AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A curious friendship had sprung up between old Adelbert and Bobby Thorpe.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading In off hours, after school, the boy hung about the ticket-taker’s booth, swept now to a wonderful cleanliness and adorned within with pictures cut from the illustrated papers.
Adelbert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A curious friendship had sprung up between old Adelbert and Bobby Thorpe.
adornedadjectiveUS /əˈdɔːrnd/
provided with something intended to increase its beauty or distinction
From this reading In off hours, after school, the boy hung about the ticket-taker’s booth, swept now to a wonderful cleanliness and adorned within with pictures cut from the illustrated papers.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading In off hours, after school, the boy hung about the ticket-taker’s booth, swept now to a wonderful cleanliness and adorned within with pictures cut from the illustrated papers.
airnounUS /er/
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading He fed and watched it, and having heard of the baleful effects of charcoal fumes, insisted on more fresh air than old Adelbert had ever breathed before.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A curious friendship had sprung up between old Adelbert and Bobby Thorpe.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “You see,” Bobby would say earnestly, as he brushed away at the floor beneath the burner, “you don’t know that you are being asphyxiated.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “You see,” Bobby would say earnestly, as he brushed away at the floor beneath the burner, “you don’t know that you are being asphyxiated.
asphyxiatedadjectiveUS /æˈsfɪksieɪtɪd/
in a state of asphyxia
From this reading “You see,” Bobby would say earnestly, as he brushed away at the floor beneath the burner, “you don’t know that you are being asphyxiated.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “You see,” Bobby would say earnestly, as he brushed away at the floor beneath the burner, “you don’t know that you are being asphyxiated.
awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading “You see,” Bobby would say earnestly, as he brushed away at the floor beneath the burner, “you don’t know that you are being asphyxiated.
balefuladjectiveUS /ˈbeɪlfəl/
deadly or sinister
From this reading He fed and watched it, and having heard of the baleful effects of charcoal fumes, insisted on more fresh air than old Adelbert had ever breathed before.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He fed and watched it, and having heard of the baleful effects of charcoal fumes, insisted on more fresh air than old Adelbert had ever breathed before.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading “You see,” Bobby would say earnestly, as he brushed away at the floor beneath the burner, “you don’t know that you are being asphyxiated.
beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading “You see,” Bobby would say earnestly, as he brushed away at the floor beneath the burner, “you don’t know that you are being asphyxiated.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading A curious friendship had sprung up between old Adelbert and Bobby Thorpe.
BobbynounUS /ˈbɑːbi/
an informal term for a British policeman
From this reading A curious friendship had sprung up between old Adelbert and Bobby Thorpe.
Bobby'snounUS /ˈbɑːbiz/
possessive form of “bobby” — an informal term for a British policeman
From this reading The small charcoal fire was Bobby’s particular care.
boothnounUS /buːθ/
a table (in a restaurant or bar) surrounded by two high-backed benches
From this reading In off hours, after school, the boy hung about the ticket-taker’s booth, swept now to a wonderful cleanliness and adorned within with pictures cut from the illustrated papers.
boynounUS /bɔɪ/
a youthful male person
From this reading In off hours, after school, the boy hung about the ticket-taker’s booth, swept now to a wonderful cleanliness and adorned within with pictures cut from the illustrated papers.
breathedadjectiveUS /briːðd/
uttered without voice
From this reading He fed and watched it, and having heard of the baleful effects of charcoal fumes, insisted on more fresh air than old Adelbert had ever breathed before.
brushedadjectiveUS /brʌʃt/
touched lightly in passing; grazed against
From this reading “You see,” Bobby would say earnestly, as he brushed away at the floor beneath the burner, “you don’t know that you are being asphyxiated.
burnernounUS /ˈbɜːrnər/
an apparatus for burning fuel (or refuse)
From this reading “You see,” Bobby would say earnestly, as he brushed away at the floor beneath the burner, “you don’t know that you are being asphyxiated.
carenounUS /ker/
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading The small charcoal fire was Bobby’s particular care.
charcoalnounUS /ˈtʃɑːrkoʊl/
a carbonaceous material obtained by heating wood or other organic matter in the absence of air
From this reading The small charcoal fire was Bobby’s particular care.
cleanlinessnounUS /ˈklenlinɪs/
the habit of keeping free of superficial imperfections
From this reading In off hours, after school, the boy hung about the ticket-taker’s booth, swept now to a wonderful cleanliness and adorned within with pictures cut from the illustrated papers.
