adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There is no boredom (not even an invalid's) comparable to that of a boy who has nothing to do.
actuallyadverbUS /ˈæktʃuːəli/
in actual fact
From this reading But when a boy has nothing to do, he has actually nothing at all to do; his state is pathetic, and when he complains of it his voice is haunting.
affectationnounUS /ˌæfekˈteɪʃən/
a deliberate pretense or exaggerated display
From this reading Grown women never say they have nothing to do, and when girls or little girls say they have nothing to do, they are merely airing an affectation.
afternoonnounUS /ˌæftərˈnuːn/
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
airingnounUS /ˈerɪŋ/
the opening of a subject to widespread discussion and debate
From this reading Grown women never say they have nothing to do, and when girls or little girls say they have nothing to do, they are merely airing an affectation.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 But when a boy has nothing to do, he has actually nothing at all to do; his state is pathetic, and when he complains of it his voice is haunting.
alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading When a man says he has nothing to do, he speaks idly; there is always more than he can do.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There is no boredom (not even an invalid's) comparable to that of a boy who has nothing to do.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Grown women never say they have nothing to do, and when girls or little girls say they have nothing to do, they are merely airing an affectation.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Grown women never say they have nothing to do, and when girls or little girls say they have nothing to do, they are merely airing an affectation.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But when a boy has nothing to do, he has actually nothing at all to do; his state is pathetic, and when he complains of it his voice is haunting.
boredomnounUS /ˈbɔːrdəm/
the feeling of being bored by something tedious
From this reading There is no boredom (not even an invalid's) comparable to that of a boy who has nothing to do.
boynounUS /bɔɪ/
a youthful male person
From this reading There is no boredom (not even an invalid's) comparable to that of a boy who has nothing to do.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But when a boy has nothing to do, he has actually nothing at all to do; his state is pathetic, and when he complains of it his voice is haunting.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading When a man says he has nothing to do, he speaks idly; there is always more than he can do.
comparableadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmpərəbəl/
able to be compared or worthy of comparison
From this reading There is no boredom (not even an invalid's) comparable to that of a boy who has nothing to do.
complainsverbUS /kəmˈpleɪnz/
third-person singular of “complain” — express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness
From this reading But when a boy has nothing to do, he has actually nothing at all to do; his state is pathetic, and when he complains of it his voice is haunting.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading There is no boredom (not even an invalid's) comparable to that of a boy who has nothing to do.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
employmentnounUS /emˈplɔɪmənt/
the state of being employed or having a job
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
entertainmentnounUS /ˌentərˈteɪnmənt/
an activity that is diverting and that holds the attention
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading There is no boredom (not even an invalid's) comparable to that of a boy who has nothing to do.
FebruarynounUS /ˈfebjəweri/
the month following January and preceding March
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
girlsnounUS /ɡɜːrlz/
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading Grown women never say they have nothing to do, and when girls or little girls say they have nothing to do, they are merely airing an affectation.
GrownadjectiveUS /ɡroʊn/
(of animals) fully developed
From this reading Grown women never say they have nothing to do, and when girls or little girls say they have nothing to do, they are merely airing an affectation.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There is no boredom (not even an invalid's) comparable to that of a boy who has nothing to do.
hauntingadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːntɪŋ/
continually recurring to the mind
From this reading But when a boy has nothing to do, he has actually nothing at all to do; his state is pathetic, and when he complains of it his voice is haunting.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Grown women never say they have nothing to do, and when girls or little girls say they have nothing to do, they are merely airing an affectation.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When a man says he has nothing to do, he speaks idly; there is always more than he can do.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But when a boy has nothing to do, he has actually nothing at all to do; his state is pathetic, and when he complains of it his voice is haunting.
idlyadverbUS /ˈaɪdli/
in an idle manner
From this reading When a man says he has nothing to do, he speaks idly; there is always more than he can do.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
invalid's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is no boredom (not even an invalid's) comparable to that of a boy who has nothing to do.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There is no boredom (not even an invalid's) comparable to that of a boy who has nothing to do.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But when a boy has nothing to do, he has actually nothing at all to do; his state is pathetic, and when he complains of it his voice is haunting.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Grown women never say they have nothing to do, and when girls or little girls say they have nothing to do, they are merely airing an affectation.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading When a man says he has nothing to do, he speaks idly; there is always more than he can do.
merelyadverbUS /ˈmɪrli/
and nothing more
From this reading Grown women never say they have nothing to do, and when girls or little girls say they have nothing to do, they are merely airing an affectation.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading When a man says he has nothing to do, he speaks idly; there is always more than he can do.
MrsnounUS /ˈmɪsɪz/
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Grown women never say they have nothing to do, and when girls or little girls say they have nothing to do, they are merely airing an affectation.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading There is no boredom (not even an invalid's) comparable to that of a boy who has nothing to do.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There is no boredom (not even an invalid's) comparable to that of a boy who has nothing to do.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading There is no boredom (not even an invalid's) comparable to that of a boy who has nothing to do.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There is no boredom (not even an invalid's) comparable to that of a boy who has nothing to do.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Grown women never say they have nothing to do, and when girls or little girls say they have nothing to do, they are merely airing an affectation.
patheticadjectiveUS /pəˈθetɪk/
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading But when a boy has nothing to do, he has actually nothing at all to do; his state is pathetic, and when he complains of it his voice is haunting.
qualitynounUS /ˈkwɑːləti/
an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
SaturdaynounUS /ˈsætərdi/
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
sayverbUS /seɪ/
express in words
From this reading Grown women never say they have nothing to do, and when girls or little girls say they have nothing to do, they are merely airing an affectation.
saysnounUS /sez/
plural of “say” — the chance to speak
From this reading When a man says he has nothing to do, he speaks idly; there is always more than he can do.
Schofield
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
searchverbUS /sɜːrtʃ/
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
sonnounUS /sʌn/
a male human offspring
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
speaksverbUS /spiːks/
third-person singular of “speak” — express in speech
From this reading When a man says he has nothing to do, he speaks idly; there is always more than he can do.
statenounUS /steɪt/
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading But when a boy has nothing to do, he has actually nothing at all to do; his state is pathetic, and when he complains of it his voice is haunting.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading When a man says he has nothing to do, he speaks idly; there is always more than he can do.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There is no boredom (not even an invalid's) comparable to that of a boy who has nothing to do.
thawnounUS /θɔː/
the process whereby heat changes something from a solid to a liquid
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
ThereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading There is no boredom (not even an invalid's) comparable to that of a boy who has nothing to do.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Grown women never say they have nothing to do, and when girls or little girls say they have nothing to do, they are merely airing an affectation.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
thriceadverbUS /θraɪs/
three times
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There is no boredom (not even an invalid's) comparable to that of a boy who has nothing to do.
troubledadjectiveUS /ˈtrʌbəld/
characterized by or indicative of distress or affliction or danger or need
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
uncomfortableadjectiveUS /ənˈkʌmfərtəbəl/
conducive to or feeling mental discomfort
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
voicenounUS /vɔɪs/
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading But when a boy has nothing to do, he has actually nothing at all to do; his state is pathetic, and when he complains of it his voice is haunting.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When a man says he has nothing to do, he speaks idly; there is always more than he can do.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading There is no boredom (not even an invalid's) comparable to that of a boy who has nothing to do.
womennounUS /ˈwɪmən/
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Grown women never say they have nothing to do, and when girls or little girls say they have nothing to do, they are merely airing an affectation.
