adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "What are you about, little boy?" she asked.
airnounUS /er/
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "I am learning my verb," he said; "moneo, mones, monet."
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Lucy waited no longer, but moved off to another desk.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "What are you about, little boy?" she asked.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
askedverbUS /æskt/
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "What are you about, little boy?" she asked.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
boynounUS /bɔɪ/
a youthful male person
From this reading "What are you about, little boy?" she asked.
boysnounUS /bɔɪz/
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
buzzverbUS /bʌz/
make a buzzing sound
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
cleanadjectiveUS /kliːn/
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
desknounUS /desk/
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading Lucy waited no longer, but moved off to another desk.
desksnounUS /desks/
plural of “desk” — a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
foundverbUS /faʊnd/
set up or found
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
freshadjectiveUS /freʃ/
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
GERMANYnounUS /ˈdʒɜːrməni/
a republic in central Europe; split into East Germany and West Germany after World War II and reunited in 1990
From this reading GERMANY.
greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
hangingnounUS /ˈhæŋɪŋ/
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I am learning my verb," he said; "moneo, mones, monet."
headsnounUS /hedz/
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
hotadjectiveUS /hɑːt/
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I am learning my verb," he said; "moneo, mones, monet."
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
learningnounUS /ˈlɜːrnɪŋ/
the cognitive process of acquiring skill or knowledge
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
lessonsnounUS /ˈlesənz/
plural of “lesson” — a unit of instruction
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
longeradverbUS /ˈlɔːŋɡər/
for more time
From this reading Lucy waited no longer, but moved off to another desk.
lookedverbUS /lʊkt/
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
LucynounUS /ˈluːsi/
incomplete skeleton of female found in eastern Ethiopia in 1974
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
mapsnounUS /mæps/
plural of “map” — a diagrammatic representation of the earth's surface (or part of it)
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
moneo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I am learning my verb," he said; "moneo, mones, monet."
mones
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I am learning my verb," he said; "moneo, mones, monet."
monetnounUS /moʊˈneɪ/
French impressionist painter (1840-1926)
From this reading "I am learning my verb," he said; "moneo, mones, monet."
movedadjectiveUS /muːvd/
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading Lucy waited no longer, but moved off to another desk.
murmurnounUS /ˈmɜːrmər/
a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "I am learning my verb," he said; "moneo, mones, monet."
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
offadverbUS /ɔːf/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Lucy waited no longer, but moved off to another desk.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
roomnounUS /ruːm/
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
roundnounUS /raʊnd/
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
rowsnounUS /roʊz/
plural of “row” — an arrangement of objects or people side by side in a line
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I am learning my verb," he said; "moneo, mones, monet."
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "What are you about, little boy?" she asked.
sittingnounUS /ˈsɪtɪŋ/
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
studyingnounUS /ˈstʌdiɪŋ/
reading carefully with intent to remember
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
ThereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Lucy waited no longer, but moved off to another desk.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
verbnounUS /vɜːrb/
the word class that serves as the predicate of a sentence
From this reading "I am learning my verb," he said; "moneo, mones, monet."
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
waitedverbUS /ˈweɪtɪd/
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading Lucy waited no longer, but moved off to another desk.
walkingadjectiveUS /ˈwɔːkɪŋ/
close enough to be walked to
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
wallsnounUS /wɔːlz/
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 There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
weary-feeling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What are you about, little boy?" she asked.
windowsnounUS /ˈwɪndoʊz/
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading There was a great murmur and buzz of learning lessons; rows upon rows of little boys were sitting before desks, studying; very few heads looked up as Lucy found herself walking round the room--a large clean room, with maps hanging on the walls, but hot and weary-feeling, because there were no windows open and so little fresh air.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "What are you about, little boy?" she asked.
