adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “The doctor was here again a little while ago; he thinks papa's coming through it.
AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading About five o'clock that afternoon, the old gentleman came back to Adams's house; and when Alice opened the door, he nodded, walked into the “living-room” without speaking; then stood frowning as if he hesitated to decide some perplexing question.
Adams'snounUS /ˈædəmzɪz/
possessive form of “adams” — American Revolutionary leader and patriot; an organizer of the Boston Tea Party and signer of the Declaration of Independence (1722-1803)
From this reading About five o'clock that afternoon, the old gentleman came back to Adams's house; and when Alice opened the door, he nodded, walked into the “living-room” without speaking; then stood frowning as if he hesitated to decide some perplexing question.
afternoonnounUS /ˌæftərˈnuːn/
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading About five o'clock that afternoon, the old gentleman came back to Adams's house; and when Alice opened the door, he nodded, walked into the “living-room” without speaking; then stood frowning as if he hesitated to decide some perplexing question.
againadverbUS /əˈɡen/
anew
From this reading “The doctor was here again a little while ago; he thinks papa's coming through it.
agoadverbUS /əˈɡoʊ/
in the past
From this reading “The doctor was here again a little while ago; he thinks papa's coming through it.
Alice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading About five o'clock that afternoon, the old gentleman came back to Adams's house; and when Alice opened the door, he nodded, walked into the “living-room” without speaking; then stood frowning as if he hesitated to decide some perplexing question.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading About five o'clock that afternoon, the old gentleman came back to Adams's house; and when Alice opened the door, he nodded, walked into the “living-room” without speaking; then stood frowning as if he hesitated to decide some perplexing question.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading About five o'clock that afternoon, the old gentleman came back to Adams's house; and when Alice opened the door, he nodded, walked into the “living-room” without speaking; then stood frowning as if he hesitated to decide some perplexing question.
askedverbUS /æskt/
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “Well, how is he now?” he asked, finally.
backadverbUS /bæk/
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading About five o'clock that afternoon, the old gentleman came back to Adams's house; and when Alice opened the door, he nodded, walked into the “living-room” without speaking; then stood frowning as if he hesitated to decide some perplexing question.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading About five o'clock that afternoon, the old gentleman came back to Adams's house; and when Alice opened the door, he nodded, walked into the “living-room” without speaking; then stood frowning as if he hesitated to decide some perplexing question.
comingnounUS /ˈkʌmɪŋ/
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading “The doctor was here again a little while ago; he thinks papa's coming through it.
decideverbUS /ˌdɪˈsaɪd/
reach, make, or come to a decision about something
From this reading About five o'clock that afternoon, the old gentleman came back to Adams's house; and when Alice opened the door, he nodded, walked into the “living-room” without speaking; then stood frowning as if he hesitated to decide some perplexing question.
doctornounUS /ˈdɑːktər/
a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading “The doctor was here again a little while ago; he thinks papa's coming through it.
doornounUS /dɔːr/
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading About five o'clock that afternoon, the old gentleman came back to Adams's house; and when Alice opened the door, he nodded, walked into the “living-room” without speaking; then stood frowning as if he hesitated to decide some perplexing question.
finallyadverbUS /ˈfaɪnəli/
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading “Well, how is he now?” he asked, finally.
fivenounUS /faɪv/
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading About five o'clock that afternoon, the old gentleman came back to Adams's house; and when Alice opened the door, he nodded, walked into the “living-room” without speaking; then stood frowning as if he hesitated to decide some perplexing question.
frowningadjectiveUS /ˈfraʊnɪŋ/
showing displeasure or anger
From this reading About five o'clock that afternoon, the old gentleman came back to Adams's house; and when Alice opened the door, he nodded, walked into the “living-room” without speaking; then stood frowning as if he hesitated to decide some perplexing question.
gentlemannounUS /ˈdʒentəlmən/
a man of refinement
From this reading About five o'clock that afternoon, the old gentleman came back to Adams's house; and when Alice opened the door, he nodded, walked into the “living-room” without speaking; then stood frowning as if he hesitated to decide some perplexing question.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading About five o'clock that afternoon, the old gentleman came back to Adams's house; and when Alice opened the door, he nodded, walked into the “living-room” without speaking; then stood frowning as if he hesitated to decide some perplexing question.
He's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He's pretty sure he will.”
hereadverbUS /hiːr/
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading “The doctor was here again a little while ago; he thinks papa's coming through it.
hesitatedverbUS /ˈhezɪteɪtɪd/
past form of “hesitate” — pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
From this reading About five o'clock that afternoon, the old gentleman came back to Adams's house; and when Alice opened the door, he nodded, walked into the “living-room” without speaking; then stood frowning as if he hesitated to decide some perplexing question.
housenounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading About five o'clock that afternoon, the old gentleman came back to Adams's house; and when Alice opened the door, he nodded, walked into the “living-room” without speaking; then stood frowning as if he hesitated to decide some perplexing question.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Well, how is he now?” he asked, finally.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading About five o'clock that afternoon, the old gentleman came back to Adams's house; and when Alice opened the door, he nodded, walked into the “living-room” without speaking; then stood frowning as if he hesitated to decide some perplexing question.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading About five o'clock that afternoon, the old gentleman came back to Adams's house; and when Alice opened the door, he nodded, walked into the “living-room” without speaking; then stood frowning as if he hesitated to decide some perplexing question.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Well, how is he now?” he asked, finally.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “The doctor was here again a little while ago; he thinks papa's coming through it.
lastadjectiveUS /læst/
immediately past
From this reading “Something like the way it was last spring?”
