Chapter XIII

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading IN WHICH FLIP USES NEEDLESSLY LONG WORDS, BUT, TO WIN OUR GOOD-WILL AGAIN, HE TELLS A REAL OLD-FASHIONED FAIRY TALE For a perfectly good story-teller Flip had some rather queer ideas.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading He didn’t believe in fairy tales: that is, the kind that told about witches and Godmothers and Princes and such.

anew

From this reading IN WHICH FLIP USES NEEDLESSLY LONG WORDS, BUT, TO WIN OUR GOOD-WILL AGAIN, HE TELLS A REAL OLD-FASHIONED FAIRY TALE For a perfectly good story-teller Flip had some rather queer ideas.

(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 Of course we do not know what “inefficient education” is, but Father and Mother Dear know, so it must be all right.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Nevertheless, everyone knows that real fairy tales are nice even if they are not efficient education, so one night, about an hour before bedtime, when the children were all in the living-room before the fire, Martha Mary asked if, please, Flip would tell one.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading He didn’t believe in fairy tales: that is, the kind that told about witches and Godmothers and Princes and such.

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Nevertheless, everyone knows that real fairy tales are nice even if they are not efficient education, so one night, about an hour before bedtime, when the children were all in the living-room before the fire, Martha Mary asked if, please, Flip would tell one.

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading Nevertheless, everyone knows that real fairy tales are nice even if they are not efficient education, so one night, about an hour before bedtime, when the children were all in the living-room before the fire, Martha Mary asked if, please, Flip would tell one.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Of course we do not know what “inefficient education” is, but Father and Mother Dear know, so it must be all right.

the time you go to bed

From this reading Nevertheless, everyone knows that real fairy tales are nice even if they are not efficient education, so one night, about an hour before bedtime, when the children were all in the living-room before the fire, Martha Mary asked if, please, Flip would tell one.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Nevertheless, everyone knows that real fairy tales are nice even if they are not efficient education, so one night, about an hour before bedtime, when the children were all in the living-room before the fire, Martha Mary asked if, please, Flip would tell one.

accept as true; take to be true

From this reading He didn’t believe in fairy tales: that is, the kind that told about witches and Godmothers and Princes and such.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading IN WHICH FLIP USES NEEDLESSLY LONG WORDS, BUT, TO WIN OUR GOOD-WILL AGAIN, HE TELLS A REAL OLD-FASHIONED FAIRY TALE For a perfectly good story-teller Flip had some rather queer ideas.

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading Nevertheless, everyone knows that real fairy tales are nice even if they are not efficient education, so one night, about an hour before bedtime, when the children were all in the living-room before the fire, Martha Mary asked if, please, Flip would tell one.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading He said he could not explain just why--it had something to do with inefficient education.

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading Of course we do not know what “inefficient education” is, but Father and Mother Dear know, so it must be all right.

dearly loved

From this reading Of course we do not know what “inefficient education” is, but Father and Mother Dear know, so it must be all right.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He didn’t believe in fairy tales: that is, the kind that told about witches and Godmothers and Princes and such.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading He said he could not explain just why--it had something to do with inefficient education.

the activities of educating or instructing; activities that impart knowledge or skill

From this reading He said he could not explain just why--it had something to do with inefficient education.

being effective without wasting time or effort or expense

From this reading Nevertheless, everyone knows that real fairy tales are nice even if they are not efficient education, so one night, about an hour before bedtime, when the children were all in the living-room before the fire, Martha Mary asked if, please, Flip would tell one.

divisible by two

From this reading Nevertheless, everyone knows that real fairy tales are nice even if they are not efficient education, so one night, about an hour before bedtime, when the children were all in the living-room before the fire, Martha Mary asked if, please, Flip would tell one.

every person

From this reading Nevertheless, everyone knows that real fairy tales are nice even if they are not efficient education, so one night, about an hour before bedtime, when the children were all in the living-room before the fire, Martha Mary asked if, please, Flip would tell one.

make plain and comprehensible

From this reading He said he could not explain just why--it had something to do with inefficient education.

a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers

From this reading IN WHICH FLIP USES NEEDLESSLY LONG WORDS, BUT, TO WIN OUR GOOD-WILL AGAIN, HE TELLS A REAL OLD-FASHIONED FAIRY TALE For a perfectly good story-teller Flip had some rather queer ideas.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading Of course we do not know what “inefficient education” is, but Father and Mother Dear know, so it must be all right.

