title: How do I extract and edit a dict value without editing the dict itself?
body: <p>I have a dictionary where the keys are letters, and the values are arrays.  I want to extract one of the arrays, and then pop a value from it, without changing the dictionary.</p>
  <pre><code>mydict = {'a': ['apple', 'avocado'], 
            'b': ['banana', 'berry'], 
            'c': ['carrot', 'cucumber']}
  
  fruits = mydict['a']
  fruits.pop(0)
  </code></pre>
  <p>When I print the dict I then get:</p>
  <pre><code>&gt;&gt; {'a': ['avocado'], 'b': ['banana', 'berry'], 'c': ['carrot', 'cucumber']}
  </code></pre>
  <p>How do I get a copy of the list that won't change the dictionary when I pop from it?</p>