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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 These broodings helped a little; but it was a severe morning, and on his way home at noon he did not recover heart enough to practice the bullfrog's croak, the craft that Sam Williams had lately mastered to inspiring perfection.
accomplishment
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From this reading This sonorous accomplishment Penrod had determined to make his own.
affords
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From this reading It is made in the throat by processes utterly impossible to describe in human words, and no alphabet as yet produced by civilized man affords the symbols to vocalize it to the ear of imagination.
alphabet
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From this reading It is made in the throat by processes utterly impossible to describe in human words, and no alphabet as yet produced by civilized man affords the symbols to vocalize it to the ear of imagination.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading These broodings helped a little; but it was a severe morning, and on his way home at noon he did not recover heart enough to practice the bullfrog's croak, the craft that Sam Williams had lately mastered to inspiring perfection.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It is made in the throat by processes utterly impossible to describe in human words, and no alphabet as yet produced by civilized man affords the symbols to vocalize it to the ear of imagination.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading These broodings helped a little; but it was a severe morning, and on his way home at noon he did not recover heart enough to practice the bullfrog's croak, the craft that Sam Williams had lately mastered to inspiring perfection.
barbaric
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At once guttural and resonant, impudent yet plaintive, with a barbaric twang like the plucked string of a Congo war-fiddle, the sound had fascinated him.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “Gunk” is the poor makeshift that must be employed to indicate it.
broodings
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From this reading These broodings helped a little; but it was a severe morning, and on his way home at noon he did not recover heart enough to practice the bullfrog's croak, the craft that Sam Williams had lately mastered to inspiring perfection.
bullfrog's
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From this reading These broodings helped a little; but it was a severe morning, and on his way home at noon he did not recover heart enough to practice the bullfrog's croak, the craft that Sam Williams had lately mastered to inspiring perfection.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading These broodings helped a little; but it was a severe morning, and on his way home at noon he did not recover heart enough to practice the bullfrog's croak, the craft that Sam Williams had lately mastered to inspiring perfection.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It is made in the throat by processes utterly impossible to describe in human words, and no alphabet as yet produced by civilized man affords the symbols to vocalize it to the ear of imagination.
civilized
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From this reading It is made in the throat by processes utterly impossible to describe in human words, and no alphabet as yet produced by civilized man affords the symbols to vocalize it to the ear of imagination.
Congo
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From this reading At once guttural and resonant, impudent yet plaintive, with a barbaric twang like the plucked string of a Congo war-fiddle, the sound had fascinated him.
craftnounUS /kræft/
a boat or ship in this chapter’s sailing situation
From this reading These broodings helped a little; but it was a severe morning, and on his way home at noon he did not recover heart enough to practice the bullfrog's croak, the craft that Sam Williams had lately mastered to inspiring perfection.
croak
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From this reading These broodings helped a little; but it was a severe morning, and on his way home at noon he did not recover heart enough to practice the bullfrog's croak, the craft that Sam Williams had lately mastered to inspiring perfection.
describe
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From this reading It is made in the throat by processes utterly impossible to describe in human words, and no alphabet as yet produced by civilized man affords the symbols to vocalize it to the ear of imagination.
determinedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtɜrmɪnd/
having firmly decided to do something
From this reading This sonorous accomplishment Penrod had determined to make his own.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading These broodings helped a little; but it was a severe morning, and on his way home at noon he did not recover heart enough to practice the bullfrog's croak, the craft that Sam Williams had lately mastered to inspiring perfection.
ear
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From this reading It is made in the throat by processes utterly impossible to describe in human words, and no alphabet as yet produced by civilized man affords the symbols to vocalize it to the ear of imagination.
employed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Gunk” is the poor makeshift that must be employed to indicate it.
enough
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From this reading These broodings helped a little; but it was a severe morning, and on his way home at noon he did not recover heart enough to practice the bullfrog's croak, the craft that Sam Williams had lately mastered to inspiring perfection.
fascinated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At once guttural and resonant, impudent yet plaintive, with a barbaric twang like the plucked string of a Congo war-fiddle, the sound had fascinated him.
Gunk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Gunk” is the poor makeshift that must be employed to indicate it.
guttural
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From this reading At once guttural and resonant, impudent yet plaintive, with a barbaric twang like the plucked string of a Congo war-fiddle, the sound had fascinated him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading These broodings helped a little; but it was a severe morning, and on his way home at noon he did not recover heart enough to practice the bullfrog's croak, the craft that Sam Williams had lately mastered to inspiring perfection.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading These broodings helped a little; but it was a severe morning, and on his way home at noon he did not recover heart enough to practice the bullfrog's croak, the craft that Sam Williams had lately mastered to inspiring perfection.
heart
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From this reading These broodings helped a little; but it was a severe morning, and on his way home at noon he did not recover heart enough to practice the bullfrog's croak, the craft that Sam Williams had lately mastered to inspiring perfection.
