adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Missy was embroiled in a catastrophe, a tangle of embarrassments and odd complications.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Aunt Nettie attributed the blame broadly to “that O'Neill girl”; she asserted that ever since Tess O'Neill had come to live in Cherryvale Missy had been “up to” just one craziness after another.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But then Aunt Nettie was an old maid--Missy couldn't imagine her as EVER having been fifteen years old.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Missy was embroiled in a catastrophe, a tangle of embarrassments and odd complications.
anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Aunt Nettie attributed the blame broadly to “that O'Neill girl”; she asserted that ever since Tess O'Neill had come to live in Cherryvale Missy had been “up to” just one craziness after another.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But then Aunt Nettie was an old maid--Missy couldn't imagine her as EVER having been fifteen years old.
assertedadjectiveUS /əˈsɜːrtɪd/
confidently declared to be so
From this reading Aunt Nettie attributed the blame broadly to “that O'Neill girl”; she asserted that ever since Tess O'Neill had come to live in Cherryvale Missy had been “up to” just one craziness after another.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading And Missy felt shy at trying to explain it was because the wasp was stinging her LEG.
attributedverbUS /əˈtrɪbjətɪd/
past form of “attribute” — attribute or credit to
From this reading Aunt Nettie attributed the blame broadly to “that O'Neill girl”; she asserted that ever since Tess O'Neill had come to live in Cherryvale Missy had been “up to” just one craziness after another.
AuntnounUS /ænt/
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading Aunt Nettie attributed the blame broadly to “that O'Neill girl”; she asserted that ever since Tess O'Neill had come to live in Cherryvale Missy had been “up to” just one craziness after another.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Mother, who could generally be counted on for tenderness even when she failed to “understand,” rather unfortunately centred on the wasp detail--why had Missy just stood there and let it keep stinging her?
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading And Missy felt shy at trying to explain it was because the wasp was stinging her LEG.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Aunt Nettie attributed the blame broadly to “that O'Neill girl”; she asserted that ever since Tess O'Neill had come to live in Cherryvale Missy had been “up to” just one craziness after another.
blameverbUS /bleɪm/
put or pin the blame on
From this reading Aunt Nettie attributed the blame broadly to “that O'Neill girl”; she asserted that ever since Tess O'Neill had come to live in Cherryvale Missy had been “up to” just one craziness after another.
broadlyadverbUS /ˈbrɔːdli/
without regard to specific details or exceptions
From this reading Aunt Nettie attributed the blame broadly to “that O'Neill girl”; she asserted that ever since Tess O'Neill had come to live in Cherryvale Missy had been “up to” just one craziness after another.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But then Aunt Nettie was an old maid--Missy couldn't imagine her as EVER having been fifteen years old.
catastrophenounUS /kəˈtæstrəfi/
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading Missy was embroiled in a catastrophe, a tangle of embarrassments and odd complications.
centred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mother, who could generally be counted on for tenderness even when she failed to “understand,” rather unfortunately centred on the wasp detail--why had Missy just stood there and let it keep stinging her?
Cherryvale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Aunt Nettie attributed the blame broadly to “that O'Neill girl”; she asserted that ever since Tess O'Neill had come to live in Cherryvale Missy had been “up to” just one craziness after another.
comeverbUS /kʌm/
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Aunt Nettie attributed the blame broadly to “that O'Neill girl”; she asserted that ever since Tess O'Neill had come to live in Cherryvale Missy had been “up to” just one craziness after another.
complicationsnounUS /ˌkɑːmpləˈkeɪʃənz/
plural of “complication” — the act or process of complicating
From this reading Missy was embroiled in a catastrophe, a tangle of embarrassments and odd complications.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Mother, who could generally be counted on for tenderness even when she failed to “understand,” rather unfortunately centred on the wasp detail--why had Missy just stood there and let it keep stinging her?
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But then Aunt Nettie was an old maid--Missy couldn't imagine her as EVER having been fifteen years old.
countedverbUS /ˈkaʊntɪd/
past form of “count” — determine the number or amount of
From this reading Mother, who could generally be counted on for tenderness even when she failed to “understand,” rather unfortunately centred on the wasp detail--why had Missy just stood there and let it keep stinging her?
crazinessnounUS /ˈkreɪzinəs/
informal terms for insanity
From this reading Aunt Nettie attributed the blame broadly to “that O'Neill girl”; she asserted that ever since Tess O'Neill had come to live in Cherryvale Missy had been “up to” just one craziness after another.
detailnounUS /dɪˈteɪl/
an isolated fact that is considered separately from the whole
From this reading Mother, who could generally be counted on for tenderness even when she failed to “understand,” rather unfortunately centred on the wasp detail--why had Missy just stood there and let it keep stinging her?
embarrassmentsnounUS /ɪmˈberəsmənts/
plural of “embarrassment” — the shame you feel when your inadequacy or guilt is made public
From this reading Missy was embroiled in a catastrophe, a tangle of embarrassments and odd complications.
