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 Everyone woke up with an oppressed feeling and a vague wish that for just this once the season of merry-making and gladness might have been omitted.
Adair
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From this reading For The Ghan House and the Parsonage it had always been such a particularly joyous time, the aunties always spoiling the young folks in every possible way, and Mrs Adair had been wont to say laughingly when they were children, that she had to develop into a sort of griffin armed with salts and soothing draughts, and follow them all around.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For The Ghan House and the Parsonage it had always been such a particularly joyous time, the aunties always spoiling the young folks in every possible way, and Mrs Adair had been wont to say laughingly when they were children, that she had to develop into a sort of griffin armed with salts and soothing draughts, and follow them all around.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For The Ghan House and the Parsonage it had always been such a particularly joyous time, the aunties always spoiling the young folks in every possible way, and Mrs Adair had been wont to say laughingly when they were children, that she had to develop into a sort of griffin armed with salts and soothing draughts, and follow them all around.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Everyone woke up with an oppressed feeling and a vague wish that for just this once the season of merry-making and gladness might have been omitted.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Christmas Day broke clear and frosty—the last Christmas Day of the old order.
animal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gardener found him trying to drag the animal over the breach in the wall, his poor little feet blue with cold, but his eagerness was so great that he could think of nothing but getting to The Ghan House with that precious horse before any of the Parsonage folk caught him.
any
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From this reading The gardener found him trying to drag the animal over the breach in the wall, his poor little feet blue with cold, but his eagerness was so great that he could think of nothing but getting to The Ghan House with that precious horse before any of the Parsonage folk caught him.
armed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For The Ghan House and the Parsonage it had always been such a particularly joyous time, the aunties always spoiling the young folks in every possible way, and Mrs Adair had been wont to say laughingly when they were children, that she had to develop into a sort of griffin armed with salts and soothing draughts, and follow them all around.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading For The Ghan House and the Parsonage it had always been such a particularly joyous time, the aunties always spoiling the young folks in every possible way, and Mrs Adair had been wont to say laughingly when they were children, that she had to develop into a sort of griffin armed with salts and soothing draughts, and follow them all around.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And there had always been such presents too—ever since Jack, as a four-year-old youngster, managed to slip out of the Parsonage in his night-clothes and no shoes, on a cold Christmas morning, to get over to The Ghan House to show Paddy and Eileen his wooden horse.
aunties
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For The Ghan House and the Parsonage it had always been such a particularly joyous time, the aunties always spoiling the young folks in every possible way, and Mrs Adair had been wont to say laughingly when they were children, that she had to develop into a sort of griffin armed with salts and soothing draughts, and follow them all around.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Everyone woke up with an oppressed feeling and a vague wish that for just this once the season of merry-making and gladness might have been omitted.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The gardener found him trying to drag the animal over the breach in the wall, his poor little feet blue with cold, but his eagerness was so great that he could think of nothing but getting to The Ghan House with that precious horse before any of the Parsonage folk caught him.
blue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gardener found him trying to drag the animal over the breach in the wall, his poor little feet blue with cold, but his eagerness was so great that he could think of nothing but getting to The Ghan House with that precious horse before any of the Parsonage folk caught him.
breach
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gardener found him trying to drag the animal over the breach in the wall, his poor little feet blue with cold, but his eagerness was so great that he could think of nothing but getting to The Ghan House with that precious horse before any of the Parsonage folk caught him.
broke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Christmas Day broke clear and frosty—the last Christmas Day of the old order.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The gardener found him trying to drag the animal over the breach in the wall, his poor little feet blue with cold, but his eagerness was so great that he could think of nothing but getting to The Ghan House with that precious horse before any of the Parsonage folk caught him.
caught
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gardener found him trying to drag the animal over the breach in the wall, his poor little feet blue with cold, but his eagerness was so great that he could think of nothing but getting to The Ghan House with that precious horse before any of the Parsonage folk caught him.
children
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For The Ghan House and the Parsonage it had always been such a particularly joyous time, the aunties always spoiling the young folks in every possible way, and Mrs Adair had been wont to say laughingly when they were children, that she had to develop into a sort of griffin armed with salts and soothing draughts, and follow them all around.
