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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 That impudent whelp, Dan, sidled up this morning to ask me what a mongoose was.
always
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From this reading They always do think that, until they come smirking to me for news; then they go off and backbite me behind my tail feathers.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading When I was weak enough, at the mention of grapes, to tell him it was an ichneumon, he had the cheek to call me some outlandish name that no decent bird would dream of using.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Those insignificant quadrupeds, Dan and Tib, thought that I was out of the fun.
ask
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That impudent whelp, Dan, sidled up this morning to ask me what a mongoose was.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When I was weak enough, at the mention of grapes, to tell him it was an ichneumon, he had the cheek to call me some outlandish name that no decent bird would dream of using.
backbite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They always do think that, until they come smirking to me for news; then they go off and backbite me behind my tail feathers.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading They always do think that, until they come smirking to me for news; then they go off and backbite me behind my tail feathers.
bird
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I was weak enough, at the mention of grapes, to tell him it was an ichneumon, he had the cheek to call me some outlandish name that no decent bird would dream of using.
BLACK
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From this reading THE BLACK MAN'S WAY _Told by Polly, the Parrot_ You will observe that I was left in the dining-room with the Guv'nor.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE BLACK MAN'S WAY _Told by Polly, the Parrot_ You will observe that I was left in the dining-room with the Guv'nor.
call
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I was weak enough, at the mention of grapes, to tell him it was an ichneumon, he had the cheek to call me some outlandish name that no decent bird would dream of using.
cheek
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From this reading When I was weak enough, at the mention of grapes, to tell him it was an ichneumon, he had the cheek to call me some outlandish name that no decent bird would dream of using.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They always do think that, until they come smirking to me for news; then they go off and backbite me behind my tail feathers.
Dan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Those insignificant quadrupeds, Dan and Tib, thought that I was out of the fun.
decent
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From this reading When I was weak enough, at the mention of grapes, to tell him it was an ichneumon, he had the cheek to call me some outlandish name that no decent bird would dream of using.
dining-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BLACK MAN'S WAY _Told by Polly, the Parrot_ You will observe that I was left in the dining-room with the Guv'nor.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading They always do think that, until they come smirking to me for news; then they go off and backbite me behind my tail feathers.
dreamnounUS /driːm/
A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.
From this reading When I was weak enough, at the mention of grapes, to tell him it was an ichneumon, he had the cheek to call me some outlandish name that no decent bird would dream of using.
enough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I was weak enough, at the mention of grapes, to tell him it was an ichneumon, he had the cheek to call me some outlandish name that no decent bird would dream of using.
feathers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They always do think that, until they come smirking to me for news; then they go off and backbite me behind my tail feathers.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They always do think that, until they come smirking to me for news; then they go off and backbite me behind my tail feathers.
fun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Those insignificant quadrupeds, Dan and Tib, thought that I was out of the fun.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They always do think that, until they come smirking to me for news; then they go off and backbite me behind my tail feathers.
grapes
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From this reading When I was weak enough, at the mention of grapes, to tell him it was an ichneumon, he had the cheek to call me some outlandish name that no decent bird would dream of using.
Guv'nor
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From this reading THE BLACK MAN'S WAY _Told by Polly, the Parrot_ You will observe that I was left in the dining-room with the Guv'nor.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When I was weak enough, at the mention of grapes, to tell him it was an ichneumon, he had the cheek to call me some outlandish name that no decent bird would dream of using.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When I was weak enough, at the mention of grapes, to tell him it was an ichneumon, he had the cheek to call me some outlandish name that no decent bird would dream of using.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When I was weak enough, at the mention of grapes, to tell him it was an ichneumon, he had the cheek to call me some outlandish name that no decent bird would dream of using.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THE BLACK MAN'S WAY _Told by Polly, the Parrot_ You will observe that I was left in the dining-room with the Guv'nor.
ichneumon
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From this reading When I was weak enough, at the mention of grapes, to tell him it was an ichneumon, he had the cheek to call me some outlandish name that no decent bird would dream of using.
impudent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That impudent whelp, Dan, sidled up this morning to ask me what a mongoose was.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE BLACK MAN'S WAY _Told by Polly, the Parrot_ You will observe that I was left in the dining-room with the Guv'nor.
insignificant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Those insignificant quadrupeds, Dan and Tib, thought that I was out of the fun.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading When I was weak enough, at the mention of grapes, to tell him it was an ichneumon, he had the cheek to call me some outlandish name that no decent bird would dream of using.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE BLACK MAN'S WAY _Told by Polly, the Parrot_ You will observe that I was left in the dining-room with the Guv'nor.
