adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Fragile treasure, this, in a quite literal sense; and how awfully exposed!
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Fragile treasure, this, in a quite literal sense; and how awfully exposed!
anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Some of the little girls seemed to be forming with their lips the word ‘pretty,’ but then they exchanged glances with one another, signifying ‘silly.’
anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading No one of either sex uttered any word of praise.
approvalnounUS /əˈpruːvəl/
the formal act of approving
From this reading There was even legible on the faces of the stolid little boys who viewed it a sort of reluctant approval.
awfullyadverbUS /ˈɑːfli/
used as intensifiers
From this reading Fragile treasure, this, in a quite literal sense; and how awfully exposed!
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Some of the little girls seemed to be forming with their lips the word ‘pretty,’ but then they exchanged glances with one another, signifying ‘silly.’
boysnounUS /bɔɪz/
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading There was even legible on the faces of the stolid little boys who viewed it a sort of reluctant approval.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Some of the little girls seemed to be forming with their lips the word ‘pretty,’ but then they exchanged glances with one another, signifying ‘silly.’
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading No one of either sex uttered any word of praise.
evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading There was even legible on the faces of the stolid little boys who viewed it a sort of reluctant approval.
exchangedadjectiveUS /ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒd/
changed for (replaced by) something different
From this reading Some of the little girls seemed to be forming with their lips the word ‘pretty,’ but then they exchanged glances with one another, signifying ‘silly.’
exposedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspoʊzd/
with no protection or shield
From this reading Fragile treasure, this, in a quite literal sense; and how awfully exposed!
facesnounUS /ˈfeɪsəz/
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading There was even legible on the faces of the stolid little boys who viewed it a sort of reluctant approval.
formingverbUS /ˈfɔːrmɪŋ/
-ing form of “form” — create (as an entity)
From this reading Some of the little girls seemed to be forming with their lips the word ‘pretty,’ but then they exchanged glances with one another, signifying ‘silly.’
FragileadjectiveUS /ˈfrædʒəl/
easily broken or damaged or destroyed
From this reading Fragile treasure, this, in a quite literal sense; and how awfully exposed!
girlsnounUS /ɡɜːrlz/
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading Some of the little girls seemed to be forming with their lips the word ‘pretty,’ but then they exchanged glances with one another, signifying ‘silly.’
glancesnounUS /ˈɡlænsɪz/
plural of “glance” — a quick look
From this reading Some of the little girls seemed to be forming with their lips the word ‘pretty,’ but then they exchanged glances with one another, signifying ‘silly.’
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fragile treasure, this, in a quite literal sense; and how awfully exposed!
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading It was spared, however.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Fragile treasure, this, in a quite literal sense; and how awfully exposed!
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was spared, however.
legibleadjectiveUS /ˈledʒəbəl/
(of handwriting, print, etc.) capable of being read or deciphered
From this reading There was even legible on the faces of the stolid little boys who viewed it a sort of reluctant approval.
lipsnounUS /lɪps/
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading Some of the little girls seemed to be forming with their lips the word ‘pretty,’ but then they exchanged glances with one another, signifying ‘silly.’
literaladjectiveUS /ˈlɪtərəl/
being or reflecting the essential or genuine character of something
From this reading Fragile treasure, this, in a quite literal sense; and how awfully exposed!
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There was even legible on the faces of the stolid little boys who viewed it a sort of reluctant approval.
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading No one of either sex uttered any word of praise.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was even legible on the faces of the stolid little boys who viewed it a sort of reluctant approval.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There was even legible on the faces of the stolid little boys who viewed it a sort of reluctant approval.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Some of the little girls seemed to be forming with their lips the word ‘pretty,’ but then they exchanged glances with one another, signifying ‘silly.’
praisenounUS /preɪz/
an expression of approval and commendation
From this reading No one of either sex uttered any word of praise.
prettyadjectiveUS /ˈprɪti/
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading Some of the little girls seemed to be forming with their lips the word ‘pretty,’ but then they exchanged glances with one another, signifying ‘silly.’
quiteadverbUS /kwaɪt/
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Fragile treasure, this, in a quite literal sense; and how awfully exposed!
reluctantadjectiveUS /rɪˈlʌktənt/
unwillingness to do something contrary to your custom
From this reading There was even legible on the faces of the stolid little boys who viewed it a sort of reluctant approval.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Some of the little girls seemed to be forming with their lips the word ‘pretty,’ but then they exchanged glances with one another, signifying ‘silly.’
sensenounUS /sens/
a general conscious awareness
From this reading Fragile treasure, this, in a quite literal sense; and how awfully exposed!
sexnounUS /seks/
activities associated with sexual intercourse
From this reading No one of either sex uttered any word of praise.
signifyingverbUS /ˈsɪɡnəfaɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “signify” — denote or connote
From this reading Some of the little girls seemed to be forming with their lips the word ‘pretty,’ but then they exchanged glances with one another, signifying ‘silly.’
sillyadjectiveUS /ˈsɪli/
ludicrous, foolish
From this reading Some of the little girls seemed to be forming with their lips the word ‘pretty,’ but then they exchanged glances with one another, signifying ‘silly.’
SomeadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Some of the little girls seemed to be forming with their lips the word ‘pretty,’ but then they exchanged glances with one another, signifying ‘silly.’
sortnounUS /sɔːrt/
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading There was even legible on the faces of the stolid little boys who viewed it a sort of reluctant approval.
sparedverbUS /sperd/
past form of “spare” — refrain from harming
From this reading It was spared, however.
stolidadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːləd/
having or revealing little emotion or sensibility; not easily aroused or excited
From this reading There was even legible on the faces of the stolid little boys who viewed it a sort of reluctant approval.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was even legible on the faces of the stolid little boys who viewed it a sort of reluctant approval.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Some of the little girls seemed to be forming with their lips the word ‘pretty,’ but then they exchanged glances with one another, signifying ‘silly.’
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Some of the little girls seemed to be forming with their lips the word ‘pretty,’ but then they exchanged glances with one another, signifying ‘silly.’
ThereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was even legible on the faces of the stolid little boys who viewed it a sort of reluctant approval.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Some of the little girls seemed to be forming with their lips the word ‘pretty,’ but then they exchanged glances with one another, signifying ‘silly.’
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Fragile treasure, this, in a quite literal sense; and how awfully exposed!
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Some of the little girls seemed to be forming with their lips the word ‘pretty,’ but then they exchanged glances with one another, signifying ‘silly.’
treasurenounUS /ˈtreʒər/
accumulated wealth in the form of money or jewels etc.
From this reading Fragile treasure, this, in a quite literal sense; and how awfully exposed!
utteredadjectiveUS /ˈʌtərd/
communicated in words
From this reading No one of either sex uttered any word of praise.
viewedverbUS /vjuːd/
past form of “view” — deem to be
From this reading There was even legible on the faces of the stolid little boys who viewed it a sort of reluctant approval.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was spared, however.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading There was even legible on the faces of the stolid little boys who viewed it a sort of reluctant approval.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Some of the little girls seemed to be forming with their lips the word ‘pretty,’ but then they exchanged glances with one another, signifying ‘silly.’
wordnounUS /wɜːrd/
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading Some of the little girls seemed to be forming with their lips the word ‘pretty,’ but then they exchanged glances with one another, signifying ‘silly.’
