adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading With a pail of sand, a broken lead-pencil and several bits of twig, the baby had concocted an engrossing game.
absorptionnounUS /əbˈzɔːrpʃən/
(chemistry) a process in which one substance permeates another; a fluid permeates or is dissolved by a liquid or solid
From this reading Melissa smiled indulgently at his absurd absorption; while the baby, looking up, smiled back as one who would say: “What a stupid game reading is to waste your time with!”
absurdadjectiveUS /əbˈsɜːrd/
inconsistent with reason or logic or common sense
From this reading Melissa smiled indulgently at his absurd absorption; while the baby, looking up, smiled back as one who would say: “What a stupid game reading is to waste your time with!”
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Missy now felt almost grown-up; it had been eons since SHE was a baby, and three; even thirteen lay back across a chasm so wide her thoughts rarely tried to bridge it.
almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Missy now felt almost grown-up; it had been eons since SHE was a baby, and three; even thirteen lay back across a chasm so wide her thoughts rarely tried to bridge it.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading With a pail of sand, a broken lead-pencil and several bits of twig, the baby had concocted an engrossing game.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Melissa was out in the summerhouse, reading; now and then lifting her eyes from the big book on her lap to watch the baby at play.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Melissa smiled indulgently at his absurd absorption; while the baby, looking up, smiled back as one who would say: “What a stupid game reading is to waste your time with!”
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Melissa was out in the summerhouse, reading; now and then lifting her eyes from the big book on her lap to watch the baby at play.
babynounUS /ˈbeɪbi/
a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
From this reading Melissa was out in the summerhouse, reading; now and then lifting her eyes from the big book on her lap to watch the baby at play.
backadverbUS /bæk/
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Melissa smiled indulgently at his absurd absorption; while the baby, looking up, smiled back as one who would say: “What a stupid game reading is to waste your time with!”
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Missy now felt almost grown-up; it had been eons since SHE was a baby, and three; even thirteen lay back across a chasm so wide her thoughts rarely tried to bridge it.
bigadjectiveUS /bɪɡ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Melissa was out in the summerhouse, reading; now and then lifting her eyes from the big book on her lap to watch the baby at play.
bitsnounUS /bɪts/
plural of “bit” — a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading With a pail of sand, a broken lead-pencil and several bits of twig, the baby had concocted an engrossing game.
booknounUS /bʊk/
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading Melissa was out in the summerhouse, reading; now and then lifting her eyes from the big book on her lap to watch the baby at play.
bridgenounUS /brɪdʒ/
a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.
From this reading Missy now felt almost grown-up; it had been eons since SHE was a baby, and three; even thirteen lay back across a chasm so wide her thoughts rarely tried to bridge it.
brokenadjectiveUS /ˈbroʊkən/
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading With a pail of sand, a broken lead-pencil and several bits of twig, the baby had concocted an engrossing game.
chasmnounUS /ˈkæzəm/
a deep opening in the earth's surface
From this reading Missy now felt almost grown-up; it had been eons since SHE was a baby, and three; even thirteen lay back across a chasm so wide her thoughts rarely tried to bridge it.
concoctedverbUS /kənˈkɑːktəd/
past form of “concoct” — make a concoction (of) by mixing
From this reading With a pail of sand, a broken lead-pencil and several bits of twig, the baby had concocted an engrossing game.
differentadjectiveUS /ˈdɪfərənt/
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading For the standpoint of three-years-old is quite different from that of fourteen-going-on-fifteen.
engrossingadjectiveUS /ɪnˈɡroʊsɪŋ/
capable of arousing and holding the attention
From this reading With a pail of sand, a broken lead-pencil and several bits of twig, the baby had concocted an engrossing game.
eonsnounUS /ˈiːənz/
plural of “eon” — the longest division of geological time
From this reading Missy now felt almost grown-up; it had been eons since SHE was a baby, and three; even thirteen lay back across a chasm so wide her thoughts rarely tried to bridge it.
evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading Missy now felt almost grown-up; it had been eons since SHE was a baby, and three; even thirteen lay back across a chasm so wide her thoughts rarely tried to bridge it.
