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Leaves of Grass
Leaves of Grass

Chapter XXXI · Chapter 31

Chapter 31 of Leaves of Grass is here in full — 29 sentences across 6 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/5 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Thou Mother with Thy Equal Brood
Thou Mother with thy equal brood, Thou varied chain of different States, yet one identity only, A special song before I go I’d sing o’er all the rest, For thee, the future.
I’d sow a seed for thee of endless Nationality, I’d fashion thy ensemble including body and soul, I’d show away ahead thy real Union, and how it may be accomplish’d.
The paths to the house I seek to make, But leave to those to come the house itself.
Belief I sing, and preparation; As Life and Nature are not great with reference to the present only, But greater still from what is yet to come, Out of that formula for thee I sing.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Leaves of Grass

Chapter XXXI · Chapter 31

Chapter 31 of Leaves of Grass is here in full — 29 sentences across 6 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/5 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Thou Mother with Thy Equal Brood
/ðaʊ ˈmʌðər wɪð ðaɪ ˈiːkwəl bruːd/
Line 2
Thou Mother with thy equal brood, Thou varied chain of different States, yet one identity only, A special song before I go I’d sing o’er all the rest, For thee, the future.
Line 3
I’d sow a seed for thee of endless Nationality, I’d fashion thy ensemble including body and soul, I’d show away ahead thy real Union, and how it may be accomplish’d.
Line 4
The paths to the house I seek to make, But leave to those to come the house itself.
/ðə pæðz tuː ðə haʊs aɪ siːk tuː meɪk bʌt liːv tuː ðoʊz tuː kʌm ðə haʊs ˌɪtˈself/
Line 5
Belief I sing, and preparation; As Life and Nature are not great with reference to the present only, But greater still from what is yet to come, Out of that formula for thee I sing.
/bɪˈliːf aɪ sɪŋ ənd ˌprepərˈeɪʃən æz laɪf ənd ˈneɪtʃər ɑːr nɑːt ɡreɪt wɪð ˈrefərəns tuː ðə ˈprezənt ˈoʊnli bʌt ˈɡreɪtər stɪl frʌm wʌt ɪz jet tuː kʌm aʊt ʌv ðæt ˈfɔːrmjələ fɔːr ðiː aɪ sɪŋ/

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

brood verb US /bruːd/

think moodily or anxiously about something

From this reading “Thou Mother with Thy Equal Brood”

ensemble noun US /ɑːnˈsɑːmbəl/

a group of musicians playing or singing together

From this reading “I’d sow a seed for thee of endless Nationality, I’d fashion thy ensemble including body and soul, I’d show away ahead thy real Union, and how it may be accomplish’d.”

formula noun US /ˈfɔːrmjələ/

a group of symbols that make a mathematical statement

From this reading “Belief I sing, and preparation; As Life and Nature are not great with reference to the present only, But greater still from what is yet to come, Out of that formula for thee I sing.”

identity noun US /aɪˈdentɪtiː/

the distinct personality of an individual regarded as a persisting entity

From this reading “Thou Mother with thy equal brood, Thou varied chain of different States, yet one identity only, A special song before I go I’d sing o’er all the rest, For thee, the future.”

Nationality noun US /ˌnæʃəˈnæləti/

people having common origins or traditions and often comprising a nation

From this reading “I’d sow a seed for thee of endless Nationality, I’d fashion thy ensemble including body and soul, I’d show away ahead thy real Union, and how it may be accomplish’d.”

preparation noun US /ˌprepərˈeɪʃən/

the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose

From this reading “Belief I sing, and preparation; As Life and Nature are not great with reference to the present only, But greater still from what is yet to come, Out of that formula for thee I sing.”

sow verb US /saʊ/

place (seeds) in or on the ground for future growth

From this reading “I’d sow a seed for thee of endless Nationality, I’d fashion thy ensemble including body and soul, I’d show away ahead thy real Union, and how it may be accomplish’d.”

varied adjective US /ˈverid/

characterized by variety

From this reading “Thou Mother with thy equal brood, Thou varied chain of different States, yet one identity only, A special song before I go I’d sing o’er all the rest, For thee, the future.”

