Chapter II · Chapter 2

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading A JOURNEY NORTH Milly and Oliver lived at Willingham, a little town in Oxfordshire, as I have already told you.

later than; following

From this reading But they saw him very seldom; whereas their mother was always with them, teaching them their lessons, playing with them in the garden, telling them stories, mending their frocks, tucking them up in their snug little beds at night, sometimes praising them, sometimes scolding them; always loving and looking after them.

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading A JOURNEY NORTH Milly and Oliver lived at Willingham, a little town in Oxfordshire, as I have already told you.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading But they saw him very seldom; whereas their mother was always with them, teaching them their lessons, playing with them in the garden, telling them stories, mending their frocks, tucking them up in their snug little beds at night, sometimes praising them, sometimes scolding them; always loving and looking after them.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Their father was a doctor, and they lived in an old-fashioned house, in a street, with a long shady garden stretching away behind it.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading A JOURNEY NORTH Milly and Oliver lived at Willingham, a little town in Oxfordshire, as I have already told you.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading A JOURNEY NORTH Milly and Oliver lived at Willingham, a little town in Oxfordshire, as I have already told you.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading A JOURNEY NORTH Milly and Oliver lived at Willingham, a little town in Oxfordshire, as I have already told you.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Their father was a doctor, and they lived in an old-fashioned house, in a street, with a long shady garden stretching away behind it.

plural of “bed” — a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading But they saw him very seldom; whereas their mother was always with them, teaching them their lessons, playing with them in the garden, telling them stories, mending their frocks, tucking them up in their snug little beds at night, sometimes praising them, sometimes scolding them; always loving and looking after them.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading Their father was a doctor, and they lived in an old-fashioned house, in a street, with a long shady garden stretching away behind it.

past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true

From this reading Milly and Olly honestly believed that theirs was the best mother in the whole world.

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading Milly and Olly honestly believed that theirs was the best mother in the whole world.

an orange of low brightness and saturation

From this reading Milly and Oliver loved their father, and whenever he put his brown face inside the nursery door, two pairs of little feet went running to meet him, and two pairs of little hands pulled him eagerly into the room.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But they saw him very seldom; whereas their mother was always with them, teaching them their lessons, playing with them in the garden, telling them stories, mending their frocks, tucking them up in their snug little beds at night, sometimes praising them, sometimes scolding them; always loving and looking after them.

a licensed medical practitioner

From this reading Their father was a doctor, and they lived in an old-fashioned house, in a street, with a long shady garden stretching away behind it.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading Milly and Oliver loved their father, and whenever he put his brown face inside the nursery door, two pairs of little feet went running to meet him, and two pairs of little hands pulled him eagerly into the room.

with eagerness; in an eager manner

From this reading Milly and Oliver loved their father, and whenever he put his brown face inside the nursery door, two pairs of little feet went running to meet him, and two pairs of little hands pulled him eagerly into the room.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading Milly and Oliver loved their father, and whenever he put his brown face inside the nursery door, two pairs of little feet went running to meet him, and two pairs of little hands pulled him eagerly into the room.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading Their father was a doctor, and they lived in an old-fashioned house, in a street, with a long shady garden stretching away behind it.

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading Milly and Oliver loved their father, and whenever he put his brown face inside the nursery door, two pairs of little feet went running to meet him, and two pairs of little hands pulled him eagerly into the room.

plural of “frock” — a long, loose outer garment

From this reading But they saw him very seldom; whereas their mother was always with them, teaching them their lessons, playing with them in the garden, telling them stories, mending their frocks, tucking them up in their snug little beds at night, sometimes praising them, sometimes scolding them; always loving and looking after them.

a plot of ground where plants are cultivated

From this reading Their father was a doctor, and they lived in an old-fashioned house, in a street, with a long shady garden stretching away behind it.

