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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading BROWN EXPLAINS There was a funeral in the village on the Wednesday of last week.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading What connection there was between his visit and the calamity which it foretold was not clear to me, but it appears that the magpie is a bird of omen, and there is an old rhyme which in these parts is considered oracular:
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading On the previous Sunday Mother Hubbard had assured me with great solemnity that something of the sort was going to happen, for had not a solitary magpie perched upon our garden wall and waved his handsome tail in full view of the window for at least a minute?
appears
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What connection there was between his visit and the calamity which it foretold was not clear to me, but it appears that the magpie is a bird of omen, and there is an old rhyme which in these parts is considered oracular:
assured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the previous Sunday Mother Hubbard had assured me with great solemnity that something of the sort was going to happen, for had not a solitary magpie perched upon our garden wall and waved his handsome tail in full view of the window for at least a minute?
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading On the previous Sunday Mother Hubbard had assured me with great solemnity that something of the sort was going to happen, for had not a solitary magpie perched upon our garden wall and waved his handsome tail in full view of the window for at least a minute?
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading What connection there was between his visit and the calamity which it foretold was not clear to me, but it appears that the magpie is a bird of omen, and there is an old rhyme which in these parts is considered oracular:
bird
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What connection there was between his visit and the calamity which it foretold was not clear to me, but it appears that the magpie is a bird of omen, and there is an old rhyme which in these parts is considered oracular:
birth
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From this reading "One for sorrow, And two for mirth; Three for a wedding And four for a birth."
BROWN
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From this reading BROWN EXPLAINS There was a funeral in the village on the Wednesday of last week.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading What connection there was between his visit and the calamity which it foretold was not clear to me, but it appears that the magpie is a bird of omen, and there is an old rhyme which in these parts is considered oracular:
calamity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What connection there was between his visit and the calamity which it foretold was not clear to me, but it appears that the magpie is a bird of omen, and there is an old rhyme which in these parts is considered oracular:
clear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What connection there was between his visit and the calamity which it foretold was not clear to me, but it appears that the magpie is a bird of omen, and there is an old rhyme which in these parts is considered oracular:
connection
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What connection there was between his visit and the calamity which it foretold was not clear to me, but it appears that the magpie is a bird of omen, and there is an old rhyme which in these parts is considered oracular:
considered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What connection there was between his visit and the calamity which it foretold was not clear to me, but it appears that the magpie is a bird of omen, and there is an old rhyme which in these parts is considered oracular:
EXPLAINS
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From this reading BROWN EXPLAINS There was a funeral in the village on the Wednesday of last week.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading On the previous Sunday Mother Hubbard had assured me with great solemnity that something of the sort was going to happen, for had not a solitary magpie perched upon our garden wall and waved his handsome tail in full view of the window for at least a minute?
foretold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What connection there was between his visit and the calamity which it foretold was not clear to me, but it appears that the magpie is a bird of omen, and there is an old rhyme which in these parts is considered oracular:
four
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "One for sorrow, And two for mirth; Three for a wedding And four for a birth."
full
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the previous Sunday Mother Hubbard had assured me with great solemnity that something of the sort was going to happen, for had not a solitary magpie perched upon our garden wall and waved his handsome tail in full view of the window for at least a minute?
funeral
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BROWN EXPLAINS There was a funeral in the village on the Wednesday of last week.
garden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the previous Sunday Mother Hubbard had assured me with great solemnity that something of the sort was going to happen, for had not a solitary magpie perched upon our garden wall and waved his handsome tail in full view of the window for at least a minute?
going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the previous Sunday Mother Hubbard had assured me with great solemnity that something of the sort was going to happen, for had not a solitary magpie perched upon our garden wall and waved his handsome tail in full view of the window for at least a minute?
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading On the previous Sunday Mother Hubbard had assured me with great solemnity that something of the sort was going to happen, for had not a solitary magpie perched upon our garden wall and waved his handsome tail in full view of the window for at least a minute?
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading On the previous Sunday Mother Hubbard had assured me with great solemnity that something of the sort was going to happen, for had not a solitary magpie perched upon our garden wall and waved his handsome tail in full view of the window for at least a minute?
handsomenounUS /ˈhandsome/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading On the previous Sunday Mother Hubbard had assured me with great solemnity that something of the sort was going to happen, for had not a solitary magpie perched upon our garden wall and waved his handsome tail in full view of the window for at least a minute?
happen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the previous Sunday Mother Hubbard had assured me with great solemnity that something of the sort was going to happen, for had not a solitary magpie perched upon our garden wall and waved his handsome tail in full view of the window for at least a minute?
