adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But, one day, of a sudden, the traveller lost the child.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading They had plenty of the finest toys in the world, and the most astonishing picture-books: all about scimitars and slippers and turbans, and dwarfs and giants and genii and fairies, and blue-beards and bean-stalks and riches and caverns and forests and Valentines and Orsons: and all new and all true.
againadverbUS /əˈɡen/
anew
From this reading He called to him over and over again, but got no answer.
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 They had plenty of the finest toys in the world, and the most astonishing picture-books: all about scimitars and slippers and turbans, and dwarfs and giants and genii and fairies, and blue-beards and bean-stalks and riches and caverns and forests and Valentines and Orsons: and all new and all true.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They had plenty of the finest toys in the world, and the most astonishing picture-books: all about scimitars and slippers and turbans, and dwarfs and giants and genii and fairies, and blue-beards and bean-stalks and riches and caverns and forests and Valentines and Orsons: and all new and all true.
answerverbUS /ˈænsər/
react verbally
From this reading He called to him over and over again, but got no answer.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading So, he went upon his road, and went on for a little while without meeting anything, until at last he came to a handsome boy.
astonishingadjectiveUS /əˈstɑːnɪʃɪŋ/
surprising greatly
From this reading They had plenty of the finest toys in the world, and the most astonishing picture-books: all about scimitars and slippers and turbans, and dwarfs and giants and genii and fairies, and blue-beards and bean-stalks and riches and caverns and forests and Valentines and Orsons: and all new and all true.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading So, he went upon his road, and went on for a little while without meeting anything, until at last he came to a handsome boy.
bean-stalks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had plenty of the finest toys in the world, and the most astonishing picture-books: all about scimitars and slippers and turbans, and dwarfs and giants and genii and fairies, and blue-beards and bean-stalks and riches and caverns and forests and Valentines and Orsons: and all new and all true.
blue-beards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had plenty of the finest toys in the world, and the most astonishing picture-books: all about scimitars and slippers and turbans, and dwarfs and giants and genii and fairies, and blue-beards and bean-stalks and riches and caverns and forests and Valentines and Orsons: and all new and all true.
boynounUS /bɔɪ/
a youthful male person
From this reading So, he went upon his road, and went on for a little while without meeting anything, until at last he came to a handsome boy.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But, one day, of a sudden, the traveller lost the child.
calledverbUS /kɔːld/
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading He called to him over and over again, but got no answer.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading So, he went upon his road, and went on for a little while without meeting anything, until at last he came to a handsome boy.
cavernsnounUS /ˈkævərnz/
plural of “cavern” — any large dark enclosed space
From this reading They had plenty of the finest toys in the world, and the most astonishing picture-books: all about scimitars and slippers and turbans, and dwarfs and giants and genii and fairies, and blue-beards and bean-stalks and riches and caverns and forests and Valentines and Orsons: and all new and all true.
childnounUS /tʃaɪld/
a young person of either sex
From this reading But, one day, of a sudden, the traveller lost the child.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading But, one day, of a sudden, the traveller lost the child.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading So, he said to the boy, “What do you do here?”
dwarfsnounUS /dwɔːrfs/
plural of “dwarf” — a person who is markedly small
From this reading They had plenty of the finest toys in the world, and the most astonishing picture-books: all about scimitars and slippers and turbans, and dwarfs and giants and genii and fairies, and blue-beards and bean-stalks and riches and caverns and forests and Valentines and Orsons: and all new and all true.
fairiesnounUS /ˈferiz/
plural of “fairy” — a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers
From this reading They had plenty of the finest toys in the world, and the most astonishing picture-books: all about scimitars and slippers and turbans, and dwarfs and giants and genii and fairies, and blue-beards and bean-stalks and riches and caverns and forests and Valentines and Orsons: and all new and all true.
finestadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪnəst/
superlative of “fine” — being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading They had plenty of the finest toys in the world, and the most astonishing picture-books: all about scimitars and slippers and turbans, and dwarfs and giants and genii and fairies, and blue-beards and bean-stalks and riches and caverns and forests and Valentines and Orsons: and all new and all true.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading So, he went upon his road, and went on for a little while without meeting anything, until at last he came to a handsome boy.