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading Milly and Oliver loved their father, and whenever he put his brown face inside the nursery door, two pairs of little feet went running to meet him, and two pairs of little hands pulled him eagerly into the room.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading A JOURNEY NORTH Milly and Oliver lived at Willingham, a little town in Oxfordshire, as I have already told you.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Milly and Oliver loved their father, and whenever he put his brown face inside the nursery door, two pairs of little feet went running to meet him, and two pairs of little hands pulled him eagerly into the room.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Milly and Oliver loved their father, and whenever he put his brown face inside the nursery door, two pairs of little feet went running to meet him, and two pairs of little hands pulled him eagerly into the room.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Milly and Oliver loved their father, and whenever he put his brown face inside the nursery door, two pairs of little feet went running to meet him, and two pairs of little hands pulled him eagerly into the room.

(used as intensives reflecting the speaker's attitude) it is sincerely the case that

From this reading Milly and Olly honestly believed that theirs was the best mother in the whole world.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading Their father was a doctor, and they lived in an old-fashioned house, in a street, with a long shady garden stretching away behind it.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading A JOURNEY NORTH Milly and Oliver lived at Willingham, a little town in Oxfordshire, as I have already told you.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading A JOURNEY NORTH Milly and Oliver lived at Willingham, a little town in Oxfordshire, as I have already told you.

relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space

From this reading Milly and Oliver loved their father, and whenever he put his brown face inside the nursery door, two pairs of little feet went running to meet him, and two pairs of little hands pulled him eagerly into the room.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Milly and Oliver loved their father, and whenever he put his brown face inside the nursery door, two pairs of little feet went running to meet him, and two pairs of little hands pulled him eagerly into the room.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Their father was a doctor, and they lived in an old-fashioned house, in a street, with a long shady garden stretching away behind it.

undertake a journey or trip

From this reading A JOURNEY NORTH Milly and Oliver lived at Willingham, a little town in Oxfordshire, as I have already told you.

plural of “lesson” — a unit of instruction

From this reading But they saw him very seldom; whereas their mother was always with them, teaching them their lessons, playing with them in the garden, telling them stories, mending their frocks, tucking them up in their snug little beds at night, sometimes praising them, sometimes scolding them; always loving and looking after them.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading A JOURNEY NORTH Milly and Oliver lived at Willingham, a little town in Oxfordshire, as I have already told you.

past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading A JOURNEY NORTH Milly and Oliver lived at Willingham, a little town in Oxfordshire, as I have already told you.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading Their father was a doctor, and they lived in an old-fashioned house, in a street, with a long shady garden stretching away behind it.

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading But they saw him very seldom; whereas their mother was always with them, teaching them their lessons, playing with them in the garden, telling them stories, mending their frocks, tucking them up in their snug little beds at night, sometimes praising them, sometimes scolding them; always loving and looking after them.

held dear

From this reading Milly and Oliver loved their father, and whenever he put his brown face inside the nursery door, two pairs of little feet went running to meet him, and two pairs of little hands pulled him eagerly into the room.

feeling or showing love and affection

From this reading But they saw him very seldom; whereas their mother was always with them, teaching them their lessons, playing with them in the garden, telling them stories, mending their frocks, tucking them up in their snug little beds at night, sometimes praising them, sometimes scolding them; always loving and looking after them.

come together

From this reading Milly and Oliver loved their father, and whenever he put his brown face inside the nursery door, two pairs of little feet went running to meet him, and two pairs of little hands pulled him eagerly into the room.

garments that must be repaired

From this reading But they saw him very seldom; whereas their mother was always with them, teaching them their lessons, playing with them in the garden, telling them stories, mending their frocks, tucking them up in their snug little beds at night, sometimes praising them, sometimes scolding them; always loving and looking after them.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A JOURNEY NORTH Milly and Oliver lived at Willingham, a little town in Oxfordshire, as I have already told you.

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading But they saw him very seldom; whereas their mother was always with them, teaching them their lessons, playing with them in the garden, telling them stories, mending their frocks, tucking them up in their snug little beds at night, sometimes praising them, sometimes scolding them; always loving and looking after them.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading But they saw him very seldom; whereas their mother was always with them, teaching them their lessons, playing with them in the garden, telling them stories, mending their frocks, tucking them up in their snug little beds at night, sometimes praising them, sometimes scolding them; always loving and looking after them.

the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading A JOURNEY NORTH Milly and Oliver lived at Willingham, a little town in Oxfordshire, as I have already told you.

a child's room for a baby

From this reading Milly and Oliver loved their father, and whenever he put his brown face inside the nursery door, two pairs of little feet went running to meet him, and two pairs of little hands pulled him eagerly into the room.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Milly and Oliver loved their father, and whenever he put his brown face inside the nursery door, two pairs of little feet went running to meet him, and two pairs of little hands pulled him eagerly into the room.

out of fashion

From this reading Their father was a doctor, and they lived in an old-fashioned house, in a street, with a long shady garden stretching away behind it.