start firing a weapon

From this reading Nevertheless, everyone knows that real fairy tales are nice even if they are not efficient education, so one night, about an hour before bedtime, when the children were all in the living-room before the fire, Martha Mary asked if, please, Flip would tell one.

lightly throw to see which side comes up

From this reading IN WHICH FLIP USES NEEDLESSLY LONG WORDS, BUT, TO WIN OUR GOOD-WILL AGAIN, HE TELLS A REAL OLD-FASHIONED FAIRY TALE For a perfectly good story-teller Flip had some rather queer ideas.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading IN WHICH FLIP USES NEEDLESSLY LONG WORDS, BUT, TO WIN OUR GOOD-WILL AGAIN, HE TELLS A REAL OLD-FASHIONED FAIRY TALE For a perfectly good story-teller Flip had some rather queer ideas.

plural of “godmother” — any woman who serves as a sponsor for a child at baptism

From this reading He didn’t believe in fairy tales: that is, the kind that told about witches and Godmothers and Princes and such.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading IN WHICH FLIP USES NEEDLESSLY LONG WORDS, BUT, TO WIN OUR GOOD-WILL AGAIN, HE TELLS A REAL OLD-FASHIONED FAIRY TALE For a perfectly good story-teller Flip had some rather queer ideas.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading IN WHICH FLIP USES NEEDLESSLY LONG WORDS, BUT, TO WIN OUR GOOD-WILL AGAIN, HE TELLS A REAL OLD-FASHIONED FAIRY TALE For a perfectly good story-teller Flip had some rather queer ideas.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading IN WHICH FLIP USES NEEDLESSLY LONG WORDS, BUT, TO WIN OUR GOOD-WILL AGAIN, HE TELLS A REAL OLD-FASHIONED FAIRY TALE For a perfectly good story-teller Flip had some rather queer ideas.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading IN WHICH FLIP USES NEEDLESSLY LONG WORDS, BUT, TO WIN OUR GOOD-WILL AGAIN, HE TELLS A REAL OLD-FASHIONED FAIRY TALE For a perfectly good story-teller Flip had some rather queer ideas.

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading Nevertheless, everyone knows that real fairy tales are nice even if they are not efficient education, so one night, about an hour before bedtime, when the children were all in the living-room before the fire, Martha Mary asked if, please, Flip would tell one.

plural of “idea” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading IN WHICH FLIP USES NEEDLESSLY LONG WORDS, BUT, TO WIN OUR GOOD-WILL AGAIN, HE TELLS A REAL OLD-FASHIONED FAIRY TALE For a perfectly good story-teller Flip had some rather queer ideas.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Nevertheless, everyone knows that real fairy tales are nice even if they are not efficient education, so one night, about an hour before bedtime, when the children were all in the living-room before the fire, Martha Mary asked if, please, Flip would tell one.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading IN WHICH FLIP USES NEEDLESSLY LONG WORDS, BUT, TO WIN OUR GOOD-WILL AGAIN, HE TELLS A REAL OLD-FASHIONED FAIRY TALE For a perfectly good story-teller Flip had some rather queer ideas.

not producing desired results; wasteful

From this reading He said he could not explain just why--it had something to do with inefficient education.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading He didn’t believe in fairy tales: that is, the kind that told about witches and Godmothers and Princes and such.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He said he could not explain just why--it had something to do with inefficient education.

and nothing more

From this reading He said he could not explain just why--it had something to do with inefficient education.

having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading He didn’t believe in fairy tales: that is, the kind that told about witches and Godmothers and Princes and such.

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading Of course we do not know what “inefficient education” is, but Father and Mother Dear know, so it must be all right.

plural of “know” — the fact of being aware of information that is known to few people

From this reading Nevertheless, everyone knows that real fairy tales are nice even if they are not efficient education, so one night, about an hour before bedtime, when the children were all in the living-room before the fire, Martha Mary asked if, please, Flip would tell one.

a room in a private house or establishment where people can sit and talk and relax

From this reading Nevertheless, everyone knows that real fairy tales are nice even if they are not efficient education, so one night, about an hour before bedtime, when the children were all in the living-room before the fire, Martha Mary asked if, please, Flip would tell one.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading IN WHICH FLIP USES NEEDLESSLY LONG WORDS, BUT, TO WIN OUR GOOD-WILL AGAIN, HE TELLS A REAL OLD-FASHIONED FAIRY TALE For a perfectly good story-teller Flip had some rather queer ideas.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Nevertheless, everyone knows that real fairy tales are nice even if they are not efficient education, so one night, about an hour before bedtime, when the children were all in the living-room before the fire, Martha Mary asked if, please, Flip would tell one.

the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics

From this reading Nevertheless, everyone knows that real fairy tales are nice even if they are not efficient education, so one night, about an hour before bedtime, when the children were all in the living-room before the fire, Martha Mary asked if, please, Flip would tell one.