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading On the previous Sunday Mother Hubbard had assured me with great solemnity that something of the sort was going to happen, for had not a solitary magpie perched upon our garden wall and waved his handsome tail in full view of the window for at least a minute?
Hubbard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the previous Sunday Mother Hubbard had assured me with great solemnity that something of the sort was going to happen, for had not a solitary magpie perched upon our garden wall and waved his handsome tail in full view of the window for at least a minute?
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading BROWN EXPLAINS There was a funeral in the village on the Wednesday of last week.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading What connection there was between his visit and the calamity which it foretold was not clear to me, but it appears that the magpie is a bird of omen, and there is an old rhyme which in these parts is considered oracular:
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading What connection there was between his visit and the calamity which it foretold was not clear to me, but it appears that the magpie is a bird of omen, and there is an old rhyme which in these parts is considered oracular:
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading BROWN EXPLAINS There was a funeral in the village on the Wednesday of last week.
leastnounUS /least/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading On the previous Sunday Mother Hubbard had assured me with great solemnity that something of the sort was going to happen, for had not a solitary magpie perched upon our garden wall and waved his handsome tail in full view of the window for at least a minute?
magpie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the previous Sunday Mother Hubbard had assured me with great solemnity that something of the sort was going to happen, for had not a solitary magpie perched upon our garden wall and waved his handsome tail in full view of the window for at least a minute?
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading On the previous Sunday Mother Hubbard had assured me with great solemnity that something of the sort was going to happen, for had not a solitary magpie perched upon our garden wall and waved his handsome tail in full view of the window for at least a minute?
minute
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the previous Sunday Mother Hubbard had assured me with great solemnity that something of the sort was going to happen, for had not a solitary magpie perched upon our garden wall and waved his handsome tail in full view of the window for at least a minute?
mirth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "One for sorrow, And two for mirth; Three for a wedding And four for a birth."
Mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the previous Sunday Mother Hubbard had assured me with great solemnity that something of the sort was going to happen, for had not a solitary magpie perched upon our garden wall and waved his handsome tail in full view of the window for at least a minute?
MRS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MRS.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading On the previous Sunday Mother Hubbard had assured me with great solemnity that something of the sort was going to happen, for had not a solitary magpie perched upon our garden wall and waved his handsome tail in full view of the window for at least a minute?
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading BROWN EXPLAINS There was a funeral in the village on the Wednesday of last week.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What connection there was between his visit and the calamity which it foretold was not clear to me, but it appears that the magpie is a bird of omen, and there is an old rhyme which in these parts is considered oracular:
omen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What connection there was between his visit and the calamity which it foretold was not clear to me, but it appears that the magpie is a bird of omen, and there is an old rhyme which in these parts is considered oracular:
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading BROWN EXPLAINS There was a funeral in the village on the Wednesday of last week.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "One for sorrow, And two for mirth; Three for a wedding And four for a birth."
oracular
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What connection there was between his visit and the calamity which it foretold was not clear to me, but it appears that the magpie is a bird of omen, and there is an old rhyme which in these parts is considered oracular:
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading On the previous Sunday Mother Hubbard had assured me with great solemnity that something of the sort was going to happen, for had not a solitary magpie perched upon our garden wall and waved his handsome tail in full view of the window for at least a minute?
parts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What connection there was between his visit and the calamity which it foretold was not clear to me, but it appears that the magpie is a bird of omen, and there is an old rhyme which in these parts is considered oracular:
perched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the previous Sunday Mother Hubbard had assured me with great solemnity that something of the sort was going to happen, for had not a solitary magpie perched upon our garden wall and waved his handsome tail in full view of the window for at least a minute?
previous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the previous Sunday Mother Hubbard had assured me with great solemnity that something of the sort was going to happen, for had not a solitary magpie perched upon our garden wall and waved his handsome tail in full view of the window for at least a minute?
rhyme
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What connection there was between his visit and the calamity which it foretold was not clear to me, but it appears that the magpie is a bird of omen, and there is an old rhyme which in these parts is considered oracular:
solemnity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the previous Sunday Mother Hubbard had assured me with great solemnity that something of the sort was going to happen, for had not a solitary magpie perched upon our garden wall and waved his handsome tail in full view of the window for at least a minute?
solitary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the previous Sunday Mother Hubbard had assured me with great solemnity that something of the sort was going to happen, for had not a solitary magpie perched upon our garden wall and waved his handsome tail in full view of the window for at least a minute?
