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 Mr. Pepys--to mention him once again--kept, as we know, a commonplace book, in which he was accustomed to jot down (in shorthand, let us hope) the good stories, post-prandial and otherwise, which came his way.
accustomed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Pepys--to mention him once again--kept, as we know, a commonplace book, in which he was accustomed to jot down (in shorthand, let us hope) the good stories, post-prandial and otherwise, which came his way.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Mr. Pepys--to mention him once again--kept, as we know, a commonplace book, in which he was accustomed to jot down (in shorthand, let us hope) the good stories, post-prandial and otherwise, which came his way.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mr. Pepys--to mention him once again--kept, as we know, a commonplace book, in which he was accustomed to jot down (in shorthand, let us hope) the good stories, post-prandial and otherwise, which came his way.
anecdotes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must have been a rich if unseemly collection, and is ill lost in these days to a world which, whatever its mental capital, has never more than enough of refreshing anecdotes to go round.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Mr. Pepys--to mention him once again--kept, as we know, a commonplace book, in which he was accustomed to jot down (in shorthand, let us hope) the good stories, post-prandial and otherwise, which came his way.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Included in it, one may be sure, were those gems of information (as related in the Diary) proffered at my lord Crewe’s table by one Templer on the habits of the viper and the tarantula.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Included in it, one may be sure, were those gems of information (as related in the Diary) proffered at my lord Crewe’s table by one Templer on the habits of the viper and the tarantula.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It must have been a rich if unseemly collection, and is ill lost in these days to a world which, whatever its mental capital, has never more than enough of refreshing anecdotes to go round.
bigness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
bird
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
book
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Pepys--to mention him once again--kept, as we know, a commonplace book, in which he was accustomed to jot down (in shorthand, let us hope) the good stories, post-prandial and otherwise, which came his way.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Included in it, one may be sure, were those gems of information (as related in the Diary) proffered at my lord Crewe’s table by one Templer on the habits of the viper and the tarantula.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Pepys--to mention him once again--kept, as we know, a commonplace book, in which he was accustomed to jot down (in shorthand, let us hope) the good stories, post-prandial and otherwise, which came his way.
capital
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must have been a rich if unseemly collection, and is ill lost in these days to a world which, whatever its mental capital, has never more than enough of refreshing anecdotes to go round.
circle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
clergyman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This Mr. Templer, we note, was a clergyman, and by virtue of his cloth should be exonerated from the suspicion, otherwise irresistible, that he was pulling our Samuel’s fat leg.
cloth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This Mr. Templer, we note, was a clergyman, and by virtue of his cloth should be exonerated from the suspicion, otherwise irresistible, that he was pulling our Samuel’s fat leg.
collection
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must have been a rich if unseemly collection, and is ill lost in these days to a world which, whatever its mental capital, has never more than enough of refreshing anecdotes to go round.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
commonplace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Pepys--to mention him once again--kept, as we know, a commonplace book, in which he was accustomed to jot down (in shorthand, let us hope) the good stories, post-prandial and otherwise, which came his way.
conceived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
crawl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
Crewe's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Included in it, one may be sure, were those gems of information (as related in the Diary) proffered at my lord Crewe’s table by one Templer on the habits of the viper and the tarantula.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must have been a rich if unseemly collection, and is ill lost in these days to a world which, whatever its mental capital, has never more than enough of refreshing anecdotes to go round.
Diary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Included in it, one may be sure, were those gems of information (as related in the Diary) proffered at my lord Crewe’s table by one Templer on the habits of the viper and the tarantula.
directlynounUS /ˈdirectly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Pepys--to mention him once again--kept, as we know, a commonplace book, in which he was accustomed to jot down (in shorthand, let us hope) the good stories, post-prandial and otherwise, which came his way.
e
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
eject
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
enough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must have been a rich if unseemly collection, and is ill lost in these days to a world which, whatever its mental capital, has never more than enough of refreshing anecdotes to go round.
exonerated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This Mr. Templer, we note, was a clergyman, and by virtue of his cloth should be exonerated from the suspicion, otherwise irresistible, that he was pulling our Samuel’s fat leg.
extenso
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
falls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
fat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This Mr. Templer, we note, was a clergyman, and by virtue of his cloth should be exonerated from the suspicion, otherwise irresistible, that he was pulling our Samuel’s fat leg.
feed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading This Mr. Templer, we note, was a clergyman, and by virtue of his cloth should be exonerated from the suspicion, otherwise irresistible, that he was pulling our Samuel’s fat leg.
