used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Then one morning came a telegram from their parents saying that they would be home the next day.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading STARTLING DEVELOPMENTS Chet and Billie were very careful to leave neither doors nor windows unlocked, and the rest of the week passed without further mishap.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Say, do you think it's catching?" he asked, with a smile.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Then one morning came a telegram from their parents saying that they would be home the next day.
Billie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading STARTLING DEVELOPMENTS Chet and Billie were very careful to leave neither doors nor windows unlocked, and the rest of the week passed without further mishap.
a youthful male person
From this reading "Goodness, now I have to get busy!" cried Billie, jumping up from the table in such a hurry that she very nearly upset Chet's coffee cup, thereby considerably surprising that boy.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading "Goodness, now I have to get busy!" cried Billie, jumping up from the table in such a hurry that she very nearly upset Chet's coffee cup, thereby considerably surprising that boy.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Then one morning came a telegram from their parents saying that they would be home the next day.
exercising caution or showing care or attention
From this reading STARTLING DEVELOPMENTS Chet and Billie were very careful to leave neither doors nor windows unlocked, and the rest of the week passed without further mishap.
catchingnounUS /ˈkætʃɪŋ/
(baseball) playing the position of catcher on a baseball team
From this reading "Say, do you think it's catching?" he asked, with a smile.
Chet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading STARTLING DEVELOPMENTS Chet and Billie were very careful to leave neither doors nor windows unlocked, and the rest of the week passed without further mishap.
Chet's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Goodness, now I have to get busy!" cried Billie, jumping up from the table in such a hurry that she very nearly upset Chet's coffee cup, thereby considerably surprising that boy.
a beverage consisting of an infusion of ground coffee beans
From this reading "Goodness, now I have to get busy!" cried Billie, jumping up from the table in such a hurry that she very nearly upset Chet's coffee cup, thereby considerably surprising that boy.
considerablyadverbUS /kənˈsɪdərəbli/
to a great extent or degree
From this reading "Goodness, now I have to get busy!" cried Billie, jumping up from the table in such a hurry that she very nearly upset Chet's coffee cup, thereby considerably surprising that boy.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading "Goodness, now I have to get busy!" cried Billie, jumping up from the table in such a hurry that she very nearly upset Chet's coffee cup, thereby considerably surprising that boy.
a small open container usually used for drinking; usually has a handle
From this reading "Goodness, now I have to get busy!" cried Billie, jumping up from the table in such a hurry that she very nearly upset Chet's coffee cup, thereby considerably surprising that boy.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Then one morning came a telegram from their parents saying that they would be home the next day.
DEVELOPMENTSnounUS /dɪˈveləpmənts/
plural of “development” — act of improving by expanding or enlarging or refining
From this reading STARTLING DEVELOPMENTS Chet and Billie were very careful to leave neither doors nor windows unlocked, and the rest of the week passed without further mishap.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "Say, do you think it's catching?" he asked, with a smile.
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading STARTLING DEVELOPMENTS Chet and Billie were very careful to leave neither doors nor windows unlocked, and the rest of the week passed without further mishap.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Then one morning came a telegram from their parents saying that they would be home the next day.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading STARTLING DEVELOPMENTS Chet and Billie were very careful to leave neither doors nor windows unlocked, and the rest of the week passed without further mishap.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "Goodness, now I have to get busy!" cried Billie, jumping up from the table in such a hurry that she very nearly upset Chet's coffee cup, thereby considerably surprising that boy.
that which is pleasing or valuable or useful
From this reading "Goodness, now I have to get busy!" cried Billie, jumping up from the table in such a hurry that she very nearly upset Chet's coffee cup, thereby considerably surprising that boy.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Goodness, now I have to get busy!" cried Billie, jumping up from the table in such a hurry that she very nearly upset Chet's coffee cup, thereby considerably surprising that boy.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Say, do you think it's catching?" he asked, with a smile.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Then one morning came a telegram from their parents saying that they would be home the next day.
a condition of urgency making it necessary to hurry
From this reading "Goodness, now I have to get busy!" cried Billie, jumping up from the table in such a hurry that she very nearly upset Chet's coffee cup, thereby considerably surprising that boy.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Goodness, now I have to get busy!" cried Billie, jumping up from the table in such a hurry that she very nearly upset Chet's coffee cup, thereby considerably surprising that boy.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Goodness, now I have to get busy!" cried Billie, jumping up from the table in such a hurry that she very nearly upset Chet's coffee cup, thereby considerably surprising that boy.
