used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Jessie asked, after the first wild excitement had abated a trifle.
abatedverbUS /əˈbeɪtɪd/
past form of “abate” — make less active or intense
From this reading Jessie asked, after the first wild excitement had abated a trifle.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Jessie asked, after the first wild excitement had abated a trifle.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading "Well, you see, it was this way," began Lucile, with the air of one imparting a grave secret.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading ECHOES OF THE CAMP-FIRE "But whatever put it into your head to take us along?"
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Jessie asked, after the first wild excitement had abated a trifle.
the verbal act of requesting
From this reading "When Dad came home last night, the first thing he did was to begin asking me a lot of foolish questions--or, at least, they seemed so to me.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "When Dad came home last night, the first thing he did was to begin asking me a lot of foolish questions--or, at least, they seemed so to me.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He started something like this: 'If you had your choice, what would you want most in the world----'" "If he had asked me that, I wouldn't be through yet," Jessie broke in.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading "Well, you see, it was this way," began Lucile, with the air of one imparting a grave secret.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading "When Dad came home last night, the first thing he did was to begin asking me a lot of foolish questions--or, at least, they seemed so to me.
lacking funds
From this reading He started something like this: 'If you had your choice, what would you want most in the world----'" "If he had asked me that, I wouldn't be through yet," Jessie broke in.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading ECHOES OF THE CAMP-FIRE "But whatever put it into your head to take us along?"
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "When Dad came home last night, the first thing he did was to begin asking me a lot of foolish questions--or, at least, they seemed so to me.
CAMP-FIRE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ECHOES OF THE CAMP-FIRE "But whatever put it into your head to take us along?"
the person or thing chosen or selected
From this reading He started something like this: 'If you had your choice, what would you want most in the world----'" "If he had asked me that, I wouldn't be through yet," Jessie broke in.
DadnounUS /dæd/
an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
From this reading "When Dad came home last night, the first thing he did was to begin asking me a lot of foolish questions--or, at least, they seemed so to me.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "When Dad came home last night, the first thing he did was to begin asking me a lot of foolish questions--or, at least, they seemed so to me.
ECHOESnounUS /ˈekoʊz/
plural of “echo” — the repetition of a sound resulting from reflection of the sound waves
From this reading ECHOES OF THE CAMP-FIRE "But whatever put it into your head to take us along?"
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading Jessie asked, after the first wild excitement had abated a trifle.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Jessie asked, after the first wild excitement had abated a trifle.
devoid of good sense or judgment
From this reading "When Dad came home last night, the first thing he did was to begin asking me a lot of foolish questions--or, at least, they seemed so to me.
death of a person
From this reading "Well, you see, it was this way," began Lucile, with the air of one imparting a grave secret.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Jessie asked, after the first wild excitement had abated a trifle.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "When Dad came home last night, the first thing he did was to begin asking me a lot of foolish questions--or, at least, they seemed so to me.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading ECHOES OF THE CAMP-FIRE "But whatever put it into your head to take us along?"
where you live at a particular time
From this reading "When Dad came home last night, the first thing he did was to begin asking me a lot of foolish questions--or, at least, they seemed so to me.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading He started something like this: 'If you had your choice, what would you want most in the world----'" "If he had asked me that, I wouldn't be through yet," Jessie broke in.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He started something like this: 'If you had your choice, what would you want most in the world----'" "If he had asked me that, I wouldn't be through yet," Jessie broke in.
impartingnounUS /ˌɪmˈpɑːrtɪŋ/
the transmission of information
From this reading "Well, you see, it was this way," began Lucile, with the air of one imparting a grave secret.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He started something like this: 'If you had your choice, what would you want most in the world----'" "If he had asked me that, I wouldn't be through yet," Jessie broke in.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading ECHOES OF THE CAMP-FIRE "But whatever put it into your head to take us along?"
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading ECHOES OF THE CAMP-FIRE "But whatever put it into your head to take us along?"
Jessie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jessie asked, after the first wild excitement had abated a trifle.
immediately past
From this reading "When Dad came home last night, the first thing he did was to begin asking me a lot of foolish questions--or, at least, they seemed so to me.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading "When Dad came home last night, the first thing he did was to begin asking me a lot of foolish questions--or, at least, they seemed so to me.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading He started something like this: 'If you had your choice, what would you want most in the world----'" "If he had asked me that, I wouldn't be through yet," Jessie broke in.
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading "When Dad came home last night, the first thing he did was to begin asking me a lot of foolish questions--or, at least, they seemed so to me.
