adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “I was thinking about a nice little secret I know, and couldn't help smiling.”
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “I was thinking about a nice little secret I know, and couldn't help smiling.”
Alec
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why do you keep smiling to yourself, Phebe?” asked Rose, as they were working together one morning, for Dr. Alec considered house-work the best sort of gymnastics for girls; so Rose took lessons of Phebe in sweeping, dusting and bed-making.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Why do you keep smiling to yourself, Phebe?” asked Rose, as they were working together one morning, for Dr. Alec considered house-work the best sort of gymnastics for girls; so Rose took lessons of Phebe in sweeping, dusting and bed-making.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “Why do you keep smiling to yourself, Phebe?” asked Rose, as they were working together one morning, for Dr. Alec considered house-work the best sort of gymnastics for girls; so Rose took lessons of Phebe in sweeping, dusting and bed-making.
askedverbUS /æskt/
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “Why do you keep smiling to yourself, Phebe?” asked Rose, as they were working together one morning, for Dr. Alec considered house-work the best sort of gymnastics for girls; so Rose took lessons of Phebe in sweeping, dusting and bed-making.
bed-making
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why do you keep smiling to yourself, Phebe?” asked Rose, as they were working together one morning, for Dr. Alec considered house-work the best sort of gymnastics for girls; so Rose took lessons of Phebe in sweeping, dusting and bed-making.
bestnounUS /best/
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading “Why do you keep smiling to yourself, Phebe?” asked Rose, as they were working together one morning, for Dr. Alec considered house-work the best sort of gymnastics for girls; so Rose took lessons of Phebe in sweeping, dusting and bed-making.
consideredadjectiveUS /kənˈsɪdərd/
carefully weighed
From this reading “Why do you keep smiling to yourself, Phebe?” asked Rose, as they were working together one morning, for Dr. Alec considered house-work the best sort of gymnastics for girls; so Rose took lessons of Phebe in sweeping, dusting and bed-making.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I was thinking about a nice little secret I know, and couldn't help smiling.”
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “Why do you keep smiling to yourself, Phebe?” asked Rose, as they were working together one morning, for Dr. Alec considered house-work the best sort of gymnastics for girls; so Rose took lessons of Phebe in sweeping, dusting and bed-making.
Dr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why do you keep smiling to yourself, Phebe?” asked Rose, as they were working together one morning, for Dr. Alec considered house-work the best sort of gymnastics for girls; so Rose took lessons of Phebe in sweeping, dusting and bed-making.
dustingverbUS /ˈdʌstɪŋ/
-ing form of “dust” — remove the dust from
From this reading “Why do you keep smiling to yourself, Phebe?” asked Rose, as they were working together one morning, for Dr. Alec considered house-work the best sort of gymnastics for girls; so Rose took lessons of Phebe in sweeping, dusting and bed-making.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “Why do you keep smiling to yourself, Phebe?” asked Rose, as they were working together one morning, for Dr. Alec considered house-work the best sort of gymnastics for girls; so Rose took lessons of Phebe in sweeping, dusting and bed-making.
girlsnounUS /ɡɜːrlz/
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading “Why do you keep smiling to yourself, Phebe?” asked Rose, as they were working together one morning, for Dr. Alec considered house-work the best sort of gymnastics for girls; so Rose took lessons of Phebe in sweeping, dusting and bed-making.
GuessverbUS /ɡes/
expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading “Guess you will.”
gymnasticsnounUS /dʒɪmˈnæstɪks/
a sport that involves exercises intended to display strength and balance and agility
From this reading “Why do you keep smiling to yourself, Phebe?” asked Rose, as they were working together one morning, for Dr. Alec considered house-work the best sort of gymnastics for girls; so Rose took lessons of Phebe in sweeping, dusting and bed-making.
helpverbUS /help/
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading “I was thinking about a nice little secret I know, and couldn't help smiling.”
house-work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why do you keep smiling to yourself, Phebe?” asked Rose, as they were working together one morning, for Dr. Alec considered house-work the best sort of gymnastics for girls; so Rose took lessons of Phebe in sweeping, dusting and bed-making.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I was thinking about a nice little secret I know, and couldn't help smiling.”
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “Why do you keep smiling to yourself, Phebe?” asked Rose, as they were working together one morning, for Dr. Alec considered house-work the best sort of gymnastics for girls; so Rose took lessons of Phebe in sweeping, dusting and bed-making.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Shall I know it, sometime?”
keepverbUS /kiːp/
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading “Why do you keep smiling to yourself, Phebe?” asked Rose, as they were working together one morning, for Dr. Alec considered house-work the best sort of gymnastics for girls; so Rose took lessons of Phebe in sweeping, dusting and bed-making.
knowverbUS /noʊ/
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading “I was thinking about a nice little secret I know, and couldn't help smiling.”
lessonsnounUS /ˈlesənz/
plural of “lesson” — a unit of instruction
From this reading “Why do you keep smiling to yourself, Phebe?” asked Rose, as they were working together one morning, for Dr. Alec considered house-work the best sort of gymnastics for girls; so Rose took lessons of Phebe in sweeping, dusting and bed-making.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading “Shall I like it?”
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “I was thinking about a nice little secret I know, and couldn't help smiling.”
morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading “Why do you keep smiling to yourself, Phebe?” asked Rose, as they were working together one morning, for Dr. Alec considered house-work the best sort of gymnastics for girls; so Rose took lessons of Phebe in sweeping, dusting and bed-making.
niceadjectiveUS /naɪs/
pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance
From this reading “I was thinking about a nice little secret I know, and couldn't help smiling.”
