'It's(contraction of 'it is' [ɪts]) all about(completely related to or concerned with [ɔl əˈbaʊt]) as curious as it can be(extremely strange or odd; as strange as possible [ɛz ˈkjʊriəs ɛz ɪt kən bi]),' said(reporting clause indicating who is speaking [ sɛd]) the Gryphon(a mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle [ðə gryphon]).
'It(referring to a previous topic or event [ɪt]) all(completely [ɔl]) came(happened; occurred [keɪm]) different(not the same as before; changed [ˈdɪfərənt])!' the Mock Turtle(a fictional character in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland [ðə mɑk ˈtərtəl]) repeated(said again [rɪˈpitɪd]) thoughtfully(in a pensive or reflective manner [ˈθɔtfəli]). 'I(the speaker [aɪ]) should like(would like; want to [ʃʊd laɪk]) to hear(to listen to [tɪ hir]) her(referring to Alice [hər]) try(attempt [traɪ]) and repeat(and say again [ənd rɪˈpit]) something(a particular thing [ˈsəmθɪŋ]) now(at the present time [naʊ]). Tell(instruct; order [tɛl]) her(Alice [hər]) to begin(to start [tɪ bɪˈgɪn]).' He(reporting clause indicating who is speaking [ hi]) looked(gazed; directed his eyes [lʊkt]) at(toward [æt]) the Gryphon(a mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle [ðə gryphon]) as if(in a way that suggests [ɛz ɪf]) he(referring to the Mock Turtle [hi]) thought(believed; considered [θɔt]) it(the Gryphon [ɪt]) had(possessed [hæd]) some kind of(a certain type of [səm kaɪnd əv]) authority(power; control [əˈθɔrəti]) over(in relation to; regarding [ˈoʊvər]) Alice(the main character [ˈælɪs]).
'Stand(to be in or rise to an upright position, supported by one's feet [stænd]) up(to a vertical position [əp]) and(in addition to [ənd]) repeat(say something again [rɪˈpit]) "'TIS(archaic form of 'it is' [tɪz]) THE(definite article, referring to a specific voice [ðə]) VOICE(sound made by someone speaking or singing [vɔɪs]) OF(belonging to or associated with [əv]) THE(definite article, referring to a specific sluggard [ðə]) SLUGGARD(a lazy, inactive person [sluggard]),"' said(spoke [sɛd]) the Gryphon(a mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle [ðə gryphon]).
'How(used to express surprise or wonder [haʊ]) the creatures(the animals or beings [ðə ˈkriʧərz]) order(command; tell [ˈɔrdər]) one(someone; a person [wən]) about(around; in a bossy way [əˈbaʊt]), and(in addition to [ənd]) make(force; cause [meɪk]) one(someone; a person [wən]) repeat(say again [rɪˈpit]) lessons(things to be learned [ˈlɛsənz])!' thought(what Alice was thinking [ θɔt]) Alice(the main character [ˈælɪs]); 'I(the speaker [ aɪ]) might as well(could just as easily [maɪt ɛz wɛl]) be(exist; be present [bi]) at(in the location of [æt]) school(a place of learning [skul]) at once(immediately; right away [æt wəns]).' However(nevertheless; despite that [ ˌhaʊˈɛvər]), she(referring to Alice [ ʃi]) got up(stood up [gɑt əp]), and(and then [ ənd]) began(started [bɪˈgæn]) to repeat(to say again [tɪ rɪˈpit]) it(the lesson [ɪt]), but(however [ bət]) her(referring to Alice [hər]) head(the part of the body above the neck [hɛd]) was(was [wɑz]) so(to such a great extent [soʊ]) full(occupied; filled [fʊl]) of(containing [əv]) the Lobster Quadrille(a dance [ðə ˈlɑbstər quadrille]), that(as a result [ ðət]) she(Alice [ʃi]) hardly(barely; scarcely [ˈhɑrdli]) knew(understood; was aware of [nu]) what(the thing that [wət]) she(Alice [ʃi]) was saying(speaking [wɑz seɪɪŋ]), and(and as a result [ ənd]) the words(the spoken language [ðə wərdz]) came(sounded; were expressed [keɪm]) very(extremely [ˈvɛri]) queer(strange; odd [kwɪr]) indeed(in truth; certainly):—
''Tis(archaic contraction of 'it is' [tɪz]) the voice(the sound or utterance made by someone or something [ðə vɔɪs]) of the Lobster(referring to a specific lobster, personified in the poem [əv ðə ˈlɑbstər]); I heard(the speaker's auditory experience [aɪ hərd]) him declare(him making a statement or announcement [ɪm dɪˈklɛr]),
"You have baked(past perfect tense, indicating that someone has baked the lobster [ju hæv beɪkt]) me too brown(meaning the lobster has been overcooked [mi tu braʊn]), I must(expressing necessity or obligation [aɪ məst]) sugar my hair(a humorous and nonsensical statement, personifying the lobster [ˈʃʊgər maɪ hɛr])."
