used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Lessons were then considered rather a plague, sugar-plums were still in demand--holidays continued yet in fashion--and toys were not then made to teach mathematics, nor story-books to give instruction in chemistry and navigation.
ABOUTprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading UNCLE DAVID'S NONSENSICAL STORY ABOUT GIANTS AND FAIRIES.
(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 In the days of yore, children were not all such clever, good sensible people as they are now!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading UNCLE DAVID'S NONSENSICAL STORY ABOUT GIANTS AND FAIRIES.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In the days of yore, children were not all such clever, good sensible people as they are now!
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In the days of yore, children were not all such clever, good sensible people as they are now!
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading These were very strange times, and there existed at that period, a very idle, greedy, naughty boy, such as we never hear of in the present day.
black-puddings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Pie-crust and pastry-crust, that was the wall; The windows were made of black-puddings and white, And slated with pancakes--you ne'er saw the like!"
a youthful male person
From this reading These were very strange times, and there existed at that period, a very idle, greedy, naughty boy, such as we never hear of in the present day.
chemistrynounUS /ˈkeməstri/
the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions
From this reading Lessons were then considered rather a plague, sugar-plums were still in demand--holidays continued yet in fashion--and toys were not then made to teach mathematics, nor story-books to give instruction in chemistry and navigation.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading In the days of yore, children were not all such clever, good sensible people as they are now!
showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others
From this reading In the days of yore, children were not all such clever, good sensible people as they are now!
carefully weighed
From this reading Lessons were then considered rather a plague, sugar-plums were still in demand--holidays continued yet in fashion--and toys were not then made to teach mathematics, nor story-books to give instruction in chemistry and navigation.
without stop or interruption
From this reading Lessons were then considered rather a plague, sugar-plums were still in demand--holidays continued yet in fashion--and toys were not then made to teach mathematics, nor story-books to give instruction in chemistry and navigation.
DAVID'SnounUS /ˈdeɪvɪdz/
possessive form of “david” — patron saint of Wales (circa 520-600)
From this reading UNCLE DAVID'S NONSENSICAL STORY ABOUT GIANTS AND FAIRIES.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading These were very strange times, and there existed at that period, a very idle, greedy, naughty boy, such as we never hear of in the present day.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading In the days of yore, children were not all such clever, good sensible people as they are now!
an urgent or peremptory request
From this reading Lessons were then considered rather a plague, sugar-plums were still in demand--holidays continued yet in fashion--and toys were not then made to teach mathematics, nor story-books to give instruction in chemistry and navigation.
existedverbUS /ɪɡˈzɪstəd/
past form of “exist” — have an existence, be extant
From this reading These were very strange times, and there existed at that period, a very idle, greedy, naughty boy, such as we never hear of in the present day.
FAIRIESnounUS /ˈferiz/
plural of “fairy” — a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers
From this reading UNCLE DAVID'S NONSENSICAL STORY ABOUT GIANTS AND FAIRIES.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Lessons were then considered rather a plague, sugar-plums were still in demand--holidays continued yet in fashion--and toys were not then made to teach mathematics, nor story-books to give instruction in chemistry and navigation.
GIANTSnounUS /ˈdʒaɪənts/
plural of “giant” — any creature of exceptional size
From this reading UNCLE DAVID'S NONSENSICAL STORY ABOUT GIANTS AND FAIRIES.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Lessons were then considered rather a plague, sugar-plums were still in demand--holidays continued yet in fashion--and toys were not then made to teach mathematics, nor story-books to give instruction in chemistry and navigation.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading In the days of yore, children were not all such clever, good sensible people as they are now!
greedyadjectiveUS /ˈɡriːdi/
immoderately desirous of acquiring e.g. wealth
From this reading These were very strange times, and there existed at that period, a very idle, greedy, naughty boy, such as we never hear of in the present day.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading These were very strange times, and there existed at that period, a very idle, greedy, naughty boy, such as we never hear of in the present day.
holidaysnounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪz/
plural of “holiday” — leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading Lessons were then considered rather a plague, sugar-plums were still in demand--holidays continued yet in fashion--and toys were not then made to teach mathematics, nor story-books to give instruction in chemistry and navigation.
not in action or at work
From this reading These were very strange times, and there existed at that period, a very idle, greedy, naughty boy, such as we never hear of in the present day.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the days of yore, children were not all such clever, good sensible people as they are now!
instructionnounUS /ˌɪnˈstrʌkʃən/
a message describing how something is to be done
From this reading Lessons were then considered rather a plague, sugar-plums were still in demand--holidays continued yet in fashion--and toys were not then made to teach mathematics, nor story-books to give instruction in chemistry and navigation.