All words in this reading · 78

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

AdeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Thou Mother with thy equal brood, Thou varied chain of different States, yet one identity only, A special song before I go I’d sing o’er all the rest, For thee, the future.

accomplish'd

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading I’d sow a seed for thee of endless Nationality, I’d fashion thy ensemble including body and soul, I’d show away ahead thy real Union, and how it may be accomplish’d.

aheadadverbUS /əˈhed/

at or in the front

From this reading I’d sow a seed for thee of endless Nationality, I’d fashion thy ensemble including body and soul, I’d show away ahead thy real Union, and how it may be accomplish’d.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading Thou Mother with thy equal brood, Thou varied chain of different States, yet one identity only, A special song before I go I’d sing o’er all the rest, For thee, the future.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading I’d sow a seed for thee of endless Nationality, I’d fashion thy ensemble including body and soul, I’d show away ahead thy real Union, and how it may be accomplish’d.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Belief I sing, and preparation; As Life and Nature are not great with reference to the present only, But greater still from what is yet to come, Out of that formula for thee I sing.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Belief I sing, and preparation; As Life and Nature are not great with reference to the present only, But greater still from what is yet to come, Out of that formula for thee I sing.

awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading I’d sow a seed for thee of endless Nationality, I’d fashion thy ensemble including body and soul, I’d show away ahead thy real Union, and how it may be accomplish’d.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading I’d sow a seed for thee of endless Nationality, I’d fashion thy ensemble including body and soul, I’d show away ahead thy real Union, and how it may be accomplish’d.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Thou Mother with thy equal brood, Thou varied chain of different States, yet one identity only, A special song before I go I’d sing o’er all the rest, For thee, the future.

BeliefnounUS /bɪˈliːf/

any cognitive content held as true

From this reading Belief I sing, and preparation; As Life and Nature are not great with reference to the present only, But greater still from what is yet to come, Out of that formula for thee I sing.

bodynounUS /ˈbɑːdi/

the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)

From this reading I’d sow a seed for thee of endless Nationality, I’d fashion thy ensemble including body and soul, I’d show away ahead thy real Union, and how it may be accomplish’d.

BroodverbUS /bruːd/

think moodily or anxiously about something

From this reading Thou Mother with Thy Equal Brood

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The paths to the house I seek to make, But leave to those to come the house itself.

chainnounUS /tʃeɪn/

a series of things depending on each other as if linked together

From this reading Thou Mother with thy equal brood, Thou varied chain of different States, yet one identity only, A special song before I go I’d sing o’er all the rest, For thee, the future.

comeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading The paths to the house I seek to make, But leave to those to come the house itself.

differentadjectiveUS /ˈdɪfərənt/

unlike in nature or quality or form or degree

From this reading Thou Mother with thy equal brood, Thou varied chain of different States, yet one identity only, A special song before I go I’d sing o’er all the rest, For thee, the future.

endlessadjectiveUS /ˈendləs/

tiresomely long; seemingly without end

From this reading I’d sow a seed for thee of endless Nationality, I’d fashion thy ensemble including body and soul, I’d show away ahead thy real Union, and how it may be accomplish’d.

ensemblenounUS /ɑːnˈsɑːmbəl/

a group of musicians playing or singing together

From this reading I’d sow a seed for thee of endless Nationality, I’d fashion thy ensemble including body and soul, I’d show away ahead thy real Union, and how it may be accomplish’d.

EqualverbUS /ˈiːkwəl/

be identical or equivalent to

From this reading Thou Mother with Thy Equal Brood

fashionnounUS /ˈfæʃən/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading I’d sow a seed for thee of endless Nationality, I’d fashion thy ensemble including body and soul, I’d show away ahead thy real Union, and how it may be accomplish’d.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Thou Mother with thy equal brood, Thou varied chain of different States, yet one identity only, A special song before I go I’d sing o’er all the rest, For thee, the future.

formulanounUS /ˈfɔːrmjələ/

a group of symbols that make a mathematical statement

From this reading Belief I sing, and preparation; As Life and Nature are not great with reference to the present only, But greater still from what is yet to come, Out of that formula for thee I sing.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Belief I sing, and preparation; As Life and Nature are not great with reference to the present only, But greater still from what is yet to come, Out of that formula for thee I sing.

futureadjectiveUS /ˈfjuːtʃər/

yet to be or coming

From this reading Thou Mother with thy equal brood, Thou varied chain of different States, yet one identity only, A special song before I go I’d sing o’er all the rest, For thee, the future.

goverbUS /ɡoʊ/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading Thou Mother with thy equal brood, Thou varied chain of different States, yet one identity only, A special song before I go I’d sing o’er all the rest, For thee, the future.

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading Belief I sing, and preparation; As Life and Nature are not great with reference to the present only, But greater still from what is yet to come, Out of that formula for thee I sing.

greateradjectiveUS /ˈɡreɪtər/

greater in size or importance or degree

From this reading Belief I sing, and preparation; As Life and Nature are not great with reference to the present only, But greater still from what is yet to come, Out of that formula for thee I sing.

housenounUS /haʊs/

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading The paths to the house I seek to make, But leave to those to come the house itself.

how

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading I’d sow a seed for thee of endless Nationality, I’d fashion thy ensemble including body and soul, I’d show away ahead thy real Union, and how it may be accomplish’d.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading Thou Mother with thy equal brood, Thou varied chain of different States, yet one identity only, A special song before I go I’d sing o’er all the rest, For thee, the future.