helped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These broodings helped a little; but it was a severe morning, and on his way home at noon he did not recover heart enough to practice the bullfrog's croak, the craft that Sam Williams had lately mastered to inspiring perfection.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading At once guttural and resonant, impudent yet plaintive, with a barbaric twang like the plucked string of a Congo war-fiddle, the sound had fascinated him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading These broodings helped a little; but it was a severe morning, and on his way home at noon he did not recover heart enough to practice the bullfrog's croak, the craft that Sam Williams had lately mastered to inspiring perfection.
home
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From this reading These broodings helped a little; but it was a severe morning, and on his way home at noon he did not recover heart enough to practice the bullfrog's croak, the craft that Sam Williams had lately mastered to inspiring perfection.
human
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is made in the throat by processes utterly impossible to describe in human words, and no alphabet as yet produced by civilized man affords the symbols to vocalize it to the ear of imagination.
imagination
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is made in the throat by processes utterly impossible to describe in human words, and no alphabet as yet produced by civilized man affords the symbols to vocalize it to the ear of imagination.
impossible
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From this reading It is made in the throat by processes utterly impossible to describe in human words, and no alphabet as yet produced by civilized man affords the symbols to vocalize it to the ear of imagination.
impudent
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From this reading At once guttural and resonant, impudent yet plaintive, with a barbaric twang like the plucked string of a Congo war-fiddle, the sound had fascinated him.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It is made in the throat by processes utterly impossible to describe in human words, and no alphabet as yet produced by civilized man affords the symbols to vocalize it to the ear of imagination.
indicate
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From this reading “Gunk” is the poor makeshift that must be employed to indicate it.
inspiring
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From this reading These broodings helped a little; but it was a severe morning, and on his way home at noon he did not recover heart enough to practice the bullfrog's croak, the craft that Sam Williams had lately mastered to inspiring perfection.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is made in the throat by processes utterly impossible to describe in human words, and no alphabet as yet produced by civilized man affords the symbols to vocalize it to the ear of imagination.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading These broodings helped a little; but it was a severe morning, and on his way home at noon he did not recover heart enough to practice the bullfrog's croak, the craft that Sam Williams had lately mastered to inspiring perfection.
lately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These broodings helped a little; but it was a severe morning, and on his way home at noon he did not recover heart enough to practice the bullfrog's croak, the craft that Sam Williams had lately mastered to inspiring perfection.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At once guttural and resonant, impudent yet plaintive, with a barbaric twang like the plucked string of a Congo war-fiddle, the sound had fascinated him.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading These broodings helped a little; but it was a severe morning, and on his way home at noon he did not recover heart enough to practice the bullfrog's croak, the craft that Sam Williams had lately mastered to inspiring perfection.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is made in the throat by processes utterly impossible to describe in human words, and no alphabet as yet produced by civilized man affords the symbols to vocalize it to the ear of imagination.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This sonorous accomplishment Penrod had determined to make his own.
makeshift
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From this reading “Gunk” is the poor makeshift that must be employed to indicate it.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is made in the throat by processes utterly impossible to describe in human words, and no alphabet as yet produced by civilized man affords the symbols to vocalize it to the ear of imagination.
mastered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These broodings helped a little; but it was a severe morning, and on his way home at noon he did not recover heart enough to practice the bullfrog's croak, the craft that Sam Williams had lately mastered to inspiring perfection.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading These broodings helped a little; but it was a severe morning, and on his way home at noon he did not recover heart enough to practice the bullfrog's croak, the craft that Sam Williams had lately mastered to inspiring perfection.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading “Gunk” is the poor makeshift that must be employed to indicate it.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading It is made in the throat by processes utterly impossible to describe in human words, and no alphabet as yet produced by civilized man affords the symbols to vocalize it to the ear of imagination.
noon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These broodings helped a little; but it was a severe morning, and on his way home at noon he did not recover heart enough to practice the bullfrog's croak, the craft that Sam Williams had lately mastered to inspiring perfection.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading These broodings helped a little; but it was a severe morning, and on his way home at noon he did not recover heart enough to practice the bullfrog's croak, the craft that Sam Williams had lately mastered to inspiring perfection.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At once guttural and resonant, impudent yet plaintive, with a barbaric twang like the plucked string of a Congo war-fiddle, the sound had fascinated him.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading These broodings helped a little; but it was a severe morning, and on his way home at noon he did not recover heart enough to practice the bullfrog's croak, the craft that Sam Williams had lately mastered to inspiring perfection.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At once guttural and resonant, impudent yet plaintive, with a barbaric twang like the plucked string of a Congo war-fiddle, the sound had fascinated him.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This sonorous accomplishment Penrod had determined to make his own.
