used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading BETTY AND ANNETTE The girls' laughter ceased, and they looked at Ruth a little questioningly as if expecting that she would explain.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading She could not understand why Ruth, her very best friend, should have turned against her, and denied the story.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading But it was Betty who, slipping her arm around Winifred, said pleasantly: "Well, we are all obliged to Winnie for telling us such a beautiful story.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading And I am sure it is just what the fairies would do if they happened to think of it."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading BETTY AND ANNETTE The girls' laughter ceased, and they looked at Ruth a little questioningly as if expecting that she would explain.
ANNETTE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BETTY AND ANNETTE The girls' laughter ceased, and they looked at Ruth a little questioningly as if expecting that she would explain.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But it was Betty who, slipping her arm around Winifred, said pleasantly: "Well, we are all obliged to Winnie for telling us such a beautiful story.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading But it was Betty who, slipping her arm around Winifred, said pleasantly: "Well, we are all obliged to Winnie for telling us such a beautiful story.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading But it was Betty who, slipping her arm around Winifred, said pleasantly: "Well, we are all obliged to Winnie for telling us such a beautiful story.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading BETTY AND ANNETTE The girls' laughter ceased, and they looked at Ruth a little questioningly as if expecting that she would explain.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading BETTY AND ANNETTE The girls' laughter ceased, and they looked at Ruth a little questioningly as if expecting that she would explain.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading But it was Betty who, slipping her arm around Winifred, said pleasantly: "Well, we are all obliged to Winnie for telling us such a beautiful story.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading She could not understand why Ruth, her very best friend, should have turned against her, and denied the story.
BETTY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BETTY AND ANNETTE The girls' laughter ceased, and they looked at Ruth a little questioningly as if expecting that she would explain.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But it was Betty who, slipping her arm around Winifred, said pleasantly: "Well, we are all obliged to Winnie for telling us such a beautiful story.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading BETTY AND ANNETTE The girls' laughter ceased, and they looked at Ruth a little questioningly as if expecting that she would explain.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She could not understand why Ruth, her very best friend, should have turned against her, and denied the story.
deniedverbUS /dɪˈnaɪd/
inflected form of “deny” — declare untrue; contradict
From this reading She could not understand why Ruth, her very best friend, should have turned against her, and denied the story.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading And I am sure it is just what the fairies would do if they happened to think of it."
-ing form of “expect” — regard something as probable or likely
From this reading BETTY AND ANNETTE The girls' laughter ceased, and they looked at Ruth a little questioningly as if expecting that she would explain.
make plain and comprehensible
From this reading BETTY AND ANNETTE The girls' laughter ceased, and they looked at Ruth a little questioningly as if expecting that she would explain.
fairiesnounUS /ˈferiz/
plural of “fairy” — a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers
From this reading And I am sure it is just what the fairies would do if they happened to think of it."
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Winifred looked up at the older girl gratefully, but she felt very unhappy.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But it was Betty who, slipping her arm around Winifred, said pleasantly: "Well, we are all obliged to Winnie for telling us such a beautiful story.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading She could not understand why Ruth, her very best friend, should have turned against her, and denied the story.
a young female
From this reading Winifred looked up at the older girl gratefully, but she felt very unhappy.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading BETTY AND ANNETTE The girls' laughter ceased, and they looked at Ruth a little questioningly as if expecting that she would explain.
gratefullyadverbUS /ˈɡreɪtfəli/
with appreciation; in a grateful manner
From this reading Winifred looked up at the older girl gratefully, but she felt very unhappy.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading And I am sure it is just what the fairies would do if they happened to think of it."
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She could not understand why Ruth, her very best friend, should have turned against her, and denied the story.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But it was Betty who, slipping her arm around Winifred, said pleasantly: "Well, we are all obliged to Winnie for telling us such a beautiful story.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading And I am sure it is just what the fairies would do if they happened to think of it."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading BETTY AND ANNETTE The girls' laughter ceased, and they looked at Ruth a little questioningly as if expecting that she would explain.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And I am sure it is just what the fairies would do if they happened to think of it."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But it was Betty who, slipping her arm around Winifred, said pleasantly: "Well, we are all obliged to Winnie for telling us such a beautiful story.
and nothing more
From this reading And I am sure it is just what the fairies would do if they happened to think of it."
the sound of laughing
From this reading BETTY AND ANNETTE The girls' laughter ceased, and they looked at Ruth a little questioningly as if expecting that she would explain.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading BETTY AND ANNETTE The girls' laughter ceased, and they looked at Ruth a little questioningly as if expecting that she would explain.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading BETTY AND ANNETTE The girls' laughter ceased, and they looked at Ruth a little questioningly as if expecting that she would explain.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She could not understand why Ruth, her very best friend, should have turned against her, and denied the story.