Christmas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Christmas Day broke clear and frosty—the last Christmas Day of the old order.
clear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Christmas Day broke clear and frosty—the last Christmas Day of the old order.
cold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And there had always been such presents too—ever since Jack, as a four-year-old youngster, managed to slip out of the Parsonage in his night-clothes and no shoes, on a cold Christmas morning, to get over to The Ghan House to show Paddy and Eileen his wooden horse.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The gardener found him trying to drag the animal over the breach in the wall, his poor little feet blue with cold, but his eagerness was so great that he could think of nothing but getting to The Ghan House with that precious horse before any of the Parsonage folk caught him.
Day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Christmas Day broke clear and frosty—the last Christmas Day of the old order.
develop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For The Ghan House and the Parsonage it had always been such a particularly joyous time, the aunties always spoiling the young folks in every possible way, and Mrs Adair had been wont to say laughingly when they were children, that she had to develop into a sort of griffin armed with salts and soothing draughts, and follow them all around.
drag
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gardener found him trying to drag the animal over the breach in the wall, his poor little feet blue with cold, but his eagerness was so great that he could think of nothing but getting to The Ghan House with that precious horse before any of the Parsonage folk caught him.
draughts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For The Ghan House and the Parsonage it had always been such a particularly joyous time, the aunties always spoiling the young folks in every possible way, and Mrs Adair had been wont to say laughingly when they were children, that she had to develop into a sort of griffin armed with salts and soothing draughts, and follow them all around.
eagerness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gardener found him trying to drag the animal over the breach in the wall, his poor little feet blue with cold, but his eagerness was so great that he could think of nothing but getting to The Ghan House with that precious horse before any of the Parsonage folk caught him.
Eileen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And there had always been such presents too—ever since Jack, as a four-year-old youngster, managed to slip out of the Parsonage in his night-clothes and no shoes, on a cold Christmas morning, to get over to The Ghan House to show Paddy and Eileen his wooden horse.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And there had always been such presents too—ever since Jack, as a four-year-old youngster, managed to slip out of the Parsonage in his night-clothes and no shoes, on a cold Christmas morning, to get over to The Ghan House to show Paddy and Eileen his wooden horse.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading For The Ghan House and the Parsonage it had always been such a particularly joyous time, the aunties always spoiling the young folks in every possible way, and Mrs Adair had been wont to say laughingly when they were children, that she had to develop into a sort of griffin armed with salts and soothing draughts, and follow them all around.
EveryonepronounUS /ˈevriwʌn/
every person
From this reading Everyone woke up with an oppressed feeling and a vague wish that for just this once the season of merry-making and gladness might have been omitted.
feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Everyone woke up with an oppressed feeling and a vague wish that for just this once the season of merry-making and gladness might have been omitted.
feet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gardener found him trying to drag the animal over the breach in the wall, his poor little feet blue with cold, but his eagerness was so great that he could think of nothing but getting to The Ghan House with that precious horse before any of the Parsonage folk caught him.
folk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gardener found him trying to drag the animal over the breach in the wall, his poor little feet blue with cold, but his eagerness was so great that he could think of nothing but getting to The Ghan House with that precious horse before any of the Parsonage folk caught him.
folks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For The Ghan House and the Parsonage it had always been such a particularly joyous time, the aunties always spoiling the young folks in every possible way, and Mrs Adair had been wont to say laughingly when they were children, that she had to develop into a sort of griffin armed with salts and soothing draughts, and follow them all around.
follow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For The Ghan House and the Parsonage it had always been such a particularly joyous time, the aunties always spoiling the young folks in every possible way, and Mrs Adair had been wont to say laughingly when they were children, that she had to develop into a sort of griffin armed with salts and soothing draughts, and follow them all around.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Everyone woke up with an oppressed feeling and a vague wish that for just this once the season of merry-making and gladness might have been omitted.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The gardener found him trying to drag the animal over the breach in the wall, his poor little feet blue with cold, but his eagerness was so great that he could think of nothing but getting to The Ghan House with that precious horse before any of the Parsonage folk caught him.
four-year-old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And there had always been such presents too—ever since Jack, as a four-year-old youngster, managed to slip out of the Parsonage in his night-clothes and no shoes, on a cold Christmas morning, to get over to The Ghan House to show Paddy and Eileen his wooden horse.
frosty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Christmas Day broke clear and frosty—the last Christmas Day of the old order.
gardener
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gardener found him trying to drag the animal over the breach in the wall, his poor little feet blue with cold, but his eagerness was so great that he could think of nothing but getting to The Ghan House with that precious horse before any of the Parsonage folk caught him.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And there had always been such presents too—ever since Jack, as a four-year-old youngster, managed to slip out of the Parsonage in his night-clothes and no shoes, on a cold Christmas morning, to get over to The Ghan House to show Paddy and Eileen his wooden horse.
getting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gardener found him trying to drag the animal over the breach in the wall, his poor little feet blue with cold, but his eagerness was so great that he could think of nothing but getting to The Ghan House with that precious horse before any of the Parsonage folk caught him.
