used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "It won't be a secret very long, Sis.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading "I wish people weren't always having secrets," Jane complained to Ernest.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Her father and mother had their heads together over something most of the time.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading THINGS HAPPEN If there had been any person left to get married, Chicken Little would have been sure the family was preparing for another wedding during the next few weeks.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading THINGS HAPPEN If there had been any person left to get married, Chicken Little would have been sure the family was preparing for another wedding during the next few weeks.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "It won't be a secret very long, Sis.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading THINGS HAPPEN If there had been any person left to get married, Chicken Little would have been sure the family was preparing for another wedding during the next few weeks.
ChickennounUS /ˈtʃɪkən/
the flesh of a chicken used for food
From this reading THINGS HAPPEN If there had been any person left to get married, Chicken Little would have been sure the family was preparing for another wedding during the next few weeks.
complainedverbUS /kəmˈpleɪnd/
past form of “complain” — express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness
From this reading "I wish people weren't always having secrets," Jane complained to Ernest.
demanding attention
From this reading Once she found her mother crying and she seemed grave and worried.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading THINGS HAPPEN If there had been any person left to get married, Chicken Little would have been sure the family was preparing for another wedding during the next few weeks.
Ernest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I wish people weren't always having secrets," Jane complained to Ernest.
a social unit living together
From this reading THINGS HAPPEN If there had been any person left to get married, Chicken Little would have been sure the family was preparing for another wedding during the next few weeks.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Her father and mother had their heads together over something most of the time.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading THINGS HAPPEN If there had been any person left to get married, Chicken Little would have been sure the family was preparing for another wedding during the next few weeks.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THINGS HAPPEN If there had been any person left to get married, Chicken Little would have been sure the family was preparing for another wedding during the next few weeks.
set up or found
From this reading Once she found her mother crying and she seemed grave and worried.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading THINGS HAPPEN If there had been any person left to get married, Chicken Little would have been sure the family was preparing for another wedding during the next few weeks.
death of a person
From this reading Once she found her mother crying and she seemed grave and worried.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THINGS HAPPEN If there had been any person left to get married, Chicken Little would have been sure the family was preparing for another wedding during the next few weeks.
come to pass
From this reading THINGS HAPPEN If there had been any person left to get married, Chicken Little would have been sure the family was preparing for another wedding during the next few weeks.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading THINGS HAPPEN If there had been any person left to get married, Chicken Little would have been sure the family was preparing for another wedding during the next few weeks.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading "I wish people weren't always having secrets," Jane complained to Ernest.
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Her father and mother had their heads together over something most of the time.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her father and mother had their heads together over something most of the time.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I wish people weren't always having secrets," Jane complained to Ernest.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading THINGS HAPPEN If there had been any person left to get married, Chicken Little would have been sure the family was preparing for another wedding during the next few weeks.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "It won't be a secret very long, Sis.
Jane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I wish people weren't always having secrets," Jane complained to Ernest.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading THINGS HAPPEN If there had been any person left to get married, Chicken Little would have been sure the family was preparing for another wedding during the next few weeks.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading THINGS HAPPEN If there had been any person left to get married, Chicken Little would have been sure the family was preparing for another wedding during the next few weeks.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading "It won't be a secret very long, Sis.
joined in matrimony
From this reading THINGS HAPPEN If there had been any person left to get married, Chicken Little would have been sure the family was preparing for another wedding during the next few weeks.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Her father and mother had their heads together over something most of the time.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Her father and mother had their heads together over something most of the time.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading THINGS HAPPEN If there had been any person left to get married, Chicken Little would have been sure the family was preparing for another wedding during the next few weeks.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Her father and mother had their heads together over something most of the time.
on one occasion
From this reading Once she found her mother crying and she seemed grave and worried.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Her father and mother had their heads together over something most of the time.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading "I wish people weren't always having secrets," Jane complained to Ernest.
a human being
From this reading THINGS HAPPEN If there had been any person left to get married, Chicken Little would have been sure the family was preparing for another wedding during the next few weeks.
preparingverbUS /priˈperɪŋ/
-ing form of “prepare” — make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc
From this reading THINGS HAPPEN If there had been any person left to get married, Chicken Little would have been sure the family was preparing for another wedding during the next few weeks.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading "It won't be a secret very long, Sis.
secretsnounUS /ˈsiːkrəts/
plural of “secret” — something that should remain hidden from others (especially information that is not to be passed on)
From this reading "I wish people weren't always having secrets," Jane complained to Ernest.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Once she found her mother crying and she seemed grave and worried.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Once she found her mother crying and she seemed grave and worried.
SisnounUS /sɪs/
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading "It won't be a secret very long, Sis.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Her father and mother had their heads together over something most of the time.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading THINGS HAPPEN If there had been any person left to get married, Chicken Little would have been sure the family was preparing for another wedding during the next few weeks.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THINGS HAPPEN If there had been any person left to get married, Chicken Little would have been sure the family was preparing for another wedding during the next few weeks.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Her father and mother had their heads together over something most of the time.
in or at that place or location
From this reading THINGS HAPPEN If there had been any person left to get married, Chicken Little would have been sure the family was preparing for another wedding during the next few weeks.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading THINGS HAPPEN If there had been any person left to get married, Chicken Little would have been sure the family was preparing for another wedding during the next few weeks.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Her father and mother had their heads together over something most of the time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THINGS HAPPEN If there had been any person left to get married, Chicken Little would have been sure the family was preparing for another wedding during the next few weeks.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading Her father and mother had their heads together over something most of the time.
precisely as stated
From this reading "It won't be a secret very long, Sis.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THINGS HAPPEN If there had been any person left to get married, Chicken Little would have been sure the family was preparing for another wedding during the next few weeks.
the social event at which the ceremony of marriage is performed
From this reading THINGS HAPPEN If there had been any person left to get married, Chicken Little would have been sure the family was preparing for another wedding during the next few weeks.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading THINGS HAPPEN If there had been any person left to get married, Chicken Little would have been sure the family was preparing for another wedding during the next few weeks.
weren't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I wish people weren't always having secrets," Jane complained to Ernest.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading "I wish people weren't always having secrets," Jane complained to Ernest.
won't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It won't be a secret very long, Sis.
worriedadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːrid/
afflicted with or marked by anxious uneasiness or trouble or grief
From this reading Once she found her mother crying and she seemed grave and worried.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading THINGS HAPPEN If there had been any person left to get married, Chicken Little would have been sure the family was preparing for another wedding during the next few weeks.
