Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
1637
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From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "At the death of Sir William Phips," proceeded Grandfather, "our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous school-master in Boston.
aged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
alphabet
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From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
answerednounUS /ˈanswered/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading "Yes, in his school," answered Grandfather; "and we may safely say that it had never before been regarded with such awful reverence—no, not even when the old governors of Massachusetts sat in it.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Was the chair placed in his school?" asked Charley.
aspect
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From this reading He was a person of venerable aspect, and wore a long white beard.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "At the death of Sir William Phips," proceeded Grandfather, "our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous school-master in Boston.
awful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yes, in his school," answered Grandfather; "and we may safely say that it had never before been regarded with such awful reverence—no, not even when the old governors of Massachusetts sat in it.
beard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a person of venerable aspect, and wore a long white beard.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading "Yes, in his school," answered Grandfather; "and we may safely say that it had never before been regarded with such awful reverence—no, not even when the old governors of Massachusetts sat in it.
bequeathed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "At the death of Sir William Phips," proceeded Grandfather, "our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous school-master in Boston.
Boston
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From this reading "At the death of Sir William Phips," proceeded Grandfather, "our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous school-master in Boston.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "At the death of Sir William Phips," proceeded Grandfather, "our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous school-master in Boston.
Charley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Was the chair placed in his school?" asked Charley.
Cheever
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "At the death of Sir William Phips," proceeded Grandfather, "our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous school-master in Boston.
death
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From this reading "At the death of Sir William Phips," proceeded Grandfather, "our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous school-master in Boston.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Yes, in his school," answered Grandfather; "and we may safely say that it had never before been regarded with such awful reverence—no, not even when the old governors of Massachusetts sat in it.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
Ezekiel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "At the death of Sir William Phips," proceeded Grandfather, "our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous school-master in Boston.
famous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "At the death of Sir William Phips," proceeded Grandfather, "our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous school-master in Boston.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
gentlemannounUS /ˈgentleman/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
governors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yes, in his school," answered Grandfather; "and we may safely say that it had never before been regarded with such awful reverence—no, not even when the old governors of Massachusetts sat in it.
Grandfather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "At the death of Sir William Phips," proceeded Grandfather, "our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous school-master in Boston.
grandfathers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was a person of venerable aspect, and wore a long white beard.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Was the chair placed in his school?" asked Charley.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "At the death of Sir William Phips," proceeded Grandfather, "our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous school-master in Boston.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Yes, in his school," answered Grandfather; "and we may safely say that it had never before been regarded with such awful reverence—no, not even when the old governors of Massachusetts sat in it.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
London
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was a person of venerable aspect, and wore a long white beard.
Massachusetts
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From this reading "Yes, in his school," answered Grandfather; "and we may safely say that it had never before been regarded with such awful reverence—no, not even when the old governors of Massachusetts sat in it.
Master
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading "Yes, in his school," answered Grandfather; "and we may safely say that it had never before been regarded with such awful reverence—no, not even when the old governors of Massachusetts sat in it.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "At the death of Sir William Phips," proceeded Grandfather, "our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous school-master in Boston.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Yes, in his school," answered Grandfather; "and we may safely say that it had never before been regarded with such awful reverence—no, not even when the old governors of Massachusetts sat in it.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading "Yes, in his school," answered Grandfather; "and we may safely say that it had never before been regarded with such awful reverence—no, not even when the old governors of Massachusetts sat in it.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "Yes, in his school," answered Grandfather; "and we may safely say that it had never before been regarded with such awful reverence—no, not even when the old governors of Massachusetts sat in it.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "At the death of Sir William Phips," proceeded Grandfather, "our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous school-master in Boston.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "At the death of Sir William Phips," proceeded Grandfather, "our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous school-master in Boston.
person
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a person of venerable aspect, and wore a long white beard.
Phips
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "At the death of Sir William Phips," proceeded Grandfather, "our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous school-master in Boston.
placed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Was the chair placed in his school?" asked Charley.
proceeded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "At the death of Sir William Phips," proceeded Grandfather, "our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous school-master in Boston.
regarded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yes, in his school," answered Grandfather; "and we may safely say that it had never before been regarded with such awful reverence—no, not even when the old governors of Massachusetts sat in it.
reverence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yes, in his school," answered Grandfather; "and we may safely say that it had never before been regarded with such awful reverence—no, not even when the old governors of Massachusetts sat in it.
safely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yes, in his school," answered Grandfather; "and we may safely say that it had never before been regarded with such awful reverence—no, not even when the old governors of Massachusetts sat in it.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yes, in his school," answered Grandfather; "and we may safely say that it had never before been regarded with such awful reverence—no, not even when the old governors of Massachusetts sat in it.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yes, in his school," answered Grandfather; "and we may safely say that it had never before been regarded with such awful reverence—no, not even when the old governors of Massachusetts sat in it.
school
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
school-master
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "At the death of Sir William Phips," proceeded Grandfather, "our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous school-master in Boston.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
Sir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "At the death of Sir William Phips," proceeded Grandfather, "our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous school-master in Boston.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading "Yes, in his school," answered Grandfather; "and we may safely say that it had never before been regarded with such awful reverence—no, not even when the old governors of Massachusetts sat in it.
taught
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
teaching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "At the death of Sir William Phips," proceeded Grandfather, "our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous school-master in Boston.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "At the death of Sir William Phips," proceeded Grandfather, "our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous school-master in Boston.
venerable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a person of venerable aspect, and wore a long white beard.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "At the death of Sir William Phips," proceeded Grandfather, "our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous school-master in Boston.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "Yes, in his school," answered Grandfather; "and we may safely say that it had never before been regarded with such awful reverence—no, not even when the old governors of Massachusetts sat in it.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading "Yes, in his school," answered Grandfather; "and we may safely say that it had never before been regarded with such awful reverence—no, not even when the old governors of Massachusetts sat in it.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a person of venerable aspect, and wore a long white beard.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
William
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "At the death of Sir William Phips," proceeded Grandfather, "our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous school-master in Boston.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Yes, in his school," answered Grandfather; "and we may safely say that it had never before been regarded with such awful reverence—no, not even when the old governors of Massachusetts sat in it.
wore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a person of venerable aspect, and wore a long white beard.
Yes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yes, in his school," answered Grandfather; "and we may safely say that it had never before been regarded with such awful reverence—no, not even when the old governors of Massachusetts sat in it.
