used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His mother is a big woman, and a brunette.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The word is not likely to be mentioned in their household._ _They moved to town about three years ago.
adoptedadjectiveUS /əˈdɑːptɪd/
acquired as your own by free choice
From this reading Nobody here knew them before that, but there are rumors that Johnny is adopted.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading They did not volunteer any confirmation of that information when I talked to them, and they did not pick up on any of the leads I offered about his recitation._ _Johnny himself is small and fair-haired. He takes after his paternal grandmother, his mother says...._ * * * * *
in the past
From this reading The word is not likely to be mentioned in their household._ _They moved to town about three years ago.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading I already knew that neither of them reads science-fiction.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His mother is a big woman, and a brunette.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading They did not volunteer any confirmation of that information when I talked to them, and they did not pick up on any of the leads I offered about his recitation._ _Johnny himself is small and fair-haired. He takes after his paternal grandmother, his mother says...._ * * * * *
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Nobody here knew them before that, but there are rumors that Johnny is adopted.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The word is not likely to be mentioned in their household._ _They moved to town about three years ago.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Nobody here knew them before that, but there are rumors that Johnny is adopted.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading His mother is a big woman, and a brunette.
brunettenounUS /bruːˈnet/
a person with dark (brown) hair
From this reading His mother is a big woman, and a brunette.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Nobody here knew them before that, but there are rumors that Johnny is adopted.
confirmationnounUS /ˌkɑːnfərˈmeɪʃən/
additional proof that something that was believed (some fact or hypothesis or theory) is correct
From this reading They did not volunteer any confirmation of that information when I talked to them, and they did not pick up on any of the leads I offered about his recitation._ _Johnny himself is small and fair-haired. He takes after his paternal grandmother, his mother says...._ * * * * *
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading They did not volunteer any confirmation of that information when I talked to them, and they did not pick up on any of the leads I offered about his recitation._ _Johnny himself is small and fair-haired. He takes after his paternal grandmother, his mother says...._ * * * * *
fair-hairedadjective
favorite
From this reading They did not volunteer any confirmation of that information when I talked to them, and they did not pick up on any of the leads I offered about his recitation._ _Johnny himself is small and fair-haired. He takes after his paternal grandmother, his mother says...._ * * * * *
having an (over)abundance of flesh
From this reading His father is a friendly fat redhead.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading His father is a friendly fat redhead.
characteristic of or befitting a friend
From this reading His father is a friendly fat redhead.
the mother of your father or mother
From this reading They did not volunteer any confirmation of that information when I talked to them, and they did not pick up on any of the leads I offered about his recitation._ _Johnny himself is small and fair-haired. He takes after his paternal grandmother, his mother says...._ * * * * *
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They did not volunteer any confirmation of that information when I talked to them, and they did not pick up on any of the leads I offered about his recitation._ _Johnny himself is small and fair-haired. He takes after his paternal grandmother, his mother says...._ * * * * *
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Nobody here knew them before that, but there are rumors that Johnny is adopted.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading They did not volunteer any confirmation of that information when I talked to them, and they did not pick up on any of the leads I offered about his recitation._ _Johnny himself is small and fair-haired. He takes after his paternal grandmother, his mother says...._ * * * * *
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His mother is a big woman, and a brunette.
a social unit living together
From this reading The word is not likely to be mentioned in their household._ _They moved to town about three years ago.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I already knew that neither of them reads science-fiction.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The word is not likely to be mentioned in their household._ _They moved to town about three years ago.
a message received and understood
From this reading They did not volunteer any confirmation of that information when I talked to them, and they did not pick up on any of the leads I offered about his recitation._ _Johnny himself is small and fair-haired. He takes after his paternal grandmother, his mother says...._ * * * * *
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His mother is a big woman, and a brunette.
“Johnny” was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War; “greyback” derived from their grey Confederate uniforms
From this reading Nobody here knew them before that, but there are rumors that Johnny is adopted.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading I already knew that neither of them reads science-fiction.
leadsnounUS /liːdz/
plural of “lead” — an advantage held by a competitor in a race
From this reading They did not volunteer any confirmation of that information when I talked to them, and they did not pick up on any of the leads I offered about his recitation._ _Johnny himself is small and fair-haired. He takes after his paternal grandmother, his mother says...._ * * * * *
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
From this reading The word is not likely to be mentioned in their household._ _They moved to town about three years ago.
past form of “mention” — make reference to
From this reading The word is not likely to be mentioned in their household._ _They moved to town about three years ago.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading His mother is a big woman, and a brunette.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading The word is not likely to be mentioned in their household._ _They moved to town about three years ago.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading I already knew that neither of them reads science-fiction.
