used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Marcus was off downstairs, three steps at a time—scattering housemaids as he went, out on to the sea-front, and finally reached the Madders’ door just as the cocoa was pronounced ready.
(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 “Oh, you’re just in time!” they all cried, as he came into the room.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Marcus was off downstairs, three steps at a time—scattering housemaids as he went, out on to the sea-front, and finally reached the Madders’ door just as the cocoa was pronounced ready.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading “Rose, fetch another cup and a spoon; no, you must share spoons.”
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Marcus was off downstairs, three steps at a time—scattering housemaids as he went, out on to the sea-front, and finally reached the Madders’ door just as the cocoa was pronounced ready.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “What is it?” asked Rose, who was quick to see that something was wrong.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Marcus was off downstairs, three steps at a time—scattering housemaids as he went, out on to the sea-front, and finally reached the Madders’ door just as the cocoa was pronounced ready.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading “Oh, you’re just in time!” they all cried, as he came into the room.
cocoanounUS /ˈkoʊkoʊ/
a beverage made from cocoa powder and milk and sugar; usually drunk hot
From this reading Marcus was off downstairs, three steps at a time—scattering housemaids as he went, out on to the sea-front, and finally reached the Madders’ door just as the cocoa was pronounced ready.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading “Oh, you’re just in time!” they all cried, as he came into the room.
a small open container usually used for drinking; usually has a handle
From this reading “Rose, fetch another cup and a spoon; no, you must share spoons.”
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Marcus was off downstairs, three steps at a time—scattering housemaids as he went, out on to the sea-front, and finally reached the Madders’ door just as the cocoa was pronounced ready.
downstairsadverbUS /ˈdaʊnˈsterz/
on a floor below
From this reading Marcus was off downstairs, three steps at a time—scattering housemaids as he went, out on to the sea-front, and finally reached the Madders’ door just as the cocoa was pronounced ready.
go or come after and bring or take back
From this reading “Rose, fetch another cup and a spoon; no, you must share spoons.”
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading Marcus was off downstairs, three steps at a time—scattering housemaids as he went, out on to the sea-front, and finally reached the Madders’ door just as the cocoa was pronounced ready.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Marcus was off downstairs, three steps at a time—scattering housemaids as he went, out on to the sea-front, and finally reached the Madders’ door just as the cocoa was pronounced ready.
housemaids
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marcus was off downstairs, three steps at a time—scattering housemaids as he went, out on to the sea-front, and finally reached the Madders’ door just as the cocoa was pronounced ready.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “Oh, you’re just in time!” they all cried, as he came into the room.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading “Oh, you’re just in time!” they all cried, as he came into the room.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “What is it?” asked Rose, who was quick to see that something was wrong.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “What is it?” asked Rose, who was quick to see that something was wrong.
and nothing more
From this reading Marcus was off downstairs, three steps at a time—scattering housemaids as he went, out on to the sea-front, and finally reached the Madders’ door just as the cocoa was pronounced ready.
Madders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marcus was off downstairs, three steps at a time—scattering housemaids as he went, out on to the sea-front, and finally reached the Madders’ door just as the cocoa was pronounced ready.
Marcus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marcus was off downstairs, three steps at a time—scattering housemaids as he went, out on to the sea-front, and finally reached the Madders’ door just as the cocoa was pronounced ready.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading “Rose, fetch another cup and a spoon; no, you must share spoons.”
not any; not one
From this reading “Rose, fetch another cup and a spoon; no, you must share spoons.”
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Marcus was off downstairs, three steps at a time—scattering housemaids as he went, out on to the sea-front, and finally reached the Madders’ door just as the cocoa was pronounced ready.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading “Oh, you’re just in time!” they all cried, as he came into the room.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Marcus was off downstairs, three steps at a time—scattering housemaids as he went, out on to the sea-front, and finally reached the Madders’ door just as the cocoa was pronounced ready.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Marcus was off downstairs, three steps at a time—scattering housemaids as he went, out on to the sea-front, and finally reached the Madders’ door just as the cocoa was pronounced ready.
pronouncedadjectiveUS /prəˈnaʊnst/
strongly marked; easily noticeable
From this reading Marcus was off downstairs, three steps at a time—scattering housemaids as he went, out on to the sea-front, and finally reached the Madders’ door just as the cocoa was pronounced ready.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading “What is it?” asked Rose, who was quick to see that something was wrong.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Marcus was off downstairs, three steps at a time—scattering housemaids as he went, out on to the sea-front, and finally reached the Madders’ door just as the cocoa was pronounced ready.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading Marcus was off downstairs, three steps at a time—scattering housemaids as he went, out on to the sea-front, and finally reached the Madders’ door just as the cocoa was pronounced ready.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading “Oh, you’re just in time!” they all cried, as he came into the room.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading “Rose, fetch another cup and a spoon; no, you must share spoons.”
scatteringnounUS /ˈskætərɪŋ/
a small number (of something) dispersed haphazardly
From this reading Marcus was off downstairs, three steps at a time—scattering housemaids as he went, out on to the sea-front, and finally reached the Madders’ door just as the cocoa was pronounced ready.
sea-front
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marcus was off downstairs, three steps at a time—scattering housemaids as he went, out on to the sea-front, and finally reached the Madders’ door just as the cocoa was pronounced ready.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading “What is it?” asked Rose, who was quick to see that something was wrong.
have in common
From this reading “Rose, fetch another cup and a spoon; no, you must share spoons.”
a thing, without saying which
From this reading “What is it?” asked Rose, who was quick to see that something was wrong.
spoonnounUS /spuːn/
a piece of cutlery with a shallow bowl-shaped container and a handle; used to stir or serve or take up food
From this reading “Rose, fetch another cup and a spoon; no, you must share spoons.”
spoonsnounUS /spuːnz/
plural of “spoon” — a piece of cutlery with a shallow bowl-shaped container and a handle; used to stir or serve or take up food
From this reading “Rose, fetch another cup and a spoon; no, you must share spoons.”
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Marcus was off downstairs, three steps at a time—scattering housemaids as he went, out on to the sea-front, and finally reached the Madders’ door just as the cocoa was pronounced ready.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “What is it?” asked Rose, who was quick to see that something was wrong.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Marcus was off downstairs, three steps at a time—scattering housemaids as he went, out on to the sea-front, and finally reached the Madders’ door just as the cocoa was pronounced ready.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Oh, you’re just in time!” they all cried, as he came into the room.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Marcus was off downstairs, three steps at a time—scattering housemaids as he went, out on to the sea-front, and finally reached the Madders’ door just as the cocoa was pronounced ready.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Marcus was off downstairs, three steps at a time—scattering housemaids as he went, out on to the sea-front, and finally reached the Madders’ door just as the cocoa was pronounced ready.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Marcus was off downstairs, three steps at a time—scattering housemaids as he went, out on to the sea-front, and finally reached the Madders’ door just as the cocoa was pronounced ready.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Marcus was off downstairs, three steps at a time—scattering housemaids as he went, out on to the sea-front, and finally reached the Madders’ door just as the cocoa was pronounced ready.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Marcus was off downstairs, three steps at a time—scattering housemaids as he went, out on to the sea-front, and finally reached the Madders’ door just as the cocoa was pronounced ready.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “What is it?” asked Rose, who was quick to see that something was wrong.
which person or people
From this reading “What is it?” asked Rose, who was quick to see that something was wrong.
not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
From this reading “What is it?” asked Rose, who was quick to see that something was wrong.
an affirmative
From this reading “Yes.”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Rose, fetch another cup and a spoon; no, you must share spoons.”
you're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Oh, you’re just in time!” they all cried, as he came into the room.
