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Hansel and Gretel
Hansel and Gretel

Chapter VII

Chapter 7, section 1: When he had finished, he flew away. He had the chain in his right claw and the shoes in his left, and he flew right away to a mill, and the mill went ‘Click clack, click clack, cli
Context Illustration Reading 1/87 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
When he had finished, he flew away.
He had the chain in his right claw and the shoes in his left, and he flew right away to a mill, and the mill went ‘Click clack, click clack, click clack.’
Inside the mill were twenty of the miller’s men hewing a stone, and as they went ‘Hick hack, hick hack, hick hack,’ the mill went ‘Click clack, click clack, click clack.’
The bird settled on a lime-tree in front of the mill and sang:
‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Hansel and Gretel

Chapter VII

Reading 1/87 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
When he had finished, he flew away.
Line 2
He had the chain in his right claw and the shoes in his left, and he flew right away to a mill, and the mill went ‘Click clack, click clack, click clack.’
Line 3
Inside the mill were twenty of the miller’s men hewing a stone, and as they went ‘Hick hack, hick hack, hick hack,’ the mill went ‘Click clack, click clack, click clack.’
Line 4
The bird settled on a lime-tree in front of the mill and sang:
Line 5
‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Grieved verb US /ɡriːvd/

felt extremely sad, especially because of a loss

From this reading “‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had the chain in his right claw and the shoes in his left, and he flew right away to a mill, and the mill went ‘Click clack, click clack, click clack.’”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.”

Right noun US /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had the chain in his right claw and the shoes in his left, and he flew right away to a mill, and the mill went ‘Click clack, click clack, click clack.’”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.”

Underneath preposition US /ˌʌndərˈniːθ/

directly under, often hidden by what is above

From this reading “‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had the chain in his right claw and the shoes in his left, and he flew right away to a mill, and the mill went ‘Click clack, click clack, click clack.’”

All words in this reading · 80

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading He had the chain in his right claw and the shoes in his left, and he flew right away to a mill, and the mill went ‘Click clack, click clack, click clack.’

all

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading ‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading He had the chain in his right claw and the shoes in his left, and he flew right away to a mill, and the mill went ‘Click clack, click clack, click clack.’

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Inside the mill were twenty of the miller’s men hewing a stone, and as they went ‘Hick hack, hick hack, hick hack,’ the mill went ‘Click clack, click clack, click clack.’

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading ‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.

away

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When he had finished, he flew away.

best

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading ‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.

bird

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The bird settled on a lime-tree in front of the mill and sang:

bones

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading ‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.

chain

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had the chain in his right claw and the shoes in his left, and he flew right away to a mill, and the mill went ‘Click clack, click clack, click clack.’

clack

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had the chain in his right claw and the shoes in his left, and he flew right away to a mill, and the mill went ‘Click clack, click clack, click clack.’

claw

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had the chain in his right claw and the shoes in his left, and he flew right away to a mill, and the mill went ‘Click clack, click clack, click clack.’

Click

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had the chain in his right claw and the shoes in his left, and he flew right away to a mill, and the mill went ‘Click clack, click clack, click clack.’

eight

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading ‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.

father

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading ‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.

finished

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When he had finished, he flew away.

five

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading ‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.

flew

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When he had finished, he flew away.

four

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading ‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.

front

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The bird settled on a lime-tree in front of the mill and sang:

gone

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading ‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.

grievedverbUS /ɡriːvd/

felt extremely sad, especially because of a loss

From this reading ‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.

hack

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Inside the mill were twenty of the miller’s men hewing a stone, and as they went ‘Hick hack, hick hack, hick hack,’ the mill went ‘Click clack, click clack, click clack.’

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading When he had finished, he flew away.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading When he had finished, he flew away.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading ‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.

hewing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Inside the mill were twenty of the miller’s men hewing a stone, and as they went ‘Hick hack, hick hack, hick hack,’ the mill went ‘Click clack, click clack, click clack.’

Hick

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Inside the mill were twenty of the miller’s men hewing a stone, and as they went ‘Hick hack, hick hack, hick hack,’ the mill went ‘Click clack, click clack, click clack.’

