1860
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Christmas day of 1860 was a gloomy, rainy day in Charleston, and many people felt exactly as Sylvia did, that it was not like Christmas.
AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading SYLVIA MAKES A PROMISE "It doesn't seem a bit like Christmas," declared Sylvia, as she stood at the sitting-room window looking out at the falling rain.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading She wished that she could tell Grace about the lockets, but decided it would be better to surprise Grace with the locket itself.
alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading Grace came over in the morning bringing a little chased gold ring for Sylvia, which the little girl promised always to wear.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Christmas day of 1860 was a gloomy, rainy day in Charleston, and many people felt exactly as Sylvia did, that it was not like Christmas.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading SYLVIA MAKES A PROMISE "It doesn't seem a bit like Christmas," declared Sylvia, as she stood at the sitting-room window looking out at the falling rain.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading SYLVIA MAKES A PROMISE "It doesn't seem a bit like Christmas," declared Sylvia, as she stood at the sitting-room window looking out at the falling rain.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She wished that she could tell Grace about the lockets, but decided it would be better to surprise Grace with the locket itself.
betteradjectiveUS /ˈbetər/
(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 She wished that she could tell Grace about the lockets, but decided it would be better to surprise Grace with the locket itself.
bitnounUS /bɪt/
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading SYLVIA MAKES A PROMISE "It doesn't seem a bit like Christmas," declared Sylvia, as she stood at the sitting-room window looking out at the falling rain.
bringingnounUS /ˈbrɪŋɪŋ/
the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail)
From this reading Grace came over in the morning bringing a little chased gold ring for Sylvia, which the little girl promised always to wear.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She wished that she could tell Grace about the lockets, but decided it would be better to surprise Grace with the locket itself.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Grace came over in the morning bringing a little chased gold ring for Sylvia, which the little girl promised always to wear.
CharlestonnounUS /ˈtʃɑːrlstən/
state capital of West Virginia in the central part of the state on the Kanawha river
From this reading Christmas day of 1860 was a gloomy, rainy day in Charleston, and many people felt exactly as Sylvia did, that it was not like Christmas.
chasednounUS /tʃeɪst/
a person who is being chased
From this reading Grace came over in the morning bringing a little chased gold ring for Sylvia, which the little girl promised always to wear.
ChristmasnounUS /ˈkrɪsməs/
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading SYLVIA MAKES A PROMISE "It doesn't seem a bit like Christmas," declared Sylvia, as she stood at the sitting-room window looking out at the falling rain.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She wished that she could tell Grace about the lockets, but decided it would be better to surprise Grace with the locket itself.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Christmas day of 1860 was a gloomy, rainy day in Charleston, and many people felt exactly as Sylvia did, that it was not like Christmas.
decidedadjectiveUS /ˌdɪˈsaɪdɪd/
recognizable; marked
From this reading She wished that she could tell Grace about the lockets, but decided it would be better to surprise Grace with the locket itself.
declaredadjectiveUS /dɪˈklerd/
made known or openly avowed
From this reading SYLVIA MAKES A PROMISE "It doesn't seem a bit like Christmas," declared Sylvia, as she stood at the sitting-room window looking out at the falling rain.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Christmas day of 1860 was a gloomy, rainy day in Charleston, and many people felt exactly as Sylvia did, that it was not like Christmas.
doesn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SYLVIA MAKES A PROMISE "It doesn't seem a bit like Christmas," declared Sylvia, as she stood at the sitting-room window looking out at the falling rain.
exactlyadverbUS /ɪɡˈzæktli/
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading Christmas day of 1860 was a gloomy, rainy day in Charleston, and many people felt exactly as Sylvia did, that it was not like Christmas.
fallingadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːlɪŋ/
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading SYLVIA MAKES A PROMISE "It doesn't seem a bit like Christmas," declared Sylvia, as she stood at the sitting-room window looking out at the falling rain.
