used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading All the children and young folk round about us had parents who, if they went into town of a morning, were safe to return at night.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading All the children and young folk round about us had parents who, if they went into town of a morning, were safe to return at night.
abuseverbUS /əˈbjuːs/
treat badly
From this reading Picture our rare and wild abuse of that freedom, and imagine the envy it inspired in the bosoms of other children, of natures as independent as ours!
(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 All the children and young folk round about us had parents who, if they went into town of a morning, were safe to return at night.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading All the children and young folk round about us had parents who, if they went into town of a morning, were safe to return at night.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Only we were happy enough to be so neglected by indifferent parents as to possess a large house at our exclusive disposition four or five entire days and nights of the week.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading All the children and young folk round about us had parents who, if they went into town of a morning, were safe to return at night.
auntsnounUS /ænts/
plural of “aunt” — the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading Most of them had mothers and aunts who lived at Dalkey all the summer.
round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games
From this reading OUR BALL.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Only we were happy enough to be so neglected by indifferent parents as to possess a large house at our exclusive disposition four or five entire days and nights of the week.
bosoms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Picture our rare and wild abuse of that freedom, and imagine the envy it inspired in the bosoms of other children, of natures as independent as ours!
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Only we were happy enough to be so neglected by indifferent parents as to possess a large house at our exclusive disposition four or five entire days and nights of the week.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading All the children and young folk round about us had parents who, if they went into town of a morning, were safe to return at night.
Dalkey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most of them had mothers and aunts who lived at Dalkey all the summer.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Only we were happy enough to be so neglected by indifferent parents as to possess a large house at our exclusive disposition four or five entire days and nights of the week.
dispositionnounUS /ˌdɪspəˈzɪʃən/
your usual mood
From this reading Only we were happy enough to be so neglected by indifferent parents as to possess a large house at our exclusive disposition four or five entire days and nights of the week.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Only we were happy enough to be so neglected by indifferent parents as to possess a large house at our exclusive disposition four or five entire days and nights of the week.
constituting the full quantity or extent; complete
From this reading Only we were happy enough to be so neglected by indifferent parents as to possess a large house at our exclusive disposition four or five entire days and nights of the week.
envynounUS /ˈenvi/
a feeling of grudging admiration and desire to have something that is possessed by another
From this reading Picture our rare and wild abuse of that freedom, and imagine the envy it inspired in the bosoms of other children, of natures as independent as ours!
exclusiveadjectiveUS /ɪkˈskluːsɪv/
not divided or shared with others
From this reading Only we were happy enough to be so neglected by indifferent parents as to possess a large house at our exclusive disposition four or five entire days and nights of the week.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading Only we were happy enough to be so neglected by indifferent parents as to possess a large house at our exclusive disposition four or five entire days and nights of the week.
people in general (often used in the plural)
From this reading All the children and young folk round about us had parents who, if they went into town of a morning, were safe to return at night.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading Only we were happy enough to be so neglected by indifferent parents as to possess a large house at our exclusive disposition four or five entire days and nights of the week.
the condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints
From this reading Picture our rare and wild abuse of that freedom, and imagine the envy it inspired in the bosoms of other children, of natures as independent as ours!
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading All the children and young folk round about us had parents who, if they went into town of a morning, were safe to return at night.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading Only we were happy enough to be so neglected by indifferent parents as to possess a large house at our exclusive disposition four or five entire days and nights of the week.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Only we were happy enough to be so neglected by indifferent parents as to possess a large house at our exclusive disposition four or five entire days and nights of the week.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading All the children and young folk round about us had parents who, if they went into town of a morning, were safe to return at night.
form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading Picture our rare and wild abuse of that freedom, and imagine the envy it inspired in the bosoms of other children, of natures as independent as ours!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Picture our rare and wild abuse of that freedom, and imagine the envy it inspired in the bosoms of other children, of natures as independent as ours!
independentadjectiveUS /ˌɪndɪˈpendənt/
free from external control and constraint
From this reading Picture our rare and wild abuse of that freedom, and imagine the envy it inspired in the bosoms of other children, of natures as independent as ours!
indifferentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈdɪfrənt/
marked by a lack of interest
From this reading Only we were happy enough to be so neglected by indifferent parents as to possess a large house at our exclusive disposition four or five entire days and nights of the week.
inspiredadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈspaɪərd/
being of such surpassing excellence as to suggest inspiration by the gods
From this reading Picture our rare and wild abuse of that freedom, and imagine the envy it inspired in the bosoms of other children, of natures as independent as ours!
