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 HEAD WAITER AT CHAFFEY'S Polly Sparkes had a father.
acquaintance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That Mr. Sparkes still lived was not known to the outer circles of Polly's acquaintance; she never spoke of her family, and it was not easy to think of Polly in the filial relation.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading That Mr. Sparkes still lived was not known to the outer circles of Polly's acquaintance; she never spoke of her family, and it was not easy to think of Polly in the filial relation.
apart
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From this reading Not that they were on ill terms, unpleasantness of that kind had been avoided by their satisfaction in living apart.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Polly sometimes wished she had a father "to be proud of"--a sufficiently intelligible phrase on Polly's lips; but for the rest she thought of him with tolerance as a good, silly sort of man, who "couldn't help himself"--that is to say, could not help being what he was.
ATprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE HEAD WAITER AT CHAFFEY'S Polly Sparkes had a father.
avoided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not that they were on ill terms, unpleasantness of that kind had been avoided by their satisfaction in living apart.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Polly sometimes wished she had a father "to be proud of"--a sufficiently intelligible phrase on Polly's lips; but for the rest she thought of him with tolerance as a good, silly sort of man, who "couldn't help himself"--that is to say, could not help being what he was.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Not that they were on ill terms, unpleasantness of that kind had been avoided by their satisfaction in living apart.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Polly sometimes wished she had a father "to be proud of"--a sufficiently intelligible phrase on Polly's lips; but for the rest she thought of him with tolerance as a good, silly sort of man, who "couldn't help himself"--that is to say, could not help being what he was.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading For some years she had lived in complete independence, now and then exchanging a letter with her parent, but seeing him rarely.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Not that they were on ill terms, unpleasantness of that kind had been avoided by their satisfaction in living apart.
CHAFFEY'S
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From this reading THE HEAD WAITER AT CHAFFEY'S Polly Sparkes had a father.
circles
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From this reading That Mr. Sparkes still lived was not known to the outer circles of Polly's acquaintance; she never spoke of her family, and it was not easy to think of Polly in the filial relation.
completenounUS /complete/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For some years she had lived in complete independence, now and then exchanging a letter with her parent, but seeing him rarely.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Polly sometimes wished she had a father "to be proud of"--a sufficiently intelligible phrase on Polly's lips; but for the rest she thought of him with tolerance as a good, silly sort of man, who "couldn't help himself"--that is to say, could not help being what he was.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Polly sometimes wished she had a father "to be proud of"--a sufficiently intelligible phrase on Polly's lips; but for the rest she thought of him with tolerance as a good, silly sort of man, who "couldn't help himself"--that is to say, could not help being what he was.
easy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That Mr. Sparkes still lived was not known to the outer circles of Polly's acquaintance; she never spoke of her family, and it was not easy to think of Polly in the filial relation.
exchanging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For some years she had lived in complete independence, now and then exchanging a letter with her parent, but seeing him rarely.
family
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That Mr. Sparkes still lived was not known to the outer circles of Polly's acquaintance; she never spoke of her family, and it was not easy to think of Polly in the filial relation.
father
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HEAD WAITER AT CHAFFEY'S Polly Sparkes had a father.
filial
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That Mr. Sparkes still lived was not known to the outer circles of Polly's acquaintance; she never spoke of her family, and it was not easy to think of Polly in the filial relation.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For some years she had lived in complete independence, now and then exchanging a letter with her parent, but seeing him rarely.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Polly sometimes wished she had a father "to be proud of"--a sufficiently intelligible phrase on Polly's lips; but for the rest she thought of him with tolerance as a good, silly sort of man, who "couldn't help himself"--that is to say, could not help being what he was.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE HEAD WAITER AT CHAFFEY'S Polly Sparkes had a father.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Polly sometimes wished she had a father "to be proud of"--a sufficiently intelligible phrase on Polly's lips; but for the rest she thought of him with tolerance as a good, silly sort of man, who "couldn't help himself"--that is to say, could not help being what he was.
HEAD
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HEAD WAITER AT CHAFFEY'S Polly Sparkes had a father.
helpnounUS /help/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Polly sometimes wished she had a father "to be proud of"--a sufficiently intelligible phrase on Polly's lips; but for the rest she thought of him with tolerance as a good, silly sort of man, who "couldn't help himself"--that is to say, could not help being what he was.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading That Mr. Sparkes still lived was not known to the outer circles of Polly's acquaintance; she never spoke of her family, and it was not easy to think of Polly in the filial relation.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading For some years she had lived in complete independence, now and then exchanging a letter with her parent, but seeing him rarely.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Polly sometimes wished she had a father "to be proud of"--a sufficiently intelligible phrase on Polly's lips; but for the rest she thought of him with tolerance as a good, silly sort of man, who "couldn't help himself"--that is to say, could not help being what he was.
