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Minkie
Minkie

Chapter II

Cover illustration for Minkie
Context Illustration Reading 1/79 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
PRINCE JOHN'S STRANGE ALLY _Told by Dandy, the Terrier_ I made a mistake once, and nipped a tramp's wooden leg.
Since then, I look before I take hold.
But even a poodle could see that this thing was old bone, though its eyes glinted like Tibbie's in the dark, and there was a smell of grease about its beaded kilt.
And, talking of kilts, there's a bare-legged fellow who comes here every summer and struts up and down the road, making the beastliest row with some sort of instrument all pipes and ribbons.
Wow! don't I change his tune if I get out before anybody can catch me!
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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.

Minkie

Chapter II

Reading 1/79 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
PRINCE JOHN'S STRANGE ALLY _Told by Dandy, the Terrier_ I made a mistake once, and nipped a tramp's wooden leg.
Line 2
Since then, I look before I take hold.
Line 3
But even a poodle could see that this thing was old bone, though its eyes glinted like Tibbie's in the dark, and there was a smell of grease about its beaded kilt.
Line 4
And, talking of kilts, there's a bare-legged fellow who comes here every summer and struts up and down the road, making the beastliest row with some sort of instrument all pipes and ribbons.
Line 5
Wow! don't I change his tune if I get out before anybody can catch me!

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “But even a poodle could see that this thing was old bone, though its eyes glinted like Tibbie's in the dark, and there was a smell of grease about its beaded kilt.”

Anybody pronoun US /ˈenibədi/

any person at all

From this reading “Wow! don't I change his tune if I get out before anybody can catch me!”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Since then, I look before I take hold.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “But even a poodle could see that this thing was old bone, though its eyes glinted like Tibbie's in the dark, and there was a smell of grease about its beaded kilt.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But even a poodle could see that this thing was old bone, though its eyes glinted like Tibbie's in the dark, and there was a smell of grease about its beaded kilt.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “And, talking of kilts, there's a bare-legged fellow who comes here every summer and struts up and down the road, making the beastliest row with some sort of instrument all pipes and ribbons.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And, talking of kilts, there's a bare-legged fellow who comes here every summer and struts up and down the road, making the beastliest row with some sort of instrument all pipes and ribbons.”

Look noun US /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Since then, I look before I take hold.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “PRINCE JOHN'S STRANGE ALLY _Told by Dandy, the Terrier_ I made a mistake once, and nipped a tramp's wooden leg.”

Since preposition US /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading “Since then, I look before I take hold.”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Since then, I look before I take hold.”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But even a poodle could see that this thing was old bone, though its eyes glinted like Tibbie's in the dark, and there was a smell of grease about its beaded kilt.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “But even a poodle could see that this thing was old bone, though its eyes glinted like Tibbie's in the dark, and there was a smell of grease about its beaded kilt.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

All words in this reading · 87

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 PRINCE JOHN'S STRANGE ALLY _Told by Dandy, the Terrier_ I made a mistake once, and nipped a tramp's wooden leg.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading But even a poodle could see that this thing was old bone, though its eyes glinted like Tibbie's in the dark, and there was a smell of grease about its beaded kilt.

all

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

From this reading And, talking of kilts, there's a bare-legged fellow who comes here every summer and struts up and down the road, making the beastliest row with some sort of instrument all pipes and ribbons.

