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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 AN ASS, belonging to an herb-seller who gave him too little food and too much work made a petition to Jupiter to be released from his present service and provided with another master.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Jupiter, after warning him that he would repent his request, caused him to be sold to a tile-maker.
afterwards
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From this reading Shortly afterwards, finding that he had heavier loads to carry and harder work in the brick-field, he petitioned for another change of master.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading The Ass found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting his master’s occupation, said, groaning: “It would have been better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him.”
ANdeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN ASS, belonging to an herb-seller who gave him too little food and too much work made a petition to Jupiter to be released from his present service and provided with another master.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AN ASS, belonging to an herb-seller who gave him too little food and too much work made a petition to Jupiter to be released from his present service and provided with another master.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading AN ASS, belonging to an herb-seller who gave him too little food and too much work made a petition to Jupiter to be released from his present service and provided with another master.
ASS
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From this reading AN ASS, belonging to an herb-seller who gave him too little food and too much work made a petition to Jupiter to be released from his present service and provided with another master.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading AN ASS, belonging to an herb-seller who gave him too little food and too much work made a petition to Jupiter to be released from his present service and provided with another master.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The Ass found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting his master’s occupation, said, groaning: “It would have been better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him.”
belongingnounUS /bɪˈlɔːŋɪŋ/
happiness felt in a secure relationship
From this reading AN ASS, belonging to an herb-seller who gave him too little food and too much work made a petition to Jupiter to be released from his present service and provided with another master.
better
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From this reading The Ass found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting his master’s occupation, said, groaning: “It would have been better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him.”
bought
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From this reading The Ass found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting his master’s occupation, said, groaning: “It would have been better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him.”
brick-field
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From this reading Shortly afterwards, finding that he had heavier loads to carry and harder work in the brick-field, he petitioned for another change of master.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The Ass found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting his master’s occupation, said, groaning: “It would have been better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him.”
carry
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From this reading Shortly afterwards, finding that he had heavier loads to carry and harder work in the brick-field, he petitioned for another change of master.
caused
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From this reading Jupiter, after warning him that he would repent his request, caused him to be sold to a tile-maker.
change
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From this reading Shortly afterwards, finding that he had heavier loads to carry and harder work in the brick-field, he petitioned for another change of master.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Jupiter, telling him that it would be the last time that he could grant his request, ordained that he be sold to a tanner.
deadnounUS /dead/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Ass found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting his master’s occupation, said, groaning: “It would have been better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him.”
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading The Ass found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting his master’s occupation, said, groaning: “It would have been better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him.”
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Ass found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting his master’s occupation, said, groaning: “It would have been better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him.”
fallen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Ass found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting his master’s occupation, said, groaning: “It would have been better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him.”
finding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shortly afterwards, finding that he had heavier loads to carry and harder work in the brick-field, he petitioned for another change of master.
food
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From this reading AN ASS, belonging to an herb-seller who gave him too little food and too much work made a petition to Jupiter to be released from his present service and provided with another master.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Shortly afterwards, finding that he had heavier loads to carry and harder work in the brick-field, he petitioned for another change of master.
former
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Ass found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting his master’s occupation, said, groaning: “It would have been better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him.”
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Ass found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting his master’s occupation, said, groaning: “It would have been better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him.”
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading AN ASS, belonging to an herb-seller who gave him too little food and too much work made a petition to Jupiter to be released from his present service and provided with another master.
gave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN ASS, belonging to an herb-seller who gave him too little food and too much work made a petition to Jupiter to be released from his present service and provided with another master.
grant
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From this reading Jupiter, telling him that it would be the last time that he could grant his request, ordained that he be sold to a tanner.
groaning
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From this reading The Ass found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting his master’s occupation, said, groaning: “It would have been better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him.”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Shortly afterwards, finding that he had heavier loads to carry and harder work in the brick-field, he petitioned for another change of master.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading The Ass found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting his master’s occupation, said, groaning: “It would have been better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him.”
harder
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From this reading Shortly afterwards, finding that he had heavier loads to carry and harder work in the brick-field, he petitioned for another change of master.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The Ass found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting his master’s occupation, said, groaning: “It would have been better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him.”
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Jupiter, after warning him that he would repent his request, caused him to be sold to a tile-maker.
heavier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shortly afterwards, finding that he had heavier loads to carry and harder work in the brick-field, he petitioned for another change of master.
herb-seller
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN ASS, belonging to an herb-seller who gave him too little food and too much work made a petition to Jupiter to be released from his present service and provided with another master.
hide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Ass found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting his master’s occupation, said, groaning: “It would have been better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him.”
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading AN ASS, belonging to an herb-seller who gave him too little food and too much work made a petition to Jupiter to be released from his present service and provided with another master.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading AN ASS, belonging to an herb-seller who gave him too little food and too much work made a petition to Jupiter to be released from his present service and provided with another master.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The Ass found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting his master’s occupation, said, groaning: “It would have been better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him.”
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Shortly afterwards, finding that he had heavier loads to carry and harder work in the brick-field, he petitioned for another change of master.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The Ass found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting his master’s occupation, said, groaning: “It would have been better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him.”
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Jupiter, telling him that it would be the last time that he could grant his request, ordained that he be sold to a tanner.
