used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Your better plan will be to keep yourself busy with reading, writing, sewing—as you prefer, and you may take a walk about town with Marian, if you choose, but don’t go outside of it.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Your better plan will be to keep yourself busy with reading, writing, sewing—as you prefer, and you may take a walk about town with Marian, if you choose, but don’t go outside of it.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The hunters started the next morning, shortly after an early breakfast.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The hunters started the next morning, shortly after an early breakfast.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Better not expect us too soon, lest it should make you feel lonely and disappointed.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading “Toward evening, daughter; I can’t set the hour,” he answered cheerily.
(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic
From this reading “Papa, when do you expect to be back?” asked Lulu, as she helped her father with the last of his preparations, some anxiety showing itself in her tone.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “Papa, when do you expect to be back?” asked Lulu, as she helped her father with the last of his preparations, some anxiety showing itself in her tone.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “Papa, when do you expect to be back?” asked Lulu, as she helped her father with the last of his preparations, some anxiety showing itself in her tone.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading “Papa, when do you expect to be back?” asked Lulu, as she helped her father with the last of his preparations, some anxiety showing itself in her tone.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “Papa, when do you expect to be back?” asked Lulu, as she helped her father with the last of his preparations, some anxiety showing itself in her tone.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading “Better not expect us too soon, lest it should make you feel lonely and disappointed.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading The hunters started the next morning, shortly after an early breakfast.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading Your better plan will be to keep yourself busy with reading, writing, sewing—as you prefer, and you may take a walk about town with Marian, if you choose, but don’t go outside of it.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Your better plan will be to keep yourself busy with reading, writing, sewing—as you prefer, and you may take a walk about town with Marian, if you choose, but don’t go outside of it.
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Toward evening, daughter; I can’t set the hour,” he answered cheerily.
cheerilyadverb
in a cheerful manner
From this reading “Toward evening, daughter; I can’t set the hour,” he answered cheerily.
pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading Your better plan will be to keep yourself busy with reading, writing, sewing—as you prefer, and you may take a walk about town with Marian, if you choose, but don’t go outside of it.
a female human offspring
From this reading “Toward evening, daughter; I can’t set the hour,” he answered cheerily.
disappointingly unsuccessful
From this reading “Better not expect us too soon, lest it should make you feel lonely and disappointed.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “Papa, when do you expect to be back?” asked Lulu, as she helped her father with the last of his preparations, some anxiety showing itself in her tone.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Your better plan will be to keep yourself busy with reading, writing, sewing—as you prefer, and you may take a walk about town with Marian, if you choose, but don’t go outside of it.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading The hunters started the next morning, shortly after an early breakfast.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading “Toward evening, daughter; I can’t set the hour,” he answered cheerily.
regard something as probable or likely
From this reading “Papa, when do you expect to be back?” asked Lulu, as she helped her father with the last of his preparations, some anxiety showing itself in her tone.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading “Papa, when do you expect to be back?” asked Lulu, as she helped her father with the last of his preparations, some anxiety showing itself in her tone.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading “Better not expect us too soon, lest it should make you feel lonely and disappointed.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Your better plan will be to keep yourself busy with reading, writing, sewing—as you prefer, and you may take a walk about town with Marian, if you choose, but don’t go outside of it.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Toward evening, daughter; I can’t set the hour,” he answered cheerily.
past form of “help” — give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading “Papa, when do you expect to be back?” asked Lulu, as she helped her father with the last of his preparations, some anxiety showing itself in her tone.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “Papa, when do you expect to be back?” asked Lulu, as she helped her father with the last of his preparations, some anxiety showing itself in her tone.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “Papa, when do you expect to be back?” asked Lulu, as she helped her father with the last of his preparations, some anxiety showing itself in her tone.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading “Toward evening, daughter; I can’t set the hour,” he answered cheerily.
huntersnounUS /ˈhʌntərz/
plural of “hunter” — someone who hunts game
From this reading The hunters started the next morning, shortly after an early breakfast.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Toward evening, daughter; I can’t set the hour,” he answered cheerily.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Your better plan will be to keep yourself busy with reading, writing, sewing—as you prefer, and you may take a walk about town with Marian, if you choose, but don’t go outside of it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “Papa, when do you expect to be back?” asked Lulu, as she helped her father with the last of his preparations, some anxiety showing itself in her tone.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Better not expect us too soon, lest it should make you feel lonely and disappointed.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading “Papa, when do you expect to be back?” asked Lulu, as she helped her father with the last of his preparations, some anxiety showing itself in her tone.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Your better plan will be to keep yourself busy with reading, writing, sewing—as you prefer, and you may take a walk about town with Marian, if you choose, but don’t go outside of it.
immediately past
From this reading “Papa, when do you expect to be back?” asked Lulu, as she helped her father with the last of his preparations, some anxiety showing itself in her tone.
in order that something should not happen
From this reading “Better not expect us too soon, lest it should make you feel lonely and disappointed.
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading “Better not expect us too soon, lest it should make you feel lonely and disappointed.