feltverbUS /felt/
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Christmas day of 1860 was a gloomy, rainy day in Charleston, and many people felt exactly as Sylvia did, that it was not like Christmas.
findverbUS /faɪnd/
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading As soon as Grace returned home Sylvia ran to find her mother.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Grace came over in the morning bringing a little chased gold ring for Sylvia, which the little girl promised always to wear.
girlnounUS /ɡɜːrl/
a young female
From this reading Grace came over in the morning bringing a little chased gold ring for Sylvia, which the little girl promised always to wear.
gloomyadjectiveUS /ˈɡluːmi/
depressingly dark
From this reading Christmas day of 1860 was a gloomy, rainy day in Charleston, and many people felt exactly as Sylvia did, that it was not like Christmas.
goldnounUS /ɡoʊld/
coins made of gold
From this reading Grace came over in the morning bringing a little chased gold ring for Sylvia, which the little girl promised always to wear.
GracenounUS /ɡreɪs/
(Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence
From this reading Grace came over in the morning bringing a little chased gold ring for Sylvia, which the little girl promised always to wear.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading As soon as Grace returned home Sylvia ran to find her mother.
homenounUS /hoʊm/
where you live at a particular time
From this reading As soon as Grace returned home Sylvia ran to find her mother.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Christmas day of 1860 was a gloomy, rainy day in Charleston, and many people felt exactly as Sylvia did, that it was not like Christmas.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading SYLVIA MAKES A PROMISE "It doesn't seem a bit like Christmas," declared Sylvia, as she stood at the sitting-room window looking out at the falling rain.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading She wished that she could tell Grace about the lockets, but decided it would be better to surprise Grace with the locket itself.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading SYLVIA MAKES A PROMISE "It doesn't seem a bit like Christmas," declared Sylvia, as she stood at the sitting-room window looking out at the falling rain.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Grace came over in the morning bringing a little chased gold ring for Sylvia, which the little girl promised always to wear.
locketnounUS /ˈlɑːkɪt/
a small ornamental case; usually contains a picture or a lock of hair and is worn on a necklace
From this reading She wished that she could tell Grace about the lockets, but decided it would be better to surprise Grace with the locket itself.
locketsnounUS /ˈlɑːkɪts/
plural of “locket” — a small ornamental case; usually contains a picture or a lock of hair and is worn on a necklace
From this reading She wished that she could tell Grace about the lockets, but decided it would be better to surprise Grace with the locket itself.
lookingnounUS /ˈlʊkɪŋ/
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading SYLVIA MAKES A PROMISE "It doesn't seem a bit like Christmas," declared Sylvia, as she stood at the sitting-room window looking out at the falling rain.
MAKESnounUS /meɪks/
plural of “make” — a recognizable kind
From this reading SYLVIA MAKES A PROMISE "It doesn't seem a bit like Christmas," declared Sylvia, as she stood at the sitting-room window looking out at the falling rain.
manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading Christmas day of 1860 was a gloomy, rainy day in Charleston, and many people felt exactly as Sylvia did, that it was not like Christmas.
morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Grace came over in the morning bringing a little chased gold ring for Sylvia, which the little girl promised always to wear.
mothernounUS /ˈmʌðər/
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading As soon as Grace returned home Sylvia ran to find her mother.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Christmas day of 1860 was a gloomy, rainy day in Charleston, and many people felt exactly as Sylvia did, that it was not like Christmas.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Christmas day of 1860 was a gloomy, rainy day in Charleston, and many people felt exactly as Sylvia did, that it was not like Christmas.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading SYLVIA MAKES A PROMISE "It doesn't seem a bit like Christmas," declared Sylvia, as she stood at the sitting-room window looking out at the falling rain.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Grace came over in the morning bringing a little chased gold ring for Sylvia, which the little girl promised always to wear.
peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Christmas day of 1860 was a gloomy, rainy day in Charleston, and many people felt exactly as Sylvia did, that it was not like Christmas.
