used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “Isn’t a really-truly bed the greatest invention known to civilized man, Doro?”
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “I don’t know about its being the first on the list; but it certainly _is_ a delight after sleeping on a shelf in that car,” agreed Dorothy Dale, stretching luxuriously.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading “I don’t know about its being the first on the list; but it certainly _is_ a delight after sleeping on a shelf in that car,” agreed Dorothy Dale, stretching luxuriously.
united by being of the same opinion
From this reading “I don’t know about its being the first on the list; but it certainly _is_ a delight after sleeping on a shelf in that car,” agreed Dorothy Dale, stretching luxuriously.
(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 “You can stay here all day alone, then,” said her chum, briskly.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading “You can stay here all day alone, then,” said her chum, briskly.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading “Isn’t a really-truly bed the greatest invention known to civilized man, Doro?”
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading “I don’t know about its being the first on the list; but it certainly _is_ a delight after sleeping on a shelf in that car,” agreed Dorothy Dale, stretching luxuriously.
brisklyadverbUS /ˈbrɪskli/
in a brisk manner
From this reading “You can stay here all day alone, then,” said her chum, briskly.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “I don’t know about its being the first on the list; but it certainly _is_ a delight after sleeping on a shelf in that car,” agreed Dorothy Dale, stretching luxuriously.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading “You can stay here all day alone, then,” said her chum, briskly.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading “I don’t know about its being the first on the list; but it certainly _is_ a delight after sleeping on a shelf in that car,” agreed Dorothy Dale, stretching luxuriously.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading “I don’t know about its being the first on the list; but it certainly _is_ a delight after sleeping on a shelf in that car,” agreed Dorothy Dale, stretching luxuriously.
chumnounUS /tʃʌm/
a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities
From this reading “You can stay here all day alone, then,” said her chum, briskly.
civilizedadjectiveUS /ˈsɪvəlaɪzd/
having a high state of culture and development both social and technological
From this reading “Isn’t a really-truly bed the greatest invention known to civilized man, Doro?”
DalenounUS /deɪl/
an open river valley (in a hilly area)
From this reading “I don’t know about its being the first on the list; but it certainly _is_ a delight after sleeping on a shelf in that car,” agreed Dorothy Dale, stretching luxuriously.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading “You can stay here all day alone, then,” said her chum, briskly.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading “I don’t know about its being the first on the list; but it certainly _is_ a delight after sleeping on a shelf in that car,” agreed Dorothy Dale, stretching luxuriously.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I don’t know about its being the first on the list; but it certainly _is_ a delight after sleeping on a shelf in that car,” agreed Dorothy Dale, stretching luxuriously.
Doro
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Isn’t a really-truly bed the greatest invention known to civilized man, Doro?”
Dorothy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I don’t know about its being the first on the list; but it certainly _is_ a delight after sleeping on a shelf in that car,” agreed Dorothy Dale, stretching luxuriously.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading “I don’t know about its being the first on the list; but it certainly _is_ a delight after sleeping on a shelf in that car,” agreed Dorothy Dale, stretching luxuriously.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “I hate to get up.”
that which is pleasing or valuable or useful
From this reading ON THE ROAD TO HARDIN’S “Goodness gracious, grumpy gree!” yawned Tavia.
characterized by charm, good taste, and generosity of spirit
From this reading ON THE ROAD TO HARDIN’S “Goodness gracious, grumpy gree!” yawned Tavia.
highest in quality
From this reading “Isn’t a really-truly bed the greatest invention known to civilized man, Doro?”
gree
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON THE ROAD TO HARDIN’S “Goodness gracious, grumpy gree!” yawned Tavia.
grumpyadjectiveUS /ˈɡrʌmpi/
annoyed and irritable
From this reading ON THE ROAD TO HARDIN’S “Goodness gracious, grumpy gree!” yawned Tavia.
HARDIN'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON THE ROAD TO HARDIN’S “Goodness gracious, grumpy gree!” yawned Tavia.
the emotion of intense dislike; a feeling of dislike so strong that it demands action
From this reading “I hate to get up.”
