AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A LITTLE PIECE OF PAPER Of all Billy's guests, Marie was very plainly the happiest.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 A LITTLE PIECE OF PAPER Of all Billy's guests, Marie was very plainly the happiest.
alsoadverbUS /ˈɔːlsoʊ/
in addition
From this reading The joyousness was all the more noticeable, because heretofore Marie, while very sweet, had been also sad.
alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading Her big blue eyes had always carried a haunting shadow, and her step had lacked the spring belonging to youth and happiness.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Her big blue eyes had always carried a haunting shadow, and her step had lacked the spring belonging to youth and happiness.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She was a permanent guest, it is true, while the others came for only a week or two at a time; but it was not this, Billy decided, that had brought so brilliant a sparkle to Marie's eyes, so joyous a laugh to her lips.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading The joyousness was all the more noticeable, because heretofore Marie, while very sweet, had been also sad.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The joyousness was all the more noticeable, because heretofore Marie, while very sweet, had been also sad.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Certainly, Billy had never seen her like this before.
belongingnounUS /bɪˈlɔːŋɪŋ/
happiness felt in a secure relationship
From this reading Her big blue eyes had always carried a haunting shadow, and her step had lacked the spring belonging to youth and happiness.
bigadjectiveUS /bɪɡ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Her big blue eyes had always carried a haunting shadow, and her step had lacked the spring belonging to youth and happiness.
BillynounUS /ˈbɪli/
a short stout club used primarily by policemen
From this reading She was a permanent guest, it is true, while the others came for only a week or two at a time; but it was not this, Billy decided, that had brought so brilliant a sparkle to Marie's eyes, so joyous a laugh to her lips.
Billy'snounUS /ˈbɪliz/
possessive form of “billy” — a short stout club used primarily by policemen
From this reading A LITTLE PIECE OF PAPER Of all Billy's guests, Marie was very plainly the happiest.
blueadjectiveUS /bluː/
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading Her big blue eyes had always carried a haunting shadow, and her step had lacked the spring belonging to youth and happiness.
brilliantadjectiveUS /ˈbrɪljənt/
of surpassing excellence
From this reading She was a permanent guest, it is true, while the others came for only a week or two at a time; but it was not this, Billy decided, that had brought so brilliant a sparkle to Marie's eyes, so joyous a laugh to her lips.
broughtverbUS /brɔːt/
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading She was a permanent guest, it is true, while the others came for only a week or two at a time; but it was not this, Billy decided, that had brought so brilliant a sparkle to Marie's eyes, so joyous a laugh to her lips.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She was a permanent guest, it is true, while the others came for only a week or two at a time; but it was not this, Billy decided, that had brought so brilliant a sparkle to Marie's eyes, so joyous a laugh to her lips.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading She was a permanent guest, it is true, while the others came for only a week or two at a time; but it was not this, Billy decided, that had brought so brilliant a sparkle to Marie's eyes, so joyous a laugh to her lips.
carriedverbUS /ˈkærid/
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Her big blue eyes had always carried a haunting shadow, and her step had lacked the spring belonging to youth and happiness.
CertainlyadverbUS /ˈsɜːrtənli/
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading Certainly, Billy had never seen her like this before.
decidedadjectiveUS /ˌdɪˈsaɪdɪd/
recognizable; marked
From this reading She was a permanent guest, it is true, while the others came for only a week or two at a time; but it was not this, Billy decided, that had brought so brilliant a sparkle to Marie's eyes, so joyous a laugh to her lips.
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading She was a permanent guest, it is true, while the others came for only a week or two at a time; but it was not this, Billy decided, that had brought so brilliant a sparkle to Marie's eyes, so joyous a laugh to her lips.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She was a permanent guest, it is true, while the others came for only a week or two at a time; but it was not this, Billy decided, that had brought so brilliant a sparkle to Marie's eyes, so joyous a laugh to her lips.
guestnounUS /ɡest/
a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading She was a permanent guest, it is true, while the others came for only a week or two at a time; but it was not this, Billy decided, that had brought so brilliant a sparkle to Marie's eyes, so joyous a laugh to her lips.
guestsnounUS /ɡests/
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading A LITTLE PIECE OF PAPER Of all Billy's guests, Marie was very plainly the happiest.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She was a permanent guest, it is true, while the others came for only a week or two at a time; but it was not this, Billy decided, that had brought so brilliant a sparkle to Marie's eyes, so joyous a laugh to her lips.
