used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading SWEETS AND FAIRIES “And if you don’t get muddy, but pick your way nicely, we’ll go to the village shop and buy a pennyworth of sweets,” said Nurse the next day, when they started out for their walk.
absentmindedlyadverb
in an absentminded or preoccupied manner
From this reading “Yes, if you like,” said Nurse absentmindedly.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading “May I pick some primroses if I see them?” asked Peggy, dancing along.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading There never were any on the high road, where Nurse generally chose to walk, but still there was always the chance there _might_ be one day, and it was well to get permission beforehand.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading SWEETS AND FAIRIES “And if you don’t get muddy, but pick your way nicely, we’ll go to the village shop and buy a pennyworth of sweets,” said Nurse the next day, when they started out for their walk.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading There never were any on the high road, where Nurse generally chose to walk, but still there was always the chance there _might_ be one day, and it was well to get permission beforehand.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “May I pick some primroses if I see them?” asked Peggy, dancing along.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There never were any on the high road, where Nurse generally chose to walk, but still there was always the chance there _might_ be one day, and it was well to get permission beforehand.
beforehandadjectiveUS /bɪˈfɔːrhænd/
being ahead of time or need
From this reading There never were any on the high road, where Nurse generally chose to walk, but still there was always the chance there _might_ be one day, and it was well to get permission beforehand.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading She was very busy trying to see into a cab that had just passed, and didn’t really hear.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading SWEETS AND FAIRIES “And if you don’t get muddy, but pick your way nicely, we’ll go to the village shop and buy a pennyworth of sweets,” said Nurse the next day, when they started out for their walk.
obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction
From this reading SWEETS AND FAIRIES “And if you don’t get muddy, but pick your way nicely, we’ll go to the village shop and buy a pennyworth of sweets,” said Nurse the next day, when they started out for their walk.
cabnounUS /kæb/
a compartment at the front of a motor vehicle or locomotive where driver sits
From this reading She was very busy trying to see into a cab that had just passed, and didn’t really hear.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading There never were any on the high road, where Nurse generally chose to walk, but still there was always the chance there _might_ be one day, and it was well to get permission beforehand.
inflected form of “choose” — pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading There never were any on the high road, where Nurse generally chose to walk, but still there was always the chance there _might_ be one day, and it was well to get permission beforehand.
taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music
From this reading “May I pick some primroses if I see them?” asked Peggy, dancing along.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading SWEETS AND FAIRIES “And if you don’t get muddy, but pick your way nicely, we’ll go to the village shop and buy a pennyworth of sweets,” said Nurse the next day, when they started out for their walk.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was very busy trying to see into a cab that had just passed, and didn’t really hear.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SWEETS AND FAIRIES “And if you don’t get muddy, but pick your way nicely, we’ll go to the village shop and buy a pennyworth of sweets,” said Nurse the next day, when they started out for their walk.
FAIRIESnounUS /ˈferiz/
plural of “fairy” — a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers
From this reading SWEETS AND FAIRIES “And if you don’t get muddy, but pick your way nicely, we’ll go to the village shop and buy a pennyworth of sweets,” said Nurse the next day, when they started out for their walk.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading SWEETS AND FAIRIES “And if you don’t get muddy, but pick your way nicely, we’ll go to the village shop and buy a pennyworth of sweets,” said Nurse the next day, when they started out for their walk.
usually; as a rule
From this reading There never were any on the high road, where Nurse generally chose to walk, but still there was always the chance there _might_ be one day, and it was well to get permission beforehand.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading SWEETS AND FAIRIES “And if you don’t get muddy, but pick your way nicely, we’ll go to the village shop and buy a pennyworth of sweets,” said Nurse the next day, when they started out for their walk.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading SWEETS AND FAIRIES “And if you don’t get muddy, but pick your way nicely, we’ll go to the village shop and buy a pennyworth of sweets,” said Nurse the next day, when they started out for their walk.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She was very busy trying to see into a cab that had just passed, and didn’t really hear.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading She was very busy trying to see into a cab that had just passed, and didn’t really hear.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading There never were any on the high road, where Nurse generally chose to walk, but still there was always the chance there _might_ be one day, and it was well to get permission beforehand.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “May I pick some primroses if I see them?” asked Peggy, dancing along.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading SWEETS AND FAIRIES “And if you don’t get muddy, but pick your way nicely, we’ll go to the village shop and buy a pennyworth of sweets,” said Nurse the next day, when they started out for their walk.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading She was very busy trying to see into a cab that had just passed, and didn’t really hear.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There never were any on the high road, where Nurse generally chose to walk, but still there was always the chance there _might_ be one day, and it was well to get permission beforehand.
