used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “To think we’re all going to Sydney for a holiday.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “Only last night, and I shouldn’t have told you so soon, for I know you’ll do nothing but talk about it for the next month; but I couldn’t resist telling you,” said Mother.
anew
From this reading “Well, of all the things that could ever happen, this is far and away the best, and I’ll never grumble again,” said Eileen.
(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 “Well, of all the things that could ever happen, this is far and away the best, and I’ll never grumble again,” said Eileen.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Well, of all the things that could ever happen, this is far and away the best, and I’ll never grumble again,” said Eileen.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading “Well, of all the things that could ever happen, this is far and away the best, and I’ll never grumble again,” said Eileen.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Oh, it’s nearly too good to be true!
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading “Well, of all the things that could ever happen, this is far and away the best, and I’ll never grumble again,” said Eileen.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “Only last night, and I shouldn’t have told you so soon, for I know you’ll do nothing but talk about it for the next month; but I couldn’t resist telling you,” said Mother.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “Well, of all the things that could ever happen, this is far and away the best, and I’ll never grumble again,” said Eileen.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Only last night, and I shouldn’t have told you so soon, for I know you’ll do nothing but talk about it for the next month; but I couldn’t resist telling you,” said Mother.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading When did he tell you, Mamma?”
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “Only last night, and I shouldn’t have told you so soon, for I know you’ll do nothing but talk about it for the next month; but I couldn’t resist telling you,” said Mother.
Eileen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Well, of all the things that could ever happen, this is far and away the best, and I’ll never grumble again,” said Eileen.
at any time
From this reading “Well, of all the things that could ever happen, this is far and away the best, and I’ll never grumble again,” said Eileen.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading “Well, of all the things that could ever happen, this is far and away the best, and I’ll never grumble again,” said Eileen.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “To think we’re all going to Sydney for a holiday.
the act of departing
From this reading “To think we’re all going to Sydney for a holiday.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Oh, it’s nearly too good to be true!
grumbleverbUS /ˈɡrʌmbəl/
show one's unhappiness or critical attitude
From this reading “Well, of all the things that could ever happen, this is far and away the best, and I’ll never grumble again,” said Eileen.
come to pass
From this reading “Well, of all the things that could ever happen, this is far and away the best, and I’ll never grumble again,” said Eileen.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Only last night, and I shouldn’t have told you so soon, for I know you’ll do nothing but talk about it for the next month; but I couldn’t resist telling you,” said Mother.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When did he tell you, Mamma?”
holidaynounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪ/
leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading “To think we’re all going to Sydney for a holiday.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Only last night, and I shouldn’t have told you so soon, for I know you’ll do nothing but talk about it for the next month; but I couldn’t resist telling you,” said Mother.
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Well, of all the things that could ever happen, this is far and away the best, and I’ll never grumble again,” said Eileen.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Well, of all the things that could ever happen, this is far and away the best, and I’ll never grumble again,” said Eileen.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Only last night, and I shouldn’t have told you so soon, for I know you’ll do nothing but talk about it for the next month; but I couldn’t resist telling you,” said Mother.
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Oh, it’s nearly too good to be true!
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading “Only last night, and I shouldn’t have told you so soon, for I know you’ll do nothing but talk about it for the next month; but I couldn’t resist telling you,” said Mother.
immediately past
From this reading “Only last night, and I shouldn’t have told you so soon, for I know you’ll do nothing but talk about it for the next month; but I couldn’t resist telling you,” said Mother.
informal terms for a mother
From this reading When did he tell you, Mamma?”
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading “Only last night, and I shouldn’t have told you so soon, for I know you’ll do nothing but talk about it for the next month; but I couldn’t resist telling you,” said Mother.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading “Only last night, and I shouldn’t have told you so soon, for I know you’ll do nothing but talk about it for the next month; but I couldn’t resist telling you,” said Mother.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Oh, it’s nearly too good to be true!
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading “Well, of all the things that could ever happen, this is far and away the best, and I’ll never grumble again,” said Eileen.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading “Only last night, and I shouldn’t have told you so soon, for I know you’ll do nothing but talk about it for the next month; but I couldn’t resist telling you,” said Mother.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading “Only last night, and I shouldn’t have told you so soon, for I know you’ll do nothing but talk about it for the next month; but I couldn’t resist telling you,” said Mother.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading “Only last night, and I shouldn’t have told you so soon, for I know you’ll do nothing but talk about it for the next month; but I couldn’t resist telling you,” said Mother.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Well, of all the things that could ever happen, this is far and away the best, and I’ll never grumble again,” said Eileen.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading Oh, it’s nearly too good to be true!
and nothing more
From this reading “Only last night, and I shouldn’t have told you so soon, for I know you’ll do nothing but talk about it for the next month; but I couldn’t resist telling you,” said Mother.
resistverbUS /rɪˈzɪst/
elude, especially in a baffling way
From this reading “Only last night, and I shouldn’t have told you so soon, for I know you’ll do nothing but talk about it for the next month; but I couldn’t resist telling you,” said Mother.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Well, of all the things that could ever happen, this is far and away the best, and I’ll never grumble again,” said Eileen.
shouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Only last night, and I shouldn’t have told you so soon, for I know you’ll do nothing but talk about it for the next month; but I couldn’t resist telling you,” said Mother.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “Only last night, and I shouldn’t have told you so soon, for I know you’ll do nothing but talk about it for the next month; but I couldn’t resist telling you,” said Mother.
in the near future
From this reading “Only last night, and I shouldn’t have told you so soon, for I know you’ll do nothing but talk about it for the next month; but I couldn’t resist telling you,” said Mother.
SydneynounUS /ˈsɪdni/
the largest Australian city located in southeastern Australia on the Tasman Sea; state capital of New South Wales; Australia's chief port
From this reading “To think we’re all going to Sydney for a holiday.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading “Only last night, and I shouldn’t have told you so soon, for I know you’ll do nothing but talk about it for the next month; but I couldn’t resist telling you,” said Mother.
express in words
From this reading When did he tell you, Mamma?”
disclosing unintentionally something concealed
From this reading “Only last night, and I shouldn’t have told you so soon, for I know you’ll do nothing but talk about it for the next month; but I couldn’t resist telling you,” said Mother.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Well, of all the things that could ever happen, this is far and away the best, and I’ll never grumble again,” said Eileen.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Well, of all the things that could ever happen, this is far and away the best, and I’ll never grumble again,” said Eileen.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading “Well, of all the things that could ever happen, this is far and away the best, and I’ll never grumble again,” said Eileen.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading “To think we’re all going to Sydney for a holiday.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “Well, of all the things that could ever happen, this is far and away the best, and I’ll never grumble again,” said Eileen.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “To think we’re all going to Sydney for a holiday.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading “Only last night, and I shouldn’t have told you so soon, for I know you’ll do nothing but talk about it for the next month; but I couldn’t resist telling you,” said Mother.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Oh, it’s nearly too good to be true!
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading Oh, it’s nearly too good to be true!
we're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “To think we’re all going to Sydney for a holiday.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading “Well, of all the things that could ever happen, this is far and away the best, and I’ll never grumble again,” said Eileen.
at the time that
From this reading When did he tell you, Mamma?”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading When did he tell you, Mamma?”
you'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Only last night, and I shouldn’t have told you so soon, for I know you’ll do nothing but talk about it for the next month; but I couldn’t resist telling you,” said Mother.
