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AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A tiny, fragile, half-animate bean.
alive
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From this reading The first day to heave your feet little by little from the shell, Not yet awake, And remain lapsed on earth, Not quite alive.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading You know what it is to be born alone, Baby tortoise!
AndconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The first day to heave your feet little by little from the shell, Not yet awake, And remain lapsed on earth, Not quite alive.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading To open your tiny beak-mouth, that looks as if it would never open, Like some iron door; To lift the upper hawk-beak from the lower base And reach your skinny little neck And take your first bite at some dim bit of herbage, Alone, small insect, Tiny bright-eye, Slow one.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading To open your tiny beak-mouth, that looks as if it would never open, Like some iron door; To lift the upper hawk-beak from the lower base And reach your skinny little neck And take your first bite at some dim bit of herbage, Alone, small insect, Tiny bright-eye, Slow one.
awake
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From this reading The first day to heave your feet little by little from the shell, Not yet awake, And remain lapsed on earth, Not quite alive.
Baby
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From this reading You know what it is to be born alone, Baby tortoise!
base
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From this reading To open your tiny beak-mouth, that looks as if it would never open, Like some iron door; To lift the upper hawk-beak from the lower base And reach your skinny little neck And take your first bite at some dim bit of herbage, Alone, small insect, Tiny bright-eye, Slow one.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading You know what it is to be born alone, Baby tortoise!
beak-mouth
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From this reading To open your tiny beak-mouth, that looks as if it would never open, Like some iron door; To lift the upper hawk-beak from the lower base And reach your skinny little neck And take your first bite at some dim bit of herbage, Alone, small insect, Tiny bright-eye, Slow one.
bean
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From this reading A tiny, fragile, half-animate bean.
bit
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From this reading To open your tiny beak-mouth, that looks as if it would never open, Like some iron door; To lift the upper hawk-beak from the lower base And reach your skinny little neck And take your first bite at some dim bit of herbage, Alone, small insect, Tiny bright-eye, Slow one.
bite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To open your tiny beak-mouth, that looks as if it would never open, Like some iron door; To lift the upper hawk-beak from the lower base And reach your skinny little neck And take your first bite at some dim bit of herbage, Alone, small insect, Tiny bright-eye, Slow one.
bornnounUS /born/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading You know what it is to be born alone, Baby tortoise!
bright-eye
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From this reading To open your tiny beak-mouth, that looks as if it would never open, Like some iron door; To lift the upper hawk-beak from the lower base And reach your skinny little neck And take your first bite at some dim bit of herbage, Alone, small insect, Tiny bright-eye, Slow one.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The first day to heave your feet little by little from the shell, Not yet awake, And remain lapsed on earth, Not quite alive.
day
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From this reading The first day to heave your feet little by little from the shell, Not yet awake, And remain lapsed on earth, Not quite alive.
dim
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From this reading To open your tiny beak-mouth, that looks as if it would never open, Like some iron door; To lift the upper hawk-beak from the lower base And reach your skinny little neck And take your first bite at some dim bit of herbage, Alone, small insect, Tiny bright-eye, Slow one.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To open your tiny beak-mouth, that looks as if it would never open, Like some iron door; To lift the upper hawk-beak from the lower base And reach your skinny little neck And take your first bite at some dim bit of herbage, Alone, small insect, Tiny bright-eye, Slow one.
earth
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From this reading The first day to heave your feet little by little from the shell, Not yet awake, And remain lapsed on earth, Not quite alive.
feet
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From this reading The first day to heave your feet little by little from the shell, Not yet awake, And remain lapsed on earth, Not quite alive.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The first day to heave your feet little by little from the shell, Not yet awake, And remain lapsed on earth, Not quite alive.
fragile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A tiny, fragile, half-animate bean.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The first day to heave your feet little by little from the shell, Not yet awake, And remain lapsed on earth, Not quite alive.
half-animate
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From this reading A tiny, fragile, half-animate bean.
