AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A telegram had been received in the morning, which kept Valetta and Fergus on the qui vive all day.
Adeline
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘I am so thankful that you are come,’ said Adeline.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 A telegram had been received in the morning, which kept Valetta and Fergus on the qui vive all day.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading ‘I am so thankful that you are come,’ said Adeline.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Valetta was an unspeakable worry to the patient Miss Vincent, and Fergus arranged his fossils and minerals.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A telegram had been received in the morning, which kept Valetta and Fergus on the qui vive all day.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading ‘I am so thankful that you are come,’ said Adeline.
armnounUS /ɑːrm/
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading Both children flew out to meet their father at the gate, but words failed them as he came into the house, greeted the aunts, and sat down with Fergus on his knee, and Valetta encircled by his arm.
arrangedadjectiveUS /ərˈeɪndʒd/
disposed or placed in a particular kind of order
From this reading Valetta was an unspeakable worry to the patient Miss Vincent, and Fergus arranged his fossils and minerals.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Both children flew out to meet their father at the gate, but words failed them as he came into the house, greeted the aunts, and sat down with Fergus on his knee, and Valetta encircled by his arm.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Both children flew out to meet their father at the gate, but words failed them as he came into the house, greeted the aunts, and sat down with Fergus on his knee, and Valetta encircled by his arm.
auntsnounUS /ænts/
plural of “aunt” — the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading Both children flew out to meet their father at the gate, but words failed them as he came into the house, greeted the aunts, and sat down with Fergus on his knee, and Valetta encircled by his arm.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A telegram had been received in the morning, which kept Valetta and Fergus on the qui vive all day.
BothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading Both children flew out to meet their father at the gate, but words failed them as he came into the house, greeted the aunts, and sat down with Fergus on his knee, and Valetta encircled by his arm.
busyadjectiveUS /ˈbɪzi/
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading ‘Yes, Lilias is quite well, very busy and happy--with her first instalment of children.’
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Both children flew out to meet their father at the gate, but words failed them as he came into the house, greeted the aunts, and sat down with Fergus on his knee, and Valetta encircled by his arm.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Both children flew out to meet their father at the gate, but words failed them as he came into the house, greeted the aunts, and sat down with Fergus on his knee, and Valetta encircled by his arm.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Both children flew out to meet their father at the gate, but words failed them as he came into the house, greeted the aunts, and sat down with Fergus on his knee, and Valetta encircled by his arm.
childrennounUS /ˈtʃɪldrən/
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading Both children flew out to meet their father at the gate, but words failed them as he came into the house, greeted the aunts, and sat down with Fergus on his knee, and Valetta encircled by his arm.
comeverbUS /kʌm/
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading ‘I am so thankful that you are come,’ said Adeline.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading A telegram had been received in the morning, which kept Valetta and Fergus on the qui vive all day.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Both children flew out to meet their father at the gate, but words failed them as he came into the house, greeted the aunts, and sat down with Fergus on his knee, and Valetta encircled by his arm.
encircledadjectiveUS /ɪnˈsɜːrkəld/
confined on all sides
From this reading Both children flew out to meet their father at the gate, but words failed them as he came into the house, greeted the aunts, and sat down with Fergus on his knee, and Valetta encircled by his arm.
failedverbUS /feɪld/
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading Both children flew out to meet their father at the gate, but words failed them as he came into the house, greeted the aunts, and sat down with Fergus on his knee, and Valetta encircled by his arm.
fathernounUS /ˈfɑːðər/
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Both children flew out to meet their father at the gate, but words failed them as he came into the house, greeted the aunts, and sat down with Fergus on his knee, and Valetta encircled by his arm.
Fergus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A telegram had been received in the morning, which kept Valetta and Fergus on the qui vive all day.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading ‘Yes, Lilias is quite well, very busy and happy--with her first instalment of children.’
flewverbUS /fluː/
inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading Both children flew out to meet their father at the gate, but words failed them as he came into the house, greeted the aunts, and sat down with Fergus on his knee, and Valetta encircled by his arm.
fossilsnounUS /ˈfɑːsəlz/
plural of “fossil” — someone whose style is out of fashion
From this reading Valetta was an unspeakable worry to the patient Miss Vincent, and Fergus arranged his fossils and minerals.
gatenounUS /ɡeɪt/
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading Both children flew out to meet their father at the gate, but words failed them as he came into the house, greeted the aunts, and sat down with Fergus on his knee, and Valetta encircled by his arm.
greetedverbUS /ˈɡriːtəd/
past form of “greet” — express greetings upon meeting someone
From this reading Both children flew out to meet their father at the gate, but words failed them as he came into the house, greeted the aunts, and sat down with Fergus on his knee, and Valetta encircled by his arm.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A telegram had been received in the morning, which kept Valetta and Fergus on the qui vive all day.
happyadjectiveUS /ˈhæpi/
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading ‘Yes, Lilias is quite well, very busy and happy--with her first instalment of children.’
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Both children flew out to meet their father at the gate, but words failed them as he came into the house, greeted the aunts, and sat down with Fergus on his knee, and Valetta encircled by his arm.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading ‘Yes, Lilias is quite well, very busy and happy--with her first instalment of children.’
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Valetta was an unspeakable worry to the patient Miss Vincent, and Fergus arranged his fossils and minerals.
housenounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Both children flew out to meet their father at the gate, but words failed them as he came into the house, greeted the aunts, and sat down with Fergus on his knee, and Valetta encircled by his arm.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading ‘I am so thankful that you are come,’ said Adeline.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A telegram had been received in the morning, which kept Valetta and Fergus on the qui vive all day.
instalmentnoun
a part of a broadcast serial
From this reading ‘Yes, Lilias is quite well, very busy and happy--with her first instalment of children.’
