adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The owl he has eyes that are big for his size, And the night like a book he deciphers; “Too-woop!” he asserts, and “Hoo-woo-ip!” he cries, And he means to remark he is awfully wise; But he lags behind us, who are “on” to the lies Of the hairy Himalayan knifers!
A-cooking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For eyes we be, of Empire, we, Skinned and puckered and quick to see, And nobody guesses how wise we be, Nor hidden in what disguise we be, A-cooking a sudden surprise we be For hairy Himahlyan knifers!
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After a time King urged his horse to a jog-trot, and the five Hillmen pattered in his wake, huddled so close together that the horse could easily have kicked more than one of them.
AndconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The owl he has eyes that are big for his size, And the night like a book he deciphers; “Too-woop!” he asserts, and “Hoo-woo-ip!” he cries, And he means to remark he is awfully wise; But he lags behind us, who are “on” to the lies Of the hairy Himalayan knifers!
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The owl he has eyes that are big for his size, And the night like a book he deciphers; “Too-woop!” he asserts, and “Hoo-woo-ip!” he cries, And he means to remark he is awfully wise; But he lags behind us, who are “on” to the lies Of the hairy Himalayan knifers!
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The night was cold enough to make flesh creep; but it was imagination that herded them until they touched the horse's rump and kept the whites of their eyes ever showing as they glanced to left and right.
assertsverbUS /əˈsɜːrts/
third-person singular of “assert” — state categorically
From this reading The owl he has eyes that are big for his size, And the night like a book he deciphers; “Too-woop!” he asserts, and “Hoo-woo-ip!” he cries, And he means to remark he is awfully wise; But he lags behind us, who are “on” to the lies Of the hairy Himalayan knifers!
awfullyadverbUS /ˈɑːfli/
used as intensifiers
From this reading The owl he has eyes that are big for his size, And the night like a book he deciphers; “Too-woop!” he asserts, and “Hoo-woo-ip!” he cries, And he means to remark he is awfully wise; But he lags behind us, who are “on” to the lies Of the hairy Himalayan knifers!
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading For eyes we be, of Empire, we, Skinned and puckered and quick to see, And nobody guesses how wise we be, Nor hidden in what disguise we be, A-cooking a sudden surprise we be For hairy Himahlyan knifers!
beginsnounUS /bɪˈɡɪnz/
plural of “begin” — Israeli statesman (born in Russia) who (as prime minister of Israel) negotiated a peace treaty with Anwar Sadat (then the president of Egypt) (1913-1992)
From this reading The Khyber, fouled by memory, looks like the very birthplace of the ghosts when the moon is fitful and a mist begins to flow.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The owl he has eyes that are big for his size, And the night like a book he deciphers; “Too-woop!” he asserts, and “Hoo-woo-ip!” he cries, And he means to remark he is awfully wise; But he lags behind us, who are “on” to the lies Of the hairy Himalayan knifers!
bigadjectiveUS /bɪɡ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The owl he has eyes that are big for his size, And the night like a book he deciphers; “Too-woop!” he asserts, and “Hoo-woo-ip!” he cries, And he means to remark he is awfully wise; But he lags behind us, who are “on” to the lies Of the hairy Himalayan knifers!
birthplacenounUS /ˈbɜːrθpleɪs/
the place where someone was born
From this reading The Khyber, fouled by memory, looks like the very birthplace of the ghosts when the moon is fitful and a mist begins to flow.
booknounUS /bʊk/
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading The owl he has eyes that are big for his size, And the night like a book he deciphers; “Too-woop!” he asserts, and “Hoo-woo-ip!” he cries, And he means to remark he is awfully wise; But he lags behind us, who are “on” to the lies Of the hairy Himalayan knifers!
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The owl he has eyes that are big for his size, And the night like a book he deciphers; “Too-woop!” he asserts, and “Hoo-woo-ip!” he cries, And he means to remark he is awfully wise; But he lags behind us, who are “on” to the lies Of the hairy Himalayan knifers!
