aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Of course Uncle John would be horrified if he were to know about her plans for the coming evening.
a person or thing that is a resource that helps make something easier or possible to do
From this reading Phœbe was killing time—yet pleasantly, with the aid of “Airy, Fairy Lillian.”
AiryadjectiveUS /ˈeri/
open to or abounding in fresh air
From this reading Phœbe was killing time—yet pleasantly, with the aid of “Airy, Fairy Lillian.”
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading “Phœbe, dear,” cried Uncle John, “I am the happiest of men!”
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She kept it boldly in her lap as this more formidable of her uncles paused beside her chair.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Of course Uncle John would be horrified if he were to know about her plans for the coming evening.
next to; at the side of
From this reading She kept it boldly in her lap as this more formidable of her uncles paused beside her chair.
boldlyadverbUS /ˈboʊldli/
with boldness, in a bold manner
From this reading She kept it boldly in her lap as this more formidable of her uncles paused beside her chair.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She was not rebellious now, but she was determined.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading She kept it boldly in her lap as this more formidable of her uncles paused beside her chair.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading Of course Uncle John would be horrified if he were to know about her plans for the coming evening.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Of course Uncle John would be horrified if he were to know about her plans for the coming evening.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading “Phœbe, dear,” cried Uncle John, “I am the happiest of men!”
dearly loved
From this reading “Phœbe, dear,” cried Uncle John, “I am the happiest of men!”
characterized by great determination
From this reading She was not rebellious now, but she was determined.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Of course Uncle John would be horrified if he were to know about her plans for the coming evening.
a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers
From this reading Phœbe was killing time—yet pleasantly, with the aid of “Airy, Fairy Lillian.”
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Of course Uncle John would be horrified if he were to know about her plans for the coming evening.
formidableadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrmədəbəl/
extremely impressive in strength or excellence
From this reading She kept it boldly in her lap as this more formidable of her uncles paused beside her chair.
happiestadjectiveUS /ˈhæpiəst/
superlative of “happy” — enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading “Phœbe, dear,” cried Uncle John, “I am the happiest of men!”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Of course Uncle John would be horrified if he were to know about her plans for the coming evening.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She kept it boldly in her lap as this more formidable of her uncles paused beside her chair.
horrifiedadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːrəfaɪd/
stricken with horror
From this reading Of course Uncle John would be horrified if he were to know about her plans for the coming evening.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Phœbe, dear,” cried Uncle John, “I am the happiest of men!”
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Of course Uncle John would be horrified if he were to know about her plans for the coming evening.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She kept it boldly in her lap as this more formidable of her uncles paused beside her chair.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She kept it boldly in her lap as this more formidable of her uncles paused beside her chair.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading “Phœbe, dear,” cried Uncle John, “I am the happiest of men!”
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading She kept it boldly in her lap as this more formidable of her uncles paused beside her chair.
killingnounUS /ˈkɪlɪŋ/
an event that causes someone to die
From this reading Phœbe was killing time—yet pleasantly, with the aid of “Airy, Fairy Lillian.”
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Of course Uncle John would be horrified if he were to know about her plans for the coming evening.
lapverbUS /læp/
lie partly over or alongside of something or of one another
From this reading She kept it boldly in her lap as this more formidable of her uncles paused beside her chair.
Lillian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Phœbe was killing time—yet pleasantly, with the aid of “Airy, Fairy Lillian.”
the force of workers available
From this reading “Phœbe, dear,” cried Uncle John, “I am the happiest of men!”
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading She kept it boldly in her lap as this more formidable of her uncles paused beside her chair.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She was not rebellious now, but she was determined.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading She was not rebellious now, but she was determined.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Phœbe, dear,” cried Uncle John, “I am the happiest of men!”
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading She kept it boldly in her lap as this more formidable of her uncles paused beside her chair.
Phœbe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Phœbe, dear,” cried Uncle John, “I am the happiest of men!”
plural of “plan” — a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished
From this reading Of course Uncle John would be horrified if he were to know about her plans for the coming evening.
pleasantlyadverbUS /ˈplezəntli/
in a cheerful manner
From this reading Phœbe was killing time—yet pleasantly, with the aid of “Airy, Fairy Lillian.”
rebelliousadjectiveUS /rɪˈbeljəs/
resisting control or authority
From this reading She was not rebellious now, but she was determined.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She kept it boldly in her lap as this more formidable of her uncles paused beside her chair.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Phœbe, dear,” cried Uncle John, “I am the happiest of men!”
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading She kept it boldly in her lap as this more formidable of her uncles paused beside her chair.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Phœbe was killing time—yet pleasantly, with the aid of “Airy, Fairy Lillian.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Of course Uncle John would be horrified if he were to know about her plans for the coming evening.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading “Phœbe, dear,” cried Uncle John, “I am the happiest of men!”
unclesnounUS /ˈʌŋkəlz/
plural of “uncle” — the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading She kept it boldly in her lap as this more formidable of her uncles paused beside her chair.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Phœbe was killing time—yet pleasantly, with the aid of “Airy, Fairy Lillian.”
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Of course Uncle John would be horrified if he were to know about her plans for the coming evening.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Phœbe was killing time—yet pleasantly, with the aid of “Airy, Fairy Lillian.”
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Of course Uncle John would be horrified if he were to know about her plans for the coming evening.
but in spite of that
From this reading Phœbe was killing time—yet pleasantly, with the aid of “Airy, Fairy Lillian.”
