Every word is available to listen to. 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 Like Progne didst thou lose thy tongue, Thy lovers might adore and live; Like that witch Circe, oft besung, Thou hast dear gifts, if thou wouldst give; But since thou hast a wicked wit, Thy lovers fade, or flee from it.
adore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like Progne didst thou lose thy tongue, Thy lovers might adore and live; Like that witch Circe, oft besung, Thou hast dear gifts, if thou wouldst give; But since thou hast a wicked wit, Thy lovers fade, or flee from it.
air
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nature herself to deadly flowers Refuseth beauty lest the vain Insects that hum through August hours With beauty should suck in their bane; But thou, as Rose or Lily fair, Art circled with envenomed air!
Amazonian
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From this reading Had the Amazonian Queen Seen thee ’midst thy maiden peers, Thou the Coronel hadst been Of that lady’s Grenadiers; Troy had never mourned her fall, With thine axe to guard her wall.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading WERE an apple tree a pine, Tall and slim, and softly swaying, Then her beauty were like thine, Salmacis, when boune a Maying, Tall as any poplar tree, Sweet as apple blossoms be!
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Like Progne didst thou lose thy tongue, Thy lovers might adore and live; Like that witch Circe, oft besung, Thou hast dear gifts, if thou wouldst give; But since thou hast a wicked wit, Thy lovers fade, or flee from it.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WERE an apple tree a pine, Tall and slim, and softly swaying, Then her beauty were like thine, Salmacis, when boune a Maying, Tall as any poplar tree, Sweet as apple blossoms be!
applenounUS /apple/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading WERE an apple tree a pine, Tall and slim, and softly swaying, Then her beauty were like thine, Salmacis, when boune a Maying, Tall as any poplar tree, Sweet as apple blossoms be!
Artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading Nature herself to deadly flowers Refuseth beauty lest the vain Insects that hum through August hours With beauty should suck in their bane; But thou, as Rose or Lily fair, Art circled with envenomed air!
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Nature herself to deadly flowers Refuseth beauty lest the vain Insects that hum through August hours With beauty should suck in their bane; But thou, as Rose or Lily fair, Art circled with envenomed air!
August
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nature herself to deadly flowers Refuseth beauty lest the vain Insects that hum through August hours With beauty should suck in their bane; But thou, as Rose or Lily fair, Art circled with envenomed air!
axe
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From this reading Had the Amazonian Queen Seen thee ’midst thy maiden peers, Thou the Coronel hadst been Of that lady’s Grenadiers; Troy had never mourned her fall, With thine axe to guard her wall.
bane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nature herself to deadly flowers Refuseth beauty lest the vain Insects that hum through August hours With beauty should suck in their bane; But thou, as Rose or Lily fair, Art circled with envenomed air!
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading WERE an apple tree a pine, Tall and slim, and softly swaying, Then her beauty were like thine, Salmacis, when boune a Maying, Tall as any poplar tree, Sweet as apple blossoms be!
beauty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nature herself to deadly flowers Refuseth beauty lest the vain Insects that hum through August hours With beauty should suck in their bane; But thou, as Rose or Lily fair, Art circled with envenomed air!
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Had the Amazonian Queen Seen thee ’midst thy maiden peers, Thou the Coronel hadst been Of that lady’s Grenadiers; Troy had never mourned her fall, With thine axe to guard her wall.
besung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like Progne didst thou lose thy tongue, Thy lovers might adore and live; Like that witch Circe, oft besung, Thou hast dear gifts, if thou wouldst give; But since thou hast a wicked wit, Thy lovers fade, or flee from it.
blossoms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WERE an apple tree a pine, Tall and slim, and softly swaying, Then her beauty were like thine, Salmacis, when boune a Maying, Tall as any poplar tree, Sweet as apple blossoms be!
boune
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WERE an apple tree a pine, Tall and slim, and softly swaying, Then her beauty were like thine, Salmacis, when boune a Maying, Tall as any poplar tree, Sweet as apple blossoms be!
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Nature herself to deadly flowers Refuseth beauty lest the vain Insects that hum through August hours With beauty should suck in their bane; But thou, as Rose or Lily fair, Art circled with envenomed air!
Circe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like Progne didst thou lose thy tongue, Thy lovers might adore and live; Like that witch Circe, oft besung, Thou hast dear gifts, if thou wouldst give; But since thou hast a wicked wit, Thy lovers fade, or flee from it.
circled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nature herself to deadly flowers Refuseth beauty lest the vain Insects that hum through August hours With beauty should suck in their bane; But thou, as Rose or Lily fair, Art circled with envenomed air!
