used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Who would think so small a thing Could make so great a pother?"
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A pretty, cheerful nursery--a nursery in which surely children could not but be happy--with pictures on the walls and toys in the glass-doored cupboard, and rocking-horse and doll-house, and everything a child's heart could wish for.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading AT WAR WITH THE WORLD.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Spring sunshine faint but clear, like the first pale primrose, peeping in at the window, a merry fire crackling away in the tidy hearth.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading A pretty, cheerful nursery--a nursery in which surely children could not but be happy--with pictures on the walls and toys in the glass-doored cupboard, and rocking-horse and doll-house, and everything a child's heart could wish for.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A pretty, cheerful nursery--a nursery in which surely children could not but be happy--with pictures on the walls and toys in the glass-doored cupboard, and rocking-horse and doll-house, and everything a child's heart could wish for.
being full of or promoting cheer; having or showing good spirits
From this reading A pretty, cheerful nursery--a nursery in which surely children could not but be happy--with pictures on the walls and toys in the glass-doored cupboard, and rocking-horse and doll-house, and everything a child's heart could wish for.
child'snounUS /tʃaɪldz/
possessive form of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading A pretty, cheerful nursery--a nursery in which surely children could not but be happy--with pictures on the walls and toys in the glass-doored cupboard, and rocking-horse and doll-house, and everything a child's heart could wish for.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading A pretty, cheerful nursery--a nursery in which surely children could not but be happy--with pictures on the walls and toys in the glass-doored cupboard, and rocking-horse and doll-house, and everything a child's heart could wish for.
rid of obstructions
From this reading Spring sunshine faint but clear, like the first pale primrose, peeping in at the window, a merry fire crackling away in the tidy hearth.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "Who would think so small a thing Could make so great a pother?"
cracklingnounUS /ˈkræklɪŋ/
the residue that remains after animal fat has been rendered
From this reading Spring sunshine faint but clear, like the first pale primrose, peeping in at the window, a merry fire crackling away in the tidy hearth.
cupboardnounUS /ˈkʌbərd/
a small room (or recess) or cabinet used for storage space
From this reading A pretty, cheerful nursery--a nursery in which surely children could not but be happy--with pictures on the walls and toys in the glass-doored cupboard, and rocking-horse and doll-house, and everything a child's heart could wish for.
doll-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A pretty, cheerful nursery--a nursery in which surely children could not but be happy--with pictures on the walls and toys in the glass-doored cupboard, and rocking-horse and doll-house, and everything a child's heart could wish for.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading And just in front of it, for it is early spring only, a group of children pleasant to see.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading A pretty, cheerful nursery--a nursery in which surely children could not but be happy--with pictures on the walls and toys in the glass-doored cupboard, and rocking-horse and doll-house, and everything a child's heart could wish for.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading Spring sunshine faint but clear, like the first pale primrose, peeping in at the window, a merry fire crackling away in the tidy hearth.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Spring sunshine faint but clear, like the first pale primrose, peeping in at the window, a merry fire crackling away in the tidy hearth.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Spring sunshine faint but clear, like the first pale primrose, peeping in at the window, a merry fire crackling away in the tidy hearth.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A pretty, cheerful nursery--a nursery in which surely children could not but be happy--with pictures on the walls and toys in the glass-doored cupboard, and rocking-horse and doll-house, and everything a child's heart could wish for.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading And just in front of it, for it is early spring only, a group of children pleasant to see.
glass-doored
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A pretty, cheerful nursery--a nursery in which surely children could not but be happy--with pictures on the walls and toys in the glass-doored cupboard, and rocking-horse and doll-house, and everything a child's heart could wish for.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading "Who would think so small a thing Could make so great a pother?"
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading And just in front of it, for it is early spring only, a group of children pleasant to see.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading A pretty, cheerful nursery--a nursery in which surely children could not but be happy--with pictures on the walls and toys in the glass-doored cupboard, and rocking-horse and doll-house, and everything a child's heart could wish for.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading A pretty, cheerful nursery--a nursery in which surely children could not but be happy--with pictures on the walls and toys in the glass-doored cupboard, and rocking-horse and doll-house, and everything a child's heart could wish for.
hearthnounUS /hɑːrθ/
an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built
From this reading Spring sunshine faint but clear, like the first pale primrose, peeping in at the window, a merry fire crackling away in the tidy hearth.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A pretty, cheerful nursery--a nursery in which surely children could not but be happy--with pictures on the walls and toys in the glass-doored cupboard, and rocking-horse and doll-house, and everything a child's heart could wish for.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And just in front of it, for it is early spring only, a group of children pleasant to see.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And just in front of it, for it is early spring only, a group of children pleasant to see.
and nothing more
From this reading And just in front of it, for it is early spring only, a group of children pleasant to see.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Spring sunshine faint but clear, like the first pale primrose, peeping in at the window, a merry fire crackling away in the tidy hearth.
engage in
From this reading "Who would think so small a thing Could make so great a pother?"
