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 Uncle Alfred wrote a short note from Calais, and on the day when old Halkett was taken to his grave another letter came to say that Philip Caniper was dead before the travellers could reach him.
addednounUS /added/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Then we're poor little orphans, like George," Miriam said, and, with the peering look which asked how far she might venture, she added, "And, like George, we have our Mrs. Biggs."
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "She'll never be happy again," she said.
Alfred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Uncle Alfred wrote a short note from Calais, and on the day when old Halkett was taken to his grave another letter came to say that Philip Caniper was dead before the travellers could reach him.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Uncle Alfred wrote a short note from Calais, and on the day when old Halkett was taken to his grave another letter came to say that Philip Caniper was dead before the travellers could reach him.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Uncle Alfred wrote a short note from Calais, and on the day when old Halkett was taken to his grave another letter came to say that Philip Caniper was dead before the travellers could reach him.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Then we're poor little orphans, like George," Miriam said, and, with the peering look which asked how far she might venture, she added, "And, like George, we have our Mrs. Biggs."
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "She'll never be happy again," she said.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "Well, she never has been happy, and she has never wanted us to be happy, so nothing's changed."
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Uncle Alfred wrote a short note from Calais, and on the day when old Halkett was taken to his grave another letter came to say that Philip Caniper was dead before the travellers could reach him.
Biggs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Then we're poor little orphans, like George," Miriam said, and, with the peering look which asked how far she might venture, she added, "And, like George, we have our Mrs. Biggs."
Calais
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Uncle Alfred wrote a short note from Calais, and on the day when old Halkett was taken to his grave another letter came to say that Philip Caniper was dead before the travellers could reach him.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Uncle Alfred wrote a short note from Calais, and on the day when old Halkett was taken to his grave another letter came to say that Philip Caniper was dead before the travellers could reach him.
Caniper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Uncle Alfred wrote a short note from Calais, and on the day when old Halkett was taken to his grave another letter came to say that Philip Caniper was dead before the travellers could reach him.
changed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, she never has been happy, and she has never wanted us to be happy, so nothing's changed."
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Uncle Alfred wrote a short note from Calais, and on the day when old Halkett was taken to his grave another letter came to say that Philip Caniper was dead before the travellers could reach him.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Uncle Alfred wrote a short note from Calais, and on the day when old Halkett was taken to his grave another letter came to say that Philip Caniper was dead before the travellers could reach him.
deadnounUS /dead/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Uncle Alfred wrote a short note from Calais, and on the day when old Halkett was taken to his grave another letter came to say that Philip Caniper was dead before the travellers could reach him.
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Then we're poor little orphans, like George," Miriam said, and, with the peering look which asked how far she might venture, she added, "And, like George, we have our Mrs. Biggs."
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Uncle Alfred wrote a short note from Calais, and on the day when old Halkett was taken to his grave another letter came to say that Philip Caniper was dead before the travellers could reach him.
George
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Then we're poor little orphans, like George," Miriam said, and, with the peering look which asked how far she might venture, she added, "And, like George, we have our Mrs. Biggs."
grave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Uncle Alfred wrote a short note from Calais, and on the day when old Halkett was taken to his grave another letter came to say that Philip Caniper was dead before the travellers could reach him.
Halkett
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Uncle Alfred wrote a short note from Calais, and on the day when old Halkett was taken to his grave another letter came to say that Philip Caniper was dead before the travellers could reach him.
happy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "She'll never be happy again," she said.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Well, she never has been happy, and she has never wanted us to be happy, so nothing's changed."
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Then we're poor little orphans, like George," Miriam said, and, with the peering look which asked how far she might venture, she added, "And, like George, we have our Mrs. Biggs."
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Helen heard those words, she made no sign.
Helen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Helen heard those words, she made no sign.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Uncle Alfred wrote a short note from Calais, and on the day when old Halkett was taken to his grave another letter came to say that Philip Caniper was dead before the travellers could reach him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Uncle Alfred wrote a short note from Calais, and on the day when old Halkett was taken to his grave another letter came to say that Philip Caniper was dead before the travellers could reach him.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Then we're poor little orphans, like George," Miriam said, and, with the peering look which asked how far she might venture, she added, "And, like George, we have our Mrs. Biggs."
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If Helen heard those words, she made no sign.
letter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Uncle Alfred wrote a short note from Calais, and on the day when old Halkett was taken to his grave another letter came to say that Philip Caniper was dead before the travellers could reach him.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Then we're poor little orphans, like George," Miriam said, and, with the peering look which asked how far she might venture, she added, "And, like George, we have our Mrs. Biggs."
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Then we're poor little orphans, like George," Miriam said, and, with the peering look which asked how far she might venture, she added, "And, like George, we have our Mrs. Biggs."
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Then we're poor little orphans, like George," Miriam said, and, with the peering look which asked how far she might venture, she added, "And, like George, we have our Mrs. Biggs."
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Helen heard those words, she made no sign.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading "Then we're poor little orphans, like George," Miriam said, and, with the peering look which asked how far she might venture, she added, "And, like George, we have our Mrs. Biggs."
Miriam
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Then we're poor little orphans, like George," Miriam said, and, with the peering look which asked how far she might venture, she added, "And, like George, we have our Mrs. Biggs."
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Then we're poor little orphans, like George," Miriam said, and, with the peering look which asked how far she might venture, she added, "And, like George, we have our Mrs. Biggs."
