She(third-person singular pronoun, referring to a female [ʃi]) had(auxiliary verb, indicating past perfect tense [hæd]) quite(completely; entirely [kwaɪt]) forgotten(past participle of 'forget', meaning to have ceased to remember [fərˈgɑtən]) the Duchess(referring to a specific female noble with the title of Duchess [ðə ˈdəʧəs]) by this time(at this point; now [baɪ ðɪs taɪm]), and(conjunction, connecting two clauses [ənd]) was(past tense of 'be' [wɑz]) a little(slightly; somewhat [ə ˈlɪtəl]) startled(surprised or alarmed [ˈstɑrtəld]) when(conjunction, introducing a time clause [wɪn]) she(third-person singular pronoun, referring to a female [ʃi]) heard(past tense of 'hear', meaning to perceive with the ear [hərd]) her(possessive pronoun, referring to the Duchess [hər]) voice(the sound produced by a person's vocal cords [vɔɪs]) close to(near to; in proximity to [kloʊz tɪ]) her(possessive pronoun, referring to Alice [hər]) ear(the organ of hearing [ɪr]). 'You're(contraction of 'you are' [jʊr]) thinking(present participle of 'think', meaning to have thoughts or consider something [ˈθɪŋkɪŋ]) about(regarding; concerning [əˈbaʊt]) something(an unspecified thing [ˈsəmθɪŋ]), my dear(a term of endearment [maɪ dɪr]), and(conjunction, connecting two clauses [ənd]) that(pronoun, referring to the previous statement [ðət]) makes(third-person singular present tense of 'make', meaning to cause [meɪks]) you(second-person singular pronoun [ju]) forget(to fail to remember [fərˈgɛt]) to talk(to speak [tɪ tɔk]). I(first-person singular pronoun [aɪ]) can't(contraction of 'cannot' [kænt]) tell(to communicate information [tɛl]) you(second-person singular pronoun [ju]) just now(at this moment; right now [ʤɪst naʊ]) what(pronoun, asking for information [wət]) the moral(the lesson or principle to be learned from a story or experience [ðə ˈmɔrəl]) of that(referring to the previous statement [əv ðət]) is(third-person singular present tense of 'be' [ɪz]), but(conjunction, introducing a contrasting statement [bət]) I(first-person singular pronoun [aɪ]) shall(auxiliary verb, indicating future tense (more formal than 'will' [ʃæl]) remember(to recall something from memory [rɪˈmɛmbər]) it(pronoun, referring to 'the moral' [ɪt]) in a bit(soon; in a little while [ɪn ə bɪt]).'
'Perhaps(possibly; maybe [pərˈhæps]) it(pronoun, referring to something previously mentioned or understood [ɪt]) hasn't(contraction of 'has not' [ˈhæzənt]) one(pronoun, referring to a moral [wən]),' (end quotation mark)Alice(name of a person [ˈælɪs]) ventured(dared to say something [ˈvɛnʧərd]) to remark(to say something as a comment [tɪ rɪˈmɑrk]).
'Tut, tut, child(an expression of mild disapproval or impatience [tət tət ʧaɪld])!' said(past tense of 'say', meaning to utter words [sɛd]) the Duchess(referring to a specific female noble with the title of Duchess [ðə ˈdəʧəs]). 'Everything's(contraction of 'everything is' [ˈɛvriˌθɪŋz]) got(has [gɑt]) a moral(a lesson or principle to be learned [ə ˈmɔrəl]), if(conditional conjunction [ɪf]) only(just; merely [ˈoʊnli]) you(second-person singular pronoun [ju]) can(to be able to [kən]) find(to discover or locate [faɪnd]) it(pronoun, referring to the moral [ɪt]).' And(conjunction, connecting two clauses [ənd]) she(third-person singular pronoun, referring to the Duchess [ʃi]) squeezed(pressed tightly [skwizd]) herself(reflexive pronoun, referring to the Duchess [hərˈsɛlf]) up(closer [əp]) closer(in closer proximity [ˈkloʊzər]) to(preposition, indicating direction [tɪ]) Alice's(possessive form of Alice [ˈælɪsəz]) side(the area next to someone [saɪd]) as(while [ɛz]) she(third-person singular pronoun, referring to the Duchess [ʃi]) spoke(past tense of 'speak', meaning to say words [spoʊk]).