and nothing more
From this reading She was very busy trying to see into a cab that had just passed, and didn’t really hear.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading “Yes, if you like,” said Nurse absentmindedly.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading “May I pick some primroses if I see them?” asked Peggy, dancing along.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading There never were any on the high road, where Nurse generally chose to walk, but still there was always the chance there _might_ be one day, and it was well to get permission beforehand.
muddyadjectiveUS /ˈmʌdi/
(of soil) soft and watery
From this reading SWEETS AND FAIRIES “And if you don’t get muddy, but pick your way nicely, we’ll go to the village shop and buy a pennyworth of sweets,” said Nurse the next day, when they started out for their walk.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading There never were any on the high road, where Nurse generally chose to walk, but still there was always the chance there _might_ be one day, and it was well to get permission beforehand.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading SWEETS AND FAIRIES “And if you don’t get muddy, but pick your way nicely, we’ll go to the village shop and buy a pennyworth of sweets,” said Nurse the next day, when they started out for their walk.
nicelyadverbUS /ˈnaɪsli/
in a nice way
From this reading SWEETS AND FAIRIES “And if you don’t get muddy, but pick your way nicely, we’ll go to the village shop and buy a pennyworth of sweets,” said Nurse the next day, when they started out for their walk.
try to cure by special care of treatment, of an illness or injury
From this reading SWEETS AND FAIRIES “And if you don’t get muddy, but pick your way nicely, we’ll go to the village shop and buy a pennyworth of sweets,” said Nurse the next day, when they started out for their walk.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading SWEETS AND FAIRIES “And if you don’t get muddy, but pick your way nicely, we’ll go to the village shop and buy a pennyworth of sweets,” said Nurse the next day, when they started out for their walk.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There never were any on the high road, where Nurse generally chose to walk, but still there was always the chance there _might_ be one day, and it was well to get permission beforehand.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There never were any on the high road, where Nurse generally chose to walk, but still there was always the chance there _might_ be one day, and it was well to get permission beforehand.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading SWEETS AND FAIRIES “And if you don’t get muddy, but pick your way nicely, we’ll go to the village shop and buy a pennyworth of sweets,” said Nurse the next day, when they started out for their walk.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading She was very busy trying to see into a cab that had just passed, and didn’t really hear.
Peggy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “May I pick some primroses if I see them?” asked Peggy, dancing along.
pennyworthnoun
the amount that can be bought for a penny
From this reading SWEETS AND FAIRIES “And if you don’t get muddy, but pick your way nicely, we’ll go to the village shop and buy a pennyworth of sweets,” said Nurse the next day, when they started out for their walk.
approval to do something
From this reading There never were any on the high road, where Nurse generally chose to walk, but still there was always the chance there _might_ be one day, and it was well to get permission beforehand.
select carefully from a group
From this reading SWEETS AND FAIRIES “And if you don’t get muddy, but pick your way nicely, we’ll go to the village shop and buy a pennyworth of sweets,” said Nurse the next day, when they started out for their walk.
primrosesnounUS /ˈprɪmroʊzəz/
plural of “primrose” — any of numerous short-stemmed plants of the genus Primula having tufted basal leaves and showy flowers clustered in umbels or heads
From this reading “May I pick some primroses if I see them?” asked Peggy, dancing along.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading She was very busy trying to see into a cab that had just passed, and didn’t really hear.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading There never were any on the high road, where Nurse generally chose to walk, but still there was always the chance there _might_ be one day, and it was well to get permission beforehand.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading SWEETS AND FAIRIES “And if you don’t get muddy, but pick your way nicely, we’ll go to the village shop and buy a pennyworth of sweets,” said Nurse the next day, when they started out for their walk.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading “May I pick some primroses if I see them?” asked Peggy, dancing along.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was very busy trying to see into a cab that had just passed, and didn’t really hear.
do one's shopping
From this reading SWEETS AND FAIRIES “And if you don’t get muddy, but pick your way nicely, we’ll go to the village shop and buy a pennyworth of sweets,” said Nurse the next day, when they started out for their walk.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading “May I pick some primroses if I see them?” asked Peggy, dancing along.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading SWEETS AND FAIRIES “And if you don’t get muddy, but pick your way nicely, we’ll go to the village shop and buy a pennyworth of sweets,” said Nurse the next day, when they started out for their walk.
not in physical motion
From this reading There never were any on the high road, where Nurse generally chose to walk, but still there was always the chance there _might_ be one day, and it was well to get permission beforehand.
