used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “It might be a serious matter if you had it in your throat, but you are in no more danger of its getting there than you are of having toothache in your toes, my Lady Jane.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading “Papa, do you know I was _dreadfully_ afraid that I had lumbago in my throat all day yesterday, when it was all swelly-feeling and hurt so to swallow.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading “So it’s only the mumps!” sighed Cricket, with much relief, after papa’s visit to their respective bedsides the next morning.
(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 “Papa, do you know I was _dreadfully_ afraid that I had lumbago in my throat all day yesterday, when it was all swelly-feeling and hurt so to swallow.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Papa, do you know I was _dreadfully_ afraid that I had lumbago in my throat all day yesterday, when it was all swelly-feeling and hurt so to swallow.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “It might be a serious matter if you had it in your throat, but you are in no more danger of its getting there than you are of having toothache in your toes, my Lady Jane.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “It might be a serious matter if you had it in your throat, but you are in no more danger of its getting there than you are of having toothache in your toes, my Lady Jane.
bedsides
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “So it’s only the mumps!” sighed Cricket, with much relief, after papa’s visit to their respective bedsides the next morning.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “It might be a serious matter if you had it in your throat, but you are in no more danger of its getting there than you are of having toothache in your toes, my Lady Jane.
CricketnounUS /ˈkrɪkət/
leaping insect; male makes chirping noises by rubbing the forewings together
From this reading “So it’s only the mumps!” sighed Cricket, with much relief, after papa’s visit to their respective bedsides the next morning.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading “It might be a serious matter if you had it in your throat, but you are in no more danger of its getting there than you are of having toothache in your toes, my Lady Jane.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading “Papa, do you know I was _dreadfully_ afraid that I had lumbago in my throat all day yesterday, when it was all swelly-feeling and hurt so to swallow.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “Papa, do you know I was _dreadfully_ afraid that I had lumbago in my throat all day yesterday, when it was all swelly-feeling and hurt so to swallow.
dreadfullyadverbUS /ˈdredfəli/
of a dreadful kind
From this reading “Papa, do you know I was _dreadfully_ afraid that I had lumbago in my throat all day yesterday, when it was all swelly-feeling and hurt so to swallow.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading “It might be a serious matter if you had it in your throat, but you are in no more danger of its getting there than you are of having toothache in your toes, my Lady Jane.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “Papa, do you know I was _dreadfully_ afraid that I had lumbago in my throat all day yesterday, when it was all swelly-feeling and hurt so to swallow.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Papa laughed hard.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading That would have killed me, wouldn’t it?”
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading “It might be a serious matter if you had it in your throat, but you are in no more danger of its getting there than you are of having toothache in your toes, my Lady Jane.
be the source of pain
From this reading “Papa, do you know I was _dreadfully_ afraid that I had lumbago in my throat all day yesterday, when it was all swelly-feeling and hurt so to swallow.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Papa, do you know I was _dreadfully_ afraid that I had lumbago in my throat all day yesterday, when it was all swelly-feeling and hurt so to swallow.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “It might be a serious matter if you had it in your throat, but you are in no more danger of its getting there than you are of having toothache in your toes, my Lady Jane.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “Papa, do you know I was _dreadfully_ afraid that I had lumbago in my throat all day yesterday, when it was all swelly-feeling and hurt so to swallow.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Papa, do you know I was _dreadfully_ afraid that I had lumbago in my throat all day yesterday, when it was all swelly-feeling and hurt so to swallow.
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “So it’s only the mumps!” sighed Cricket, with much relief, after papa’s visit to their respective bedsides the next morning.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading “It might be a serious matter if you had it in your throat, but you are in no more danger of its getting there than you are of having toothache in your toes, my Lady Jane.
Jane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It might be a serious matter if you had it in your throat, but you are in no more danger of its getting there than you are of having toothache in your toes, my Lady Jane.
past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading That would have killed me, wouldn’t it?”
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading “Papa, do you know I was _dreadfully_ afraid that I had lumbago in my throat all day yesterday, when it was all swelly-feeling and hurt so to swallow.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading “It might be a serious matter if you had it in your throat, but you are in no more danger of its getting there than you are of having toothache in your toes, my Lady Jane.
past form of “laugh” — produce laughter
From this reading Papa laughed hard.
lumbagonounUS /ləmˈbeɪɡoʊ/
backache affecting the lumbar region or lower back; can be caused by muscle strain or arthritis or vascular insufficiency or a ruptured intervertebral disc
From this reading “Papa, do you know I was _dreadfully_ afraid that I had lumbago in my throat all day yesterday, when it was all swelly-feeling and hurt so to swallow.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading “It might be a serious matter if you had it in your throat, but you are in no more danger of its getting there than you are of having toothache in your toes, my Lady Jane.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading That would have killed me, wouldn’t it?”
