used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading This had prompted one of the boys to exclaim that he was the very best father in the world--a comprehensive assertion that was approved by all parties present.
(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 This had prompted one of the boys to exclaim that he was the very best father in the world--a comprehensive assertion that was approved by all parties present.
a quantity of money
From this reading There had been joy in the curate's home--carols and prayer around the lighted tree, the distribution of simple gifts, and the consumption of any amount of rice porridge.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There had been joy in the curate's home--carols and prayer around the lighted tree, the distribution of simple gifts, and the consumption of any amount of rice porridge.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading There had been joy in the curate's home--carols and prayer around the lighted tree, the distribution of simple gifts, and the consumption of any amount of rice porridge.
approvedadjectiveUS /əˈpruːvd/
established by authority; given authoritative approval
From this reading This had prompted one of the boys to exclaim that he was the very best father in the world--a comprehensive assertion that was approved by all parties present.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading There had been joy in the curate's home--carols and prayer around the lighted tree, the distribution of simple gifts, and the consumption of any amount of rice porridge.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Even the grave pastor had grown playful as the evening went on.
assertionnounUS /əˈsɜːrʃən/
a declaration that is made emphatically (as if no supporting evidence were necessary)
From this reading This had prompted one of the boys to exclaim that he was the very best father in the world--a comprehensive assertion that was approved by all parties present.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There had been joy in the curate's home--carols and prayer around the lighted tree, the distribution of simple gifts, and the consumption of any amount of rice porridge.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading This had prompted one of the boys to exclaim that he was the very best father in the world--a comprehensive assertion that was approved by all parties present.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading This had prompted one of the boys to exclaim that he was the very best father in the world--a comprehensive assertion that was approved by all parties present.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading This had prompted one of the boys to exclaim that he was the very best father in the world--a comprehensive assertion that was approved by all parties present.
carolsnounUS /ˈkerəlz/
plural of “carol” — joyful religious song celebrating the birth of Christ
From this reading There had been joy in the curate's home--carols and prayer around the lighted tree, the distribution of simple gifts, and the consumption of any amount of rice porridge.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading CHRISTMAS EVE.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Christmas Eve had come.
comprehensiveadjectiveUS /ˌkɑːmpriˈhensɪv/
including all or everything
From this reading This had prompted one of the boys to exclaim that he was the very best father in the world--a comprehensive assertion that was approved by all parties present.
consumptionnounUS /kənˈsʌmpʃən/
the process of taking food into the body through the mouth (as by eating)
From this reading There had been joy in the curate's home--carols and prayer around the lighted tree, the distribution of simple gifts, and the consumption of any amount of rice porridge.
curate's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There had been joy in the curate's home--carols and prayer around the lighted tree, the distribution of simple gifts, and the consumption of any amount of rice porridge.
distributionnounUS /ˌdɪstrəˈbjuːʃən/
(statistics) an arrangement of values of a variable showing their observed or theoretical frequency of occurrence
From this reading There had been joy in the curate's home--carols and prayer around the lighted tree, the distribution of simple gifts, and the consumption of any amount of rice porridge.
(Old Testament) Adam's wife in Judeo-Christian mythology: the first woman and mother of the human race; God created Eve from Adam's rib and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden
From this reading CHRISTMAS EVE.
divisible by two
From this reading Even the grave pastor had grown playful as the evening went on.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Even the grave pastor had grown playful as the evening went on.
exclaimverbUS /ɪkˈskleɪm/
utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading This had prompted one of the boys to exclaim that he was the very best father in the world--a comprehensive assertion that was approved by all parties present.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading This had prompted one of the boys to exclaim that he was the very best father in the world--a comprehensive assertion that was approved by all parties present.
plural of “gift” — something acquired without compensation
From this reading There had been joy in the curate's home--carols and prayer around the lighted tree, the distribution of simple gifts, and the consumption of any amount of rice porridge.
death of a person
From this reading Even the grave pastor had grown playful as the evening went on.
