used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was nothing better than a heathen feast; the Serpent had nothing to do with it.
airsnounUS /erz/
affected manners intended to impress others
From this reading On that day the children went simply wild, and gave themselves incredible airs; demanded their best toys, gorged oranges and apples, made themselves ill with plum-pudding, demanded their full share of turkey, and got it, and looked with expectant eyes on the iced cake when it appeared.
(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 Just as if they’d been starving all day!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading On that day the children went simply wild, and gave themselves incredible airs; demanded their best toys, gorged oranges and apples, made themselves ill with plum-pudding, demanded their full share of turkey, and got it, and looked with expectant eyes on the iced cake when it appeared.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading On Lucifram Christmas Day wasn’t marred by any subsequent church-going.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading On that day the children went simply wild, and gave themselves incredible airs; demanded their best toys, gorged oranges and apples, made themselves ill with plum-pudding, demanded their full share of turkey, and got it, and looked with expectant eyes on the iced cake when it appeared.
applesnounUS /ˈæpəlz/
plural of “apple” — fruit with red or yellow or green skin and sweet to tart crisp whitish flesh
From this reading On that day the children went simply wild, and gave themselves incredible airs; demanded their best toys, gorged oranges and apples, made themselves ill with plum-pudding, demanded their full share of turkey, and got it, and looked with expectant eyes on the iced cake when it appeared.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Just as if they’d been starving all day!
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Just as if they’d been starving all day!
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading On that day the children went simply wild, and gave themselves incredible airs; demanded their best toys, gorged oranges and apples, made themselves ill with plum-pudding, demanded their full share of turkey, and got it, and looked with expectant eyes on the iced cake when it appeared.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading It was nothing better than a heathen feast; the Serpent had nothing to do with it.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading On Lucifram Christmas Day wasn’t marred by any subsequent church-going.
cakenounUS /keɪk/
a block of solid substance (such as soap or wax)
From this reading On that day the children went simply wild, and gave themselves incredible airs; demanded their best toys, gorged oranges and apples, made themselves ill with plum-pudding, demanded their full share of turkey, and got it, and looked with expectant eyes on the iced cake when it appeared.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading FESTIVAL Now came Christmas night.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading On that day the children went simply wild, and gave themselves incredible airs; demanded their best toys, gorged oranges and apples, made themselves ill with plum-pudding, demanded their full share of turkey, and got it, and looked with expectant eyes on the iced cake when it appeared.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading FESTIVAL Now came Christmas night.
church-going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On Lucifram Christmas Day wasn’t marred by any subsequent church-going.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading On Lucifram Christmas Day wasn’t marred by any subsequent church-going.
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading On that day the children went simply wild, and gave themselves incredible airs; demanded their best toys, gorged oranges and apples, made themselves ill with plum-pudding, demanded their full share of turkey, and got it, and looked with expectant eyes on the iced cake when it appeared.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading It was nothing better than a heathen feast; the Serpent had nothing to do with it.
expectantadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspektənt/
marked by eager anticipation
From this reading On that day the children went simply wild, and gave themselves incredible airs; demanded their best toys, gorged oranges and apples, made themselves ill with plum-pudding, demanded their full share of turkey, and got it, and looked with expectant eyes on the iced cake when it appeared.
opinion or judgment
From this reading On that day the children went simply wild, and gave themselves incredible airs; demanded their best toys, gorged oranges and apples, made themselves ill with plum-pudding, demanded their full share of turkey, and got it, and looked with expectant eyes on the iced cake when it appeared.
a ceremonial dinner party for many people
From this reading It was nothing better than a heathen feast; the Serpent had nothing to do with it.
FESTIVALnounUS /ˈfestəvəl/
a day or period of time set aside for feasting and celebration
From this reading FESTIVAL Now came Christmas night.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading On that day the children went simply wild, and gave themselves incredible airs; demanded their best toys, gorged oranges and apples, made themselves ill with plum-pudding, demanded their full share of turkey, and got it, and looked with expectant eyes on the iced cake when it appeared.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading On that day the children went simply wild, and gave themselves incredible airs; demanded their best toys, gorged oranges and apples, made themselves ill with plum-pudding, demanded their full share of turkey, and got it, and looked with expectant eyes on the iced cake when it appeared.
gorged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On that day the children went simply wild, and gave themselves incredible airs; demanded their best toys, gorged oranges and apples, made themselves ill with plum-pudding, demanded their full share of turkey, and got it, and looked with expectant eyes on the iced cake when it appeared.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading On that day the children went simply wild, and gave themselves incredible airs; demanded their best toys, gorged oranges and apples, made themselves ill with plum-pudding, demanded their full share of turkey, and got it, and looked with expectant eyes on the iced cake when it appeared.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was nothing better than a heathen feast; the Serpent had nothing to do with it.
heathennounUS /ˈhiːðən/
a person who does not acknowledge your god
From this reading It was nothing better than a heathen feast; the Serpent had nothing to do with it.
icedverbUS /aɪst/
past form of “ice” — decorate with frosting
From this reading On that day the children went simply wild, and gave themselves incredible airs; demanded their best toys, gorged oranges and apples, made themselves ill with plum-pudding, demanded their full share of turkey, and got it, and looked with expectant eyes on the iced cake when it appeared.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Just as if they’d been starving all day!
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading On that day the children went simply wild, and gave themselves incredible airs; demanded their best toys, gorged oranges and apples, made themselves ill with plum-pudding, demanded their full share of turkey, and got it, and looked with expectant eyes on the iced cake when it appeared.
incredibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkredəbəl/
beyond belief or understanding
From this reading On that day the children went simply wild, and gave themselves incredible airs; demanded their best toys, gorged oranges and apples, made themselves ill with plum-pudding, demanded their full share of turkey, and got it, and looked with expectant eyes on the iced cake when it appeared.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was nothing better than a heathen feast; the Serpent had nothing to do with it.
and nothing more
From this reading Just as if they’d been starving all day!