Coronel
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From this reading Had the Amazonian Queen Seen thee ’midst thy maiden peers, Thou the Coronel hadst been Of that lady’s Grenadiers; Troy had never mourned her fall, With thine axe to guard her wall.
deadly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nature herself to deadly flowers Refuseth beauty lest the vain Insects that hum through August hours With beauty should suck in their bane; But thou, as Rose or Lily fair, Art circled with envenomed air!
dear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like Progne didst thou lose thy tongue, Thy lovers might adore and live; Like that witch Circe, oft besung, Thou hast dear gifts, if thou wouldst give; But since thou hast a wicked wit, Thy lovers fade, or flee from it.
didstauxiliary verbUS /dɪdst/
an old form of “did”, used with “thou”
From this reading Like Progne didst thou lose thy tongue, Thy lovers might adore and live; Like that witch Circe, oft besung, Thou hast dear gifts, if thou wouldst give; But since thou hast a wicked wit, Thy lovers fade, or flee from it.
envenomed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nature herself to deadly flowers Refuseth beauty lest the vain Insects that hum through August hours With beauty should suck in their bane; But thou, as Rose or Lily fair, Art circled with envenomed air!
fade
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like Progne didst thou lose thy tongue, Thy lovers might adore and live; Like that witch Circe, oft besung, Thou hast dear gifts, if thou wouldst give; But since thou hast a wicked wit, Thy lovers fade, or flee from it.
fairnounUS /fair/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Nature herself to deadly flowers Refuseth beauty lest the vain Insects that hum through August hours With beauty should suck in their bane; But thou, as Rose or Lily fair, Art circled with envenomed air!
fall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had the Amazonian Queen Seen thee ’midst thy maiden peers, Thou the Coronel hadst been Of that lady’s Grenadiers; Troy had never mourned her fall, With thine axe to guard her wall.
flee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like Progne didst thou lose thy tongue, Thy lovers might adore and live; Like that witch Circe, oft besung, Thou hast dear gifts, if thou wouldst give; But since thou hast a wicked wit, Thy lovers fade, or flee from it.
flowers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nature herself to deadly flowers Refuseth beauty lest the vain Insects that hum through August hours With beauty should suck in their bane; But thou, as Rose or Lily fair, Art circled with envenomed air!
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Like Progne didst thou lose thy tongue, Thy lovers might adore and live; Like that witch Circe, oft besung, Thou hast dear gifts, if thou wouldst give; But since thou hast a wicked wit, Thy lovers fade, or flee from it.
gifts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like Progne didst thou lose thy tongue, Thy lovers might adore and live; Like that witch Circe, oft besung, Thou hast dear gifts, if thou wouldst give; But since thou hast a wicked wit, Thy lovers fade, or flee from it.
give
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like Progne didst thou lose thy tongue, Thy lovers might adore and live; Like that witch Circe, oft besung, Thou hast dear gifts, if thou wouldst give; But since thou hast a wicked wit, Thy lovers fade, or flee from it.
Grenadiers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had the Amazonian Queen Seen thee ’midst thy maiden peers, Thou the Coronel hadst been Of that lady’s Grenadiers; Troy had never mourned her fall, With thine axe to guard her wall.
guard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had the Amazonian Queen Seen thee ’midst thy maiden peers, Thou the Coronel hadst been Of that lady’s Grenadiers; Troy had never mourned her fall, With thine axe to guard her wall.
Hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Had the Amazonian Queen Seen thee ’midst thy maiden peers, Thou the Coronel hadst been Of that lady’s Grenadiers; Troy had never mourned her fall, With thine axe to guard her wall.
hadst
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had the Amazonian Queen Seen thee ’midst thy maiden peers, Thou the Coronel hadst been Of that lady’s Grenadiers; Troy had never mourned her fall, With thine axe to guard her wall.
hastauxiliary verbUS /hæst/
an old form of “have”, used with “thou”
From this reading Like Progne didst thou lose thy tongue, Thy lovers might adore and live; Like that witch Circe, oft besung, Thou hast dear gifts, if thou wouldst give; But since thou hast a wicked wit, Thy lovers fade, or flee from it.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading WERE an apple tree a pine, Tall and slim, and softly swaying, Then her beauty were like thine, Salmacis, when boune a Maying, Tall as any poplar tree, Sweet as apple blossoms be!