LulunounUS /ˈluːluː/
a very attractive or seductive looking woman
From this reading “Papa, when do you expect to be back?” asked Lulu, as she helped her father with the last of his preparations, some anxiety showing itself in her tone.
engage in
From this reading “Better not expect us too soon, lest it should make you feel lonely and disappointed.
MarianadjectiveUS /ˈmeriən/
of or relating to or venerating the Virgin Mary
From this reading Your better plan will be to keep yourself busy with reading, writing, sewing—as you prefer, and you may take a walk about town with Marian, if you choose, but don’t go outside of it.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Your better plan will be to keep yourself busy with reading, writing, sewing—as you prefer, and you may take a walk about town with Marian, if you choose, but don’t go outside of it.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading The hunters started the next morning, shortly after an early breakfast.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading The hunters started the next morning, shortly after an early breakfast.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “Better not expect us too soon, lest it should make you feel lonely and disappointed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Papa, when do you expect to be back?” asked Lulu, as she helped her father with the last of his preparations, some anxiety showing itself in her tone.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading Your better plan will be to keep yourself busy with reading, writing, sewing—as you prefer, and you may take a walk about town with Marian, if you choose, but don’t go outside of it.
an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
From this reading “Papa, when do you expect to be back?” asked Lulu, as she helped her father with the last of his preparations, some anxiety showing itself in her tone.
have the will and intention to carry out some action
From this reading Your better plan will be to keep yourself busy with reading, writing, sewing—as you prefer, and you may take a walk about town with Marian, if you choose, but don’t go outside of it.
like better; value more highly
From this reading Your better plan will be to keep yourself busy with reading, writing, sewing—as you prefer, and you may take a walk about town with Marian, if you choose, but don’t go outside of it.
preparationsnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “preparation” — the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
From this reading “Papa, when do you expect to be back?” asked Lulu, as she helped her father with the last of his preparations, some anxiety showing itself in her tone.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading Your better plan will be to keep yourself busy with reading, writing, sewing—as you prefer, and you may take a walk about town with Marian, if you choose, but don’t go outside of it.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading “Toward evening, daughter; I can’t set the hour,” he answered cheerily.
sewingnounUS /ˈsoʊɪŋ/
joining or attaching by stitches
From this reading Your better plan will be to keep yourself busy with reading, writing, sewing—as you prefer, and you may take a walk about town with Marian, if you choose, but don’t go outside of it.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Papa, when do you expect to be back?” asked Lulu, as she helped her father with the last of his preparations, some anxiety showing itself in her tone.
for a short time
From this reading The hunters started the next morning, shortly after an early breakfast.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading “Better not expect us too soon, lest it should make you feel lonely and disappointed.
the display of a motion picture
From this reading “Papa, when do you expect to be back?” asked Lulu, as she helped her father with the last of his preparations, some anxiety showing itself in her tone.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading “Papa, when do you expect to be back?” asked Lulu, as she helped her father with the last of his preparations, some anxiety showing itself in her tone.
in the near future
From this reading “Better not expect us too soon, lest it should make you feel lonely and disappointed.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The hunters started the next morning, shortly after an early breakfast.
carry out
From this reading Your better plan will be to keep yourself busy with reading, writing, sewing—as you prefer, and you may take a walk about town with Marian, if you choose, but don’t go outside of it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The hunters started the next morning, shortly after an early breakfast.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Papa, when do you expect to be back?” asked Lulu, as she helped her father with the last of his preparations, some anxiety showing itself in her tone.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading “Papa, when do you expect to be back?” asked Lulu, as she helped her father with the last of his preparations, some anxiety showing itself in her tone.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading “Better not expect us too soon, lest it should make you feel lonely and disappointed.
TowardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading “Toward evening, daughter; I can’t set the hour,” he answered cheerily.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading Your better plan will be to keep yourself busy with reading, writing, sewing—as you prefer, and you may take a walk about town with Marian, if you choose, but don’t go outside of it.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Better not expect us too soon, lest it should make you feel lonely and disappointed.
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading Your better plan will be to keep yourself busy with reading, writing, sewing—as you prefer, and you may take a walk about town with Marian, if you choose, but don’t go outside of it.
at the time that
From this reading “Papa, when do you expect to be back?” asked Lulu, as she helped her father with the last of his preparations, some anxiety showing itself in her tone.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Your better plan will be to keep yourself busy with reading, writing, sewing—as you prefer, and you may take a walk about town with Marian, if you choose, but don’t go outside of it.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “Papa, when do you expect to be back?” asked Lulu, as she helped her father with the last of his preparations, some anxiety showing itself in her tone.
the act of creating written works
From this reading Your better plan will be to keep yourself busy with reading, writing, sewing—as you prefer, and you may take a walk about town with Marian, if you choose, but don’t go outside of it.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Papa, when do you expect to be back?” asked Lulu, as she helped her father with the last of his preparations, some anxiety showing itself in her tone.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Your better plan will be to keep yourself busy with reading, writing, sewing—as you prefer, and you may take a walk about town with Marian, if you choose, but don’t go outside of it.
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading Your better plan will be to keep yourself busy with reading, writing, sewing—as you prefer, and you may take a walk about town with Marian, if you choose, but don’t go outside of it.
