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 Captain Cephas ate his supper with a good relish, and was still eating when the rest had finished.
amused
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From this reading Mrs. Trimmer was intensely pleased and interested to see the child so happy, and Captain Eli was much pleased and interested to see the child and Mrs. Trimmer so happy, and Captain Cephas was interested, and perhaps a little amused in a superior fashion, to see Captain Eli and Mrs. Trimmer and the little child so happy.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Captain Cephas ate his supper with a good relish, and was still eating when the rest had finished.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As to the Christmas tree, it was the most valuable, if not the most beautiful, that had ever been set up in that region.
ate
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From this reading Captain Cephas ate his supper with a good relish, and was still eating when the rest had finished.
balls
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From this reading It had no candles upon it, but was lighted by three lamps and a ship's lantern placed in the four corners of the room, and the little girl was as happy as if the tree were decorated with little dolls and glass balls.
beautiful
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From this reading As to the Christmas tree, it was the most valuable, if not the most beautiful, that had ever been set up in that region.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading As to the Christmas tree, it was the most valuable, if not the most beautiful, that had ever been set up in that region.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then the distribution of the presents began.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It had no candles upon it, but was lighted by three lamps and a ship's lantern placed in the four corners of the room, and the little girl was as happy as if the tree were decorated with little dolls and glass balls.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It had no candles upon it, but was lighted by three lamps and a ship's lantern placed in the four corners of the room, and the little girl was as happy as if the tree were decorated with little dolls and glass balls.
candles
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From this reading It had no candles upon it, but was lighted by three lamps and a ship's lantern placed in the four corners of the room, and the little girl was as happy as if the tree were decorated with little dolls and glass balls.
CaptainnounUS /ˈcaptain/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Captain Cephas ate his supper with a good relish, and was still eating when the rest had finished.
Cephas
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From this reading Captain Cephas ate his supper with a good relish, and was still eating when the rest had finished.
child
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From this reading Mrs. Trimmer was intensely pleased and interested to see the child so happy, and Captain Eli was much pleased and interested to see the child and Mrs. Trimmer so happy, and Captain Cephas was interested, and perhaps a little amused in a superior fashion, to see Captain Eli and Mrs. Trimmer and the little child so happy.
Christmas
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From this reading As to the Christmas tree, it was the most valuable, if not the most beautiful, that had ever been set up in that region.
corners
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From this reading It had no candles upon it, but was lighted by three lamps and a ship's lantern placed in the four corners of the room, and the little girl was as happy as if the tree were decorated with little dolls and glass balls.
decorated
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From this reading It had no candles upon it, but was lighted by three lamps and a ship's lantern placed in the four corners of the room, and the little girl was as happy as if the tree were decorated with little dolls and glass balls.
distribution
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From this reading Then the distribution of the presents began.
dolls
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From this reading It had no candles upon it, but was lighted by three lamps and a ship's lantern placed in the four corners of the room, and the little girl was as happy as if the tree were decorated with little dolls and glass balls.
eating
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From this reading Captain Cephas ate his supper with a good relish, and was still eating when the rest had finished.
Eli
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From this reading Mrs. Trimmer was intensely pleased and interested to see the child so happy, and Captain Eli was much pleased and interested to see the child and Mrs. Trimmer so happy, and Captain Cephas was interested, and perhaps a little amused in a superior fashion, to see Captain Eli and Mrs. Trimmer and the little child so happy.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As to the Christmas tree, it was the most valuable, if not the most beautiful, that had ever been set up in that region.
fashion
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From this reading Mrs. Trimmer was intensely pleased and interested to see the child so happy, and Captain Eli was much pleased and interested to see the child and Mrs. Trimmer so happy, and Captain Cephas was interested, and perhaps a little amused in a superior fashion, to see Captain Eli and Mrs. Trimmer and the little child so happy.
finished
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From this reading Captain Cephas ate his supper with a good relish, and was still eating when the rest had finished.
four
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From this reading It had no candles upon it, but was lighted by three lamps and a ship's lantern placed in the four corners of the room, and the little girl was as happy as if the tree were decorated with little dolls and glass balls.
