adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading JOB AND POLLIE BUMPUS “I never have told a downright falsehood,” said Lina.
agoadverbUS /əˈɡoʊ/
in the past
From this reading I gave up hope long ago, so I just go 'long and tell her the plain gospel truth when she asks me, 'cause I know those gimlet eyes and ears of hers 're going to worm it out o' me somehow.”
ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading JOB AND POLLIE BUMPUS “I never have told a downright falsehood,” said Lina.
asksverbUS /æsks/
third-person singular of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading I gave up hope long ago, so I just go 'long and tell her the plain gospel truth when she asks me, 'cause I know those gimlet eyes and ears of hers 're going to worm it out o' me somehow.”
BUMPUS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JOB AND POLLIE BUMPUS “I never have told a downright falsehood,” said Lina.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading “'Tain't no use to try to 'ceive my mama,” was the reply of the other little girl; “she's got such gimlet eyes and ears she can tell with 'em shut if you're fibbing.
causenounUS /kɑːz/
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading I gave up hope long ago, so I just go 'long and tell her the plain gospel truth when she asks me, 'cause I know those gimlet eyes and ears of hers 're going to worm it out o' me somehow.”
ceive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “'Tain't no use to try to 'ceive my mama,” was the reply of the other little girl; “she's got such gimlet eyes and ears she can tell with 'em shut if you're fibbing.
Didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Did you ever tell a fib to your mother, Frances?”
downrightadverbUS /ˈdaʊnraɪt/
thoroughgoing
From this reading JOB AND POLLIE BUMPUS “I never have told a downright falsehood,” said Lina.
earsnounUS /ɪrz/
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading “'Tain't no use to try to 'ceive my mama,” was the reply of the other little girl; “she's got such gimlet eyes and ears she can tell with 'em shut if you're fibbing.
emnounUS /em/
a quad with a square body
From this reading “'Tain't no use to try to 'ceive my mama,” was the reply of the other little girl; “she's got such gimlet eyes and ears she can tell with 'em shut if you're fibbing.
everadverbUS /ˈevər/
at any time
From this reading Did you ever tell a fib to your mother, Frances?”
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading “'Tain't no use to try to 'ceive my mama,” was the reply of the other little girl; “she's got such gimlet eyes and ears she can tell with 'em shut if you're fibbing.
falsehoodnounUS /ˈfælshʊd/
a false statement
From this reading JOB AND POLLIE BUMPUS “I never have told a downright falsehood,” said Lina.
fibnounUS /fɪb/
a trivial lie
From this reading Did you ever tell a fib to your mother, Frances?”
fibbingnoun
a trivial act of lying or being deliberately unclear
From this reading “'Tain't no use to try to 'ceive my mama,” was the reply of the other little girl; “she's got such gimlet eyes and ears she can tell with 'em shut if you're fibbing.
FrancesnounUS /ˈfrænsɪs/
plural of “france” — a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe
From this reading Did you ever tell a fib to your mother, Frances?”
gaveverbUS /ɡeɪv/
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading I gave up hope long ago, so I just go 'long and tell her the plain gospel truth when she asks me, 'cause I know those gimlet eyes and ears of hers 're going to worm it out o' me somehow.”
gimletnounUS /ˈɡɪmlet/
a cocktail made of gin or vodka and lime juice
From this reading “'Tain't no use to try to 'ceive my mama,” was the reply of the other little girl; “she's got such gimlet eyes and ears she can tell with 'em shut if you're fibbing.
girlnounUS /ɡɜːrl/
a young female
From this reading “'Tain't no use to try to 'ceive my mama,” was the reply of the other little girl; “she's got such gimlet eyes and ears she can tell with 'em shut if you're fibbing.
goverbUS /ɡoʊ/
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading I gave up hope long ago, so I just go 'long and tell her the plain gospel truth when she asks me, 'cause I know those gimlet eyes and ears of hers 're going to worm it out o' me somehow.”
goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/
the act of departing
From this reading I gave up hope long ago, so I just go 'long and tell her the plain gospel truth when she asks me, 'cause I know those gimlet eyes and ears of hers 're going to worm it out o' me somehow.”
gospelnounUS /ˈɡɑːspəl/
the four books in the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) that tell the story of Christ's life and teachings
From this reading I gave up hope long ago, so I just go 'long and tell her the plain gospel truth when she asks me, 'cause I know those gimlet eyes and ears of hers 're going to worm it out o' me somehow.”
gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “'Tain't no use to try to 'ceive my mama,” was the reply of the other little girl; “she's got such gimlet eyes and ears she can tell with 'em shut if you're fibbing.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading JOB AND POLLIE BUMPUS “I never have told a downright falsehood,” said Lina.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading I gave up hope long ago, so I just go 'long and tell her the plain gospel truth when she asks me, 'cause I know those gimlet eyes and ears of hers 're going to worm it out o' me somehow.”
herspronounUS /hərz/
the one or ones belonging to her
From this reading I gave up hope long ago, so I just go 'long and tell her the plain gospel truth when she asks me, 'cause I know those gimlet eyes and ears of hers 're going to worm it out o' me somehow.”
hopenounUS /hoʊp/
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading I gave up hope long ago, so I just go 'long and tell her the plain gospel truth when she asks me, 'cause I know those gimlet eyes and ears of hers 're going to worm it out o' me somehow.”
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Mother taught me how wicked it is to tell stories.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading JOB AND POLLIE BUMPUS “I never have told a downright falsehood,” said Lina.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “'Tain't no use to try to 'ceive my mama,” was the reply of the other little girl; “she's got such gimlet eyes and ears she can tell with 'em shut if you're fibbing.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Mother taught me how wicked it is to tell stories.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Mother taught me how wicked it is to tell stories.
JOBnounUS /dʒɑːb/
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading JOB AND POLLIE BUMPUS “I never have told a downright falsehood,” said Lina.
justadverbUS /dʒʌst/
and nothing more
From this reading I gave up hope long ago, so I just go 'long and tell her the plain gospel truth when she asks me, 'cause I know those gimlet eyes and ears of hers 're going to worm it out o' me somehow.”
knowverbUS /noʊ/
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading I gave up hope long ago, so I just go 'long and tell her the plain gospel truth when she asks me, 'cause I know those gimlet eyes and ears of hers 're going to worm it out o' me somehow.”
Lina
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JOB AND POLLIE BUMPUS “I never have told a downright falsehood,” said Lina.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “'Tain't no use to try to 'ceive my mama,” was the reply of the other little girl; “she's got such gimlet eyes and ears she can tell with 'em shut if you're fibbing.
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading I gave up hope long ago, so I just go 'long and tell her the plain gospel truth when she asks me, 'cause I know those gimlet eyes and ears of hers 're going to worm it out o' me somehow.”
mamanounUS /ˈmɑːmə/
informal terms for a mother
From this reading “'Tain't no use to try to 'ceive my mama,” was the reply of the other little girl; “she's got such gimlet eyes and ears she can tell with 'em shut if you're fibbing.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Mother taught me how wicked it is to tell stories.
MothernounUS /ˈmʌðər/
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading “Mother taught me how wicked it is to tell stories.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “'Tain't no use to try to 'ceive my mama,” was the reply of the other little girl; “she's got such gimlet eyes and ears she can tell with 'em shut if you're fibbing.
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading JOB AND POLLIE BUMPUS “I never have told a downright falsehood,” said Lina.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading “'Tain't no use to try to 'ceive my mama,” was the reply of the other little girl; “she's got such gimlet eyes and ears she can tell with 'em shut if you're fibbing.
onounUS /oʊ/
a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust
From this reading I gave up hope long ago, so I just go 'long and tell her the plain gospel truth when she asks me, 'cause I know those gimlet eyes and ears of hers 're going to worm it out o' me somehow.”
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “'Tain't no use to try to 'ceive my mama,” was the reply of the other little girl; “she's got such gimlet eyes and ears she can tell with 'em shut if you're fibbing.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading “'Tain't no use to try to 'ceive my mama,” was the reply of the other little girl; “she's got such gimlet eyes and ears she can tell with 'em shut if you're fibbing.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading I gave up hope long ago, so I just go 'long and tell her the plain gospel truth when she asks me, 'cause I know those gimlet eyes and ears of hers 're going to worm it out o' me somehow.”
plainadjectiveUS /pleɪn/
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading I gave up hope long ago, so I just go 'long and tell her the plain gospel truth when she asks me, 'cause I know those gimlet eyes and ears of hers 're going to worm it out o' me somehow.”