curiousadjectiveUS /ˈkjʊriəs/
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading A curious friendship had sprung up between old Adelbert and Bobby Thorpe.
cutverbUS /kʌt/
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading In off hours, after school, the boy hung about the ticket-taker’s booth, swept now to a wonderful cleanliness and adorned within with pictures cut from the illustrated papers.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You see,” Bobby would say earnestly, as he brushed away at the floor beneath the burner, “you don’t know that you are being asphyxiated.
earnestlyadverbUS /ˈɜːrnəstli/
in a serious manner
From this reading “You see,” Bobby would say earnestly, as he brushed away at the floor beneath the burner, “you don’t know that you are being asphyxiated.
effectsnounUS /ɪˈfekts/
property of a personal character that is portable but not used in business
From this reading He fed and watched it, and having heard of the baleful effects of charcoal fumes, insisted on more fresh air than old Adelbert had ever breathed before.
everadverbUS /ˈevər/
at any time
From this reading He fed and watched it, and having heard of the baleful effects of charcoal fumes, insisted on more fresh air than old Adelbert had ever breathed before.
fednounUS /fed/
any federal law-enforcement officer
From this reading He fed and watched it, and having heard of the baleful effects of charcoal fumes, insisted on more fresh air than old Adelbert had ever breathed before.
fireverbUS /ˈfaɪər/
start firing a weapon
From this reading The small charcoal fire was Bobby’s particular care.
floornounUS /flɔːr/
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading “You see,” Bobby would say earnestly, as he brushed away at the floor beneath the burner, “you don’t know that you are being asphyxiated.
freshadjectiveUS /freʃ/
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading He fed and watched it, and having heard of the baleful effects of charcoal fumes, insisted on more fresh air than old Adelbert had ever breathed before.
friendshipnounUS /ˈfrendʃɪp/
the state of being friends (or friendly)
From this reading A curious friendship had sprung up between old Adelbert and Bobby Thorpe.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In off hours, after school, the boy hung about the ticket-taker’s booth, swept now to a wonderful cleanliness and adorned within with pictures cut from the illustrated papers.
fumesnounUS /fjuːmz/
gases ejected from an engine as waste products
From this reading He fed and watched it, and having heard of the baleful effects of charcoal fumes, insisted on more fresh air than old Adelbert had ever breathed before.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A curious friendship had sprung up between old Adelbert and Bobby Thorpe.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading He fed and watched it, and having heard of the baleful effects of charcoal fumes, insisted on more fresh air than old Adelbert had ever breathed before.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He fed and watched it, and having heard of the baleful effects of charcoal fumes, insisted on more fresh air than old Adelbert had ever breathed before.
heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading He fed and watched it, and having heard of the baleful effects of charcoal fumes, insisted on more fresh air than old Adelbert had ever breathed before.
hoursnounUS /ˈaʊərz/
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading In off hours, after school, the boy hung about the ticket-taker’s booth, swept now to a wonderful cleanliness and adorned within with pictures cut from the illustrated papers.
hungverbUS /hʌŋ/
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading In off hours, after school, the boy hung about the ticket-taker’s booth, swept now to a wonderful cleanliness and adorned within with pictures cut from the illustrated papers.
illustratedverbUS /ˈɪləstreɪtəd/
past form of “illustrate” — clarify by giving an example of
From this reading In off hours, after school, the boy hung about the ticket-taker’s booth, swept now to a wonderful cleanliness and adorned within with pictures cut from the illustrated papers.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In off hours, after school, the boy hung about the ticket-taker’s booth, swept now to a wonderful cleanliness and adorned within with pictures cut from the illustrated papers.
insistedverbUS /ˌɪnˈsɪstəd/
past form of “insist” — be emphatic or resolute and refuse to budge
From this reading He fed and watched it, and having heard of the baleful effects of charcoal fumes, insisted on more fresh air than old Adelbert had ever breathed before.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He fed and watched it, and having heard of the baleful effects of charcoal fumes, insisted on more fresh air than old Adelbert had ever breathed before.
