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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a week or two after the day in Surrey, that Bertha Cross, needing a small wooden box in which to pack a present for her brothers in British Columbia, bethought herself of Mr. Jollyman.
absent-minded
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From this reading Seeing the young lady enter, he smiled and bowed; not at all with tradesmanlike emphasis, but rather, it seemed to Bertha, like a man tired and absent-minded, performing a civility in the well-bred way.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It was a week or two after the day in Surrey, that Bertha Cross, needing a small wooden box in which to pack a present for her brothers in British Columbia, bethought herself of Mr. Jollyman.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seeing the young lady enter, he smiled and bowed; not at all with tradesmanlike emphasis, but rather, it seemed to Bertha, like a man tired and absent-minded, performing a civility in the well-bred way.
amiable
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From this reading The amiable grocer could probably supply her want, and she went off to the shop.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There the assistant and an errand boy were unloading goods just arrived by cart, and behind the counter, reading a newspaper--for it was early in the morning stood Mr. Jollyman himself.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The amiable grocer could probably supply her want, and she went off to the shop.
arrived
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From this reading There the assistant and an errand boy were unloading goods just arrived by cart, and behind the counter, reading a newspaper--for it was early in the morning stood Mr. Jollyman himself.
aside
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From this reading The newspaper thrown aside, he stood with head bent and eyes cast down, listening to her request.
assistant
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From this reading There the assistant and an errand boy were unloading goods just arrived by cart, and behind the counter, reading a newspaper--for it was early in the morning stood Mr. Jollyman himself.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Seeing the young lady enter, he smiled and bowed; not at all with tradesmanlike emphasis, but rather, it seemed to Bertha, like a man tired and absent-minded, performing a civility in the well-bred way.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading There the assistant and an errand boy were unloading goods just arrived by cart, and behind the counter, reading a newspaper--for it was early in the morning stood Mr. Jollyman himself.
bent
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From this reading The newspaper thrown aside, he stood with head bent and eyes cast down, listening to her request.
Bertha
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From this reading It was a week or two after the day in Surrey, that Bertha Cross, needing a small wooden box in which to pack a present for her brothers in British Columbia, bethought herself of Mr. Jollyman.
bethought
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From this reading It was a week or two after the day in Surrey, that Bertha Cross, needing a small wooden box in which to pack a present for her brothers in British Columbia, bethought herself of Mr. Jollyman.
bowed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seeing the young lady enter, he smiled and bowed; not at all with tradesmanlike emphasis, but rather, it seemed to Bertha, like a man tired and absent-minded, performing a civility in the well-bred way.
box
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a week or two after the day in Surrey, that Bertha Cross, needing a small wooden box in which to pack a present for her brothers in British Columbia, bethought herself of Mr. Jollyman.
boy
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From this reading There the assistant and an errand boy were unloading goods just arrived by cart, and behind the counter, reading a newspaper--for it was early in the morning stood Mr. Jollyman himself.
British
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From this reading It was a week or two after the day in Surrey, that Bertha Cross, needing a small wooden box in which to pack a present for her brothers in British Columbia, bethought herself of Mr. Jollyman.
brothers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a week or two after the day in Surrey, that Bertha Cross, needing a small wooden box in which to pack a present for her brothers in British Columbia, bethought herself of Mr. Jollyman.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Seeing the young lady enter, he smiled and bowed; not at all with tradesmanlike emphasis, but rather, it seemed to Bertha, like a man tired and absent-minded, performing a civility in the well-bred way.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading There the assistant and an errand boy were unloading goods just arrived by cart, and behind the counter, reading a newspaper--for it was early in the morning stood Mr. Jollyman himself.
cart
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From this reading There the assistant and an errand boy were unloading goods just arrived by cart, and behind the counter, reading a newspaper--for it was early in the morning stood Mr. Jollyman himself.
cast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The newspaper thrown aside, he stood with head bent and eyes cast down, listening to her request.
civility
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From this reading Seeing the young lady enter, he smiled and bowed; not at all with tradesmanlike emphasis, but rather, it seemed to Bertha, like a man tired and absent-minded, performing a civility in the well-bred way.
Columbia
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From this reading It was a week or two after the day in Surrey, that Bertha Cross, needing a small wooden box in which to pack a present for her brothers in British Columbia, bethought herself of Mr. Jollyman.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The amiable grocer could probably supply her want, and she went off to the shop.
counter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There the assistant and an errand boy were unloading goods just arrived by cart, and behind the counter, reading a newspaper--for it was early in the morning stood Mr. Jollyman himself.