forestsnounUS /ˈfɔːrəsts/
plural of “forest” — the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading They had plenty of the finest toys in the world, and the most astonishing picture-books: all about scimitars and slippers and turbans, and dwarfs and giants and genii and fairies, and blue-beards and bean-stalks and riches and caverns and forests and Valentines and Orsons: and all new and all true.
genii
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had plenty of the finest toys in the world, and the most astonishing picture-books: all about scimitars and slippers and turbans, and dwarfs and giants and genii and fairies, and blue-beards and bean-stalks and riches and caverns and forests and Valentines and Orsons: and all new and all true.
giantsnounUS /ˈdʒaɪənts/
plural of “giant” — any creature of exceptional size
From this reading They had plenty of the finest toys in the world, and the most astonishing picture-books: all about scimitars and slippers and turbans, and dwarfs and giants and genii and fairies, and blue-beards and bean-stalks and riches and caverns and forests and Valentines and Orsons: and all new and all true.
gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading He called to him over and over again, but got no answer.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had plenty of the finest toys in the world, and the most astonishing picture-books: all about scimitars and slippers and turbans, and dwarfs and giants and genii and fairies, and blue-beards and bean-stalks and riches and caverns and forests and Valentines and Orsons: and all new and all true.
handsomeadjectiveUS /ˈhænsəm/
pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion
From this reading So, he went upon his road, and went on for a little while without meeting anything, until at last he came to a handsome boy.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He called to him over and over again, but got no answer.
hereadverbUS /hiːr/
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading So, he said to the boy, “What do you do here?”
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He called to him over and over again, but got no answer.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading So, he went upon his road, and went on for a little while without meeting anything, until at last he came to a handsome boy.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They had plenty of the finest toys in the world, and the most astonishing picture-books: all about scimitars and slippers and turbans, and dwarfs and giants and genii and fairies, and blue-beards and bean-stalks and riches and caverns and forests and Valentines and Orsons: and all new and all true.
lastadjectiveUS /læst/
immediately past
From this reading So, he went upon his road, and went on for a little while without meeting anything, until at last he came to a handsome boy.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading So, he went upon his road, and went on for a little while without meeting anything, until at last he came to a handsome boy.
lostadjectiveUS /lɔːst/
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading But, one day, of a sudden, the traveller lost the child.
meetingnounUS /ˈmiːtɪŋ/
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading So, he went upon his road, and went on for a little while without meeting anything, until at last he came to a handsome boy.
mostadverbUS /moʊst/
used to form the superlative
From this reading They had plenty of the finest toys in the world, and the most astonishing picture-books: all about scimitars and slippers and turbans, and dwarfs and giants and genii and fairies, and blue-beards and bean-stalks and riches and caverns and forests and Valentines and Orsons: and all new and all true.
newadjectiveUS /nuː/
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading They had plenty of the finest toys in the world, and the most astonishing picture-books: all about scimitars and slippers and turbans, and dwarfs and giants and genii and fairies, and blue-beards and bean-stalks and riches and caverns and forests and Valentines and Orsons: and all new and all true.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading He called to him over and over again, but got no answer.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They had plenty of the finest toys in the world, and the most astonishing picture-books: all about scimitars and slippers and turbans, and dwarfs and giants and genii and fairies, and blue-beards and bean-stalks and riches and caverns and forests and Valentines and Orsons: and all new and all true.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading So, he went upon his road, and went on for a little while without meeting anything, until at last he came to a handsome boy.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But, one day, of a sudden, the traveller lost the child.
Orsons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had plenty of the finest toys in the world, and the most astonishing picture-books: all about scimitars and slippers and turbans, and dwarfs and giants and genii and fairies, and blue-beards and bean-stalks and riches and caverns and forests and Valentines and Orsons: and all new and all true.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He called to him over and over again, but got no answer.
picture-books
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had plenty of the finest toys in the world, and the most astonishing picture-books: all about scimitars and slippers and turbans, and dwarfs and giants and genii and fairies, and blue-beards and bean-stalks and riches and caverns and forests and Valentines and Orsons: and all new and all true.
plentynounUS /ˈplenti/
a full supply
From this reading They had plenty of the finest toys in the world, and the most astonishing picture-books: all about scimitars and slippers and turbans, and dwarfs and giants and genii and fairies, and blue-beards and bean-stalks and riches and caverns and forests and Valentines and Orsons: and all new and all true.
