors.
difficulty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Kittiwake The great Easter secret, which Merle had surprised and preserved with so much difficulty, was out at last.
Dorado
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They adored Chagmouth, and the Saturdays they managed to spend there were always red-letter days, so the prospect of three whole weeks in this El Dorado sent their spirits up to fizzing-over point.
Easter
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From this reading The Kittiwake The great Easter secret, which Merle had surprised and preserved with so much difficulty, was out at last.
El
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They adored Chagmouth, and the Saturdays they managed to spend there were always red-letter days, so the prospect of three whole weeks in this El Dorado sent their spirits up to fizzing-over point.
farm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Clive's father and mother were coming to Devonshire for a holiday; they had taken rooms at a farm in Chagmouth, and they had not only arranged for their own son to join them, but they had also asked Mavis and Merle to be their visitors.
father
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Clive's father and mother were coming to Devonshire for a holiday; they had taken rooms at a farm in Chagmouth, and they had not only arranged for their own son to join them, but they had also asked Mavis and Merle to be their visitors.
fizzing-over
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They adored Chagmouth, and the Saturdays they managed to spend there were always red-letter days, so the prospect of three whole weeks in this El Dorado sent their spirits up to fizzing-over point.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Clive's father and mother were coming to Devonshire for a holiday; they had taken rooms at a farm in Chagmouth, and they had not only arranged for their own son to join them, but they had also asked Mavis and Merle to be their visitors.
girls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The girls thought that no invitation could have been more delightfully acceptable.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Kittiwake The great Easter secret, which Merle had surprised and preserved with so much difficulty, was out at last.
Grimbal's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Bevis will be at Grimbal's Farm!"
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Kittiwake The great Easter secret, which Merle had surprised and preserved with so much difficulty, was out at last.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The girls thought that no invitation could have been more delightfully acceptable.
holiday
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Clive's father and mother were coming to Devonshire for a holiday; they had taken rooms at a farm in Chagmouth, and they had not only arranged for their own son to join them, but they had also asked Mavis and Merle to be their visitors.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Clive's father and mother were coming to Devonshire for a holiday; they had taken rooms at a farm in Chagmouth, and they had not only arranged for their own son to join them, but they had also asked Mavis and Merle to be their visitors.
invitation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The girls thought that no invitation could have been more delightfully acceptable.
join
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Clive's father and mother were coming to Devonshire for a holiday; they had taken rooms at a farm in Chagmouth, and they had not only arranged for their own son to join them, but they had also asked Mavis and Merle to be their visitors.
Kittiwake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Kittiwake The great Easter secret, which Merle had surprised and preserved with so much difficulty, was out at last.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Kittiwake The great Easter secret, which Merle had surprised and preserved with so much difficulty, was out at last.
managed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They adored Chagmouth, and the Saturdays they managed to spend there were always red-letter days, so the prospect of three whole weeks in this El Dorado sent their spirits up to fizzing-over point.
Mavis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Clive's father and mother were coming to Devonshire for a holiday; they had taken rooms at a farm in Chagmouth, and they had not only arranged for their own son to join them, but they had also asked Mavis and Merle to be their visitors.
Merle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Kittiwake The great Easter secret, which Merle had surprised and preserved with so much difficulty, was out at last.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The girls thought that no invitation could have been more delightfully acceptable.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Clive's father and mother were coming to Devonshire for a holiday; they had taken rooms at a farm in Chagmouth, and they had not only arranged for their own son to join them, but they had also asked Mavis and Merle to be their visitors.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Kittiwake The great Easter secret, which Merle had surprised and preserved with so much difficulty, was out at last.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading The girls thought that no invitation could have been more delightfully acceptable.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Clive's father and mother were coming to Devonshire for a holiday; they had taken rooms at a farm in Chagmouth, and they had not only arranged for their own son to join them, but they had also asked Mavis and Merle to be their visitors.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They adored Chagmouth, and the Saturdays they managed to spend there were always red-letter days, so the prospect of three whole weeks in this El Dorado sent their spirits up to fizzing-over point.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Clive's father and mother were coming to Devonshire for a holiday; they had taken rooms at a farm in Chagmouth, and they had not only arranged for their own son to join them, but they had also asked Mavis and Merle to be their visitors.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Kittiwake The great Easter secret, which Merle had surprised and preserved with so much difficulty, was out at last.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Clive's father and mother were coming to Devonshire for a holiday; they had taken rooms at a farm in Chagmouth, and they had not only arranged for their own son to join them, but they had also asked Mavis and Merle to be their visitors.
pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/
the main matter or purpose being discussed
From this reading They adored Chagmouth, and the Saturdays they managed to spend there were always red-letter days, so the prospect of three whole weeks in this El Dorado sent their spirits up to fizzing-over point.
preserved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Kittiwake The great Easter secret, which Merle had surprised and preserved with so much difficulty, was out at last.
prospect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They adored Chagmouth, and the Saturdays they managed to spend there were always red-letter days, so the prospect of three whole weeks in this El Dorado sent their spirits up to fizzing-over point.
red-letter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They adored Chagmouth, and the Saturdays they managed to spend there were always red-letter days, so the prospect of three whole weeks in this El Dorado sent their spirits up to fizzing-over point.
rooms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Clive's father and mother were coming to Devonshire for a holiday; they had taken rooms at a farm in Chagmouth, and they had not only arranged for their own son to join them, but they had also asked Mavis and Merle to be their visitors.