LessonsnounUS /ˈlesənz/
plural of “lesson” — a unit of instruction
From this reading Lessons were then considered rather a plague, sugar-plums were still in demand--holidays continued yet in fashion--and toys were not then made to teach mathematics, nor story-books to give instruction in chemistry and navigation.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "Pie-crust and pastry-crust, that was the wall; The windows were made of black-puddings and white, And slated with pancakes--you ne'er saw the like!"
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading "Pie-crust and pastry-crust, that was the wall; The windows were made of black-puddings and white, And slated with pancakes--you ne'er saw the like!"
mathematicsnounUS /ˌmæθəˈmætɪks/
a science (or group of related sciences) dealing with the logic of quantity and shape and arrangement
From this reading Lessons were then considered rather a plague, sugar-plums were still in demand--holidays continued yet in fashion--and toys were not then made to teach mathematics, nor story-books to give instruction in chemistry and navigation.
naughtyadjectiveUS /ˈnɔːti/
suggestive of sexual impropriety
From this reading These were very strange times, and there existed at that period, a very idle, greedy, naughty boy, such as we never hear of in the present day.
navigationnounUS /ˈnævəˈɡeɪʃən/
the guidance of ships or airplanes from place to place
From this reading Lessons were then considered rather a plague, sugar-plums were still in demand--holidays continued yet in fashion--and toys were not then made to teach mathematics, nor story-books to give instruction in chemistry and navigation.
ne'eradverbUS /ner/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading "Pie-crust and pastry-crust, that was the wall; The windows were made of black-puddings and white, And slated with pancakes--you ne'er saw the like!"
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading These were very strange times, and there existed at that period, a very idle, greedy, naughty boy, such as we never hear of in the present day.
NONSENSICALadjectiveUS /nɑːnˈsensɪkəl/
so unreasonable as to invite derision
From this reading UNCLE DAVID'S NONSENSICAL STORY ABOUT GIANTS AND FAIRIES.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Lessons were then considered rather a plague, sugar-plums were still in demand--holidays continued yet in fashion--and toys were not then made to teach mathematics, nor story-books to give instruction in chemistry and navigation.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading In the days of yore, children were not all such clever, good sensible people as they are now!
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading In the days of yore, children were not all such clever, good sensible people as they are now!
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Pie-crust and pastry-crust, that was the wall; The windows were made of black-puddings and white, And slated with pancakes--you ne'er saw the like!"
pancakesnounUS /ˈpænkeɪks/
plural of “pancake” — a flat cake of thin batter fried on both sides on a griddle
From this reading "Pie-crust and pastry-crust, that was the wall; The windows were made of black-puddings and white, And slated with pancakes--you ne'er saw the like!"
pastry-crust
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Pie-crust and pastry-crust, that was the wall; The windows were made of black-puddings and white, And slated with pancakes--you ne'er saw the like!"
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading In the days of yore, children were not all such clever, good sensible people as they are now!
an amount of time
From this reading These were very strange times, and there existed at that period, a very idle, greedy, naughty boy, such as we never hear of in the present day.
Pie-crust
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Pie-crust and pastry-crust, that was the wall; The windows were made of black-puddings and white, And slated with pancakes--you ne'er saw the like!"
plagueverbUS /pleɪɡ/
cause to suffer a blight
From this reading Lessons were then considered rather a plague, sugar-plums were still in demand--holidays continued yet in fashion--and toys were not then made to teach mathematics, nor story-books to give instruction in chemistry and navigation.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading These were very strange times, and there existed at that period, a very idle, greedy, naughty boy, such as we never hear of in the present day.
on the contrary
From this reading Lessons were then considered rather a plague, sugar-plums were still in demand--holidays continued yet in fashion--and toys were not then made to teach mathematics, nor story-books to give instruction in chemistry and navigation.
cut with a saw
From this reading "Pie-crust and pastry-crust, that was the wall; The windows were made of black-puddings and white, And slated with pancakes--you ne'er saw the like!"
showing reason or sound judgment
From this reading In the days of yore, children were not all such clever, good sensible people as they are now!
slatedverbUS /ˈsleɪtɪd/
past form of “slate” — designate or schedule
From this reading "Pie-crust and pastry-crust, that was the wall; The windows were made of black-puddings and white, And slated with pancakes--you ne'er saw the like!"
not in physical motion
From this reading Lessons were then considered rather a plague, sugar-plums were still in demand--holidays continued yet in fashion--and toys were not then made to teach mathematics, nor story-books to give instruction in chemistry and navigation.
