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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 Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He then came back and conducted Bevis to the seat in the ash-stole, where he was hidden by the honeysuckle, but could see well about him.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
any
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From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
arrive
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From this reading Hardly had Bevis comfortably seated himself than the councillors began to arrive.
ash-stole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He then came back and conducted Bevis to the seat in the ash-stole, where he was hidden by the honeysuckle, but could see well about him.
ask
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From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He then came back and conducted Bevis to the seat in the ash-stole, where he was hidden by the honeysuckle, but could see well about him.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
BeforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Hardly had Bevis comfortably seated himself than the councillors began to arrive.
besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/
next to; at the side of
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
Bevis
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From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
bough
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From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He then came back and conducted Bevis to the seat in the ash-stole, where he was hidden by the honeysuckle, but could see well about him.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He then came back and conducted Bevis to the seat in the ash-stole, where he was hidden by the honeysuckle, but could see well about him.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He then came back and conducted Bevis to the seat in the ash-stole, where he was hidden by the honeysuckle, but could see well about him.
castle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
comfortably
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From this reading Hardly had Bevis comfortably seated himself than the councillors began to arrive.
conducted
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From this reading He then came back and conducted Bevis to the seat in the ash-stole, where he was hidden by the honeysuckle, but could see well about him.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
COUNCILnounUS /council/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE COUNCIL.
councillors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hardly had Bevis comfortably seated himself than the councillors began to arrive.
dare
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From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
footnounUS /foot/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Hardly had Bevis comfortably seated himself than the councillors began to arrive.
Hardly
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From this reading Hardly had Bevis comfortably seated himself than the councillors began to arrive.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He then came back and conducted Bevis to the seat in the ash-stole, where he was hidden by the honeysuckle, but could see well about him.
hidden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He then came back and conducted Bevis to the seat in the ash-stole, where he was hidden by the honeysuckle, but could see well about him.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Hardly had Bevis comfortably seated himself than the councillors began to arrive.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
honeysuckle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He then came back and conducted Bevis to the seat in the ash-stole, where he was hidden by the honeysuckle, but could see well about him.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He then came back and conducted Bevis to the seat in the ash-stole, where he was hidden by the honeysuckle, but could see well about him.
lestconjunctionUS /lest/
in order that something should not happen
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
loyalty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
mouse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
owl's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
perch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
pollard-tree
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
questions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
rat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
rook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
seat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He then came back and conducted Bevis to the seat in the ash-stole, where he was hidden by the honeysuckle, but could see well about him.
seated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hardly had Bevis comfortably seated himself than the councillors began to arrive.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He then came back and conducted Bevis to the seat in the ash-stole, where he was hidden by the honeysuckle, but could see well about him.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
show
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
speak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
squirrel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
station
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
stay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
suspected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Hardly had Bevis comfortably seated himself than the councillors began to arrive.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE COUNCIL.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He then came back and conducted Bevis to the seat in the ash-stole, where he was hidden by the honeysuckle, but could see well about him.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He then came back and conducted Bevis to the seat in the ash-stole, where he was hidden by the honeysuckle, but could see well about him.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He then came back and conducted Bevis to the seat in the ash-stole, where he was hidden by the honeysuckle, but could see well about him.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading He then came back and conducted Bevis to the seat in the ash-stole, where he was hidden by the honeysuckle, but could see well about him.