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The Khyber, fouled by memory, looks like the very birthplace of the ghosts when the moon is fitful and a mist begins to flow.
closeadjectiveUS /kloʊs/
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading After a time King urged his horse to a jog-trot, and the five Hillmen pattered in his wake, huddled so close together that the horse could easily have kicked more than one of them.
coldadjectiveUS /koʊld/
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading The night was cold enough to make flesh creep; but it was imagination that herded them until they touched the horse's rump and kept the whites of their eyes ever showing as they glanced to left and right.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading After a time King urged his horse to a jog-trot, and the five Hillmen pattered in his wake, huddled so close together that the horse could easily have kicked more than one of them.
creepverbUS /kriːp/
move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading The night was cold enough to make flesh creep; but it was imagination that herded them until they touched the horse's rump and kept the whites of their eyes ever showing as they glanced to left and right.
criesnounUS /kraɪz/
plural of “cry” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading The owl he has eyes that are big for his size, And the night like a book he deciphers; “Too-woop!” he asserts, and “Hoo-woo-ip!” he cries, And he means to remark he is awfully wise; But he lags behind us, who are “on” to the lies Of the hairy Himalayan knifers!
deciphers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The owl he has eyes that are big for his size, And the night like a book he deciphers; “Too-woop!” he asserts, and “Hoo-woo-ip!” he cries, And he means to remark he is awfully wise; But he lags behind us, who are “on” to the lies Of the hairy Himalayan knifers!
disguisenounUS /dɪsˈɡaɪz/
A means of altering one's appearance to conceal one's identity.
From this reading For eyes we be, of Empire, we, Skinned and puckered and quick to see, And nobody guesses how wise we be, Nor hidden in what disguise we be, A-cooking a sudden surprise we be For hairy Himahlyan knifers!
easilyadverbUS /ˈiːzəli/
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading After a time King urged his horse to a jog-trot, and the five Hillmen pattered in his wake, huddled so close together that the horse could easily have kicked more than one of them.
EmpirenounUS /ˈempaɪər/
the domain ruled by an emperor or empress; the region over which imperial dominion is exercised
From this reading For eyes we be, of Empire, we, Skinned and puckered and quick to see, And nobody guesses how wise we be, Nor hidden in what disguise we be, A-cooking a sudden surprise we be For hairy Himahlyan knifers!
enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading The night was cold enough to make flesh creep; but it was imagination that herded them until they touched the horse's rump and kept the whites of their eyes ever showing as they glanced to left and right.
everadverbUS /ˈevər/
at any time
From this reading The night was cold enough to make flesh creep; but it was imagination that herded them until they touched the horse's rump and kept the whites of their eyes ever showing as they glanced to left and right.
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading The owl he has eyes that are big for his size, And the night like a book he deciphers; “Too-woop!” he asserts, and “Hoo-woo-ip!” he cries, And he means to remark he is awfully wise; But he lags behind us, who are “on” to the lies Of the hairy Himalayan knifers!
fitfuladjectiveUS /ˈfɪtfəl/
occurring in spells and often abruptly
From this reading The Khyber, fouled by memory, looks like the very birthplace of the ghosts when the moon is fitful and a mist begins to flow.
fivenounUS /faɪv/
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading After a time King urged his horse to a jog-trot, and the five Hillmen pattered in his wake, huddled so close together that the horse could easily have kicked more than one of them.
fleshnounUS /fleʃ/
the soft tissue of the body of a vertebrate: mainly muscle tissue and fat
From this reading The night was cold enough to make flesh creep; but it was imagination that herded them until they touched the horse's rump and kept the whites of their eyes ever showing as they glanced to left and right.
