used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "We will try and not complain," they answered, in a tone that showed they would be much inclined to do so if they had the trial.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "No, my dears, I expect him every minute; but he may be detained by business, and you must not be disappointed if he should not come as soon as you desire."
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading "We will try and not complain," they answered, in a tone that showed they would be much inclined to do so if they had the trial.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "No, my dears, I expect him every minute; but he may be detained by business, and you must not be disappointed if he should not come as soon as you desire."
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading "You need not frighten yourselves," said their aunt; "he is now on the stairs."
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Mama, do you think he will be long?"
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading "Papa has promised to come home early this evening," repeated the children to each other; "we must not begin without him.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading "No, my dears, I expect him every minute; but he may be detained by business, and you must not be disappointed if he should not come as soon as you desire."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "No, my dears, I expect him every minute; but he may be detained by business, and you must not be disappointed if he should not come as soon as you desire."
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "No, my dears, I expect him every minute; but he may be detained by business, and you must not be disappointed if he should not come as soon as you desire."
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading "Papa has promised to come home early this evening," repeated the children to each other; "we must not begin without him.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "Papa has promised to come home early this evening," repeated the children to each other; "we must not begin without him.
complainverbUS /kəmˈpleɪn/
express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness
From this reading "We will try and not complain," they answered, in a tone that showed they would be much inclined to do so if they had the trial.
dears
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No, my dears, I expect him every minute; but he may be detained by business, and you must not be disappointed if he should not come as soon as you desire."
the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state
From this reading "No, my dears, I expect him every minute; but he may be detained by business, and you must not be disappointed if he should not come as soon as you desire."
detainedverbUS /dɪˈteɪnd/
past form of “detain” — deprive of freedom; take into confinement
From this reading "No, my dears, I expect him every minute; but he may be detained by business, and you must not be disappointed if he should not come as soon as you desire."
disappointingly unsuccessful
From this reading "No, my dears, I expect him every minute; but he may be detained by business, and you must not be disappointed if he should not come as soon as you desire."
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Mama, do you think he will be long?"
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading "Papa has promised to come home early this evening," repeated the children to each other; "we must not begin without him.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading "Papa has promised to come home early this evening," repeated the children to each other; "we must not begin without him.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading "Papa has promised to come home early this evening," repeated the children to each other; "we must not begin without him.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading "No, my dears, I expect him every minute; but he may be detained by business, and you must not be disappointed if he should not come as soon as you desire."
regard something as probable or likely
From this reading "No, my dears, I expect him every minute; but he may be detained by business, and you must not be disappointed if he should not come as soon as you desire."
frightenverbUS /ˈfraɪtən/
cause fear in
From this reading "You need not frighten yourselves," said their aunt; "he is now on the stairs."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "We will try and not complain," they answered, in a tone that showed they would be much inclined to do so if they had the trial.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Papa has promised to come home early this evening," repeated the children to each other; "we must not begin without him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mama, do you think he will be long?"
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Papa has promised to come home early this evening," repeated the children to each other; "we must not begin without him.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading "Papa has promised to come home early this evening," repeated the children to each other; "we must not begin without him.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "No, my dears, I expect him every minute; but he may be detained by business, and you must not be disappointed if he should not come as soon as you desire."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "No, my dears, I expect him every minute; but he may be detained by business, and you must not be disappointed if he should not come as soon as you desire."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "We will try and not complain," they answered, in a tone that showed they would be much inclined to do so if they had the trial.
(often followed by “to”) having a preference, disposition, or tendency
From this reading "We will try and not complain," they answered, in a tone that showed they would be much inclined to do so if they had the trial.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "You need not frighten yourselves," said their aunt; "he is now on the stairs."
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Mama, do you think he will be long?"
MamanounUS /ˈmɑːmə/
informal terms for a mother
From this reading Mama, do you think he will be long?"
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading "No, my dears, I expect him every minute; but he may be detained by business, and you must not be disappointed if he should not come as soon as you desire."
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading "No, my dears, I expect him every minute; but he may be detained by business, and you must not be disappointed if he should not come as soon as you desire."
to a great degree or extent
From this reading "We will try and not complain," they answered, in a tone that showed they would be much inclined to do so if they had the trial.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "Papa has promised to come home early this evening," repeated the children to each other; "we must not begin without him.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "No, my dears, I expect him every minute; but he may be detained by business, and you must not be disappointed if he should not come as soon as you desire."
a condition requiring relief
From this reading "You need not frighten yourselves," said their aunt; "he is now on the stairs."
not any; not one
From this reading "No, my dears, I expect him every minute; but he may be detained by business, and you must not be disappointed if he should not come as soon as you desire."
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "Papa has promised to come home early this evening," repeated the children to each other; "we must not begin without him.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "You need not frighten yourselves," said their aunt; "he is now on the stairs."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "You need not frighten yourselves," said their aunt; "he is now on the stairs."
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading "Papa has promised to come home early this evening," repeated the children to each other; "we must not begin without him.
an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
From this reading "Papa has promised to come home early this evening," repeated the children to each other; "we must not begin without him.
past form of “promise” — make a promise or commitment
From this reading "Papa has promised to come home early this evening," repeated the children to each other; "we must not begin without him.
recurring again and again
From this reading "Papa has promised to come home early this evening," repeated the children to each other; "we must not begin without him.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "You need not frighten yourselves," said their aunt; "he is now on the stairs."
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading "No, my dears, I expect him every minute; but he may be detained by business, and you must not be disappointed if he should not come as soon as you desire."
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading "We will try and not complain," they answered, in a tone that showed they would be much inclined to do so if they had the trial.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "We will try and not complain," they answered, in a tone that showed they would be much inclined to do so if they had the trial.
in the near future
From this reading "No, my dears, I expect him every minute; but he may be detained by business, and you must not be disappointed if he should not come as soon as you desire."
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading "You need not frighten yourselves," said their aunt; "he is now on the stairs."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "We will try and not complain," they answered, in a tone that showed they would be much inclined to do so if they had the trial.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Papa has promised to come home early this evening," repeated the children to each other; "we must not begin without him.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading "You need not frighten yourselves," said their aunt; "he is now on the stairs."
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "We will try and not complain," they answered, in a tone that showed they would be much inclined to do so if they had the trial.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading Mama, do you think he will be long?"
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Papa has promised to come home early this evening," repeated the children to each other; "we must not begin without him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Papa has promised to come home early this evening," repeated the children to each other; "we must not begin without him.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading "We will try and not complain," they answered, in a tone that showed they would be much inclined to do so if they had the trial.
the act of testing something
From this reading "We will try and not complain," they answered, in a tone that showed they would be much inclined to do so if they had the trial.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading "We will try and not complain," they answered, in a tone that showed they would be much inclined to do so if they had the trial.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "Papa has promised to come home early this evening," repeated the children to each other; "we must not begin without him.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Mama, do you think he will be long?"
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading "Papa has promised to come home early this evening," repeated the children to each other; "we must not begin without him.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "We will try and not complain," they answered, in a tone that showed they would be much inclined to do so if they had the trial.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Mama, do you think he will be long?"
yourselvespronounUS /jʊrˈselvz/
used when the people spoken to are both doing and receiving the action
From this reading "You need not frighten yourselves," said their aunt; "he is now on the stairs."