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Nature herself to deadly flowers Refuseth beauty lest the vain Insects that hum through August hours With beauty should suck in their bane; But thou, as Rose or Lily fair, Art circled with envenomed air!
hours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nature herself to deadly flowers Refuseth beauty lest the vain Insects that hum through August hours With beauty should suck in their bane; But thou, as Rose or Lily fair, Art circled with envenomed air!
hum
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nature herself to deadly flowers Refuseth beauty lest the vain Insects that hum through August hours With beauty should suck in their bane; But thou, as Rose or Lily fair, Art circled with envenomed air!
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Like Progne didst thou lose thy tongue, Thy lovers might adore and live; Like that witch Circe, oft besung, Thou hast dear gifts, if thou wouldst give; But since thou hast a wicked wit, Thy lovers fade, or flee from it.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Nature herself to deadly flowers Refuseth beauty lest the vain Insects that hum through August hours With beauty should suck in their bane; But thou, as Rose or Lily fair, Art circled with envenomed air!
Insects
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nature herself to deadly flowers Refuseth beauty lest the vain Insects that hum through August hours With beauty should suck in their bane; But thou, as Rose or Lily fair, Art circled with envenomed air!
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Like Progne didst thou lose thy tongue, Thy lovers might adore and live; Like that witch Circe, oft besung, Thou hast dear gifts, if thou wouldst give; But since thou hast a wicked wit, Thy lovers fade, or flee from it.
lady's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had the Amazonian Queen Seen thee ’midst thy maiden peers, Thou the Coronel hadst been Of that lady’s Grenadiers; Troy had never mourned her fall, With thine axe to guard her wall.
lestconjunctionUS /lest/
in order that something should not happen
From this reading Nature herself to deadly flowers Refuseth beauty lest the vain Insects that hum through August hours With beauty should suck in their bane; But thou, as Rose or Lily fair, Art circled with envenomed air!
Like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like Progne didst thou lose thy tongue, Thy lovers might adore and live; Like that witch Circe, oft besung, Thou hast dear gifts, if thou wouldst give; But since thou hast a wicked wit, Thy lovers fade, or flee from it.
Lily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nature herself to deadly flowers Refuseth beauty lest the vain Insects that hum through August hours With beauty should suck in their bane; But thou, as Rose or Lily fair, Art circled with envenomed air!
live
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like Progne didst thou lose thy tongue, Thy lovers might adore and live; Like that witch Circe, oft besung, Thou hast dear gifts, if thou wouldst give; But since thou hast a wicked wit, Thy lovers fade, or flee from it.
lose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like Progne didst thou lose thy tongue, Thy lovers might adore and live; Like that witch Circe, oft besung, Thou hast dear gifts, if thou wouldst give; But since thou hast a wicked wit, Thy lovers fade, or flee from it.
lovers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like Progne didst thou lose thy tongue, Thy lovers might adore and live; Like that witch Circe, oft besung, Thou hast dear gifts, if thou wouldst give; But since thou hast a wicked wit, Thy lovers fade, or flee from it.
maidennoun, literaryUS /ˈmeɪdən/
a young woman who is not married
From this reading Had the Amazonian Queen Seen thee ’midst thy maiden peers, Thou the Coronel hadst been Of that lady’s Grenadiers; Troy had never mourned her fall, With thine axe to guard her wall.
Maying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WERE an apple tree a pine, Tall and slim, and softly swaying, Then her beauty were like thine, Salmacis, when boune a Maying, Tall as any poplar tree, Sweet as apple blossoms be!
midst
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had the Amazonian Queen Seen thee ’midst thy maiden peers, Thou the Coronel hadst been Of that lady’s Grenadiers; Troy had never mourned her fall, With thine axe to guard her wall.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Like Progne didst thou lose thy tongue, Thy lovers might adore and live; Like that witch Circe, oft besung, Thou hast dear gifts, if thou wouldst give; But since thou hast a wicked wit, Thy lovers fade, or flee from it.
mourned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had the Amazonian Queen Seen thee ’midst thy maiden peers, Thou the Coronel hadst been Of that lady’s Grenadiers; Troy had never mourned her fall, With thine axe to guard her wall.
Nature
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nature herself to deadly flowers Refuseth beauty lest the vain Insects that hum through August hours With beauty should suck in their bane; But thou, as Rose or Lily fair, Art circled with envenomed air!