knowverbUS /noʊ/
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading “You see,” Bobby would say earnestly, as he brushed away at the floor beneath the burner, “you don’t know that you are being asphyxiated.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He fed and watched it, and having heard of the baleful effects of charcoal fumes, insisted on more fresh air than old Adelbert had ever breathed before.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading In off hours, after school, the boy hung about the ticket-taker’s booth, swept now to a wonderful cleanliness and adorned within with pictures cut from the illustrated papers.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He fed and watched it, and having heard of the baleful effects of charcoal fumes, insisted on more fresh air than old Adelbert had ever breathed before.
offadverbUS /ɔːf/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading In off hours, after school, the boy hung about the ticket-taker’s booth, swept now to a wonderful cleanliness and adorned within with pictures cut from the illustrated papers.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading A curious friendship had sprung up between old Adelbert and Bobby Thorpe.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He fed and watched it, and having heard of the baleful effects of charcoal fumes, insisted on more fresh air than old Adelbert had ever breathed before.
papersnounUS /ˈpeɪpərz/
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading In off hours, after school, the boy hung about the ticket-taker’s booth, swept now to a wonderful cleanliness and adorned within with pictures cut from the illustrated papers.
particularadjectiveUS /pərˈtɪkjələr/
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading The small charcoal fire was Bobby’s particular care.
picturesnounUS /ˈpɪktʃərz/
plural of “picture” — a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading In off hours, after school, the boy hung about the ticket-taker’s booth, swept now to a wonderful cleanliness and adorned within with pictures cut from the illustrated papers.
sayverbUS /seɪ/
express in words
From this reading “You see,” Bobby would say earnestly, as he brushed away at the floor beneath the burner, “you don’t know that you are being asphyxiated.
schoolnounUS /skuːl/
an educational institution
From this reading In off hours, after school, the boy hung about the ticket-taker’s booth, swept now to a wonderful cleanliness and adorned within with pictures cut from the illustrated papers.
seeverbUS /siː/
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading “You see,” Bobby would say earnestly, as he brushed away at the floor beneath the burner, “you don’t know that you are being asphyxiated.
smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The small charcoal fire was Bobby’s particular care.
sprungverbUS /sprʌŋ/
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading A curious friendship had sprung up between old Adelbert and Bobby Thorpe.
sweptadjectiveUS /swept/
possessing sweep
From this reading In off hours, after school, the boy hung about the ticket-taker’s booth, swept now to a wonderful cleanliness and adorned within with pictures cut from the illustrated papers.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He fed and watched it, and having heard of the baleful effects of charcoal fumes, insisted on more fresh air than old Adelbert had ever breathed before.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “You see,” Bobby would say earnestly, as he brushed away at the floor beneath the burner, “you don’t know that you are being asphyxiated.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In off hours, after school, the boy hung about the ticket-taker’s booth, swept now to a wonderful cleanliness and adorned within with pictures cut from the illustrated papers.
ThorpenounUS /θɔːrp/
outstanding United States athlete (1888-1953)
From this reading A curious friendship had sprung up between old Adelbert and Bobby Thorpe.
ticket-taker's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In off hours, after school, the boy hung about the ticket-taker’s booth, swept now to a wonderful cleanliness and adorned within with pictures cut from the illustrated papers.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In off hours, after school, the boy hung about the ticket-taker’s booth, swept now to a wonderful cleanliness and adorned within with pictures cut from the illustrated papers.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading A curious friendship had sprung up between old Adelbert and Bobby Thorpe.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The small charcoal fire was Bobby’s particular care.
watchedverbUS /wɑːtʃt/
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading He fed and watched it, and having heard of the baleful effects of charcoal fumes, insisted on more fresh air than old Adelbert had ever breathed before.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading In off hours, after school, the boy hung about the ticket-taker’s booth, swept now to a wonderful cleanliness and adorned within with pictures cut from the illustrated papers.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading In off hours, after school, the boy hung about the ticket-taker’s booth, swept now to a wonderful cleanliness and adorned within with pictures cut from the illustrated papers.
wonderfuladjectiveUS /ˈwʌndərfəl/
extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
From this reading In off hours, after school, the boy hung about the ticket-taker’s booth, swept now to a wonderful cleanliness and adorned within with pictures cut from the illustrated papers.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “You see,” Bobby would say earnestly, as he brushed away at the floor beneath the burner, “you don’t know that you are being asphyxiated.
YoupronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You see,” Bobby would say earnestly, as he brushed away at the floor beneath the burner, “you don’t know that you are being asphyxiated.
