used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The next morning matters began by being a little better, and might have gone on being so but for Diana.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It did not seem so very dreadful to Iris and Apollo to have cousins to walk about with and talk to.
having fair knowledge of
From this reading The four little Delaneys had slept well, and were refreshed; and as the sun was shining brightly, and there was a pleasant breeze blowing, Mrs. Dolman decided that all the nine children might have a holiday in order to get acquainted with one another.
(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 The four little Delaneys had slept well, and were refreshed; and as the sun was shining brightly, and there was a pleasant breeze blowing, Mrs. Dolman decided that all the nine children might have a holiday in order to get acquainted with one another.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The next morning matters began by being a little better, and might have gone on being so but for Diana.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading The four little Delaneys had slept well, and were refreshed; and as the sun was shining brightly, and there was a pleasant breeze blowing, Mrs. Dolman decided that all the nine children might have a holiday in order to get acquainted with one another.
ApollonounUS /əˈpɑːloʊ/
(Greek mythology) Greek god of light; god of prophecy and poetry and music and healing; son of Zeus and Leto; twin brother of Artemis
From this reading It did not seem so very dreadful to Iris and Apollo to have cousins to walk about with and talk to.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The four little Delaneys had slept well, and were refreshed; and as the sun was shining brightly, and there was a pleasant breeze blowing, Mrs. Dolman decided that all the nine children might have a holiday in order to get acquainted with one another.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The next morning matters began by being a little better, and might have gone on being so but for Diana.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The next morning matters began by being a little better, and might have gone on being so but for Diana.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading The next morning matters began by being a little better, and might have gone on being so but for Diana.
blowingnounUS /ˈbloʊɪŋ/
processing that involves blowing a gas
From this reading The four little Delaneys had slept well, and were refreshed; and as the sun was shining brightly, and there was a pleasant breeze blowing, Mrs. Dolman decided that all the nine children might have a holiday in order to get acquainted with one another.
a slight wind (usually refreshing)
From this reading The four little Delaneys had slept well, and were refreshed; and as the sun was shining brightly, and there was a pleasant breeze blowing, Mrs. Dolman decided that all the nine children might have a holiday in order to get acquainted with one another.
brightlyadverbUS /ˈbraɪtli/
with brightness
From this reading The four little Delaneys had slept well, and were refreshed; and as the sun was shining brightly, and there was a pleasant breeze blowing, Mrs. Dolman decided that all the nine children might have a holiday in order to get acquainted with one another.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The next morning matters began by being a little better, and might have gone on being so but for Diana.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The next morning matters began by being a little better, and might have gone on being so but for Diana.
a natural or artificial enclosed space
From this reading THE PUNISHMENT CHAMBER.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading The four little Delaneys had slept well, and were refreshed; and as the sun was shining brightly, and there was a pleasant breeze blowing, Mrs. Dolman decided that all the nine children might have a holiday in order to get acquainted with one another.
ConradnounUS /ˈkɑːnræd/
English novelist (born in Poland) noted for sea stories and for his narrative technique (1857-1924)
From this reading Philip and Conrad, too, were fairly kind to little Orion; they took him round to see their gardens and their several pets.
cousinsnounUS /ˈkʌzənz/
plural of “cousin” — the child of your aunt or uncle
From this reading It did not seem so very dreadful to Iris and Apollo to have cousins to walk about with and talk to.
recognizable; marked
From this reading The four little Delaneys had slept well, and were refreshed; and as the sun was shining brightly, and there was a pleasant breeze blowing, Mrs. Dolman decided that all the nine children might have a holiday in order to get acquainted with one another.
Delaneys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The four little Delaneys had slept well, and were refreshed; and as the sun was shining brightly, and there was a pleasant breeze blowing, Mrs. Dolman decided that all the nine children might have a holiday in order to get acquainted with one another.
DiananounUS /daɪˈænə/
English aristocrat who was the first wife of Prince Charles; her death in an automobile accident in Paris produced intense national mourning (1961-1997)
From this reading The next morning matters began by being a little better, and might have gone on being so but for Diana.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It did not seem so very dreadful to Iris and Apollo to have cousins to walk about with and talk to.
