used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading And she decided there and then that to keep them good she must keep them well amused, and it acted like a charm.
past form of “act” — perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading And she decided there and then that to keep them good she must keep them well amused, and it acted like a charm.
plural of “adventure” — a wild and exciting undertaking (not necessarily lawful)
From this reading She had the somewhat rare power of surrounding quite ordinary everyday proceedings with a halo of romance, so that the children's day developed into a series of entrancing adventures.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Very soon after she took over the children entirely she discovered that, however naughty and tiresome they were in many respects, they were quick-witted and easily interested.
pleasantly occupied
From this reading And she decided there and then that to keep them good she must keep them well amused, and it acted like a charm.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading MEG AND CAPTAIN MIDDLETON Meg had worked hard and faithfully ever since Ayah left.
Ayahnoun
(in India) a native nursemaid who looks after children
From this reading MEG AND CAPTAIN MIDDLETON Meg had worked hard and faithfully ever since Ayah left.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading MEG AND CAPTAIN MIDDLETON Meg had worked hard and faithfully ever since Ayah left.
attractiveness that interests or pleases or stimulates
From this reading And she decided there and then that to keep them good she must keep them well amused, and it acted like a charm.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading Very soon after she took over the children entirely she discovered that, however naughty and tiresome they were in many respects, they were quick-witted and easily interested.
children's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had the somewhat rare power of surrounding quite ordinary everyday proceedings with a halo of romance, so that the children's day developed into a series of entrancing adventures.
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading With Meg, enthusiastic make-believe had never wholly given place to common sense.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading She had the somewhat rare power of surrounding quite ordinary everyday proceedings with a halo of romance, so that the children's day developed into a series of entrancing adventures.
recognizable; marked
From this reading And she decided there and then that to keep them good she must keep them well amused, and it acted like a charm.
developedadjectiveUS /dɪˈveləpt/
being changed over time so as to be e.g. stronger or more complete or more useful
From this reading She had the somewhat rare power of surrounding quite ordinary everyday proceedings with a halo of romance, so that the children's day developed into a series of entrancing adventures.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading Very soon after she took over the children entirely she discovered that, however naughty and tiresome they were in many respects, they were quick-witted and easily interested.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading Very soon after she took over the children entirely she discovered that, however naughty and tiresome they were in many respects, they were quick-witted and easily interested.
enthusiasticadjectiveUS /ɪnˌθuːziˈæstɪk/
having or showing great excitement and interest
From this reading With Meg, enthusiastic make-believe had never wholly given place to common sense.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading Very soon after she took over the children entirely she discovered that, however naughty and tiresome they were in many respects, they were quick-witted and easily interested.
entrancingadjective
capturing interest as if by a spell
From this reading She had the somewhat rare power of surrounding quite ordinary everyday proceedings with a halo of romance, so that the children's day developed into a series of entrancing adventures.
at any time
From this reading MEG AND CAPTAIN MIDDLETON Meg had worked hard and faithfully ever since Ayah left.
everydayadjectiveUS /ˈevriˈdeɪ/
found in the ordinary course of events
From this reading She had the somewhat rare power of surrounding quite ordinary everyday proceedings with a halo of romance, so that the children's day developed into a series of entrancing adventures.
faithfullyadverbUS /ˈfeɪθfəli/
in a faithful manner
From this reading MEG AND CAPTAIN MIDDLETON Meg had worked hard and faithfully ever since Ayah left.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading With Meg, enthusiastic make-believe had never wholly given place to common sense.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading And she decided there and then that to keep them good she must keep them well amused, and it acted like a charm.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading MEG AND CAPTAIN MIDDLETON Meg had worked hard and faithfully ever since Ayah left.
halonounUS /ˈheɪloʊ/
an indication of radiant light drawn around the head of a saint
From this reading She had the somewhat rare power of surrounding quite ordinary everyday proceedings with a halo of romance, so that the children's day developed into a series of entrancing adventures.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading MEG AND CAPTAIN MIDDLETON Meg had worked hard and faithfully ever since Ayah left.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Very soon after she took over the children entirely she discovered that, however naughty and tiresome they were in many respects, they were quick-witted and easily interested.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Very soon after she took over the children entirely she discovered that, however naughty and tiresome they were in many respects, they were quick-witted and easily interested.
having or showing interest; especially curiosity or fascination or concern
From this reading Very soon after she took over the children entirely she discovered that, however naughty and tiresome they were in many respects, they were quick-witted and easily interested.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading She had the somewhat rare power of surrounding quite ordinary everyday proceedings with a halo of romance, so that the children's day developed into a series of entrancing adventures.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And she decided there and then that to keep them good she must keep them well amused, and it acted like a charm.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading And she decided there and then that to keep them good she must keep them well amused, and it acted like a charm.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading MEG AND CAPTAIN MIDDLETON Meg had worked hard and faithfully ever since Ayah left.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading And she decided there and then that to keep them good she must keep them well amused, and it acted like a charm.
make-believenoun
imaginative intellectual play
From this reading With Meg, enthusiastic make-believe had never wholly given place to common sense.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading Very soon after she took over the children entirely she discovered that, however naughty and tiresome they were in many respects, they were quick-witted and easily interested.
MEGnounUS /meɡ/
the number that is represented as a one followed by 6 zeros
From this reading MEG AND CAPTAIN MIDDLETON Meg had worked hard and faithfully ever since Ayah left.