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 UNCLE DAVID'S NONSENSICAL STORY ABOUT GIANTS AND FAIRIES.
story-books
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lessons were then considered rather a plague, sugar-plums were still in demand--holidays continued yet in fashion--and toys were not then made to teach mathematics, nor story-books to give instruction in chemistry and navigation.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading These were very strange times, and there existed at that period, a very idle, greedy, naughty boy, such as we never hear of in the present day.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading In the days of yore, children were not all such clever, good sensible people as they are now!
sugar-plums
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lessons were then considered rather a plague, sugar-plums were still in demand--holidays continued yet in fashion--and toys were not then made to teach mathematics, nor story-books to give instruction in chemistry and navigation.
impart skills or knowledge to
From this reading Lessons were then considered rather a plague, sugar-plums were still in demand--holidays continued yet in fashion--and toys were not then made to teach mathematics, nor story-books to give instruction in chemistry and navigation.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Pie-crust and pastry-crust, that was the wall; The windows were made of black-puddings and white, And slated with pancakes--you ne'er saw the like!"
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Pie-crust and pastry-crust, that was the wall; The windows were made of black-puddings and white, And slated with pancakes--you ne'er saw the like!"
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Lessons were then considered rather a plague, sugar-plums were still in demand--holidays continued yet in fashion--and toys were not then made to teach mathematics, nor story-books to give instruction in chemistry and navigation.
in or at that place or location
From this reading These were very strange times, and there existed at that period, a very idle, greedy, naughty boy, such as we never hear of in the present day.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These were very strange times, and there existed at that period, a very idle, greedy, naughty boy, such as we never hear of in the present day.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In the days of yore, children were not all such clever, good sensible people as they are now!
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading These were very strange times, and there existed at that period, a very idle, greedy, naughty boy, such as we never hear of in the present day.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Lessons were then considered rather a plague, sugar-plums were still in demand--holidays continued yet in fashion--and toys were not then made to teach mathematics, nor story-books to give instruction in chemistry and navigation.
toysnounUS /tɔɪz/
plural of “toy” — an artifact designed to be played with
From this reading Lessons were then considered rather a plague, sugar-plums were still in demand--holidays continued yet in fashion--and toys were not then made to teach mathematics, nor story-books to give instruction in chemistry and navigation.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading UNCLE DAVID'S NONSENSICAL STORY ABOUT GIANTS AND FAIRIES.
precisely as stated
From this reading These were very strange times, and there existed at that period, a very idle, greedy, naughty boy, such as we never hear of in the present day.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading "Pie-crust and pastry-crust, that was the wall; The windows were made of black-puddings and white, And slated with pancakes--you ne'er saw the like!"
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Pie-crust and pastry-crust, that was the wall; The windows were made of black-puddings and white, And slated with pancakes--you ne'er saw the like!"
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading These were very strange times, and there existed at that period, a very idle, greedy, naughty boy, such as we never hear of in the present day.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Pie-crust and pastry-crust, that was the wall; The windows were made of black-puddings and white, And slated with pancakes--you ne'er saw the like!"
a Caucasian
From this reading "Pie-crust and pastry-crust, that was the wall; The windows were made of black-puddings and white, And slated with pancakes--you ne'er saw the like!"
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading "Pie-crust and pastry-crust, that was the wall; The windows were made of black-puddings and white, And slated with pancakes--you ne'er saw the like!"
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Pie-crust and pastry-crust, that was the wall; The windows were made of black-puddings and white, And slated with pancakes--you ne'er saw the like!"
but in spite of that
From this reading Lessons were then considered rather a plague, sugar-plums were still in demand--holidays continued yet in fashion--and toys were not then made to teach mathematics, nor story-books to give instruction in chemistry and navigation.
yorenounUS /jɔːr/
time long past
From this reading In the days of yore, children were not all such clever, good sensible people as they are now!
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Pie-crust and pastry-crust, that was the wall; The windows were made of black-puddings and white, And slated with pancakes--you ne'er saw the like!"