Jupiter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN ASS, belonging to an herb-seller who gave him too little food and too much work made a petition to Jupiter to be released from his present service and provided with another master.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Jupiter, telling him that it would be the last time that he could grant his request, ordained that he be sold to a tanner.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading AN ASS, belonging to an herb-seller who gave him too little food and too much work made a petition to Jupiter to be released from his present service and provided with another master.
loads
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shortly afterwards, finding that he had heavier loads to carry and harder work in the brick-field, he petitioned for another change of master.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN ASS, belonging to an herb-seller who gave him too little food and too much work made a petition to Jupiter to be released from his present service and provided with another master.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Ass found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting his master’s occupation, said, groaning: “It would have been better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him.”
master
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN ASS, belonging to an herb-seller who gave him too little food and too much work made a petition to Jupiter to be released from his present service and provided with another master.
master's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Ass found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting his master’s occupation, said, groaning: “It would have been better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him.”
masters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Ass found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting his master’s occupation, said, groaning: “It would have been better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him.”
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The Ass found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting his master’s occupation, said, groaning: “It would have been better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him.”
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN ASS, belonging to an herb-seller who gave him too little food and too much work made a petition to Jupiter to be released from his present service and provided with another master.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading The Ass found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting his master’s occupation, said, groaning: “It would have been better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him.”
noting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Ass found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting his master’s occupation, said, groaning: “It would have been better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him.”
occupation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Ass found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting his master’s occupation, said, groaning: “It would have been better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him.”
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Shortly afterwards, finding that he had heavier loads to carry and harder work in the brick-field, he petitioned for another change of master.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The Ass found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting his master’s occupation, said, groaning: “It would have been better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him.”
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The Ass found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting his master’s occupation, said, groaning: “It would have been better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him.”
ordained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jupiter, telling him that it would be the last time that he could grant his request, ordained that he be sold to a tanner.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Ass found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting his master’s occupation, said, groaning: “It would have been better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him.”
overworked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Ass found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting his master’s occupation, said, groaning: “It would have been better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him.”
owner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Ass found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting his master’s occupation, said, groaning: “It would have been better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him.”
petition
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN ASS, belonging to an herb-seller who gave him too little food and too much work made a petition to Jupiter to be released from his present service and provided with another master.
petitioned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shortly afterwards, finding that he had heavier loads to carry and harder work in the brick-field, he petitioned for another change of master.
present
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN ASS, belonging to an herb-seller who gave him too little food and too much work made a petition to Jupiter to be released from his present service and provided with another master.
provided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN ASS, belonging to an herb-seller who gave him too little food and too much work made a petition to Jupiter to be released from his present service and provided with another master.
released
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN ASS, belonging to an herb-seller who gave him too little food and too much work made a petition to Jupiter to be released from his present service and provided with another master.
repent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jupiter, after warning him that he would repent his request, caused him to be sold to a tile-maker.
request
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jupiter, after warning him that he would repent his request, caused him to be sold to a tile-maker.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Ass found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting his master’s occupation, said, groaning: “It would have been better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him.”
service
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN ASS, belonging to an herb-seller who gave him too little food and too much work made a petition to Jupiter to be released from his present service and provided with another master.
Shortly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shortly afterwards, finding that he had heavier loads to carry and harder work in the brick-field, he petitioned for another change of master.
sold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jupiter, after warning him that he would repent his request, caused him to be sold to a tile-maker.
starved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Ass found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting his master’s occupation, said, groaning: “It would have been better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him.”
tan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Ass found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting his master’s occupation, said, groaning: “It would have been better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him.”
tanner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jupiter, telling him that it would be the last time that he could grant his request, ordained that he be sold to a tanner.
telling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jupiter, telling him that it would be the last time that he could grant his request, ordained that he be sold to a tanner.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The Ass found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting his master’s occupation, said, groaning: “It would have been better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him.”
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Jupiter, after warning him that he would repent his request, caused him to be sold to a tile-maker.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Shortly afterwards, finding that he had heavier loads to carry and harder work in the brick-field, he petitioned for another change of master.
tile-maker
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jupiter, after warning him that he would repent his request, caused him to be sold to a tile-maker.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Jupiter, telling him that it would be the last time that he could grant his request, ordained that he be sold to a tanner.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading AN ASS, belonging to an herb-seller who gave him too little food and too much work made a petition to Jupiter to be released from his present service and provided with another master.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN ASS, belonging to an herb-seller who gave him too little food and too much work made a petition to Jupiter to be released from his present service and provided with another master.
useful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Ass found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting his master’s occupation, said, groaning: “It would have been better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him.”
warning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jupiter, after warning him that he would repent his request, caused him to be sold to a tile-maker.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading AN ASS, belonging to an herb-seller who gave him too little food and too much work made a petition to Jupiter to be released from his present service and provided with another master.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading The Ass found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting his master’s occupation, said, groaning: “It would have been better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him.”
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading AN ASS, belonging to an herb-seller who gave him too little food and too much work made a petition to Jupiter to be released from his present service and provided with another master.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN ASS, belonging to an herb-seller who gave him too little food and too much work made a petition to Jupiter to be released from his present service and provided with another master.
worse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Ass found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting his master’s occupation, said, groaning: “It would have been better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him.”
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Jupiter, after warning him that he would repent his request, caused him to be sold to a tile-maker.