no person; not anyone
From this reading Nobody here knew them before that, but there are rumors that Johnny is adopted.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The word is not likely to be mentioned in their household._ _They moved to town about three years ago.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I already knew that neither of them reads science-fiction.
past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading They did not volunteer any confirmation of that information when I talked to them, and they did not pick up on any of the leads I offered about his recitation._ _Johnny himself is small and fair-haired. He takes after his paternal grandmother, his mother says...._ * * * * *
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They did not volunteer any confirmation of that information when I talked to them, and they did not pick up on any of the leads I offered about his recitation._ _Johnny himself is small and fair-haired. He takes after his paternal grandmother, his mother says...._ * * * * *
paternaladjectiveUS /pəˈtɜːrnəl/
belonging to or inherited from one's father
From this reading They did not volunteer any confirmation of that information when I talked to them, and they did not pick up on any of the leads I offered about his recitation._ _Johnny himself is small and fair-haired. He takes after his paternal grandmother, his mother says...._ * * * * *
select carefully from a group
From this reading They did not volunteer any confirmation of that information when I talked to them, and they did not pick up on any of the leads I offered about his recitation._ _Johnny himself is small and fair-haired. He takes after his paternal grandmother, his mother says...._ * * * * *
readsnounUS /riːdz/
plural of “read” — something that is read
From this reading I already knew that neither of them reads science-fiction.
recitationnounUS /ˌresəˈteɪʃən/
written matter that is recited from memory
From this reading They did not volunteer any confirmation of that information when I talked to them, and they did not pick up on any of the leads I offered about his recitation._ _Johnny himself is small and fair-haired. He takes after his paternal grandmother, his mother says...._ * * * * *
redheadnounUS /ˈredhed/
someone who has red hair
From this reading His father is a friendly fat redhead.
rumorsnounUS /ˈruːmərz/
plural of “rumor” — gossip (usually a mixture of truth and untruth) passed around by word of mouth
From this reading Nobody here knew them before that, but there are rumors that Johnny is adopted.
plural of “say” — the chance to speak
From this reading They did not volunteer any confirmation of that information when I talked to them, and they did not pick up on any of the leads I offered about his recitation._ _Johnny himself is small and fair-haired. He takes after his paternal grandmother, his mother says...._ * * * * *
science-fiction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I already knew that neither of them reads science-fiction.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading They did not volunteer any confirmation of that information when I talked to them, and they did not pick up on any of the leads I offered about his recitation._ _Johnny himself is small and fair-haired. He takes after his paternal grandmother, his mother says...._ * * * * *
plural of “take” — the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property
From this reading They did not volunteer any confirmation of that information when I talked to them, and they did not pick up on any of the leads I offered about his recitation._ _Johnny himself is small and fair-haired. He takes after his paternal grandmother, his mother says...._ * * * * *
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading They did not volunteer any confirmation of that information when I talked to them, and they did not pick up on any of the leads I offered about his recitation._ _Johnny himself is small and fair-haired. He takes after his paternal grandmother, his mother says...._ * * * * *
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I already knew that neither of them reads science-fiction.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The word is not likely to be mentioned in their household._ _They moved to town about three years ago.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The word is not likely to be mentioned in their household._ _They moved to town about three years ago.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading I already knew that neither of them reads science-fiction.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Nobody here knew them before that, but there are rumors that Johnny is adopted.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The word is not likely to be mentioned in their household._ _They moved to town about three years ago.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The word is not likely to be mentioned in their household._ _They moved to town about three years ago.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The word is not likely to be mentioned in their household._ _They moved to town about three years ago.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading The word is not likely to be mentioned in their household._ _They moved to town about three years ago.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading They did not volunteer any confirmation of that information when I talked to them, and they did not pick up on any of the leads I offered about his recitation._ _Johnny himself is small and fair-haired. He takes after his paternal grandmother, his mother says...._ * * * * *
volunteerverbUS /ˌvɑːlənˈtɪr/
tell voluntarily
From this reading They did not volunteer any confirmation of that information when I talked to them, and they did not pick up on any of the leads I offered about his recitation._ _Johnny himself is small and fair-haired. He takes after his paternal grandmother, his mother says...._ * * * * *
at the time that
From this reading They did not volunteer any confirmation of that information when I talked to them, and they did not pick up on any of the leads I offered about his recitation._ _Johnny himself is small and fair-haired. He takes after his paternal grandmother, his mother says...._ * * * * *
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading His mother is a big woman, and a brunette.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading The word is not likely to be mentioned in their household._ _They moved to town about three years ago.
a late time of life
From this reading The word is not likely to be mentioned in their household._ _They moved to town about three years ago.
