aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "Well, now," I said jovially, glancing nervously about at the other air traffic, "what else can we all sing?"
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading "Well, now," I said jovially, glancing nervously about at the other air traffic, "what else can we all sing?"
alienadjectiveUS /ˈeɪliən/
not contained in or deriving from the essential nature of something
From this reading _Certainly alien children ought to be fed ... but to human kids?_ "Happy birthday to _you_," we all sang, except Gail, of course, who was still screaming, though not as loud.
(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 _Certainly alien children ought to be fed ... but to human kids?_ "Happy birthday to _you_," we all sang, except Gail, of course, who was still screaming, though not as loud.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They had stopped swatting each other with their lunch boxes and my experienced ear told me Gail was by this time forcing herself to scream.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading _Certainly alien children ought to be fed ... but to human kids?_ "Happy birthday to _you_," we all sang, except Gail, of course, who was still screaming, though not as loud.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "Well, now," I said jovially, glancing nervously about at the other air traffic, "what else can we all sing?"
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading _Certainly alien children ought to be fed ... but to human kids?_ "Happy birthday to _you_," we all sang, except Gail, of course, who was still screaming, though not as loud.
birthdaynounUS /ˈbɜːrθdeɪ/
an anniversary of the day on which a person was born (or the celebration of it)
From this reading _Certainly alien children ought to be fed ... but to human kids?_ "Happy birthday to _you_," we all sang, except Gail, of course, who was still screaming, though not as loud.
boxesnounUS /ˈbɑːksəz/
plural of “box” — a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading They had stopped swatting each other with their lunch boxes and my experienced ear told me Gail was by this time forcing herself to scream.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading _Certainly alien children ought to be fed ... but to human kids?_ "Happy birthday to _you_," we all sang, except Gail, of course, who was still screaming, though not as loud.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading They had stopped swatting each other with their lunch boxes and my experienced ear told me Gail was by this time forcing herself to scream.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "Well, now," I said jovially, glancing nervously about at the other air traffic, "what else can we all sing?"
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading _Certainly alien children ought to be fed ... but to human kids?_ "Happy birthday to _you_," we all sang, except Gail, of course, who was still screaming, though not as loud.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading _Certainly alien children ought to be fed ... but to human kids?_ "Happy birthday to _you_," we all sang, except Gail, of course, who was still screaming, though not as loud.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading _Certainly alien children ought to be fed ... but to human kids?_ "Happy birthday to _you_," we all sang, except Gail, of course, who was still screaming, though not as loud.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading They had stopped swatting each other with their lunch boxes and my experienced ear told me Gail was by this time forcing herself to scream.
the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading They had stopped swatting each other with their lunch boxes and my experienced ear told me Gail was by this time forcing herself to scream.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, now," I said jovially, glancing nervously about at the other air traffic, "what else can we all sing?"
enjoyingverbUS /ˌenˈdʒɔɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
From this reading This should be the prelude to giving up and enjoying herself.
apart from; not including
From this reading _Certainly alien children ought to be fed ... but to human kids?_ "Happy birthday to _you_," we all sang, except Gail, of course, who was still screaming, though not as loud.
having experience; having knowledge or skill from observation or participation
From this reading They had stopped swatting each other with their lunch boxes and my experienced ear told me Gail was by this time forcing herself to scream.
fednounUS /fed/
any federal law-enforcement officer
From this reading _Certainly alien children ought to be fed ... but to human kids?_ "Happy birthday to _you_," we all sang, except Gail, of course, who was still screaming, though not as loud.
forcingverbUS /ˈfɔːrsɪŋ/
-ing form of “force” — to cause to do through pressure or necessity, by physical, moral or intellectual means
From this reading They had stopped swatting each other with their lunch boxes and my experienced ear told me Gail was by this time forcing herself to scream.
Gail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Certainly alien children ought to be fed ... but to human kids?_ "Happy birthday to _you_," we all sang, except Gail, of course, who was still screaming, though not as loud.
the act of giving
From this reading This should be the prelude to giving up and enjoying herself.
-ing form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading "Well, now," I said jovially, glancing nervously about at the other air traffic, "what else can we all sing?"
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had stopped swatting each other with their lunch boxes and my experienced ear told me Gail was by this time forcing herself to scream.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading _Certainly alien children ought to be fed ... but to human kids?_ "Happy birthday to _you_," we all sang, except Gail, of course, who was still screaming, though not as loud.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading They had stopped swatting each other with their lunch boxes and my experienced ear told me Gail was by this time forcing herself to scream.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading _Certainly alien children ought to be fed ... but to human kids?_ "Happy birthday to _you_," we all sang, except Gail, of course, who was still screaming, though not as loud.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Well, now," I said jovially, glancing nervously about at the other air traffic, "what else can we all sing?"
joviallyadverb
in a jovial manner
From this reading "Well, now," I said jovially, glancing nervously about at the other air traffic, "what else can we all sing?"
kidsnounUS /kɪdz/
plural of “kid” — a young person of either sex
From this reading _Certainly alien children ought to be fed ... but to human kids?_ "Happy birthday to _you_," we all sang, except Gail, of course, who was still screaming, though not as loud.
characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity
From this reading _Certainly alien children ought to be fed ... but to human kids?_ "Happy birthday to _you_," we all sang, except Gail, of course, who was still screaming, though not as loud.
