adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I DID not see Diamond for a week or so after this, and then he told me what I have now told you.
ableadjectiveUS /ˈeɪbəl/
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading I should have been astonished at his being able even to report such conversations as he said he had had with North Wind, had I not known already that some children are profound in metaphysics.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading But a fear crosses me, lest, by telling so much about my friend, I should lead people to mistake him for one of those consequential, priggish little monsters, who are always trying to say clever things, and looking to see whether people appreciate them.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading I DID not see Diamond for a week or so after this, and then he told me what I have now told you.
alreadyadverbUS /ɔːlˈredi/
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading I should have been astonished at his being able even to report such conversations as he said he had had with North Wind, had I not known already that some children are profound in metaphysics.
alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading But a fear crosses me, lest, by telling so much about my friend, I should lead people to mistake him for one of those consequential, priggish little monsters, who are always trying to say clever things, and looking to see whether people appreciate them.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I DID not see Diamond for a week or so after this, and then he told me what I have now told you.
appreciateverbUS /əˈpriːʃieɪt/
recognize with gratitude; be grateful for
From this reading But a fear crosses me, lest, by telling so much about my friend, I should lead people to mistake him for one of those consequential, priggish little monsters, who are always trying to say clever things, and looking to see whether people appreciate them.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading I should have been astonished at his being able even to report such conversations as he said he had had with North Wind, had I not known already that some children are profound in metaphysics.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I should have been astonished at his being able even to report such conversations as he said he had had with North Wind, had I not known already that some children are profound in metaphysics.
astonishedadjectiveUS /əˈstɑːnɪʃt/
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading I should have been astonished at his being able even to report such conversations as he said he had had with North Wind, had I not known already that some children are profound in metaphysics.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I should have been astonished at his being able even to report such conversations as he said he had had with North Wind, had I not known already that some children are profound in metaphysics.
awfuladjectiveUS /ˈɑːfəl/
exceptionally bad or displeasing
From this reading When a child like that dies, instead of having a silly book written about him, he should be stuffed like one of those awful big-headed fishes you see in museums.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading When a child like that dies, instead of having a silly book written about him, he should be stuffed like one of those awful big-headed fishes you see in museums.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading I should have been astonished at his being able even to report such conversations as he said he had had with North Wind, had I not known already that some children are profound in metaphysics.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading I should have been astonished at his being able even to report such conversations as he said he had had with North Wind, had I not known already that some children are profound in metaphysics.
big-headed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When a child like that dies, instead of having a silly book written about him, he should be stuffed like one of those awful big-headed fishes you see in museums.
booknounUS /bʊk/
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading When a child like that dies, instead of having a silly book written about him, he should be stuffed like one of those awful big-headed fishes you see in museums.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But a fear crosses me, lest, by telling so much about my friend, I should lead people to mistake him for one of those consequential, priggish little monsters, who are always trying to say clever things, and looking to see whether people appreciate them.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But a fear crosses me, lest, by telling so much about my friend, I should lead people to mistake him for one of those consequential, priggish little monsters, who are always trying to say clever things, and looking to see whether people appreciate them.
childnounUS /tʃaɪld/
a young person of either sex
From this reading When a child like that dies, instead of having a silly book written about him, he should be stuffed like one of those awful big-headed fishes you see in museums.
childrennounUS /ˈtʃɪldrən/
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading I should have been astonished at his being able even to report such conversations as he said he had had with North Wind, had I not known already that some children are profound in metaphysics.
cleveradjectiveUS /ˈklevər/
showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others
From this reading But a fear crosses me, lest, by telling so much about my friend, I should lead people to mistake him for one of those consequential, priggish little monsters, who are always trying to say clever things, and looking to see whether people appreciate them.
consequentialadjectiveUS /ˌkɑːnsəˈkwenʃəl/
having important issues or results
From this reading But a fear crosses me, lest, by telling so much about my friend, I should lead people to mistake him for one of those consequential, priggish little monsters, who are always trying to say clever things, and looking to see whether people appreciate them.
conversationsnounUS /ˌkɑːnvərˈseɪʃənz/
plural of “conversation” — the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading I should have been astonished at his being able even to report such conversations as he said he had had with North Wind, had I not known already that some children are profound in metaphysics.
crossesnounUS /ˈkrɔːsɪz/
plural of “cross” — a wooden structure consisting of an upright post with a transverse piece
From this reading But a fear crosses me, lest, by telling so much about my friend, I should lead people to mistake him for one of those consequential, priggish little monsters, who are always trying to say clever things, and looking to see whether people appreciate them.
