Chapter I · Chapter 1

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading "Quite right, Miss Alex; what a clever girl, to be sure.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _Dedicated to M.P.P._ _and, in spite of air-raids, to the_ The firelight flickered on the nursery wall, and the children sat round the table, learning the new game which the nursery-maid said they would like ever so, directly they understood it.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "I understand it already," said Alex, the eldest, tossing her head proudly.

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading "I understand it already," said Alex, the eldest, tossing her head proudly.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading _Dedicated to M.P.P._ _and, in spite of air-raids, to the_ The firelight flickered on the nursery wall, and the children sat round the table, learning the new game which the nursery-maid said they would like ever so, directly they understood it.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Look, Barbara, you fold the piece of paper like this, and then give it to Cedric, because he's next to you, and I give mine to you, and Emily gives hers to me.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading "Quite right, Miss Alex; what a clever girl, to be sure.

for the reason that

From this reading "Look, Barbara, you fold the piece of paper like this, and then give it to Cedric, because he's next to you, and I give mine to you, and Emily gives hers to me.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Look, Barbara, you fold the piece of paper like this, and then give it to Cedric, because he's next to you, and I give mine to you, and Emily gives hers to me.

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading _Dedicated to M.P.P._ _and, in spite of air-raids, to the_ The firelight flickered on the nursery wall, and the children sat round the table, learning the new game which the nursery-maid said they would like ever so, directly they understood it.

showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others

From this reading "Quite right, Miss Alex; what a clever girl, to be sure.

devoted to a cause or ideal or purpose

From this reading _Dedicated to M.P.P._ _and, in spite of air-raids, to the_ The firelight flickered on the nursery wall, and the children sat round the table, learning the new game which the nursery-maid said they would like ever so, directly they understood it.

without deviation

From this reading _Dedicated to M.P.P._ _and, in spite of air-raids, to the_ The firelight flickered on the nursery wall, and the children sat round the table, learning the new game which the nursery-maid said they would like ever so, directly they understood it.

first in order of birth

From this reading "I understand it already," said Alex, the eldest, tossing her head proudly.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Look, Barbara, you fold the piece of paper like this, and then give it to Cedric, because he's next to you, and I give mine to you, and Emily gives hers to me.

at any time

From this reading _Dedicated to M.P.P._ _and, in spite of air-raids, to the_ The firelight flickered on the nursery wall, and the children sat round the table, learning the new game which the nursery-maid said they would like ever so, directly they understood it.

the light of a fire (especially in a fireplace)

From this reading _Dedicated to M.P.P._ _and, in spite of air-raids, to the_ The firelight flickered on the nursery wall, and the children sat round the table, learning the new game which the nursery-maid said they would like ever so, directly they understood it.

past form of “flicker” — move back and forth very rapidly

From this reading _Dedicated to M.P.P._ _and, in spite of air-raids, to the_ The firelight flickered on the nursery wall, and the children sat round the table, learning the new game which the nursery-maid said they would like ever so, directly they understood it.

an angular or rounded shape made by folding

From this reading "Look, Barbara, you fold the piece of paper like this, and then give it to Cedric, because he's next to you, and I give mine to you, and Emily gives hers to me.

a contest with rules to determine a winner

From this reading _Dedicated to M.P.P._ _and, in spite of air-raids, to the_ The firelight flickered on the nursery wall, and the children sat round the table, learning the new game which the nursery-maid said they would like ever so, directly they understood it.

a young female

From this reading "Quite right, Miss Alex; what a clever girl, to be sure.