ALLY

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

From this reading PRINCE JOHN'S STRANGE ALLY _Told by Dandy, the Terrier_ I made a mistake once, and nipped a tramp's wooden leg.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading PRINCE JOHN'S STRANGE ALLY _Told by Dandy, the Terrier_ I made a mistake once, and nipped a tramp's wooden leg.

anybodypronounUS /ˈenibədi/

any person at all

From this reading Wow! don't I change his tune if I get out before anybody can catch me!

bare-legged

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

From this reading And, talking of kilts, there's a bare-legged fellow who comes here every summer and struts up and down the road, making the beastliest row with some sort of instrument all pipes and ribbons.

beaded

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

From this reading But even a poodle could see that this thing was old bone, though its eyes glinted like Tibbie's in the dark, and there was a smell of grease about its beaded kilt.

beastliest

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

From this reading And, talking of kilts, there's a bare-legged fellow who comes here every summer and struts up and down the road, making the beastliest row with some sort of instrument all pipes and ribbons.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Since then, I look before I take hold.

bone

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

From this reading But even a poodle could see that this thing was old bone, though its eyes glinted like Tibbie's in the dark, and there was a smell of grease about its beaded kilt.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But even a poodle could see that this thing was old bone, though its eyes glinted like Tibbie's in the dark, and there was a smell of grease about its beaded kilt.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading PRINCE JOHN'S STRANGE ALLY _Told by Dandy, the Terrier_ I made a mistake once, and nipped a tramp's wooden leg.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading Wow! don't I change his tune if I get out before anybody can catch me!

catch

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

From this reading Wow! don't I change his tune if I get out before anybody can catch me!

change

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

From this reading Wow! don't I change his tune if I get out before anybody can catch me!

comes

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

From this reading And, talking of kilts, there's a bare-legged fellow who comes here every summer and struts up and down the road, making the beastliest row with some sort of instrument all pipes and ribbons.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading But even a poodle could see that this thing was old bone, though its eyes glinted like Tibbie's in the dark, and there was a smell of grease about its beaded kilt.

Dandy

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

From this reading PRINCE JOHN'S STRANGE ALLY _Told by Dandy, the Terrier_ I made a mistake once, and nipped a tramp's wooden leg.

dark

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

From this reading But even a poodle could see that this thing was old bone, though its eyes glinted like Tibbie's in the dark, and there was a smell of grease about its beaded kilt.

don't

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

From this reading Wow! don't I change his tune if I get out before anybody can catch me!

down

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

From this reading And, talking of kilts, there's a bare-legged fellow who comes here every summer and struts up and down the road, making the beastliest row with some sort of instrument all pipes and ribbons.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But even a poodle could see that this thing was old bone, though its eyes glinted like Tibbie's in the dark, and there was a smell of grease about its beaded kilt.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading And, talking of kilts, there's a bare-legged fellow who comes here every summer and struts up and down the road, making the beastliest row with some sort of instrument all pipes and ribbons.

eyes

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

From this reading But even a poodle could see that this thing was old bone, though its eyes glinted like Tibbie's in the dark, and there was a smell of grease about its beaded kilt.

fellow

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

From this reading And, talking of kilts, there's a bare-legged fellow who comes here every summer and struts up and down the road, making the beastliest row with some sort of instrument all pipes and ribbons.

get

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

From this reading Wow! don't I change his tune if I get out before anybody can catch me!

glinted

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

From this reading But even a poodle could see that this thing was old bone, though its eyes glinted like Tibbie's in the dark, and there was a smell of grease about its beaded kilt.

grease

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

From this reading But even a poodle could see that this thing was old bone, though its eyes glinted like Tibbie's in the dark, and there was a smell of grease about its beaded kilt.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And, talking of kilts, there's a bare-legged fellow who comes here every summer and struts up and down the road, making the beastliest row with some sort of instrument all pipes and ribbons.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Wow! don't I change his tune if I get out before anybody can catch me!

hold

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

From this reading Since then, I look before I take hold.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading PRINCE JOHN'S STRANGE ALLY _Told by Dandy, the Terrier_ I made a mistake once, and nipped a tramp's wooden leg.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Wow! don't I change his tune if I get out before anybody can catch me!

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading But even a poodle could see that this thing was old bone, though its eyes glinted like Tibbie's in the dark, and there was a smell of grease about its beaded kilt.

instrument

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

From this reading And, talking of kilts, there's a bare-legged fellow who comes here every summer and struts up and down the road, making the beastliest row with some sort of instrument all pipes and ribbons.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading But even a poodle could see that this thing was old bone, though its eyes glinted like Tibbie's in the dark, and there was a smell of grease about its beaded kilt.