MAN'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BLACK MAN'S WAY _Told by Polly, the Parrot_ You will observe that I was left in the dining-room with the Guv'nor.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading They always do think that, until they come smirking to me for news; then they go off and backbite me behind my tail feathers.
mention
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I was weak enough, at the mention of grapes, to tell him it was an ichneumon, he had the cheek to call me some outlandish name that no decent bird would dream of using.
mongoose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That impudent whelp, Dan, sidled up this morning to ask me what a mongoose was.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That impudent whelp, Dan, sidled up this morning to ask me what a mongoose was.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading They always do think that, until they come smirking to me for news; then they go off and backbite me behind my tail feathers.
namenounUS /name/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When I was weak enough, at the mention of grapes, to tell him it was an ichneumon, he had the cheek to call me some outlandish name that no decent bird would dream of using.
news
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They always do think that, until they come smirking to me for news; then they go off and backbite me behind my tail feathers.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading When I was weak enough, at the mention of grapes, to tell him it was an ichneumon, he had the cheek to call me some outlandish name that no decent bird would dream of using.
observe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BLACK MAN'S WAY _Told by Polly, the Parrot_ You will observe that I was left in the dining-room with the Guv'nor.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Those insignificant quadrupeds, Dan and Tib, thought that I was out of the fun.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They always do think that, until they come smirking to me for news; then they go off and backbite me behind my tail feathers.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Those insignificant quadrupeds, Dan and Tib, thought that I was out of the fun.
outlandish
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From this reading When I was weak enough, at the mention of grapes, to tell him it was an ichneumon, he had the cheek to call me some outlandish name that no decent bird would dream of using.
Parrot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BLACK MAN'S WAY _Told by Polly, the Parrot_ You will observe that I was left in the dining-room with the Guv'nor.
Polly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BLACK MAN'S WAY _Told by Polly, the Parrot_ You will observe that I was left in the dining-room with the Guv'nor.
quadrupeds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Those insignificant quadrupeds, Dan and Tib, thought that I was out of the fun.
sidled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That impudent whelp, Dan, sidled up this morning to ask me what a mongoose was.
smirking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They always do think that, until they come smirking to me for news; then they go off and backbite me behind my tail feathers.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I was weak enough, at the mention of grapes, to tell him it was an ichneumon, he had the cheek to call me some outlandish name that no decent bird would dream of using.
tail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They always do think that, until they come smirking to me for news; then they go off and backbite me behind my tail feathers.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When I was weak enough, at the mention of grapes, to tell him it was an ichneumon, he had the cheek to call me some outlandish name that no decent bird would dream of using.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE BLACK MAN'S WAY _Told by Polly, the Parrot_ You will observe that I was left in the dining-room with the Guv'nor.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BLACK MAN'S WAY _Told by Polly, the Parrot_ You will observe that I was left in the dining-room with the Guv'nor.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They always do think that, until they come smirking to me for news; then they go off and backbite me behind my tail feathers.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They always do think that, until they come smirking to me for news; then they go off and backbite me behind my tail feathers.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They always do think that, until they come smirking to me for news; then they go off and backbite me behind my tail feathers.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading That impudent whelp, Dan, sidled up this morning to ask me what a mongoose was.
ThosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Those insignificant quadrupeds, Dan and Tib, thought that I was out of the fun.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Those insignificant quadrupeds, Dan and Tib, thought that I was out of the fun.
Tib
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Those insignificant quadrupeds, Dan and Tib, thought that I was out of the fun.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They always do think that, until they come smirking to me for news; then they go off and backbite me behind my tail feathers.
ToldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE BLACK MAN'S WAY _Told by Polly, the Parrot_ You will observe that I was left in the dining-room with the Guv'nor.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading They always do think that, until they come smirking to me for news; then they go off and backbite me behind my tail feathers.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That impudent whelp, Dan, sidled up this morning to ask me what a mongoose was.
using
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I was weak enough, at the mention of grapes, to tell him it was an ichneumon, he had the cheek to call me some outlandish name that no decent bird would dream of using.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE BLACK MAN'S WAY _Told by Polly, the Parrot_ You will observe that I was left in the dining-room with the Guv'nor.
WAY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BLACK MAN'S WAY _Told by Polly, the Parrot_ You will observe that I was left in the dining-room with the Guv'nor.
weak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I was weak enough, at the mention of grapes, to tell him it was an ichneumon, he had the cheek to call me some outlandish name that no decent bird would dream of using.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading That impudent whelp, Dan, sidled up this morning to ask me what a mongoose was.
whelp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That impudent whelp, Dan, sidled up this morning to ask me what a mongoose was.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When I was weak enough, at the mention of grapes, to tell him it was an ichneumon, he had the cheek to call me some outlandish name that no decent bird would dream of using.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading THE BLACK MAN'S WAY _Told by Polly, the Parrot_ You will observe that I was left in the dining-room with the Guv'nor.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE BLACK MAN'S WAY _Told by Polly, the Parrot_ You will observe that I was left in the dining-room with the Guv'nor.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading When I was weak enough, at the mention of grapes, to tell him it was an ichneumon, he had the cheek to call me some outlandish name that no decent bird would dream of using.
YoupronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading THE BLACK MAN'S WAY _Told by Polly, the Parrot_ You will observe that I was left in the dining-room with the Guv'nor.