gems
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Included in it, one may be sure, were those gems of information (as related in the Diary) proffered at my lord Crewe’s table by one Templer on the habits of the viper and the tarantula.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must have been a rich if unseemly collection, and is ill lost in these days to a world which, whatever its mental capital, has never more than enough of refreshing anecdotes to go round.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Mr. Pepys--to mention him once again--kept, as we know, a commonplace book, in which he was accustomed to jot down (in shorthand, let us hope) the good stories, post-prandial and otherwise, which came his way.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
grow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
habits
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Included in it, one may be sure, were those gems of information (as related in the Diary) proffered at my lord Crewe’s table by one Templer on the habits of the viper and the tarantula.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It must have been a rich if unseemly collection, and is ill lost in these days to a world which, whatever its mental capital, has never more than enough of refreshing anecdotes to go round.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It must have been a rich if unseemly collection, and is ill lost in these days to a world which, whatever its mental capital, has never more than enough of refreshing anecdotes to go round.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mr. Pepys--to mention him once again--kept, as we know, a commonplace book, in which he was accustomed to jot down (in shorthand, let us hope) the good stories, post-prandial and otherwise, which came his way.
highest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Mr. Pepys--to mention him once again--kept, as we know, a commonplace book, in which he was accustomed to jot down (in shorthand, let us hope) the good stories, post-prandial and otherwise, which came his way.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Mr. Pepys--to mention him once again--kept, as we know, a commonplace book, in which he was accustomed to jot down (in shorthand, let us hope) the good stories, post-prandial and otherwise, which came his way.
hope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Pepys--to mention him once again--kept, as we know, a commonplace book, in which he was accustomed to jot down (in shorthand, let us hope) the good stories, post-prandial and otherwise, which came his way.
ipronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It must have been a rich if unseemly collection, and is ill lost in these days to a world which, whatever its mental capital, has never more than enough of refreshing anecdotes to go round.
ill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must have been a rich if unseemly collection, and is ill lost in these days to a world which, whatever its mental capital, has never more than enough of refreshing anecdotes to go round.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mr. Pepys--to mention him once again--kept, as we know, a commonplace book, in which he was accustomed to jot down (in shorthand, let us hope) the good stories, post-prandial and otherwise, which came his way.
Included
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Included in it, one may be sure, were those gems of information (as related in the Diary) proffered at my lord Crewe’s table by one Templer on the habits of the viper and the tarantula.
information
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Included in it, one may be sure, were those gems of information (as related in the Diary) proffered at my lord Crewe’s table by one Templer on the habits of the viper and the tarantula.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
irresistible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This Mr. Templer, we note, was a clergyman, and by virtue of his cloth should be exonerated from the suspicion, otherwise irresistible, that he was pulling our Samuel’s fat leg.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It must have been a rich if unseemly collection, and is ill lost in these days to a world which, whatever its mental capital, has never more than enough of refreshing anecdotes to go round.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It must have been a rich if unseemly collection, and is ill lost in these days to a world which, whatever its mental capital, has never more than enough of refreshing anecdotes to go round.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It must have been a rich if unseemly collection, and is ill lost in these days to a world which, whatever its mental capital, has never more than enough of refreshing anecdotes to go round.
jot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Pepys--to mention him once again--kept, as we know, a commonplace book, in which he was accustomed to jot down (in shorthand, let us hope) the good stories, post-prandial and otherwise, which came his way.
judge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
kept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Pepys--to mention him once again--kept, as we know, a commonplace book, in which he was accustomed to jot down (in shorthand, let us hope) the good stories, post-prandial and otherwise, which came his way.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Mr. Pepys--to mention him once again--kept, as we know, a commonplace book, in which he was accustomed to jot down (in shorthand, let us hope) the good stories, post-prandial and otherwise, which came his way.
Lancashire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
lark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
larkes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
leg
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This Mr. Templer, we note, was a clergyman, and by virtue of his cloth should be exonerated from the suspicion, otherwise irresistible, that he was pulling our Samuel’s fat leg.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading Mr. Pepys--to mention him once again--kept, as we know, a commonplace book, in which he was accustomed to jot down (in shorthand, let us hope) the good stories, post-prandial and otherwise, which came his way.
lord
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Included in it, one may be sure, were those gems of information (as related in the Diary) proffered at my lord Crewe’s table by one Templer on the habits of the viper and the tarantula.
lost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must have been a rich if unseemly collection, and is ill lost in these days to a world which, whatever its mental capital, has never more than enough of refreshing anecdotes to go round.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Included in it, one may be sure, were those gems of information (as related in the Diary) proffered at my lord Crewe’s table by one Templer on the habits of the viper and the tarantula.