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Say, do you think it's catching?" he asked, with a smile.
jumpingnounUS /ˈdʒʌmpɪŋ/
the act of participating in an athletic competition in which you must jump
From this reading "Goodness, now I have to get busy!" cried Billie, jumping up from the table in such a hurry that she very nearly upset Chet's coffee cup, thereby considerably surprising that boy.
go away from a place
From this reading STARTLING DEVELOPMENTS Chet and Billie were very careful to leave neither doors nor windows unlocked, and the rest of the week passed without further mishap.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading "What's the matter with you, Billie?"
mishapnounUS /ˈmɪshæp/
an unpredictable outcome that is unfortunate
From this reading STARTLING DEVELOPMENTS Chet and Billie were very careful to leave neither doors nor windows unlocked, and the rest of the week passed without further mishap.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Then one morning came a telegram from their parents saying that they would be home the next day.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading "Goodness, now I have to get busy!" cried Billie, jumping up from the table in such a hurry that she very nearly upset Chet's coffee cup, thereby considerably surprising that boy.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading STARTLING DEVELOPMENTS Chet and Billie were very careful to leave neither doors nor windows unlocked, and the rest of the week passed without further mishap.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Then one morning came a telegram from their parents saying that they would be home the next day.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading STARTLING DEVELOPMENTS Chet and Billie were very careful to leave neither doors nor windows unlocked, and the rest of the week passed without further mishap.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Goodness, now I have to get busy!" cried Billie, jumping up from the table in such a hurry that she very nearly upset Chet's coffee cup, thereby considerably surprising that boy.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading STARTLING DEVELOPMENTS Chet and Billie were very careful to leave neither doors nor windows unlocked, and the rest of the week passed without further mishap.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Then one morning came a telegram from their parents saying that they would be home the next day.
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 Then one morning came a telegram from their parents saying that they would be home the next day.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading STARTLING DEVELOPMENTS Chet and Billie were very careful to leave neither doors nor windows unlocked, and the rest of the week passed without further mishap.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading STARTLING DEVELOPMENTS Chet and Billie were very careful to leave neither doors nor windows unlocked, and the rest of the week passed without further mishap.
express in words
From this reading "Say, do you think it's catching?" he asked, with a smile.
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading Then one morning came a telegram from their parents saying that they would be home the next day.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Goodness, now I have to get busy!" cried Billie, jumping up from the table in such a hurry that she very nearly upset Chet's coffee cup, thereby considerably surprising that boy.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading "Say, do you think it's catching?" he asked, with a smile.
STARTLINGadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading STARTLING DEVELOPMENTS Chet and Billie were very careful to leave neither doors nor windows unlocked, and the rest of the week passed without further mishap.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading "Goodness, now I have to get busy!" cried Billie, jumping up from the table in such a hurry that she very nearly upset Chet's coffee cup, thereby considerably surprising that boy.
surprisingadjectiveUS /sərˈpraɪzɪŋ/
causing surprise or wonder or amazement
From this reading "Goodness, now I have to get busy!" cried Billie, jumping up from the table in such a hurry that she very nearly upset Chet's coffee cup, thereby considerably surprising that boy.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading "Goodness, now I have to get busy!" cried Billie, jumping up from the table in such a hurry that she very nearly upset Chet's coffee cup, thereby considerably surprising that boy.
telegramnounUS /ˈteləɡræm/
a message transmitted by telegraph
From this reading Then one morning came a telegram from their parents saying that they would be home the next day.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Then one morning came a telegram from their parents saying that they would be home the next day.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading STARTLING DEVELOPMENTS Chet and Billie were very careful to leave neither doors nor windows unlocked, and the rest of the week passed without further mishap.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Then one morning came a telegram from their parents saying that they would be home the next day.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then one morning came a telegram from their parents saying that they would be home the next day.
therebyadverbUS /ˈðerˈbaɪ/
by that means or because of that
From this reading "Goodness, now I have to get busy!" cried Billie, jumping up from the table in such a hurry that she very nearly upset Chet's coffee cup, thereby considerably surprising that boy.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then one morning came a telegram from their parents saying that they would be home the next day.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "Say, do you think it's catching?" he asked, with a smile.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading STARTLING DEVELOPMENTS Chet and Billie were very careful to leave neither doors nor windows unlocked, and the rest of the week passed without further mishap.
unlockedadjectiveUS /ənˈlɑːkt/
not firmly fastened or secured
From this reading STARTLING DEVELOPMENTS Chet and Billie were very careful to leave neither doors nor windows unlocked, and the rest of the week passed without further mishap.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "Goodness, now I have to get busy!" cried Billie, jumping up from the table in such a hurry that she very nearly upset Chet's coffee cup, thereby considerably surprising that boy.
upsetverbUS /əpˈset/
disturb the balance or stability of
From this reading "Goodness, now I have to get busy!" cried Billie, jumping up from the table in such a hurry that she very nearly upset Chet's coffee cup, thereby considerably surprising that boy.
precisely as stated
From this reading STARTLING DEVELOPMENTS Chet and Billie were very careful to leave neither doors nor windows unlocked, and the rest of the week passed without further mishap.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading STARTLING DEVELOPMENTS Chet and Billie were very careful to leave neither doors nor windows unlocked, and the rest of the week passed without further mishap.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading STARTLING DEVELOPMENTS Chet and Billie were very careful to leave neither doors nor windows unlocked, and the rest of the week passed without further mishap.
What's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What's the matter with you, Billie?"
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading STARTLING DEVELOPMENTS Chet and Billie were very careful to leave neither doors nor windows unlocked, and the rest of the week passed without further mishap.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Say, do you think it's catching?" he asked, with a smile.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading STARTLING DEVELOPMENTS Chet and Billie were very careful to leave neither doors nor windows unlocked, and the rest of the week passed without further mishap.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Then one morning came a telegram from their parents saying that they would be home the next day.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Say, do you think it's catching?" he asked, with a smile.