DolmannounUS /ˈdɑːlmən/
a hussar's jacket worn over the shoulders
From this reading The four little Delaneys had slept well, and were refreshed; and as the sun was shining brightly, and there was a pleasant breeze blowing, Mrs. Dolman decided that all the nine children might have a holiday in order to get acquainted with one another.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading It did not seem so very dreadful to Iris and Apollo to have cousins to walk about with and talk to.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading Philip and Conrad, too, were fairly kind to little Orion; they took him round to see their gardens and their several pets.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The next morning matters began by being a little better, and might have gone on being so but for Diana.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading The four little Delaneys had slept well, and were refreshed; and as the sun was shining brightly, and there was a pleasant breeze blowing, Mrs. Dolman decided that all the nine children might have a holiday in order to get acquainted with one another.
plural of “garden” — a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading Philip and Conrad, too, were fairly kind to little Orion; they took him round to see their gardens and their several pets.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading The four little Delaneys had slept well, and were refreshed; and as the sun was shining brightly, and there was a pleasant breeze blowing, Mrs. Dolman decided that all the nine children might have a holiday in order to get acquainted with one another.
destroyed or killed
From this reading The next morning matters began by being a little better, and might have gone on being so but for Diana.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The four little Delaneys had slept well, and were refreshed; and as the sun was shining brightly, and there was a pleasant breeze blowing, Mrs. Dolman decided that all the nine children might have a holiday in order to get acquainted with one another.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The next morning matters began by being a little better, and might have gone on being so but for Diana.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Philip and Conrad, too, were fairly kind to little Orion; they took him round to see their gardens and their several pets.
holidaynounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪ/
leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading The four little Delaneys had slept well, and were refreshed; and as the sun was shining brightly, and there was a pleasant breeze blowing, Mrs. Dolman decided that all the nine children might have a holiday in order to get acquainted with one another.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The four little Delaneys had slept well, and were refreshed; and as the sun was shining brightly, and there was a pleasant breeze blowing, Mrs. Dolman decided that all the nine children might have a holiday in order to get acquainted with one another.
IrisnounUS /ˈaɪrəs/
plants with sword-shaped leaves and erect stalks bearing bright-colored flowers composed of three petals and three drooping sepals
From this reading It did not seem so very dreadful to Iris and Apollo to have cousins to walk about with and talk to.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It did not seem so very dreadful to Iris and Apollo to have cousins to walk about with and talk to.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading Philip and Conrad, too, were fairly kind to little Orion; they took him round to see their gardens and their several pets.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The next morning matters began by being a little better, and might have gone on being so but for Diana.
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading The next morning matters began by being a little better, and might have gone on being so but for Diana.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The next morning matters began by being a little better, and might have gone on being so but for Diana.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading The next morning matters began by being a little better, and might have gone on being so but for Diana.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading The four little Delaneys had slept well, and were refreshed; and as the sun was shining brightly, and there was a pleasant breeze blowing, Mrs. Dolman decided that all the nine children might have a holiday in order to get acquainted with one another.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading The next morning matters began by being a little better, and might have gone on being so but for Diana.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one
From this reading The four little Delaneys had slept well, and were refreshed; and as the sun was shining brightly, and there was a pleasant breeze blowing, Mrs. Dolman decided that all the nine children might have a holiday in order to get acquainted with one another.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It did not seem so very dreadful to Iris and Apollo to have cousins to walk about with and talk to.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The next morning matters began by being a little better, and might have gone on being so but for Diana.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The four little Delaneys had slept well, and were refreshed; and as the sun was shining brightly, and there was a pleasant breeze blowing, Mrs. Dolman decided that all the nine children might have a holiday in order to get acquainted with one another.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading The four little Delaneys had slept well, and were refreshed; and as the sun was shining brightly, and there was a pleasant breeze blowing, Mrs. Dolman decided that all the nine children might have a holiday in order to get acquainted with one another.
OrionnounUS /oʊˈraɪən/
(Greek mythology) a giant Boeotian hunter who pursued the Pleiades and was eventually slain by Artemis; was then placed in the sky as a constellation
From this reading Philip and Conrad, too, were fairly kind to little Orion; they took him round to see their gardens and their several pets.
petsnounUS /pets/
plural of “pet” — a domesticated animal kept for companionship or amusement
From this reading Philip and Conrad, too, were fairly kind to little Orion; they took him round to see their gardens and their several pets.