mental
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must have been a rich if unseemly collection, and is ill lost in these days to a world which, whatever its mental capital, has never more than enough of refreshing anecdotes to go round.
mention
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Pepys--to mention him once again--kept, as we know, a commonplace book, in which he was accustomed to jot down (in shorthand, let us hope) the good stories, post-prandial and otherwise, which came his way.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must have been a rich if unseemly collection, and is ill lost in these days to a world which, whatever its mental capital, has never more than enough of refreshing anecdotes to go round.
mouth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Pepys--to mention him once again--kept, as we know, a commonplace book, in which he was accustomed to jot down (in shorthand, let us hope) the good stories, post-prandial and otherwise, which came his way.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading It must have been a rich if unseemly collection, and is ill lost in these days to a world which, whatever its mental capital, has never more than enough of refreshing anecdotes to go round.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Included in it, one may be sure, were those gems of information (as related in the Diary) proffered at my lord Crewe’s table by one Templer on the habits of the viper and the tarantula.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It must have been a rich if unseemly collection, and is ill lost in these days to a world which, whatever its mental capital, has never more than enough of refreshing anecdotes to go round.
note
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This Mr. Templer, we note, was a clergyman, and by virtue of his cloth should be exonerated from the suspicion, otherwise irresistible, that he was pulling our Samuel’s fat leg.
observe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It must have been a rich if unseemly collection, and is ill lost in these days to a world which, whatever its mental capital, has never more than enough of refreshing anecdotes to go round.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Included in it, one may be sure, were those gems of information (as related in the Diary) proffered at my lord Crewe’s table by one Templer on the habits of the viper and the tarantula.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Pepys--to mention him once again--kept, as we know, a commonplace book, in which he was accustomed to jot down (in shorthand, let us hope) the good stories, post-prandial and otherwise, which came his way.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Included in it, one may be sure, were those gems of information (as related in the Diary) proffered at my lord Crewe’s table by one Templer on the habits of the viper and the tarantula.
otherwise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Pepys--to mention him once again--kept, as we know, a commonplace book, in which he was accustomed to jot down (in shorthand, let us hope) the good stories, post-prandial and otherwise, which came his way.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading This Mr. Templer, we note, was a clergyman, and by virtue of his cloth should be exonerated from the suspicion, otherwise irresistible, that he was pulling our Samuel’s fat leg.
passagenounUS /ˈpassage/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
Pepys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Pepys--to mention him once again--kept, as we know, a commonplace book, in which he was accustomed to jot down (in shorthand, let us hope) the good stories, post-prandial and otherwise, which came his way.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
places
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
post-prandial
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Pepys--to mention him once again--kept, as we know, a commonplace book, in which he was accustomed to jot down (in shorthand, let us hope) the good stories, post-prandial and otherwise, which came his way.
poyson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
proffered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Included in it, one may be sure, were those gems of information (as related in the Diary) proffered at my lord Crewe’s table by one Templer on the habits of the viper and the tarantula.
pulling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This Mr. Templer, we note, was a clergyman, and by virtue of his cloth should be exonerated from the suspicion, otherwise irresistible, that he was pulling our Samuel’s fat leg.
quoting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
reader
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
refreshing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must have been a rich if unseemly collection, and is ill lost in these days to a world which, whatever its mental capital, has never more than enough of refreshing anecdotes to go round.
related
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Included in it, one may be sure, were those gems of information (as related in the Diary) proffered at my lord Crewe’s table by one Templer on the habits of the viper and the tarantula.
rich
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must have been a rich if unseemly collection, and is ill lost in these days to a world which, whatever its mental capital, has never more than enough of refreshing anecdotes to go round.
round
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must have been a rich if unseemly collection, and is ill lost in these days to a world which, whatever its mental capital, has never more than enough of refreshing anecdotes to go round.
Samuel's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This Mr. Templer, we note, was a clergyman, and by virtue of his cloth should be exonerated from the suspicion, otherwise irresistible, that he was pulling our Samuel’s fat leg.
serpent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
serpents
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
shorthand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Pepys--to mention him once again--kept, as we know, a commonplace book, in which he was accustomed to jot down (in shorthand, let us hope) the good stories, post-prandial and otherwise, which came his way.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading This Mr. Templer, we note, was a clergyman, and by virtue of his cloth should be exonerated from the suspicion, otherwise irresistible, that he was pulling our Samuel’s fat leg.
soared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
stories
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Pepys--to mention him once again--kept, as we know, a commonplace book, in which he was accustomed to jot down (in shorthand, let us hope) the good stories, post-prandial and otherwise, which came his way.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
surenounUS /sure/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Included in it, one may be sure, were those gems of information (as related in the Diary) proffered at my lord Crewe’s table by one Templer on the habits of the viper and the tarantula.
suspicion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This Mr. Templer, we note, was a clergyman, and by virtue of his cloth should be exonerated from the suspicion, otherwise irresistible, that he was pulling our Samuel’s fat leg.