Saturdays
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They adored Chagmouth, and the Saturdays they managed to spend there were always red-letter days, so the prospect of three whole weeks in this El Dorado sent their spirits up to fizzing-over point.
secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading The Kittiwake The great Easter secret, which Merle had surprised and preserved with so much difficulty, was out at last.
sent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They adored Chagmouth, and the Saturdays they managed to spend there were always red-letter days, so the prospect of three whole weeks in this El Dorado sent their spirits up to fizzing-over point.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The Kittiwake The great Easter secret, which Merle had surprised and preserved with so much difficulty, was out at last.
son
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Clive's father and mother were coming to Devonshire for a holiday; they had taken rooms at a farm in Chagmouth, and they had not only arranged for their own son to join them, but they had also asked Mavis and Merle to be their visitors.
spend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They adored Chagmouth, and the Saturdays they managed to spend there were always red-letter days, so the prospect of three whole weeks in this El Dorado sent their spirits up to fizzing-over point.
spirits
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They adored Chagmouth, and the Saturdays they managed to spend there were always red-letter days, so the prospect of three whole weeks in this El Dorado sent their spirits up to fizzing-over point.
surprisednounUS /surprised/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Kittiwake The great Easter secret, which Merle had surprised and preserved with so much difficulty, was out at last.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Clive's father and mother were coming to Devonshire for a holiday; they had taken rooms at a farm in Chagmouth, and they had not only arranged for their own son to join them, but they had also asked Mavis and Merle to be their visitors.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The girls thought that no invitation could have been more delightfully acceptable.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Kittiwake The great Easter secret, which Merle had surprised and preserved with so much difficulty, was out at last.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Clive's father and mother were coming to Devonshire for a holiday; they had taken rooms at a farm in Chagmouth, and they had not only arranged for their own son to join them, but they had also asked Mavis and Merle to be their visitors.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Clive's father and mother were coming to Devonshire for a holiday; they had taken rooms at a farm in Chagmouth, and they had not only arranged for their own son to join them, but they had also asked Mavis and Merle to be their visitors.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They adored Chagmouth, and the Saturdays they managed to spend there were always red-letter days, so the prospect of three whole weeks in this El Dorado sent their spirits up to fizzing-over point.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Clive's father and mother were coming to Devonshire for a holiday; they had taken rooms at a farm in Chagmouth, and they had not only arranged for their own son to join them, but they had also asked Mavis and Merle to be their visitors.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading They adored Chagmouth, and the Saturdays they managed to spend there were always red-letter days, so the prospect of three whole weeks in this El Dorado sent their spirits up to fizzing-over point.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The girls thought that no invitation could have been more delightfully acceptable.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They adored Chagmouth, and the Saturdays they managed to spend there were always red-letter days, so the prospect of three whole weeks in this El Dorado sent their spirits up to fizzing-over point.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Clive's father and mother were coming to Devonshire for a holiday; they had taken rooms at a farm in Chagmouth, and they had not only arranged for their own son to join them, but they had also asked Mavis and Merle to be their visitors.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They adored Chagmouth, and the Saturdays they managed to spend there were always red-letter days, so the prospect of three whole weeks in this El Dorado sent their spirits up to fizzing-over point.
visitors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Clive's father and mother were coming to Devonshire for a holiday; they had taken rooms at a farm in Chagmouth, and they had not only arranged for their own son to join them, but they had also asked Mavis and Merle to be their visitors.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Kittiwake The great Easter secret, which Merle had surprised and preserved with so much difficulty, was out at last.
weeks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They adored Chagmouth, and the Saturdays they managed to spend there were always red-letter days, so the prospect of three whole weeks in this El Dorado sent their spirits up to fizzing-over point.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Clive's father and mother were coming to Devonshire for a holiday; they had taken rooms at a farm in Chagmouth, and they had not only arranged for their own son to join them, but they had also asked Mavis and Merle to be their visitors.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The Kittiwake The great Easter secret, which Merle had surprised and preserved with so much difficulty, was out at last.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They adored Chagmouth, and the Saturdays they managed to spend there were always red-letter days, so the prospect of three whole weeks in this El Dorado sent their spirits up to fizzing-over point.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "Bevis will be at Grimbal's Farm!"
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Kittiwake The great Easter secret, which Merle had surprised and preserved with so much difficulty, was out at last.
