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Polly Oliver's Problem
Polly Oliver's Problem

Chapter VIII

Cover illustration for Polly Oliver's Problem
Context Illustration Reading 1/26 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"WHERE IGNORANCE IS BLISS."
The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.
"I 'll just say 'How do you do?' to your mother, and then be off," said Edgar, as they neared the house.
"Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.
"You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Polly Oliver's Problem

Chapter VIII

Reading 1/26 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"WHERE IGNORANCE IS BLISS."
Line 2
The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.
Line 3
"I 'll just say 'How do you do?' to your mother, and then be off," said Edgar, as they neared the house.
Line 4
"Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.
Line 5
"You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “"Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.”

Disappointment noun US /ˈdisappointment/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “"Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.”

Feeling noun US /ˈfeeling/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “"Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.”

Help noun US /help/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.”

Look noun US /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.”

All words in this reading · 98

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 The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.

amuse

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading "I 'll just say 'How do you do?' to your mother, and then be off," said Edgar, as they neared the house.

any

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading "I 'll just say 'How do you do?' to your mother, and then be off," said Edgar, as they neared the house.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading "I 'll just say 'How do you do?' to your mother, and then be off," said Edgar, as they neared the house.

Berkeley

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.

BLISS

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "WHERE IGNORANCE IS BLISS."

brilliant

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.

cannot

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.

counted

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.

dinner

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.

disappointmentnounUS /ˈdisappointment/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading "I 'll just say 'How do you do?' to your mother, and then be off," said Edgar, as they neared the house.

door

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.

Edgar

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "I 'll just say 'How do you do?' to your mother, and then be off," said Edgar, as they neared the house.

Edgar's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.

evening

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.

face

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.

feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.

Francisco

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.

grief

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading "You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.

harder

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.

hardly

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.

helpnounUS /help/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.

house

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "I 'll just say 'How do you do?' to your mother, and then be off," said Edgar, as they neared the house.

How

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "I 'll just say 'How do you do?' to your mother, and then be off," said Edgar, as they neared the house.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading "I 'll just say 'How do you do?' to your mother, and then be off," said Edgar, as they neared the house.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.

IGNORANCE

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "WHERE IGNORANCE IS BLISS."

ill

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.

indulge

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.

innocent

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.

ISauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading "WHERE IGNORANCE IS BLISS."

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.

just

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "I 'll just say 'How do you do?' to your mother, and then be off," said Edgar, as they neared the house.

languid

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.

latch-key

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.

ll

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "I 'll just say 'How do you do?' to your mother, and then be off," said Edgar, as they neared the house.

looknounUS /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.

mamma

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.

many

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.

most

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.

mother

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "I 'll just say 'How do you do?' to your mother, and then be off," said Edgar, as they neared the house.

neared

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "I 'll just say 'How do you do?' to your mother, and then be off," said Edgar, as they neared the house.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.

obvious

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.

off

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "I 'll just say 'How do you do?' to your mother, and then be off," said Edgar, as they neared the house.

Oh

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.

person

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.

pleasures

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.

Polly

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.

possible

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.

putting

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.

remove

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.

said

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "I 'll just say 'How do you do?' to your mother, and then be off," said Edgar, as they neared the house.

San

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.

say

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "I 'll just say 'How do you do?' to your mother, and then be off," said Edgar, as they neared the house.

see

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading "You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.

standpoint

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.

stay

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.

success

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.

surely

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.

then

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "I 'll just say 'How do you do?' to your mother, and then be off," said Edgar, as they neared the house.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading "I 'll just say 'How do you do?' to your mother, and then be off," said Edgar, as they neared the house.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading "You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.

trip

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.

WHEREconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading "WHERE IGNORANCE IS BLISS."

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.

wishing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.

worked

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "I 'll just say 'How do you do?' to your mother, and then be off," said Edgar, as they neared the house.