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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 Mercury I Mercury was the son of Jupiter and Maia, goddess of the plains, and from the day of his birth he was a most remarkable infant, even for a god.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Proud of this beginning to his day's adventures, Mercury ran away again toward evening, when his mother was asleep, and roamed about the fragrant meadows where Apollo kept his herd of cattle.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Picking this up, he bored holes in its side, stretched strings across it, and began to play.
adventures
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Proud of this beginning to his day's adventures, Mercury ran away again toward evening, when his mother was asleep, and roamed about the fragrant meadows where Apollo kept his herd of cattle.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Proud of this beginning to his day's adventures, Mercury ran away again toward evening, when his mother was asleep, and roamed about the fragrant meadows where Apollo kept his herd of cattle.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mercury I Mercury was the son of Jupiter and Maia, goddess of the plains, and from the day of his birth he was a most remarkable infant, even for a god.
Apollo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Proud of this beginning to his day's adventures, Mercury ran away again toward evening, when his mother was asleep, and roamed about the fragrant meadows where Apollo kept his herd of cattle.
arms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When scarcely a day old, he sprang from his mother's arms, and ran some distance off to where a tortoise shell was lying on the ground.
asleep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Proud of this beginning to his day's adventures, Mercury ran away again toward evening, when his mother was asleep, and roamed about the fragrant meadows where Apollo kept his herd of cattle.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Proud of this beginning to his day's adventures, Mercury ran away again toward evening, when his mother was asleep, and roamed about the fragrant meadows where Apollo kept his herd of cattle.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Picking this up, he bored holes in its side, stretched strings across it, and began to play.
beginningnounUS /ˈbeginning/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Proud of this beginning to his day's adventures, Mercury ran away again toward evening, when his mother was asleep, and roamed about the fragrant meadows where Apollo kept his herd of cattle.
birth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mercury I Mercury was the son of Jupiter and Maia, goddess of the plains, and from the day of his birth he was a most remarkable infant, even for a god.
bored
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Picking this up, he bored holes in its side, stretched strings across it, and began to play.
cattle
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From this reading Proud of this beginning to his day's adventures, Mercury ran away again toward evening, when his mother was asleep, and roamed about the fragrant meadows where Apollo kept his herd of cattle.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mercury I Mercury was the son of Jupiter and Maia, goddess of the plains, and from the day of his birth he was a most remarkable infant, even for a god.
day's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Proud of this beginning to his day's adventures, Mercury ran away again toward evening, when his mother was asleep, and roamed about the fragrant meadows where Apollo kept his herd of cattle.
distance
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From this reading When scarcely a day old, he sprang from his mother's arms, and ran some distance off to where a tortoise shell was lying on the ground.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Mercury I Mercury was the son of Jupiter and Maia, goddess of the plains, and from the day of his birth he was a most remarkable infant, even for a god.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Proud of this beginning to his day's adventures, Mercury ran away again toward evening, when his mother was asleep, and roamed about the fragrant meadows where Apollo kept his herd of cattle.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Thus it was that the first lyre was made.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Mercury I Mercury was the son of Jupiter and Maia, goddess of the plains, and from the day of his birth he was a most remarkable infant, even for a god.
fragrant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Proud of this beginning to his day's adventures, Mercury ran away again toward evening, when his mother was asleep, and roamed about the fragrant meadows where Apollo kept his herd of cattle.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Mercury I Mercury was the son of Jupiter and Maia, goddess of the plains, and from the day of his birth he was a most remarkable infant, even for a god.
god
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mercury I Mercury was the son of Jupiter and Maia, goddess of the plains, and from the day of his birth he was a most remarkable infant, even for a god.
goddess
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mercury I Mercury was the son of Jupiter and Maia, goddess of the plains, and from the day of his birth he was a most remarkable infant, even for a god.
ground
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When scarcely a day old, he sprang from his mother's arms, and ran some distance off to where a tortoise shell was lying on the ground.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mercury I Mercury was the son of Jupiter and Maia, goddess of the plains, and from the day of his birth he was a most remarkable infant, even for a god.
herd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Proud of this beginning to his day's adventures, Mercury ran away again toward evening, when his mother was asleep, and roamed about the fragrant meadows where Apollo kept his herd of cattle.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Mercury I Mercury was the son of Jupiter and Maia, goddess of the plains, and from the day of his birth he was a most remarkable infant, even for a god.
holes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Picking this up, he bored holes in its side, stretched strings across it, and began to play.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Mercury I Mercury was the son of Jupiter and Maia, goddess of the plains, and from the day of his birth he was a most remarkable infant, even for a god.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Picking this up, he bored holes in its side, stretched strings across it, and began to play.
infant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mercury I Mercury was the son of Jupiter and Maia, goddess of the plains, and from the day of his birth he was a most remarkable infant, even for a god.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Picking this up, he bored holes in its side, stretched strings across it, and began to play.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Picking this up, he bored holes in its side, stretched strings across it, and began to play.