DiamondnounUS /ˈdaɪmənd/
a transparent piece of diamond that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem
From this reading I DID not see Diamond for a week or so after this, and then he told me what I have now told you.
DIDauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading I DID not see Diamond for a week or so after this, and then he told me what I have now told you.
diesnounUS /daɪz/
plural of “die” — a small cube with 1 to 6 spots on the six faces; used in gambling to generate random numbers
From this reading When a child like that dies, instead of having a silly book written about him, he should be stuffed like one of those awful big-headed fishes you see in museums.
evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading I should have been astonished at his being able even to report such conversations as he said he had had with North Wind, had I not known already that some children are profound in metaphysics.
fearverbUS /fɪr/
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading But a fear crosses me, lest, by telling so much about my friend, I should lead people to mistake him for one of those consequential, priggish little monsters, who are always trying to say clever things, and looking to see whether people appreciate them.
fishesnounUS /ˈfɪʃəz/
plural of “fish” — any of various mostly cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates usually having scales and breathing through gills
From this reading When a child like that dies, instead of having a silly book written about him, he should be stuffed like one of those awful big-headed fishes you see in museums.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I DID not see Diamond for a week or so after this, and then he told me what I have now told you.
friendnounUS /frend/
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading But a fear crosses me, lest, by telling so much about my friend, I should lead people to mistake him for one of those consequential, priggish little monsters, who are always trying to say clever things, and looking to see whether people appreciate them.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I should have been astonished at his being able even to report such conversations as he said he had had with North Wind, had I not known already that some children are profound in metaphysics.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I DID not see Diamond for a week or so after this, and then he told me what I have now told you.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading When a child like that dies, instead of having a silly book written about him, he should be stuffed like one of those awful big-headed fishes you see in museums.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I DID not see Diamond for a week or so after this, and then he told me what I have now told you.
headnounUS /hed/
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading But Diamond never troubled his head about what people thought of him.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But a fear crosses me, lest, by telling so much about my friend, I should lead people to mistake him for one of those consequential, priggish little monsters, who are always trying to say clever things, and looking to see whether people appreciate them.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading I should have been astonished at his being able even to report such conversations as he said he had had with North Wind, had I not known already that some children are profound in metaphysics.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I DID not see Diamond for a week or so after this, and then he told me what I have now told you.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I should have been astonished at his being able even to report such conversations as he said he had had with North Wind, had I not known already that some children are profound in metaphysics.
insteadadverbUS /ˌɪnˈsted/
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading When a child like that dies, instead of having a silly book written about him, he should be stuffed like one of those awful big-headed fishes you see in museums.
knownadjectiveUS /noʊn/
apprehended with certainty
From this reading I should have been astonished at his being able even to report such conversations as he said he had had with North Wind, had I not known already that some children are profound in metaphysics.
leadverbUS /led/
take somebody somewhere
From this reading But a fear crosses me, lest, by telling so much about my friend, I should lead people to mistake him for one of those consequential, priggish little monsters, who are always trying to say clever things, and looking to see whether people appreciate them.
lestconjunctionUS /lest/
in order that something should not happen
From this reading But a fear crosses me, lest, by telling so much about my friend, I should lead people to mistake him for one of those consequential, priggish little monsters, who are always trying to say clever things, and looking to see whether people appreciate them.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading When a child like that dies, instead of having a silly book written about him, he should be stuffed like one of those awful big-headed fishes you see in museums.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading But a fear crosses me, lest, by telling so much about my friend, I should lead people to mistake him for one of those consequential, priggish little monsters, who are always trying to say clever things, and looking to see whether people appreciate them.