PROMISEverbUS /ˈprɑːməs/
make a promise or commitment
From this reading SYLVIA MAKES A PROMISE "It doesn't seem a bit like Christmas," declared Sylvia, as she stood at the sitting-room window looking out at the falling rain.
promisedverbUS /ˈprɑːməst/
past form of “promise” — make a promise or commitment
From this reading Grace came over in the morning bringing a little chased gold ring for Sylvia, which the little girl promised always to wear.
rainnounUS /reɪn/
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading SYLVIA MAKES A PROMISE "It doesn't seem a bit like Christmas," declared Sylvia, as she stood at the sitting-room window looking out at the falling rain.
rainyadjectiveUS /ˈreɪni/
(of weather) wet by periods of rain
From this reading Christmas day of 1860 was a gloomy, rainy day in Charleston, and many people felt exactly as Sylvia did, that it was not like Christmas.
ranverbUS /ræn/
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading As soon as Grace returned home Sylvia ran to find her mother.
returnedverbUS /rɪˈtɜːrnd/
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading As soon as Grace returned home Sylvia ran to find her mother.
ringverbUS /rɪŋ/
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading Grace came over in the morning bringing a little chased gold ring for Sylvia, which the little girl promised always to wear.
seemverbUS /siːm/
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading SYLVIA MAKES A PROMISE "It doesn't seem a bit like Christmas," declared Sylvia, as she stood at the sitting-room window looking out at the falling rain.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading SYLVIA MAKES A PROMISE "It doesn't seem a bit like Christmas," declared Sylvia, as she stood at the sitting-room window looking out at the falling rain.
sitting-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SYLVIA MAKES A PROMISE "It doesn't seem a bit like Christmas," declared Sylvia, as she stood at the sitting-room window looking out at the falling rain.
soonadverbUS /suːn/
in the near future
From this reading As soon as Grace returned home Sylvia ran to find her mother.
stoodverbUS /stʊd/
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading SYLVIA MAKES A PROMISE "It doesn't seem a bit like Christmas," declared Sylvia, as she stood at the sitting-room window looking out at the falling rain.
surprisenounUS /sərˈpraɪz/
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading She wished that she could tell Grace about the lockets, but decided it would be better to surprise Grace with the locket itself.
SYLVIA
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SYLVIA MAKES A PROMISE "It doesn't seem a bit like Christmas," declared Sylvia, as she stood at the sitting-room window looking out at the falling rain.
tellverbUS /tel/
express in words
From this reading She wished that she could tell Grace about the lockets, but decided it would be better to surprise Grace with the locket itself.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Christmas day of 1860 was a gloomy, rainy day in Charleston, and many people felt exactly as Sylvia did, that it was not like Christmas.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SYLVIA MAKES A PROMISE "It doesn't seem a bit like Christmas," declared Sylvia, as she stood at the sitting-room window looking out at the falling rain.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Grace came over in the morning bringing a little chased gold ring for Sylvia, which the little girl promised always to wear.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Christmas day of 1860 was a gloomy, rainy day in Charleston, and many people felt exactly as Sylvia did, that it was not like Christmas.
wearverbUS /wer/
be dressed in
From this reading Grace came over in the morning bringing a little chased gold ring for Sylvia, which the little girl promised always to wear.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Grace came over in the morning bringing a little chased gold ring for Sylvia, which the little girl promised always to wear.
windownounUS /ˈwɪndoʊ/
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading SYLVIA MAKES A PROMISE "It doesn't seem a bit like Christmas," declared Sylvia, as she stood at the sitting-room window looking out at the falling rain.
wishedverbUS /wɪʃt/
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading She wished that she could tell Grace about the lockets, but decided it would be better to surprise Grace with the locket itself.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading She wished that she could tell Grace about the lockets, but decided it would be better to surprise Grace with the locket itself.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She wished that she could tell Grace about the lockets, but decided it would be better to surprise Grace with the locket itself.
