used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading SECRETS Mrs. May dismissed Sam almost immediately, saying a word of her appreciation, but also insisting that his proposal was out of the question.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Now go back to your work and say no more about being sold.”
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading SECRETS Mrs. May dismissed Sam almost immediately, saying a word of her appreciation, but also insisting that his proposal was out of the question.
in addition
From this reading SECRETS Mrs. May dismissed Sam almost immediately, saying a word of her appreciation, but also insisting that his proposal was out of the question.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading If you get your freedom, then you can stay or go as you like; but we shall always be glad to have our people stay.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Now go back to your work and say no more about being sold.”
appreciationnounUS /əˌpriːʃiˈeɪʃən/
understanding of the nature or meaning or quality or magnitude of something
From this reading SECRETS Mrs. May dismissed Sam almost immediately, saying a word of her appreciation, but also insisting that his proposal was out of the question.
the month following March and preceding May
From this reading The moment the boy was gone April turned to Tracy.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading If you get your freedom, then you can stay or go as you like; but we shall always be glad to have our people stay.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Now go back to your work and say no more about being sold.”
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “Whatever happens, Sam,” she told him, “your home will be here.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Now go back to your work and say no more about being sold.”
a youthful male person
From this reading The moment the boy was gone April turned to Tracy.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading SECRETS Mrs. May dismissed Sam almost immediately, saying a word of her appreciation, but also insisting that his proposal was out of the question.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading If you get your freedom, then you can stay or go as you like; but we shall always be glad to have our people stay.
dismissedadjectiveUS /dɪˈsmɪst/
having lost your job
From this reading SECRETS Mrs. May dismissed Sam almost immediately, saying a word of her appreciation, but also insisting that his proposal was out of the question.
the condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints
From this reading If you get your freedom, then you can stay or go as you like; but we shall always be glad to have our people stay.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading If you get your freedom, then you can stay or go as you like; but we shall always be glad to have our people stay.
showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy
From this reading If you get your freedom, then you can stay or go as you like; but we shall always be glad to have our people stay.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading If you get your freedom, then you can stay or go as you like; but we shall always be glad to have our people stay.
destroyed or killed
From this reading The moment the boy was gone April turned to Tracy.
third-person singular of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading “Whatever happens, Sam,” she told him, “your home will be here.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If you get your freedom, then you can stay or go as you like; but we shall always be glad to have our people stay.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading SECRETS Mrs. May dismissed Sam almost immediately, saying a word of her appreciation, but also insisting that his proposal was out of the question.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading “Whatever happens, Sam,” she told him, “your home will be here.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Whatever happens, Sam,” she told him, “your home will be here.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading SECRETS Mrs. May dismissed Sam almost immediately, saying a word of her appreciation, but also insisting that his proposal was out of the question.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading “Whatever happens, Sam,” she told him, “your home will be here.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If you get your freedom, then you can stay or go as you like; but we shall always be glad to have our people stay.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading SECRETS Mrs. May dismissed Sam almost immediately, saying a word of her appreciation, but also insisting that his proposal was out of the question.
insistingnounUS /ˌɪnˈsɪstɪŋ/
continual and persistent demands
From this reading SECRETS Mrs. May dismissed Sam almost immediately, saying a word of her appreciation, but also insisting that his proposal was out of the question.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading If you get your freedom, then you can stay or go as you like; but we shall always be glad to have our people stay.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading SECRETS Mrs. May dismissed Sam almost immediately, saying a word of her appreciation, but also insisting that his proposal was out of the question.
a particular point in time
From this reading The moment the boy was gone April turned to Tracy.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Now go back to your work and say no more about being sold.”
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading SECRETS Mrs. May dismissed Sam almost immediately, saying a word of her appreciation, but also insisting that his proposal was out of the question.
not any; not one
From this reading Now go back to your work and say no more about being sold.”
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now go back to your work and say no more about being sold.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading SECRETS Mrs. May dismissed Sam almost immediately, saying a word of her appreciation, but also insisting that his proposal was out of the question.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading If you get your freedom, then you can stay or go as you like; but we shall always be glad to have our people stay.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading If you get your freedom, then you can stay or go as you like; but we shall always be glad to have our people stay.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading SECRETS Mrs. May dismissed Sam almost immediately, saying a word of her appreciation, but also insisting that his proposal was out of the question.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading If you get your freedom, then you can stay or go as you like; but we shall always be glad to have our people stay.
proposalnounUS /prəˈpoʊzəl/
something proposed (such as a plan or assumption)
From this reading SECRETS Mrs. May dismissed Sam almost immediately, saying a word of her appreciation, but also insisting that his proposal was out of the question.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading SECRETS Mrs. May dismissed Sam almost immediately, saying a word of her appreciation, but also insisting that his proposal was out of the question.
a guided missile fired from land or shipboard against an airborne target
From this reading SECRETS Mrs. May dismissed Sam almost immediately, saying a word of her appreciation, but also insisting that his proposal was out of the question.
express in words
From this reading Now go back to your work and say no more about being sold.”
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading SECRETS Mrs. May dismissed Sam almost immediately, saying a word of her appreciation, but also insisting that his proposal was out of the question.
SECRETSnounUS /ˈsiːkrəts/
plural of “secret” — something that should remain hidden from others (especially information that is not to be passed on)
From this reading SECRETS Mrs. May dismissed Sam almost immediately, saying a word of her appreciation, but also insisting that his proposal was out of the question.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading If you get your freedom, then you can stay or go as you like; but we shall always be glad to have our people stay.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Whatever happens, Sam,” she told him, “your home will be here.
disposed of to a purchaser
From this reading Now go back to your work and say no more about being sold.”
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading If you get your freedom, then you can stay or go as you like; but we shall always be glad to have our people stay.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading SECRETS Mrs. May dismissed Sam almost immediately, saying a word of her appreciation, but also insisting that his proposal was out of the question.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SECRETS Mrs. May dismissed Sam almost immediately, saying a word of her appreciation, but also insisting that his proposal was out of the question.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading If you get your freedom, then you can stay or go as you like; but we shall always be glad to have our people stay.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading If you get your freedom, then you can stay or go as you like; but we shall always be glad to have our people stay.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading “Whatever happens, Sam,” she told him, “your home will be here.
TracynounUS /ˈtreɪsi/
United States film actor who appeared in many films with Katharine Hepburn (1900-1967)
From this reading The moment the boy was gone April turned to Tracy.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading The moment the boy was gone April turned to Tracy.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading SECRETS Mrs. May dismissed Sam almost immediately, saying a word of her appreciation, but also insisting that his proposal was out of the question.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading If you get your freedom, then you can stay or go as you like; but we shall always be glad to have our people stay.
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading “Whatever happens, Sam,” she told him, “your home will be here.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “Whatever happens, Sam,” she told him, “your home will be here.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading SECRETS Mrs. May dismissed Sam almost immediately, saying a word of her appreciation, but also insisting that his proposal was out of the question.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Now go back to your work and say no more about being sold.”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading If you get your freedom, then you can stay or go as you like; but we shall always be glad to have our people stay.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Whatever happens, Sam,” she told him, “your home will be here.