ill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not that they were on ill terms, unpleasantness of that kind had been avoided by their satisfaction in living apart.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading That Mr. Sparkes still lived was not known to the outer circles of Polly's acquaintance; she never spoke of her family, and it was not easy to think of Polly in the filial relation.
independence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For some years she had lived in complete independence, now and then exchanging a letter with her parent, but seeing him rarely.
intelligible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Polly sometimes wished she had a father "to be proud of"--a sufficiently intelligible phrase on Polly's lips; but for the rest she thought of him with tolerance as a good, silly sort of man, who "couldn't help himself"--that is to say, could not help being what he was.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Polly sometimes wished she had a father "to be proud of"--a sufficiently intelligible phrase on Polly's lips; but for the rest she thought of him with tolerance as a good, silly sort of man, who "couldn't help himself"--that is to say, could not help being what he was.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading That Mr. Sparkes still lived was not known to the outer circles of Polly's acquaintance; she never spoke of her family, and it was not easy to think of Polly in the filial relation.
kind
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not that they were on ill terms, unpleasantness of that kind had been avoided by their satisfaction in living apart.
known
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That Mr. Sparkes still lived was not known to the outer circles of Polly's acquaintance; she never spoke of her family, and it was not easy to think of Polly in the filial relation.
letter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For some years she had lived in complete independence, now and then exchanging a letter with her parent, but seeing him rarely.
lips
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Polly sometimes wished she had a father "to be proud of"--a sufficiently intelligible phrase on Polly's lips; but for the rest she thought of him with tolerance as a good, silly sort of man, who "couldn't help himself"--that is to say, could not help being what he was.
lived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That Mr. Sparkes still lived was not known to the outer circles of Polly's acquaintance; she never spoke of her family, and it was not easy to think of Polly in the filial relation.
living
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not that they were on ill terms, unpleasantness of that kind had been avoided by their satisfaction in living apart.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Polly sometimes wished she had a father "to be proud of"--a sufficiently intelligible phrase on Polly's lips; but for the rest she thought of him with tolerance as a good, silly sort of man, who "couldn't help himself"--that is to say, could not help being what he was.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That Mr. Sparkes still lived was not known to the outer circles of Polly's acquaintance; she never spoke of her family, and it was not easy to think of Polly in the filial relation.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That Mr. Sparkes still lived was not known to the outer circles of Polly's acquaintance; she never spoke of her family, and it was not easy to think of Polly in the filial relation.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading That Mr. Sparkes still lived was not known to the outer circles of Polly's acquaintance; she never spoke of her family, and it was not easy to think of Polly in the filial relation.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For some years she had lived in complete independence, now and then exchanging a letter with her parent, but seeing him rarely.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading That Mr. Sparkes still lived was not known to the outer circles of Polly's acquaintance; she never spoke of her family, and it was not easy to think of Polly in the filial relation.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Not that they were on ill terms, unpleasantness of that kind had been avoided by their satisfaction in living apart.
outer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That Mr. Sparkes still lived was not known to the outer circles of Polly's acquaintance; she never spoke of her family, and it was not easy to think of Polly in the filial relation.
parent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For some years she had lived in complete independence, now and then exchanging a letter with her parent, but seeing him rarely.
phrase
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Polly sometimes wished she had a father "to be proud of"--a sufficiently intelligible phrase on Polly's lips; but for the rest she thought of him with tolerance as a good, silly sort of man, who "couldn't help himself"--that is to say, could not help being what he was.
Polly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HEAD WAITER AT CHAFFEY'S Polly Sparkes had a father.
Polly's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That Mr. Sparkes still lived was not known to the outer circles of Polly's acquaintance; she never spoke of her family, and it was not easy to think of Polly in the filial relation.
proud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Polly sometimes wished she had a father "to be proud of"--a sufficiently intelligible phrase on Polly's lips; but for the rest she thought of him with tolerance as a good, silly sort of man, who "couldn't help himself"--that is to say, could not help being what he was.
rarely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For some years she had lived in complete independence, now and then exchanging a letter with her parent, but seeing him rarely.
relation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That Mr. Sparkes still lived was not known to the outer circles of Polly's acquaintance; she never spoke of her family, and it was not easy to think of Polly in the filial relation.
restnounUS /rest/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Polly sometimes wished she had a father "to be proud of"--a sufficiently intelligible phrase on Polly's lips; but for the rest she thought of him with tolerance as a good, silly sort of man, who "couldn't help himself"--that is to say, could not help being what he was.