POLLIE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JOB AND POLLIE BUMPUS “I never have told a downright falsehood,” said Lina.
renounUS /reɪ/
a rare heavy polyvalent metallic element that resembles manganese chemically and is used in some alloys; is obtained as a by-product in refining molybdenum
From this reading I gave up hope long ago, so I just go 'long and tell her the plain gospel truth when she asks me, 'cause I know those gimlet eyes and ears of hers 're going to worm it out o' me somehow.”
replynounUS /rɪˈplaɪ/
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading “'Tain't no use to try to 'ceive my mama,” was the reply of the other little girl; “she's got such gimlet eyes and ears she can tell with 'em shut if you're fibbing.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading JOB AND POLLIE BUMPUS “I never have told a downright falsehood,” said Lina.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “'Tain't no use to try to 'ceive my mama,” was the reply of the other little girl; “she's got such gimlet eyes and ears she can tell with 'em shut if you're fibbing.
she's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “'Tain't no use to try to 'ceive my mama,” was the reply of the other little girl; “she's got such gimlet eyes and ears she can tell with 'em shut if you're fibbing.
shutverbUS /ʃʌt/
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading “'Tain't no use to try to 'ceive my mama,” was the reply of the other little girl; “she's got such gimlet eyes and ears she can tell with 'em shut if you're fibbing.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I gave up hope long ago, so I just go 'long and tell her the plain gospel truth when she asks me, 'cause I know those gimlet eyes and ears of hers 're going to worm it out o' me somehow.”
somehowadverbUS /ˈsʌmhaʊ/
in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means
From this reading I gave up hope long ago, so I just go 'long and tell her the plain gospel truth when she asks me, 'cause I know those gimlet eyes and ears of hers 're going to worm it out o' me somehow.”
storiesnounUS /ˈstɔːriz/
plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading “Mother taught me how wicked it is to tell stories.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading “'Tain't no use to try to 'ceive my mama,” was the reply of the other little girl; “she's got such gimlet eyes and ears she can tell with 'em shut if you're fibbing.
Tain't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “'Tain't no use to try to 'ceive my mama,” was the reply of the other little girl; “she's got such gimlet eyes and ears she can tell with 'em shut if you're fibbing.
taughtverbUS /tɔːt/
inflected form of “teach” — impart skills or knowledge to
From this reading “Mother taught me how wicked it is to tell stories.
tellverbUS /tel/
express in words
From this reading “Mother taught me how wicked it is to tell stories.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “'Tain't no use to try to 'ceive my mama,” was the reply of the other little girl; “she's got such gimlet eyes and ears she can tell with 'em shut if you're fibbing.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading I gave up hope long ago, so I just go 'long and tell her the plain gospel truth when she asks me, 'cause I know those gimlet eyes and ears of hers 're going to worm it out o' me somehow.”
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Mother taught me how wicked it is to tell stories.
toldverbUS /toʊld/
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading JOB AND POLLIE BUMPUS “I never have told a downright falsehood,” said Lina.
truthnounUS /truːθ/
a fact that has been verified
From this reading I gave up hope long ago, so I just go 'long and tell her the plain gospel truth when she asks me, 'cause I know those gimlet eyes and ears of hers 're going to worm it out o' me somehow.”
tryverbUS /traɪ/
make an effort or attempt
From this reading “'Tain't no use to try to 'ceive my mama,” was the reply of the other little girl; “she's got such gimlet eyes and ears she can tell with 'em shut if you're fibbing.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading I gave up hope long ago, so I just go 'long and tell her the plain gospel truth when she asks me, 'cause I know those gimlet eyes and ears of hers 're going to worm it out o' me somehow.”
usenounUS /juːs/
the act of using
From this reading “'Tain't no use to try to 'ceive my mama,” was the reply of the other little girl; “she's got such gimlet eyes and ears she can tell with 'em shut if you're fibbing.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “'Tain't no use to try to 'ceive my mama,” was the reply of the other little girl; “she's got such gimlet eyes and ears she can tell with 'em shut if you're fibbing.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading I gave up hope long ago, so I just go 'long and tell her the plain gospel truth when she asks me, 'cause I know those gimlet eyes and ears of hers 're going to worm it out o' me somehow.”
wickedadjectiveUS /ˈwɪkəd/
morally bad in principle or practice
From this reading “Mother taught me how wicked it is to tell stories.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading “'Tain't no use to try to 'ceive my mama,” was the reply of the other little girl; “she's got such gimlet eyes and ears she can tell with 'em shut if you're fibbing.
wormnounUS /wɜːrm/
any of numerous relatively small elongated soft-bodied animals especially of the phyla Annelida and Chaetognatha and Nematoda and Nemertea and Platyhelminthes; also many insect larvae
From this reading I gave up hope long ago, so I just go 'long and tell her the plain gospel truth when she asks me, 'cause I know those gimlet eyes and ears of hers 're going to worm it out o' me somehow.”
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Did you ever tell a fib to your mother, Frances?”
you're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “'Tain't no use to try to 'ceive my mama,” was the reply of the other little girl; “she's got such gimlet eyes and ears she can tell with 'em shut if you're fibbing.
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Did you ever tell a fib to your mother, Frances?”