Alice(name of a person [ˈælɪs]) did(auxiliary verb, used for emphasis or to form questions/negations in the past tense [dɪd]) not(negative particle [nɑt]) much(to a great extent; a lot [məʧ]) like(to enjoy or be fond of [laɪk]) keeping(remaining or staying [ˈkipɪŋ]) so(to such a degree [soʊ]) close(near [kloʊz]) to(preposition, indicating proximity [tɪ]) her(possessive pronoun, referring to the Duchess [hər]): first(initially; firstly [fərst]), because(for the reason that [bɪˈkəz]) the Duchess(referring to a specific female noble with the title of Duchess [ðə ˈdəʧəs]) was(past tense of 'be' [wɑz]) VERY(extremely; greatly [ˈvɛri]) ugly(unpleasant to look at [ˈəgli]); and(conjunction, connecting two clauses [ənd]) secondly(in the second place; secondly [ˈsɛkəndli]), because(for the reason that [bɪˈkəz]) she(third-person singular pronoun, referring to the Duchess [ʃi]) was(past tense of 'be' [wɑz]) exactly(precisely; accurately [ɪgˈzæktli]) the right(correct [ðə raɪt]) height(the measurement from base to top [haɪt]) to(in order to [tɪ]) rest(to place or support [rɛst]) her(possessive pronoun, referring to the Duchess [hər]) chin(the part of the face below the mouth [ʧɪn]) upon(on [əˈpɑn]) Alice's(possessive form of Alice [ˈælɪsəz]) shoulder(the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm [ˈʃoʊldər]), and(conjunction, connecting two clauses [ənd]) it(pronoun, referring to the Duchess's chin being on Alice's shoulder [ɪt]) was(past tense of 'be' [wɑz]) an(indefinite article, used before a vowel sound [ən]) uncomfortably(in an uncomfortable manner [ənˈkəmftəbli]) sharp(having a thin edge or point [ʃɑrp]) chin(the part of the face below the mouth [ʧɪn]). However(nevertheless; despite this [ˌhaʊˈɛvər]), she(third-person singular pronoun, referring to Alice [ʃi]) did(auxiliary verb, used for emphasis or to form questions/negations in the past tense [dɪd]) not(negative particle [nɑt]) like(to want [laɪk]) to be(to act in a certain way [tɪ bi]) rude(impolite or offensive [rud]), so(therefore; as a result [soʊ]) she(third-person singular pronoun, referring to Alice [ʃi]) bore(past tense of 'bear', meaning to endure [bɔr]) it(pronoun, referring to the situation [ɪt]) as well as(to the best of her ability [ɛz wɛl ɛz]) she(third-person singular pronoun, referring to Alice [ʃi]) could(past tense of 'can', indicating ability [kʊd]).
'The game's(contraction of 'The game is', indicating the current state or progress of the game [ðə geɪmz]) going on(progressing; continuing; happening [goʊɪŋ ɔn]) rather better(somewhat improved; slightly better than before [ˈrəðər ˈbɛtər]) now(at the present time; currently [naʊ]),' she said(an attribution to the speaker, indicating who is speaking [ ʃi sɛd]), by way of(as a means of; in order to [baɪ weɪ əv]) keeping up(maintaining; continuing [ˈkipɪŋ əp]) the conversation(the act of talking; the exchange of words [ðə ˌkɑnvərˈseɪʃən]) a little(slightly; to a small extent [ə ˈlɪtəl]).
''Tis so(archaic form of 'It is so,' meaning 'That is true' or 'Indeed' [tɪz soʊ]),' said the Duchess(attribution to the speaker, indicating the Duchess is speaking [sɛd ðə ˈdəʧəs]): 'and the moral of that is(introducing the lesson or point to be learned from the preceding statement [ənd ðə ˈmɔrəl əv ðət ɪz-])—"Oh, 'tis love, 'tis love, that makes the world go round(a figurative expression suggesting that love is the driving force behind everything [ðət meɪks ðə wərld goʊ raʊnd])!"'
'Somebody said(an unspecified person made a statement [ˈsəmˌbɑdi sɛd]),' Alice whispered(attribution to the speaker, indicating Alice is speaking softly [ˈælɪs ˈwɪspərd]), 'that it's(contraction of 'that it is', referring to something previously mentioned or understood [ðət ɪts]) done(accomplished; performed; carried out [dən]) by everybody(by each person; by everyone [baɪ ˈɛvriˌbɑdi]) minding(paying attention to; taking care of [ˈmaɪndɪŋ]) their own business(focusing on one's own affairs and not interfering in the affairs of others [ðɛr oʊn ˈbɪznɪs])!'