Jupiter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mercury I Mercury was the son of Jupiter and Maia, goddess of the plains, and from the day of his birth he was a most remarkable infant, even for a god.
kept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Proud of this beginning to his day's adventures, Mercury ran away again toward evening, when his mother was asleep, and roamed about the fragrant meadows where Apollo kept his herd of cattle.
lying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When scarcely a day old, he sprang from his mother's arms, and ran some distance off to where a tortoise shell was lying on the ground.
lyre
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus it was that the first lyre was made.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus it was that the first lyre was made.
Maia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mercury I Mercury was the son of Jupiter and Maia, goddess of the plains, and from the day of his birth he was a most remarkable infant, even for a god.
meadows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Proud of this beginning to his day's adventures, Mercury ran away again toward evening, when his mother was asleep, and roamed about the fragrant meadows where Apollo kept his herd of cattle.
MercurynounUS /ˈmɜːrkjəri/
a heavy silvery toxic univalent and bivalent metallic element; the only metal that is liquid at ordinary temperatures
From this reading Mercury I Mercury was the son of Jupiter and Maia, goddess of the plains, and from the day of his birth he was a most remarkable infant, even for a god.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mercury I Mercury was the son of Jupiter and Maia, goddess of the plains, and from the day of his birth he was a most remarkable infant, even for a god.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Proud of this beginning to his day's adventures, Mercury ran away again toward evening, when his mother was asleep, and roamed about the fragrant meadows where Apollo kept his herd of cattle.
mother's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When scarcely a day old, he sprang from his mother's arms, and ran some distance off to where a tortoise shell was lying on the ground.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mercury I Mercury was the son of Jupiter and Maia, goddess of the plains, and from the day of his birth he was a most remarkable infant, even for a god.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When scarcely a day old, he sprang from his mother's arms, and ran some distance off to where a tortoise shell was lying on the ground.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When scarcely a day old, he sprang from his mother's arms, and ran some distance off to where a tortoise shell was lying on the ground.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading When scarcely a day old, he sprang from his mother's arms, and ran some distance off to where a tortoise shell was lying on the ground.
Picking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Picking this up, he bored holes in its side, stretched strings across it, and began to play.
plains
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mercury I Mercury was the son of Jupiter and Maia, goddess of the plains, and from the day of his birth he was a most remarkable infant, even for a god.
play
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Picking this up, he bored holes in its side, stretched strings across it, and began to play.
Proud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Proud of this beginning to his day's adventures, Mercury ran away again toward evening, when his mother was asleep, and roamed about the fragrant meadows where Apollo kept his herd of cattle.
ran
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When scarcely a day old, he sprang from his mother's arms, and ran some distance off to where a tortoise shell was lying on the ground.
remarkablenounUS /ˈremarkable/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Mercury I Mercury was the son of Jupiter and Maia, goddess of the plains, and from the day of his birth he was a most remarkable infant, even for a god.
roamed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Proud of this beginning to his day's adventures, Mercury ran away again toward evening, when his mother was asleep, and roamed about the fragrant meadows where Apollo kept his herd of cattle.
scarcely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When scarcely a day old, he sprang from his mother's arms, and ran some distance off to where a tortoise shell was lying on the ground.
shell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When scarcely a day old, he sprang from his mother's arms, and ran some distance off to where a tortoise shell was lying on the ground.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Picking this up, he bored holes in its side, stretched strings across it, and began to play.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When scarcely a day old, he sprang from his mother's arms, and ran some distance off to where a tortoise shell was lying on the ground.
son
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mercury I Mercury was the son of Jupiter and Maia, goddess of the plains, and from the day of his birth he was a most remarkable infant, even for a god.
sprang
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When scarcely a day old, he sprang from his mother's arms, and ran some distance off to where a tortoise shell was lying on the ground.
stretched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Picking this up, he bored holes in its side, stretched strings across it, and began to play.
strings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Picking this up, he bored holes in its side, stretched strings across it, and began to play.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Thus it was that the first lyre was made.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mercury I Mercury was the son of Jupiter and Maia, goddess of the plains, and from the day of his birth he was a most remarkable infant, even for a god.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Picking this up, he bored holes in its side, stretched strings across it, and began to play.
Thus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus it was that the first lyre was made.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When scarcely a day old, he sprang from his mother's arms, and ran some distance off to where a tortoise shell was lying on the ground.
tortoise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When scarcely a day old, he sprang from his mother's arms, and ran some distance off to where a tortoise shell was lying on the ground.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Proud of this beginning to his day's adventures, Mercury ran away again toward evening, when his mother was asleep, and roamed about the fragrant meadows where Apollo kept his herd of cattle.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Picking this up, he bored holes in its side, stretched strings across it, and began to play.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mercury I Mercury was the son of Jupiter and Maia, goddess of the plains, and from the day of his birth he was a most remarkable infant, even for a god.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When scarcely a day old, he sprang from his mother's arms, and ran some distance off to where a tortoise shell was lying on the ground.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading When scarcely a day old, he sprang from his mother's arms, and ran some distance off to where a tortoise shell was lying on the ground.