Englishman and husband of Elizabeth II (born 1921)
From this reading Philip and Conrad, too, were fairly kind to little Orion; they took him round to see their gardens and their several pets.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading The four little Delaneys had slept well, and were refreshed; and as the sun was shining brightly, and there was a pleasant breeze blowing, Mrs. Dolman decided that all the nine children might have a holiday in order to get acquainted with one another.
the act of punishing
From this reading THE PUNISHMENT CHAMBER.
refreshedadjectiveUS /riˈfreʃt/
with restored energy
From this reading The four little Delaneys had slept well, and were refreshed; and as the sun was shining brightly, and there was a pleasant breeze blowing, Mrs. Dolman decided that all the nine children might have a holiday in order to get acquainted with one another.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Philip and Conrad, too, were fairly kind to little Orion; they took him round to see their gardens and their several pets.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Philip and Conrad, too, were fairly kind to little Orion; they took him round to see their gardens and their several pets.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It did not seem so very dreadful to Iris and Apollo to have cousins to walk about with and talk to.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading Philip and Conrad, too, were fairly kind to little Orion; they took him round to see their gardens and their several pets.
marked by exceptional merit
From this reading The four little Delaneys had slept well, and were refreshed; and as the sun was shining brightly, and there was a pleasant breeze blowing, Mrs. Dolman decided that all the nine children might have a holiday in order to get acquainted with one another.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading The four little Delaneys had slept well, and were refreshed; and as the sun was shining brightly, and there was a pleasant breeze blowing, Mrs. Dolman decided that all the nine children might have a holiday in order to get acquainted with one another.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The next morning matters began by being a little better, and might have gone on being so but for Diana.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The four little Delaneys had slept well, and were refreshed; and as the sun was shining brightly, and there was a pleasant breeze blowing, Mrs. Dolman decided that all the nine children might have a holiday in order to get acquainted with one another.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading It did not seem so very dreadful to Iris and Apollo to have cousins to walk about with and talk to.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The four little Delaneys had slept well, and were refreshed; and as the sun was shining brightly, and there was a pleasant breeze blowing, Mrs. Dolman decided that all the nine children might have a holiday in order to get acquainted with one another.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PUNISHMENT CHAMBER.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Philip and Conrad, too, were fairly kind to little Orion; they took him round to see their gardens and their several pets.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The four little Delaneys had slept well, and were refreshed; and as the sun was shining brightly, and there was a pleasant breeze blowing, Mrs. Dolman decided that all the nine children might have a holiday in order to get acquainted with one another.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Philip and Conrad, too, were fairly kind to little Orion; they took him round to see their gardens and their several pets.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The four little Delaneys had slept well, and were refreshed; and as the sun was shining brightly, and there was a pleasant breeze blowing, Mrs. Dolman decided that all the nine children might have a holiday in order to get acquainted with one another.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Philip and Conrad, too, were fairly kind to little Orion; they took him round to see their gardens and their several pets.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Philip and Conrad, too, were fairly kind to little Orion; they took him round to see their gardens and their several pets.
precisely as stated
From this reading It did not seem so very dreadful to Iris and Apollo to have cousins to walk about with and talk to.
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading It did not seem so very dreadful to Iris and Apollo to have cousins to walk about with and talk to.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The four little Delaneys had slept well, and were refreshed; and as the sun was shining brightly, and there was a pleasant breeze blowing, Mrs. Dolman decided that all the nine children might have a holiday in order to get acquainted with one another.
(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 The four little Delaneys had slept well, and were refreshed; and as the sun was shining brightly, and there was a pleasant breeze blowing, Mrs. Dolman decided that all the nine children might have a holiday in order to get acquainted with one another.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The four little Delaneys had slept well, and were refreshed; and as the sun was shining brightly, and there was a pleasant breeze blowing, Mrs. Dolman decided that all the nine children might have a holiday in order to get acquainted with one another.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The four little Delaneys had slept well, and were refreshed; and as the sun was shining brightly, and there was a pleasant breeze blowing, Mrs. Dolman decided that all the nine children might have a holiday in order to get acquainted with one another.