flownounUS /floʊ/
the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases)
From this reading The Khyber, fouled by memory, looks like the very birthplace of the ghosts when the moon is fitful and a mist begins to flow.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The owl he has eyes that are big for his size, And the night like a book he deciphers; “Too-woop!” he asserts, and “Hoo-woo-ip!” he cries, And he means to remark he is awfully wise; But he lags behind us, who are “on” to the lies Of the hairy Himalayan knifers!
fouledadjectiveUS /faʊld/
made dirty or foul
From this reading The Khyber, fouled by memory, looks like the very birthplace of the ghosts when the moon is fitful and a mist begins to flow.
ghostsnounUS /ɡoʊsts/
plural of “ghost” — a mental representation of some haunting experience
From this reading The Khyber, fouled by memory, looks like the very birthplace of the ghosts when the moon is fitful and a mist begins to flow.
glancedverbUS /ɡlænst/
past form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading The night was cold enough to make flesh creep; but it was imagination that herded them until they touched the horse's rump and kept the whites of their eyes ever showing as they glanced to left and right.
guessesnounUS /ˈɡesəz/
plural of “guess” — a message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence
From this reading For eyes we be, of Empire, we, Skinned and puckered and quick to see, And nobody guesses how wise we be, Nor hidden in what disguise we be, A-cooking a sudden surprise we be For hairy Himahlyan knifers!
hairyadjectiveUS /ˈheri/
having or covered with hair
From this reading The owl he has eyes that are big for his size, And the night like a book he deciphers; “Too-woop!” he asserts, and “Hoo-woo-ip!” he cries, And he means to remark he is awfully wise; But he lags behind us, who are “on” to the lies Of the hairy Himalayan knifers!
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The owl he has eyes that are big for his size, And the night like a book he deciphers; “Too-woop!” he asserts, and “Hoo-woo-ip!” he cries, And he means to remark he is awfully wise; But he lags behind us, who are “on” to the lies Of the hairy Himalayan knifers!
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading After a time King urged his horse to a jog-trot, and the five Hillmen pattered in his wake, huddled so close together that the horse could easily have kicked more than one of them.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The owl he has eyes that are big for his size, And the night like a book he deciphers; “Too-woop!” he asserts, and “Hoo-woo-ip!” he cries, And he means to remark he is awfully wise; But he lags behind us, who are “on” to the lies Of the hairy Himalayan knifers!
herdedverbUS /ˈhɜːrdɪd/
past form of “herd” — cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading The night was cold enough to make flesh creep; but it was imagination that herded them until they touched the horse's rump and kept the whites of their eyes ever showing as they glanced to left and right.
hiddenadjectiveUS /ˈhɪdən/
not accessible to view
From this reading For eyes we be, of Empire, we, Skinned and puckered and quick to see, And nobody guesses how wise we be, Nor hidden in what disguise we be, A-cooking a sudden surprise we be For hairy Himahlyan knifers!
Hillmen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After a time King urged his horse to a jog-trot, and the five Hillmen pattered in his wake, huddled so close together that the horse could easily have kicked more than one of them.
Himahlyan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For eyes we be, of Empire, we, Skinned and puckered and quick to see, And nobody guesses how wise we be, Nor hidden in what disguise we be, A-cooking a sudden surprise we be For hairy Himahlyan knifers!
HimalayanadjectiveUS /ˌhɪməˈleɪən/
of or relating to the Himalayas
From this reading The owl he has eyes that are big for his size, And the night like a book he deciphers; “Too-woop!” he asserts, and “Hoo-woo-ip!” he cries, And he means to remark he is awfully wise; But he lags behind us, who are “on” to the lies Of the hairy Himalayan knifers!
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The owl he has eyes that are big for his size, And the night like a book he deciphers; “Too-woop!” he asserts, and “Hoo-woo-ip!” he cries, And he means to remark he is awfully wise; But he lags behind us, who are “on” to the lies Of the hairy Himalayan knifers!