lookingnounUS /ˈlʊkɪŋ/
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading But a fear crosses me, lest, by telling so much about my friend, I should lead people to mistake him for one of those consequential, priggish little monsters, who are always trying to say clever things, and looking to see whether people appreciate them.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I DID not see Diamond for a week or so after this, and then he told me what I have now told you.
metaphysicsnounUS /ˌmetəˈfɪzɪks/
the philosophical study of being and knowing
From this reading I should have been astonished at his being able even to report such conversations as he said he had had with North Wind, had I not known already that some children are profound in metaphysics.
mistakenounUS /mɪˈsteɪk/
a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading But a fear crosses me, lest, by telling so much about my friend, I should lead people to mistake him for one of those consequential, priggish little monsters, who are always trying to say clever things, and looking to see whether people appreciate them.
monstersnounUS /ˈmɑːnstərz/
plural of “monster” — an imaginary creature usually having various human and animal parts
From this reading But a fear crosses me, lest, by telling so much about my friend, I should lead people to mistake him for one of those consequential, priggish little monsters, who are always trying to say clever things, and looking to see whether people appreciate them.
muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/
to a great degree or extent
From this reading But a fear crosses me, lest, by telling so much about my friend, I should lead people to mistake him for one of those consequential, priggish little monsters, who are always trying to say clever things, and looking to see whether people appreciate them.
museumsnounUS /mjuːˈziːəmz/
plural of “museum” — a depository for collecting and displaying objects having scientific or historical or artistic value
From this reading When a child like that dies, instead of having a silly book written about him, he should be stuffed like one of those awful big-headed fishes you see in museums.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading But a fear crosses me, lest, by telling so much about my friend, I should lead people to mistake him for one of those consequential, priggish little monsters, who are always trying to say clever things, and looking to see whether people appreciate them.
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading But Diamond never troubled his head about what people thought of him.
NorthnounUS /nɔːrθ/
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading I should have been astonished at his being able even to report such conversations as he said he had had with North Wind, had I not known already that some children are profound in metaphysics.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I DID not see Diamond for a week or so after this, and then he told me what I have now told you.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading I DID not see Diamond for a week or so after this, and then he told me what I have now told you.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But a fear crosses me, lest, by telling so much about my friend, I should lead people to mistake him for one of those consequential, priggish little monsters, who are always trying to say clever things, and looking to see whether people appreciate them.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But a fear crosses me, lest, by telling so much about my friend, I should lead people to mistake him for one of those consequential, priggish little monsters, who are always trying to say clever things, and looking to see whether people appreciate them.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading I DID not see Diamond for a week or so after this, and then he told me what I have now told you.
peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading But a fear crosses me, lest, by telling so much about my friend, I should lead people to mistake him for one of those consequential, priggish little monsters, who are always trying to say clever things, and looking to see whether people appreciate them.
priggishadjective
exaggeratedly proper
From this reading But a fear crosses me, lest, by telling so much about my friend, I should lead people to mistake him for one of those consequential, priggish little monsters, who are always trying to say clever things, and looking to see whether people appreciate them.
profoundadjectiveUS /proʊˈfaʊnd/
showing intellectual penetration or emotional depth
From this reading I should have been astonished at his being able even to report such conversations as he said he had had with North Wind, had I not known already that some children are profound in metaphysics.
reportverbUS /riˈpɔːrt/
to give an account or representation of in words
From this reading I should have been astonished at his being able even to report such conversations as he said he had had with North Wind, had I not known already that some children are profound in metaphysics.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading I should have been astonished at his being able even to report such conversations as he said he had had with North Wind, had I not known already that some children are profound in metaphysics.
sayverbUS /seɪ/
express in words
From this reading But a fear crosses me, lest, by telling so much about my friend, I should lead people to mistake him for one of those consequential, priggish little monsters, who are always trying to say clever things, and looking to see whether people appreciate them.
seeverbUS /siː/
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading I DID not see Diamond for a week or so after this, and then he told me what I have now told you.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading I should have been astonished at his being able even to report such conversations as he said he had had with North Wind, had I not known already that some children are profound in metaphysics.
sillyadjectiveUS /ˈsɪli/
ludicrous, foolish
From this reading When a child like that dies, instead of having a silly book written about him, he should be stuffed like one of those awful big-headed fishes you see in museums.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I DID not see Diamond for a week or so after this, and then he told me what I have now told you.