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading "Look, Barbara, you fold the piece of paper like this, and then give it to Cedric, because he's next to you, and I give mine to you, and Emily gives hers to me.

plural of “give” — the elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length

From this reading "Look, Barbara, you fold the piece of paper like this, and then give it to Cedric, because he's next to you, and I give mine to you, and Emily gives hers to me.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Look, Barbara, you fold the piece of paper like this, and then give it to Cedric, because he's next to you, and I give mine to you, and Emily gives hers to me.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading "I understand it already," said Alex, the eldest, tossing her head proudly.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading "I understand it already," said Alex, the eldest, tossing her head proudly.

the one or ones belonging to her

From this reading "Look, Barbara, you fold the piece of paper like this, and then give it to Cedric, because he's next to you, and I give mine to you, and Emily gives hers to me.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading "I understand it already," said Alex, the eldest, tossing her head proudly.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading _Dedicated to M.P.P._ _and, in spite of air-raids, to the_ The firelight flickered on the nursery wall, and the children sat round the table, learning the new game which the nursery-maid said they would like ever so, directly they understood it.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That's right, isn't it, Emily?"

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading _Dedicated to M.P.P._ _and, in spite of air-raids, to the_ The firelight flickered on the nursery wall, and the children sat round the table, learning the new game which the nursery-maid said they would like ever so, directly they understood it.

the cognitive process of acquiring skill or knowledge

From this reading _Dedicated to M.P.P._ _and, in spite of air-raids, to the_ The firelight flickered on the nursery wall, and the children sat round the table, learning the new game which the nursery-maid said they would like ever so, directly they understood it.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading _Dedicated to M.P.P._ _and, in spite of air-raids, to the_ The firelight flickered on the nursery wall, and the children sat round the table, learning the new game which the nursery-maid said they would like ever so, directly they understood it.

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading "Look, Barbara, you fold the piece of paper like this, and then give it to Cedric, because he's next to you, and I give mine to you, and Emily gives hers to me.

the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)

From this reading _Dedicated to M.P.P._ _and, in spite of air-raids, to the_ The firelight flickered on the nursery wall, and the children sat round the table, learning the new game which the nursery-maid said they would like ever so, directly they understood it.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "Look, Barbara, you fold the piece of paper like this, and then give it to Cedric, because he's next to you, and I give mine to you, and Emily gives hers to me.

the one or ones belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "Look, Barbara, you fold the piece of paper like this, and then give it to Cedric, because he's next to you, and I give mine to you, and Emily gives hers to me.

fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind

From this reading "Quite right, Miss Alex; what a clever girl, to be sure.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading _Dedicated to M.P.P._ _and, in spite of air-raids, to the_ The firelight flickered on the nursery wall, and the children sat round the table, learning the new game which the nursery-maid said they would like ever so, directly they understood it.

immediately following in time or order

From this reading "Look, Barbara, you fold the piece of paper like this, and then give it to Cedric, because he's next to you, and I give mine to you, and Emily gives hers to me.

a child's room for a baby

From this reading _Dedicated to M.P.P._ _and, in spite of air-raids, to the_ The firelight flickered on the nursery wall, and the children sat round the table, learning the new game which the nursery-maid said they would like ever so, directly they understood it.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _Dedicated to M.P.P._ _and, in spite of air-raids, to the_ The firelight flickered on the nursery wall, and the children sat round the table, learning the new game which the nursery-maid said they would like ever so, directly they understood it.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading _Dedicated to M.P.P._ _and, in spite of air-raids, to the_ The firelight flickered on the nursery wall, and the children sat round the table, learning the new game which the nursery-maid said they would like ever so, directly they understood it.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading _Dedicated to M.P.P._ _and, in spite of air-raids, to the_ The firelight flickered on the nursery wall, and the children sat round the table, learning the new game which the nursery-maid said they would like ever so, directly they understood it.

a multivalent nonmetallic element of the nitrogen family that occurs commonly in inorganic phosphate rocks and as organic phosphates in all living cells; is highly reactive and occurs in several allotropic forms

From this reading _Dedicated to M.P.P._ _and, in spite of air-raids, to the_ The firelight flickered on the nursery wall, and the children sat round the table, learning the new game which the nursery-maid said they would like ever so, directly they understood it.

a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses

From this reading "Look, Barbara, you fold the piece of paper like this, and then give it to Cedric, because he's next to you, and I give mine to you, and Emily gives hers to me.

a separate part of a whole

From this reading "Look, Barbara, you fold the piece of paper like this, and then give it to Cedric, because he's next to you, and I give mine to you, and Emily gives hers to me.

with pride; in a proud manner

From this reading "I understand it already," said Alex, the eldest, tossing her head proudly.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading "Quite right, Miss Alex; what a clever girl, to be sure.

precisely, exactly

From this reading That's right, isn't it, Emily?"