United States jazz musician who influenced the style of Louis Armstrong (1885-1938)

From this reading A JOURNEY NORTH Milly and Oliver lived at Willingham, a little town in Oxfordshire, as I have already told you.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Milly and Olly honestly believed that theirs was the best mother in the whole world.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A JOURNEY NORTH Milly and Oliver lived at Willingham, a little town in Oxfordshire, as I have already told you.

plural of “pair” — a set of two similar things considered as a unit

From this reading Milly and Oliver loved their father, and whenever he put his brown face inside the nursery door, two pairs of little feet went running to meet him, and two pairs of little hands pulled him eagerly into the room.

the act of playing a musical instrument

From this reading But they saw him very seldom; whereas their mother was always with them, teaching them their lessons, playing with them in the garden, telling them stories, mending their frocks, tucking them up in their snug little beds at night, sometimes praising them, sometimes scolding them; always loving and looking after them.

full of or giving praise

From this reading But they saw him very seldom; whereas their mother was always with them, teaching them their lessons, playing with them in the garden, telling them stories, mending their frocks, tucking them up in their snug little beds at night, sometimes praising them, sometimes scolding them; always loving and looking after them.

past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling

From this reading Milly and Oliver loved their father, and whenever he put his brown face inside the nursery door, two pairs of little feet went running to meet him, and two pairs of little hands pulled him eagerly into the room.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Milly and Oliver loved their father, and whenever he put his brown face inside the nursery door, two pairs of little feet went running to meet him, and two pairs of little hands pulled him eagerly into the room.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading Milly and Oliver loved their father, and whenever he put his brown face inside the nursery door, two pairs of little feet went running to meet him, and two pairs of little hands pulled him eagerly into the room.

(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream

From this reading Milly and Oliver loved their father, and whenever he put his brown face inside the nursery door, two pairs of little feet went running to meet him, and two pairs of little hands pulled him eagerly into the room.

cut with a saw

From this reading But they saw him very seldom; whereas their mother was always with them, teaching them their lessons, playing with them in the garden, telling them stories, mending their frocks, tucking them up in their snug little beds at night, sometimes praising them, sometimes scolding them; always loving and looking after them.

rebuking a person harshly

From this reading But they saw him very seldom; whereas their mother was always with them, teaching them their lessons, playing with them in the garden, telling them stories, mending their frocks, tucking them up in their snug little beds at night, sometimes praising them, sometimes scolding them; always loving and looking after them.

not often

From this reading But they saw him very seldom; whereas their mother was always with them, teaching them their lessons, playing with them in the garden, telling them stories, mending their frocks, tucking them up in their snug little beds at night, sometimes praising them, sometimes scolding them; always loving and looking after them.

quiet, dark, or concealed

From this reading Their father was a doctor, and they lived in an old-fashioned house, in a street, with a long shady garden stretching away behind it.

offering safety; well protected or concealed

From this reading But they saw him very seldom; whereas their mother was always with them, teaching them their lessons, playing with them in the garden, telling them stories, mending their frocks, tucking them up in their snug little beds at night, sometimes praising them, sometimes scolding them; always loving and looking after them.

on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always

From this reading But they saw him very seldom; whereas their mother was always with them, teaching them their lessons, playing with them in the garden, telling them stories, mending their frocks, tucking them up in their snug little beds at night, sometimes praising them, sometimes scolding them; always loving and looking after them.

plural of “story” — 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 But they saw him very seldom; whereas their mother was always with them, teaching them their lessons, playing with them in the garden, telling them stories, mending their frocks, tucking them up in their snug little beds at night, sometimes praising them, sometimes scolding them; always loving and looking after them.