hawk-beak
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From this reading To open your tiny beak-mouth, that looks as if it would never open, Like some iron door; To lift the upper hawk-beak from the lower base And reach your skinny little neck And take your first bite at some dim bit of herbage, Alone, small insect, Tiny bright-eye, Slow one.
heave
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From this reading The first day to heave your feet little by little from the shell, Not yet awake, And remain lapsed on earth, Not quite alive.
herbage
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From this reading To open your tiny beak-mouth, that looks as if it would never open, Like some iron door; To lift the upper hawk-beak from the lower base And reach your skinny little neck And take your first bite at some dim bit of herbage, Alone, small insect, Tiny bright-eye, Slow one.
hunt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To take your first solitary bite And move on your slow, solitary hunt.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading To open your tiny beak-mouth, that looks as if it would never open, Like some iron door; To lift the upper hawk-beak from the lower base And reach your skinny little neck And take your first bite at some dim bit of herbage, Alone, small insect, Tiny bright-eye, Slow one.
insect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To open your tiny beak-mouth, that looks as if it would never open, Like some iron door; To lift the upper hawk-beak from the lower base And reach your skinny little neck And take your first bite at some dim bit of herbage, Alone, small insect, Tiny bright-eye, Slow one.
iron
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To open your tiny beak-mouth, that looks as if it would never open, Like some iron door; To lift the upper hawk-beak from the lower base And reach your skinny little neck And take your first bite at some dim bit of herbage, Alone, small insect, Tiny bright-eye, Slow one.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading You know what it is to be born alone, Baby tortoise!
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading You know what it is to be born alone, Baby tortoise!
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading You know what it is to be born alone, Baby tortoise!
lapsed
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From this reading The first day to heave your feet little by little from the shell, Not yet awake, And remain lapsed on earth, Not quite alive.
lift
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To open your tiny beak-mouth, that looks as if it would never open, Like some iron door; To lift the upper hawk-beak from the lower base And reach your skinny little neck And take your first bite at some dim bit of herbage, Alone, small insect, Tiny bright-eye, Slow one.
Like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To open your tiny beak-mouth, that looks as if it would never open, Like some iron door; To lift the upper hawk-beak from the lower base And reach your skinny little neck And take your first bite at some dim bit of herbage, Alone, small insect, Tiny bright-eye, Slow one.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The first day to heave your feet little by little from the shell, Not yet awake, And remain lapsed on earth, Not quite alive.
looks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To open your tiny beak-mouth, that looks as if it would never open, Like some iron door; To lift the upper hawk-beak from the lower base And reach your skinny little neck And take your first bite at some dim bit of herbage, Alone, small insect, Tiny bright-eye, Slow one.
lower
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To open your tiny beak-mouth, that looks as if it would never open, Like some iron door; To lift the upper hawk-beak from the lower base And reach your skinny little neck And take your first bite at some dim bit of herbage, Alone, small insect, Tiny bright-eye, Slow one.
move
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To take your first solitary bite And move on your slow, solitary hunt.
neck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To open your tiny beak-mouth, that looks as if it would never open, Like some iron door; To lift the upper hawk-beak from the lower base And reach your skinny little neck And take your first bite at some dim bit of herbage, Alone, small insect, Tiny bright-eye, Slow one.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading To open your tiny beak-mouth, that looks as if it would never open, Like some iron door; To lift the upper hawk-beak from the lower base And reach your skinny little neck And take your first bite at some dim bit of herbage, Alone, small insect, Tiny bright-eye, Slow one.
NotadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The first day to heave your feet little by little from the shell, Not yet awake, And remain lapsed on earth, Not quite alive.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading To open your tiny beak-mouth, that looks as if it would never open, Like some iron door; To lift the upper hawk-beak from the lower base And reach your skinny little neck And take your first bite at some dim bit of herbage, Alone, small insect, Tiny bright-eye, Slow one.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The first day to heave your feet little by little from the shell, Not yet awake, And remain lapsed on earth, Not quite alive.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading To open your tiny beak-mouth, that looks as if it would never open, Like some iron door; To lift the upper hawk-beak from the lower base And reach your skinny little neck And take your first bite at some dim bit of herbage, Alone, small insect, Tiny bright-eye, Slow one.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading To open your tiny beak-mouth, that looks as if it would never open, Like some iron door; To lift the upper hawk-beak from the lower base And reach your skinny little neck And take your first bite at some dim bit of herbage, Alone, small insect, Tiny bright-eye, Slow one.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The first day to heave your feet little by little from the shell, Not yet awake, And remain lapsed on earth, Not quite alive.
reach
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To open your tiny beak-mouth, that looks as if it would never open, Like some iron door; To lift the upper hawk-beak from the lower base And reach your skinny little neck And take your first bite at some dim bit of herbage, Alone, small insect, Tiny bright-eye, Slow one.
remain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first day to heave your feet little by little from the shell, Not yet awake, And remain lapsed on earth, Not quite alive.
shell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first day to heave your feet little by little from the shell, Not yet awake, And remain lapsed on earth, Not quite alive.
skinny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To open your tiny beak-mouth, that looks as if it would never open, Like some iron door; To lift the upper hawk-beak from the lower base And reach your skinny little neck And take your first bite at some dim bit of herbage, Alone, small insect, Tiny bright-eye, Slow one.
Slow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To open your tiny beak-mouth, that looks as if it would never open, Like some iron door; To lift the upper hawk-beak from the lower base And reach your skinny little neck And take your first bite at some dim bit of herbage, Alone, small insect, Tiny bright-eye, Slow one.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To open your tiny beak-mouth, that looks as if it would never open, Like some iron door; To lift the upper hawk-beak from the lower base And reach your skinny little neck And take your first bite at some dim bit of herbage, Alone, small insect, Tiny bright-eye, Slow one.
solitary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To take your first solitary bite And move on your slow, solitary hunt.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To open your tiny beak-mouth, that looks as if it would never open, Like some iron door; To lift the upper hawk-beak from the lower base And reach your skinny little neck And take your first bite at some dim bit of herbage, Alone, small insect, Tiny bright-eye, Slow one.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading To open your tiny beak-mouth, that looks as if it would never open, Like some iron door; To lift the upper hawk-beak from the lower base And reach your skinny little neck And take your first bite at some dim bit of herbage, Alone, small insect, Tiny bright-eye, Slow one.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading To open your tiny beak-mouth, that looks as if it would never open, Like some iron door; To lift the upper hawk-beak from the lower base And reach your skinny little neck And take your first bite at some dim bit of herbage, Alone, small insect, Tiny bright-eye, Slow one.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The first day to heave your feet little by little from the shell, Not yet awake, And remain lapsed on earth, Not quite alive.
tiny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A tiny, fragile, half-animate bean.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading You know what it is to be born alone, Baby tortoise!
tortoise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You know what it is to be born alone, Baby tortoise!
upper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To open your tiny beak-mouth, that looks as if it would never open, Like some iron door; To lift the upper hawk-beak from the lower base And reach your skinny little neck And take your first bite at some dim bit of herbage, Alone, small insect, Tiny bright-eye, Slow one.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading You know what it is to be born alone, Baby tortoise!
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading To open your tiny beak-mouth, that looks as if it would never open, Like some iron door; To lift the upper hawk-beak from the lower base And reach your skinny little neck And take your first bite at some dim bit of herbage, Alone, small insect, Tiny bright-eye, Slow one.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading The first day to heave your feet little by little from the shell, Not yet awake, And remain lapsed on earth, Not quite alive.
YoupronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You know what it is to be born alone, Baby tortoise!
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading The first day to heave your feet little by little from the shell, Not yet awake, And remain lapsed on earth, Not quite alive.