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “You can stay here all day alone, then,” said her chum, briskly.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading “You can stay here all day alone, then,” said her chum, briskly.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I don’t know about its being the first on the list; but it certainly _is_ a delight after sleeping on a shelf in that car,” agreed Dorothy Dale, stretching luxuriously.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “I don’t know about its being the first on the list; but it certainly _is_ a delight after sleeping on a shelf in that car,” agreed Dorothy Dale, stretching luxuriously.
inventionnounUS /ˌɪnˈvenʃən/
the creation of something in the mind
From this reading “Isn’t a really-truly bed the greatest invention known to civilized man, Doro?”
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “I don’t know about its being the first on the list; but it certainly _is_ a delight after sleeping on a shelf in that car,” agreed Dorothy Dale, stretching luxuriously.
Isn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Isn’t a really-truly bed the greatest invention known to civilized man, Doro?”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “I don’t know about its being the first on the list; but it certainly _is_ a delight after sleeping on a shelf in that car,” agreed Dorothy Dale, stretching luxuriously.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading “I don’t know about its being the first on the list; but it certainly _is_ a delight after sleeping on a shelf in that car,” agreed Dorothy Dale, stretching luxuriously.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading “I don’t know about its being the first on the list; but it certainly _is_ a delight after sleeping on a shelf in that car,” agreed Dorothy Dale, stretching luxuriously.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading “Isn’t a really-truly bed the greatest invention known to civilized man, Doro?”
give or make a list of; name individually; give the names of
From this reading “I don’t know about its being the first on the list; but it certainly _is_ a delight after sleeping on a shelf in that car,” agreed Dorothy Dale, stretching luxuriously.
luxuriouslyadverb
in an indulgently luxurious manner
From this reading “I don’t know about its being the first on the list; but it certainly _is_ a delight after sleeping on a shelf in that car,” agreed Dorothy Dale, stretching luxuriously.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading “Isn’t a really-truly bed the greatest invention known to civilized man, Doro?”
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ON THE ROAD TO HARDIN’S “Goodness gracious, grumpy gree!” yawned Tavia.
really-truly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Isn’t a really-truly bed the greatest invention known to civilized man, Doro?”
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading ON THE ROAD TO HARDIN’S “Goodness gracious, grumpy gree!” yawned Tavia.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “You can stay here all day alone, then,” said her chum, briskly.
shelfnounUS /ʃelf/
A flat horizontal plane used to hold books or scrolls in a library.
From this reading “I don’t know about its being the first on the list; but it certainly _is_ a delight after sleeping on a shelf in that car,” agreed Dorothy Dale, stretching luxuriously.
the state of being asleep
From this reading “I don’t know about its being the first on the list; but it certainly _is_ a delight after sleeping on a shelf in that car,” agreed Dorothy Dale, stretching luxuriously.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading “You can stay here all day alone, then,” said her chum, briskly.
stretchingnounUS /ˈstretʃɪŋ/
act of expanding by lengthening or widening
From this reading “I don’t know about its being the first on the list; but it certainly _is_ a delight after sleeping on a shelf in that car,” agreed Dorothy Dale, stretching luxuriously.
Tavia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON THE ROAD TO HARDIN’S “Goodness gracious, grumpy gree!” yawned Tavia.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “I don’t know about its being the first on the list; but it certainly _is_ a delight after sleeping on a shelf in that car,” agreed Dorothy Dale, stretching luxuriously.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ON THE ROAD TO HARDIN’S “Goodness gracious, grumpy gree!” yawned Tavia.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading “You can stay here all day alone, then,” said her chum, briskly.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ON THE ROAD TO HARDIN’S “Goodness gracious, grumpy gree!” yawned Tavia.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading “I hate to get up.”
yawnedverbUS /jɔːnd/
past form of “yawn” — utter a yawn, as from lack of oxygen or when one is tired
From this reading ON THE ROAD TO HARDIN’S “Goodness gracious, grumpy gree!” yawned Tavia.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You can stay here all day alone, then,” said her chum, briskly.