MIDDLETONnounUS /ˈmɪdəltən/
English playwright and pamphleteer (1570-1627)
From this reading MEG AND CAPTAIN MIDDLETON Meg had worked hard and faithfully ever since Ayah left.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading And she decided there and then that to keep them good she must keep them well amused, and it acted like a charm.
naughtyadjectiveUS /ˈnɔːti/
suggestive of sexual impropriety
From this reading Very soon after she took over the children entirely she discovered that, however naughty and tiresome they were in many respects, they were quick-witted and easily interested.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading With Meg, enthusiastic make-believe had never wholly given place to common sense.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She had the somewhat rare power of surrounding quite ordinary everyday proceedings with a halo of romance, so that the children's day developed into a series of entrancing adventures.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading She had the somewhat rare power of surrounding quite ordinary everyday proceedings with a halo of romance, so that the children's day developed into a series of entrancing adventures.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Very soon after she took over the children entirely she discovered that, however naughty and tiresome they were in many respects, they were quick-witted and easily interested.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading With Meg, enthusiastic make-believe had never wholly given place to common sense.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading She had the somewhat rare power of surrounding quite ordinary everyday proceedings with a halo of romance, so that the children's day developed into a series of entrancing adventures.
proceedingsnounUS /proʊˈsiːdɪŋz/
(law) the institution of a sequence of steps by which legal judgments are invoked
From this reading She had the somewhat rare power of surrounding quite ordinary everyday proceedings with a halo of romance, so that the children's day developed into a series of entrancing adventures.
quick-wittedadjective
mentally nimble and resourceful
From this reading Very soon after she took over the children entirely she discovered that, however naughty and tiresome they were in many respects, they were quick-witted and easily interested.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading She had the somewhat rare power of surrounding quite ordinary everyday proceedings with a halo of romance, so that the children's day developed into a series of entrancing adventures.
not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness
From this reading She had the somewhat rare power of surrounding quite ordinary everyday proceedings with a halo of romance, so that the children's day developed into a series of entrancing adventures.
respectsnounUS /rɪˈspekts/
(often used with “pay”) a formal expression of esteem
From this reading Very soon after she took over the children entirely she discovered that, however naughty and tiresome they were in many respects, they were quick-witted and easily interested.
a relationship between two lovers
From this reading She had the somewhat rare power of surrounding quite ordinary everyday proceedings with a halo of romance, so that the children's day developed into a series of entrancing adventures.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading With Meg, enthusiastic make-believe had never wholly given place to common sense.
similar things placed in order or happening one after another
From this reading She had the somewhat rare power of surrounding quite ordinary everyday proceedings with a halo of romance, so that the children's day developed into a series of entrancing adventures.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Very soon after she took over the children entirely she discovered that, however naughty and tiresome they were in many respects, they were quick-witted and easily interested.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading MEG AND CAPTAIN MIDDLETON Meg had worked hard and faithfully ever since Ayah left.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She had the somewhat rare power of surrounding quite ordinary everyday proceedings with a halo of romance, so that the children's day developed into a series of entrancing adventures.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading She had the somewhat rare power of surrounding quite ordinary everyday proceedings with a halo of romance, so that the children's day developed into a series of entrancing adventures.
in the near future
From this reading Very soon after she took over the children entirely she discovered that, however naughty and tiresome they were in many respects, they were quick-witted and easily interested.
surroundingadjectiveUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋ/
closely encircling
From this reading She had the somewhat rare power of surrounding quite ordinary everyday proceedings with a halo of romance, so that the children's day developed into a series of entrancing adventures.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Very soon after she took over the children entirely she discovered that, however naughty and tiresome they were in many respects, they were quick-witted and easily interested.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Very soon after she took over the children entirely she discovered that, however naughty and tiresome they were in many respects, they were quick-witted and easily interested.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading And she decided there and then that to keep them good she must keep them well amused, and it acted like a charm.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading And she decided there and then that to keep them good she must keep them well amused, and it acted like a charm.
in or at that place or location
From this reading And she decided there and then that to keep them good she must keep them well amused, and it acted like a charm.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Very soon after she took over the children entirely she discovered that, however naughty and tiresome they were in many respects, they were quick-witted and easily interested.
tiresomeadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərsəm/
so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness
From this reading Very soon after she took over the children entirely she discovered that, however naughty and tiresome they were in many respects, they were quick-witted and easily interested.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And she decided there and then that to keep them good she must keep them well amused, and it acted like a charm.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Very soon after she took over the children entirely she discovered that, however naughty and tiresome they were in many respects, they were quick-witted and easily interested.
precisely as stated
From this reading Very soon after she took over the children entirely she discovered that, however naughty and tiresome they were in many respects, they were quick-witted and easily interested.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading And she decided there and then that to keep them good she must keep them well amused, and it acted like a charm.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Very soon after she took over the children entirely she discovered that, however naughty and tiresome they were in many respects, they were quick-witted and easily interested.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading With Meg, enthusiastic make-believe had never wholly given place to common sense.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She had the somewhat rare power of surrounding quite ordinary everyday proceedings with a halo of romance, so that the children's day developed into a series of entrancing adventures.
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading MEG AND CAPTAIN MIDDLETON Meg had worked hard and faithfully ever since Ayah left.