SWEETSnounUS /swiːts/
plural of “sweet” — English phonetician; one of the founders of modern phonetics (1845-1912)
From this reading SWEETS AND FAIRIES “And if you don’t get muddy, but pick your way nicely, we’ll go to the village shop and buy a pennyworth of sweets,” said Nurse the next day, when they started out for their walk.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She was very busy trying to see into a cab that had just passed, and didn’t really hear.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SWEETS AND FAIRIES “And if you don’t get muddy, but pick your way nicely, we’ll go to the village shop and buy a pennyworth of sweets,” said Nurse the next day, when they started out for their walk.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading SWEETS AND FAIRIES “And if you don’t get muddy, but pick your way nicely, we’ll go to the village shop and buy a pennyworth of sweets,” said Nurse the next day, when they started out for their walk.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading “May I pick some primroses if I see them?” asked Peggy, dancing along.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There never were any on the high road, where Nurse generally chose to walk, but still there was always the chance there _might_ be one day, and it was well to get permission beforehand.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading SWEETS AND FAIRIES “And if you don’t get muddy, but pick your way nicely, we’ll go to the village shop and buy a pennyworth of sweets,” said Nurse the next day, when they started out for their walk.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading SWEETS AND FAIRIES “And if you don’t get muddy, but pick your way nicely, we’ll go to the village shop and buy a pennyworth of sweets,” said Nurse the next day, when they started out for their walk.
hard to endure
From this reading She was very busy trying to see into a cab that had just passed, and didn’t really hear.
precisely as stated
From this reading She was very busy trying to see into a cab that had just passed, and didn’t really hear.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading SWEETS AND FAIRIES “And if you don’t get muddy, but pick your way nicely, we’ll go to the village shop and buy a pennyworth of sweets,” said Nurse the next day, when they started out for their walk.
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading SWEETS AND FAIRIES “And if you don’t get muddy, but pick your way nicely, we’ll go to the village shop and buy a pennyworth of sweets,” said Nurse the next day, when they started out for their walk.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There never were any on the high road, where Nurse generally chose to walk, but still there was always the chance there _might_ be one day, and it was well to get permission beforehand.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading SWEETS AND FAIRIES “And if you don’t get muddy, but pick your way nicely, we’ll go to the village shop and buy a pennyworth of sweets,” said Nurse the next day, when they started out for their walk.
we'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SWEETS AND FAIRIES “And if you don’t get muddy, but pick your way nicely, we’ll go to the village shop and buy a pennyworth of sweets,” said Nurse the next day, when they started out for their walk.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading There never were any on the high road, where Nurse generally chose to walk, but still there was always the chance there _might_ be one day, and it was well to get permission beforehand.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There never were any on the high road, where Nurse generally chose to walk, but still there was always the chance there _might_ be one day, and it was well to get permission beforehand.
at the time that
From this reading SWEETS AND FAIRIES “And if you don’t get muddy, but pick your way nicely, we’ll go to the village shop and buy a pennyworth of sweets,” said Nurse the next day, when they started out for their walk.
in or at the place that
From this reading There never were any on the high road, where Nurse generally chose to walk, but still there was always the chance there _might_ be one day, and it was well to get permission beforehand.
an affirmative
From this reading “Yes, if you like,” said Nurse absentmindedly.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading SWEETS AND FAIRIES “And if you don’t get muddy, but pick your way nicely, we’ll go to the village shop and buy a pennyworth of sweets,” said Nurse the next day, when they started out for their walk.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading SWEETS AND FAIRIES “And if you don’t get muddy, but pick your way nicely, we’ll go to the village shop and buy a pennyworth of sweets,” said Nurse the next day, when they started out for their walk.