I'd

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Thou Mother with thy equal brood, Thou varied chain of different States, yet one identity only, A special song before I go I’d sing o’er all the rest, For thee, the future.

identitynounUS /aɪˈdentɪtiː/

the distinct personality of an individual regarded as a persisting entity

From this reading Thou Mother with thy equal brood, Thou varied chain of different States, yet one identity only, A special song before I go I’d sing o’er all the rest, For thee, the future.

includingverbUS /ˌɪnˈkluːdɪŋ/

-ing form of “include” — have as a part, be made up out of

From this reading I’d sow a seed for thee of endless Nationality, I’d fashion thy ensemble including body and soul, I’d show away ahead thy real Union, and how it may be accomplish’d.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Belief I sing, and preparation; As Life and Nature are not great with reference to the present only, But greater still from what is yet to come, Out of that formula for thee I sing.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I’d sow a seed for thee of endless Nationality, I’d fashion thy ensemble including body and soul, I’d show away ahead thy real Union, and how it may be accomplish’d.

itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading The paths to the house I seek to make, But leave to those to come the house itself.

leaveverbUS /liːv/

go away from a place

From this reading The paths to the house I seek to make, But leave to those to come the house itself.

LifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading Belief I sing, and preparation; As Life and Nature are not great with reference to the present only, But greater still from what is yet to come, Out of that formula for thee I sing.

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading The paths to the house I seek to make, But leave to those to come the house itself.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading I’d sow a seed for thee of endless Nationality, I’d fashion thy ensemble including body and soul, I’d show away ahead thy real Union, and how it may be accomplish’d.

MothernounUS /ˈmʌðər/

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading Thou Mother with Thy Equal Brood

NationalitynounUS /ˌnæʃəˈnæləti/

people having common origins or traditions and often comprising a nation

From this reading I’d sow a seed for thee of endless Nationality, I’d fashion thy ensemble including body and soul, I’d show away ahead thy real Union, and how it may be accomplish’d.

NaturenounUS /ˈneɪtʃər/

the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized

From this reading Belief I sing, and preparation; As Life and Nature are not great with reference to the present only, But greater still from what is yet to come, Out of that formula for thee I sing.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Belief I sing, and preparation; As Life and Nature are not great with reference to the present only, But greater still from what is yet to come, Out of that formula for thee I sing.

o'eradverb

throughout a period of time

From this reading Thou Mother with thy equal brood, Thou varied chain of different States, yet one identity only, A special song before I go I’d sing o’er all the rest, For thee, the future.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Thou Mother with thy equal brood, Thou varied chain of different States, yet one identity only, A special song before I go I’d sing o’er all the rest, For thee, the future.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Thou Mother with thy equal brood, Thou varied chain of different States, yet one identity only, A special song before I go I’d sing o’er all the rest, For thee, the future.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading Thou Mother with thy equal brood, Thou varied chain of different States, yet one identity only, A special song before I go I’d sing o’er all the rest, For thee, the future.

OutadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Belief I sing, and preparation; As Life and Nature are not great with reference to the present only, But greater still from what is yet to come, Out of that formula for thee I sing.

pathsnounUS /pæðz/

plural of “path” — a course of conduct

From this reading The paths to the house I seek to make, But leave to those to come the house itself.

preparationnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃən/

the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose

From this reading Belief I sing, and preparation; As Life and Nature are not great with reference to the present only, But greater still from what is yet to come, Out of that formula for thee I sing.

presentverbUS /ˈprezənt/

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading Belief I sing, and preparation; As Life and Nature are not great with reference to the present only, But greater still from what is yet to come, Out of that formula for thee I sing.

realadjectiveUS /riːl/

being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory

From this reading I’d sow a seed for thee of endless Nationality, I’d fashion thy ensemble including body and soul, I’d show away ahead thy real Union, and how it may be accomplish’d.

referencenounUS /ˈrefərəns/

a remark that calls attention to something or someone

From this reading Belief I sing, and preparation; As Life and Nature are not great with reference to the present only, But greater still from what is yet to come, Out of that formula for thee I sing.

restverbUS /rest/

not move; be in a resting position

From this reading Thou Mother with thy equal brood, Thou varied chain of different States, yet one identity only, A special song before I go I’d sing o’er all the rest, For thee, the future.