'Ah, well(an expression of mild resignation or acceptance [ɑ wɛl])! It means(it signifies; it indicates [ɪt minz]) much the same thing(very similar; almost identical in meaning [məʧ ðə seɪm θɪŋ]),' said the Duchess(attribution to the speaker, indicating the Duchess is speaking [sɛd ðə ˈdəʧəs]), digging(poking or pressing firmly [ˈdɪgɪŋ]) her sharp little chin(referring to the Duchess's pointed chin [hər ʃɑrp ˈlɪtəl ʧɪn]) into Alice's shoulder(pressing her chin against Alice's shoulder [ˈɪntu ˈælɪsəz ˈʃoʊldər]) as she added(while continuing to speak [ɛz ʃi ˈædɪd]), 'and the moral of THAT is(introducing the lesson or point to be learned from the preceding statement [ənd ðə ˈmɔrəl əv ðət ɪz-])—"Take care of(pay attention to; be mindful of [teɪk kɛr əv]) the sense(the meaning; the understanding [ðə sɛns]), and the sounds(the words; the spoken language [ənd ðə saʊnz]) will take care of(will manage; will handle [wɪl teɪk kɛr əv]) themselves(without needing additional attention or effort [ðɛmˈsɛlvz])."'
'How fond she is of finding morals in things(Expresses Alice's observation about someone's tendency to extract moral lessons from everyday occurrences. [haʊ fɑnd ʃi ɪz əv ˈfaɪndɪŋ ˈmɔrəlz ɪn θɪŋz])!' Alice thought to herself(Indicates that the preceding thought was internal to Alice. [ˈælɪs θɔt tɪ hərˈsɛlf]).
'I dare say(An expression meaning 'I suppose' or 'I imagine' [aɪ dɛr seɪ]) you're wondering(contraction of 'you are wondering', expressing curiosity or speculation [jʊr ˈwəndərɪŋ]) why I don't put my arm round your waist(expressing the reason for not embracing someone [waɪ aɪ doʊnt pʊt maɪ ɑrm raʊnd jʊr weɪst]),' the Duchess said after a pause(Indicates that the Duchess spoke after a brief silence [ðə ˈdəʧəs sɛd ˈæftər ə pɔz]): 'the reason is, that I'm doubtful(Explains the cause of hesitation or uncertainty [ðə ˈrizən ɪz ðət əm ˈdaʊtfəl]) about the temper of your flamingo(Expresses concern about the flamingo's disposition or mood. [əˈbaʊt ðə ˈtɛmpər əv jʊr fləˈmɪŋgoʊ]). Shall I try the experiment(Proposes testing a hypothesis or trying something new. [ʃæl aɪ traɪ ðə ɪkˈspɛrəmənt])?'
'HE might bite(Suggests a potential action of biting, referring to the flamingo [hi maɪt baɪt]),' Alice cautiously replied(Indicates that Alice responded with care and prudence [ˈælɪs ˈkɔʃəsli rɪˈplaɪd]), not feeling at all anxious(Expresses a lack of eagerness or desire [nɑt ˈfilɪŋ æt ɔl ˈæŋʃəs]) to have the experiment tried(Indicates a reluctance to undergo the proposed test. [tɪ hæv ðə ɪkˈspɛrəmənt traɪd]).
'Very true(Agreement with a previous statement [ˈvɛri tru]),' said the Duchess(Indicates that the Duchess is speaking [sɛd ðə ˈdəʧəs]): 'flamingoes and mustard both bite(Compares the biting nature of flamingoes and mustard. [flamingoes ənd ˈməstərd boʊθ baɪt]). And the moral of that is—"Birds of a feather flock together(Draws a moral lesson, stating that similar individuals tend to associate with each other. [ənd ðə ˈmɔrəl əv ðət is-birds əv ə ˈfɛðər flɑk təˈgɛðər])."'
'Only mustard isn't a bird(Corrects a previous statement by pointing out that mustard is not a bird. [ˈoʊnli ˈməstərd ˈɪzənt ə bərd]),' Alice remarked(Indicates that Alice made an observation. [ˈælɪs rɪˈmɑrkt]).
'Right, as usual(An expression indicating agreement or acknowledgement, often with a hint of resignation or sarcasm. 'Right' signifies agreement, 'as usual' implies that the situation is typical or expected. [raɪt ɛz ˈjuʒəwəl]),' said(past tense of 'say', indicating who is speaking [sɛd]) the Duchess(identifies the speaker as the Duchess [ðə ˈdəʧəs]): 'what a clear way(exclamation expressing admiration for someone's ability to explain things lucidly [wət ə klɪr weɪ]) you have(indicates possession of a quality or skill [ju hæv]) of putting things(refers to the manner in which someone expresses or explains something. The exclamation mark emphasizes the admiration. [əv ˈpʊtɪŋ θɪŋz])!'
'It's(contraction of 'it is' [ɪts]) a mineral(a naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and crystalline structure [ə ˈmɪnərəl]), I THINK(indicates uncertainty or speculation [aɪ θɪŋk]),' said(past tense of 'say', indicating who is speaking [sɛd]) Alice(identifies the speaker as Alice [ˈælɪs]).