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Had the Amazonian Queen Seen thee ’midst thy maiden peers, Thou the Coronel hadst been Of that lady’s Grenadiers; Troy had never mourned her fall, With thine axe to guard her wall.
OfprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Had the Amazonian Queen Seen thee ’midst thy maiden peers, Thou the Coronel hadst been Of that lady’s Grenadiers; Troy had never mourned her fall, With thine axe to guard her wall.
oft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like Progne didst thou lose thy tongue, Thy lovers might adore and live; Like that witch Circe, oft besung, Thou hast dear gifts, if thou wouldst give; But since thou hast a wicked wit, Thy lovers fade, or flee from it.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Nature herself to deadly flowers Refuseth beauty lest the vain Insects that hum through August hours With beauty should suck in their bane; But thou, as Rose or Lily fair, Art circled with envenomed air!
peers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had the Amazonian Queen Seen thee ’midst thy maiden peers, Thou the Coronel hadst been Of that lady’s Grenadiers; Troy had never mourned her fall, With thine axe to guard her wall.
pine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WERE an apple tree a pine, Tall and slim, and softly swaying, Then her beauty were like thine, Salmacis, when boune a Maying, Tall as any poplar tree, Sweet as apple blossoms be!
poplar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WERE an apple tree a pine, Tall and slim, and softly swaying, Then her beauty were like thine, Salmacis, when boune a Maying, Tall as any poplar tree, Sweet as apple blossoms be!
Progne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like Progne didst thou lose thy tongue, Thy lovers might adore and live; Like that witch Circe, oft besung, Thou hast dear gifts, if thou wouldst give; But since thou hast a wicked wit, Thy lovers fade, or flee from it.
Queen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had the Amazonian Queen Seen thee ’midst thy maiden peers, Thou the Coronel hadst been Of that lady’s Grenadiers; Troy had never mourned her fall, With thine axe to guard her wall.
Refuseth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nature herself to deadly flowers Refuseth beauty lest the vain Insects that hum through August hours With beauty should suck in their bane; But thou, as Rose or Lily fair, Art circled with envenomed air!
Rose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nature herself to deadly flowers Refuseth beauty lest the vain Insects that hum through August hours With beauty should suck in their bane; But thou, as Rose or Lily fair, Art circled with envenomed air!
Salmacis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Tall Salmacis_.
Seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had the Amazonian Queen Seen thee ’midst thy maiden peers, Thou the Coronel hadst been Of that lady’s Grenadiers; Troy had never mourned her fall, With thine axe to guard her wall.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Nature herself to deadly flowers Refuseth beauty lest the vain Insects that hum through August hours With beauty should suck in their bane; But thou, as Rose or Lily fair, Art circled with envenomed air!
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Like Progne didst thou lose thy tongue, Thy lovers might adore and live; Like that witch Circe, oft besung, Thou hast dear gifts, if thou wouldst give; But since thou hast a wicked wit, Thy lovers fade, or flee from it.
slim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WERE an apple tree a pine, Tall and slim, and softly swaying, Then her beauty were like thine, Salmacis, when boune a Maying, Tall as any poplar tree, Sweet as apple blossoms be!
softly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WERE an apple tree a pine, Tall and slim, and softly swaying, Then her beauty were like thine, Salmacis, when boune a Maying, Tall as any poplar tree, Sweet as apple blossoms be!
suck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nature herself to deadly flowers Refuseth beauty lest the vain Insects that hum through August hours With beauty should suck in their bane; But thou, as Rose or Lily fair, Art circled with envenomed air!
swaying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WERE an apple tree a pine, Tall and slim, and softly swaying, Then her beauty were like thine, Salmacis, when boune a Maying, Tall as any poplar tree, Sweet as apple blossoms be!
Sweet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WERE an apple tree a pine, Tall and slim, and softly swaying, Then her beauty were like thine, Salmacis, when boune a Maying, Tall as any poplar tree, Sweet as apple blossoms be!
Tall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Tall Salmacis_.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Nature herself to deadly flowers Refuseth beauty lest the vain Insects that hum through August hours With beauty should suck in their bane; But thou, as Rose or Lily fair, Art circled with envenomed air!
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Nature herself to deadly flowers Refuseth beauty lest the vain Insects that hum through August hours With beauty should suck in their bane; But thou, as Rose or Lily fair, Art circled with envenomed air!
theepronounUS /ðiː/
an old word for “you”, as the object, speaking to one person
From this reading Had the Amazonian Queen Seen thee ’midst thy maiden peers, Thou the Coronel hadst been Of that lady’s Grenadiers; Troy had never mourned her fall, With thine axe to guard her wall.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Nature herself to deadly flowers Refuseth beauty lest the vain Insects that hum through August hours With beauty should suck in their bane; But thou, as Rose or Lily fair, Art circled with envenomed air!