under a moral obligation to do something
From this reading But it was Betty who, slipping her arm around Winifred, said pleasantly: "Well, we are all obliged to Winnie for telling us such a beautiful story.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading And I am sure it is just what the fairies would do if they happened to think of it."
olderadjectiveUS /ˈoʊldər/
advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)
From this reading Winifred looked up at the older girl gratefully, but she felt very unhappy.
pleasantlyadverbUS /ˈplezəntli/
in a cheerful manner
From this reading But it was Betty who, slipping her arm around Winifred, said pleasantly: "Well, we are all obliged to Winnie for telling us such a beautiful story.
questioninglyadverb
in a curious and questioning manner
From this reading BETTY AND ANNETTE The girls' laughter ceased, and they looked at Ruth a little questioningly as if expecting that she would explain.
United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading BETTY AND ANNETTE The girls' laughter ceased, and they looked at Ruth a little questioningly as if expecting that she would explain.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading But it was Betty who, slipping her arm around Winifred, said pleasantly: "Well, we are all obliged to Winnie for telling us such a beautiful story.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading BETTY AND ANNETTE The girls' laughter ceased, and they looked at Ruth a little questioningly as if expecting that she would explain.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading She could not understand why Ruth, her very best friend, should have turned against her, and denied the story.
slippingadjectiveUS /ˈslɪpɪŋ/
moving as on a slippery surface
From this reading But it was Betty who, slipping her arm around Winifred, said pleasantly: "Well, we are all obliged to Winnie for telling us such a beautiful story.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading But it was Betty who, slipping her arm around Winifred, said pleasantly: "Well, we are all obliged to Winnie for telling us such a beautiful story.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading But it was Betty who, slipping her arm around Winifred, said pleasantly: "Well, we are all obliged to Winnie for telling us such a beautiful story.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading And I am sure it is just what the fairies would do if they happened to think of it."
disclosing unintentionally something concealed
From this reading But it was Betty who, slipping her arm around Winifred, said pleasantly: "Well, we are all obliged to Winnie for telling us such a beautiful story.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading BETTY AND ANNETTE The girls' laughter ceased, and they looked at Ruth a little questioningly as if expecting that she would explain.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading BETTY AND ANNETTE The girls' laughter ceased, and they looked at Ruth a little questioningly as if expecting that she would explain.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading BETTY AND ANNETTE The girls' laughter ceased, and they looked at Ruth a little questioningly as if expecting that she would explain.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading And I am sure it is just what the fairies would do if they happened to think of it."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But it was Betty who, slipping her arm around Winifred, said pleasantly: "Well, we are all obliged to Winnie for telling us such a beautiful story.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading She could not understand why Ruth, her very best friend, should have turned against her, and denied the story.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading She could not understand why Ruth, her very best friend, should have turned against her, and denied the story.
experiencing or marked by or causing sadness or sorrow or discontent
From this reading Winifred looked up at the older girl gratefully, but she felt very unhappy.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Winifred looked up at the older girl gratefully, but she felt very unhappy.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But it was Betty who, slipping her arm around Winifred, said pleasantly: "Well, we are all obliged to Winnie for telling us such a beautiful story.
precisely as stated
From this reading Winifred looked up at the older girl gratefully, but she felt very unhappy.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But it was Betty who, slipping her arm around Winifred, said pleasantly: "Well, we are all obliged to Winnie for telling us such a beautiful story.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading But it was Betty who, slipping her arm around Winifred, said pleasantly: "Well, we are all obliged to Winnie for telling us such a beautiful story.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading But it was Betty who, slipping her arm around Winifred, said pleasantly: "Well, we are all obliged to Winnie for telling us such a beautiful story.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading And I am sure it is just what the fairies would do if they happened to think of it."
which person or people
From this reading But it was Betty who, slipping her arm around Winifred, said pleasantly: "Well, we are all obliged to Winnie for telling us such a beautiful story.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading She could not understand why Ruth, her very best friend, should have turned against her, and denied the story.
Winifred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it was Betty who, slipping her arm around Winifred, said pleasantly: "Well, we are all obliged to Winnie for telling us such a beautiful story.
Winnie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it was Betty who, slipping her arm around Winifred, said pleasantly: "Well, we are all obliged to Winnie for telling us such a beautiful story.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading BETTY AND ANNETTE The girls' laughter ceased, and they looked at Ruth a little questioningly as if expecting that she would explain.