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading All the children and young folk round about us had parents who, if they went into town of a morning, were safe to return at night.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Picture our rare and wild abuse of that freedom, and imagine the envy it inspired in the bosoms of other children, of natures as independent as ours!
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Only we were happy enough to be so neglected by indifferent parents as to possess a large house at our exclusive disposition four or five entire days and nights of the week.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading Most of them had mothers and aunts who lived at Dalkey all the summer.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading All the children and young folk round about us had parents who, if they went into town of a morning, were safe to return at night.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Most of them had mothers and aunts who lived at Dalkey all the summer.
mothersnounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
plural of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Most of them had mothers and aunts who lived at Dalkey all the summer.
naturesnounUS /ˈneɪtʃərz/
plural of “nature” — the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading Picture our rare and wild abuse of that freedom, and imagine the envy it inspired in the bosoms of other children, of natures as independent as ours!
neglectedadjectiveUS /nəˈɡlektəd/
disregarded
From this reading Only we were happy enough to be so neglected by indifferent parents as to possess a large house at our exclusive disposition four or five entire days and nights of the week.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading All the children and young folk round about us had parents who, if they went into town of a morning, were safe to return at night.
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading Only we were happy enough to be so neglected by indifferent parents as to possess a large house at our exclusive disposition four or five entire days and nights of the week.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading All the children and young folk round about us had parents who, if they went into town of a morning, were safe to return at night.
and nothing more
From this reading Only we were happy enough to be so neglected by indifferent parents as to possess a large house at our exclusive disposition four or five entire days and nights of the week.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Only we were happy enough to be so neglected by indifferent parents as to possess a large house at our exclusive disposition four or five entire days and nights of the week.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Picture our rare and wild abuse of that freedom, and imagine the envy it inspired in the bosoms of other children, of natures as independent as ours!
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading OUR BALL.
the one or ones belonging to us
From this reading Picture our rare and wild abuse of that freedom, and imagine the envy it inspired in the bosoms of other children, of natures as independent as ours!
plural of “parent” — a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian
From this reading All the children and young folk round about us had parents who, if they went into town of a morning, were safe to return at night.
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading Picture our rare and wild abuse of that freedom, and imagine the envy it inspired in the bosoms of other children, of natures as independent as ours!
have as an attribute, knowledge, or skill
From this reading Only we were happy enough to be so neglected by indifferent parents as to possess a large house at our exclusive disposition four or five entire days and nights of the week.
not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness
From this reading Picture our rare and wild abuse of that freedom, and imagine the envy it inspired in the bosoms of other children, of natures as independent as ours!
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading All the children and young folk round about us had parents who, if they went into town of a morning, were safe to return at night.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading All the children and young folk round about us had parents who, if they went into town of a morning, were safe to return at night.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading All the children and young folk round about us had parents who, if they went into town of a morning, were safe to return at night.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Only we were happy enough to be so neglected by indifferent parents as to possess a large house at our exclusive disposition four or five entire days and nights of the week.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading Most of them had mothers and aunts who lived at Dalkey all the summer.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Picture our rare and wild abuse of that freedom, and imagine the envy it inspired in the bosoms of other children, of natures as independent as ours!
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading All the children and young folk round about us had parents who, if they went into town of a morning, were safe to return at night.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Most of them had mothers and aunts who lived at Dalkey all the summer.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading All the children and young folk round about us had parents who, if they went into town of a morning, were safe to return at night.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading All the children and young folk round about us had parents who, if they went into town of a morning, were safe to return at night.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading All the children and young folk round about us had parents who, if they went into town of a morning, were safe to return at night.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading All the children and young folk round about us had parents who, if they went into town of a morning, were safe to return at night.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Only we were happy enough to be so neglected by indifferent parents as to possess a large house at our exclusive disposition four or five entire days and nights of the week.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading Only we were happy enough to be so neglected by indifferent parents as to possess a large house at our exclusive disposition four or five entire days and nights of the week.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading All the children and young folk round about us had parents who, if they went into town of a morning, were safe to return at night.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading All the children and young folk round about us had parents who, if they went into town of a morning, were safe to return at night.
which person or people
From this reading All the children and young folk round about us had parents who, if they went into town of a morning, were safe to return at night.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading Picture our rare and wild abuse of that freedom, and imagine the envy it inspired in the bosoms of other children, of natures as independent as ours!
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading All the children and young folk round about us had parents who, if they went into town of a morning, were safe to return at night.
