A COCK, scratching for food for himself and his hens,
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
A COCK, scratching for food for himself and his hens, found a precious stone and exclaimed: “If your owner had found thee, and not I, he would have taken thee up, and have set thee in thy first estate; but I have found thee for no purpose. I would rather have one barleycorn than all the jewels in the world.”
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
a single grain from a barley plant
From this reading “I would rather have one barleycorn than all the jewels in the world.””
the original condition or position of a person or thing
From this reading “and have set thee in thy first estate; but I have found thee for no purpose.”
valuable and important, especially because it is rare
From this reading “found a precious stone and exclaimed: “If your owner had found thee,”
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A COCK, scratching for food for himself and his hens,
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I would rather have one barleycorn than all the jewels in the world.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A COCK, scratching for food for himself and his hens,
a single grain from a barley plant
From this reading I would rather have one barleycorn than all the jewels in the world.”
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading and have set thee in thy first estate; but I have found thee for no purpose.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A COCK, scratching for food for himself and his hens,
the original condition or position of a person or thing
From this reading and have set thee in thy first estate; but I have found thee for no purpose.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading found a precious stone and exclaimed: “If your owner had found thee,
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading and have set thee in thy first estate; but I have found thee for no purpose.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A COCK, scratching for food for himself and his hens,
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A COCK, scratching for food for himself and his hens,
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading found a precious stone and exclaimed: “If your owner had found thee,
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading found a precious stone and exclaimed: “If your owner had found thee,
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading and not I, he would have taken thee up,
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading and not I, he would have taken thee up,
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A COCK, scratching for food for himself and his hens,
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading A COCK, scratching for food for himself and his hens,
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A COCK, scratching for food for himself and his hens,
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading and not I, he would have taken thee up,
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading found a precious stone and exclaimed: “If your owner had found thee,
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading and have set thee in thy first estate; but I have found thee for no purpose.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I would rather have one barleycorn than all the jewels in the world.”
not any; not one
From this reading and have set thee in thy first estate; but I have found thee for no purpose.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading and not I, he would have taken thee up,
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I would rather have one barleycorn than all the jewels in the world.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading found a precious stone and exclaimed: “If your owner had found thee,
valuable and important, especially because it is rare
From this reading found a precious stone and exclaimed: “If your owner had found thee,
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading and have set thee in thy first estate; but I have found thee for no purpose.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I would rather have one barleycorn than all the jewels in the world.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A COCK, scratching for food for himself and his hens,
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading and have set thee in thy first estate; but I have found thee for no purpose.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading found a precious stone and exclaimed: “If your owner had found thee,
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading and not I, he would have taken thee up,
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading I would rather have one barleycorn than all the jewels in the world.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I would rather have one barleycorn than all the jewels in the world.”
an old word for “you”, as the object, speaking to one person
From this reading found a precious stone and exclaimed: “If your owner had found thee,
an old word for “your”, speaking to one person
From this reading and have set thee in thy first estate; but I have found thee for no purpose.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading and not I, he would have taken thee up,
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I would rather have one barleycorn than all the jewels in the world.”
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading and not I, he would have taken thee up,
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading found a precious stone and exclaimed: “If your owner had found thee,