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WERE an apple tree a pine, Tall and slim, and softly swaying, Then her beauty were like thine, Salmacis, when boune a Maying, Tall as any poplar tree, Sweet as apple blossoms be!
thinepronounUS /ðaɪn/
an old word for “yours”
From this reading WERE an apple tree a pine, Tall and slim, and softly swaying, Then her beauty were like thine, Salmacis, when boune a Maying, Tall as any poplar tree, Sweet as apple blossoms be!
thoupronounUS /ðaʊ/
an old word for “you”, as the subject, speaking to one person
From this reading Nature herself to deadly flowers Refuseth beauty lest the vain Insects that hum through August hours With beauty should suck in their bane; But thou, as Rose or Lily fair, Art circled with envenomed air!
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Nature herself to deadly flowers Refuseth beauty lest the vain Insects that hum through August hours With beauty should suck in their bane; But thou, as Rose or Lily fair, Art circled with envenomed air!
thydeterminerUS /ðaɪ/
an old word for “your”, speaking to one person
From this reading Like Progne didst thou lose thy tongue, Thy lovers might adore and live; Like that witch Circe, oft besung, Thou hast dear gifts, if thou wouldst give; But since thou hast a wicked wit, Thy lovers fade, or flee from it.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Nature herself to deadly flowers Refuseth beauty lest the vain Insects that hum through August hours With beauty should suck in their bane; But thou, as Rose or Lily fair, Art circled with envenomed air!
tonguenounUS /tongue/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Like Progne didst thou lose thy tongue, Thy lovers might adore and live; Like that witch Circe, oft besung, Thou hast dear gifts, if thou wouldst give; But since thou hast a wicked wit, Thy lovers fade, or flee from it.
tree
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WERE an apple tree a pine, Tall and slim, and softly swaying, Then her beauty were like thine, Salmacis, when boune a Maying, Tall as any poplar tree, Sweet as apple blossoms be!
Troy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had the Amazonian Queen Seen thee ’midst thy maiden peers, Thou the Coronel hadst been Of that lady’s Grenadiers; Troy had never mourned her fall, With thine axe to guard her wall.
vain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nature herself to deadly flowers Refuseth beauty lest the vain Insects that hum through August hours With beauty should suck in their bane; But thou, as Rose or Lily fair, Art circled with envenomed air!
wall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had the Amazonian Queen Seen thee ’midst thy maiden peers, Thou the Coronel hadst been Of that lady’s Grenadiers; Troy had never mourned her fall, With thine axe to guard her wall.
WEREauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading WERE an apple tree a pine, Tall and slim, and softly swaying, Then her beauty were like thine, Salmacis, when boune a Maying, Tall as any poplar tree, Sweet as apple blossoms be!
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading WERE an apple tree a pine, Tall and slim, and softly swaying, Then her beauty were like thine, Salmacis, when boune a Maying, Tall as any poplar tree, Sweet as apple blossoms be!
wicked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like Progne didst thou lose thy tongue, Thy lovers might adore and live; Like that witch Circe, oft besung, Thou hast dear gifts, if thou wouldst give; But since thou hast a wicked wit, Thy lovers fade, or flee from it.
wit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like Progne didst thou lose thy tongue, Thy lovers might adore and live; Like that witch Circe, oft besung, Thou hast dear gifts, if thou wouldst give; But since thou hast a wicked wit, Thy lovers fade, or flee from it.
witch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like Progne didst thou lose thy tongue, Thy lovers might adore and live; Like that witch Circe, oft besung, Thou hast dear gifts, if thou wouldst give; But since thou hast a wicked wit, Thy lovers fade, or flee from it.
WithprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Nature herself to deadly flowers Refuseth beauty lest the vain Insects that hum through August hours With beauty should suck in their bane; But thou, as Rose or Lily fair, Art circled with envenomed air!
wouldstmodal verbUS /wʊdst/
an old form of “would”, used with “thou”
From this reading Like Progne didst thou lose thy tongue, Thy lovers might adore and live; Like that witch Circe, oft besung, Thou hast dear gifts, if thou wouldst give; But since thou hast a wicked wit, Thy lovers fade, or flee from it.