Hoo-woo-ip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The owl he has eyes that are big for his size, And the night like a book he deciphers; “Too-woop!” he asserts, and “Hoo-woo-ip!” he cries, And he means to remark he is awfully wise; But he lags behind us, who are “on” to the lies Of the hairy Himalayan knifers!
horsenounUS /hɔːrs/
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading After a time King urged his horse to a jog-trot, and the five Hillmen pattered in his wake, huddled so close together that the horse could easily have kicked more than one of them.
horse'snounUS /ˈhɔːrsəz/
possessive form of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading The night was cold enough to make flesh creep; but it was imagination that herded them until they touched the horse's rump and kept the whites of their eyes ever showing as they glanced to left and right.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For eyes we be, of Empire, we, Skinned and puckered and quick to see, And nobody guesses how wise we be, Nor hidden in what disguise we be, A-cooking a sudden surprise we be For hairy Himahlyan knifers!
huddledadjectiveUS /ˈhʌdəld/
crowded or massed together
From this reading After a time King urged his horse to a jog-trot, and the five Hillmen pattered in his wake, huddled so close together that the horse could easily have kicked more than one of them.
imaginationnounUS /ˌɪmædʒəˈneɪʃən/
the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses
From this reading The night was cold enough to make flesh creep; but it was imagination that herded them until they touched the horse's rump and kept the whites of their eyes ever showing as they glanced to left and right.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For eyes we be, of Empire, we, Skinned and puckered and quick to see, And nobody guesses how wise we be, Nor hidden in what disguise we be, A-cooking a sudden surprise we be For hairy Himahlyan knifers!
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The owl he has eyes that are big for his size, And the night like a book he deciphers; “Too-woop!” he asserts, and “Hoo-woo-ip!” he cries, And he means to remark he is awfully wise; But he lags behind us, who are “on” to the lies Of the hairy Himalayan knifers!
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The night was cold enough to make flesh creep; but it was imagination that herded them until they touched the horse's rump and kept the whites of their eyes ever showing as they glanced to left and right.
jog-trot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After a time King urged his horse to a jog-trot, and the five Hillmen pattered in his wake, huddled so close together that the horse could easily have kicked more than one of them.
keptadjectiveUS /kept/
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading The night was cold enough to make flesh creep; but it was imagination that herded them until they touched the horse's rump and kept the whites of their eyes ever showing as they glanced to left and right.
Khyber
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Khyber, fouled by memory, looks like the very birthplace of the ghosts when the moon is fitful and a mist begins to flow.
kickedverbUS /kɪkt/
past form of “kick” — drive or propel with the foot
From this reading After a time King urged his horse to a jog-trot, and the five Hillmen pattered in his wake, huddled so close together that the horse could easily have kicked more than one of them.
KingnounUS /kɪŋ/
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading After a time King urged his horse to a jog-trot, and the five Hillmen pattered in his wake, huddled so close together that the horse could easily have kicked more than one of them.
knifers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The owl he has eyes that are big for his size, And the night like a book he deciphers; “Too-woop!” he asserts, and “Hoo-woo-ip!” he cries, And he means to remark he is awfully wise; But he lags behind us, who are “on” to the lies Of the hairy Himalayan knifers!
lagsnounUS /læɡz/
plural of “lag” — the act of slowing down or falling behind
From this reading The owl he has eyes that are big for his size, And the night like a book he deciphers; “Too-woop!” he asserts, and “Hoo-woo-ip!” he cries, And he means to remark he is awfully wise; But he lags behind us, who are “on” to the lies Of the hairy Himalayan knifers!
leftnounUS /left/
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading The night was cold enough to make flesh creep; but it was imagination that herded them until they touched the horse's rump and kept the whites of their eyes ever showing as they glanced to left and right.
liesnounUS /laɪz/
plural of “lie” — a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth
From this reading The owl he has eyes that are big for his size, And the night like a book he deciphers; “Too-woop!” he asserts, and “Hoo-woo-ip!” he cries, And he means to remark he is awfully wise; But he lags behind us, who are “on” to the lies Of the hairy Himalayan knifers!