Cross
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From this reading It was a week or two after the day in Surrey, that Bertha Cross, needing a small wooden box in which to pack a present for her brothers in British Columbia, bethought herself of Mr. Jollyman.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a week or two after the day in Surrey, that Bertha Cross, needing a small wooden box in which to pack a present for her brothers in British Columbia, bethought herself of Mr. Jollyman.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The newspaper thrown aside, he stood with head bent and eyes cast down, listening to her request.
early
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There the assistant and an errand boy were unloading goods just arrived by cart, and behind the counter, reading a newspaper--for it was early in the morning stood Mr. Jollyman himself.
emphasis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seeing the young lady enter, he smiled and bowed; not at all with tradesmanlike emphasis, but rather, it seemed to Bertha, like a man tired and absent-minded, performing a civility in the well-bred way.
enter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seeing the young lady enter, he smiled and bowed; not at all with tradesmanlike emphasis, but rather, it seemed to Bertha, like a man tired and absent-minded, performing a civility in the well-bred way.
errand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There the assistant and an errand boy were unloading goods just arrived by cart, and behind the counter, reading a newspaper--for it was early in the morning stood Mr. Jollyman himself.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The newspaper thrown aside, he stood with head bent and eyes cast down, listening to her request.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was a week or two after the day in Surrey, that Bertha Cross, needing a small wooden box in which to pack a present for her brothers in British Columbia, bethought herself of Mr. Jollyman.
goods
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There the assistant and an errand boy were unloading goods just arrived by cart, and behind the counter, reading a newspaper--for it was early in the morning stood Mr. Jollyman himself.
grocer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The amiable grocer could probably supply her want, and she went off to the shop.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Seeing the young lady enter, he smiled and bowed; not at all with tradesmanlike emphasis, but rather, it seemed to Bertha, like a man tired and absent-minded, performing a civility in the well-bred way.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The newspaper thrown aside, he stood with head bent and eyes cast down, listening to her request.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading It was a week or two after the day in Surrey, that Bertha Cross, needing a small wooden box in which to pack a present for her brothers in British Columbia, bethought herself of Mr. Jollyman.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading It was a week or two after the day in Surrey, that Bertha Cross, needing a small wooden box in which to pack a present for her brothers in British Columbia, bethought herself of Mr. Jollyman.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading There the assistant and an errand boy were unloading goods just arrived by cart, and behind the counter, reading a newspaper--for it was early in the morning stood Mr. Jollyman himself.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was a week or two after the day in Surrey, that Bertha Cross, needing a small wooden box in which to pack a present for her brothers in British Columbia, bethought herself of Mr. Jollyman.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a week or two after the day in Surrey, that Bertha Cross, needing a small wooden box in which to pack a present for her brothers in British Columbia, bethought herself of Mr. Jollyman.
Jollyman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a week or two after the day in Surrey, that Bertha Cross, needing a small wooden box in which to pack a present for her brothers in British Columbia, bethought herself of Mr. Jollyman.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There the assistant and an errand boy were unloading goods just arrived by cart, and behind the counter, reading a newspaper--for it was early in the morning stood Mr. Jollyman himself.
lady
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seeing the young lady enter, he smiled and bowed; not at all with tradesmanlike emphasis, but rather, it seemed to Bertha, like a man tired and absent-minded, performing a civility in the well-bred way.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seeing the young lady enter, he smiled and bowed; not at all with tradesmanlike emphasis, but rather, it seemed to Bertha, like a man tired and absent-minded, performing a civility in the well-bred way.
listening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The newspaper thrown aside, he stood with head bent and eyes cast down, listening to her request.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seeing the young lady enter, he smiled and bowed; not at all with tradesmanlike emphasis, but rather, it seemed to Bertha, like a man tired and absent-minded, performing a civility in the well-bred way.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There the assistant and an errand boy were unloading goods just arrived by cart, and behind the counter, reading a newspaper--for it was early in the morning stood Mr. Jollyman himself.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a week or two after the day in Surrey, that Bertha Cross, needing a small wooden box in which to pack a present for her brothers in British Columbia, bethought herself of Mr. Jollyman.
needing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a week or two after the day in Surrey, that Bertha Cross, needing a small wooden box in which to pack a present for her brothers in British Columbia, bethought herself of Mr. Jollyman.
newspaper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There the assistant and an errand boy were unloading goods just arrived by cart, and behind the counter, reading a newspaper--for it was early in the morning stood Mr. Jollyman himself.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Seeing the young lady enter, he smiled and bowed; not at all with tradesmanlike emphasis, but rather, it seemed to Bertha, like a man tired and absent-minded, performing a civility in the well-bred way.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was a week or two after the day in Surrey, that Bertha Cross, needing a small wooden box in which to pack a present for her brothers in British Columbia, bethought herself of Mr. Jollyman.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The amiable grocer could probably supply her want, and she went off to the shop.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was a week or two after the day in Surrey, that Bertha Cross, needing a small wooden box in which to pack a present for her brothers in British Columbia, bethought herself of Mr. Jollyman.
pack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a week or two after the day in Surrey, that Bertha Cross, needing a small wooden box in which to pack a present for her brothers in British Columbia, bethought herself of Mr. Jollyman.
performing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seeing the young lady enter, he smiled and bowed; not at all with tradesmanlike emphasis, but rather, it seemed to Bertha, like a man tired and absent-minded, performing a civility in the well-bred way.
present
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a week or two after the day in Surrey, that Bertha Cross, needing a small wooden box in which to pack a present for her brothers in British Columbia, bethought herself of Mr. Jollyman.
probably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The amiable grocer could probably supply her want, and she went off to the shop.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seeing the young lady enter, he smiled and bowed; not at all with tradesmanlike emphasis, but rather, it seemed to Bertha, like a man tired and absent-minded, performing a civility in the well-bred way.
reading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There the assistant and an errand boy were unloading goods just arrived by cart, and behind the counter, reading a newspaper--for it was early in the morning stood Mr. Jollyman himself.
request
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The newspaper thrown aside, he stood with head bent and eyes cast down, listening to her request.
