aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “What’s this wild story about you being engaged to be married?
(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 _Tots!_ What’s all this?—Look here, what _is_ the meaning of it?” she cried breathlessly.
the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising
From this reading THE LOVER WHO CAME TOO LATE But here, in our flat, I found to my amazement that someone had been before me with the news.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Cicely’s marigold-coloured hair and flushed face reared themselves up excitedly from the faded couch cushions as I came in.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Cicely’s marigold-coloured hair and flushed face reared themselves up excitedly from the faded couch cushions as I came in.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “What’s this wild story about you being engaged to be married?
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading THE LOVER WHO CAME TOO LATE But here, in our flat, I found to my amazement that someone had been before me with the news.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading THE LOVER WHO CAME TOO LATE But here, in our flat, I found to my amazement that someone had been before me with the news.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading “What’s this wild story about you being engaged to be married?
breathlesslyadverbUS /ˈbreθləsli/
in a breathless manner
From this reading _Tots!_ What’s all this?—Look here, what _is_ the meaning of it?” she cried breathlessly.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THE LOVER WHO CAME TOO LATE But here, in our flat, I found to my amazement that someone had been before me with the news.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading THE LOVER WHO CAME TOO LATE But here, in our flat, I found to my amazement that someone had been before me with the news.
Cicely's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cicely’s marigold-coloured hair and flushed face reared themselves up excitedly from the faded couch cushions as I came in.
couchnounUS /kaʊtʃ/
an upholstered seat for more than one person
From this reading Cicely’s marigold-coloured hair and flushed face reared themselves up excitedly from the faded couch cushions as I came in.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading _Tots!_ What’s all this?—Look here, what _is_ the meaning of it?” she cried breathlessly.
cushionsnounUS /ˈkʊʃənz/
plural of “cushion” — a mechanical damper; absorbs energy of sudden impulses
From this reading Cicely’s marigold-coloured hair and flushed face reared themselves up excitedly from the faded couch cushions as I came in.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading “What’s this wild story about you being engaged to be married?
excitedlyadverbUS /ɪkˈsaɪtədli/
with excitement; in an excited manner
From this reading Cicely’s marigold-coloured hair and flushed face reared themselves up excitedly from the faded couch cushions as I came in.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Cicely’s marigold-coloured hair and flushed face reared themselves up excitedly from the faded couch cushions as I came in.
fadedadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪdəd/
having lost freshness or brilliance of color
From this reading Cicely’s marigold-coloured hair and flushed face reared themselves up excitedly from the faded couch cushions as I came in.
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading THE LOVER WHO CAME TOO LATE But here, in our flat, I found to my amazement that someone had been before me with the news.
having the pinkish flush of health
From this reading Cicely’s marigold-coloured hair and flushed face reared themselves up excitedly from the faded couch cushions as I came in.
set up or found
From this reading THE LOVER WHO CAME TOO LATE But here, in our flat, I found to my amazement that someone had been before me with the news.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Cicely’s marigold-coloured hair and flushed face reared themselves up excitedly from the faded couch cushions as I came in.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE LOVER WHO CAME TOO LATE But here, in our flat, I found to my amazement that someone had been before me with the news.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading Cicely’s marigold-coloured hair and flushed face reared themselves up excitedly from the faded couch cushions as I came in.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading THE LOVER WHO CAME TOO LATE But here, in our flat, I found to my amazement that someone had been before me with the news.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THE LOVER WHO CAME TOO LATE But here, in our flat, I found to my amazement that someone had been before me with the news.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE LOVER WHO CAME TOO LATE But here, in our flat, I found to my amazement that someone had been before me with the news.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _Tots!_ What’s all this?—Look here, what _is_ the meaning of it?” she cried breathlessly.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading _Tots!_ What’s all this?—Look here, what _is_ the meaning of it?” she cried breathlessly.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading THE LOVER WHO CAME TOO LATE But here, in our flat, I found to my amazement that someone had been before me with the news.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading _Tots!_ What’s all this?—Look here, what _is_ the meaning of it?” she cried breathlessly.
a person who loves someone or is loved by someone
From this reading THE LOVER WHO CAME TOO LATE But here, in our flat, I found to my amazement that someone had been before me with the news.
marigold-coloured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cicely’s marigold-coloured hair and flushed face reared themselves up excitedly from the faded couch cushions as I came in.
joined in matrimony
From this reading “What’s this wild story about you being engaged to be married?
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE LOVER WHO CAME TOO LATE But here, in our flat, I found to my amazement that someone had been before me with the news.
the message that is intended or expressed or signified
From this reading _Tots!_ What’s all this?—Look here, what _is_ the meaning of it?” she cried breathlessly.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading THE LOVER WHO CAME TOO LATE But here, in our flat, I found to my amazement that someone had been before me with the news.
information about recent and important events
From this reading THE LOVER WHO CAME TOO LATE But here, in our flat, I found to my amazement that someone had been before me with the news.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _Tots!_ What’s all this?—Look here, what _is_ the meaning of it?” she cried breathlessly.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading THE LOVER WHO CAME TOO LATE But here, in our flat, I found to my amazement that someone had been before me with the news.
rearedverbUS /rɪrd/
past form of “rear” — stand up on the hind legs, of quadrupeds
From this reading Cicely’s marigold-coloured hair and flushed face reared themselves up excitedly from the faded couch cushions as I came in.
express in words
From this reading “I say!
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading _Tots!_ What’s all this?—Look here, what _is_ the meaning of it?” she cried breathlessly.
a person, without saying who
From this reading THE LOVER WHO CAME TOO LATE But here, in our flat, I found to my amazement that someone had been before me with the news.
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 “What’s this wild story about you being engaged to be married?
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE LOVER WHO CAME TOO LATE But here, in our flat, I found to my amazement that someone had been before me with the news.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE LOVER WHO CAME TOO LATE But here, in our flat, I found to my amazement that someone had been before me with the news.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Cicely’s marigold-coloured hair and flushed face reared themselves up excitedly from the faded couch cushions as I came in.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading _Tots!_ What’s all this?—Look here, what _is_ the meaning of it?” she cried breathlessly.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE LOVER WHO CAME TOO LATE But here, in our flat, I found to my amazement that someone had been before me with the news.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading THE LOVER WHO CAME TOO LATE But here, in our flat, I found to my amazement that someone had been before me with the news.
TotsnounUS /tɑːts/
plural of “tot” — a small amount (especially of a drink)
From this reading _Tots!_ What’s all this?—Look here, what _is_ the meaning of it?” she cried breathlessly.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Cicely’s marigold-coloured hair and flushed face reared themselves up excitedly from the faded couch cushions as I came in.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading _Tots!_ What’s all this?—Look here, what _is_ the meaning of it?” she cried breathlessly.
What's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Tots!_ What’s all this?—Look here, what _is_ the meaning of it?” she cried breathlessly.
which person or people
From this reading THE LOVER WHO CAME TOO LATE But here, in our flat, I found to my amazement that someone had been before me with the news.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading “What’s this wild story about you being engaged to be married?
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE LOVER WHO CAME TOO LATE But here, in our flat, I found to my amazement that someone had been before me with the news.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “What’s this wild story about you being engaged to be married?