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading Melissa was out in the summerhouse, reading; now and then lifting her eyes from the big book on her lap to watch the baby at play.
feltverbUS /felt/
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Missy now felt almost grown-up; it had been eons since SHE was a baby, and three; even thirteen lay back across a chasm so wide her thoughts rarely tried to bridge it.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the standpoint of three-years-old is quite different from that of fourteen-going-on-fifteen.
fourteen-going-on-fifteen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the standpoint of three-years-old is quite different from that of fourteen-going-on-fifteen.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Melissa was out in the summerhouse, reading; now and then lifting her eyes from the big book on her lap to watch the baby at play.
gamenounUS /ɡeɪm/
a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading With a pail of sand, a broken lead-pencil and several bits of twig, the baby had concocted an engrossing game.
grown-up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Missy now felt almost grown-up; it had been eons since SHE was a baby, and three; even thirteen lay back across a chasm so wide her thoughts rarely tried to bridge it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading With a pail of sand, a broken lead-pencil and several bits of twig, the baby had concocted an engrossing game.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Melissa was out in the summerhouse, reading; now and then lifting her eyes from the big book on her lap to watch the baby at play.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Melissa smiled indulgently at his absurd absorption; while the baby, looking up, smiled back as one who would say: “What a stupid game reading is to waste your time with!”
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Melissa was out in the summerhouse, reading; now and then lifting her eyes from the big book on her lap to watch the baby at play.
indulgentlyadverb
in an indulgent manner
From this reading Melissa smiled indulgently at his absurd absorption; while the baby, looking up, smiled back as one who would say: “What a stupid game reading is to waste your time with!”
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Melissa smiled indulgently at his absurd absorption; while the baby, looking up, smiled back as one who would say: “What a stupid game reading is to waste your time with!”
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Missy now felt almost grown-up; it had been eons since SHE was a baby, and three; even thirteen lay back across a chasm so wide her thoughts rarely tried to bridge it.
lapverbUS /læp/
lie partly over or alongside of something or of one another
From this reading Melissa was out in the summerhouse, reading; now and then lifting her eyes from the big book on her lap to watch the baby at play.
layverbUS /leɪ/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Missy now felt almost grown-up; it had been eons since SHE was a baby, and three; even thirteen lay back across a chasm so wide her thoughts rarely tried to bridge it.
lead-pencil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a pail of sand, a broken lead-pencil and several bits of twig, the baby had concocted an engrossing game.
liftingverbUS /ˈlɪftɪŋ/
-ing form of “lift” — raise from a lower to a higher position
From this reading Melissa was out in the summerhouse, reading; now and then lifting her eyes from the big book on her lap to watch the baby at play.
lookingnounUS /ˈlʊkɪŋ/
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Melissa smiled indulgently at his absurd absorption; while the baby, looking up, smiled back as one who would say: “What a stupid game reading is to waste your time with!”
MelissanounUS /məˈlɪsə/
a genus of Old World mints of the family Labiatae
From this reading Melissa was out in the summerhouse, reading; now and then lifting her eyes from the big book on her lap to watch the baby at play.
MissynounUS /ˈmɪsi/
a young female
From this reading Missy now felt almost grown-up; it had been eons since SHE was a baby, and three; even thirteen lay back across a chasm so wide her thoughts rarely tried to bridge it.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Melissa was out in the summerhouse, reading; now and then lifting her eyes from the big book on her lap to watch the baby at play.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading With a pail of sand, a broken lead-pencil and several bits of twig, the baby had concocted an engrossing game.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Melissa was out in the summerhouse, reading; now and then lifting her eyes from the big book on her lap to watch the baby at play.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Melissa smiled indulgently at his absurd absorption; while the baby, looking up, smiled back as one who would say: “What a stupid game reading is to waste your time with!”
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Melissa was out in the summerhouse, reading; now and then lifting her eyes from the big book on her lap to watch the baby at play.
pailnounUS /peɪl/
a roughly cylindrical vessel that is open at the top
From this reading With a pail of sand, a broken lead-pencil and several bits of twig, the baby had concocted an engrossing game.
playverbUS /pleɪ/
participate in games or sport
From this reading Melissa was out in the summerhouse, reading; now and then lifting her eyes from the big book on her lap to watch the baby at play.
quiteadverbUS /kwaɪt/
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading For the standpoint of three-years-old is quite different from that of fourteen-going-on-fifteen.
rarelyadverbUS /ˈrerli/
not often
From this reading Missy now felt almost grown-up; it had been eons since SHE was a baby, and three; even thirteen lay back across a chasm so wide her thoughts rarely tried to bridge it.
readingnounUS /ˈriːdɪŋ/
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading Melissa was out in the summerhouse, reading; now and then lifting her eyes from the big book on her lap to watch the baby at play.
sandnounUS /sænd/
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading With a pail of sand, a broken lead-pencil and several bits of twig, the baby had concocted an engrossing game.
sayverbUS /seɪ/
express in words
From this reading Melissa smiled indulgently at his absurd absorption; while the baby, looking up, smiled back as one who would say: “What a stupid game reading is to waste your time with!”
severaladjectiveUS /ˈsevrəl/
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading With a pail of sand, a broken lead-pencil and several bits of twig, the baby had concocted an engrossing game.
SHEpronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Missy now felt almost grown-up; it had been eons since SHE was a baby, and three; even thirteen lay back across a chasm so wide her thoughts rarely tried to bridge it.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Missy now felt almost grown-up; it had been eons since SHE was a baby, and three; even thirteen lay back across a chasm so wide her thoughts rarely tried to bridge it.
smiledverbUS /smaɪld/
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading Melissa smiled indulgently at his absurd absorption; while the baby, looking up, smiled back as one who would say: “What a stupid game reading is to waste your time with!”
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Missy now felt almost grown-up; it had been eons since SHE was a baby, and three; even thirteen lay back across a chasm so wide her thoughts rarely tried to bridge it.
standpointnounUS /ˈstændpɔɪnt/
a mental position from which things are viewed
From this reading For the standpoint of three-years-old is quite different from that of fourteen-going-on-fifteen.
stupidadjectiveUS /ˈstuːpəd/
lacking or marked by lack of intellectual acuity
From this reading Melissa smiled indulgently at his absurd absorption; while the baby, looking up, smiled back as one who would say: “What a stupid game reading is to waste your time with!”
summerhousenoun
a small roofed building affording shade and rest
From this reading Melissa was out in the summerhouse, reading; now and then lifting her eyes from the big book on her lap to watch the baby at play.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For the standpoint of three-years-old is quite different from that of fourteen-going-on-fifteen.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Melissa was out in the summerhouse, reading; now and then lifting her eyes from the big book on her lap to watch the baby at play.
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Melissa was out in the summerhouse, reading; now and then lifting her eyes from the big book on her lap to watch the baby at play.
thirteennounUS /ˈθɜːrˈtiːn/
the cardinal number that is the sum of twelve and one
From this reading Missy now felt almost grown-up; it had been eons since SHE was a baby, and three; even thirteen lay back across a chasm so wide her thoughts rarely tried to bridge it.
thoughtsnounUS /θɔːts/
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Missy now felt almost grown-up; it had been eons since SHE was a baby, and three; even thirteen lay back across a chasm so wide her thoughts rarely tried to bridge it.
threenounUS /θriː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Missy now felt almost grown-up; it had been eons since SHE was a baby, and three; even thirteen lay back across a chasm so wide her thoughts rarely tried to bridge it.
three-years-old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the standpoint of three-years-old is quite different from that of fourteen-going-on-fifteen.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Melissa smiled indulgently at his absurd absorption; while the baby, looking up, smiled back as one who would say: “What a stupid game reading is to waste your time with!”
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Melissa was out in the summerhouse, reading; now and then lifting her eyes from the big book on her lap to watch the baby at play.
triedadjectiveUS /traɪd/
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading Missy now felt almost grown-up; it had been eons since SHE was a baby, and three; even thirteen lay back across a chasm so wide her thoughts rarely tried to bridge it.
twigverbUS /twɪɡ/
branch out in a twiglike manner
From this reading With a pail of sand, a broken lead-pencil and several bits of twig, the baby had concocted an engrossing game.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Melissa smiled indulgently at his absurd absorption; while the baby, looking up, smiled back as one who would say: “What a stupid game reading is to waste your time with!”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Melissa was out in the summerhouse, reading; now and then lifting her eyes from the big book on her lap to watch the baby at play.
wastenounUS /weɪst/
any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted
From this reading Melissa smiled indulgently at his absurd absorption; while the baby, looking up, smiled back as one who would say: “What a stupid game reading is to waste your time with!”
watchverbUS /wɑːtʃ/
look attentively
From this reading Melissa was out in the summerhouse, reading; now and then lifting her eyes from the big book on her lap to watch the baby at play.
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Melissa smiled indulgently at his absurd absorption; while the baby, looking up, smiled back as one who would say: “What a stupid game reading is to waste your time with!”
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Melissa smiled indulgently at his absurd absorption; while the baby, looking up, smiled back as one who would say: “What a stupid game reading is to waste your time with!”
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Melissa smiled indulgently at his absurd absorption; while the baby, looking up, smiled back as one who would say: “What a stupid game reading is to waste your time with!”
wideadjectiveUS /waɪd/
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading Missy now felt almost grown-up; it had been eons since SHE was a baby, and three; even thirteen lay back across a chasm so wide her thoughts rarely tried to bridge it.
WithprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading With a pail of sand, a broken lead-pencil and several bits of twig, the baby had concocted an engrossing game.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Melissa smiled indulgently at his absurd absorption; while the baby, looking up, smiled back as one who would say: “What a stupid game reading is to waste your time with!”
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Melissa smiled indulgently at his absurd absorption; while the baby, looking up, smiled back as one who would say: “What a stupid game reading is to waste your time with!”