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading On that day the children went simply wild, and gave themselves incredible airs; demanded their best toys, gorged oranges and apples, made themselves ill with plum-pudding, demanded their full share of turkey, and got it, and looked with expectant eyes on the iced cake when it appeared.
Lucifram
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On Lucifram Christmas Day wasn’t marred by any subsequent church-going.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading On that day the children went simply wild, and gave themselves incredible airs; demanded their best toys, gorged oranges and apples, made themselves ill with plum-pudding, demanded their full share of turkey, and got it, and looked with expectant eyes on the iced cake when it appeared.
marredadjectiveUS /mɑːrd/
blemished by injury or rough wear
From this reading On Lucifram Christmas Day wasn’t marred by any subsequent church-going.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading FESTIVAL Now came Christmas night.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading It was nothing better than a heathen feast; the Serpent had nothing to do with it.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading FESTIVAL Now came Christmas night.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On that day the children went simply wild, and gave themselves incredible airs; demanded their best toys, gorged oranges and apples, made themselves ill with plum-pudding, demanded their full share of turkey, and got it, and looked with expectant eyes on the iced cake when it appeared.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On Lucifram Christmas Day wasn’t marred by any subsequent church-going.
orangesnounUS /ˈɔːrəndʒəz/
plural of “orange” — round yellow to orange fruit of any of several citrus trees
From this reading On that day the children went simply wild, and gave themselves incredible airs; demanded their best toys, gorged oranges and apples, made themselves ill with plum-pudding, demanded their full share of turkey, and got it, and looked with expectant eyes on the iced cake when it appeared.
plum-pudding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On that day the children went simply wild, and gave themselves incredible airs; demanded their best toys, gorged oranges and apples, made themselves ill with plum-pudding, demanded their full share of turkey, and got it, and looked with expectant eyes on the iced cake when it appeared.
SerpentnounUS /ˈsɜːrpənt/
limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous
From this reading It was nothing better than a heathen feast; the Serpent had nothing to do with it.
have in common
From this reading On that day the children went simply wild, and gave themselves incredible airs; demanded their best toys, gorged oranges and apples, made themselves ill with plum-pudding, demanded their full share of turkey, and got it, and looked with expectant eyes on the iced cake when it appeared.
and nothing more
From this reading On that day the children went simply wild, and gave themselves incredible airs; demanded their best toys, gorged oranges and apples, made themselves ill with plum-pudding, demanded their full share of turkey, and got it, and looked with expectant eyes on the iced cake when it appeared.
starvingadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrvɪŋ/
suffering from lack of food
From this reading Just as if they’d been starving all day!
subsequentadjectiveUS /ˈsʌbsəkwənt/
following in time or order
From this reading On Lucifram Christmas Day wasn’t marred by any subsequent church-going.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It was nothing better than a heathen feast; the Serpent had nothing to do with it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading On that day the children went simply wild, and gave themselves incredible airs; demanded their best toys, gorged oranges and apples, made themselves ill with plum-pudding, demanded their full share of turkey, and got it, and looked with expectant eyes on the iced cake when it appeared.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was nothing better than a heathen feast; the Serpent had nothing to do with it.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading On that day the children went simply wild, and gave themselves incredible airs; demanded their best toys, gorged oranges and apples, made themselves ill with plum-pudding, demanded their full share of turkey, and got it, and looked with expectant eyes on the iced cake when it appeared.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading On that day the children went simply wild, and gave themselves incredible airs; demanded their best toys, gorged oranges and apples, made themselves ill with plum-pudding, demanded their full share of turkey, and got it, and looked with expectant eyes on the iced cake when it appeared.
they'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just as if they’d been starving all day!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was nothing better than a heathen feast; the Serpent had nothing to do with it.
toysnounUS /tɔɪz/
plural of “toy” — an artifact designed to be played with
From this reading On that day the children went simply wild, and gave themselves incredible airs; demanded their best toys, gorged oranges and apples, made themselves ill with plum-pudding, demanded their full share of turkey, and got it, and looked with expectant eyes on the iced cake when it appeared.
turkeynounUS /ˈtɜːrki/
large gallinaceous bird with fan-shaped tail; widely domesticated for food
From this reading On that day the children went simply wild, and gave themselves incredible airs; demanded their best toys, gorged oranges and apples, made themselves ill with plum-pudding, demanded their full share of turkey, and got it, and looked with expectant eyes on the iced cake when it appeared.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was nothing better than a heathen feast; the Serpent had nothing to do with it.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On Lucifram Christmas Day wasn’t marred by any subsequent church-going.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading On that day the children went simply wild, and gave themselves incredible airs; demanded their best toys, gorged oranges and apples, made themselves ill with plum-pudding, demanded their full share of turkey, and got it, and looked with expectant eyes on the iced cake when it appeared.
at the time that
From this reading On that day the children went simply wild, and gave themselves incredible airs; demanded their best toys, gorged oranges and apples, made themselves ill with plum-pudding, demanded their full share of turkey, and got it, and looked with expectant eyes on the iced cake when it appeared.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading On that day the children went simply wild, and gave themselves incredible airs; demanded their best toys, gorged oranges and apples, made themselves ill with plum-pudding, demanded their full share of turkey, and got it, and looked with expectant eyes on the iced cake when it appeared.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was nothing better than a heathen feast; the Serpent had nothing to do with it.
