adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Nobody," said Cap'n Bill solemnly, "ever sawr a mermaid an' lived to tell the tale."
acacianounUS /əˈkeɪʃə/
any of various spiny trees or shrubs of the genus Acacia
From this reading They were seated on a bench built around a giant acacia tree that grew just at the edge of the bluff.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "Nobody," said Cap'n Bill solemnly, "ever sawr a mermaid an' lived to tell the tale."
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A little way behind them was the house, a neat frame cottage painted white and surrounded by huge eucalyptus and pepper trees.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading They were seated on a bench built around a giant acacia tree that grew just at the edge of the bluff.
askedverbUS /æskt/
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Why not?" asked Trot, looking earnestly up into the old sailor's face.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They were seated on a bench built around a giant acacia tree that grew just at the edge of the bluff.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading A little way behind them was the house, a neat frame cottage painted white and surrounded by huge eucalyptus and pepper trees.
BelowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Below them rolled the blue waves of the great Pacific.
benchnounUS /bentʃ/
a long seat for more than one person
From this reading They were seated on a bench built around a giant acacia tree that grew just at the edge of the bluff.
BillnounUS /bɪl/
a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading "Nobody," said Cap'n Bill solemnly, "ever sawr a mermaid an' lived to tell the tale."
blueadjectiveUS /bluː/
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading Below them rolled the blue waves of the great Pacific.
bluffnounUS /blʌf/
a high steep bank (usually formed by river erosion)
From this reading They were seated on a bench built around a giant acacia tree that grew just at the edge of the bluff.
builtadjectiveUS /bɪlt/
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading They were seated on a bench built around a giant acacia tree that grew just at the edge of the bluff.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A little way behind them was the house, a neat frame cottage painted white and surrounded by huge eucalyptus and pepper trees.
Cap'n
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Nobody," said Cap'n Bill solemnly, "ever sawr a mermaid an' lived to tell the tale."
cottagenounUS /ˈkɑːtədʒ/
a small house with a single story
From this reading A little way behind them was the house, a neat frame cottage painted white and surrounded by huge eucalyptus and pepper trees.
earnestlyadverbUS /ˈɜːrnəstli/
in a serious manner
From this reading "Why not?" asked Trot, looking earnestly up into the old sailor's face.
edgenounUS /edʒ/
the boundary of a surface
From this reading They were seated on a bench built around a giant acacia tree that grew just at the edge of the bluff.
eucalyptusnounUS /ˌjuːkəˈlɪptəs/
wood of any of various eucalyptus trees valued as timber
From this reading A little way behind them was the house, a neat frame cottage painted white and surrounded by huge eucalyptus and pepper trees.
everadverbUS /ˈevər/
at any time
From this reading "Nobody," said Cap'n Bill solemnly, "ever sawr a mermaid an' lived to tell the tale."
facenounUS /feɪs/
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading "Why not?" asked Trot, looking earnestly up into the old sailor's face.
frameverbUS /freɪm/
enclose in or as if in a frame
From this reading A little way behind them was the house, a neat frame cottage painted white and surrounded by huge eucalyptus and pepper trees.
giantnounUS /ˈdʒaɪənt/
any creature of exceptional size
From this reading They were seated on a bench built around a giant acacia tree that grew just at the edge of the bluff.
greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Below them rolled the blue waves of the great Pacific.
grewverbUS /ɡruː/
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading They were seated on a bench built around a giant acacia tree that grew just at the edge of the bluff.
housenounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading A little way behind them was the house, a neat frame cottage painted white and surrounded by huge eucalyptus and pepper trees.
hugeadjectiveUS /hjuːdʒ/
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading A little way behind them was the house, a neat frame cottage painted white and surrounded by huge eucalyptus and pepper trees.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading "Why not?" asked Trot, looking earnestly up into the old sailor's face.
justadverbUS /dʒʌst/
and nothing more
From this reading They were seated on a bench built around a giant acacia tree that grew just at the edge of the bluff.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A little way behind them was the house, a neat frame cottage painted white and surrounded by huge eucalyptus and pepper trees.
livedverbUS /lɪvd/
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading "Nobody," said Cap'n Bill solemnly, "ever sawr a mermaid an' lived to tell the tale."
lookingnounUS /ˈlʊkɪŋ/
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading "Why not?" asked Trot, looking earnestly up into the old sailor's face.
mermaidnounUS /ˈmɜːrmeɪd/
half woman and half fish; lives in the sea
From this reading "Nobody," said Cap'n Bill solemnly, "ever sawr a mermaid an' lived to tell the tale."
neatadjectiveUS /niːt/
clean or organized
From this reading A little way behind them was the house, a neat frame cottage painted white and surrounded by huge eucalyptus and pepper trees.
