adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE FALL OF BEN ABOO The roysterers in the Kasbah sat a long half-hour in ignorance of the doom that was impending.
abjectadjectiveUS /ˈæbdʒekt/
of the most contemptible kind
From this reading Then a dish of dates, served with abject apologies from Ben Aboo: “You would treat us better in Fez, but Tetuan is poor; the means, Seedna, the means, not the will!”
ABOO
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FALL OF BEN ABOO The roysterers in the Kasbah sat a long half-hour in ignorance of the doom that was impending.
agenounUS /eɪdʒ/
how long something has existed
From this reading First, “God lengthen your age,” “God cover you,” and “God give you strength.”
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Squatting on the floor in little circles, around little tables covered with steaming dishes, wherein each plunged his fingers, they began the feast with ceremonious wishes, pious exclamations, cant phrases, and downcast eyes.
apologiesnounUS /əˈpɑːlədʒiːz/
plural of “apology” — an expression of regret at having caused trouble for someone
From this reading Then a dish of dates, served with abject apologies from Ben Aboo: “You would treat us better in Fez, but Tetuan is poor; the means, Seedna, the means, not the will!”
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Squatting on the floor in little circles, around little tables covered with steaming dishes, wherein each plunged his fingers, they began the feast with ceremonious wishes, pious exclamations, cant phrases, and downcast eyes.
beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Squatting on the floor in little circles, around little tables covered with steaming dishes, wherein each plunged his fingers, they began the feast with ceremonious wishes, pious exclamations, cant phrases, and downcast eyes.
BENnounUS /ben/
a mountain or tall hill
From this reading THE FALL OF BEN ABOO The roysterers in the Kasbah sat a long half-hour in ignorance of the doom that was impending.
betteradjectiveUS /ˈbetər/
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading Then a dish of dates, served with abject apologies from Ben Aboo: “You would treat us better in Fez, but Tetuan is poor; the means, Seedna, the means, not the will!”
Bismillah's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then fish in garlic, eaten with loud “Bismillah's.”
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Then a dish of dates, served with abject apologies from Ben Aboo: “You would treat us better in Fez, but Tetuan is poor; the means, Seedna, the means, not the will!”
cantnounUS /kænt/
stock phrases that have become nonsense through endless repetition
From this reading Squatting on the floor in little circles, around little tables covered with steaming dishes, wherein each plunged his fingers, they began the feast with ceremonious wishes, pious exclamations, cant phrases, and downcast eyes.
ceremoniousadjective
characterized by pomp and ceremony and stately display
From this reading Squatting on the floor in little circles, around little tables covered with steaming dishes, wherein each plunged his fingers, they began the feast with ceremonious wishes, pious exclamations, cant phrases, and downcast eyes.
circlesnounUS /ˈsɜːrkəlz/
plural of “circle” — ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point
From this reading Squatting on the floor in little circles, around little tables covered with steaming dishes, wherein each plunged his fingers, they began the feast with ceremonious wishes, pious exclamations, cant phrases, and downcast eyes.
coververbUS /ˈkʌvər/
provide with a covering or cause to be covered
From this reading First, “God lengthen your age,” “God cover you,” and “God give you strength.”
coveredadjectiveUS /ˈkʌvərd/
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading Squatting on the floor in little circles, around little tables covered with steaming dishes, wherein each plunged his fingers, they began the feast with ceremonious wishes, pious exclamations, cant phrases, and downcast eyes.
datesnounUS /deɪts/
plural of “date” — the specified day of the month
From this reading Then a dish of dates, served with abject apologies from Ben Aboo: “You would treat us better in Fez, but Tetuan is poor; the means, Seedna, the means, not the will!”
dishnounUS /dɪʃ/
a piece of dishware normally used as a container for holding or serving food
From this reading Then a dish of dates, served with abject apologies from Ben Aboo: “You would treat us better in Fez, but Tetuan is poor; the means, Seedna, the means, not the will!”