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading Their father was a doctor, and they lived in an old-fashioned house, in a street, with a long shady garden stretching away behind it.

act of expanding by lengthening or widening

From this reading Their father was a doctor, and they lived in an old-fashioned house, in a street, with a long shady garden stretching away behind it.

the profession of a teacher

From this reading But they saw him very seldom; whereas their mother was always with them, teaching them their lessons, playing with them in the garden, telling them stories, mending their frocks, tucking them up in their snug little beds at night, sometimes praising them, sometimes scolding them; always loving and looking after them.

disclosing unintentionally something concealed

From this reading But they saw him very seldom; whereas their mother was always with them, teaching them their lessons, playing with them in the garden, telling them stories, mending their frocks, tucking them up in their snug little beds at night, sometimes praising them, sometimes scolding them; always loving and looking after them.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Milly and Olly honestly believed that theirs was the best mother in the whole world.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Milly and Oliver loved their father, and whenever he put his brown face inside the nursery door, two pairs of little feet went running to meet him, and two pairs of little hands pulled him eagerly into the room.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Their father was a doctor, and they lived in an old-fashioned house, in a street, with a long shady garden stretching away behind it.

the one or ones belonging to them

From this reading Milly and Olly honestly believed that theirs was the best mother in the whole world.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading But they saw him very seldom; whereas their mother was always with them, teaching them their lessons, playing with them in the garden, telling them stories, mending their frocks, tucking them up in their snug little beds at night, sometimes praising them, sometimes scolding them; always loving and looking after them.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Their father was a doctor, and they lived in an old-fashioned house, in a street, with a long shady garden stretching away behind it.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Milly and Oliver loved their father, and whenever he put his brown face inside the nursery door, two pairs of little feet went running to meet him, and two pairs of little hands pulled him eagerly into the room.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading A JOURNEY NORTH Milly and Oliver lived at Willingham, a little town in Oxfordshire, as I have already told you.

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading A JOURNEY NORTH Milly and Oliver lived at Willingham, a little town in Oxfordshire, as I have already told you.

-ing form of “tuck” — fit snugly into

From this reading But they saw him very seldom; whereas their mother was always with them, teaching them their lessons, playing with them in the garden, telling them stories, mending their frocks, tucking them up in their snug little beds at night, sometimes praising them, sometimes scolding them; always loving and looking after them.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading Milly and Oliver loved their father, and whenever he put his brown face inside the nursery door, two pairs of little feet went running to meet him, and two pairs of little hands pulled him eagerly into the room.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading But they saw him very seldom; whereas their mother was always with them, teaching them their lessons, playing with them in the garden, telling them stories, mending their frocks, tucking them up in their snug little beds at night, sometimes praising them, sometimes scolding them; always loving and looking after them.

precisely as stated

From this reading But they saw him very seldom; whereas their mother was always with them, teaching them their lessons, playing with them in the garden, telling them stories, mending their frocks, tucking them up in their snug little beds at night, sometimes praising them, sometimes scolding them; always loving and looking after them.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Their father was a doctor, and they lived in an old-fashioned house, in a street, with a long shady garden stretching away behind it.

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading Milly and Oliver loved their father, and whenever he put his brown face inside the nursery door, two pairs of little feet went running to meet him, and two pairs of little hands pulled him eagerly into the room.

at any time that; every time that

From this reading Milly and Oliver loved their father, and whenever he put his brown face inside the nursery door, two pairs of little feet went running to meet him, and two pairs of little hands pulled him eagerly into the room.

in contrast with the fact that

From this reading But they saw him very seldom; whereas their mother was always with them, teaching them their lessons, playing with them in the garden, telling them stories, mending their frocks, tucking them up in their snug little beds at night, sometimes praising them, sometimes scolding them; always loving and looking after them.

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

From this reading Milly and Olly honestly believed that theirs was the best mother in the whole world.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A JOURNEY NORTH Milly and Oliver lived at Willingham, a little town in Oxfordshire, as I have already told you.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Their father was a doctor, and they lived in an old-fashioned house, in a street, with a long shady garden stretching away behind it.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading Milly and Olly honestly believed that theirs was the best mother in the whole world.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading A JOURNEY NORTH Milly and Oliver lived at Willingham, a little town in Oxfordshire, as I have already told you.