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The owl he has eyes that are big for his size, And the night like a book he deciphers; “Too-woop!” he asserts, and “Hoo-woo-ip!” he cries, And he means to remark he is awfully wise; But he lags behind us, who are “on” to the lies Of the hairy Himalayan knifers!
looksnounUS /lʊks/
plural of “look” — the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading The Khyber, fouled by memory, looks like the very birthplace of the ghosts when the moon is fitful and a mist begins to flow.
makeverbUS /meɪk/
engage in
From this reading The night was cold enough to make flesh creep; but it was imagination that herded them until they touched the horse's rump and kept the whites of their eyes ever showing as they glanced to left and right.
meansnounUS /miːnz/
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading The owl he has eyes that are big for his size, And the night like a book he deciphers; “Too-woop!” he asserts, and “Hoo-woo-ip!” he cries, And he means to remark he is awfully wise; But he lags behind us, who are “on” to the lies Of the hairy Himalayan knifers!
memorynounUS /ˈmem.ər.i/
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading The Khyber, fouled by memory, looks like the very birthplace of the ghosts when the moon is fitful and a mist begins to flow.
mistverbUS /mɪst/
become covered with mist
From this reading The Khyber, fouled by memory, looks like the very birthplace of the ghosts when the moon is fitful and a mist begins to flow.
moonnounUS /muːn/
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading The Khyber, fouled by memory, looks like the very birthplace of the ghosts when the moon is fitful and a mist begins to flow.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading After a time King urged his horse to a jog-trot, and the five Hillmen pattered in his wake, huddled so close together that the horse could easily have kicked more than one of them.
nightnounUS /naɪt/
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The owl he has eyes that are big for his size, And the night like a book he deciphers; “Too-woop!” he asserts, and “Hoo-woo-ip!” he cries, And he means to remark he is awfully wise; But he lags behind us, who are “on” to the lies Of the hairy Himalayan knifers!
nobodypronounUS /ˈnoʊbɑːdiː/
no person; not anyone
From this reading For eyes we be, of Empire, we, Skinned and puckered and quick to see, And nobody guesses how wise we be, Nor hidden in what disguise we be, A-cooking a sudden surprise we be For hairy Himahlyan knifers!
NorconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading For eyes we be, of Empire, we, Skinned and puckered and quick to see, And nobody guesses how wise we be, Nor hidden in what disguise we be, A-cooking a sudden surprise we be For hairy Himahlyan knifers!
OfprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The owl he has eyes that are big for his size, And the night like a book he deciphers; “Too-woop!” he asserts, and “Hoo-woo-ip!” he cries, And he means to remark he is awfully wise; But he lags behind us, who are “on” to the lies Of the hairy Himalayan knifers!
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The owl he has eyes that are big for his size, And the night like a book he deciphers; “Too-woop!” he asserts, and “Hoo-woo-ip!” he cries, And he means to remark he is awfully wise; But he lags behind us, who are “on” to the lies Of the hairy Himalayan knifers!
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading After a time King urged his horse to a jog-trot, and the five Hillmen pattered in his wake, huddled so close together that the horse could easily have kicked more than one of them.
owlnounUS /aʊl/
nocturnal bird of prey with hawk-like beak and claws and large head with front-facing eyes
From this reading The owl he has eyes that are big for his size, And the night like a book he deciphers; “Too-woop!” he asserts, and “Hoo-woo-ip!” he cries, And he means to remark he is awfully wise; But he lags behind us, who are “on” to the lies Of the hairy Himalayan knifers!
patteredverbUS /ˈpætərd/
past form of “patter” — rain gently
From this reading After a time King urged his horse to a jog-trot, and the five Hillmen pattered in his wake, huddled so close together that the horse could easily have kicked more than one of them.