Ghan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For The Ghan House and the Parsonage it had always been such a particularly joyous time, the aunties always spoiling the young folks in every possible way, and Mrs Adair had been wont to say laughingly when they were children, that she had to develop into a sort of griffin armed with salts and soothing draughts, and follow them all around.
gladness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everyone woke up with an oppressed feeling and a vague wish that for just this once the season of merry-making and gladness might have been omitted.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The gardener found him trying to drag the animal over the breach in the wall, his poor little feet blue with cold, but his eagerness was so great that he could think of nothing but getting to The Ghan House with that precious horse before any of the Parsonage folk caught him.
griffin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For The Ghan House and the Parsonage it had always been such a particularly joyous time, the aunties always spoiling the young folks in every possible way, and Mrs Adair had been wont to say laughingly when they were children, that she had to develop into a sort of griffin armed with salts and soothing draughts, and follow them all around.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For The Ghan House and the Parsonage it had always been such a particularly joyous time, the aunties always spoiling the young folks in every possible way, and Mrs Adair had been wont to say laughingly when they were children, that she had to develop into a sort of griffin armed with salts and soothing draughts, and follow them all around.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Everyone woke up with an oppressed feeling and a vague wish that for just this once the season of merry-making and gladness might have been omitted.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The gardener found him trying to drag the animal over the breach in the wall, his poor little feet blue with cold, but his eagerness was so great that he could think of nothing but getting to The Ghan House with that precious horse before any of the Parsonage folk caught him.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The gardener found him trying to drag the animal over the breach in the wall, his poor little feet blue with cold, but his eagerness was so great that he could think of nothing but getting to The Ghan House with that precious horse before any of the Parsonage folk caught him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading And there had always been such presents too—ever since Jack, as a four-year-old youngster, managed to slip out of the Parsonage in his night-clothes and no shoes, on a cold Christmas morning, to get over to The Ghan House to show Paddy and Eileen his wooden horse.
horse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And there had always been such presents too—ever since Jack, as a four-year-old youngster, managed to slip out of the Parsonage in his night-clothes and no shoes, on a cold Christmas morning, to get over to The Ghan House to show Paddy and Eileen his wooden horse.
House
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For The Ghan House and the Parsonage it had always been such a particularly joyous time, the aunties always spoiling the young folks in every possible way, and Mrs Adair had been wont to say laughingly when they were children, that she had to develop into a sort of griffin armed with salts and soothing draughts, and follow them all around.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For The Ghan House and the Parsonage it had always been such a particularly joyous time, the aunties always spoiling the young folks in every possible way, and Mrs Adair had been wont to say laughingly when they were children, that she had to develop into a sort of griffin armed with salts and soothing draughts, and follow them all around.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading For The Ghan House and the Parsonage it had always been such a particularly joyous time, the aunties always spoiling the young folks in every possible way, and Mrs Adair had been wont to say laughingly when they were children, that she had to develop into a sort of griffin armed with salts and soothing draughts, and follow them all around.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading For The Ghan House and the Parsonage it had always been such a particularly joyous time, the aunties always spoiling the young folks in every possible way, and Mrs Adair had been wont to say laughingly when they were children, that she had to develop into a sort of griffin armed with salts and soothing draughts, and follow them all around.
Jack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And there had always been such presents too—ever since Jack, as a four-year-old youngster, managed to slip out of the Parsonage in his night-clothes and no shoes, on a cold Christmas morning, to get over to The Ghan House to show Paddy and Eileen his wooden horse.
joyous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For The Ghan House and the Parsonage it had always been such a particularly joyous time, the aunties always spoiling the young folks in every possible way, and Mrs Adair had been wont to say laughingly when they were children, that she had to develop into a sort of griffin armed with salts and soothing draughts, and follow them all around.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everyone woke up with an oppressed feeling and a vague wish that for just this once the season of merry-making and gladness might have been omitted.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Christmas Day broke clear and frosty—the last Christmas Day of the old order.
laughingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For The Ghan House and the Parsonage it had always been such a particularly joyous time, the aunties always spoiling the young folks in every possible way, and Mrs Adair had been wont to say laughingly when they were children, that she had to develop into a sort of griffin armed with salts and soothing draughts, and follow them all around.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The gardener found him trying to drag the animal over the breach in the wall, his poor little feet blue with cold, but his eagerness was so great that he could think of nothing but getting to The Ghan House with that precious horse before any of the Parsonage folk caught him.