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading “Something like the way it was last spring?”
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “The doctor was here again a little while ago; he thinks papa's coming through it.
living-roomnoun
a room in a private house or establishment where people can sit and talk and relax
From this reading About five o'clock that afternoon, the old gentleman came back to Adams's house; and when Alice opened the door, he nodded, walked into the “living-room” without speaking; then stood frowning as if he hesitated to decide some perplexing question.
noddedverbUS /ˈnɑːdəd/
inflected form of “nod” — express or signify by nodding
From this reading About five o'clock that afternoon, the old gentleman came back to Adams's house; and when Alice opened the door, he nodded, walked into the “living-room” without speaking; then stood frowning as if he hesitated to decide some perplexing question.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “Well, how is he now?” he asked, finally.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading About five o'clock that afternoon, the old gentleman came back to Adams's house; and when Alice opened the door, he nodded, walked into the “living-room” without speaking; then stood frowning as if he hesitated to decide some perplexing question.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading About five o'clock that afternoon, the old gentleman came back to Adams's house; and when Alice opened the door, he nodded, walked into the “living-room” without speaking; then stood frowning as if he hesitated to decide some perplexing question.
openedadjectiveUS /ˈoʊpənd/
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading About five o'clock that afternoon, the old gentleman came back to Adams's house; and when Alice opened the door, he nodded, walked into the “living-room” without speaking; then stood frowning as if he hesitated to decide some perplexing question.
papa'snounUS /ˈpɑːpɑːz/
possessive form of “papa” — an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
From this reading “The doctor was here again a little while ago; he thinks papa's coming through it.
perplexingadjectiveUS /pərˈpleksɪŋ/
lacking clarity of meaning; causing confusion or perplexity
From this reading About five o'clock that afternoon, the old gentleman came back to Adams's house; and when Alice opened the door, he nodded, walked into the “living-room” without speaking; then stood frowning as if he hesitated to decide some perplexing question.
prettyadjectiveUS /ˈprɪti/
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading He's pretty sure he will.”
questionverbUS /ˈkwestʃən/
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading About five o'clock that afternoon, the old gentleman came back to Adams's house; and when Alice opened the door, he nodded, walked into the “living-room” without speaking; then stood frowning as if he hesitated to decide some perplexing question.
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading About five o'clock that afternoon, the old gentleman came back to Adams's house; and when Alice opened the door, he nodded, walked into the “living-room” without speaking; then stood frowning as if he hesitated to decide some perplexing question.
SomethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading “Something like the way it was last spring?”
speakingnounUS /ˈspiːkɪŋ/
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading About five o'clock that afternoon, the old gentleman came back to Adams's house; and when Alice opened the door, he nodded, walked into the “living-room” without speaking; then stood frowning as if he hesitated to decide some perplexing question.
springnounUS /sprɪŋ/
the season of growth
From this reading “Something like the way it was last spring?”
stoodverbUS /stʊd/
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading About five o'clock that afternoon, the old gentleman came back to Adams's house; and when Alice opened the door, he nodded, walked into the “living-room” without speaking; then stood frowning as if he hesitated to decide some perplexing question.
sureadjectiveUS /ʃʊr/
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading He's pretty sure he will.”
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading About five o'clock that afternoon, the old gentleman came back to Adams's house; and when Alice opened the door, he nodded, walked into the “living-room” without speaking; then stood frowning as if he hesitated to decide some perplexing question.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading About five o'clock that afternoon, the old gentleman came back to Adams's house; and when Alice opened the door, he nodded, walked into the “living-room” without speaking; then stood frowning as if he hesitated to decide some perplexing question.
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading About five o'clock that afternoon, the old gentleman came back to Adams's house; and when Alice opened the door, he nodded, walked into the “living-room” without speaking; then stood frowning as if he hesitated to decide some perplexing question.
thinksnounUS /θɪŋks/
plural of “think” — an instance of deliberate thinking
From this reading “The doctor was here again a little while ago; he thinks papa's coming through it.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading “The doctor was here again a little while ago; he thinks papa's coming through it.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading About five o'clock that afternoon, the old gentleman came back to Adams's house; and when Alice opened the door, he nodded, walked into the “living-room” without speaking; then stood frowning as if he hesitated to decide some perplexing question.
walkedverbUS /wɔːkt/
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading About five o'clock that afternoon, the old gentleman came back to Adams's house; and when Alice opened the door, he nodded, walked into the “living-room” without speaking; then stood frowning as if he hesitated to decide some perplexing question.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “The doctor was here again a little while ago; he thinks papa's coming through it.
waynounUS /weɪ/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading “Something like the way it was last spring?”
WelladverbUS /wel/
(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 “Well, how is he now?” he asked, finally.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading About five o'clock that afternoon, the old gentleman came back to Adams's house; and when Alice opened the door, he nodded, walked into the “living-room” without speaking; then stood frowning as if he hesitated to decide some perplexing question.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading “The doctor was here again a little while ago; he thinks papa's coming through it.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading He's pretty sure he will.”
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading About five o'clock that afternoon, the old gentleman came back to Adams's house; and when Alice opened the door, he nodded, walked into the “living-room” without speaking; then stood frowning as if he hesitated to decide some perplexing question.