girl
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From this reading It had no candles upon it, but was lighted by three lamps and a ship's lantern placed in the four corners of the room, and the little girl was as happy as if the tree were decorated with little dolls and glass balls.
glass
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From this reading It had no candles upon it, but was lighted by three lamps and a ship's lantern placed in the four corners of the room, and the little girl was as happy as if the tree were decorated with little dolls and glass balls.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Captain Cephas ate his supper with a good relish, and was still eating when the rest had finished.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Captain Cephas ate his supper with a good relish, and was still eating when the rest had finished.
happy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had no candles upon it, but was lighted by three lamps and a ship's lantern placed in the four corners of the room, and the little girl was as happy as if the tree were decorated with little dolls and glass balls.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Captain Cephas ate his supper with a good relish, and was still eating when the rest had finished.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading As to the Christmas tree, it was the most valuable, if not the most beautiful, that had ever been set up in that region.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As to the Christmas tree, it was the most valuable, if not the most beautiful, that had ever been set up in that region.
intensely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Trimmer was intensely pleased and interested to see the child so happy, and Captain Eli was much pleased and interested to see the child and Mrs. Trimmer so happy, and Captain Cephas was interested, and perhaps a little amused in a superior fashion, to see Captain Eli and Mrs. Trimmer and the little child so happy.
interested
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Trimmer was intensely pleased and interested to see the child so happy, and Captain Eli was much pleased and interested to see the child and Mrs. Trimmer so happy, and Captain Cephas was interested, and perhaps a little amused in a superior fashion, to see Captain Eli and Mrs. Trimmer and the little child so happy.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading As to the Christmas tree, it was the most valuable, if not the most beautiful, that had ever been set up in that region.
lamps
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From this reading It had no candles upon it, but was lighted by three lamps and a ship's lantern placed in the four corners of the room, and the little girl was as happy as if the tree were decorated with little dolls and glass balls.
lantern
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From this reading It had no candles upon it, but was lighted by three lamps and a ship's lantern placed in the four corners of the room, and the little girl was as happy as if the tree were decorated with little dolls and glass balls.
lighted
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From this reading It had no candles upon it, but was lighted by three lamps and a ship's lantern placed in the four corners of the room, and the little girl was as happy as if the tree were decorated with little dolls and glass balls.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It had no candles upon it, but was lighted by three lamps and a ship's lantern placed in the four corners of the room, and the little girl was as happy as if the tree were decorated with little dolls and glass balls.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As to the Christmas tree, it was the most valuable, if not the most beautiful, that had ever been set up in that region.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Trimmer was intensely pleased and interested to see the child so happy, and Captain Eli was much pleased and interested to see the child and Mrs. Trimmer so happy, and Captain Cephas was interested, and perhaps a little amused in a superior fashion, to see Captain Eli and Mrs. Trimmer and the little child so happy.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Trimmer was intensely pleased and interested to see the child so happy, and Captain Eli was much pleased and interested to see the child and Mrs. Trimmer so happy, and Captain Cephas was interested, and perhaps a little amused in a superior fashion, to see Captain Eli and Mrs. Trimmer and the little child so happy.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading It had no candles upon it, but was lighted by three lamps and a ship's lantern placed in the four corners of the room, and the little girl was as happy as if the tree were decorated with little dolls and glass balls.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading As to the Christmas tree, it was the most valuable, if not the most beautiful, that had ever been set up in that region.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It had no candles upon it, but was lighted by three lamps and a ship's lantern placed in the four corners of the room, and the little girl was as happy as if the tree were decorated with little dolls and glass balls.
perhaps
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From this reading Mrs. Trimmer was intensely pleased and interested to see the child so happy, and Captain Eli was much pleased and interested to see the child and Mrs. Trimmer so happy, and Captain Cephas was interested, and perhaps a little amused in a superior fashion, to see Captain Eli and Mrs. Trimmer and the little child so happy.
