past form of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading Nothing comforted us so much whilst Mother and Chris were away as being allowed to play in the library.
amuseverbUS /əˈmjuːz/
occupy in an agreeable, entertaining or pleasant fashion
From this reading We were not usually allowed to be there so often, but when we asked Father he gave us leave to amuse ourselves there at the time when Mother would have had us with her, provided that we did not bother him or hurt the books.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Nothing comforted us so much whilst Mother and Chris were away as being allowed to play in the library.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Sometimes they are interesting, and sometimes they are disappointing.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Nothing comforted us so much whilst Mother and Chris were away as being allowed to play in the library.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading We were not usually allowed to be there so often, but when we asked Father he gave us leave to amuse ourselves there at the time when Mother would have had us with her, provided that we did not bother him or hurt the books.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading We were not usually allowed to be there so often, but when we asked Father he gave us leave to amuse ourselves there at the time when Mother would have had us with her, provided that we did not bother him or hurt the books.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Nothing comforted us so much whilst Mother and Chris were away as being allowed to play in the library.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading We were not usually allowed to be there so often, but when we asked Father he gave us leave to amuse ourselves there at the time when Mother would have had us with her, provided that we did not bother him or hurt the books.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Nothing comforted us so much whilst Mother and Chris were away as being allowed to play in the library.
birthdaysnounUS /ˈbɜːrθdeɪz/
plural of “birthday” — an anniversary of the day on which a person was born (or the celebration of it)
From this reading We have plenty of books of our own, and we have new ones very often: on birthdays and at Christmas.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading We were not usually allowed to be there so often, but when we asked Father he gave us leave to amuse ourselves there at the time when Mother would have had us with her, provided that we did not bother him or hurt the books.
botherverbUS /ˈbɑːðər/
take the trouble to do something; concern oneself
From this reading We were not usually allowed to be there so often, but when we asked Father he gave us leave to amuse ourselves there at the time when Mother would have had us with her, provided that we did not bother him or hurt the books.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading We were not usually allowed to be there so often, but when we asked Father he gave us leave to amuse ourselves there at the time when Mother would have had us with her, provided that we did not bother him or hurt the books.
Chris
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nothing comforted us so much whilst Mother and Chris were away as being allowed to play in the library.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading We have plenty of books of our own, and we have new ones very often: on birthdays and at Christmas.
comfortedadjectiveUS /ˈkʌmfərtɪd/
made comfortable or more comfortable in a time of distress
From this reading Nothing comforted us so much whilst Mother and Chris were away as being allowed to play in the library.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading We were not usually allowed to be there so often, but when we asked Father he gave us leave to amuse ourselves there at the time when Mother would have had us with her, provided that we did not bother him or hurt the books.
disappointingadjectiveUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntɪŋ/
not up to expectations
From this reading Sometimes they are interesting, and sometimes they are disappointing.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading We did not hurt the books, and in the end we were allowed to go there as much as we liked.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading We were not usually allowed to be there so often, but when we asked Father he gave us leave to amuse ourselves there at the time when Mother would have had us with her, provided that we did not bother him or hurt the books.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading We were not usually allowed to be there so often, but when we asked Father he gave us leave to amuse ourselves there at the time when Mother would have had us with her, provided that we did not bother him or hurt the books.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading We did not hurt the books, and in the end we were allowed to go there as much as we liked.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading We were not usually allowed to be there so often, but when we asked Father he gave us leave to amuse ourselves there at the time when Mother would have had us with her, provided that we did not bother him or hurt the books.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading We were not usually allowed to be there so often, but when we asked Father he gave us leave to amuse ourselves there at the time when Mother would have had us with her, provided that we did not bother him or hurt the books.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading We were not usually allowed to be there so often, but when we asked Father he gave us leave to amuse ourselves there at the time when Mother would have had us with her, provided that we did not bother him or hurt the books.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading We were not usually allowed to be there so often, but when we asked Father he gave us leave to amuse ourselves there at the time when Mother would have had us with her, provided that we did not bother him or hurt the books.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading We were not usually allowed to be there so often, but when we asked Father he gave us leave to amuse ourselves there at the time when Mother would have had us with her, provided that we did not bother him or hurt the books.
be the source of pain
From this reading We were not usually allowed to be there so often, but when we asked Father he gave us leave to amuse ourselves there at the time when Mother would have had us with her, provided that we did not bother him or hurt the books.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Nothing comforted us so much whilst Mother and Chris were away as being allowed to play in the library.
arousing or holding the attention
From this reading Sometimes they are interesting, and sometimes they are disappointing.
