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 At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The Summer Islands are a British colony, and the joke does not flourish so luxuriantly, here as some other things.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether he was black or not, pity could not see, but probably he was.
blackness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
British
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Summer Islands are a British colony, and the joke does not flourish so luxuriantly, here as some other things.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Whether he was black or not, pity could not see, but probably he was.
colony
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Summer Islands are a British colony, and the joke does not flourish so luxuriantly, here as some other things.
color
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
comes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
coming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Whether he was black or not, pity could not see, but probably he was.
creatures
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These gorgeous creatures seem so much readier than the natives to laugh, that you wish to test them with a joke.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Summer Islands are a British colony, and the joke does not flourish so luxuriantly, here as some other things.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
fail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it might fail.
flaming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
flourish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Summer Islands are a British colony, and the joke does not flourish so luxuriantly, here as some other things.
garrisonnounUS /ˈɡærəsən/
a group stationed to defend a place
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
gigantic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
gold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
gorgeous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These gorgeous creatures seem so much readier than the natives to laugh, that you wish to test them with a joke.
ground
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Whether he was black or not, pity could not see, but probably he was.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Summer Islands are a British colony, and the joke does not flourish so luxuriantly, here as some other things.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
islands
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
Jamaican
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
joke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These gorgeous creatures seem so much readier than the natives to laugh, that you wish to test them with a joke.
laugh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These gorgeous creatures seem so much readier than the natives to laugh, that you wish to test them with a joke.
leastnounUS /least/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
luxuriantly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Summer Islands are a British colony, and the joke does not flourish so luxuriantly, here as some other things.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading But it might fail.
mighty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These gorgeous creatures seem so much readier than the natives to laugh, that you wish to test them with a joke.
natives
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These gorgeous creatures seem so much readier than the natives to laugh, that you wish to test them with a joke.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Whether he was black or not, pity could not see, but probably he was.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Whether he was black or not, pity could not see, but probably he was.
oriole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Summer Islands are a British colony, and the joke does not flourish so luxuriantly, here as some other things.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
pity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether he was black or not, pity could not see, but probably he was.
probably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether he was black or not, pity could not see, but probably he was.
readier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These gorgeous creatures seem so much readier than the natives to laugh, that you wish to test them with a joke.
regiment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
scarlet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether he was black or not, pity could not see, but probably he was.
seem
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These gorgeous creatures seem so much readier than the natives to laugh, that you wish to test them with a joke.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading These gorgeous creatures seem so much readier than the natives to laugh, that you wish to test them with a joke.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Summer Islands are a British colony, and the joke does not flourish so luxuriantly, here as some other things.
street
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
Summer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Summer Islands are a British colony, and the joke does not flourish so luxuriantly, here as some other things.
swagger-stick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
test
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These gorgeous creatures seem so much readier than the natives to laugh, that you wish to test them with a joke.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading These gorgeous creatures seem so much readier than the natives to laugh, that you wish to test them with a joke.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading These gorgeous creatures seem so much readier than the natives to laugh, that you wish to test them with a joke.
ThesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These gorgeous creatures seem so much readier than the natives to laugh, that you wish to test them with a joke.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Summer Islands are a British colony, and the joke does not flourish so luxuriantly, here as some other things.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading These gorgeous creatures seem so much readier than the natives to laugh, that you wish to test them with a joke.
towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/
in the direction of
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
tulip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
warriors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Whether he was black or not, pity could not see, but probably he was.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
WhetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Whether he was black or not, pity could not see, but probably he was.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
wish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These gorgeous creatures seem so much readier than the natives to laugh, that you wish to test them with a joke.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading At least the garrison of the islands is all black, being a Jamaican regiment of that color; and when one of the warriors comes down the white street, with his swagger-stick in his hand, and flaming in scarlet and gold upon the ground of his own blackness, it is as if a gigantic oriole were coming towards you, or a mighty tulip.