Lucile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, you see, it was this way," began Lucile, with the air of one imparting a grave secret.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "When Dad came home last night, the first thing he did was to begin asking me a lot of foolish questions--or, at least, they seemed so to me.
used to form the superlative
From this reading He started something like this: 'If you had your choice, what would you want most in the world----'" "If he had asked me that, I wouldn't be through yet," Jessie broke in.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading "When Dad came home last night, the first thing he did was to begin asking me a lot of foolish questions--or, at least, they seemed so to me.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ECHOES OF THE CAMP-FIRE "But whatever put it into your head to take us along?"
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "Well, you see, it was this way," began Lucile, with the air of one imparting a grave secret.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "When Dad came home last night, the first thing he did was to begin asking me a lot of foolish questions--or, at least, they seemed so to me.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading ECHOES OF THE CAMP-FIRE "But whatever put it into your head to take us along?"
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading "When Dad came home last night, the first thing he did was to begin asking me a lot of foolish questions--or, at least, they seemed so to me.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading "Well, you see, it was this way," began Lucile, with the air of one imparting a grave secret.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "Well, you see, it was this way," began Lucile, with the air of one imparting a grave secret.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading "When Dad came home last night, the first thing he did was to begin asking me a lot of foolish questions--or, at least, they seemed so to me.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "When Dad came home last night, the first thing he did was to begin asking me a lot of foolish questions--or, at least, they seemed so to me.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading He started something like this: 'If you had your choice, what would you want most in the world----'" "If he had asked me that, I wouldn't be through yet," Jessie broke in.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading He started something like this: 'If you had your choice, what would you want most in the world----'" "If he had asked me that, I wouldn't be through yet," Jessie broke in.
carry out
From this reading ECHOES OF THE CAMP-FIRE "But whatever put it into your head to take us along?"
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He started something like this: 'If you had your choice, what would you want most in the world----'" "If he had asked me that, I wouldn't be through yet," Jessie broke in.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ECHOES OF THE CAMP-FIRE "But whatever put it into your head to take us along?"
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "When Dad came home last night, the first thing he did was to begin asking me a lot of foolish questions--or, at least, they seemed so to me.
a special situation
From this reading "When Dad came home last night, the first thing he did was to begin asking me a lot of foolish questions--or, at least, they seemed so to me.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Well, you see, it was this way," began Lucile, with the air of one imparting a grave secret.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading He started something like this: 'If you had your choice, what would you want most in the world----'" "If he had asked me that, I wouldn't be through yet," Jessie broke in.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ECHOES OF THE CAMP-FIRE "But whatever put it into your head to take us along?"
a cold pudding made of layers of sponge cake spread with fruit or jelly; may be decorated with nuts, cream, or chocolate
From this reading Jessie asked, after the first wild excitement had abated a trifle.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading ECHOES OF THE CAMP-FIRE "But whatever put it into your head to take us along?"
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading He started something like this: 'If you had your choice, what would you want most in the world----'" "If he had asked me that, I wouldn't be through yet," Jessie broke in.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Well, you see, it was this way," began Lucile, with the air of one imparting a grave secret.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading "Well, you see, it was this way," began Lucile, with the air of one imparting a grave secret.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading "Well, you see, it was this way," began Lucile, with the air of one imparting a grave secret.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He started something like this: 'If you had your choice, what would you want most in the world----'" "If he had asked me that, I wouldn't be through yet," Jessie broke in.
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading ECHOES OF THE CAMP-FIRE "But whatever put it into your head to take us along?"
at the time that
From this reading "When Dad came home last night, the first thing he did was to begin asking me a lot of foolish questions--or, at least, they seemed so to me.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading Jessie asked, after the first wild excitement had abated a trifle.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Well, you see, it was this way," began Lucile, with the air of one imparting a grave secret.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading He started something like this: 'If you had your choice, what would you want most in the world----'" "If he had asked me that, I wouldn't be through yet," Jessie broke in.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He started something like this: 'If you had your choice, what would you want most in the world----'" "If he had asked me that, I wouldn't be through yet," Jessie broke in.
wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He started something like this: 'If you had your choice, what would you want most in the world----'" "If he had asked me that, I wouldn't be through yet," Jessie broke in.
but in spite of that
From this reading He started something like this: 'If you had your choice, what would you want most in the world----'" "If he had asked me that, I wouldn't be through yet," Jessie broke in.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Well, you see, it was this way," began Lucile, with the air of one imparting a grave secret.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading ECHOES OF THE CAMP-FIRE "But whatever put it into your head to take us along?"
