used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Charming Holiday Stories for Boys and Girls _The Night Before Christmas._ 'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
(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 Charming Holiday Stories for Boys and Girls _The Night Before Christmas._ 'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Charming Holiday Stories for Boys and Girls _The Night Before Christmas._ 'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape
From this reading And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap; When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In the hope that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap; When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
bedsnounUS /bedz/
plural of “bed” — a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Charming Holiday Stories for Boys and Girls _The Night Before Christmas._ 'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading Charming Holiday Stories for Boys and Girls _The Night Before Christmas._ 'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
brainsnounUS /breɪnz/
plural of “brain” — that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap; When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In the hope that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
a tight-fitting headdress
From this reading And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap; When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In the hope that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
pleasing or delighting
From this reading Charming Holiday Stories for Boys and Girls _The Night Before Christmas._ 'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
chimneynounUS /ˈtʃɪmni/
a vertical flue that provides a path through which smoke from a fire is carried away through the wall or roof of a building
From this reading The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In the hope that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading Charming Holiday Stories for Boys and Girls _The Night Before Christmas._ 'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
clatternounUS /ˈklætər/
a rattling noise (often produced by rapid movement)
From this reading And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap; When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading Charming Holiday Stories for Boys and Girls _The Night Before Christmas._ 'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
dancedverbUS /dænst/
past form of “dance” — move in a graceful and rhythmical way
From this reading The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
divisible by two
From this reading Charming Holiday Stories for Boys and Girls _The Night Before Christmas._ 'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Charming Holiday Stories for Boys and Girls _The Night Before Christmas._ 'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap; When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading Charming Holiday Stories for Boys and Girls _The Night Before Christmas._ 'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
Hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap; When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
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 The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap; When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
HolidaynounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪ/
leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading Charming Holiday Stories for Boys and Girls _The Night Before Christmas._ 'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In the hope that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Charming Holiday Stories for Boys and Girls _The Night Before Christmas._ 'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In the hope that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap; When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In the hope that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
and nothing more
From this reading And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap; When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
kerchiefnounUS /ˈkɜːrtʃəf/
a square scarf that is folded into a triangle and worn over the head or about the neck
From this reading And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap; When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
lawnnounUS /lɔːn/
a field of cultivated and mowed grass
From this reading And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap; When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
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 And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap; When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
informal terms for a mother
From this reading And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap; When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap; When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
mousenounUS /maʊs/
any of numerous small rodents typically resembling diminutive rats having pointed snouts and small ears on elongated bodies with slender usually hairless tails
From this reading Charming Holiday Stories for Boys and Girls _The Night Before Christmas._ 'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap; When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
napnounUS /næp/
a period of time spent sleeping
From this reading And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap; When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
nestledadjectiveUS /ˈnesəld/
drawn or pressed close to someone or something for or as if for affection or protection
From this reading The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
NicholasnounUS /ˈnɪkələs/
a bishop in Asia Minor who is associated with Santa Claus (4th century)
From this reading The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In the hope that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Charming Holiday Stories for Boys and Girls _The Night Before Christmas._ 'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Charming Holiday Stories for Boys and Girls _The Night Before Christmas._ 'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap; When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap; When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap; When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
sashnounUS /sæʃ/
a framework that holds the panes of a window in the window frame
From this reading Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap; When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap; When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
shuttersnounUS /ˈʃʌtərz/
plural of “shutter” — a mechanical device on a camera that opens and closes to control the time of a photographic exposure
From this reading Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
snugadjectiveUS /snʌɡ/
offering safety; well protected or concealed
From this reading The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
in the near future
From this reading The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In the hope that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap; When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
St
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In the hope that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
stirringnounUS /ˈstɜːrɪŋ/
agitating a liquid with an implement
From this reading Charming Holiday Stories for Boys and Girls _The Night Before Christmas._ 'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
stockingsnounUS /ˈstɑːkɪŋz/
plural of “stocking” — close-fitting hosiery to cover the foot and leg; come in matched pairs (usually used in the plural)
From this reading The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In the hope that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading Charming Holiday Stories for Boys and Girls _The Night Before Christmas._ 'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap; When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
sugar-plums
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In the hope that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Charming Holiday Stories for Boys and Girls _The Night Before Christmas._ 'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In the hope that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Charming Holiday Stories for Boys and Girls _The Night Before Christmas._ 'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap; When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
commonly the lowest molding at the base of a column
From this reading Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
Twas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Charming Holiday Stories for Boys and Girls _The Night Before Christmas._ 'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
visionsnounUS /ˈvɪʒənz/
plural of “vision” — a vivid mental image
From this reading The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Charming Holiday Stories for Boys and Girls _The Night Before Christmas._ 'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In the hope that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap; When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
at the time that
From this reading And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap; When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
winter'snounUS /ˈwɪntərz/
possessive form of “winter” — the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap; When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In the hope that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In the hope that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
