a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading No description of the little folk of the Middle Kingdom would be complete without an account of some of the festivals, which add so much to the happiness of the year.
make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of
From this reading No description of the little folk of the Middle Kingdom would be complete without an account of some of the festivals, which add so much to the happiness of the year.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading No description of the little folk of the Middle Kingdom would be complete without an account of some of the festivals, which add so much to the happiness of the year.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading FESTIVALS Chinese life, which for many children is dull and full of work, has its red-letter days.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The houses are swept and tidied the night before.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading No description of the little folk of the Middle Kingdom would be complete without an account of some of the festivals, which add so much to the happiness of the year.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The houses are swept and tidied the night before.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading How the boys and girls look forward to New Year’s day!
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading Inscriptions on bright red paper are pasted on the door-posts and lintels of each home.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading FESTIVALS Chinese life, which for many children is dull and full of work, has its red-letter days.
ChinesenounUS /tʃaɪˈniːz/
any of the Sino-Tibetan languages spoken in China; regarded as dialects of a single language (even though they are mutually unintelligible) because they share an ideographic writing system
From this reading FESTIVALS Chinese life, which for many children is dull and full of work, has its red-letter days.
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading No description of the little folk of the Middle Kingdom would be complete without an account of some of the festivals, which add so much to the happiness of the year.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading How the boys and girls look forward to New Year’s day!
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading FESTIVALS Chinese life, which for many children is dull and full of work, has its red-letter days.
a statement that represents something in words
From this reading No description of the little folk of the Middle Kingdom would be complete without an account of some of the festivals, which add so much to the happiness of the year.
door-posts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inscriptions on bright red paper are pasted on the door-posts and lintels of each home.
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading FESTIVALS Chinese life, which for many children is dull and full of work, has its red-letter days.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Inscriptions on bright red paper are pasted on the door-posts and lintels of each home.
FESTIVALSnounUS /ˈfestəvəlz/
plural of “festival” — a day or period of time set aside for feasting and celebration
From this reading FESTIVALS Chinese life, which for many children is dull and full of work, has its red-letter days.
people in general (often used in the plural)
From this reading No description of the little folk of the Middle Kingdom would be complete without an account of some of the festivals, which add so much to the happiness of the year.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading FESTIVALS Chinese life, which for many children is dull and full of work, has its red-letter days.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading How the boys and girls look forward to New Year’s day!
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading FESTIVALS Chinese life, which for many children is dull and full of work, has its red-letter days.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading How the boys and girls look forward to New Year’s day!
state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
From this reading No description of the little folk of the Middle Kingdom would be complete without an account of some of the festivals, which add so much to the happiness of the year.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading FESTIVALS Chinese life, which for many children is dull and full of work, has its red-letter days.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Inscriptions on bright red paper are pasted on the door-posts and lintels of each home.
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The houses are swept and tidied the night before.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How the boys and girls look forward to New Year’s day!
InscriptionsnounUS /ˌɪnˈskrɪpʃənz/
plural of “inscription” — letters inscribed (especially words engraved or carved) on something
From this reading Inscriptions on bright red paper are pasted on the door-posts and lintels of each home.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading FESTIVALS Chinese life, which for many children is dull and full of work, has its red-letter days.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading FESTIVALS Chinese life, which for many children is dull and full of work, has its red-letter days.
a domain in which something is dominant
From this reading No description of the little folk of the Middle Kingdom would be complete without an account of some of the festivals, which add so much to the happiness of the year.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading FESTIVALS Chinese life, which for many children is dull and full of work, has its red-letter days.
lintels
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inscriptions on bright red paper are pasted on the door-posts and lintels of each home.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading No description of the little folk of the Middle Kingdom would be complete without an account of some of the festivals, which add so much to the happiness of the year.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading How the boys and girls look forward to New Year’s day!
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading FESTIVALS Chinese life, which for many children is dull and full of work, has its red-letter days.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading No description of the little folk of the Middle Kingdom would be complete without an account of some of the festivals, which add so much to the happiness of the year.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading No description of the little folk of the Middle Kingdom would be complete without an account of some of the festivals, which add so much to the happiness of the year.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading How the boys and girls look forward to New Year’s day!
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The houses are swept and tidied the night before.
not any; not one
From this reading No description of the little folk of the Middle Kingdom would be complete without an account of some of the festivals, which add so much to the happiness of the year.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading FESTIVALS Chinese life, which for many children is dull and full of work, has its red-letter days.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Inscriptions on bright red paper are pasted on the door-posts and lintels of each home.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading Inscriptions on bright red paper are pasted on the door-posts and lintels of each home.
pastedadjectiveUS /ˈpeɪstɪd/
affixed or as if affixed with glue or paste
From this reading Inscriptions on bright red paper are pasted on the door-posts and lintels of each home.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading Inscriptions on bright red paper are pasted on the door-posts and lintels of each home.
red-letteradjective
memorable for being a special occasion
From this reading FESTIVALS Chinese life, which for many children is dull and full of work, has its red-letter days.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading No description of the little folk of the Middle Kingdom would be complete without an account of some of the festivals, which add so much to the happiness of the year.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading No description of the little folk of the Middle Kingdom would be complete without an account of some of the festivals, which add so much to the happiness of the year.
possessing sweep
From this reading The houses are swept and tidied the night before.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading No description of the little folk of the Middle Kingdom would be complete without an account of some of the festivals, which add so much to the happiness of the year.
tidied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The houses are swept and tidied the night before.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading No description of the little folk of the Middle Kingdom would be complete without an account of some of the festivals, which add so much to the happiness of the year.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading FESTIVALS Chinese life, which for many children is dull and full of work, has its red-letter days.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading No description of the little folk of the Middle Kingdom would be complete without an account of some of the festivals, which add so much to the happiness of the year.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading FESTIVALS Chinese life, which for many children is dull and full of work, has its red-letter days.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading No description of the little folk of the Middle Kingdom would be complete without an account of some of the festivals, which add so much to the happiness of the year.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading No description of the little folk of the Middle Kingdom would be complete without an account of some of the festivals, which add so much to the happiness of the year.
Year'snounUS /jɪrz/
possessive form of “year” — a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading How the boys and girls look forward to New Year’s day!
