used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A CHRISTMAS ADVENTURE.
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
From this reading A CHRISTMAS ADVENTURE.
(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 "With bolted doors and windows wedged, The care was all in vain; For there were noises in the night Which nothing could explain."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "With bolted doors and windows wedged, The care was all in vain; For there were noises in the night Which nothing could explain."
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading GRANDMAMMA AND THE FAIRIES The children had gone quietly to bed the evening before when grandmother had finished the reading of her story.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading GRANDMAMMA AND THE FAIRIES The children had gone quietly to bed the evening before when grandmother had finished the reading of her story.
boltedverbUS /ˈboʊltəd/
past form of “bolt” — move or jump suddenly
From this reading "With bolted doors and windows wedged, The care was all in vain; For there were noises in the night Which nothing could explain."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But it was all she wanted.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading "With bolted doors and windows wedged, The care was all in vain; For there were noises in the night Which nothing could explain."
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading GRANDMAMMA AND THE FAIRIES The children had gone quietly to bed the evening before when grandmother had finished the reading of her story.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading A CHRISTMAS ADVENTURE.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "With bolted doors and windows wedged, The care was all in vain; For there were noises in the night Which nothing could explain."
dearly loved
From this reading They just kissed her and said, "Thank you, _dear_ grandmother," and that was all.
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading "With bolted doors and windows wedged, The care was all in vain; For there were noises in the night Which nothing could explain."
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading GRANDMAMMA AND THE FAIRIES The children had gone quietly to bed the evening before when grandmother had finished the reading of her story.
make plain and comprehensible
From this reading "With bolted doors and windows wedged, The care was all in vain; For there were noises in the night Which nothing could explain."
FAIRIESnounUS /ˈferiz/
plural of “fairy” — a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers
From this reading GRANDMAMMA AND THE FAIRIES The children had gone quietly to bed the evening before when grandmother had finished the reading of her story.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading GRANDMAMMA AND THE FAIRIES The children had gone quietly to bed the evening before when grandmother had finished the reading of her story.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "With bolted doors and windows wedged, The care was all in vain; For there were noises in the night Which nothing could explain."
destroyed or killed
From this reading GRANDMAMMA AND THE FAIRIES The children had gone quietly to bed the evening before when grandmother had finished the reading of her story.
GRANDMAMMA
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading GRANDMAMMA AND THE FAIRIES The children had gone quietly to bed the evening before when grandmother had finished the reading of her story.
grandmothernounUS /ˈɡrændmʌðər/
the mother of your father or mother
From this reading GRANDMAMMA AND THE FAIRIES The children had gone quietly to bed the evening before when grandmother had finished the reading of her story.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading GRANDMAMMA AND THE FAIRIES The children had gone quietly to bed the evening before when grandmother had finished the reading of her story.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading GRANDMAMMA AND THE FAIRIES The children had gone quietly to bed the evening before when grandmother had finished the reading of her story.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "With bolted doors and windows wedged, The care was all in vain; For there were noises in the night Which nothing could explain."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But it was all she wanted.
and nothing more
From this reading They just kissed her and said, "Thank you, _dear_ grandmother," and that was all.
past form of “kiss” — touch with the lips or press the lips (against someone's mouth or other body part) as an expression of love, greeting, etc.
From this reading They just kissed her and said, "Thank you, _dear_ grandmother," and that was all.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading "With bolted doors and windows wedged, The care was all in vain; For there were noises in the night Which nothing could explain."
noisesnounUS /ˈnɔɪzɪz/
plural of “noise” — sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading "With bolted doors and windows wedged, The care was all in vain; For there were noises in the night Which nothing could explain."
not one thing; not anything
From this reading "With bolted doors and windows wedged, The care was all in vain; For there were noises in the night Which nothing could explain."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading GRANDMAMMA AND THE FAIRIES The children had gone quietly to bed the evening before when grandmother had finished the reading of her story.
with low volume
From this reading GRANDMAMMA AND THE FAIRIES The children had gone quietly to bed the evening before when grandmother had finished the reading of her story.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading GRANDMAMMA AND THE FAIRIES The children had gone quietly to bed the evening before when grandmother had finished the reading of her story.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading They just kissed her and said, "Thank you, _dear_ grandmother," and that was all.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But it was all she wanted.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading GRANDMAMMA AND THE FAIRIES The children had gone quietly to bed the evening before when grandmother had finished the reading of her story.
express gratitude or show appreciation to
From this reading They just kissed her and said, "Thank you, _dear_ grandmother," and that was all.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They just kissed her and said, "Thank you, _dear_ grandmother," and that was all.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "With bolted doors and windows wedged, The care was all in vain; For there were noises in the night Which nothing could explain."
in or at that place or location
From this reading "With bolted doors and windows wedged, The care was all in vain; For there were noises in the night Which nothing could explain."
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They just kissed her and said, "Thank you, _dear_ grandmother," and that was all.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading GRANDMAMMA AND THE FAIRIES The children had gone quietly to bed the evening before when grandmother had finished the reading of her story.
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading "With bolted doors and windows wedged, The care was all in vain; For there were noises in the night Which nothing could explain."
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading But it was all she wanted.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "With bolted doors and windows wedged, The care was all in vain; For there were noises in the night Which nothing could explain."
wedgedadjectiveUS /wedʒd/
wedged or packed in together
From this reading "With bolted doors and windows wedged, The care was all in vain; For there were noises in the night Which nothing could explain."
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "With bolted doors and windows wedged, The care was all in vain; For there were noises in the night Which nothing could explain."
at the time that
From this reading GRANDMAMMA AND THE FAIRIES The children had gone quietly to bed the evening before when grandmother had finished the reading of her story.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading "With bolted doors and windows wedged, The care was all in vain; For there were noises in the night Which nothing could explain."
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading "With bolted doors and windows wedged, The care was all in vain; For there were noises in the night Which nothing could explain."
in the company of; together with
From this reading "With bolted doors and windows wedged, The care was all in vain; For there were noises in the night Which nothing could explain."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading They just kissed her and said, "Thank you, _dear_ grandmother," and that was all.
