adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I do so, not only for the sake of the person who gave it to me, but because there is written on it a letter out of Madam How's alphabet, which has taken wise men many a year to decipher.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Take the stone, and see if you can find out anything strange about it.
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 You want to know why I am so fond of that little bit of limestone, no bigger than my hand, which lies upon the shelf; why I ponder over it so often, and show it to all sensible people who come to see me?
alphabetnounUS /ˈælfəbet/
a character set that includes letters and is used to write a language
From this reading I do so, not only for the sake of the person who gave it to me, but because there is written on it a letter out of Madam How's alphabet, which has taken wise men many a year to decipher.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading You want to know why I am so fond of that little bit of limestone, no bigger than my hand, which lies upon the shelf; why I ponder over it so often, and show it to all sensible people who come to see me?
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading You want to know why I am so fond of that little bit of limestone, no bigger than my hand, which lies upon the shelf; why I ponder over it so often, and show it to all sensible people who come to see me?
anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading More shame for me, for I had seen it often before, and understood it well enough, in many another page of Madam How's great book.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading Take the stone, and see if you can find out anything strange about it.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading I do so, not only for the sake of the person who gave it to me, but because there is written on it a letter out of Madam How's alphabet, which has taken wise men many a year to decipher.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading More shame for me, for I had seen it often before, and understood it well enough, in many another page of Madam How's great book.
biggeradjectiveUS /ˈbɪɡər/
large or big relative to something else
From this reading You want to know why I am so fond of that little bit of limestone, no bigger than my hand, which lies upon the shelf; why I ponder over it so often, and show it to all sensible people who come to see me?
bitnounUS /bɪt/
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading You want to know why I am so fond of that little bit of limestone, no bigger than my hand, which lies upon the shelf; why I ponder over it so often, and show it to all sensible people who come to see me?
booknounUS /bʊk/
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading More shame for me, for I had seen it often before, and understood it well enough, in many another page of Madam How's great book.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I do so, not only for the sake of the person who gave it to me, but because there is written on it a letter out of Madam How's alphabet, which has taken wise men many a year to decipher.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Take the stone, and see if you can find out anything strange about it.
comeverbUS /kʌm/
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading You want to know why I am so fond of that little bit of limestone, no bigger than my hand, which lies upon the shelf; why I ponder over it so often, and show it to all sensible people who come to see me?
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I could not decipher that letter when first I saw the stone.
decipherverbUS /dɪˈsaɪfər/
convert code into ordinary language
From this reading I do so, not only for the sake of the person who gave it to me, but because there is written on it a letter out of Madam How's alphabet, which has taken wise men many a year to decipher.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading I do so, not only for the sake of the person who gave it to me, but because there is written on it a letter out of Madam How's alphabet, which has taken wise men many a year to decipher.
enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading More shame for me, for I had seen it often before, and understood it well enough, in many another page of Madam How's great book.
findverbUS /faɪnd/
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading Take the stone, and see if you can find out anything strange about it.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading I could not decipher that letter when first I saw the stone.
fondadjectiveUS /fɑːnd/
having or displaying warmth or affection
From this reading You want to know why I am so fond of that little bit of limestone, no bigger than my hand, which lies upon the shelf; why I ponder over it so often, and show it to all sensible people who come to see me?
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I do so, not only for the sake of the person who gave it to me, but because there is written on it a letter out of Madam How's alphabet, which has taken wise men many a year to decipher.
gaveverbUS /ɡeɪv/
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading I do so, not only for the sake of the person who gave it to me, but because there is written on it a letter out of Madam How's alphabet, which has taken wise men many a year to decipher.
greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading More shame for me, for I had seen it often before, and understood it well enough, in many another page of Madam How's great book.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading More shame for me, for I had seen it often before, and understood it well enough, in many another page of Madam How's great book.
handnounUS /hænd/
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading You want to know why I am so fond of that little bit of limestone, no bigger than my hand, which lies upon the shelf; why I ponder over it so often, and show it to all sensible people who come to see me?
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I do so, not only for the sake of the person who gave it to me, but because there is written on it a letter out of Madam How's alphabet, which has taken wise men many a year to decipher.
How's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I do so, not only for the sake of the person who gave it to me, but because there is written on it a letter out of Madam How's alphabet, which has taken wise men many a year to decipher.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading You want to know why I am so fond of that little bit of limestone, no bigger than my hand, which lies upon the shelf; why I ponder over it so often, and show it to all sensible people who come to see me?