Seeing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seeing the young lady enter, he smiled and bowed; not at all with tradesmanlike emphasis, but rather, it seemed to Bertha, like a man tired and absent-minded, performing a civility in the well-bred way.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Seeing the young lady enter, he smiled and bowed; not at all with tradesmanlike emphasis, but rather, it seemed to Bertha, like a man tired and absent-minded, performing a civility in the well-bred way.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The amiable grocer could probably supply her want, and she went off to the shop.
shop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The amiable grocer could probably supply her want, and she went off to the shop.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a week or two after the day in Surrey, that Bertha Cross, needing a small wooden box in which to pack a present for her brothers in British Columbia, bethought herself of Mr. Jollyman.
smiled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seeing the young lady enter, he smiled and bowed; not at all with tradesmanlike emphasis, but rather, it seemed to Bertha, like a man tired and absent-minded, performing a civility in the well-bred way.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There the assistant and an errand boy were unloading goods just arrived by cart, and behind the counter, reading a newspaper--for it was early in the morning stood Mr. Jollyman himself.
supply
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The amiable grocer could probably supply her want, and she went off to the shop.
Surrey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a week or two after the day in Surrey, that Bertha Cross, needing a small wooden box in which to pack a present for her brothers in British Columbia, bethought herself of Mr. Jollyman.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was a week or two after the day in Surrey, that Bertha Cross, needing a small wooden box in which to pack a present for her brothers in British Columbia, bethought herself of Mr. Jollyman.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was a week or two after the day in Surrey, that Bertha Cross, needing a small wooden box in which to pack a present for her brothers in British Columbia, bethought herself of Mr. Jollyman.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There the assistant and an errand boy were unloading goods just arrived by cart, and behind the counter, reading a newspaper--for it was early in the morning stood Mr. Jollyman himself.
thrown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The newspaper thrown aside, he stood with head bent and eyes cast down, listening to her request.
tired
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seeing the young lady enter, he smiled and bowed; not at all with tradesmanlike emphasis, but rather, it seemed to Bertha, like a man tired and absent-minded, performing a civility in the well-bred way.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was a week or two after the day in Surrey, that Bertha Cross, needing a small wooden box in which to pack a present for her brothers in British Columbia, bethought herself of Mr. Jollyman.
tradesmanlike
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seeing the young lady enter, he smiled and bowed; not at all with tradesmanlike emphasis, but rather, it seemed to Bertha, like a man tired and absent-minded, performing a civility in the well-bred way.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a week or two after the day in Surrey, that Bertha Cross, needing a small wooden box in which to pack a present for her brothers in British Columbia, bethought herself of Mr. Jollyman.
unloading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There the assistant and an errand boy were unloading goods just arrived by cart, and behind the counter, reading a newspaper--for it was early in the morning stood Mr. Jollyman himself.
want
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The amiable grocer could probably supply her want, and she went off to the shop.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a week or two after the day in Surrey, that Bertha Cross, needing a small wooden box in which to pack a present for her brothers in British Columbia, bethought herself of Mr. Jollyman.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seeing the young lady enter, he smiled and bowed; not at all with tradesmanlike emphasis, but rather, it seemed to Bertha, like a man tired and absent-minded, performing a civility in the well-bred way.
week
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a week or two after the day in Surrey, that Bertha Cross, needing a small wooden box in which to pack a present for her brothers in British Columbia, bethought herself of Mr. Jollyman.
well-bred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seeing the young lady enter, he smiled and bowed; not at all with tradesmanlike emphasis, but rather, it seemed to Bertha, like a man tired and absent-minded, performing a civility in the well-bred way.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The amiable grocer could probably supply her want, and she went off to the shop.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There the assistant and an errand boy were unloading goods just arrived by cart, and behind the counter, reading a newspaper--for it was early in the morning stood Mr. Jollyman himself.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was a week or two after the day in Surrey, that Bertha Cross, needing a small wooden box in which to pack a present for her brothers in British Columbia, bethought herself of Mr. Jollyman.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Seeing the young lady enter, he smiled and bowed; not at all with tradesmanlike emphasis, but rather, it seemed to Bertha, like a man tired and absent-minded, performing a civility in the well-bred way.
wooden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a week or two after the day in Surrey, that Bertha Cross, needing a small wooden box in which to pack a present for her brothers in British Columbia, bethought herself of Mr. Jollyman.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seeing the young lady enter, he smiled and bowed; not at all with tradesmanlike emphasis, but rather, it seemed to Bertha, like a man tired and absent-minded, performing a civility in the well-bred way.