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Both children flew out to meet their father at the gate, but words failed them as he came into the house, greeted the aunts, and sat down with Fergus on his knee, and Valetta encircled by his arm.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ‘Yes, Lilias is quite well, very busy and happy--with her first instalment of children.’
keptadjectiveUS /kept/
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading A telegram had been received in the morning, which kept Valetta and Fergus on the qui vive all day.
kneenounUS /niː/
hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading Both children flew out to meet their father at the gate, but words failed them as he came into the house, greeted the aunts, and sat down with Fergus on his knee, and Valetta encircled by his arm.
Lilias
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Yes, Lilias is quite well, very busy and happy--with her first instalment of children.’
meetverbUS /miːt/
come together
From this reading Both children flew out to meet their father at the gate, but words failed them as he came into the house, greeted the aunts, and sat down with Fergus on his knee, and Valetta encircled by his arm.
mineralsnounUS /ˈmɪnərəlz/
plural of “mineral” — solid homogeneous inorganic substances occurring in nature having a definite chemical composition
From this reading Valetta was an unspeakable worry to the patient Miss Vincent, and Fergus arranged his fossils and minerals.
MissverbUS /mɪs/
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Valetta was an unspeakable worry to the patient Miss Vincent, and Fergus arranged his fossils and minerals.
morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading A telegram had been received in the morning, which kept Valetta and Fergus on the qui vive all day.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ‘Yes, Lilias is quite well, very busy and happy--with her first instalment of children.’
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A telegram had been received in the morning, which kept Valetta and Fergus on the qui vive all day.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Both children flew out to meet their father at the gate, but words failed them as he came into the house, greeted the aunts, and sat down with Fergus on his knee, and Valetta encircled by his arm.
patientnounUS /ˈpeɪʃənt/
a person who requires medical care
From this reading Valetta was an unspeakable worry to the patient Miss Vincent, and Fergus arranged his fossils and minerals.
qui
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A telegram had been received in the morning, which kept Valetta and Fergus on the qui vive all day.
quiteadverbUS /kwaɪt/
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading ‘Yes, Lilias is quite well, very busy and happy--with her first instalment of children.’
receivedadjectiveUS /rəˈsiːvd/
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading A telegram had been received in the morning, which kept Valetta and Fergus on the qui vive all day.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading ‘I am so thankful that you are come,’ said Adeline.
satnounUS /sæt/
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Both children flew out to meet their father at the gate, but words failed them as he came into the house, greeted the aunts, and sat down with Fergus on his knee, and Valetta encircled by his arm.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading ‘I am so thankful that you are come,’ said Adeline.
telegramnounUS /ˈteləɡræm/
a message transmitted by telegraph
From this reading A telegram had been received in the morning, which kept Valetta and Fergus on the qui vive all day.
thankfuladjectiveUS /ˈθæŋkfəl/
feeling or showing gratitude
From this reading ‘I am so thankful that you are come,’ said Adeline.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading ‘I am so thankful that you are come,’ said Adeline.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A telegram had been received in the morning, which kept Valetta and Fergus on the qui vive all day.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Both children flew out to meet their father at the gate, but words failed them as he came into the house, greeted the aunts, and sat down with Fergus on his knee, and Valetta encircled by his arm.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Both children flew out to meet their father at the gate, but words failed them as he came into the house, greeted the aunts, and sat down with Fergus on his knee, and Valetta encircled by his arm.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Valetta was an unspeakable worry to the patient Miss Vincent, and Fergus arranged his fossils and minerals.
unspeakableadjectiveUS /ənˈspiːkəbəl/
defying expression or description
From this reading Valetta was an unspeakable worry to the patient Miss Vincent, and Fergus arranged his fossils and minerals.
Valettanoun
the capital of Malta; located on the northeastern coast of the island
From this reading A telegram had been received in the morning, which kept Valetta and Fergus on the qui vive all day.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading ‘Yes, Lilias is quite well, very busy and happy--with her first instalment of children.’
Vincent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Valetta was an unspeakable worry to the patient Miss Vincent, and Fergus arranged his fossils and minerals.
vive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A telegram had been received in the morning, which kept Valetta and Fergus on the qui vive all day.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Valetta was an unspeakable worry to the patient Miss Vincent, and Fergus arranged his fossils and minerals.
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 ‘Yes, Lilias is quite well, very busy and happy--with her first instalment of children.’
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A telegram had been received in the morning, which kept Valetta and Fergus on the qui vive all day.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Both children flew out to meet their father at the gate, but words failed them as he came into the house, greeted the aunts, and sat down with Fergus on his knee, and Valetta encircled by his arm.
wordsnounUS /wɜːrdz/
the words that are spoken
From this reading Both children flew out to meet their father at the gate, but words failed them as he came into the house, greeted the aunts, and sat down with Fergus on his knee, and Valetta encircled by his arm.
worryverbUS /ˈwɜːri/
be worried, concerned, anxious, troubled, or uneasy
From this reading Valetta was an unspeakable worry to the patient Miss Vincent, and Fergus arranged his fossils and minerals.
YesnounUS /jes/
an affirmative
From this reading ‘Yes, Lilias is quite well, very busy and happy--with her first instalment of children.’
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading ‘I am so thankful that you are come,’ said Adeline.