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Take the stone, and see if you can find out anything strange about it.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading More shame for me, for I had seen it often before, and understood it well enough, in many another page of Madam How's great book.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I do so, not only for the sake of the person who gave it to me, but because there is written on it a letter out of Madam How's alphabet, which has taken wise men many a year to decipher.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading You want to know why I am so fond of that little bit of limestone, no bigger than my hand, which lies upon the shelf; why I ponder over it so often, and show it to all sensible people who come to see me?
knowverbUS /noʊ/
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading You want to know why I am so fond of that little bit of limestone, no bigger than my hand, which lies upon the shelf; why I ponder over it so often, and show it to all sensible people who come to see me?
letternounUS /ˈletər/
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading I do so, not only for the sake of the person who gave it to me, but because there is written on it a letter out of Madam How's alphabet, which has taken wise men many a year to decipher.
liesnounUS /laɪz/
plural of “lie” — a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth
From this reading You want to know why I am so fond of that little bit of limestone, no bigger than my hand, which lies upon the shelf; why I ponder over it so often, and show it to all sensible people who come to see me?
limestonenounUS /ˈlaɪmstoʊn/
a sedimentary rock consisting mainly of calcium that was deposited by the remains of marine animals
From this reading You want to know why I am so fond of that little bit of limestone, no bigger than my hand, which lies upon the shelf; why I ponder over it so often, and show it to all sensible people who come to see me?
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading You want to know why I am so fond of that little bit of limestone, no bigger than my hand, which lies upon the shelf; why I ponder over it so often, and show it to all sensible people who come to see me?
MadamnounUS /ˈmædəm/
a woman of refinement
From this reading I do so, not only for the sake of the person who gave it to me, but because there is written on it a letter out of Madam How's alphabet, which has taken wise men many a year to decipher.
manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading I do so, not only for the sake of the person who gave it to me, but because there is written on it a letter out of Madam How's alphabet, which has taken wise men many a year to decipher.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading You want to know why I am so fond of that little bit of limestone, no bigger than my hand, which lies upon the shelf; why I ponder over it so often, and show it to all sensible people who come to see me?
mennounUS /men/
the force of workers available
From this reading I do so, not only for the sake of the person who gave it to me, but because there is written on it a letter out of Madam How's alphabet, which has taken wise men many a year to decipher.
MoreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading More shame for me, for I had seen it often before, and understood it well enough, in many another page of Madam How's great book.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading You want to know why I am so fond of that little bit of limestone, no bigger than my hand, which lies upon the shelf; why I ponder over it so often, and show it to all sensible people who come to see me?
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading You want to know why I am so fond of that little bit of limestone, no bigger than my hand, which lies upon the shelf; why I ponder over it so often, and show it to all sensible people who come to see me?
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I do so, not only for the sake of the person who gave it to me, but because there is written on it a letter out of Madam How's alphabet, which has taken wise men many a year to decipher.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading You want to know why I am so fond of that little bit of limestone, no bigger than my hand, which lies upon the shelf; why I ponder over it so often, and show it to all sensible people who come to see me?
oftenadverbUS /ˈɔːfən/
many times at short intervals
From this reading You want to know why I am so fond of that little bit of limestone, no bigger than my hand, which lies upon the shelf; why I ponder over it so often, and show it to all sensible people who come to see me?
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I do so, not only for the sake of the person who gave it to me, but because there is written on it a letter out of Madam How's alphabet, which has taken wise men many a year to decipher.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading I do so, not only for the sake of the person who gave it to me, but because there is written on it a letter out of Madam How's alphabet, which has taken wise men many a year to decipher.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading I do so, not only for the sake of the person who gave it to me, but because there is written on it a letter out of Madam How's alphabet, which has taken wise men many a year to decipher.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading You want to know why I am so fond of that little bit of limestone, no bigger than my hand, which lies upon the shelf; why I ponder over it so often, and show it to all sensible people who come to see me?
pagenounUS /peɪdʒ/
one side of one leaf (of a book or magazine or newspaper or letter etc.) or the written or pictorial matter it contains
From this reading More shame for me, for I had seen it often before, and understood it well enough, in many another page of Madam How's great book.
peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading You want to know why I am so fond of that little bit of limestone, no bigger than my hand, which lies upon the shelf; why I ponder over it so often, and show it to all sensible people who come to see me?
personnounUS /ˈpɜːrsən/
a human being
From this reading I do so, not only for the sake of the person who gave it to me, but because there is written on it a letter out of Madam How's alphabet, which has taken wise men many a year to decipher.
ponderverbUS /ˈpɑːndər/
reflect deeply on a subject
From this reading You want to know why I am so fond of that little bit of limestone, no bigger than my hand, which lies upon the shelf; why I ponder over it so often, and show it to all sensible people who come to see me?
sakenounUS /seɪk/
a reason for wanting something done
From this reading I do so, not only for the sake of the person who gave it to me, but because there is written on it a letter out of Madam How's alphabet, which has taken wise men many a year to decipher.
sawverbUS /sɔː/
cut with a saw
From this reading I could not decipher that letter when first I saw the stone.
