used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE HATCHET STORY One night the children clustered about their aunt Madge, begging for a story.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading THE HATCHET STORY One night the children clustered about their aunt Madge, begging for a story.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I told a little boy a fairy story once, and he went right off and whispered to his mother that I was a very wicked lady, for that story wasn't true, not a bit; and if a baby six months old should hear it, he wouldn't believe a word of it!"
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading THE HATCHET STORY One night the children clustered about their aunt Madge, begging for a story.
a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
From this reading I told a little boy a fairy story once, and he went right off and whispered to his mother that I was a very wicked lady, for that story wasn't true, not a bit; and if a baby six months old should hear it, he wouldn't believe a word of it!"
beggingnounUS /ˈbeɡɪŋ/
a solicitation for money or food (especially in the street by an apparently penniless person)
From this reading THE HATCHET STORY One night the children clustered about their aunt Madge, begging for a story.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading I told a little boy a fairy story once, and he went right off and whispered to his mother that I was a very wicked lady, for that story wasn't true, not a bit; and if a baby six months old should hear it, he wouldn't believe a word of it!"
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading I told a little boy a fairy story once, and he went right off and whispered to his mother that I was a very wicked lady, for that story wasn't true, not a bit; and if a baby six months old should hear it, he wouldn't believe a word of it!"
a youthful male person
From this reading I told a little boy a fairy story once, and he went right off and whispered to his mother that I was a very wicked lady, for that story wasn't true, not a bit; and if a baby six months old should hear it, he wouldn't believe a word of it!"
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading THE HATCHET STORY One night the children clustered about their aunt Madge, begging for a story.
clusteredadjectiveUS /ˈklʌstərd/
growing close together but not in dense mats
From this reading THE HATCHET STORY One night the children clustered about their aunt Madge, begging for a story.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don't know about that.
a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers
From this reading "Fairy, you know," said Susy.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE HATCHET STORY One night the children clustered about their aunt Madge, begging for a story.
HATCHETnounUS /ˈhætʃət/
weapon consisting of a fighting ax; used by North American Indians
From this reading THE HATCHET STORY One night the children clustered about their aunt Madge, begging for a story.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I told a little boy a fairy story once, and he went right off and whispered to his mother that I was a very wicked lady, for that story wasn't true, not a bit; and if a baby six months old should hear it, he wouldn't believe a word of it!"
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading I told a little boy a fairy story once, and he went right off and whispered to his mother that I was a very wicked lady, for that story wasn't true, not a bit; and if a baby six months old should hear it, he wouldn't believe a word of it!"
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading I told a little boy a fairy story once, and he went right off and whispered to his mother that I was a very wicked lady, for that story wasn't true, not a bit; and if a baby six months old should hear it, he wouldn't believe a word of it!"
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I don't know about that.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading I told a little boy a fairy story once, and he went right off and whispered to his mother that I was a very wicked lady, for that story wasn't true, not a bit; and if a baby six months old should hear it, he wouldn't believe a word of it!"
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I told a little boy a fairy story once, and he went right off and whispered to his mother that I was a very wicked lady, for that story wasn't true, not a bit; and if a baby six months old should hear it, he wouldn't believe a word of it!"
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "Fairy, you know," said Susy.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading I told a little boy a fairy story once, and he went right off and whispered to his mother that I was a very wicked lady, for that story wasn't true, not a bit; and if a baby six months old should hear it, he wouldn't believe a word of it!"
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading I told a little boy a fairy story once, and he went right off and whispered to his mother that I was a very wicked lady, for that story wasn't true, not a bit; and if a baby six months old should hear it, he wouldn't believe a word of it!"
Madge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HATCHET STORY One night the children clustered about their aunt Madge, begging for a story.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading I told a little boy a fairy story once, and he went right off and whispered to his mother that I was a very wicked lady, for that story wasn't true, not a bit; and if a baby six months old should hear it, he wouldn't believe a word of it!"
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading I told a little boy a fairy story once, and he went right off and whispered to his mother that I was a very wicked lady, for that story wasn't true, not a bit; and if a baby six months old should hear it, he wouldn't believe a word of it!"
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading THE HATCHET STORY One night the children clustered about their aunt Madge, begging for a story.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I told a little boy a fairy story once, and he went right off and whispered to his mother that I was a very wicked lady, for that story wasn't true, not a bit; and if a baby six months old should hear it, he wouldn't believe a word of it!"