dishesnounUS /ˈdɪʃəz/
plural of “dish” — a piece of dishware normally used as a container for holding or serving food
From this reading Squatting on the floor in little circles, around little tables covered with steaming dishes, wherein each plunged his fingers, they began the feast with ceremonious wishes, pious exclamations, cant phrases, and downcast eyes.
doomverbUS /duːm/
decree or designate beforehand
From this reading THE FALL OF BEN ABOO The roysterers in the Kasbah sat a long half-hour in ignorance of the doom that was impending.
downcastadjectiveUS /ˈdaʊnkæst/
directed downward
From this reading Squatting on the floor in little circles, around little tables covered with steaming dishes, wherein each plunged his fingers, they began the feast with ceremonious wishes, pious exclamations, cant phrases, and downcast eyes.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Squatting on the floor in little circles, around little tables covered with steaming dishes, wherein each plunged his fingers, they began the feast with ceremonious wishes, pious exclamations, cant phrases, and downcast eyes.
eatenverbUS /ˈiːtən/
inflected form of “eat” — take in solid food
From this reading Then fish in garlic, eaten with loud “Bismillah's.”
exclamationsnounUS /ˌekskləˈmeɪʃənz/
plural of “exclamation” — an abrupt excited utterance
From this reading Squatting on the floor in little circles, around little tables covered with steaming dishes, wherein each plunged his fingers, they began the feast with ceremonious wishes, pious exclamations, cant phrases, and downcast eyes.
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading Squatting on the floor in little circles, around little tables covered with steaming dishes, wherein each plunged his fingers, they began the feast with ceremonious wishes, pious exclamations, cant phrases, and downcast eyes.
FALLverbUS /fɔːl/
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading THE FALL OF BEN ABOO The roysterers in the Kasbah sat a long half-hour in ignorance of the doom that was impending.
feastnounUS /fiːst/
a ceremonial dinner party for many people
From this reading Squatting on the floor in little circles, around little tables covered with steaming dishes, wherein each plunged his fingers, they began the feast with ceremonious wishes, pious exclamations, cant phrases, and downcast eyes.
FeznounUS /fez/
a city in north central Morocco; religious center
From this reading Then a dish of dates, served with abject apologies from Ben Aboo: “You would treat us better in Fez, but Tetuan is poor; the means, Seedna, the means, not the will!”
fingersnounUS /ˈfɪŋɡərz/
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading Squatting on the floor in little circles, around little tables covered with steaming dishes, wherein each plunged his fingers, they began the feast with ceremonious wishes, pious exclamations, cant phrases, and downcast eyes.
FirstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading First, “God lengthen your age,” “God cover you,” and “God give you strength.”
fishnounUS /fɪʃ/
any of various mostly cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates usually having scales and breathing through gills
From this reading Then fish in garlic, eaten with loud “Bismillah's.”
floornounUS /flɔːr/
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading Squatting on the floor in little circles, around little tables covered with steaming dishes, wherein each plunged his fingers, they began the feast with ceremonious wishes, pious exclamations, cant phrases, and downcast eyes.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Then a dish of dates, served with abject apologies from Ben Aboo: “You would treat us better in Fez, but Tetuan is poor; the means, Seedna, the means, not the will!”
garlicnounUS /ˈɡɑːrlɪk/
bulbous herb of southern Europe widely naturalized; bulb breaks up into separate strong-flavored cloves
From this reading Then fish in garlic, eaten with loud “Bismillah's.”
giveverbUS /ɡɪv/
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading First, “God lengthen your age,” “God cover you,” and “God give you strength.”