(of animals) fully developed
From this reading Even the grave pastor had grown playful as the evening went on.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Christmas Eve had come.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading This had prompted one of the boys to exclaim that he was the very best father in the world--a comprehensive assertion that was approved by all parties present.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading There had been joy in the curate's home--carols and prayer around the lighted tree, the distribution of simple gifts, and the consumption of any amount of rice porridge.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There had been joy in the curate's home--carols and prayer around the lighted tree, the distribution of simple gifts, and the consumption of any amount of rice porridge.
the emotion of great happiness
From this reading There had been joy in the curate's home--carols and prayer around the lighted tree, the distribution of simple gifts, and the consumption of any amount of rice porridge.
set afire or burning
From this reading There had been joy in the curate's home--carols and prayer around the lighted tree, the distribution of simple gifts, and the consumption of any amount of rice porridge.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There had been joy in the curate's home--carols and prayer around the lighted tree, the distribution of simple gifts, and the consumption of any amount of rice porridge.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Even the grave pastor had grown playful as the evening went on.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading This had prompted one of the boys to exclaim that he was the very best father in the world--a comprehensive assertion that was approved by all parties present.
plural of “party” — an organization to gain political power
From this reading This had prompted one of the boys to exclaim that he was the very best father in the world--a comprehensive assertion that was approved by all parties present.
pastornounUS /ˈpæstər/
a person authorized to conduct religious worship
From this reading Even the grave pastor had grown playful as the evening went on.
playfuladjectiveUS /ˈpleɪfəl/
full of fun and high spirits
From this reading Even the grave pastor had grown playful as the evening went on.
porridgenounUS /ˈpɔːrədʒ/
soft food made by boiling oatmeal or other meal or legumes in water or milk until thick
From this reading There had been joy in the curate's home--carols and prayer around the lighted tree, the distribution of simple gifts, and the consumption of any amount of rice porridge.
the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving)
From this reading There had been joy in the curate's home--carols and prayer around the lighted tree, the distribution of simple gifts, and the consumption of any amount of rice porridge.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading This had prompted one of the boys to exclaim that he was the very best father in the world--a comprehensive assertion that was approved by all parties present.
promptedverbUS /ˈprɑːmptɪd/
past form of “prompt” — give an incentive for action
From this reading This had prompted one of the boys to exclaim that he was the very best father in the world--a comprehensive assertion that was approved by all parties present.
ricenounUS /raɪs/
grains used as food either unpolished or more often polished
From this reading There had been joy in the curate's home--carols and prayer around the lighted tree, the distribution of simple gifts, and the consumption of any amount of rice porridge.
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading There had been joy in the curate's home--carols and prayer around the lighted tree, the distribution of simple gifts, and the consumption of any amount of rice porridge.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading This had prompted one of the boys to exclaim that he was the very best father in the world--a comprehensive assertion that was approved by all parties present.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There had been joy in the curate's home--carols and prayer around the lighted tree, the distribution of simple gifts, and the consumption of any amount of rice porridge.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There had been joy in the curate's home--carols and prayer around the lighted tree, the distribution of simple gifts, and the consumption of any amount of rice porridge.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This had prompted one of the boys to exclaim that he was the very best father in the world--a comprehensive assertion that was approved by all parties present.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading This had prompted one of the boys to exclaim that he was the very best father in the world--a comprehensive assertion that was approved by all parties present.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading There had been joy in the curate's home--carols and prayer around the lighted tree, the distribution of simple gifts, and the consumption of any amount of rice porridge.
precisely as stated
From this reading This had prompted one of the boys to exclaim that he was the very best father in the world--a comprehensive assertion that was approved by all parties present.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This had prompted one of the boys to exclaim that he was the very best father in the world--a comprehensive assertion that was approved by all parties present.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Even the grave pastor had grown playful as the evening went on.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading This had prompted one of the boys to exclaim that he was the very best father in the world--a comprehensive assertion that was approved by all parties present.