take the midday meal
From this reading They had stopped swatting each other with their lunch boxes and my experienced ear told me Gail was by this time forcing herself to scream.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading They had stopped swatting each other with their lunch boxes and my experienced ear told me Gail was by this time forcing herself to scream.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading They had stopped swatting each other with their lunch boxes and my experienced ear told me Gail was by this time forcing herself to scream.
nervouslyadverbUS /ˈnɜːrvəsli/
in an anxiously nervous manner
From this reading "Well, now," I said jovially, glancing nervously about at the other air traffic, "what else can we all sing?"
nicelyadverbUS /ˈnaɪsli/
in a nice way
From this reading The singing seemed to be working nicely.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading _Certainly alien children ought to be fed ... but to human kids?_ "Happy birthday to _you_," we all sang, except Gail, of course, who was still screaming, though not as loud.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Well, now," I said jovially, glancing nervously about at the other air traffic, "what else can we all sing?"
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _Certainly alien children ought to be fed ... but to human kids?_ "Happy birthday to _you_," we all sang, except Gail, of course, who was still screaming, though not as loud.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading "Well, now," I said jovially, glancing nervously about at the other air traffic, "what else can we all sing?"
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading _Certainly alien children ought to be fed ... but to human kids?_ "Happy birthday to _you_," we all sang, except Gail, of course, who was still screaming, though not as loud.
preludenounUS /ˈpreɪluːd/
something that serves as a preceding event or introduces what follows
From this reading This should be the prelude to giving up and enjoying herself.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Well, now," I said jovially, glancing nervously about at the other air traffic, "what else can we all sing?"
North American woodland herb similar to and used as substitute for the Chinese ginseng
From this reading _Certainly alien children ought to be fed ... but to human kids?_ "Happy birthday to _you_," we all sang, except Gail, of course, who was still screaming, though not as loud.
screamverbUS /skriːm/
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading They had stopped swatting each other with their lunch boxes and my experienced ear told me Gail was by this time forcing herself to scream.
screamingadjectiveUS /ˈskriːmɪŋ/
so extremely intense as to evoke screams
From this reading _Certainly alien children ought to be fed ... but to human kids?_ "Happy birthday to _you_," we all sang, except Gail, of course, who was still screaming, though not as loud.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The singing seemed to be working nicely.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading This should be the prelude to giving up and enjoying herself.
deliver by singing
From this reading "Well, now," I said jovially, glancing nervously about at the other air traffic, "what else can we all sing?"
the act of singing vocal music
From this reading The singing seemed to be working nicely.
not in physical motion
From this reading _Certainly alien children ought to be fed ... but to human kids?_ "Happy birthday to _you_," we all sang, except Gail, of course, who was still screaming, though not as loud.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading They had stopped swatting each other with their lunch boxes and my experienced ear told me Gail was by this time forcing herself to scream.
swatting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had stopped swatting each other with their lunch boxes and my experienced ear told me Gail was by this time forcing herself to scream.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Well, now," I said jovially, glancing nervously about at the other air traffic, "what else can we all sing?"
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They had stopped swatting each other with their lunch boxes and my experienced ear told me Gail was by this time forcing herself to scream.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had stopped swatting each other with their lunch boxes and my experienced ear told me Gail was by this time forcing herself to scream.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading They had stopped swatting each other with their lunch boxes and my experienced ear told me Gail was by this time forcing herself to scream.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading _Certainly alien children ought to be fed ... but to human kids?_ "Happy birthday to _you_," we all sang, except Gail, of course, who was still screaming, though not as loud.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading They had stopped swatting each other with their lunch boxes and my experienced ear told me Gail was by this time forcing herself to scream.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _Certainly alien children ought to be fed ... but to human kids?_ "Happy birthday to _you_," we all sang, except Gail, of course, who was still screaming, though not as loud.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading They had stopped swatting each other with their lunch boxes and my experienced ear told me Gail was by this time forcing herself to scream.
trafficnounUS /ˈtræfɪk/
the aggregation of things (pedestrians or vehicles) coming and going in a particular locality during a specified period of time
From this reading "Well, now," I said jovially, glancing nervously about at the other air traffic, "what else can we all sing?"
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading This should be the prelude to giving up and enjoying herself.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _Certainly alien children ought to be fed ... but to human kids?_ "Happy birthday to _you_," we all sang, except Gail, of course, who was still screaming, though not as loud.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading _Certainly alien children ought to be fed ... but to human kids?_ "Happy birthday to _you_," we all sang, except Gail, of course, who was still screaming, though not as loud.
(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, now," I said jovially, glancing nervously about at the other air traffic, "what else can we all sing?"
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "Well, now," I said jovially, glancing nervously about at the other air traffic, "what else can we all sing?"
which person or people
From this reading _Certainly alien children ought to be fed ... but to human kids?_ "Happy birthday to _you_," we all sang, except Gail, of course, who was still screaming, though not as loud.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They had stopped swatting each other with their lunch boxes and my experienced ear told me Gail was by this time forcing herself to scream.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading The singing seemed to be working nicely.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading _Certainly alien children ought to be fed ... but to human kids?_ "Happy birthday to _you_," we all sang, except Gail, of course, who was still screaming, though not as loud.