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading Of course we do not know what “inefficient education” is, but Father and Mother Dear know, so it must be all right.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading Of course we do not know what “inefficient education” is, but Father and Mother Dear know, so it must be all right.

without need

From this reading IN WHICH FLIP USES NEEDLESSLY LONG WORDS, BUT, TO WIN OUR GOOD-WILL AGAIN, HE TELLS A REAL OLD-FASHIONED FAIRY TALE For a perfectly good story-teller Flip had some rather queer ideas.

in spite of what has just been said

From this reading Nevertheless, everyone knows that real fairy tales are nice even if they are not efficient education, so one night, about an hour before bedtime, when the children were all in the living-room before the fire, Martha Mary asked if, please, Flip would tell one.

pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance

From this reading Nevertheless, everyone knows that real fairy tales are nice even if they are not efficient education, so one night, about an hour before bedtime, when the children were all in the living-room before the fire, Martha Mary asked if, please, Flip would tell one.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading Nevertheless, everyone knows that real fairy tales are nice even if they are not efficient education, so one night, about an hour before bedtime, when the children were all in the living-room before the fire, Martha Mary asked if, please, Flip would tell one.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He said he could not explain just why--it had something to do with inefficient education.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Of course we do not know what “inefficient education” is, but Father and Mother Dear know, so it must be all right.

out of fashion

From this reading IN WHICH FLIP USES NEEDLESSLY LONG WORDS, BUT, TO WIN OUR GOOD-WILL AGAIN, HE TELLS A REAL OLD-FASHIONED FAIRY TALE For a perfectly good story-teller Flip had some rather queer ideas.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Nevertheless, everyone knows that real fairy tales are nice even if they are not efficient education, so one night, about an hour before bedtime, when the children were all in the living-room before the fire, Martha Mary asked if, please, Flip would tell one.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading IN WHICH FLIP USES NEEDLESSLY LONG WORDS, BUT, TO WIN OUR GOOD-WILL AGAIN, HE TELLS A REAL OLD-FASHIONED FAIRY TALE For a perfectly good story-teller Flip had some rather queer ideas.

completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers

From this reading IN WHICH FLIP USES NEEDLESSLY LONG WORDS, BUT, TO WIN OUR GOOD-WILL AGAIN, HE TELLS A REAL OLD-FASHIONED FAIRY TALE For a perfectly good story-teller Flip had some rather queer ideas.

give pleasure to or be pleasing to

From this reading Nevertheless, everyone knows that real fairy tales are nice even if they are not efficient education, so one night, about an hour before bedtime, when the children were all in the living-room before the fire, Martha Mary asked if, please, Flip would tell one.

plural of “prince” — a male member of a royal family other than the sovereign (especially the son of a sovereign)

From this reading He didn’t believe in fairy tales: that is, the kind that told about witches and Godmothers and Princes and such.

beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

From this reading IN WHICH FLIP USES NEEDLESSLY LONG WORDS, BUT, TO WIN OUR GOOD-WILL AGAIN, HE TELLS A REAL OLD-FASHIONED FAIRY TALE For a perfectly good story-teller Flip had some rather queer ideas.

on the contrary

From this reading IN WHICH FLIP USES NEEDLESSLY LONG WORDS, BUT, TO WIN OUR GOOD-WILL AGAIN, HE TELLS A REAL OLD-FASHIONED FAIRY TALE For a perfectly good story-teller Flip had some rather queer ideas.

being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory

From this reading IN WHICH FLIP USES NEEDLESSLY LONG WORDS, BUT, TO WIN OUR GOOD-WILL AGAIN, HE TELLS A REAL OLD-FASHIONED FAIRY TALE For a perfectly good story-teller Flip had some rather queer ideas.

precisely, exactly

From this reading Of course we do not know what “inefficient education” is, but Father and Mother Dear know, so it must be all right.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading He said he could not explain just why--it had something to do with inefficient education.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Of course we do not know what “inefficient education” is, but Father and Mother Dear know, so it must be all right.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading IN WHICH FLIP USES NEEDLESSLY LONG WORDS, BUT, TO WIN OUR GOOD-WILL AGAIN, HE TELLS A REAL OLD-FASHIONED FAIRY TALE For a perfectly good story-teller Flip had some rather queer ideas.

a thing, without saying which

From this reading He said he could not explain just why--it had something to do with inefficient education.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading IN WHICH FLIP USES NEEDLESSLY LONG WORDS, BUT, TO WIN OUR GOOD-WILL AGAIN, HE TELLS A REAL OLD-FASHIONED FAIRY TALE For a perfectly good story-teller Flip had some rather queer ideas.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading He didn’t believe in fairy tales: that is, the kind that told about witches and Godmothers and Princes and such.