embroiledadjectiveUS /emˈbrɔɪld/
deeply involved especially in something complicated
From this reading Missy was embroiled in a catastrophe, a tangle of embarrassments and odd complications.
evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading Mother, who could generally be counted on for tenderness even when she failed to “understand,” rather unfortunately centred on the wasp detail--why had Missy just stood there and let it keep stinging her?
everadverbUS /ˈevər/
at any time
From this reading Aunt Nettie attributed the blame broadly to “that O'Neill girl”; she asserted that ever since Tess O'Neill had come to live in Cherryvale Missy had been “up to” just one craziness after another.
explainverbUS /ɪkˈspleɪn/
make plain and comprehensible
From this reading And Missy felt shy at trying to explain it was because the wasp was stinging her LEG.
failedverbUS /feɪld/
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading Mother, who could generally be counted on for tenderness even when she failed to “understand,” rather unfortunately centred on the wasp detail--why had Missy just stood there and let it keep stinging her?
feltverbUS /felt/
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading And Missy felt shy at trying to explain it was because the wasp was stinging her LEG.
fifteennounUS /fɪfˈtiːn/
the cardinal number that is the sum of fourteen and one
From this reading But then Aunt Nettie was an old maid--Missy couldn't imagine her as EVER having been fifteen years old.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Mother, who could generally be counted on for tenderness even when she failed to “understand,” rather unfortunately centred on the wasp detail--why had Missy just stood there and let it keep stinging her?
generallyadverbUS /ˈdʒenərəli/
usually; as a rule
From this reading Mother, who could generally be counted on for tenderness even when she failed to “understand,” rather unfortunately centred on the wasp detail--why had Missy just stood there and let it keep stinging her?
girlnounUS /ɡɜːrl/
a young female
From this reading Aunt Nettie attributed the blame broadly to “that O'Neill girl”; she asserted that ever since Tess O'Neill had come to live in Cherryvale Missy had been “up to” just one craziness after another.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Aunt Nettie attributed the blame broadly to “that O'Neill girl”; she asserted that ever since Tess O'Neill had come to live in Cherryvale Missy had been “up to” just one craziness after another.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading But then Aunt Nettie was an old maid--Missy couldn't imagine her as EVER having been fifteen years old.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But then Aunt Nettie was an old maid--Missy couldn't imagine her as EVER having been fifteen years old.
imagineverbUS /ˌɪˈmædʒən/
form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading But then Aunt Nettie was an old maid--Missy couldn't imagine her as EVER having been fifteen years old.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Missy was embroiled in a catastrophe, a tangle of embarrassments and odd complications.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Mother, who could generally be counted on for tenderness even when she failed to “understand,” rather unfortunately centred on the wasp detail--why had Missy just stood there and let it keep stinging her?
justadverbUS /dʒʌst/
and nothing more
From this reading Aunt Nettie attributed the blame broadly to “that O'Neill girl”; she asserted that ever since Tess O'Neill had come to live in Cherryvale Missy had been “up to” just one craziness after another.
keepverbUS /kiːp/
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Mother, who could generally be counted on for tenderness even when she failed to “understand,” rather unfortunately centred on the wasp detail--why had Missy just stood there and let it keep stinging her?
LEGnounUS /leɡ/
a human limb; commonly used to refer to a whole limb but technically only the part of the limb between the knee and ankle
From this reading And Missy felt shy at trying to explain it was because the wasp was stinging her LEG.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading Mother, who could generally be counted on for tenderness even when she failed to “understand,” rather unfortunately centred on the wasp detail--why had Missy just stood there and let it keep stinging her?
liveverbUS /laɪv/
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading Aunt Nettie attributed the blame broadly to “that O'Neill girl”; she asserted that ever since Tess O'Neill had come to live in Cherryvale Missy had been “up to” just one craziness after another.
maidnounUS /meɪd/
a female domestic
From this reading But then Aunt Nettie was an old maid--Missy couldn't imagine her as EVER having been fifteen years old.
MissynounUS /ˈmɪsi/
a young female
From this reading Missy was embroiled in a catastrophe, a tangle of embarrassments and odd complications.
MothernounUS /ˈmʌðər/
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Mother, who could generally be counted on for tenderness even when she failed to “understand,” rather unfortunately centred on the wasp detail--why had Missy just stood there and let it keep stinging her?
Nettie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Aunt Nettie attributed the blame broadly to “that O'Neill girl”; she asserted that ever since Tess O'Neill had come to live in Cherryvale Missy had been “up to” just one craziness after another.
O'NeillnounUS /oʊˈniːl/
United States playwright (1888-1953)
From this reading Aunt Nettie attributed the blame broadly to “that O'Neill girl”; she asserted that ever since Tess O'Neill had come to live in Cherryvale Missy had been “up to” just one craziness after another.
oddadjectiveUS /ɑːd/
not divisible by two
From this reading Missy was embroiled in a catastrophe, a tangle of embarrassments and odd complications.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Missy was embroiled in a catastrophe, a tangle of embarrassments and odd complications.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading But then Aunt Nettie was an old maid--Missy couldn't imagine her as EVER having been fifteen years old.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Mother, who could generally be counted on for tenderness even when she failed to “understand,” rather unfortunately centred on the wasp detail--why had Missy just stood there and let it keep stinging her?