puckered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For eyes we be, of Empire, we, Skinned and puckered and quick to see, And nobody guesses how wise we be, Nor hidden in what disguise we be, A-cooking a sudden surprise we be For hairy Himahlyan knifers!
quickadjectiveUS /kwɪk/
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading For eyes we be, of Empire, we, Skinned and puckered and quick to see, And nobody guesses how wise we be, Nor hidden in what disguise we be, A-cooking a sudden surprise we be For hairy Himahlyan knifers!
remarknounUS /rɪˈmɑːrk/
a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information
From this reading The owl he has eyes that are big for his size, And the night like a book he deciphers; “Too-woop!” he asserts, and “Hoo-woo-ip!” he cries, And he means to remark he is awfully wise; But he lags behind us, who are “on” to the lies Of the hairy Himalayan knifers!
rightadverbUS /raɪt/
precisely, exactly
From this reading The night was cold enough to make flesh creep; but it was imagination that herded them until they touched the horse's rump and kept the whites of their eyes ever showing as they glanced to left and right.
rumpnounUS /rʌmp/
the part of an animal that corresponds to the human buttocks
From this reading The night was cold enough to make flesh creep; but it was imagination that herded them until they touched the horse's rump and kept the whites of their eyes ever showing as they glanced to left and right.
seeverbUS /siː/
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading For eyes we be, of Empire, we, Skinned and puckered and quick to see, And nobody guesses how wise we be, Nor hidden in what disguise we be, A-cooking a sudden surprise we be For hairy Himahlyan knifers!
showingnounUS /ˈʃoʊɪŋ/
the display of a motion picture
From this reading The night was cold enough to make flesh creep; but it was imagination that herded them until they touched the horse's rump and kept the whites of their eyes ever showing as they glanced to left and right.
sizenounUS /saɪz/
the physical magnitude of something (how big it is)
From this reading The owl he has eyes that are big for his size, And the night like a book he deciphers; “Too-woop!” he asserts, and “Hoo-woo-ip!” he cries, And he means to remark he is awfully wise; But he lags behind us, who are “on” to the lies Of the hairy Himalayan knifers!
SkinnedadjectiveUS /skɪnd/
having skin of a specified kind
From this reading For eyes we be, of Empire, we, Skinned and puckered and quick to see, And nobody guesses how wise we be, Nor hidden in what disguise we be, A-cooking a sudden surprise we be For hairy Himahlyan knifers!
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading After a time King urged his horse to a jog-trot, and the five Hillmen pattered in his wake, huddled so close together that the horse could easily have kicked more than one of them.
suddenadjectiveUS /ˈsʌdən/
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading For eyes we be, of Empire, we, Skinned and puckered and quick to see, And nobody guesses how wise we be, Nor hidden in what disguise we be, A-cooking a sudden surprise we be For hairy Himahlyan knifers!
surprisenounUS /sərˈpraɪz/
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading For eyes we be, of Empire, we, Skinned and puckered and quick to see, And nobody guesses how wise we be, Nor hidden in what disguise we be, A-cooking a sudden surprise we be For hairy Himahlyan knifers!
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading After a time King urged his horse to a jog-trot, and the five Hillmen pattered in his wake, huddled so close together that the horse could easily have kicked more than one of them.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The owl he has eyes that are big for his size, And the night like a book he deciphers; “Too-woop!” he asserts, and “Hoo-woo-ip!” he cries, And he means to remark he is awfully wise; But he lags behind us, who are “on” to the lies Of the hairy Himalayan knifers!
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The owl he has eyes that are big for his size, And the night like a book he deciphers; “Too-woop!” he asserts, and “Hoo-woo-ip!” he cries, And he means to remark he is awfully wise; But he lags behind us, who are “on” to the lies Of the hairy Himalayan knifers!