GodnounUS /ɡɑːd/
the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading First, “God lengthen your age,” “God cover you,” and “God give you strength.”
half-hournounUS /ˈhæfaʊər/
a half of an hour
From this reading THE FALL OF BEN ABOO The roysterers in the Kasbah sat a long half-hour in ignorance of the doom that was impending.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Squatting on the floor in little circles, around little tables covered with steaming dishes, wherein each plunged his fingers, they began the feast with ceremonious wishes, pious exclamations, cant phrases, and downcast eyes.
ignorancenounUS /ˈɪɡnərəns/
the lack of knowledge or education
From this reading THE FALL OF BEN ABOO The roysterers in the Kasbah sat a long half-hour in ignorance of the doom that was impending.
impendingadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpendɪŋ/
close in time; about to occur
From this reading THE FALL OF BEN ABOO The roysterers in the Kasbah sat a long half-hour in ignorance of the doom that was impending.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE FALL OF BEN ABOO The roysterers in the Kasbah sat a long half-hour in ignorance of the doom that was impending.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Then a dish of dates, served with abject apologies from Ben Aboo: “You would treat us better in Fez, but Tetuan is poor; the means, Seedna, the means, not the will!”
Kasbahnoun
an older or native quarter of many cities in northern Africa; the quarter in which the citadel is located
From this reading THE FALL OF BEN ABOO The roysterers in the Kasbah sat a long half-hour in ignorance of the doom that was impending.
lengthenverbUS /ˈleŋθən/
make longer
From this reading First, “God lengthen your age,” “God cover you,” and “God give you strength.”
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Squatting on the floor in little circles, around little tables covered with steaming dishes, wherein each plunged his fingers, they began the feast with ceremonious wishes, pious exclamations, cant phrases, and downcast eyes.
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading THE FALL OF BEN ABOO The roysterers in the Kasbah sat a long half-hour in ignorance of the doom that was impending.
loudadjectiveUS /laʊd/
characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity
From this reading Then fish in garlic, eaten with loud “Bismillah's.”
meansnounUS /miːnz/
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading Then a dish of dates, served with abject apologies from Ben Aboo: “You would treat us better in Fez, but Tetuan is poor; the means, Seedna, the means, not the will!”
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Then a dish of dates, served with abject apologies from Ben Aboo: “You would treat us better in Fez, but Tetuan is poor; the means, Seedna, the means, not the will!”
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE FALL OF BEN ABOO The roysterers in the Kasbah sat a long half-hour in ignorance of the doom that was impending.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Squatting on the floor in little circles, around little tables covered with steaming dishes, wherein each plunged his fingers, they began the feast with ceremonious wishes, pious exclamations, cant phrases, and downcast eyes.
phrasesnounUS /ˈfreɪzəz/
plural of “phrase” — an expression consisting of one or more words forming a grammatical constituent of a sentence
From this reading Squatting on the floor in little circles, around little tables covered with steaming dishes, wherein each plunged his fingers, they began the feast with ceremonious wishes, pious exclamations, cant phrases, and downcast eyes.
piousadjectiveUS /ˈpaɪəs/
having or showing or expressing reverence for a deity
From this reading Squatting on the floor in little circles, around little tables covered with steaming dishes, wherein each plunged his fingers, they began the feast with ceremonious wishes, pious exclamations, cant phrases, and downcast eyes.
plungedverbUS /plʌndʒd/
past form of “plunge” — thrust or throw into
From this reading Squatting on the floor in little circles, around little tables covered with steaming dishes, wherein each plunged his fingers, they began the feast with ceremonious wishes, pious exclamations, cant phrases, and downcast eyes.
pooradjectiveUS /puːr/
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading Then a dish of dates, served with abject apologies from Ben Aboo: “You would treat us better in Fez, but Tetuan is poor; the means, Seedna, the means, not the will!”
roysterers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FALL OF BEN ABOO The roysterers in the Kasbah sat a long half-hour in ignorance of the doom that was impending.
satnounUS /sæt/
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading THE FALL OF BEN ABOO The roysterers in the Kasbah sat a long half-hour in ignorance of the doom that was impending.