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading He had the chain in his right claw and the shoes in his left, and he flew right away to a mill, and the mill went ‘Click clack, click clack, click clack.’

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading ‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading He had the chain in his right claw and the shoes in his left, and he flew right away to a mill, and the mill went ‘Click clack, click clack, click clack.’

Inside

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Inside the mill were twenty of the miller’s men hewing a stone, and as they went ‘Hick hack, hick hack, hick hack,’ the mill went ‘Click clack, click clack, click clack.’

juniper-tree

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading ‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.

kerchief

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading ‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.

killed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading ‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.

laid

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading ‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had the chain in his right claw and the shoes in his left, and he flew right away to a mill, and the mill went ‘Click clack, click clack, click clack.’

lie

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading ‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.

lime-tree

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The bird settled on a lime-tree in front of the mill and sang:

listened

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading ‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.

loved

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading ‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading ‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.

men

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Inside the mill were twenty of the miller’s men hewing a stone, and as they went ‘Hick hack, hick hack, hick hack,’ the mill went ‘Click clack, click clack, click clack.’

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading ‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.

mill

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had the chain in his right claw and the shoes in his left, and he flew right away to a mill, and the mill went ‘Click clack, click clack, click clack.’

miller's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Inside the mill were twenty of the miller’s men hewing a stone, and as they went ‘Hick hack, hick hack, hick hack,’ the mill went ‘Click clack, click clack, click clack.’

more

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading ‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.

mother

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading ‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.

MydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading ‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.

now

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading ‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Inside the mill were twenty of the miller’s men hewing a stone, and as they went ‘Hick hack, hick hack, hick hack,’ the mill went ‘Click clack, click clack, click clack.’

off

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading ‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The bird settled on a lime-tree in front of the mill and sang:

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading ‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.

only

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading ‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading ‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.

rightnounUS /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had the chain in his right claw and the shoes in his left, and he flew right away to a mill, and the mill went ‘Click clack, click clack, click clack.’

sang

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The bird settled on a lime-tree in front of the mill and sang:

settled

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The bird settled on a lime-tree in front of the mill and sang:

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading ‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.

shoes

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had the chain in his right claw and the shoes in his left, and he flew right away to a mill, and the mill went ‘Click clack, click clack, click clack.’

sister

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading ‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.

son

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading ‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.

stone

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Inside the mill were twenty of the miller’s men hewing a stone, and as they went ‘Hick hack, hick hack, hick hack,’ the mill went ‘Click clack, click clack, click clack.’

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading ‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading He had the chain in his right claw and the shoes in his left, and he flew right away to a mill, and the mill went ‘Click clack, click clack, click clack.’

then

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading ‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.

there

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading ‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Inside the mill were twenty of the miller’s men hewing a stone, and as they went ‘Hick hack, hick hack, hick hack,’ the mill went ‘Click clack, click clack, click clack.’

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading He had the chain in his right claw and the shoes in his left, and he flew right away to a mill, and the mill went ‘Click clack, click clack, click clack.’

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.

twenty

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Inside the mill were twenty of the miller’s men hewing a stone, and as they went ‘Hick hack, hick hack, hick hack,’ the mill went ‘Click clack, click clack, click clack.’

two

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading ‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.

UnderneathprepositionUS /ˌʌndərˈniːθ/

directly under, often hidden by what is above

From this reading ‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading ‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had the chain in his right claw and the shoes in his left, and he flew right away to a mill, and the mill went ‘Click clack, click clack, click clack.’

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Inside the mill were twenty of the miller’s men hewing a stone, and as they went ‘Hick hack, hick hack, hick hack,’ the mill went ‘Click clack, click clack, click clack.’

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When he had finished, he flew away.

work

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading ‘My mother killed her little son; then one of the men left off, My father grieved when I was gone; two more men left off and listened, My sister loved me best of all; then four more left off, She laid her kerchief over me, And took my bones that they might lie now there were only eight at work, Underneath And now only five, the juniper-tree.