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Why do you keep smiling to yourself, Phebe?” asked Rose, as they were working together one morning, for Dr. Alec considered house-work the best sort of gymnastics for girls; so Rose took lessons of Phebe in sweeping, dusting and bed-making.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “Why do you keep smiling to yourself, Phebe?” asked Rose, as they were working together one morning, for Dr. Alec considered house-work the best sort of gymnastics for girls; so Rose took lessons of Phebe in sweeping, dusting and bed-making.
Phebe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why do you keep smiling to yourself, Phebe?” asked Rose, as they were working together one morning, for Dr. Alec considered house-work the best sort of gymnastics for girls; so Rose took lessons of Phebe in sweeping, dusting and bed-making.
RosenounUS /roʊz/
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading “Why do you keep smiling to yourself, Phebe?” asked Rose, as they were working together one morning, for Dr. Alec considered house-work the best sort of gymnastics for girls; so Rose took lessons of Phebe in sweeping, dusting and bed-making.
secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading “I was thinking about a nice little secret I know, and couldn't help smiling.”
Shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading “Shall I know it, sometime?”
smilingnounUS /ˈsmaɪlɪŋ/
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading “Why do you keep smiling to yourself, Phebe?” asked Rose, as they were working together one morning, for Dr. Alec considered house-work the best sort of gymnastics for girls; so Rose took lessons of Phebe in sweeping, dusting and bed-making.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “Why do you keep smiling to yourself, Phebe?” asked Rose, as they were working together one morning, for Dr. Alec considered house-work the best sort of gymnastics for girls; so Rose took lessons of Phebe in sweeping, dusting and bed-making.
sometimeadverbUS /ˈsʌmtaɪm/
at some indefinite or unstated time
From this reading “Shall I know it, sometime?”
sortnounUS /sɔːrt/
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading “Why do you keep smiling to yourself, Phebe?” asked Rose, as they were working together one morning, for Dr. Alec considered house-work the best sort of gymnastics for girls; so Rose took lessons of Phebe in sweeping, dusting and bed-making.
sweepingadjectiveUS /ˈswiːpɪŋ/
taking in or moving over (or as if over) a wide area; often used in combination
From this reading “Why do you keep smiling to yourself, Phebe?” asked Rose, as they were working together one morning, for Dr. Alec considered house-work the best sort of gymnastics for girls; so Rose took lessons of Phebe in sweeping, dusting and bed-making.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Why do you keep smiling to yourself, Phebe?” asked Rose, as they were working together one morning, for Dr. Alec considered house-work the best sort of gymnastics for girls; so Rose took lessons of Phebe in sweeping, dusting and bed-making.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Why do you keep smiling to yourself, Phebe?” asked Rose, as they were working together one morning, for Dr. Alec considered house-work the best sort of gymnastics for girls; so Rose took lessons of Phebe in sweeping, dusting and bed-making.
thinkingnounUS /ˈθɪŋkɪŋ/
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading “I was thinking about a nice little secret I know, and couldn't help smiling.”
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Why do you keep smiling to yourself, Phebe?” asked Rose, as they were working together one morning, for Dr. Alec considered house-work the best sort of gymnastics for girls; so Rose took lessons of Phebe in sweeping, dusting and bed-making.
togetheradverbUS /təˈɡeðər/
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading “Why do you keep smiling to yourself, Phebe?” asked Rose, as they were working together one morning, for Dr. Alec considered house-work the best sort of gymnastics for girls; so Rose took lessons of Phebe in sweeping, dusting and bed-making.
tookverbUS /tʊk/
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading “Why do you keep smiling to yourself, Phebe?” asked Rose, as they were working together one morning, for Dr. Alec considered house-work the best sort of gymnastics for girls; so Rose took lessons of Phebe in sweeping, dusting and bed-making.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “I was thinking about a nice little secret I know, and couldn't help smiling.”
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “Why do you keep smiling to yourself, Phebe?” asked Rose, as they were working together one morning, for Dr. Alec considered house-work the best sort of gymnastics for girls; so Rose took lessons of Phebe in sweeping, dusting and bed-making.
WhynounUS /waɪ/
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading “Why do you keep smiling to yourself, Phebe?” asked Rose, as they were working together one morning, for Dr. Alec considered house-work the best sort of gymnastics for girls; so Rose took lessons of Phebe in sweeping, dusting and bed-making.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “Guess you will.”
workingadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːrkɪŋ/
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading “Why do you keep smiling to yourself, Phebe?” asked Rose, as they were working together one morning, for Dr. Alec considered house-work the best sort of gymnastics for girls; so Rose took lessons of Phebe in sweeping, dusting and bed-making.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Why do you keep smiling to yourself, Phebe?” asked Rose, as they were working together one morning, for Dr. Alec considered house-work the best sort of gymnastics for girls; so Rose took lessons of Phebe in sweeping, dusting and bed-making.
yourselfpronounUS /jərˈself/
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading “Why do you keep smiling to yourself, Phebe?” asked Rose, as they were working together one morning, for Dr. Alec considered house-work the best sort of gymnastics for girls; so Rose took lessons of Phebe in sweeping, dusting and bed-making.