Seedna
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then a dish of dates, served with abject apologies from Ben Aboo: “You would treat us better in Fez, but Tetuan is poor; the means, Seedna, the means, not the will!”
servedverbUS /sɜːrvd/
past form of “serve” — serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading Then a dish of dates, served with abject apologies from Ben Aboo: “You would treat us better in Fez, but Tetuan is poor; the means, Seedna, the means, not the will!”
SquattingnounUS /ˈskwɑːtɪŋ/
exercising by repeatedly assuming a crouching position with the knees bent; strengthens the leg muscles
From this reading Squatting on the floor in little circles, around little tables covered with steaming dishes, wherein each plunged his fingers, they began the feast with ceremonious wishes, pious exclamations, cant phrases, and downcast eyes.
steamingadjectiveUS /ˈstiːmɪŋ/
filled with steam or emitting moisture in the form of vapor or mist
From this reading Squatting on the floor in little circles, around little tables covered with steaming dishes, wherein each plunged his fingers, they began the feast with ceremonious wishes, pious exclamations, cant phrases, and downcast eyes.
strengthnounUS /streŋkθ/
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading First, “God lengthen your age,” “God cover you,” and “God give you strength.”
tablesnounUS /ˈteɪbəlz/
plural of “table” — a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Squatting on the floor in little circles, around little tables covered with steaming dishes, wherein each plunged his fingers, they began the feast with ceremonious wishes, pious exclamations, cant phrases, and downcast eyes.
Tetuan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then a dish of dates, served with abject apologies from Ben Aboo: “You would treat us better in Fez, but Tetuan is poor; the means, Seedna, the means, not the will!”
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE FALL OF BEN ABOO The roysterers in the Kasbah sat a long half-hour in ignorance of the doom that was impending.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FALL OF BEN ABOO The roysterers in the Kasbah sat a long half-hour in ignorance of the doom that was impending.
ThenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then a dish of dates, served with abject apologies from Ben Aboo: “You would treat us better in Fez, but Tetuan is poor; the means, Seedna, the means, not the will!”
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Squatting on the floor in little circles, around little tables covered with steaming dishes, wherein each plunged his fingers, they began the feast with ceremonious wishes, pious exclamations, cant phrases, and downcast eyes.
treatverbUS /triːt/
interact in a certain way
From this reading Then a dish of dates, served with abject apologies from Ben Aboo: “You would treat us better in Fez, but Tetuan is poor; the means, Seedna, the means, not the will!”
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Then a dish of dates, served with abject apologies from Ben Aboo: “You would treat us better in Fez, but Tetuan is poor; the means, Seedna, the means, not the will!”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE FALL OF BEN ABOO The roysterers in the Kasbah sat a long half-hour in ignorance of the doom that was impending.
wherein
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Squatting on the floor in little circles, around little tables covered with steaming dishes, wherein each plunged his fingers, they began the feast with ceremonious wishes, pious exclamations, cant phrases, and downcast eyes.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Then a dish of dates, served with abject apologies from Ben Aboo: “You would treat us better in Fez, but Tetuan is poor; the means, Seedna, the means, not the will!”
wishesnounUS /ˈwɪʃɪz/
plural of “wish” — a specific feeling of desire
From this reading Squatting on the floor in little circles, around little tables covered with steaming dishes, wherein each plunged his fingers, they began the feast with ceremonious wishes, pious exclamations, cant phrases, and downcast eyes.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Squatting on the floor in little circles, around little tables covered with steaming dishes, wherein each plunged his fingers, they began the feast with ceremonious wishes, pious exclamations, cant phrases, and downcast eyes.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Then a dish of dates, served with abject apologies from Ben Aboo: “You would treat us better in Fez, but Tetuan is poor; the means, Seedna, the means, not the will!”
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading First, “God lengthen your age,” “God cover you,” and “God give you strength.”
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading First, “God lengthen your age,” “God cover you,” and “God give you strength.”