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading I should have been astonished at his being able even to report such conversations as he said he had had with North Wind, had I not known already that some children are profound in metaphysics.
stuffedadjectiveUS /stʌft/
filled with something
From this reading When a child like that dies, instead of having a silly book written about him, he should be stuffed like one of those awful big-headed fishes you see in museums.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading I should have been astonished at his being able even to report such conversations as he said he had had with North Wind, had I not known already that some children are profound in metaphysics.
tellingadjectiveUS /ˈtelɪŋ/
disclosing unintentionally something concealed
From this reading But a fear crosses me, lest, by telling so much about my friend, I should lead people to mistake him for one of those consequential, priggish little monsters, who are always trying to say clever things, and looking to see whether people appreciate them.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I should have been astonished at his being able even to report such conversations as he said he had had with North Wind, had I not known already that some children are profound in metaphysics.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But a fear crosses me, lest, by telling so much about my friend, I should lead people to mistake him for one of those consequential, priggish little monsters, who are always trying to say clever things, and looking to see whether people appreciate them.
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading I DID not see Diamond for a week or so after this, and then he told me what I have now told you.
thingsnounUS /θɪŋz/
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading But a fear crosses me, lest, by telling so much about my friend, I should lead people to mistake him for one of those consequential, priggish little monsters, who are always trying to say clever things, and looking to see whether people appreciate them.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading I DID not see Diamond for a week or so after this, and then he told me what I have now told you.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading But a fear crosses me, lest, by telling so much about my friend, I should lead people to mistake him for one of those consequential, priggish little monsters, who are always trying to say clever things, and looking to see whether people appreciate them.
thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading But Diamond never troubled his head about what people thought of him.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I should have been astonished at his being able even to report such conversations as he said he had had with North Wind, had I not known already that some children are profound in metaphysics.
toldverbUS /toʊld/
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading I DID not see Diamond for a week or so after this, and then he told me what I have now told you.
troubledadjectiveUS /ˈtrʌbəld/
characterized by or indicative of distress or affliction or danger or need
From this reading But Diamond never troubled his head about what people thought of him.
tryingadjectiveUS /ˈtraɪɪŋ/
hard to endure
From this reading But a fear crosses me, lest, by telling so much about my friend, I should lead people to mistake him for one of those consequential, priggish little monsters, who are always trying to say clever things, and looking to see whether people appreciate them.
weeknounUS /wiːk/
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading I DID not see Diamond for a week or so after this, and then he told me what I have now told you.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading I DID not see Diamond for a week or so after this, and then he told me what I have now told you.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When a child like that dies, instead of having a silly book written about him, he should be stuffed like one of those awful big-headed fishes you see in museums.
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading But a fear crosses me, lest, by telling so much about my friend, I should lead people to mistake him for one of those consequential, priggish little monsters, who are always trying to say clever things, and looking to see whether people appreciate them.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading But a fear crosses me, lest, by telling so much about my friend, I should lead people to mistake him for one of those consequential, priggish little monsters, who are always trying to say clever things, and looking to see whether people appreciate them.
WindnounUS /waɪnd/
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading I should have been astonished at his being able even to report such conversations as he said he had had with North Wind, had I not known already that some children are profound in metaphysics.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading I should have been astonished at his being able even to report such conversations as he said he had had with North Wind, had I not known already that some children are profound in metaphysics.
writtenadjectiveUS /ˈrɪtən/
set down in writing in any of various ways
From this reading When a child like that dies, instead of having a silly book written about him, he should be stuffed like one of those awful big-headed fishes you see in museums.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I DID not see Diamond for a week or so after this, and then he told me what I have now told you.