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Aunt Nettie attributed the blame broadly to “that O'Neill girl”; she asserted that ever since Tess O'Neill had come to live in Cherryvale Missy had been “up to” just one craziness after another.
ratheradverbUS /ˈræðər/
on the contrary
From this reading Mother, who could generally be counted on for tenderness even when she failed to “understand,” rather unfortunately centred on the wasp detail--why had Missy just stood there and let it keep stinging her?
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Aunt Nettie attributed the blame broadly to “that O'Neill girl”; she asserted that ever since Tess O'Neill had come to live in Cherryvale Missy had been “up to” just one craziness after another.
shyverbUS /ʃaɪ/
start suddenly, as from fright
From this reading And Missy felt shy at trying to explain it was because the wasp was stinging her LEG.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Aunt Nettie attributed the blame broadly to “that O'Neill girl”; she asserted that ever since Tess O'Neill had come to live in Cherryvale Missy had been “up to” just one craziness after another.
stingingnounUS /ˈstɪŋɪŋ/
a kind of pain; something as sudden and painful as being stung
From this reading Mother, who could generally be counted on for tenderness even when she failed to “understand,” rather unfortunately centred on the wasp detail--why had Missy just stood there and let it keep stinging her?
stoodverbUS /stʊd/
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Mother, who could generally be counted on for tenderness even when she failed to “understand,” rather unfortunately centred on the wasp detail--why had Missy just stood there and let it keep stinging her?
tanglenounUS /ˈtæŋɡəl/
a twisted and tangled mass that is highly interwoven
From this reading Missy was embroiled in a catastrophe, a tangle of embarrassments and odd complications.
tendernessnounUS /ˈtendərnəs/
a tendency to express warm and affectionate feeling
From this reading Mother, who could generally be counted on for tenderness even when she failed to “understand,” rather unfortunately centred on the wasp detail--why had Missy just stood there and let it keep stinging her?
Tess
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Aunt Nettie attributed the blame broadly to “that O'Neill girl”; she asserted that ever since Tess O'Neill had come to live in Cherryvale Missy had been “up to” just one craziness after another.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Aunt Nettie attributed the blame broadly to “that O'Neill girl”; she asserted that ever since Tess O'Neill had come to live in Cherryvale Missy had been “up to” just one craziness after another.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Aunt Nettie attributed the blame broadly to “that O'Neill girl”; she asserted that ever since Tess O'Neill had come to live in Cherryvale Missy had been “up to” just one craziness after another.
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading But then Aunt Nettie was an old maid--Missy couldn't imagine her as EVER having been fifteen years old.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading Mother, who could generally be counted on for tenderness even when she failed to “understand,” rather unfortunately centred on the wasp detail--why had Missy just stood there and let it keep stinging her?
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Aunt Nettie attributed the blame broadly to “that O'Neill girl”; she asserted that ever since Tess O'Neill had come to live in Cherryvale Missy had been “up to” just one craziness after another.
tryingadjectiveUS /ˈtraɪɪŋ/
hard to endure
From this reading And Missy felt shy at trying to explain it was because the wasp was stinging her LEG.
understandverbUS /ˌʌndərˈstænd/
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading Mother, who could generally be counted on for tenderness even when she failed to “understand,” rather unfortunately centred on the wasp detail--why had Missy just stood there and let it keep stinging her?
unfortunatelyadverbUS /ənˈfɔːrtʃənətli/
by bad luck
From this reading Mother, who could generally be counted on for tenderness even when she failed to “understand,” rather unfortunately centred on the wasp detail--why had Missy just stood there and let it keep stinging her?
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Aunt Nettie attributed the blame broadly to “that O'Neill girl”; she asserted that ever since Tess O'Neill had come to live in Cherryvale Missy had been “up to” just one craziness after another.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Missy was embroiled in a catastrophe, a tangle of embarrassments and odd complications.
waspnounUS /wɑːsp/
a white person of Anglo-Saxon ancestry who belongs to a Protestant denomination
From this reading Mother, who could generally be counted on for tenderness even when she failed to “understand,” rather unfortunately centred on the wasp detail--why had Missy just stood there and let it keep stinging her?
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Mother, who could generally be counted on for tenderness even when she failed to “understand,” rather unfortunately centred on the wasp detail--why had Missy just stood there and let it keep stinging her?
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Mother, who could generally be counted on for tenderness even when she failed to “understand,” rather unfortunately centred on the wasp detail--why had Missy just stood there and let it keep stinging her?
whynounUS /waɪ/
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Mother, who could generally be counted on for tenderness even when she failed to “understand,” rather unfortunately centred on the wasp detail--why had Missy just stood there and let it keep stinging her?
yearsnounUS /jɪrz/
a late time of life
From this reading But then Aunt Nettie was an old maid--Missy couldn't imagine her as EVER having been fifteen years old.