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Included in it, one may be sure, were those gems of information (as related in the Diary) proffered at my lord Crewe’s table by one Templer on the habits of the viper and the tarantula.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
tarantula
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Included in it, one may be sure, were those gems of information (as related in the Diary) proffered at my lord Crewe’s table by one Templer on the habits of the viper and the tarantula.
Templer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Included in it, one may be sure, were those gems of information (as related in the Diary) proffered at my lord Crewe’s table by one Templer on the habits of the viper and the tarantula.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It must have been a rich if unseemly collection, and is ill lost in these days to a world which, whatever its mental capital, has never more than enough of refreshing anecdotes to go round.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading This Mr. Templer, we note, was a clergyman, and by virtue of his cloth should be exonerated from the suspicion, otherwise irresistible, that he was pulling our Samuel’s fat leg.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mr. Pepys--to mention him once again--kept, as we know, a commonplace book, in which he was accustomed to jot down (in shorthand, let us hope) the good stories, post-prandial and otherwise, which came his way.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading It must have been a rich if unseemly collection, and is ill lost in these days to a world which, whatever its mental capital, has never more than enough of refreshing anecdotes to go round.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This Mr. Templer, we note, was a clergyman, and by virtue of his cloth should be exonerated from the suspicion, otherwise irresistible, that he was pulling our Samuel’s fat leg.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Included in it, one may be sure, were those gems of information (as related in the Diary) proffered at my lord Crewe’s table by one Templer on the habits of the viper and the tarantula.
thus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mr. Pepys--to mention him once again--kept, as we know, a commonplace book, in which he was accustomed to jot down (in shorthand, let us hope) the good stories, post-prandial and otherwise, which came his way.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
underneathprepositionUS /ˌʌndərˈniːθ/
directly under, often hidden by what is above
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
unseemly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must have been a rich if unseemly collection, and is ill lost in these days to a world which, whatever its mental capital, has never more than enough of refreshing anecdotes to go round.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
uppermost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Mr. Pepys--to mention him once again--kept, as we know, a commonplace book, in which he was accustomed to jot down (in shorthand, let us hope) the good stories, post-prandial and otherwise, which came his way.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
viper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Included in it, one may be sure, were those gems of information (as related in the Diary) proffered at my lord Crewe’s table by one Templer on the habits of the viper and the tarantula.
virtuenounUS /ˈvɝː.tʃuː/
Moral excellence and goodness of character; the highest human attainment in Stoic philosophy.
From this reading This Mr. Templer, we note, was a clergyman, and by virtue of his cloth should be exonerated from the suspicion, otherwise irresistible, that he was pulling our Samuel’s fat leg.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mr. Pepys--to mention him once again--kept, as we know, a commonplace book, in which he was accustomed to jot down (in shorthand, let us hope) the good stories, post-prandial and otherwise, which came his way.
wastenounUS /weɪst/
an empty, uncultivated area of land
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Pepys--to mention him once again--kept, as we know, a commonplace book, in which he was accustomed to jot down (in shorthand, let us hope) the good stories, post-prandial and otherwise, which came his way.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Mr. Pepys--to mention him once again--kept, as we know, a commonplace book, in which he was accustomed to jot down (in shorthand, let us hope) the good stories, post-prandial and otherwise, which came his way.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Included in it, one may be sure, were those gems of information (as related in the Diary) proffered at my lord Crewe’s table by one Templer on the habits of the viper and the tarantula.
whateverdeterminerUS /ˌwʌˈtevər/
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading It must have been a rich if unseemly collection, and is ill lost in these days to a world which, whatever its mental capital, has never more than enough of refreshing anecdotes to go round.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Mr. Pepys--to mention him once again--kept, as we know, a commonplace book, in which he was accustomed to jot down (in shorthand, let us hope) the good stories, post-prandial and otherwise, which came his way.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must have been a rich if unseemly collection, and is ill lost in these days to a world which, whatever its mental capital, has never more than enough of refreshing anecdotes to go round.
worth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it is worth quoting the passage _in extenso_ that the reader may judge for himself-- “He told us some [i.e. serpents] in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon larkes which they take thus: They observe, when the lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them; and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is conceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird; for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent; which is very strange.”
