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.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
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.
blackadjectiveUS /blæk/
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Whether he was black or not, pity could not see, but probably he was.
blacknessnounUS /ˈblæknəs/
the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)
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.
BritishnounUS /ˈbrɪtɪʃ/
the people of Great Britain
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.
colonynounUS /ˈkɑːləni/
a body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government
From this reading The Summer Islands are a British colony, and the joke does not flourish so luxuriantly, here as some other things.
colornounUS /ˈkʌlər/
a visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect
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.
comesnounUS /kʌmz/
plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract
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.
comingnounUS /ˈkʌmɪŋ/
the act of drawing spatially closer to 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.
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.
creaturesnounUS /ˈkriːtʃərz/
plural of “creature” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
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.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
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.
failverbUS /feɪl/
fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading But it might fail.
flamingadjectiveUS /ˈfleɪmɪŋ/
informal intensifiers
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.
flourishverbUS /ˈflɜːrɪʃ/
grow vigorously
From this reading The Summer Islands are a British colony, and the joke does not flourish so luxuriantly, here as some other things.
garrisonnounUS /ˈɡærɪsən/
a fortified military post where troops are stationed
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.
giganticadjectiveUS /dʒaɪˈɡæntɪk/
so exceedingly large or extensive as to suggest a giant or mammoth
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.
goldnounUS /ɡoʊld/
coins made of gold
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.
gorgeousadjectiveUS /ˈɡɔːrdʒəs/
dazzlingly beautiful
From this reading These gorgeous creatures seem so much readier than the natives to laugh, that you wish to test them with a joke.
groundnounUS /ɡraʊnd/
the solid part of the earth's surface
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.
handnounUS /hænd/
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
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.
hereadverbUS /hiːr/
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
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.
islandsnounUS /ˈaɪləndz/
plural of “island” — a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
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.
JamaicannounUS /dʒəˈmeɪkən/
a native or inhabitant of Jamaica
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.
jokenounUS /dʒoʊk/
a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter
From this reading These gorgeous creatures seem so much readier than the natives to laugh, that you wish to test them with a joke.
laughnounUS /læf/
the sound of laughing
From this reading These gorgeous creatures seem so much readier than the natives to laugh, that you wish to test them with a joke.
leastadjectiveUS /liːst/
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
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.
luxuriantlyadverb
in an abundant and luxuriant manner
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.
mightyadjectiveUS /ˈmaɪti/
having or showing great strength or force or intensity
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.
muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/
to a great degree or extent
From this reading These gorgeous creatures seem so much readier than the natives to laugh, that you wish to test them with a joke.
nativesnounUS /ˈneɪtɪvz/
plural of “native” — an indigenous person who was born in a particular place
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.
oriolenounUS /ˈɔːrioʊl/
mostly tropical songbird; the male is usually bright orange and black
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.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The Summer Islands are a British colony, and the joke does not flourish so luxuriantly, here as some other things.
ownverbUS /oʊn/
have ownership or possession 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.
pitynounUS /ˈpɪti/
a feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others
From this reading Whether he was black or not, pity could not see, but probably he was.
probablyadverbUS /ˈprɑːbəbliː/
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading Whether he was black or not, pity could not see, but probably he was.
readieradjectiveUS /ˈrediər/
comparative of “ready” — completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading These gorgeous creatures seem so much readier than the natives to laugh, that you wish to test them with a joke.
regimentverbUS /ˈredʒəmənt/
subject to rigid discipline, order, and systematization
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.
scarletnounUS /ˈskɑːrlət/
a variable color that is vivid red but sometimes with an orange tinge
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.
seeverbUS /siː/
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Whether he was black or not, pity could not see, but probably he was.
seemverbUS /siːm/
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
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.
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The Summer Islands are a British colony, and the joke does not flourish so luxuriantly, here as some other things.
streetnounUS /striːt/
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
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.
SummernounUS /ˈsʌmər/
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
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.
testnounUS /test/
trying something to find out about it
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.
thingsnounUS /θɪŋz/
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
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.
tulipnounUS /ˈtuːləp/
any of numerous perennial bulbous herbs having linear or broadly lanceolate leaves and usually a single showy flower
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.
warriorsnounUS /ˈwɔːriərz/
plural of “warrior” — someone engaged in or experienced in warfare
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.
whitenounUS /waɪt/
a Caucasian
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.
wishverbUS /wɪʃ/
hope for; have a wish
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.
