adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “But tell me,” he continued, “is it true, as they say, that lightning never strikes a beech?”
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading Whatever it is, I am glad of it, for it gives my trees a better chance.”
ancientadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading “It is not entirely true,” replied the botanist, smiling in his turn, “yet, like many ancient beliefs, it has some truth in it.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “But tell me,” he continued, “is it true, as they say, that lightning never strikes a beech?”
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It may be the fatness of the wood.
beechnounUS /biːtʃ/
any of several large deciduous trees with rounded spreading crowns and smooth grey bark and small sweet edible triangular nuts enclosed in burs; north temperate regions
From this reading “But tell me,” he continued, “is it true, as they say, that lightning never strikes a beech?”
beliefsnounUS /bɪˈliːfs/
plural of “belief” — any cognitive content held as true
From this reading “It is not entirely true,” replied the botanist, smiling in his turn, “yet, like many ancient beliefs, it has some truth in it.
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 There is something in the texture of the beech that seems to resist electricity better than other trees.
botanistnounUS /ˈbɑːtənɪst/
a biologist specializing in the study of plants
From this reading “It is not entirely true,” replied the botanist, smiling in his turn, “yet, like many ancient beliefs, it has some truth in it.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “But tell me,” he continued, “is it true, as they say, that lightning never strikes a beech?”
chancenounUS /tʃæns/
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading Whatever it is, I am glad of it, for it gives my trees a better chance.”
continuedadjectiveUS /kənˈtɪnjuːd/
without stop or interruption
From this reading “But tell me,” he continued, “is it true, as they say, that lightning never strikes a beech?”
electricitynounUS /ɪˌlekˈtrɪsəti/
a physical phenomenon associated with stationary or moving electrons and protons
From this reading There is something in the texture of the beech that seems to resist electricity better than other trees.
entirelyadverbUS /ɪnˈtaɪərli/
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading “It is not entirely true,” replied the botanist, smiling in his turn, “yet, like many ancient beliefs, it has some truth in it.
fatnessnoun
excess bodily weight
From this reading It may be the fatness of the wood.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Whatever it is, I am glad of it, for it gives my trees a better chance.”
givesnounUS /ɡɪvz/
plural of “give” — the elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length
From this reading Whatever it is, I am glad of it, for it gives my trees a better chance.”
gladadjectiveUS /ɡlæd/
showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy
From this reading Whatever it is, I am glad of it, for it gives my trees a better chance.”
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “It is not entirely true,” replied the botanist, smiling in his turn, “yet, like many ancient beliefs, it has some truth in it.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “But tell me,” he continued, “is it true, as they say, that lightning never strikes a beech?”
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “It is not entirely true,” replied the botanist, smiling in his turn, “yet, like many ancient beliefs, it has some truth in it.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Whatever it is, I am glad of it, for it gives my trees a better chance.”
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “It is not entirely true,” replied the botanist, smiling in his turn, “yet, like many ancient beliefs, it has some truth in it.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “But tell me,” he continued, “is it true, as they say, that lightning never strikes a beech?”
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “But tell me,” he continued, “is it true, as they say, that lightning never strikes a beech?”
lightningnounUS /ˈlaɪtnɪŋ/
abrupt electric discharge from cloud to cloud or from cloud to earth accompanied by the emission of light
From this reading “But tell me,” he continued, “is it true, as they say, that lightning never strikes a beech?”
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading “It is not entirely true,” replied the botanist, smiling in his turn, “yet, like many ancient beliefs, it has some truth in it.
manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading “It is not entirely true,” replied the botanist, smiling in his turn, “yet, like many ancient beliefs, it has some truth in it.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading It may be the fatness of the wood.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “But tell me,” he continued, “is it true, as they say, that lightning never strikes a beech?”
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Whatever it is, I am glad of it, for it gives my trees a better chance.”
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading “But tell me,” he continued, “is it true, as they say, that lightning never strikes a beech?”
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “It is not entirely true,” replied the botanist, smiling in his turn, “yet, like many ancient beliefs, it has some truth in it.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There is something in the texture of the beech that seems to resist electricity better than other trees.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading There is something in the texture of the beech that seems to resist electricity better than other trees.
repliedverbUS /rɪˈplaɪd/
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading “It is not entirely true,” replied the botanist, smiling in his turn, “yet, like many ancient beliefs, it has some truth in it.
resistverbUS /rɪˈzɪst/
elude, especially in a baffling way
From this reading There is something in the texture of the beech that seems to resist electricity better than other trees.
sayverbUS /seɪ/
express in words
From this reading “But tell me,” he continued, “is it true, as they say, that lightning never strikes a beech?”
seemsverbUS /siːmz/
third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading There is something in the texture of the beech that seems to resist electricity better than other trees.
smilingnounUS /ˈsmaɪlɪŋ/
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading “It is not entirely true,” replied the botanist, smiling in his turn, “yet, like many ancient beliefs, it has some truth in it.
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading “It is not entirely true,” replied the botanist, smiling in his turn, “yet, like many ancient beliefs, it has some truth in it.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading There is something in the texture of the beech that seems to resist electricity better than other trees.
strikesnounUS /straɪks/
plural of “strike” — a group's refusal to work in protest against low pay or bad work conditions
From this reading “But tell me,” he continued, “is it true, as they say, that lightning never strikes a beech?”
tellverbUS /tel/
express in words
From this reading “But tell me,” he continued, “is it true, as they say, that lightning never strikes a beech?”
texturenounUS /ˈtekstʃər/
the feel of a surface or a fabric
From this reading There is something in the texture of the beech that seems to resist electricity better than other trees.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading There is something in the texture of the beech that seems to resist electricity better than other trees.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “But tell me,” he continued, “is it true, as they say, that lightning never strikes a beech?”
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “It is not entirely true,” replied the botanist, smiling in his turn, “yet, like many ancient beliefs, it has some truth in it.
ThereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading There is something in the texture of the beech that seems to resist electricity better than other trees.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “But tell me,” he continued, “is it true, as they say, that lightning never strikes a beech?”
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There is something in the texture of the beech that seems to resist electricity better than other trees.
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 There is something in the texture of the beech that seems to resist electricity better than other trees.
trueadjectiveUS /truː/
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading “But tell me,” he continued, “is it true, as they say, that lightning never strikes a beech?”
truthnounUS /truːθ/
a fact that has been verified
From this reading “It is not entirely true,” replied the botanist, smiling in his turn, “yet, like many ancient beliefs, it has some truth in it.
turnverbUS /tɜːrn/
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading “It is not entirely true,” replied the botanist, smiling in his turn, “yet, like many ancient beliefs, it has some truth in it.
WhateverdeterminerUS /ˌwʌˈtevər/
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading Whatever it is, I am glad of it, for it gives my trees a better chance.”
woodnounUS /wʊd/
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading It may be the fatness of the wood.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading “It is not entirely true,” replied the botanist, smiling in his turn, “yet, like many ancient beliefs, it has some truth in it.