happiestadjectiveUS /ˈhæpiəst/
superlative of “happy” — enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading A LITTLE PIECE OF PAPER Of all Billy's guests, Marie was very plainly the happiest.
happinessnounUS /ˈhæpinəs/
state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
From this reading Her big blue eyes had always carried a haunting shadow, and her step had lacked the spring belonging to youth and happiness.
hauntingadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːntɪŋ/
continually recurring to the mind
From this reading Her big blue eyes had always carried a haunting shadow, and her step had lacked the spring belonging to youth and happiness.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She was a permanent guest, it is true, while the others came for only a week or two at a time; but it was not this, Billy decided, that had brought so brilliant a sparkle to Marie's eyes, so joyous a laugh to her lips.
heretoforeadverbUS /ˌhɪrtəˈfɔːr/
used in negative statement to describe a situation that has existed up to this point or up to the present time
From this reading The joyousness was all the more noticeable, because heretofore Marie, while very sweet, had been also sad.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was a permanent guest, it is true, while the others came for only a week or two at a time; but it was not this, Billy decided, that had brought so brilliant a sparkle to Marie's eyes, so joyous a laugh to her lips.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She was a permanent guest, it is true, while the others came for only a week or two at a time; but it was not this, Billy decided, that had brought so brilliant a sparkle to Marie's eyes, so joyous a laugh to her lips.
joyousadjectiveUS /ˈdʒɔɪəs/
full of or characterized by joy
From this reading She was a permanent guest, it is true, while the others came for only a week or two at a time; but it was not this, Billy decided, that had brought so brilliant a sparkle to Marie's eyes, so joyous a laugh to her lips.
joyousnessnoun
the emotion of great happiness
From this reading The joyousness was all the more noticeable, because heretofore Marie, while very sweet, had been also sad.
lackedverbUS /lækt/
past form of “lack” — be without
From this reading Her big blue eyes had always carried a haunting shadow, and her step had lacked the spring belonging to youth and happiness.
laughnounUS /læf/
the sound of laughing
From this reading She was a permanent guest, it is true, while the others came for only a week or two at a time; but it was not this, Billy decided, that had brought so brilliant a sparkle to Marie's eyes, so joyous a laugh to her lips.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Certainly, Billy had never seen her like this before.
lipsnounUS /lɪps/
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading She was a permanent guest, it is true, while the others came for only a week or two at a time; but it was not this, Billy decided, that had brought so brilliant a sparkle to Marie's eyes, so joyous a laugh to her lips.
LITTLEadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A LITTLE PIECE OF PAPER Of all Billy's guests, Marie was very plainly the happiest.
Marie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A LITTLE PIECE OF PAPER Of all Billy's guests, Marie was very plainly the happiest.
Marie's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was a permanent guest, it is true, while the others came for only a week or two at a time; but it was not this, Billy decided, that had brought so brilliant a sparkle to Marie's eyes, so joyous a laugh to her lips.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The joyousness was all the more noticeable, because heretofore Marie, while very sweet, had been also sad.
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Certainly, Billy had never seen her like this before.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She was a permanent guest, it is true, while the others came for only a week or two at a time; but it was not this, Billy decided, that had brought so brilliant a sparkle to Marie's eyes, so joyous a laugh to her lips.
noticeableadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊtəsəbəl/
capable or worthy of being noticed
From this reading The joyousness was all the more noticeable, because heretofore Marie, while very sweet, had been also sad.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A LITTLE PIECE OF PAPER Of all Billy's guests, Marie was very plainly the happiest.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading She was a permanent guest, it is true, while the others came for only a week or two at a time; but it was not this, Billy decided, that had brought so brilliant a sparkle to Marie's eyes, so joyous a laugh to her lips.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading She was a permanent guest, it is true, while the others came for only a week or two at a time; but it was not this, Billy decided, that had brought so brilliant a sparkle to Marie's eyes, so joyous a laugh to her lips.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was a permanent guest, it is true, while the others came for only a week or two at a time; but it was not this, Billy decided, that had brought so brilliant a sparkle to Marie's eyes, so joyous a laugh to her lips.