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "She'll never be happy again," she said.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading If Helen heard those words, she made no sign.
note
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Uncle Alfred wrote a short note from Calais, and on the day when old Halkett was taken to his grave another letter came to say that Philip Caniper was dead before the travellers could reach him.
nothing's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, she never has been happy, and she has never wanted us to be happy, so nothing's changed."
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Uncle Alfred wrote a short note from Calais, and on the day when old Halkett was taken to his grave another letter came to say that Philip Caniper was dead before the travellers could reach him.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Uncle Alfred wrote a short note from Calais, and on the day when old Halkett was taken to his grave another letter came to say that Philip Caniper was dead before the travellers could reach him.
orphans
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Then we're poor little orphans, like George," Miriam said, and, with the peering look which asked how far she might venture, she added, "And, like George, we have our Mrs. Biggs."
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "Then we're poor little orphans, like George," Miriam said, and, with the peering look which asked how far she might venture, she added, "And, like George, we have our Mrs. Biggs."
peeringverbUS /ˈpɪrɪŋ/
looking closely or carefully
From this reading "Then we're poor little orphans, like George," Miriam said, and, with the peering look which asked how far she might venture, she added, "And, like George, we have our Mrs. Biggs."
Philip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Uncle Alfred wrote a short note from Calais, and on the day when old Halkett was taken to his grave another letter came to say that Philip Caniper was dead before the travellers could reach him.
poornounUS /poor/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Then we're poor little orphans, like George," Miriam said, and, with the peering look which asked how far she might venture, she added, "And, like George, we have our Mrs. Biggs."
reach
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Uncle Alfred wrote a short note from Calais, and on the day when old Halkett was taken to his grave another letter came to say that Philip Caniper was dead before the travellers could reach him.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Then we're poor little orphans, like George," Miriam said, and, with the peering look which asked how far she might venture, she added, "And, like George, we have our Mrs. Biggs."
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Uncle Alfred wrote a short note from Calais, and on the day when old Halkett was taken to his grave another letter came to say that Philip Caniper was dead before the travellers could reach him.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Then we're poor little orphans, like George," Miriam said, and, with the peering look which asked how far she might venture, she added, "And, like George, we have our Mrs. Biggs."
She'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "She'll never be happy again," she said.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading Uncle Alfred wrote a short note from Calais, and on the day when old Halkett was taken to his grave another letter came to say that Philip Caniper was dead before the travellers could reach him.
sign
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Helen heard those words, she made no sign.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "Well, she never has been happy, and she has never wanted us to be happy, so nothing's changed."
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Uncle Alfred wrote a short note from Calais, and on the day when old Halkett was taken to his grave another letter came to say that Philip Caniper was dead before the travellers could reach him.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Uncle Alfred wrote a short note from Calais, and on the day when old Halkett was taken to his grave another letter came to say that Philip Caniper was dead before the travellers could reach him.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Uncle Alfred wrote a short note from Calais, and on the day when old Halkett was taken to his grave another letter came to say that Philip Caniper was dead before the travellers could reach him.
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Then we're poor little orphans, like George," Miriam said, and, with the peering look which asked how far she might venture, she added, "And, like George, we have our Mrs. Biggs."
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading If Helen heard those words, she made no sign.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Uncle Alfred wrote a short note from Calais, and on the day when old Halkett was taken to his grave another letter came to say that Philip Caniper was dead before the travellers could reach him.
travellers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Uncle Alfred wrote a short note from Calais, and on the day when old Halkett was taken to his grave another letter came to say that Philip Caniper was dead before the travellers could reach him.
Uncle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Uncle Alfred wrote a short note from Calais, and on the day when old Halkett was taken to his grave another letter came to say that Philip Caniper was dead before the travellers could reach him.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Well, she never has been happy, and she has never wanted us to be happy, so nothing's changed."
venture
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Then we're poor little orphans, like George," Miriam said, and, with the peering look which asked how far she might venture, she added, "And, like George, we have our Mrs. Biggs."
wanted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, she never has been happy, and she has never wanted us to be happy, so nothing's changed."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Uncle Alfred wrote a short note from Calais, and on the day when old Halkett was taken to his grave another letter came to say that Philip Caniper was dead before the travellers could reach him.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "Then we're poor little orphans, like George," Miriam said, and, with the peering look which asked how far she might venture, she added, "And, like George, we have our Mrs. Biggs."
we're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Then we're poor little orphans, like George," Miriam said, and, with the peering look which asked how far she might venture, she added, "And, like George, we have our Mrs. Biggs."
Well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, she never has been happy, and she has never wanted us to be happy, so nothing's changed."
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Uncle Alfred wrote a short note from Calais, and on the day when old Halkett was taken to his grave another letter came to say that Philip Caniper was dead before the travellers could reach him.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading "Then we're poor little orphans, like George," Miriam said, and, with the peering look which asked how far she might venture, she added, "And, like George, we have our Mrs. Biggs."
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Then we're poor little orphans, like George," Miriam said, and, with the peering look which asked how far she might venture, she added, "And, like George, we have our Mrs. Biggs."
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Helen heard those words, she made no sign.
wrote
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Uncle Alfred wrote a short note from Calais, and on the day when old Halkett was taken to his grave another letter came to say that Philip Caniper was dead before the travellers could reach him.