satisfaction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not that they were on ill terms, unpleasantness of that kind had been avoided by their satisfaction in living apart.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Polly sometimes wished she had a father "to be proud of"--a sufficiently intelligible phrase on Polly's lips; but for the rest she thought of him with tolerance as a good, silly sort of man, who "couldn't help himself"--that is to say, could not help being what he was.
seeing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For some years she had lived in complete independence, now and then exchanging a letter with her parent, but seeing him rarely.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading That Mr. Sparkes still lived was not known to the outer circles of Polly's acquaintance; she never spoke of her family, and it was not easy to think of Polly in the filial relation.
silly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Polly sometimes wished she had a father "to be proud of"--a sufficiently intelligible phrase on Polly's lips; but for the rest she thought of him with tolerance as a good, silly sort of man, who "couldn't help himself"--that is to say, could not help being what he was.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For some years she had lived in complete independence, now and then exchanging a letter with her parent, but seeing him rarely.
sometimes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Polly sometimes wished she had a father "to be proud of"--a sufficiently intelligible phrase on Polly's lips; but for the rest she thought of him with tolerance as a good, silly sort of man, who "couldn't help himself"--that is to say, could not help being what he was.
sort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Polly sometimes wished she had a father "to be proud of"--a sufficiently intelligible phrase on Polly's lips; but for the rest she thought of him with tolerance as a good, silly sort of man, who "couldn't help himself"--that is to say, could not help being what he was.
Sparkes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HEAD WAITER AT CHAFFEY'S Polly Sparkes had a father.
spoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That Mr. Sparkes still lived was not known to the outer circles of Polly's acquaintance; she never spoke of her family, and it was not easy to think of Polly in the filial relation.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That Mr. Sparkes still lived was not known to the outer circles of Polly's acquaintance; she never spoke of her family, and it was not easy to think of Polly in the filial relation.
sufficiently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Polly sometimes wished she had a father "to be proud of"--a sufficiently intelligible phrase on Polly's lips; but for the rest she thought of him with tolerance as a good, silly sort of man, who "couldn't help himself"--that is to say, could not help being what he was.
terms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not that they were on ill terms, unpleasantness of that kind had been avoided by their satisfaction in living apart.
ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That Mr. Sparkes still lived was not known to the outer circles of Polly's acquaintance; she never spoke of her family, and it was not easy to think of Polly in the filial relation.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE HEAD WAITER AT CHAFFEY'S Polly Sparkes had a father.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Not that they were on ill terms, unpleasantness of that kind had been avoided by their satisfaction in living apart.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For some years she had lived in complete independence, now and then exchanging a letter with her parent, but seeing him rarely.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Not that they were on ill terms, unpleasantness of that kind had been avoided by their satisfaction in living apart.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That Mr. Sparkes still lived was not known to the outer circles of Polly's acquaintance; she never spoke of her family, and it was not easy to think of Polly in the filial relation.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Polly sometimes wished she had a father "to be proud of"--a sufficiently intelligible phrase on Polly's lips; but for the rest she thought of him with tolerance as a good, silly sort of man, who "couldn't help himself"--that is to say, could not help being what he was.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading That Mr. Sparkes still lived was not known to the outer circles of Polly's acquaintance; she never spoke of her family, and it was not easy to think of Polly in the filial relation.
tolerance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Polly sometimes wished she had a father "to be proud of"--a sufficiently intelligible phrase on Polly's lips; but for the rest she thought of him with tolerance as a good, silly sort of man, who "couldn't help himself"--that is to say, could not help being what he was.
unpleasantness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not that they were on ill terms, unpleasantness of that kind had been avoided by their satisfaction in living apart.
WAITER
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HEAD WAITER AT CHAFFEY'S Polly Sparkes had a father.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That Mr. Sparkes still lived was not known to the outer circles of Polly's acquaintance; she never spoke of her family, and it was not easy to think of Polly in the filial relation.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Not that they were on ill terms, unpleasantness of that kind had been avoided by their satisfaction in living apart.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Polly sometimes wished she had a father "to be proud of"--a sufficiently intelligible phrase on Polly's lips; but for the rest she thought of him with tolerance as a good, silly sort of man, who "couldn't help himself"--that is to say, could not help being what he was.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Polly sometimes wished she had a father "to be proud of"--a sufficiently intelligible phrase on Polly's lips; but for the rest she thought of him with tolerance as a good, silly sort of man, who "couldn't help himself"--that is to say, could not help being what he was.
wished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Polly sometimes wished she had a father "to be proud of"--a sufficiently intelligible phrase on Polly's lips; but for the rest she thought of him with tolerance as a good, silly sort of man, who "couldn't help himself"--that is to say, could not help being what he was.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading For some years she had lived in complete independence, now and then exchanging a letter with her parent, but seeing him rarely.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For some years she had lived in complete independence, now and then exchanging a letter with her parent, but seeing him rarely.