placed
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From this reading It had no candles upon it, but was lighted by three lamps and a ship's lantern placed in the four corners of the room, and the little girl was as happy as if the tree were decorated with little dolls and glass balls.
pleasednounUS /ˈpleased/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Mrs. Trimmer was intensely pleased and interested to see the child so happy, and Captain Eli was much pleased and interested to see the child and Mrs. Trimmer so happy, and Captain Cephas was interested, and perhaps a little amused in a superior fashion, to see Captain Eli and Mrs. Trimmer and the little child so happy.
presents
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From this reading Then the distribution of the presents began.
region
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From this reading As to the Christmas tree, it was the most valuable, if not the most beautiful, that had ever been set up in that region.
relish
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From this reading Captain Cephas ate his supper with a good relish, and was still eating when the rest had finished.
restnounUS /rest/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Captain Cephas ate his supper with a good relish, and was still eating when the rest had finished.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had no candles upon it, but was lighted by three lamps and a ship's lantern placed in the four corners of the room, and the little girl was as happy as if the tree were decorated with little dolls and glass balls.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Trimmer was intensely pleased and interested to see the child so happy, and Captain Eli was much pleased and interested to see the child and Mrs. Trimmer so happy, and Captain Cephas was interested, and perhaps a little amused in a superior fashion, to see Captain Eli and Mrs. Trimmer and the little child so happy.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As to the Christmas tree, it was the most valuable, if not the most beautiful, that had ever been set up in that region.
ship's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had no candles upon it, but was lighted by three lamps and a ship's lantern placed in the four corners of the room, and the little girl was as happy as if the tree were decorated with little dolls and glass balls.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Mrs. Trimmer was intensely pleased and interested to see the child so happy, and Captain Eli was much pleased and interested to see the child and Mrs. Trimmer so happy, and Captain Cephas was interested, and perhaps a little amused in a superior fashion, to see Captain Eli and Mrs. Trimmer and the little child so happy.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Captain Cephas ate his supper with a good relish, and was still eating when the rest had finished.
superior
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Trimmer was intensely pleased and interested to see the child so happy, and Captain Eli was much pleased and interested to see the child and Mrs. Trimmer so happy, and Captain Cephas was interested, and perhaps a little amused in a superior fashion, to see Captain Eli and Mrs. Trimmer and the little child so happy.
supper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Captain Cephas ate his supper with a good relish, and was still eating when the rest had finished.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading As to the Christmas tree, it was the most valuable, if not the most beautiful, that had ever been set up in that region.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Captain Cephas ate his supper with a good relish, and was still eating when the rest had finished.
Then
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From this reading Then the distribution of the presents began.
three
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From this reading It had no candles upon it, but was lighted by three lamps and a ship's lantern placed in the four corners of the room, and the little girl was as happy as if the tree were decorated with little dolls and glass balls.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As to the Christmas tree, it was the most valuable, if not the most beautiful, that had ever been set up in that region.
tree
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As to the Christmas tree, it was the most valuable, if not the most beautiful, that had ever been set up in that region.
Trimmer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Trimmer was intensely pleased and interested to see the child so happy, and Captain Eli was much pleased and interested to see the child and Mrs. Trimmer so happy, and Captain Cephas was interested, and perhaps a little amused in a superior fashion, to see Captain Eli and Mrs. Trimmer and the little child so happy.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As to the Christmas tree, it was the most valuable, if not the most beautiful, that had ever been set up in that region.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading It had no candles upon it, but was lighted by three lamps and a ship's lantern placed in the four corners of the room, and the little girl was as happy as if the tree were decorated with little dolls and glass balls.
valuable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As to the Christmas tree, it was the most valuable, if not the most beautiful, that had ever been set up in that region.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Captain Cephas ate his supper with a good relish, and was still eating when the rest had finished.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It had no candles upon it, but was lighted by three lamps and a ship's lantern placed in the four corners of the room, and the little girl was as happy as if the tree were decorated with little dolls and glass balls.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Captain Cephas ate his supper with a good relish, and was still eating when the rest had finished.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Captain Cephas ate his supper with a good relish, and was still eating when the rest had finished.