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 If ever there was a girl whose mind was in a confused and complex state, that girl was Polly Maybright.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Polly had often been naughty in her life; she was an independent, quick-tempered child; she had determination, and heaps of courage, but she was always supposed to want ballast.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Polly had often been naughty in her life; she was an independent, quick-tempered child; she had determination, and heaps of courage, but she was always supposed to want ballast.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading If ever there was a girl whose mind was in a confused and complex state, that girl was Polly Maybright.
Aunt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Polly had done wrong, and a very stern judge, in the shape of Aunt Maria Cameron, was punishing her.
ballast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Polly had often been naughty in her life; she was an independent, quick-tempered child; she had determination, and heaps of courage, but she was always supposed to want ballast.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Polly had often been naughty in her life; she was an independent, quick-tempered child; she had determination, and heaps of courage, but she was always supposed to want ballast.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Polly had often been naughty in her life; she was an independent, quick-tempered child; she had determination, and heaps of courage, but she was always supposed to want ballast.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly into her life of sunshine and ease and petting, into her days of love and indulgence, came the cold shadow of would-be justice.
Cameron
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Polly had done wrong, and a very stern judge, in the shape of Aunt Maria Cameron, was punishing her.
child
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Polly had often been naughty in her life; she was an independent, quick-tempered child; she had determination, and heaps of courage, but she was always supposed to want ballast.
cold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly into her life of sunshine and ease and petting, into her days of love and indulgence, came the cold shadow of would-be justice.
complex
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If ever there was a girl whose mind was in a confused and complex state, that girl was Polly Maybright.
confused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If ever there was a girl whose mind was in a confused and complex state, that girl was Polly Maybright.
courage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Polly had often been naughty in her life; she was an independent, quick-tempered child; she had determination, and heaps of courage, but she was always supposed to want ballast.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly into her life of sunshine and ease and petting, into her days of love and indulgence, came the cold shadow of would-be justice.
determination
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Polly had often been naughty in her life; she was an independent, quick-tempered child; she had determination, and heaps of courage, but she was always supposed to want ballast.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Polly had done wrong, and a very stern judge, in the shape of Aunt Maria Cameron, was punishing her.
ease
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly into her life of sunshine and ease and petting, into her days of love and indulgence, came the cold shadow of would-be justice.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If ever there was a girl whose mind was in a confused and complex state, that girl was Polly Maybright.
girl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If ever there was a girl whose mind was in a confused and complex state, that girl was Polly Maybright.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Polly had done wrong, and a very stern judge, in the shape of Aunt Maria Cameron, was punishing her.
heaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Polly had often been naughty in her life; she was an independent, quick-tempered child; she had determination, and heaps of courage, but she was always supposed to want ballast.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Suddenly into her life of sunshine and ease and petting, into her days of love and indulgence, came the cold shadow of would-be justice.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If ever there was a girl whose mind was in a confused and complex state, that girl was Polly Maybright.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading If ever there was a girl whose mind was in a confused and complex state, that girl was Polly Maybright.
independent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Polly had often been naughty in her life; she was an independent, quick-tempered child; she had determination, and heaps of courage, but she was always supposed to want ballast.
indulgence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly into her life of sunshine and ease and petting, into her days of love and indulgence, came the cold shadow of would-be justice.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Suddenly into her life of sunshine and ease and petting, into her days of love and indulgence, came the cold shadow of would-be justice.
JONES
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE WIFE OF MICAH JONES.
judge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Polly had done wrong, and a very stern judge, in the shape of Aunt Maria Cameron, was punishing her.
justice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly into her life of sunshine and ease and petting, into her days of love and indulgence, came the cold shadow of would-be justice.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Suddenly into her life of sunshine and ease and petting, into her days of love and indulgence, came the cold shadow of would-be justice.
love
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly into her life of sunshine and ease and petting, into her days of love and indulgence, came the cold shadow of would-be justice.
Maria
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Polly had done wrong, and a very stern judge, in the shape of Aunt Maria Cameron, was punishing her.
Maybright
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If ever there was a girl whose mind was in a confused and complex state, that girl was Polly Maybright.
MICAH
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE WIFE OF MICAH JONES.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If ever there was a girl whose mind was in a confused and complex state, that girl was Polly Maybright.
naughty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Polly had often been naughty in her life; she was an independent, quick-tempered child; she had determination, and heaps of courage, but she was always supposed to want ballast.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE WIFE OF MICAH JONES.
often
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Polly had often been naughty in her life; she was an independent, quick-tempered child; she had determination, and heaps of courage, but she was always supposed to want ballast.
petting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly into her life of sunshine and ease and petting, into her days of love and indulgence, came the cold shadow of would-be justice.
Polly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If ever there was a girl whose mind was in a confused and complex state, that girl was Polly Maybright.
punishing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Polly had done wrong, and a very stern judge, in the shape of Aunt Maria Cameron, was punishing her.
quick-tempered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Polly had often been naughty in her life; she was an independent, quick-tempered child; she had determination, and heaps of courage, but she was always supposed to want ballast.
shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading Suddenly into her life of sunshine and ease and petting, into her days of love and indulgence, came the cold shadow of would-be justice.
shape
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Polly had done wrong, and a very stern judge, in the shape of Aunt Maria Cameron, was punishing her.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Polly had often been naughty in her life; she was an independent, quick-tempered child; she had determination, and heaps of courage, but she was always supposed to want ballast.
state
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If ever there was a girl whose mind was in a confused and complex state, that girl was Polly Maybright.
stern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Polly had done wrong, and a very stern judge, in the shape of Aunt Maria Cameron, was punishing her.
SuddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Suddenly into her life of sunshine and ease and petting, into her days of love and indulgence, came the cold shadow of would-be justice.
sunshine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly into her life of sunshine and ease and petting, into her days of love and indulgence, came the cold shadow of would-be justice.
supposed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Polly had often been naughty in her life; she was an independent, quick-tempered child; she had determination, and heaps of courage, but she was always supposed to want ballast.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading If ever there was a girl whose mind was in a confused and complex state, that girl was Polly Maybright.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE WIFE OF MICAH JONES.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If ever there was a girl whose mind was in a confused and complex state, that girl was Polly Maybright.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Polly had often been naughty in her life; she was an independent, quick-tempered child; she had determination, and heaps of courage, but she was always supposed to want ballast.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Polly had done wrong, and a very stern judge, in the shape of Aunt Maria Cameron, was punishing her.
want
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Polly had often been naughty in her life; she was an independent, quick-tempered child; she had determination, and heaps of courage, but she was always supposed to want ballast.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading If ever there was a girl whose mind was in a confused and complex state, that girl was Polly Maybright.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading If ever there was a girl whose mind was in a confused and complex state, that girl was Polly Maybright.
WIFE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE WIFE OF MICAH JONES.
would-be
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly into her life of sunshine and ease and petting, into her days of love and indulgence, came the cold shadow of would-be justice.
wrong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Polly had done wrong, and a very stern judge, in the shape of Aunt Maria Cameron, was punishing her.