seeverbUS /siː/
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading You want to know why I am so fond of that little bit of limestone, no bigger than my hand, which lies upon the shelf; why I ponder over it so often, and show it to all sensible people who come to see me?
seenverbUS /siːn/
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading More shame for me, for I had seen it often before, and understood it well enough, in many another page of Madam How's great book.
sensibleadjectiveUS /ˈsensəbəl/
showing reason or sound judgment
From this reading You want to know why I am so fond of that little bit of limestone, no bigger than my hand, which lies upon the shelf; why I ponder over it so often, and show it to all sensible people who come to see me?
shamenounUS /ʃeɪm/
a painful emotion resulting from an awareness of inadequacy or guilt
From this reading More shame for me, for I had seen it often before, and understood it well enough, in many another page of Madam How's great book.
shelfnounUS /ʃelf/
A flat horizontal plane used to hold books or scrolls in a library.
From this reading You want to know why I am so fond of that little bit of limestone, no bigger than my hand, which lies upon the shelf; why I ponder over it so often, and show it to all sensible people who come to see me?
showverbUS /ʃoʊ/
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading You want to know why I am so fond of that little bit of limestone, no bigger than my hand, which lies upon the shelf; why I ponder over it so often, and show it to all sensible people who come to see me?
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading You want to know why I am so fond of that little bit of limestone, no bigger than my hand, which lies upon the shelf; why I ponder over it so often, and show it to all sensible people who come to see me?
stonenounUS /stoʊn/
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading I could not decipher that letter when first I saw the stone.
strangeadjectiveUS /streɪndʒ/
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading Take the stone, and see if you can find out anything strange about it.
TakeverbUS /teɪk/
carry out
From this reading Take the stone, and see if you can find out anything strange about it.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading I do so, not only for the sake of the person who gave it to me, but because there is written on it a letter out of Madam How's alphabet, which has taken wise men many a year to decipher.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading You want to know why I am so fond of that little bit of limestone, no bigger than my hand, which lies upon the shelf; why I ponder over it so often, and show it to all sensible people who come to see me?
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading You want to know why I am so fond of that little bit of limestone, no bigger than my hand, which lies upon the shelf; why I ponder over it so often, and show it to all sensible people who come to see me?
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading You want to know why I am so fond of that little bit of limestone, no bigger than my hand, which lies upon the shelf; why I ponder over it so often, and show it to all sensible people who come to see me?
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading I do so, not only for the sake of the person who gave it to me, but because there is written on it a letter out of Madam How's alphabet, which has taken wise men many a year to decipher.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading You want to know why I am so fond of that little bit of limestone, no bigger than my hand, which lies upon the shelf; why I ponder over it so often, and show it to all sensible people who come to see me?
understoodadjectiveUS /ˌʌndərˈstʊd/
fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation
From this reading More shame for me, for I had seen it often before, and understood it well enough, in many another page of Madam How's great book.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading You want to know why I am so fond of that little bit of limestone, no bigger than my hand, which lies upon the shelf; why I ponder over it so often, and show it to all sensible people who come to see me?
wantverbUS /wɑːnt/
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading You want to know why I am so fond of that little bit of limestone, no bigger than my hand, which lies upon the shelf; why I ponder over it so often, and show it to all sensible people who come to see me?
welladverbUS /wel/
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading More shame for me, for I had seen it often before, and understood it well enough, in many another page of Madam How's great book.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading I could not decipher that letter when first I saw the stone.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading You want to know why I am so fond of that little bit of limestone, no bigger than my hand, which lies upon the shelf; why I ponder over it so often, and show it to all sensible people who come to see me?
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading You want to know why I am so fond of that little bit of limestone, no bigger than my hand, which lies upon the shelf; why I ponder over it so often, and show it to all sensible people who come to see me?
whynounUS /waɪ/
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading You want to know why I am so fond of that little bit of limestone, no bigger than my hand, which lies upon the shelf; why I ponder over it so often, and show it to all sensible people who come to see me?
wiseadjectiveUS /waɪz/
having or prompted by wisdom or discernment
From this reading I do so, not only for the sake of the person who gave it to me, but because there is written on it a letter out of Madam How's alphabet, which has taken wise men many a year to decipher.
writtenadjectiveUS /ˈrɪtən/
set down in writing in any of various ways
From this reading I do so, not only for the sake of the person who gave it to me, but because there is written on it a letter out of Madam How's alphabet, which has taken wise men many a year to decipher.
yearnounUS /jɪr/
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading I do so, not only for the sake of the person who gave it to me, but because there is written on it a letter out of Madam How's alphabet, which has taken wise men many a year to decipher.
YoupronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You want to know why I am so fond of that little bit of limestone, no bigger than my hand, which lies upon the shelf; why I ponder over it so often, and show it to all sensible people who come to see me?