managed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And there had always been such presents too—ever since Jack, as a four-year-old youngster, managed to slip out of the Parsonage in his night-clothes and no shoes, on a cold Christmas morning, to get over to The Ghan House to show Paddy and Eileen his wooden horse.
merry-making
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everyone woke up with an oppressed feeling and a vague wish that for just this once the season of merry-making and gladness might have been omitted.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Everyone woke up with an oppressed feeling and a vague wish that for just this once the season of merry-making and gladness might have been omitted.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And there had always been such presents too—ever since Jack, as a four-year-old youngster, managed to slip out of the Parsonage in his night-clothes and no shoes, on a cold Christmas morning, to get over to The Ghan House to show Paddy and Eileen his wooden horse.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For The Ghan House and the Parsonage it had always been such a particularly joyous time, the aunties always spoiling the young folks in every possible way, and Mrs Adair had been wont to say laughingly when they were children, that she had to develop into a sort of griffin armed with salts and soothing draughts, and follow them all around.
night-clothes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And there had always been such presents too—ever since Jack, as a four-year-old youngster, managed to slip out of the Parsonage in his night-clothes and no shoes, on a cold Christmas morning, to get over to The Ghan House to show Paddy and Eileen his wooden horse.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading And there had always been such presents too—ever since Jack, as a four-year-old youngster, managed to slip out of the Parsonage in his night-clothes and no shoes, on a cold Christmas morning, to get over to The Ghan House to show Paddy and Eileen his wooden horse.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading The gardener found him trying to drag the animal over the breach in the wall, his poor little feet blue with cold, but his eagerness was so great that he could think of nothing but getting to The Ghan House with that precious horse before any of the Parsonage folk caught him.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Christmas Day broke clear and frosty—the last Christmas Day of the old order.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Christmas Day broke clear and frosty—the last Christmas Day of the old order.
omitted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everyone woke up with an oppressed feeling and a vague wish that for just this once the season of merry-making and gladness might have been omitted.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading And there had always been such presents too—ever since Jack, as a four-year-old youngster, managed to slip out of the Parsonage in his night-clothes and no shoes, on a cold Christmas morning, to get over to The Ghan House to show Paddy and Eileen his wooden horse.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everyone woke up with an oppressed feeling and a vague wish that for just this once the season of merry-making and gladness might have been omitted.
oppressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everyone woke up with an oppressed feeling and a vague wish that for just this once the season of merry-making and gladness might have been omitted.
ordernounUS /order/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Christmas Day broke clear and frosty—the last Christmas Day of the old order.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And there had always been such presents too—ever since Jack, as a four-year-old youngster, managed to slip out of the Parsonage in his night-clothes and no shoes, on a cold Christmas morning, to get over to The Ghan House to show Paddy and Eileen his wooden horse.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading And there had always been such presents too—ever since Jack, as a four-year-old youngster, managed to slip out of the Parsonage in his night-clothes and no shoes, on a cold Christmas morning, to get over to The Ghan House to show Paddy and Eileen his wooden horse.
Paddy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And there had always been such presents too—ever since Jack, as a four-year-old youngster, managed to slip out of the Parsonage in his night-clothes and no shoes, on a cold Christmas morning, to get over to The Ghan House to show Paddy and Eileen his wooden horse.
Parsonage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For The Ghan House and the Parsonage it had always been such a particularly joyous time, the aunties always spoiling the young folks in every possible way, and Mrs Adair had been wont to say laughingly when they were children, that she had to develop into a sort of griffin armed with salts and soothing draughts, and follow them all around.
particularly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For The Ghan House and the Parsonage it had always been such a particularly joyous time, the aunties always spoiling the young folks in every possible way, and Mrs Adair had been wont to say laughingly when they were children, that she had to develop into a sort of griffin armed with salts and soothing draughts, and follow them all around.
poornounUS /poor/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The gardener found him trying to drag the animal over the breach in the wall, his poor little feet blue with cold, but his eagerness was so great that he could think of nothing but getting to The Ghan House with that precious horse before any of the Parsonage folk caught him.
possible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For The Ghan House and the Parsonage it had always been such a particularly joyous time, the aunties always spoiling the young folks in every possible way, and Mrs Adair had been wont to say laughingly when they were children, that she had to develop into a sort of griffin armed with salts and soothing draughts, and follow them all around.