richesnounUS /ˈrɪtʃəz/
an abundance of material possessions and resources
From this reading They had plenty of the finest toys in the world, and the most astonishing picture-books: all about scimitars and slippers and turbans, and dwarfs and giants and genii and fairies, and blue-beards and bean-stalks and riches and caverns and forests and Valentines and Orsons: and all new and all true.
roadnounUS /roʊd/
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading So, he went upon his road, and went on for a little while without meeting anything, until at last he came to a handsome boy.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading So, he said to the boy, “What do you do here?”
scimitars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had plenty of the finest toys in the world, and the most astonishing picture-books: all about scimitars and slippers and turbans, and dwarfs and giants and genii and fairies, and blue-beards and bean-stalks and riches and caverns and forests and Valentines and Orsons: and all new and all true.
slippersnounUS /ˈslɪpərz/
plural of “slipper” — low footwear that can be slipped on and off easily; usually worn indoors
From this reading They had plenty of the finest toys in the world, and the most astonishing picture-books: all about scimitars and slippers and turbans, and dwarfs and giants and genii and fairies, and blue-beards and bean-stalks and riches and caverns and forests and Valentines and Orsons: and all new and all true.
SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So, he went upon his road, and went on for a little while without meeting anything, until at last he came to a handsome boy.
suddenadjectiveUS /ˈsʌdən/
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading But, one day, of a sudden, the traveller lost the child.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They had plenty of the finest toys in the world, and the most astonishing picture-books: all about scimitars and slippers and turbans, and dwarfs and giants and genii and fairies, and blue-beards and bean-stalks and riches and caverns and forests and Valentines and Orsons: and all new and all true.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had plenty of the finest toys in the world, and the most astonishing picture-books: all about scimitars and slippers and turbans, and dwarfs and giants and genii and fairies, and blue-beards and bean-stalks and riches and caverns and forests and Valentines and Orsons: and all new and all true.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He called to him over and over again, but got no answer.
toysnounUS /tɔɪz/
plural of “toy” — an artifact designed to be played with
From this reading They had plenty of the finest toys in the world, and the most astonishing picture-books: all about scimitars and slippers and turbans, and dwarfs and giants and genii and fairies, and blue-beards and bean-stalks and riches and caverns and forests and Valentines and Orsons: and all new and all true.
travellernounUS /ˈtrævələr/
a person who changes location
From this reading But, one day, of a sudden, the traveller lost the child.
trueadjectiveUS /truː/
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading They had plenty of the finest toys in the world, and the most astonishing picture-books: all about scimitars and slippers and turbans, and dwarfs and giants and genii and fairies, and blue-beards and bean-stalks and riches and caverns and forests and Valentines and Orsons: and all new and all true.
turbansnounUS /ˈtɜːrbənz/
plural of “turban” — a traditional Muslim headdress consisting of a long scarf wrapped around the head
From this reading They had plenty of the finest toys in the world, and the most astonishing picture-books: all about scimitars and slippers and turbans, and dwarfs and giants and genii and fairies, and blue-beards and bean-stalks and riches and caverns and forests and Valentines and Orsons: and all new and all true.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading So, he went upon his road, and went on for a little while without meeting anything, until at last he came to a handsome boy.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading So, he went upon his road, and went on for a little while without meeting anything, until at last he came to a handsome boy.
ValentinesnounUS /ˈvæləntaɪnz/
plural of “valentine” — a sweetheart chosen to receive a greeting on Saint Valentine's Day
From this reading They had plenty of the finest toys in the world, and the most astonishing picture-books: all about scimitars and slippers and turbans, and dwarfs and giants and genii and fairies, and blue-beards and bean-stalks and riches and caverns and forests and Valentines and Orsons: and all new and all true.
wentverbUS /went/
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading So, he went upon his road, and went on for a little while without meeting anything, until at last he came to a handsome boy.
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading So, he said to the boy, “What do you do here?”
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading So, he went upon his road, and went on for a little while without meeting anything, until at last he came to a handsome boy.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading So, he went upon his road, and went on for a little while without meeting anything, until at last he came to a handsome boy.
worldnounUS /wɜːrld/
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading They had plenty of the finest toys in the world, and the most astonishing picture-books: all about scimitars and slippers and turbans, and dwarfs and giants and genii and fairies, and blue-beards and bean-stalks and riches and caverns and forests and Valentines and Orsons: and all new and all true.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading So, he said to the boy, “What do you do here?”