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 IN WHICH FLIP USES NEEDLESSLY LONG WORDS, BUT, TO WIN OUR GOOD-WILL AGAIN, HE TELLS A REAL OLD-FASHIONED FAIRY TALE For a perfectly good story-teller Flip had some rather queer ideas.

plural of “tale” — 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 He didn’t believe in fairy tales: that is, the kind that told about witches and Godmothers and Princes and such.

express in words

From this reading Nevertheless, everyone knows that real fairy tales are nice even if they are not efficient education, so one night, about an hour before bedtime, when the children were all in the living-room before the fire, Martha Mary asked if, please, Flip would tell one.

plural of “tell” — a Swiss patriot who lived in the early 14th century and who was renowned for his skill as an archer

From this reading IN WHICH FLIP USES NEEDLESSLY LONG WORDS, BUT, TO WIN OUR GOOD-WILL AGAIN, HE TELLS A REAL OLD-FASHIONED FAIRY TALE For a perfectly good story-teller Flip had some rather queer ideas.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He didn’t believe in fairy tales: that is, the kind that told about witches and Godmothers and Princes and such.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading He didn’t believe in fairy tales: that is, the kind that told about witches and Godmothers and Princes and such.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Nevertheless, everyone knows that real fairy tales are nice even if they are not efficient education, so one night, about an hour before bedtime, when the children were all in the living-room before the fire, Martha Mary asked if, please, Flip would tell one.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading IN WHICH FLIP USES NEEDLESSLY LONG WORDS, BUT, TO WIN OUR GOOD-WILL AGAIN, HE TELLS A REAL OLD-FASHIONED FAIRY TALE For a perfectly good story-teller Flip had some rather queer ideas.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading He didn’t believe in fairy tales: that is, the kind that told about witches and Godmothers and Princes and such.

plural of “use” — the act of using

From this reading IN WHICH FLIP USES NEEDLESSLY LONG WORDS, BUT, TO WIN OUR GOOD-WILL AGAIN, HE TELLS A REAL OLD-FASHIONED FAIRY TALE For a perfectly good story-teller Flip had some rather queer ideas.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Of course we do not know what “inefficient education” is, but Father and Mother Dear know, so it must be all right.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Nevertheless, everyone knows that real fairy tales are nice even if they are not efficient education, so one night, about an hour before bedtime, when the children were all in the living-room before the fire, Martha Mary asked if, please, Flip would tell one.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Of course we do not know what “inefficient education” is, but Father and Mother Dear know, so it must be all right.

at the time that

From this reading Nevertheless, everyone knows that real fairy tales are nice even if they are not efficient education, so one night, about an hour before bedtime, when the children were all in the living-room before the fire, Martha Mary asked if, please, Flip would tell one.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading IN WHICH FLIP USES NEEDLESSLY LONG WORDS, BUT, TO WIN OUR GOOD-WILL AGAIN, HE TELLS A REAL OLD-FASHIONED FAIRY TALE For a perfectly good story-teller Flip had some rather queer ideas.

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading He said he could not explain just why--it had something to do with inefficient education.

be the winner in a contest or competition; be victorious

From this reading IN WHICH FLIP USES NEEDLESSLY LONG WORDS, BUT, TO WIN OUR GOOD-WILL AGAIN, HE TELLS A REAL OLD-FASHIONED FAIRY TALE For a perfectly good story-teller Flip had some rather queer ideas.

plural of “witch” — a female sorcerer or magician

From this reading He didn’t believe in fairy tales: that is, the kind that told about witches and Godmothers and Princes and such.

in the company of; together with

From this reading He said he could not explain just why--it had something to do with inefficient education.

the words that are spoken

From this reading IN WHICH FLIP USES NEEDLESSLY LONG WORDS, BUT, TO WIN OUR GOOD-WILL AGAIN, HE TELLS A REAL OLD-FASHIONED FAIRY TALE For a perfectly good story-teller Flip had some rather queer ideas.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Nevertheless, everyone knows that real fairy tales are nice even if they are not efficient education, so one night, about an hour before bedtime, when the children were all in the living-room before the fire, Martha Mary asked if, please, Flip would tell one.