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I told a little boy a fairy story once, and he went right off and whispered to his mother that I was a very wicked lady, for that story wasn't true, not a bit; and if a baby six months old should hear it, he wouldn't believe a word of it!"
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading I told a little boy a fairy story once, and he went right off and whispered to his mother that I was a very wicked lady, for that story wasn't true, not a bit; and if a baby six months old should hear it, he wouldn't believe a word of it!"
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading I told a little boy a fairy story once, and he went right off and whispered to his mother that I was a very wicked lady, for that story wasn't true, not a bit; and if a baby six months old should hear it, he wouldn't believe a word of it!"
on one occasion
From this reading I told a little boy a fairy story once, and he went right off and whispered to his mother that I was a very wicked lady, for that story wasn't true, not a bit; and if a baby six months old should hear it, he wouldn't believe a word of it!"
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading THE HATCHET STORY One night the children clustered about their aunt Madge, begging for a story.
recurring again and again
From this reading "A fairy story?" repeated aunt Madge.
precisely, exactly
From this reading I told a little boy a fairy story once, and he went right off and whispered to his mother that I was a very wicked lady, for that story wasn't true, not a bit; and if a baby six months old should hear it, he wouldn't believe a word of it!"
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Fairy, you know," said Susy.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading I told a little boy a fairy story once, and he went right off and whispered to his mother that I was a very wicked lady, for that story wasn't true, not a bit; and if a baby six months old should hear it, he wouldn't believe a word of it!"
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading I told a little boy a fairy story once, and he went right off and whispered to his mother that I was a very wicked lady, for that story wasn't true, not a bit; and if a baby six months old should hear it, he wouldn't believe a word of it!"
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 THE HATCHET STORY One night the children clustered about their aunt Madge, begging for a story.
Susy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Fairy, you know," said Susy.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "I don't know about that.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE HATCHET STORY One night the children clustered about their aunt Madge, begging for a story.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading THE HATCHET STORY One night the children clustered about their aunt Madge, begging for a story.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I told a little boy a fairy story once, and he went right off and whispered to his mother that I was a very wicked lady, for that story wasn't true, not a bit; and if a baby six months old should hear it, he wouldn't believe a word of it!"
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading I told a little boy a fairy story once, and he went right off and whispered to his mother that I was a very wicked lady, for that story wasn't true, not a bit; and if a baby six months old should hear it, he wouldn't believe a word of it!"
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading I told a little boy a fairy story once, and he went right off and whispered to his mother that I was a very wicked lady, for that story wasn't true, not a bit; and if a baby six months old should hear it, he wouldn't believe a word of it!"
precisely as stated
From this reading I told a little boy a fairy story once, and he went right off and whispered to his mother that I was a very wicked lady, for that story wasn't true, not a bit; and if a baby six months old should hear it, he wouldn't believe a word of it!"
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I told a little boy a fairy story once, and he went right off and whispered to his mother that I was a very wicked lady, for that story wasn't true, not a bit; and if a baby six months old should hear it, he wouldn't believe a word of it!"
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I told a little boy a fairy story once, and he went right off and whispered to his mother that I was a very wicked lady, for that story wasn't true, not a bit; and if a baby six months old should hear it, he wouldn't believe a word of it!"
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading I told a little boy a fairy story once, and he went right off and whispered to his mother that I was a very wicked lady, for that story wasn't true, not a bit; and if a baby six months old should hear it, he wouldn't believe a word of it!"
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading I told a little boy a fairy story once, and he went right off and whispered to his mother that I was a very wicked lady, for that story wasn't true, not a bit; and if a baby six months old should hear it, he wouldn't believe a word of it!"
morally bad in principle or practice
From this reading I told a little boy a fairy story once, and he went right off and whispered to his mother that I was a very wicked lady, for that story wasn't true, not a bit; and if a baby six months old should hear it, he wouldn't believe a word of it!"
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading I told a little boy a fairy story once, and he went right off and whispered to his mother that I was a very wicked lady, for that story wasn't true, not a bit; and if a baby six months old should hear it, he wouldn't believe a word of it!"
wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I told a little boy a fairy story once, and he went right off and whispered to his mother that I was a very wicked lady, for that story wasn't true, not a bit; and if a baby six months old should hear it, he wouldn't believe a word of it!"
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Fairy, you know," said Susy.