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading Spring sunshine faint but clear, like the first pale primrose, peeping in at the window, a merry fire crackling away in the tidy hearth.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A pretty, cheerful nursery--a nursery in which surely children could not but be happy--with pictures on the walls and toys in the glass-doored cupboard, and rocking-horse and doll-house, and everything a child's heart could wish for.
nurserynounUS /ˈnɜːrsəri/
a child's room for a baby
From this reading A pretty, cheerful nursery--a nursery in which surely children could not but be happy--with pictures on the walls and toys in the glass-doored cupboard, and rocking-horse and doll-house, and everything a child's heart could wish for.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading And just in front of it, for it is early spring only, a group of children pleasant to see.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A pretty, cheerful nursery--a nursery in which surely children could not but be happy--with pictures on the walls and toys in the glass-doored cupboard, and rocking-horse and doll-house, and everything a child's heart could wish for.
and nothing more
From this reading And just in front of it, for it is early spring only, a group of children pleasant to see.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading Spring sunshine faint but clear, like the first pale primrose, peeping in at the window, a merry fire crackling away in the tidy hearth.
peepingverbUS /ˈpiːpɪŋ/
-ing form of “peep” — look furtively
From this reading Spring sunshine faint but clear, like the first pale primrose, peeping in at the window, a merry fire crackling away in the tidy hearth.
plural of “picture” — a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading A pretty, cheerful nursery--a nursery in which surely children could not but be happy--with pictures on the walls and toys in the glass-doored cupboard, and rocking-horse and doll-house, and everything a child's heart could wish for.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading And just in front of it, for it is early spring only, a group of children pleasant to see.
potherverb
make upset or troubled
From this reading "Who would think so small a thing Could make so great a pother?"
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading A pretty, cheerful nursery--a nursery in which surely children could not but be happy--with pictures on the walls and toys in the glass-doored cupboard, and rocking-horse and doll-house, and everything a child's heart could wish for.
primrosenounUS /ˈprɪmroʊz/
any of numerous short-stemmed plants of the genus Primula having tufted basal leaves and showy flowers clustered in umbels or heads
From this reading Spring sunshine faint but clear, like the first pale primrose, peeping in at the window, a merry fire crackling away in the tidy hearth.
rocking-horse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A pretty, cheerful nursery--a nursery in which surely children could not but be happy--with pictures on the walls and toys in the glass-doored cupboard, and rocking-horse and doll-house, and everything a child's heart could wish for.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading And just in front of it, for it is early spring only, a group of children pleasant to see.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "Who would think so small a thing Could make so great a pother?"
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "Who would think so small a thing Could make so great a pother?"
the season of growth
From this reading Spring sunshine faint but clear, like the first pale primrose, peeping in at the window, a merry fire crackling away in the tidy hearth.
the rays of the sun
From this reading Spring sunshine faint but clear, like the first pale primrose, peeping in at the window, a merry fire crackling away in the tidy hearth.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading A pretty, cheerful nursery--a nursery in which surely children could not but be happy--with pictures on the walls and toys in the glass-doored cupboard, and rocking-horse and doll-house, and everything a child's heart could wish for.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AT WAR WITH THE WORLD.
a special situation
From this reading "Who would think so small a thing Could make so great a pother?"
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "Who would think so small a thing Could make so great a pother?"
tidyadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪdi/
marked by order and cleanliness in appearance or habits
From this reading Spring sunshine faint but clear, like the first pale primrose, peeping in at the window, a merry fire crackling away in the tidy hearth.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And just in front of it, for it is early spring only, a group of children pleasant to see.
toysnounUS /tɔɪz/
plural of “toy” — an artifact designed to be played with
From this reading A pretty, cheerful nursery--a nursery in which surely children could not but be happy--with pictures on the walls and toys in the glass-doored cupboard, and rocking-horse and doll-house, and everything a child's heart could wish for.
plural of “wall” — 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 A pretty, cheerful nursery--a nursery in which surely children could not but be happy--with pictures on the walls and toys in the glass-doored cupboard, and rocking-horse and doll-house, and everything a child's heart could wish for.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading AT WAR WITH THE WORLD.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A pretty, cheerful nursery--a nursery in which surely children could not but be happy--with pictures on the walls and toys in the glass-doored cupboard, and rocking-horse and doll-house, and everything a child's heart could wish for.
which person or people
From this reading "Who would think so small a thing Could make so great a pother?"
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading Spring sunshine faint but clear, like the first pale primrose, peeping in at the window, a merry fire crackling away in the tidy hearth.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading A pretty, cheerful nursery--a nursery in which surely children could not but be happy--with pictures on the walls and toys in the glass-doored cupboard, and rocking-horse and doll-house, and everything a child's heart could wish for.
in the company of; together with
From this reading AT WAR WITH THE WORLD.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading AT WAR WITH THE WORLD.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "Who would think so small a thing Could make so great a pother?"