go away from a place
From this reading We were not usually allowed to be there so often, but when we asked Father he gave us leave to amuse ourselves there at the time when Mother would have had us with her, provided that we did not bother him or hurt the books.
a room where books are kept
From this reading Nothing comforted us so much whilst Mother and Chris were away as being allowed to play in the library.
found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form
From this reading We did not hurt the books, and in the end we were allowed to go there as much as we liked.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Nothing comforted us so much whilst Mother and Chris were away as being allowed to play in the library.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Nothing comforted us so much whilst Mother and Chris were away as being allowed to play in the library.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading We have plenty of books of our own, and we have new ones very often: on birthdays and at Christmas.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading We were not usually allowed to be there so often, but when we asked Father he gave us leave to amuse ourselves there at the time when Mother would have had us with her, provided that we did not bother him or hurt the books.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Nothing comforted us so much whilst Mother and Chris were away as being allowed to play in the library.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading We have plenty of books of our own, and we have new ones very often: on birthdays and at Christmas.
many times at short intervals
From this reading We were not usually allowed to be there so often, but when we asked Father he gave us leave to amuse ourselves there at the time when Mother would have had us with her, provided that we did not bother him or hurt the books.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading We have plenty of books of our own, and we have new ones very often: on birthdays and at Christmas.
plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
From this reading We have plenty of books of our own, and we have new ones very often: on birthdays and at Christmas.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading We were not usually allowed to be there so often, but when we asked Father he gave us leave to amuse ourselves there at the time when Mother would have had us with her, provided that we did not bother him or hurt the books.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading We have plenty of books of our own, and we have new ones very often: on birthdays and at Christmas.
used when we are both doing the action and receiving it
From this reading We were not usually allowed to be there so often, but when we asked Father he gave us leave to amuse ourselves there at the time when Mother would have had us with her, provided that we did not bother him or hurt the books.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading We have plenty of books of our own, and we have new ones very often: on birthdays and at Christmas.
participate in games or sport
From this reading Nothing comforted us so much whilst Mother and Chris were away as being allowed to play in the library.
a full supply
From this reading We have plenty of books of our own, and we have new ones very often: on birthdays and at Christmas.
past form of “provide” — give something useful or necessary to
From this reading We were not usually allowed to be there so often, but when we asked Father he gave us leave to amuse ourselves there at the time when Mother would have had us with her, provided that we did not bother him or hurt the books.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Nothing comforted us so much whilst Mother and Chris were away as being allowed to play in the library.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading Sometimes they are interesting, and sometimes they are disappointing.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading We were not usually allowed to be there so often, but when we asked Father he gave us leave to amuse ourselves there at the time when Mother would have had us with her, provided that we did not bother him or hurt the books.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Nothing comforted us so much whilst Mother and Chris were away as being allowed to play in the library.
in or at that place or location
From this reading We were not usually allowed to be there so often, but when we asked Father he gave us leave to amuse ourselves there at the time when Mother would have had us with her, provided that we did not bother him or hurt the books.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Sometimes they are interesting, and sometimes they are disappointing.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading We were not usually allowed to be there so often, but when we asked Father he gave us leave to amuse ourselves there at the time when Mother would have had us with her, provided that we did not bother him or hurt the books.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Nothing comforted us so much whilst Mother and Chris were away as being allowed to play in the library.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Nothing comforted us so much whilst Mother and Chris were away as being allowed to play in the library.
under normal conditions
From this reading We were not usually allowed to be there so often, but when we asked Father he gave us leave to amuse ourselves there at the time when Mother would have had us with her, provided that we did not bother him or hurt the books.
precisely as stated
From this reading We have plenty of books of our own, and we have new ones very often: on birthdays and at Christmas.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We were not usually allowed to be there so often, but when we asked Father he gave us leave to amuse ourselves there at the time when Mother would have had us with her, provided that we did not bother him or hurt the books.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Nothing comforted us so much whilst Mother and Chris were away as being allowed to play in the library.
at the time that
From this reading We were not usually allowed to be there so often, but when we asked Father he gave us leave to amuse ourselves there at the time when Mother would have had us with her, provided that we did not bother him or hurt the books.
an old and formal word for “while”
From this reading Nothing comforted us so much whilst Mother and Chris were away as being allowed to play in the library.
in the company of; together with
From this reading We were not usually allowed to be there so often, but when we asked Father he gave us leave to amuse ourselves there at the time when Mother would have had us with her, provided that we did not bother him or hurt the books.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading We were not usually allowed to be there so often, but when we asked Father he gave us leave to amuse ourselves there at the time when Mother would have had us with her, provided that we did not bother him or hurt the books.