PAPERnounUS /ˈpeɪpər/
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading A LITTLE PIECE OF PAPER Of all Billy's guests, Marie was very plainly the happiest.
permanentadjectiveUS /ˈpɜːrmənənt/
continuing or enduring without marked change in status or condition or place
From this reading She was a permanent guest, it is true, while the others came for only a week or two at a time; but it was not this, Billy decided, that had brought so brilliant a sparkle to Marie's eyes, so joyous a laugh to her lips.
PIECEnounUS /piːs/
a separate part of a whole
From this reading A LITTLE PIECE OF PAPER Of all Billy's guests, Marie was very plainly the happiest.
plainlyadverbUS /ˈpleɪnli/
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading A LITTLE PIECE OF PAPER Of all Billy's guests, Marie was very plainly the happiest.
sadadjectiveUS /sæd/
experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness
From this reading The joyousness was all the more noticeable, because heretofore Marie, while very sweet, had been also sad.
seenverbUS /siːn/
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Certainly, Billy had never seen her like this before.
shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading Her big blue eyes had always carried a haunting shadow, and her step had lacked the spring belonging to youth and happiness.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was a permanent guest, it is true, while the others came for only a week or two at a time; but it was not this, Billy decided, that had brought so brilliant a sparkle to Marie's eyes, so joyous a laugh to her lips.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She was a permanent guest, it is true, while the others came for only a week or two at a time; but it was not this, Billy decided, that had brought so brilliant a sparkle to Marie's eyes, so joyous a laugh to her lips.
sparkleverbUS /ˈspɑːrkəl/
reflect brightly
From this reading She was a permanent guest, it is true, while the others came for only a week or two at a time; but it was not this, Billy decided, that had brought so brilliant a sparkle to Marie's eyes, so joyous a laugh to her lips.
springnounUS /sprɪŋ/
the season of growth
From this reading Her big blue eyes had always carried a haunting shadow, and her step had lacked the spring belonging to youth and happiness.
stepnounUS /step/
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading Her big blue eyes had always carried a haunting shadow, and her step had lacked the spring belonging to youth and happiness.
sweetadjectiveUS /swiːt/
having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar
From this reading The joyousness was all the more noticeable, because heretofore Marie, while very sweet, had been also sad.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She was a permanent guest, it is true, while the others came for only a week or two at a time; but it was not this, Billy decided, that had brought so brilliant a sparkle to Marie's eyes, so joyous a laugh to her lips.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A LITTLE PIECE OF PAPER Of all Billy's guests, Marie was very plainly the happiest.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading She was a permanent guest, it is true, while the others came for only a week or two at a time; but it was not this, Billy decided, that had brought so brilliant a sparkle to Marie's eyes, so joyous a laugh to her lips.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading She was a permanent guest, it is true, while the others came for only a week or two at a time; but it was not this, Billy decided, that had brought so brilliant a sparkle to Marie's eyes, so joyous a laugh to her lips.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She was a permanent guest, it is true, while the others came for only a week or two at a time; but it was not this, Billy decided, that had brought so brilliant a sparkle to Marie's eyes, so joyous a laugh to her lips.
trueadjectiveUS /truː/
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading She was a permanent guest, it is true, while the others came for only a week or two at a time; but it was not this, Billy decided, that had brought so brilliant a sparkle to Marie's eyes, so joyous a laugh to her lips.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading She was a permanent guest, it is true, while the others came for only a week or two at a time; but it was not this, Billy decided, that had brought so brilliant a sparkle to Marie's eyes, so joyous a laugh to her lips.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading A LITTLE PIECE OF PAPER Of all Billy's guests, Marie was very plainly the happiest.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A LITTLE PIECE OF PAPER Of all Billy's guests, Marie was very plainly the happiest.
weeknounUS /wiːk/
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading She was a permanent guest, it is true, while the others came for only a week or two at a time; but it was not this, Billy decided, that had brought so brilliant a sparkle to Marie's eyes, so joyous a laugh to her lips.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading She was a permanent guest, it is true, while the others came for only a week or two at a time; but it was not this, Billy decided, that had brought so brilliant a sparkle to Marie's eyes, so joyous a laugh to her lips.
youthnounUS /juːθ/
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading Her big blue eyes had always carried a haunting shadow, and her step had lacked the spring belonging to youth and happiness.