JOHN'S

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

From this reading PRINCE JOHN'S STRANGE ALLY _Told by Dandy, the Terrier_ I made a mistake once, and nipped a tramp's wooden leg.

kilt

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

From this reading But even a poodle could see that this thing was old bone, though its eyes glinted like Tibbie's in the dark, and there was a smell of grease about its beaded kilt.

kilts

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

From this reading And, talking of kilts, there's a bare-legged fellow who comes here every summer and struts up and down the road, making the beastliest row with some sort of instrument all pipes and ribbons.

leg

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

From this reading PRINCE JOHN'S STRANGE ALLY _Told by Dandy, the Terrier_ I made a mistake once, and nipped a tramp's wooden leg.

like

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

From this reading But even a poodle could see that this thing was old bone, though its eyes glinted like Tibbie's in the dark, and there was a smell of grease about its beaded kilt.

looknounUS /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Since then, I look before I take hold.

made

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

From this reading PRINCE JOHN'S STRANGE ALLY _Told by Dandy, the Terrier_ I made a mistake once, and nipped a tramp's wooden leg.

making

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

From this reading And, talking of kilts, there's a bare-legged fellow who comes here every summer and struts up and down the road, making the beastliest row with some sort of instrument all pipes and ribbons.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading Wow! don't I change his tune if I get out before anybody can catch me!

mistake

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

From this reading PRINCE JOHN'S STRANGE ALLY _Told by Dandy, the Terrier_ I made a mistake once, and nipped a tramp's wooden leg.

nipped

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

From this reading PRINCE JOHN'S STRANGE ALLY _Told by Dandy, the Terrier_ I made a mistake once, and nipped a tramp's wooden leg.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading But even a poodle could see that this thing was old bone, though its eyes glinted like Tibbie's in the dark, and there was a smell of grease about its beaded kilt.

old

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

From this reading But even a poodle could see that this thing was old bone, though its eyes glinted like Tibbie's in the dark, and there was a smell of grease about its beaded kilt.

once

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

From this reading PRINCE JOHN'S STRANGE ALLY _Told by Dandy, the Terrier_ I made a mistake once, and nipped a tramp's wooden leg.

out

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

From this reading Wow! don't I change his tune if I get out before anybody can catch me!

pipes

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

From this reading And, talking of kilts, there's a bare-legged fellow who comes here every summer and struts up and down the road, making the beastliest row with some sort of instrument all pipes and ribbons.

poodle

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

From this reading But even a poodle could see that this thing was old bone, though its eyes glinted like Tibbie's in the dark, and there was a smell of grease about its beaded kilt.

PRINCE

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

From this reading PRINCE JOHN'S STRANGE ALLY _Told by Dandy, the Terrier_ I made a mistake once, and nipped a tramp's wooden leg.

ribbons

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

From this reading And, talking of kilts, there's a bare-legged fellow who comes here every summer and struts up and down the road, making the beastliest row with some sort of instrument all pipes and ribbons.

road

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

From this reading And, talking of kilts, there's a bare-legged fellow who comes here every summer and struts up and down the road, making the beastliest row with some sort of instrument all pipes and ribbons.

row

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

From this reading And, talking of kilts, there's a bare-legged fellow who comes here every summer and struts up and down the road, making the beastliest row with some sort of instrument all pipes and ribbons.

see

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

From this reading But even a poodle could see that this thing was old bone, though its eyes glinted like Tibbie's in the dark, and there was a smell of grease about its beaded kilt.

SinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading Since then, I look before I take hold.

smell

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

From this reading But even a poodle could see that this thing was old bone, though its eyes glinted like Tibbie's in the dark, and there was a smell of grease about its beaded kilt.

some

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

From this reading And, talking of kilts, there's a bare-legged fellow who comes here every summer and struts up and down the road, making the beastliest row with some sort of instrument all pipes and ribbons.

sort

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

From this reading And, talking of kilts, there's a bare-legged fellow who comes here every summer and struts up and down the road, making the beastliest row with some sort of instrument all pipes and ribbons.

STRANGE

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

From this reading PRINCE JOHN'S STRANGE ALLY _Told by Dandy, the Terrier_ I made a mistake once, and nipped a tramp's wooden leg.

struts

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

From this reading And, talking of kilts, there's a bare-legged fellow who comes here every summer and struts up and down the road, making the beastliest row with some sort of instrument all pipes and ribbons.

summer

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

From this reading And, talking of kilts, there's a bare-legged fellow who comes here every summer and struts up and down the road, making the beastliest row with some sort of instrument all pipes and ribbons.

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Since then, I look before I take hold.

talking

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

From this reading And, talking of kilts, there's a bare-legged fellow who comes here every summer and struts up and down the road, making the beastliest row with some sort of instrument all pipes and ribbons.

Terrier

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

From this reading PRINCE JOHN'S STRANGE ALLY _Told by Dandy, the Terrier_ I made a mistake once, and nipped a tramp's wooden leg.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But even a poodle could see that this thing was old bone, though its eyes glinted like Tibbie's in the dark, and there was a smell of grease about its beaded kilt.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading PRINCE JOHN'S STRANGE ALLY _Told by Dandy, the Terrier_ I made a mistake once, and nipped a tramp's wooden leg.

then

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

From this reading Since then, I look before I take hold.

there

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

From this reading But even a poodle could see that this thing was old bone, though its eyes glinted like Tibbie's in the dark, and there was a smell of grease about its beaded kilt.

there's

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

From this reading And, talking of kilts, there's a bare-legged fellow who comes here every summer and struts up and down the road, making the beastliest row with some sort of instrument all pipes and ribbons.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But even a poodle could see that this thing was old bone, though its eyes glinted like Tibbie's in the dark, and there was a smell of grease about its beaded kilt.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading But even a poodle could see that this thing was old bone, though its eyes glinted like Tibbie's in the dark, and there was a smell of grease about its beaded kilt.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading But even a poodle could see that this thing was old bone, though its eyes glinted like Tibbie's in the dark, and there was a smell of grease about its beaded kilt.

Tibbie's

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

From this reading But even a poodle could see that this thing was old bone, though its eyes glinted like Tibbie's in the dark, and there was a smell of grease about its beaded kilt.

ToldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading PRINCE JOHN'S STRANGE ALLY _Told by Dandy, the Terrier_ I made a mistake once, and nipped a tramp's wooden leg.

tramp's

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

From this reading PRINCE JOHN'S STRANGE ALLY _Told by Dandy, the Terrier_ I made a mistake once, and nipped a tramp's wooden leg.

tune

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

From this reading Wow! don't I change his tune if I get out before anybody can catch me!

up

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

From this reading And, talking of kilts, there's a bare-legged fellow who comes here every summer and struts up and down the road, making the beastliest row with some sort of instrument all pipes and ribbons.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading But even a poodle could see that this thing was old bone, though its eyes glinted like Tibbie's in the dark, and there was a smell of grease about its beaded kilt.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading And, talking of kilts, there's a bare-legged fellow who comes here every summer and struts up and down the road, making the beastliest row with some sort of instrument all pipes and ribbons.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading And, talking of kilts, there's a bare-legged fellow who comes here every summer and struts up and down the road, making the beastliest row with some sort of instrument all pipes and ribbons.

wooden

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

From this reading PRINCE JOHN'S STRANGE ALLY _Told by Dandy, the Terrier_ I made a mistake once, and nipped a tramp's wooden leg.

Wow

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

From this reading Wow! don't I change his tune if I get out before anybody can catch me!