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading _Dedicated to M.P.P._ _and, in spite of air-raids, to the_ The firelight flickered on the nursery wall, and the children sat round the table, learning the new game which the nursery-maid said they would like ever so, directly they understood it.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading _Dedicated to M.P.P._ _and, in spite of air-raids, to the_ The firelight flickered on the nursery wall, and the children sat round the table, learning the new game which the nursery-maid said they would like ever so, directly they understood it.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading _Dedicated to M.P.P._ _and, in spite of air-raids, to the_ The firelight flickered on the nursery wall, and the children sat round the table, learning the new game which the nursery-maid said they would like ever so, directly they understood it.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading _Dedicated to M.P.P._ _and, in spite of air-raids, to the_ The firelight flickered on the nursery wall, and the children sat round the table, learning the new game which the nursery-maid said they would like ever so, directly they understood it.

feeling a need to see others suffer

From this reading _Dedicated to M.P.P._ _and, in spite of air-raids, to the_ The firelight flickered on the nursery wall, and the children sat round the table, learning the new game which the nursery-maid said they would like ever so, directly they understood it.

having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured

From this reading "Quite right, Miss Alex; what a clever girl, to be sure.

a set of data arranged in rows and columns

From this reading _Dedicated to M.P.P._ _and, in spite of air-raids, to the_ The firelight flickered on the nursery wall, and the children sat round the table, learning the new game which the nursery-maid said they would like ever so, directly they understood it.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That's right, isn't it, Emily?"

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading _Dedicated to M.P.P._ _and, in spite of air-raids, to the_ The firelight flickered on the nursery wall, and the children sat round the table, learning the new game which the nursery-maid said they would like ever so, directly they understood it.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading "Look, Barbara, you fold the piece of paper like this, and then give it to Cedric, because he's next to you, and I give mine to you, and Emily gives hers to me.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading _Dedicated to M.P.P._ _and, in spite of air-raids, to the_ The firelight flickered on the nursery wall, and the children sat round the table, learning the new game which the nursery-maid said they would like ever so, directly they understood it.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading "Look, Barbara, you fold the piece of paper like this, and then give it to Cedric, because he's next to you, and I give mine to you, and Emily gives hers to me.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading _Dedicated to M.P.P._ _and, in spite of air-raids, to the_ The firelight flickered on the nursery wall, and the children sat round the table, learning the new game which the nursery-maid said they would like ever so, directly they understood it.

-ing form of “toss” — throw or toss with a light motion

From this reading "I understand it already," said Alex, the eldest, tossing her head proudly.

know and comprehend the nature or meaning of

From this reading "I understand it already," said Alex, the eldest, tossing her head proudly.

fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation

From this reading _Dedicated to M.P.P._ _and, in spite of air-raids, to the_ The firelight flickered on the nursery wall, and the children sat round the table, learning the new game which the nursery-maid said they would like ever so, directly they understood it.

an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading _Dedicated to M.P.P._ _and, in spite of air-raids, to the_ The firelight flickered on the nursery wall, and the children sat round the table, learning the new game which the nursery-maid said they would like ever so, directly they understood it.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "Quite right, Miss Alex; what a clever girl, to be sure.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading _Dedicated to M.P.P._ _and, in spite of air-raids, to the_ The firelight flickered on the nursery wall, and the children sat round the table, learning the new game which the nursery-maid said they would like ever so, directly they understood it.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading _Dedicated to M.P.P._ _and, in spite of air-raids, to the_ The firelight flickered on the nursery wall, and the children sat round the table, learning the new game which the nursery-maid said they would like ever so, directly they understood it.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Look, Barbara, you fold the piece of paper like this, and then give it to Cedric, because he's next to you, and I give mine to you, and Emily gives hers to me.