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading “It might be a serious matter if you had it in your throat, but you are in no more danger of its getting there than you are of having toothache in your toes, my Lady Jane.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading “It might be a serious matter if you had it in your throat, but you are in no more danger of its getting there than you are of having toothache in your toes, my Lady Jane.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading “So it’s only the mumps!” sighed Cricket, with much relief, after papa’s visit to their respective bedsides the next morning.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading “So it’s only the mumps!” sighed Cricket, with much relief, after papa’s visit to their respective bedsides the next morning.
mumpsnounUS /mʌmps/
an acute contagious viral disease characterized by fever and by swelling of the parotid glands
From this reading “So it’s only the mumps!” sighed Cricket, with much relief, after papa’s visit to their respective bedsides the next morning.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “Papa, do you know I was _dreadfully_ afraid that I had lumbago in my throat all day yesterday, when it was all swelly-feeling and hurt so to swallow.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading “So it’s only the mumps!” sighed Cricket, with much relief, after papa’s visit to their respective bedsides the next morning.
not any; not one
From this reading “It might be a serious matter if you had it in your throat, but you are in no more danger of its getting there than you are of having toothache in your toes, my Lady Jane.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “It might be a serious matter if you had it in your throat, but you are in no more danger of its getting there than you are of having toothache in your toes, my Lady Jane.
and nothing more
From this reading “So it’s only the mumps!” sighed Cricket, with much relief, after papa’s visit to their respective bedsides the next morning.
an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
From this reading “Papa, do you know I was _dreadfully_ afraid that I had lumbago in my throat all day yesterday, when it was all swelly-feeling and hurt so to swallow.
papa'snounUS /ˈpɑːpɑːz/
possessive form of “papa” — an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
From this reading “So it’s only the mumps!” sighed Cricket, with much relief, after papa’s visit to their respective bedsides the next morning.
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading “So it’s only the mumps!” sighed Cricket, with much relief, after papa’s visit to their respective bedsides the next morning.
respectiveadjectiveUS /rɪˈspektɪv/
considered individually
From this reading “So it’s only the mumps!” sighed Cricket, with much relief, after papa’s visit to their respective bedsides the next morning.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading “It might be a serious matter if you had it in your throat, but you are in no more danger of its getting there than you are of having toothache in your toes, my Lady Jane.
past form of “sigh” — heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading “So it’s only the mumps!” sighed Cricket, with much relief, after papa’s visit to their respective bedsides the next morning.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “So it’s only the mumps!” sighed Cricket, with much relief, after papa’s visit to their respective bedsides the next morning.
swallowverbUS /ˈswɑːloʊ/
pass through the esophagus as part of eating or drinking
From this reading “Papa, do you know I was _dreadfully_ afraid that I had lumbago in my throat all day yesterday, when it was all swelly-feeling and hurt so to swallow.
swelly-feeling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Papa, do you know I was _dreadfully_ afraid that I had lumbago in my throat all day yesterday, when it was all swelly-feeling and hurt so to swallow.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading “It might be a serious matter if you had it in your throat, but you are in no more danger of its getting there than you are of having toothache in your toes, my Lady Jane.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Papa, do you know I was _dreadfully_ afraid that I had lumbago in my throat all day yesterday, when it was all swelly-feeling and hurt so to swallow.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “So it’s only the mumps!” sighed Cricket, with much relief, after papa’s visit to their respective bedsides the next morning.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading “So it’s only the mumps!” sighed Cricket, with much relief, after papa’s visit to their respective bedsides the next morning.
in or at that place or location
From this reading “It might be a serious matter if you had it in your throat, but you are in no more danger of its getting there than you are of having toothache in your toes, my Lady Jane.
The passage at the back of the mouth.
From this reading “Papa, do you know I was _dreadfully_ afraid that I had lumbago in my throat all day yesterday, when it was all swelly-feeling and hurt so to swallow.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “So it’s only the mumps!” sighed Cricket, with much relief, after papa’s visit to their respective bedsides the next morning.
toesnounUS /toʊz/
plural of “toe” — one of the digits of the foot
From this reading “It might be a serious matter if you had it in your throat, but you are in no more danger of its getting there than you are of having toothache in your toes, my Lady Jane.
toothachenoun
an ache localized in or around a tooth
From this reading “It might be a serious matter if you had it in your throat, but you are in no more danger of its getting there than you are of having toothache in your toes, my Lady Jane.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading “So it’s only the mumps!” sighed Cricket, with much relief, after papa’s visit to their respective bedsides the next morning.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Papa, do you know I was _dreadfully_ afraid that I had lumbago in my throat all day yesterday, when it was all swelly-feeling and hurt so to swallow.
at the time that
From this reading “Papa, do you know I was _dreadfully_ afraid that I had lumbago in my throat all day yesterday, when it was all swelly-feeling and hurt so to swallow.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “So it’s only the mumps!” sighed Cricket, with much relief, after papa’s visit to their respective bedsides the next morning.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading That would have killed me, wouldn’t it?”
wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That would have killed me, wouldn’t it?”
the day immediately before today
From this reading “Papa, do you know I was _dreadfully_ afraid that I had lumbago in my throat all day yesterday, when it was all swelly-feeling and hurt so to swallow.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Papa, do you know I was _dreadfully_ afraid that I had lumbago in my throat all day yesterday, when it was all swelly-feeling and hurt so to swallow.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “It might be a serious matter if you had it in your throat, but you are in no more danger of its getting there than you are of having toothache in your toes, my Lady Jane.