seednounUS /siːd/

a small hard fruit

From this reading I’d sow a seed for thee of endless Nationality, I’d fashion thy ensemble including body and soul, I’d show away ahead thy real Union, and how it may be accomplish’d.

seekverbUS /siːk/

try to get or reach

From this reading The paths to the house I seek to make, But leave to those to come the house itself.

showverbUS /ʃoʊ/

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading I’d sow a seed for thee of endless Nationality, I’d fashion thy ensemble including body and soul, I’d show away ahead thy real Union, and how it may be accomplish’d.

singverbUS /sɪŋ/

deliver by singing

From this reading Thou Mother with thy equal brood, Thou varied chain of different States, yet one identity only, A special song before I go I’d sing o’er all the rest, For thee, the future.

songnounUS /sɔːŋ/

a short musical composition with words

From this reading Thou Mother with thy equal brood, Thou varied chain of different States, yet one identity only, A special song before I go I’d sing o’er all the rest, For thee, the future.

soulnounUS /soʊl/

the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life

From this reading I’d sow a seed for thee of endless Nationality, I’d fashion thy ensemble including body and soul, I’d show away ahead thy real Union, and how it may be accomplish’d.

sowverbUS /saʊ/

place (seeds) in or on the ground for future growth

From this reading I’d sow a seed for thee of endless Nationality, I’d fashion thy ensemble including body and soul, I’d show away ahead thy real Union, and how it may be accomplish’d.

specialadjectiveUS /ˈspeʃəl/

unique or specific to a person or thing or category

From this reading Thou Mother with thy equal brood, Thou varied chain of different States, yet one identity only, A special song before I go I’d sing o’er all the rest, For thee, the future.

StatesnounUS /steɪts/

plural of “state” — the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation

From this reading Thou Mother with thy equal brood, Thou varied chain of different States, yet one identity only, A special song before I go I’d sing o’er all the rest, For thee, the future.

stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading Belief I sing, and preparation; As Life and Nature are not great with reference to the present only, But greater still from what is yet to come, Out of that formula for thee I sing.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Belief I sing, and preparation; As Life and Nature are not great with reference to the present only, But greater still from what is yet to come, Out of that formula for thee I sing.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Thou Mother with thy equal brood, Thou varied chain of different States, yet one identity only, A special song before I go I’d sing o’er all the rest, For thee, the future.

theepronounUS /ðiː/

an old word for “you”, as the object, speaking to one person

From this reading Thou Mother with thy equal brood, Thou varied chain of different States, yet one identity only, A special song before I go I’d sing o’er all the rest, For thee, the future.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading The paths to the house I seek to make, But leave to those to come the house itself.

ThoupronounUS /ðaʊ/

an old word for “you”, as the subject, speaking to one person

From this reading Thou Mother with Thy Equal Brood

ThydeterminerUS /ðaɪ/

an old word for “your”, speaking to one person

From this reading Thou Mother with Thy Equal Brood

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading The paths to the house I seek to make, But leave to those to come the house itself.

UnionnounUS /ˈjuːnjən/

an organization of employees formed to bargain with the employer

From this reading I’d sow a seed for thee of endless Nationality, I’d fashion thy ensemble including body and soul, I’d show away ahead thy real Union, and how it may be accomplish’d.

variedadjectiveUS /ˈverid/

characterized by variety

From this reading Thou Mother with thy equal brood, Thou varied chain of different States, yet one identity only, A special song before I go I’d sing o’er all the rest, For thee, the future.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Belief I sing, and preparation; As Life and Nature are not great with reference to the present only, But greater still from what is yet to come, Out of that formula for thee I sing.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Thou Mother with Thy Equal Brood

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading Thou Mother with thy equal brood, Thou varied chain of different States, yet one identity only, A special song before I go I’d sing o’er all the rest, For thee, the future.

Chapter 31 of Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman holds 29 sentences, grouped into 6 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 31 of Leaves of Grass contain?

Chapter 31 holds 29 sentences of Leaves of Grass, unabridged, divided into 6 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 31 of Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 29 sentences, grouped into 6 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 31 of Leaves of Grass?

Work through the 6 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 6 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 31 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 31 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading Leaves of Grass

Common questions about reading Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Leaves of Grass?

Yes. All 4156 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #1322 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Leaves of Grass is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #1322, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Leaves of Grass take to read?

About 346 minutes of reading across 832 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Leaves of Grass section by section

How to work through Leaves of Grass section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 34 chapters of Leaves of Grass to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Leaves of Grass

Words and structures a reader meets early in Leaves of Grass, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

S-self
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Leaves of Grass; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Simple
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Leaves of Grass; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Separate
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Leaves of Grass; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Person
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Leaves of Grass; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.