used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She was a red-haired girl, and apt to turn shirty at the least thing.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading We did not tell Matilda about it.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading It was locked up afterwards because the treacle got all over the green baize and the little drawers inside it while we were waiting to begin to make the pudding.
(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 It was locked up afterwards because the treacle got all over the green baize and the little drawers inside it while we were waiting to begin to make the pudding.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She was a red-haired girl, and apt to turn shirty at the least thing.
aptadjectiveUS /æpt/
(usually followed by “to”) naturally disposed toward
From this reading She was a red-haired girl, and apt to turn shirty at the least thing.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She was a red-haired girl, and apt to turn shirty at the least thing.
baizenounUS /beɪz/
a bright green fabric napped to resemble felt; used to cover gaming tables
From this reading It was locked up afterwards because the treacle got all over the green baize and the little drawers inside it while we were waiting to begin to make the pudding.
for the reason that
From this reading It was locked up afterwards because the treacle got all over the green baize and the little drawers inside it while we were waiting to begin to make the pudding.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading It was locked up afterwards because the treacle got all over the green baize and the little drawers inside it while we were waiting to begin to make the pudding.
bureaunounUS /ˈbjʊroʊ/
an administrative unit of government
From this reading It was the bureau drawer.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Concealed under our jackets and overcoats we carried the parcels up to the nursery, and hid them in the treasure-chest we had there.
not accessible to view
From this reading Concealed under our jackets and overcoats we carried the parcels up to the nursery, and hid them in the treasure-chest we had there.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading We did not tell Matilda about it.
drawernounUS /drɔːr/
a boxlike container in a piece of furniture; made so as to slide in and out
From this reading It was the bureau drawer.
drawersnounUS /drɔːrz/
underpants worn by men
From this reading It was locked up afterwards because the treacle got all over the green baize and the little drawers inside it while we were waiting to begin to make the pudding.
a young female
From this reading She was a red-haired girl, and apt to turn shirty at the least thing.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading It was locked up afterwards because the treacle got all over the green baize and the little drawers inside it while we were waiting to begin to make the pudding.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading It was locked up afterwards because the treacle got all over the green baize and the little drawers inside it while we were waiting to begin to make the pudding.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Concealed under our jackets and overcoats we carried the parcels up to the nursery, and hid them in the treasure-chest we had there.
inflected form of “hide” — prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading Concealed under our jackets and overcoats we carried the parcels up to the nursery, and hid them in the treasure-chest we had there.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Concealed under our jackets and overcoats we carried the parcels up to the nursery, and hid them in the treasure-chest we had there.
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading It was locked up afterwards because the treacle got all over the green baize and the little drawers inside it while we were waiting to begin to make the pudding.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading We did not tell Matilda about it.
jacketsnounUS /ˈdʒækɪts/
plural of “jacket” — a short coat
From this reading Concealed under our jackets and overcoats we carried the parcels up to the nursery, and hid them in the treasure-chest we had there.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading She was a red-haired girl, and apt to turn shirty at the least thing.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was locked up afterwards because the treacle got all over the green baize and the little drawers inside it while we were waiting to begin to make the pudding.
past form of “lock” — fasten with a lock
From this reading It was locked up afterwards because the treacle got all over the green baize and the little drawers inside it while we were waiting to begin to make the pudding.
engage in
From this reading It was locked up afterwards because the treacle got all over the green baize and the little drawers inside it while we were waiting to begin to make the pudding.
Matilda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We did not tell Matilda about it.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading We did not tell Matilda about it.
nurserynounUS /ˈnɜːrsəri/
a child's room for a baby
From this reading Concealed under our jackets and overcoats we carried the parcels up to the nursery, and hid them in the treasure-chest we had there.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Concealed under our jackets and overcoats we carried the parcels up to the nursery, and hid them in the treasure-chest we had there.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading It was locked up afterwards because the treacle got all over the green baize and the little drawers inside it while we were waiting to begin to make the pudding.
overcoatsnounUS /ˈoʊvərkoʊts/
plural of “overcoat” — a heavy coat worn over clothes in winter
From this reading Concealed under our jackets and overcoats we carried the parcels up to the nursery, and hid them in the treasure-chest we had there.
parcelsnounUS /ˈpɑːrsəlz/
plural of “parcel” — a wrapped container
From this reading Concealed under our jackets and overcoats we carried the parcels up to the nursery, and hid them in the treasure-chest we had there.
puddingnounUS /ˈpʊdɪŋ/
any of various soft thick unsweetened baked dishes
From this reading It was locked up afterwards because the treacle got all over the green baize and the little drawers inside it while we were waiting to begin to make the pudding.
red-haired
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was a red-haired girl, and apt to turn shirty at the least thing.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was a red-haired girl, and apt to turn shirty at the least thing.
shirtyadjective
(British informal) ill-tempered or annoyed
From this reading She was a red-haired girl, and apt to turn shirty at the least thing.
express in words
From this reading We did not tell Matilda about it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She was a red-haired girl, and apt to turn shirty at the least thing.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Concealed under our jackets and overcoats we carried the parcels up to the nursery, and hid them in the treasure-chest we had there.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Concealed under our jackets and overcoats we carried the parcels up to the nursery, and hid them in the treasure-chest we had there.
a special situation
From this reading She was a red-haired girl, and apt to turn shirty at the least thing.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She was a red-haired girl, and apt to turn shirty at the least thing.
treaclenoun
a pale cane syrup
From this reading It was locked up afterwards because the treacle got all over the green baize and the little drawers inside it while we were waiting to begin to make the pudding.
treasure-chest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Concealed under our jackets and overcoats we carried the parcels up to the nursery, and hid them in the treasure-chest we had there.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading She was a red-haired girl, and apt to turn shirty at the least thing.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Concealed under our jackets and overcoats we carried the parcels up to the nursery, and hid them in the treasure-chest we had there.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Concealed under our jackets and overcoats we carried the parcels up to the nursery, and hid them in the treasure-chest we had there.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading It was locked up afterwards because the treacle got all over the green baize and the little drawers inside it while we were waiting to begin to make the pudding.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was a red-haired girl, and apt to turn shirty at the least thing.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We did not tell Matilda about it.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was locked up afterwards because the treacle got all over the green baize and the little drawers inside it while we were waiting to begin to make the pudding.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading It was locked up afterwards because the treacle got all over the green baize and the little drawers inside it while we were waiting to begin to make the pudding.