preciousadjectiveUS /ˈpreʃəs/
rare and worth a great deal
From this reading The gardener found him trying to drag the animal over the breach in the wall, his poor little feet blue with cold, but his eagerness was so great that he could think of nothing but getting to The Ghan House with that precious horse before any of the Parsonage folk caught him.
presents
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And there had always been such presents too—ever since Jack, as a four-year-old youngster, managed to slip out of the Parsonage in his night-clothes and no shoes, on a cold Christmas morning, to get over to The Ghan House to show Paddy and Eileen his wooden horse.
salts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For The Ghan House and the Parsonage it had always been such a particularly joyous time, the aunties always spoiling the young folks in every possible way, and Mrs Adair had been wont to say laughingly when they were children, that she had to develop into a sort of griffin armed with salts and soothing draughts, and follow them all around.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For The Ghan House and the Parsonage it had always been such a particularly joyous time, the aunties always spoiling the young folks in every possible way, and Mrs Adair had been wont to say laughingly when they were children, that she had to develop into a sort of griffin armed with salts and soothing draughts, and follow them all around.
season
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everyone woke up with an oppressed feeling and a vague wish that for just this once the season of merry-making and gladness might have been omitted.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For The Ghan House and the Parsonage it had always been such a particularly joyous time, the aunties always spoiling the young folks in every possible way, and Mrs Adair had been wont to say laughingly when they were children, that she had to develop into a sort of griffin armed with salts and soothing draughts, and follow them all around.
shoes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And there had always been such presents too—ever since Jack, as a four-year-old youngster, managed to slip out of the Parsonage in his night-clothes and no shoes, on a cold Christmas morning, to get over to The Ghan House to show Paddy and Eileen his wooden horse.
show
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And there had always been such presents too—ever since Jack, as a four-year-old youngster, managed to slip out of the Parsonage in his night-clothes and no shoes, on a cold Christmas morning, to get over to The Ghan House to show Paddy and Eileen his wooden horse.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading And there had always been such presents too—ever since Jack, as a four-year-old youngster, managed to slip out of the Parsonage in his night-clothes and no shoes, on a cold Christmas morning, to get over to The Ghan House to show Paddy and Eileen his wooden horse.
slip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And there had always been such presents too—ever since Jack, as a four-year-old youngster, managed to slip out of the Parsonage in his night-clothes and no shoes, on a cold Christmas morning, to get over to The Ghan House to show Paddy and Eileen his wooden horse.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The gardener found him trying to drag the animal over the breach in the wall, his poor little feet blue with cold, but his eagerness was so great that he could think of nothing but getting to The Ghan House with that precious horse before any of the Parsonage folk caught him.
soothing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For The Ghan House and the Parsonage it had always been such a particularly joyous time, the aunties always spoiling the young folks in every possible way, and Mrs Adair had been wont to say laughingly when they were children, that she had to develop into a sort of griffin armed with salts and soothing draughts, and follow them all around.
sort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For The Ghan House and the Parsonage it had always been such a particularly joyous time, the aunties always spoiling the young folks in every possible way, and Mrs Adair had been wont to say laughingly when they were children, that she had to develop into a sort of griffin armed with salts and soothing draughts, and follow them all around.
