adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Heaven-born set no particular store by it; but of what use was a polo-ball to a khitmatgar?
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading It stood on the mantelpiece among the pipe-stems which Imam Din, khitmatgar, was cleaning for me.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The polo-ball was an old one, scarred, chipped, and dinted.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The polo-ball was an old one, scarred, chipped, and dinted.
ballnounUS /bɔːl/
round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games
From this reading “Does the Heaven-born want this ball?” said Imam Din, deferentially.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The Heaven-born set no particular store by it; but of what use was a polo-ball to a khitmatgar?
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Munichandra, translated by Professor Peterson.
chippedverbUS /tʃɪpt/
inflected form of “chip” — break off (a piece from a whole)
From this reading The polo-ball was an old one, scarred, chipped, and dinted.
cleaningnounUS /ˈkliːnɪŋ/
the act of making something clean
From this reading It stood on the mantelpiece among the pipe-stems which Imam Din, khitmatgar, was cleaning for me.
deferentiallyadverb
in a servile manner
From this reading “Does the Heaven-born want this ball?” said Imam Din, deferentially.
DinnounUS /dɪn/
a loud harsh or strident noise
From this reading It stood on the mantelpiece among the pipe-stems which Imam Din, khitmatgar, was cleaning for me.
dinted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The polo-ball was an old one, scarred, chipped, and dinted.
Doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Does the Heaven-born want this ball?” said Imam Din, deferentially.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It stood on the mantelpiece among the pipe-stems which Imam Din, khitmatgar, was cleaning for me.
Heaven-born
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Does the Heaven-born want this ball?” said Imam Din, deferentially.
ImamnounUS /ˈaɪmæm/
(Islam) the man who leads prayers in a mosque; for Shiites an imam is a recognized authority on Islamic theology and law and a spiritual guide
From this reading It stood on the mantelpiece among the pipe-stems which Imam Din, khitmatgar, was cleaning for me.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It stood on the mantelpiece among the pipe-stems which Imam Din, khitmatgar, was cleaning for me.
khitmatgar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It stood on the mantelpiece among the pipe-stems which Imam Din, khitmatgar, was cleaning for me.
mantelpiecenoun
shelf that projects from wall above fireplace
From this reading It stood on the mantelpiece among the pipe-stems which Imam Din, khitmatgar, was cleaning for me.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It stood on the mantelpiece among the pipe-stems which Imam Din, khitmatgar, was cleaning for me.
Munichandra
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Munichandra, translated by Professor Peterson.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading The Heaven-born set no particular store by it; but of what use was a polo-ball to a khitmatgar?
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Heaven-born set no particular store by it; but of what use was a polo-ball to a khitmatgar?
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The polo-ball was an old one, scarred, chipped, and dinted.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It stood on the mantelpiece among the pipe-stems which Imam Din, khitmatgar, was cleaning for me.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The polo-ball was an old one, scarred, chipped, and dinted.
particularadjectiveUS /pərˈtɪkjələr/
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading The Heaven-born set no particular store by it; but of what use was a polo-ball to a khitmatgar?
Peterson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Munichandra, translated by Professor Peterson.
pipe-stems
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It stood on the mantelpiece among the pipe-stems which Imam Din, khitmatgar, was cleaning for me.
polo-ball
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The polo-ball was an old one, scarred, chipped, and dinted.
ProfessornounUS /prəˈfesər/
someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university
From this reading Munichandra, translated by Professor Peterson.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Does the Heaven-born want this ball?” said Imam Din, deferentially.
scarredadjectiveUS /skɑːrd/
deeply affected or marked by mental or physical pain or injury
From this reading The polo-ball was an old one, scarred, chipped, and dinted.
setverbUS /set/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The Heaven-born set no particular store by it; but of what use was a polo-ball to a khitmatgar?
stoodverbUS /stʊd/
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading It stood on the mantelpiece among the pipe-stems which Imam Din, khitmatgar, was cleaning for me.
storenounUS /stɔːr/
a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
From this reading The Heaven-born set no particular store by it; but of what use was a polo-ball to a khitmatgar?
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The polo-ball was an old one, scarred, chipped, and dinted.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “Does the Heaven-born want this ball?” said Imam Din, deferentially.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Heaven-born set no particular store by it; but of what use was a polo-ball to a khitmatgar?
translatedverbUS /trænzˈleɪtɪd/
past form of “translate” — restate (words) from one language into another language
From this reading Munichandra, translated by Professor Peterson.
usenounUS /juːs/
the act of using
From this reading The Heaven-born set no particular store by it; but of what use was a polo-ball to a khitmatgar?
wantverbUS /wɑːnt/
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading “Does the Heaven-born want this ball?” said Imam Din, deferentially.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The polo-ball was an old one, scarred, chipped, and dinted.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The Heaven-born set no particular store by it; but of what use was a polo-ball to a khitmatgar?
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It stood on the mantelpiece among the pipe-stems which Imam Din, khitmatgar, was cleaning for me.