As a duck(introducing a comparison using the word 'as', referring to a duck [ɛz ə dək]) with its eyelids(referring to the duck's eyelids [wɪθ ɪts ˈaɪˌlɪdz]), so he(comparing the lobster to the duck [soʊ hi]) with his nose(referring to the lobster's nose [wɪθ hɪz noʊz])
Trims(to make something neat or tidy by cutting away irregular or unwanted parts [trɪmz]) his belt(referring to the lobster's belt [hɪz bɛlt]) and his buttons(referring to the lobster's buttons [ənd hɪz ˈbətənz]), and turns out(to direct or move something so that it faces outward [ənd tərnz aʊt]) his toes(referring to the lobster's toes [hɪz toʊz]).'
[later editions(referring to subsequent versions of a publication ˈleɪtər ɪˈdɪʃənz])</span></span>[[ continued as follows(indicating that the text continues in the manner described [kənˈtɪnjud ɛz ˈfɑloʊz])
When the sands(referring to grains of sand, typically on a beach [wɪn ðə sændz]) are all dry(meaning the sand is not wet [ər ɔl draɪ]), he is gay(archaic usage meaning happy or cheerful [hi ɪz geɪ]) as a lark(a simile comparing the lobster's happiness to that of a lark (a type of bird [ɛz ə lɑrk]),
And will talk(expressing future action or intention to speak [ənd wɪl tɔk]) in contemptuous tones(speaking with disdain or scorn [ɪn kənˈtɛmpʧuəs toʊnz]) of the Shark(referring to a shark [əv ðə ʃɑrk]),
But, when(introducing a contrast or condition [bət wɪn]) the tide rises(referring to the increase in water level [ðə taɪd ˈraɪzɪz]) and sharks are around(indicating the presence of sharks [ənd ʃɑrks ər əraʊnd]),
His voice(referring to the sound produced by the lobster [hɪz vɔɪs]) has a timid(showing a lack of courage or confidence [həz ə ˈtɪmɪd]) and tremulous sound(characterized by trembling or shaking [ənd ˈtrɛmjələs saʊnd]]).]
'That's(contraction of 'that is' [ðæts]) different(not the same as another or each other; unlike in nature, form, or quality [ˈdɪfərənt]) from what(in contrast to what [frəm wət]) I used to say(something the speaker said habitually in the past [aɪ juzd tɪ seɪ]) when I was(during the time the speaker was [wɪn aɪ wɑz]) a child(a young person [ə ʧaɪld]),' said(the speaker said [ sɛd]) the Gryphon(the name of the speaker [ðə gryphon]).
'Well(An introductory word, often expressing surprise, resignation, or mild emphasis [wɛl]), I(The speaker or writer [aɪ]) never(At no time in the past [ˈnɛvər]) heard(Past tense of 'hear', meaning to perceive with the ear [hərd]) it(Referring to something previously mentioned or understood [ɪt]) before(Previously; in the past [ˌbiˈfɔr]),' (Indicates the end of the quote)said(Past tense of 'say', indicating who is speaking [sɛd]) the Mock Turtle(The name of the character speaking [ðə mɑk ˈtərtəl]); (Used to separate related clauses)'but(A conjunction used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something [bət]) it(Referring to something previously mentioned or understood [ɪt]) sounds(Appears or seems to be [saʊnz]) uncommon(Rare; unusual [ənˈkɑmən]) nonsense(Words or ideas that are foolish or make no sense [ˈnɑnsɛns]).'
Alice(The name of the character [ˈælɪs]) said(Past tense of 'say', indicating who is speaking [sɛd]) nothing(Not anything; no single thing [ˈnəθɪŋ]); (Used to separate related clauses)she(Referring to Alice [ʃi]) had sat down(Past perfect tense of 'sit down', meaning to take a seat [hæd sæt daʊn]) with(In the company of; alongside [wɪθ]) her face(The front part of the head [hər feɪs]) in(Enclosed or surrounded by [ɪn]) her hands(The terminal part of the human arm beyond the wrist [hər hænz]), (Used to separate elements in a list or to add a pause)wondering(Feeling curiosity or doubt about something [ˈwəndərɪŋ]) if(Expressing a condition or doubt [ɪf]) anything(A thing of any kind [ˈɛniˌθɪŋ]) would(Expressing a desire or possibility [wʊd]) EVER(At any time; used for emphasis [ˈɛvər]) happen(Take place; occur [ˈhæpən]) in(Expressing the situation of something surrounded or enclosed [ɪn]) a natural way(Occurring through natural processes, not artificially [ə ˈnæʧərəl weɪ]) again(Once more; another time [əˈgɛn]).