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The night was cold enough to make flesh creep; but it was imagination that herded them until they touched the horse's rump and kept the whites of their eyes ever showing as they glanced to left and right.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading After a time King urged his horse to a jog-trot, and the five Hillmen pattered in his wake, huddled so close together that the horse could easily have kicked more than one of them.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The night was cold enough to make flesh creep; but it was imagination that herded them until they touched the horse's rump and kept the whites of their eyes ever showing as they glanced to left and right.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading After a time King urged his horse to a jog-trot, and the five Hillmen pattered in his wake, huddled so close together that the horse could easily have kicked more than one of them.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The owl he has eyes that are big for his size, And the night like a book he deciphers; “Too-woop!” he asserts, and “Hoo-woo-ip!” he cries, And he means to remark he is awfully wise; But he lags behind us, who are “on” to the lies Of the hairy Himalayan knifers!
togetheradverbUS /təˈɡeðər/
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading After a time King urged his horse to a jog-trot, and the five Hillmen pattered in his wake, huddled so close together that the horse could easily have kicked more than one of them.
Too-woop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The owl he has eyes that are big for his size, And the night like a book he deciphers; “Too-woop!” he asserts, and “Hoo-woo-ip!” he cries, And he means to remark he is awfully wise; But he lags behind us, who are “on” to the lies Of the hairy Himalayan knifers!
touchedadjectiveUS /tʌtʃt/
having come into contact
From this reading The night was cold enough to make flesh creep; but it was imagination that herded them until they touched the horse's rump and kept the whites of their eyes ever showing as they glanced to left and right.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading The night was cold enough to make flesh creep; but it was imagination that herded them until they touched the horse's rump and kept the whites of their eyes ever showing as they glanced to left and right.
urgedverbUS /ɜːrdʒd/
past form of “urge” — force or impel in an indicated direction
From this reading After a time King urged his horse to a jog-trot, and the five Hillmen pattered in his wake, huddled so close together that the horse could easily have kicked more than one of them.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The owl he has eyes that are big for his size, And the night like a book he deciphers; “Too-woop!” he asserts, and “Hoo-woo-ip!” he cries, And he means to remark he is awfully wise; But he lags behind us, who are “on” to the lies Of the hairy Himalayan knifers!
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading The Khyber, fouled by memory, looks like the very birthplace of the ghosts when the moon is fitful and a mist begins to flow.
wakeverbUS /weɪk/
be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading After a time King urged his horse to a jog-trot, and the five Hillmen pattered in his wake, huddled so close together that the horse could easily have kicked more than one of them.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The night was cold enough to make flesh creep; but it was imagination that herded them until they touched the horse's rump and kept the whites of their eyes ever showing as they glanced to left and right.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading For eyes we be, of Empire, we, Skinned and puckered and quick to see, And nobody guesses how wise we be, Nor hidden in what disguise we be, A-cooking a sudden surprise we be For hairy Himahlyan knifers!
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading For eyes we be, of Empire, we, Skinned and puckered and quick to see, And nobody guesses how wise we be, Nor hidden in what disguise we be, A-cooking a sudden surprise we be For hairy Himahlyan knifers!
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading The Khyber, fouled by memory, looks like the very birthplace of the ghosts when the moon is fitful and a mist begins to flow.
whitesnounUS /waɪts/
plural of “white” — a Caucasian
From this reading The night was cold enough to make flesh creep; but it was imagination that herded them until they touched the horse's rump and kept the whites of their eyes ever showing as they glanced to left and right.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading The owl he has eyes that are big for his size, And the night like a book he deciphers; “Too-woop!” he asserts, and “Hoo-woo-ip!” he cries, And he means to remark he is awfully wise; But he lags behind us, who are “on” to the lies Of the hairy Himalayan knifers!
wiseadjectiveUS /waɪz/
having or prompted by wisdom or discernment
From this reading The owl he has eyes that are big for his size, And the night like a book he deciphers; “Too-woop!” he asserts, and “Hoo-woo-ip!” he cries, And he means to remark he is awfully wise; But he lags behind us, who are “on” to the lies Of the hairy Himalayan knifers!