NobodypronounUS /ˈnoʊbɑːdiː/
no person; not anyone
From this reading "Nobody," said Cap'n Bill solemnly, "ever sawr a mermaid an' lived to tell the tale."
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "Why not?" asked Trot, looking earnestly up into the old sailor's face.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They were seated on a bench built around a giant acacia tree that grew just at the edge of the bluff.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading "Why not?" asked Trot, looking earnestly up into the old sailor's face.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They were seated on a bench built around a giant acacia tree that grew just at the edge of the bluff.
PacificnounUS /pəˈsɪfɪk/
the largest ocean in the world
From this reading Below them rolled the blue waves of the great Pacific.
paintedadjectiveUS /ˈpeɪntɪd/
coated with paint
From this reading A little way behind them was the house, a neat frame cottage painted white and surrounded by huge eucalyptus and pepper trees.
pepperverbUS /ˈpepər/
add pepper to
From this reading A little way behind them was the house, a neat frame cottage painted white and surrounded by huge eucalyptus and pepper trees.
rolledadjectiveUS /roʊld/
especially of petals or leaves in bud; having margins rolled inward
From this reading Below them rolled the blue waves of the great Pacific.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Nobody," said Cap'n Bill solemnly, "ever sawr a mermaid an' lived to tell the tale."
sailor'snounUS /ˈseɪlərz/
possessive form of “sailor” — any member of a ship's crew
From this reading "Why not?" asked Trot, looking earnestly up into the old sailor's face.
sawr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Nobody," said Cap'n Bill solemnly, "ever sawr a mermaid an' lived to tell the tale."
seatedadjectiveUS /ˈsiːtɪd/
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading They were seated on a bench built around a giant acacia tree that grew just at the edge of the bluff.
solemnlyadverbUS /ˈsɔːləmli/
in a grave and sedate manner
From this reading "Nobody," said Cap'n Bill solemnly, "ever sawr a mermaid an' lived to tell the tale."
surroundedadjectiveUS /sərˈaʊndɪd/
confined on all sides
From this reading A little way behind them was the house, a neat frame cottage painted white and surrounded by huge eucalyptus and pepper trees.
talenounUS /teɪl/
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading "Nobody," said Cap'n Bill solemnly, "ever sawr a mermaid an' lived to tell the tale."
tellverbUS /tel/
express in words
From this reading "Nobody," said Cap'n Bill solemnly, "ever sawr a mermaid an' lived to tell the tale."
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They were seated on a bench built around a giant acacia tree that grew just at the edge of the bluff.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Nobody," said Cap'n Bill solemnly, "ever sawr a mermaid an' lived to tell the tale."
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Below them rolled the blue waves of the great Pacific.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were seated on a bench built around a giant acacia tree that grew just at the edge of the bluff.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Nobody," said Cap'n Bill solemnly, "ever sawr a mermaid an' lived to tell the tale."
treenounUS /triː/
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading They were seated on a bench built around a giant acacia tree that grew just at the edge of the bluff.
treesnounUS /triːz/
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading A little way behind them was the house, a neat frame cottage painted white and surrounded by huge eucalyptus and pepper trees.
TrotverbUS /trɑːt/
run at a moderately swift pace
From this reading "Why not?" asked Trot, looking earnestly up into the old sailor's face.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "Why not?" asked Trot, looking earnestly up into the old sailor's face.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A little way behind them was the house, a neat frame cottage painted white and surrounded by huge eucalyptus and pepper trees.
wavesnounUS /weɪvz/
plural of “wave” — one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading Below them rolled the blue waves of the great Pacific.
waynounUS /weɪ/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading A little way behind them was the house, a neat frame cottage painted white and surrounded by huge eucalyptus and pepper trees.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were seated on a bench built around a giant acacia tree that grew just at the edge of the bluff.
whitenounUS /waɪt/
a Caucasian
From this reading A little way behind them was the house, a neat frame cottage painted white and surrounded by huge eucalyptus and pepper trees.
WhynounUS /waɪ/
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "Why not?" asked Trot, looking earnestly up into the old sailor's face.