Penrod
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From this reading This sonorous accomplishment Penrod had determined to make his own.
perfection
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These broodings helped a little; but it was a severe morning, and on his way home at noon he did not recover heart enough to practice the bullfrog's croak, the craft that Sam Williams had lately mastered to inspiring perfection.
plaintive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At once guttural and resonant, impudent yet plaintive, with a barbaric twang like the plucked string of a Congo war-fiddle, the sound had fascinated him.
plucked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At once guttural and resonant, impudent yet plaintive, with a barbaric twang like the plucked string of a Congo war-fiddle, the sound had fascinated him.
poornounUS /poor/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Gunk” is the poor makeshift that must be employed to indicate it.
practice
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From this reading These broodings helped a little; but it was a severe morning, and on his way home at noon he did not recover heart enough to practice the bullfrog's croak, the craft that Sam Williams had lately mastered to inspiring perfection.
processes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is made in the throat by processes utterly impossible to describe in human words, and no alphabet as yet produced by civilized man affords the symbols to vocalize it to the ear of imagination.
produced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is made in the throat by processes utterly impossible to describe in human words, and no alphabet as yet produced by civilized man affords the symbols to vocalize it to the ear of imagination.
recover
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These broodings helped a little; but it was a severe morning, and on his way home at noon he did not recover heart enough to practice the bullfrog's croak, the craft that Sam Williams had lately mastered to inspiring perfection.
resonant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At once guttural and resonant, impudent yet plaintive, with a barbaric twang like the plucked string of a Congo war-fiddle, the sound had fascinated him.
Sam
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These broodings helped a little; but it was a severe morning, and on his way home at noon he did not recover heart enough to practice the bullfrog's croak, the craft that Sam Williams had lately mastered to inspiring perfection.
severe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These broodings helped a little; but it was a severe morning, and on his way home at noon he did not recover heart enough to practice the bullfrog's croak, the craft that Sam Williams had lately mastered to inspiring perfection.
sonorous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This sonorous accomplishment Penrod had determined to make his own.
sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At once guttural and resonant, impudent yet plaintive, with a barbaric twang like the plucked string of a Congo war-fiddle, the sound had fascinated him.
string
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At once guttural and resonant, impudent yet plaintive, with a barbaric twang like the plucked string of a Congo war-fiddle, the sound had fascinated him.
symbols
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is made in the throat by processes utterly impossible to describe in human words, and no alphabet as yet produced by civilized man affords the symbols to vocalize it to the ear of imagination.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading These broodings helped a little; but it was a severe morning, and on his way home at noon he did not recover heart enough to practice the bullfrog's croak, the craft that Sam Williams had lately mastered to inspiring perfection.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading These broodings helped a little; but it was a severe morning, and on his way home at noon he did not recover heart enough to practice the bullfrog's croak, the craft that Sam Williams had lately mastered to inspiring perfection.
ThesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These broodings helped a little; but it was a severe morning, and on his way home at noon he did not recover heart enough to practice the bullfrog's croak, the craft that Sam Williams had lately mastered to inspiring perfection.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This sonorous accomplishment Penrod had determined to make his own.
throatnounUS /θroʊt/
The passage at the back of the mouth.
From this reading It is made in the throat by processes utterly impossible to describe in human words, and no alphabet as yet produced by civilized man affords the symbols to vocalize it to the ear of imagination.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading These broodings helped a little; but it was a severe morning, and on his way home at noon he did not recover heart enough to practice the bullfrog's croak, the craft that Sam Williams had lately mastered to inspiring perfection.
twang
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At once guttural and resonant, impudent yet plaintive, with a barbaric twang like the plucked string of a Congo war-fiddle, the sound had fascinated him.
utterly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is made in the throat by processes utterly impossible to describe in human words, and no alphabet as yet produced by civilized man affords the symbols to vocalize it to the ear of imagination.
vocalize
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is made in the throat by processes utterly impossible to describe in human words, and no alphabet as yet produced by civilized man affords the symbols to vocalize it to the ear of imagination.
war-fiddle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At once guttural and resonant, impudent yet plaintive, with a barbaric twang like the plucked string of a Congo war-fiddle, the sound had fascinated him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading These broodings helped a little; but it was a severe morning, and on his way home at noon he did not recover heart enough to practice the bullfrog's croak, the craft that Sam Williams had lately mastered to inspiring perfection.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These broodings helped a little; but it was a severe morning, and on his way home at noon he did not recover heart enough to practice the bullfrog's croak, the craft that Sam Williams had lately mastered to inspiring perfection.
Williams
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These broodings helped a little; but it was a severe morning, and on his way home at noon he did not recover heart enough to practice the bullfrog's croak, the craft that Sam Williams had lately mastered to inspiring perfection.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading At once guttural and resonant, impudent yet plaintive, with a barbaric twang like the plucked string of a Congo war-fiddle, the sound had fascinated him.
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is made in the throat by processes utterly impossible to describe in human words, and no alphabet as yet produced by civilized man affords the symbols to vocalize it to the ear of imagination.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading At once guttural and resonant, impudent yet plaintive, with a barbaric twang like the plucked string of a Congo war-fiddle, the sound had fascinated him.