'I(The speaker or writer [aɪ]) should(Expressing a condition or politeness [ʃʊd]) like(To find pleasant or agreeable [laɪk]) to have(To possess or experience [tɪ hæv]) it(Referring to something previously mentioned or understood [ɪt]) explained(To make clear or understandable [ɪkˈspleɪnd]),' (Indicates the end of the quote)said(Past tense of 'say', indicating who is speaking [sɛd]) the Mock Turtle(The name of the character speaking [ðə mɑk ˈtərtəl]).
'She(Referring to a female person [ʃi]) can't(Contraction of 'cannot', meaning is not able to [kænt]) explain(To make clear or understandable [ɪkˈspleɪn]) it(Referring to something previously mentioned or understood [ɪt]),' (Indicates the end of the quote)said(Past tense of 'say', indicating who is speaking [sɛd]) the Gryphon(The name of the character speaking [ðə gryphon]) hastily(Done with excessive speed or urgency [ˈheɪstəli]). (Indicates the end of the sentence)'Go(To move from one place to another [goʊ]) on(Continue [ɔn]) with(Accompanied by [wɪθ]) the next verse(The following section of a poem or song [ðə nɛkst vərs]).'
'But(A conjunction used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something [bət]) about(Concerning; regarding [əˈbaʊt]) his(Belonging to him [hɪz]) toes(The digits on the foot [toʊz])?' (Indicates the end of the question)the Mock Turtle(The name of the character speaking [ðə mɑk ˈtərtəl]) persisted(Continued firmly or obstinately in an opinion or course of action [pərˈsɪstɪd]). (Indicates the end of the sentence)'How(In what way or manner [haʊ]) COULD(Expressing possibility or ability in the past [kʊd]) he(Referring to a male person or animal [hi]) turn(Move in a circular direction [tərn]) them(Referring to the toes [ðɛm]) out(Away from the inside or center [aʊt]) with(Using [wɪθ]) his(Belonging to him [hɪz]) nose(The part of the face above the mouth containing the nostrils [noʊz]), (Used to separate elements in a list or to add a pause)you(The person or people being addressed [ju]) know(To be aware of [noʊ])?'
'It's(Contraction of 'it is', where 'it' refers to the subject being discussed [ɪts]) the first position(The initial stance or arrangement [ðə fərst pəˈzɪʃən]) in(Expressing the situation of something surrounded or enclosed [ɪn]) dancing(The activity of moving rhythmically to music [ˈdænsɪŋ]).' (Indicates the end of the quote)Alice(The name of the character [ˈælɪs]) said(Past tense of 'say', indicating who is speaking [sɛd]); (Used to separate related clauses)but(A conjunction used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something [bət]) was(Past tense of 'be' [wɑz]) dreadfully(Extremely bad or unpleasant [ˈdrɛdfəli]) puzzled(Unable to understand something [ˈpəzəld]) by(Expressing the agent performing an action [baɪ]) the whole thing(Everything being considered [ðə hoʊl θɪŋ]), (Used to separate elements in a list or to add a pause)and(A conjunction used to connect words or clauses [ənd]) longed(To have a strong desire or craving [lɔŋd]) to change(To make or become different [tɪ ʧeɪnʤ]) the subject(A person or thing that is being discussed, described, or dealt with [ðə ˈsəbʤɪkt]).
'Go on with(continue or proceed with [goʊ ɔn wɪθ]) the next verse(the following stanza or section of a poem or song [ðə nɛkst vərs]),' the Gryphon(a mythical creature with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion [ðə gryphon]) repeated(said again [rɪˈpitɪd]) impatiently(in a way that shows irritation or annoyance due to delay or opposition [ˌɪmˈpeɪʃəntli]): 'it begins(the verse starts [ɪt bɪˈgɪnz]) "I passed by his garden(the opening line of the verse being referred to [aɪ pæst baɪ hɪz ˈgɑrdən)])."'
Alice(the name of the character [ˈælɪs]) did not dare(did not have the courage or confidence [dɪd nɑt dɛr]) to disobey(to refuse to follow instructions or orders [tɪ ˌdɪsəˈbeɪ]), though(although [ðoʊ]) she felt sure(she was certain [ʃi fɛlt ʃʊr]) it would all come wrong(everything would go badly or incorrectly [ɪt wʊd ɔl kəm rɔŋ]), and(conjunction used to connect clauses [ənd]) she went on(she continued [ʃi wɛnt ɔn]) in a trembling voice(speaking with a shaky voice, often due to fear or nervousness):—