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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 Every now and then a duck would stop and cast her knowing glance at these creatures, as though comparing the condition of their forms and plumage with her own.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
all
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From this reading Between the bench where he was sitting and the spiked iron railings people passed continually--men, women, children of all kinds.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Every now and then a duck would stop and cast her knowing glance at these creatures, as though comparing the condition of their forms and plumage with her own.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Every now and then a duck would stop and cast her knowing glance at these creatures, as though comparing the condition of their forms and plumage with her own.
bench
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Between the bench where he was sitting and the spiked iron railings people passed continually--men, women, children of all kinds.
better
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From this reading 'If I had had the breeding of you,' she seemed to say, 'I could have made a better fist of it than that.
BetweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Between the bench where he was sitting and the spiked iron railings people passed continually--men, women, children of all kinds.
breeding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'If I had had the breeding of you,' she seemed to say, 'I could have made a better fist of it than that.
bright
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From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
cast
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From this reading Every now and then a duck would stop and cast her knowing glance at these creatures, as though comparing the condition of their forms and plumage with her own.
children
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Between the bench where he was sitting and the spiked iron railings people passed continually--men, women, children of all kinds.
circling
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From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
comparing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every now and then a duck would stop and cast her knowing glance at these creatures, as though comparing the condition of their forms and plumage with her own.
condition
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every now and then a duck would stop and cast her knowing glance at these creatures, as though comparing the condition of their forms and plumage with her own.
continually
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Between the bench where he was sitting and the spiked iron railings people passed continually--men, women, children of all kinds.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading 'If I had had the breeding of you,' she seemed to say, 'I could have made a better fist of it than that.
creatures
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From this reading Every now and then a duck would stop and cast her knowing glance at these creatures, as though comparing the condition of their forms and plumage with her own.
DOG
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From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
duck
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From this reading Every now and then a duck would stop and cast her knowing glance at these creatures, as though comparing the condition of their forms and plumage with her own.
ducks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
EverydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Every now and then a duck would stop and cast her knowing glance at these creatures, as though comparing the condition of their forms and plumage with her own.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
fist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'If I had had the breeding of you,' she seemed to say, 'I could have made a better fist of it than that.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
forms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every now and then a duck would stop and cast her knowing glance at these creatures, as though comparing the condition of their forms and plumage with her own.
glance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every now and then a duck would stop and cast her knowing glance at these creatures, as though comparing the condition of their forms and plumage with her own.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading 'If I had had the breeding of you,' she seemed to say, 'I could have made a better fist of it than that.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading 'If I had had the breeding of you,' she seemed to say, 'I could have made a better fist of it than that.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Between the bench where he was sitting and the spiked iron railings people passed continually--men, women, children of all kinds.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Every now and then a duck would stop and cast her knowing glance at these creatures, as though comparing the condition of their forms and plumage with her own.
Hilary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading 'If I had had the breeding of you,' she seemed to say, 'I could have made a better fist of it than that.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading 'If I had had the breeding of you,' she seemed to say, 'I could have made a better fist of it than that.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
iron
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Between the bench where he was sitting and the spiked iron railings people passed continually--men, women, children of all kinds.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading 'If I had had the breeding of you,' she seemed to say, 'I could have made a better fist of it than that.
kinds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Between the bench where he was sitting and the spiked iron railings people passed continually--men, women, children of all kinds.
knowing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every now and then a duck would stop and cast her knowing glance at these creatures, as though comparing the condition of their forms and plumage with her own.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
lot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A worse-looking lot of ducks, take you all round.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'If I had had the breeding of you,' she seemed to say, 'I could have made a better fist of it than that.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Between the bench where he was sitting and the spiked iron railings people passed continually--men, women, children of all kinds.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every now and then a duck would stop and cast her knowing glance at these creatures, as though comparing the condition of their forms and plumage with her own.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Between the bench where he was sitting and the spiked iron railings people passed continually--men, women, children of all kinds.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every now and then a duck would stop and cast her knowing glance at these creatures, as though comparing the condition of their forms and plumage with her own.
pale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Between the bench where he was sitting and the spiked iron railings people passed continually--men, women, children of all kinds.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Between the bench where he was sitting and the spiked iron railings people passed continually--men, women, children of all kinds.
PERFECT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
plumage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every now and then a duck would stop and cast her knowing glance at these creatures, as though comparing the condition of their forms and plumage with her own.
railings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Between the bench where he was sitting and the spiked iron railings people passed continually--men, women, children of all kinds.
round
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'If I had had the breeding of you,' she seemed to say, 'I could have made a better fist of it than that.
searching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading 'If I had had the breeding of you,' she seemed to say, 'I could have made a better fist of it than that.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading 'If I had had the breeding of you,' she seemed to say, 'I could have made a better fist of it than that.
shrubs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
sitting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Between the bench where he was sitting and the spiked iron railings people passed continually--men, women, children of all kinds.
spiked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Between the bench where he was sitting and the spiked iron railings people passed continually--men, women, children of all kinds.
stop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every now and then a duck would stop and cast her knowing glance at these creatures, as though comparing the condition of their forms and plumage with her own.
sun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A worse-looking lot of ducks, take you all round.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading 'If I had had the breeding of you,' she seemed to say, 'I could have made a better fist of it than that.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading 'If I had had the breeding of you,' she seemed to say, 'I could have made a better fist of it than that.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every now and then a duck would stop and cast her knowing glance at these creatures, as though comparing the condition of their forms and plumage with her own.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Every now and then a duck would stop and cast her knowing glance at these creatures, as though comparing the condition of their forms and plumage with her own.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Every now and then a duck would stop and cast her knowing glance at these creatures, as though comparing the condition of their forms and plumage with her own.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading 'If I had had the breeding of you,' she seemed to say, 'I could have made a better fist of it than that.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Between the bench where he was sitting and the spiked iron railings people passed continually--men, women, children of all kinds.
watching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
waters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
well-bred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading Between the bench where he was sitting and the spiked iron railings people passed continually--men, women, children of all kinds.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
women
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Between the bench where he was sitting and the spiked iron railings people passed continually--men, women, children of all kinds.
worms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
worse-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A worse-looking lot of ducks, take you all round.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Every now and then a duck would stop and cast her knowing glance at these creatures, as though comparing the condition of their forms and plumage with her own.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading 'If I had had the breeding of you,' she seemed to say, 'I could have made a better fist of it than that.