spoiling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For The Ghan House and the Parsonage it had always been such a particularly joyous time, the aunties always spoiling the young folks in every possible way, and Mrs Adair had been wont to say laughingly when they were children, that she had to develop into a sort of griffin armed with salts and soothing draughts, and follow them all around.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading For The Ghan House and the Parsonage it had always been such a particularly joyous time, the aunties always spoiling the young folks in every possible way, and Mrs Adair had been wont to say laughingly when they were children, that she had to develop into a sort of griffin armed with salts and soothing draughts, and follow them all around.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Everyone woke up with an oppressed feeling and a vague wish that for just this once the season of merry-making and gladness might have been omitted.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Christmas Day broke clear and frosty—the last Christmas Day of the old order.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading For The Ghan House and the Parsonage it had always been such a particularly joyous time, the aunties always spoiling the young folks in every possible way, and Mrs Adair had been wont to say laughingly when they were children, that she had to develop into a sort of griffin armed with salts and soothing draughts, and follow them all around.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And there had always been such presents too—ever since Jack, as a four-year-old youngster, managed to slip out of the Parsonage in his night-clothes and no shoes, on a cold Christmas morning, to get over to The Ghan House to show Paddy and Eileen his wooden horse.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For The Ghan House and the Parsonage it had always been such a particularly joyous time, the aunties always spoiling the young folks in every possible way, and Mrs Adair had been wont to say laughingly when they were children, that she had to develop into a sort of griffin armed with salts and soothing draughts, and follow them all around.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The gardener found him trying to drag the animal over the breach in the wall, his poor little feet blue with cold, but his eagerness was so great that he could think of nothing but getting to The Ghan House with that precious horse before any of the Parsonage folk caught him.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Everyone woke up with an oppressed feeling and a vague wish that for just this once the season of merry-making and gladness might have been omitted.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For The Ghan House and the Parsonage it had always been such a particularly joyous time, the aunties always spoiling the young folks in every possible way, and Mrs Adair had been wont to say laughingly when they were children, that she had to develop into a sort of griffin armed with salts and soothing draughts, and follow them all around.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For The Ghan House and the Parsonage it had always been such a particularly joyous time, the aunties always spoiling the young folks in every possible way, and Mrs Adair had been wont to say laughingly when they were children, that she had to develop into a sort of griffin armed with salts and soothing draughts, and follow them all around.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And there had always been such presents too—ever since Jack, as a four-year-old youngster, managed to slip out of the Parsonage in his night-clothes and no shoes, on a cold Christmas morning, to get over to The Ghan House to show Paddy and Eileen his wooden horse.
trying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gardener found him trying to drag the animal over the breach in the wall, his poor little feet blue with cold, but his eagerness was so great that he could think of nothing but getting to The Ghan House with that precious horse before any of the Parsonage folk caught him.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everyone woke up with an oppressed feeling and a vague wish that for just this once the season of merry-making and gladness might have been omitted.
vague
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everyone woke up with an oppressed feeling and a vague wish that for just this once the season of merry-making and gladness might have been omitted.
wall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gardener found him trying to drag the animal over the breach in the wall, his poor little feet blue with cold, but his eagerness was so great that he could think of nothing but getting to The Ghan House with that precious horse before any of the Parsonage folk caught him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The gardener found him trying to drag the animal over the breach in the wall, his poor little feet blue with cold, but his eagerness was so great that he could think of nothing but getting to The Ghan House with that precious horse before any of the Parsonage folk caught him.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For The Ghan House and the Parsonage it had always been such a particularly joyous time, the aunties always spoiling the young folks in every possible way, and Mrs Adair had been wont to say laughingly when they were children, that she had to develop into a sort of griffin armed with salts and soothing draughts, and follow them all around.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading For The Ghan House and the Parsonage it had always been such a particularly joyous time, the aunties always spoiling the young folks in every possible way, and Mrs Adair had been wont to say laughingly when they were children, that she had to develop into a sort of griffin armed with salts and soothing draughts, and follow them all around.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading For The Ghan House and the Parsonage it had always been such a particularly joyous time, the aunties always spoiling the young folks in every possible way, and Mrs Adair had been wont to say laughingly when they were children, that she had to develop into a sort of griffin armed with salts and soothing draughts, and follow them all around.
wish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everyone woke up with an oppressed feeling and a vague wish that for just this once the season of merry-making and gladness might have been omitted.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Everyone woke up with an oppressed feeling and a vague wish that for just this once the season of merry-making and gladness might have been omitted.
woke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everyone woke up with an oppressed feeling and a vague wish that for just this once the season of merry-making and gladness might have been omitted.
wont
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For The Ghan House and the Parsonage it had always been such a particularly joyous time, the aunties always spoiling the young folks in every possible way, and Mrs Adair had been wont to say laughingly when they were children, that she had to develop into a sort of griffin armed with salts and soothing draughts, and follow them all around.
wooden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And there had always been such presents too—ever since Jack, as a four-year-old youngster, managed to slip out of the Parsonage in his night-clothes and no shoes, on a cold Christmas morning, to get over to The Ghan House to show Paddy and Eileen his wooden horse.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For The Ghan House and the Parsonage it had always been such a particularly joyous time, the aunties always spoiling the young folks in every possible way, and Mrs Adair had been wont to say laughingly when they were children, that she had to develop into a sort of griffin armed with salts and soothing draughts, and follow them all around.
youngster
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And there had always been such presents too—ever since Jack, as a four-year-old youngster, managed to slip out of the Parsonage in his night-clothes and no shoes, on a cold Christmas morning, to get over to The Ghan House to show Paddy and Eileen his wooden horse.