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading On the previous Sunday Mother Hubbard had assured me with great solemnity that something of the sort was going to happen, for had not a solitary magpie perched upon our garden wall and waved his handsome tail in full view of the window for at least a minute?
sorrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "One for sorrow, And two for mirth; Three for a wedding And four for a birth."
sort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the previous Sunday Mother Hubbard had assured me with great solemnity that something of the sort was going to happen, for had not a solitary magpie perched upon our garden wall and waved his handsome tail in full view of the window for at least a minute?
Sunday
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the previous Sunday Mother Hubbard had assured me with great solemnity that something of the sort was going to happen, for had not a solitary magpie perched upon our garden wall and waved his handsome tail in full view of the window for at least a minute?
tail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the previous Sunday Mother Hubbard had assured me with great solemnity that something of the sort was going to happen, for had not a solitary magpie perched upon our garden wall and waved his handsome tail in full view of the window for at least a minute?
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading On the previous Sunday Mother Hubbard had assured me with great solemnity that something of the sort was going to happen, for had not a solitary magpie perched upon our garden wall and waved his handsome tail in full view of the window for at least a minute?
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading BROWN EXPLAINS There was a funeral in the village on the Wednesday of last week.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BROWN EXPLAINS There was a funeral in the village on the Wednesday of last week.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading What connection there was between his visit and the calamity which it foretold was not clear to me, but it appears that the magpie is a bird of omen, and there is an old rhyme which in these parts is considered oracular:
Three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "One for sorrow, And two for mirth; Three for a wedding And four for a birth."
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On the previous Sunday Mother Hubbard had assured me with great solemnity that something of the sort was going to happen, for had not a solitary magpie perched upon our garden wall and waved his handsome tail in full view of the window for at least a minute?
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "One for sorrow, And two for mirth; Three for a wedding And four for a birth."
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading On the previous Sunday Mother Hubbard had assured me with great solemnity that something of the sort was going to happen, for had not a solitary magpie perched upon our garden wall and waved his handsome tail in full view of the window for at least a minute?
view
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the previous Sunday Mother Hubbard had assured me with great solemnity that something of the sort was going to happen, for had not a solitary magpie perched upon our garden wall and waved his handsome tail in full view of the window for at least a minute?
village
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BROWN EXPLAINS There was a funeral in the village on the Wednesday of last week.
visit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What connection there was between his visit and the calamity which it foretold was not clear to me, but it appears that the magpie is a bird of omen, and there is an old rhyme which in these parts is considered oracular:
wall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the previous Sunday Mother Hubbard had assured me with great solemnity that something of the sort was going to happen, for had not a solitary magpie perched upon our garden wall and waved his handsome tail in full view of the window for at least a minute?
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading BROWN EXPLAINS There was a funeral in the village on the Wednesday of last week.
waved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the previous Sunday Mother Hubbard had assured me with great solemnity that something of the sort was going to happen, for had not a solitary magpie perched upon our garden wall and waved his handsome tail in full view of the window for at least a minute?
wedding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "One for sorrow, And two for mirth; Three for a wedding And four for a birth."
Wednesday
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BROWN EXPLAINS There was a funeral in the village on the Wednesday of last week.
week
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BROWN EXPLAINS There was a funeral in the village on the Wednesday of last week.
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What connection there was between his visit and the calamity which it foretold was not clear to me, but it appears that the magpie is a bird of omen, and there is an old rhyme which in these parts is considered oracular:
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading What connection there was between his visit and the calamity which it foretold was not clear to me, but it appears that the magpie is a bird of omen, and there is an old rhyme which in these parts is considered oracular:
window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the previous Sunday Mother Hubbard had assured me with great solemnity that something of the sort was going to happen, for had not a solitary magpie perched upon our garden wall and waved his handsome tail in full view of the window for at least a minute?
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading On the previous Sunday Mother Hubbard had assured me with great solemnity that something of the sort was going to happen, for had not a solitary magpie perched upon our garden wall and waved his handsome tail in full view of the window for at least a minute?
