used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The little boy's motive was so thoughtful, that Mrs. Macdonald agreed; and called their attention to three persons, whom she represented standing in a doorway.
agreeablyadverb
in an enjoyable manner
From this reading The next evening the children were agreeably surprised to hear their father knock at the door, just as they had arranged themselves ready for their favorite game.
united by being of the same opinion
From this reading The little boy's motive was so thoughtful, that Mrs. Macdonald agreed; and called their attention to three persons, whom she represented standing in a doorway.
AlfrednounUS /ˈælfrəd/
king of Wessex; defeated the Vikings and encouraged writing in English (849-899)
From this reading "We must tell soft stories," said Alfred; "and as papa likes to hear you speak, mama, you had better begin."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was soon up stairs, and was warmly thanked for having returned so soon.
any thing at all
From this reading "I have," said he, "suffered much from headache this evening, and I thought this cheerful group might do me more good than anything."
disposed or placed in a particular kind of order
From this reading The next evening the children were agreeably surprised to hear their father knock at the door, just as they had arranged themselves ready for their favorite game.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The next evening the children were agreeably surprised to hear their father knock at the door, just as they had arranged themselves ready for their favorite game.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The next evening the children were agreeably surprised to hear their father knock at the door, just as they had arranged themselves ready for their favorite game.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading The little boy's motive was so thoughtful, that Mrs. Macdonald agreed; and called their attention to three persons, whom she represented standing in a doorway.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading "We must tell soft stories," said Alfred; "and as papa likes to hear you speak, mama, you had better begin."
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading "We must tell soft stories," said Alfred; "and as papa likes to hear you speak, mama, you had better begin."
boy'snounUS /bɔɪz/
possessive form of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The little boy's motive was so thoughtful, that Mrs. Macdonald agreed; and called their attention to three persons, whom she represented standing in a doorway.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading The little boy's motive was so thoughtful, that Mrs. Macdonald agreed; and called their attention to three persons, whom she represented standing in a doorway.
being full of or promoting cheer; having or showing good spirits
From this reading "I have," said he, "suffered much from headache this evening, and I thought this cheerful group might do me more good than anything."
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading The next evening the children were agreeably surprised to hear their father knock at the door, just as they had arranged themselves ready for their favorite game.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "I have," said he, "suffered much from headache this evening, and I thought this cheerful group might do me more good than anything."
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The next evening the children were agreeably surprised to hear their father knock at the door, just as they had arranged themselves ready for their favorite game.
the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close
From this reading The little boy's motive was so thoughtful, that Mrs. Macdonald agreed; and called their attention to three persons, whom she represented standing in a doorway.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading The next evening the children were agreeably surprised to hear their father knock at the door, just as they had arranged themselves ready for their favorite game.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading The next evening the children were agreeably surprised to hear their father knock at the door, just as they had arranged themselves ready for their favorite game.
favoritenounUS /ˈfeɪvərɪt/
something regarded with special favor or liking
From this reading The next evening the children were agreeably surprised to hear their father knock at the door, just as they had arranged themselves ready for their favorite game.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The next evening the children were agreeably surprised to hear their father knock at the door, just as they had arranged themselves ready for their favorite game.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "I have," said he, "suffered much from headache this evening, and I thought this cheerful group might do me more good than anything."
a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading The next evening the children were agreeably surprised to hear their father knock at the door, just as they had arranged themselves ready for their favorite game.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading "I have," said he, "suffered much from headache this evening, and I thought this cheerful group might do me more good than anything."
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading "I have," said he, "suffered much from headache this evening, and I thought this cheerful group might do me more good than anything."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The next evening the children were agreeably surprised to hear their father knock at the door, just as they had arranged themselves ready for their favorite game.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "I have," said he, "suffered much from headache this evening, and I thought this cheerful group might do me more good than anything."
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading He was soon up stairs, and was warmly thanked for having returned so soon.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was soon up stairs, and was warmly thanked for having returned so soon.
headachenounUS /ˈhedeɪk/
something or someone that causes anxiety; a source of unhappiness
From this reading "I have," said he, "suffered much from headache this evening, and I thought this cheerful group might do me more good than anything."
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading The next evening the children were agreeably surprised to hear their father knock at the door, just as they had arranged themselves ready for their favorite game.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I have," said he, "suffered much from headache this evening, and I thought this cheerful group might do me more good than anything."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The little boy's motive was so thoughtful, that Mrs. Macdonald agreed; and called their attention to three persons, whom she represented standing in a doorway.
and nothing more
From this reading The next evening the children were agreeably surprised to hear their father knock at the door, just as they had arranged themselves ready for their favorite game.
deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading The next evening the children were agreeably surprised to hear their father knock at the door, just as they had arranged themselves ready for their favorite game.
plural of “like” — a similar kind
From this reading "We must tell soft stories," said Alfred; "and as papa likes to hear you speak, mama, you had better begin."
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The little boy's motive was so thoughtful, that Mrs. Macdonald agreed; and called their attention to three persons, whom she represented standing in a doorway.
Macdonald
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little boy's motive was so thoughtful, that Mrs. Macdonald agreed; and called their attention to three persons, whom she represented standing in a doorway.
mamanounUS /ˈmɑːmə/
informal terms for a mother
From this reading "We must tell soft stories," said Alfred; "and as papa likes to hear you speak, mama, you had better begin."
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "I have," said he, "suffered much from headache this evening, and I thought this cheerful group might do me more good than anything."
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading "I have," said he, "suffered much from headache this evening, and I thought this cheerful group might do me more good than anything."
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading "I have," said he, "suffered much from headache this evening, and I thought this cheerful group might do me more good than anything."
motivenounUS /ˈmoʊtɪv/
the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior
From this reading The little boy's motive was so thoughtful, that Mrs. Macdonald agreed; and called their attention to three persons, whom she represented standing in a doorway.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading The little boy's motive was so thoughtful, that Mrs. Macdonald agreed; and called their attention to three persons, whom she represented standing in a doorway.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading "I have," said he, "suffered much from headache this evening, and I thought this cheerful group might do me more good than anything."
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "We must tell soft stories," said Alfred; "and as papa likes to hear you speak, mama, you had better begin."
immediately following in time or order
From this reading The next evening the children were agreeably surprised to hear their father knock at the door, just as they had arranged themselves ready for their favorite game.
an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
From this reading "We must tell soft stories," said Alfred; "and as papa likes to hear you speak, mama, you had better begin."
plural of “person” — a human being
From this reading The little boy's motive was so thoughtful, that Mrs. Macdonald agreed; and called their attention to three persons, whom she represented standing in a doorway.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading The next evening the children were agreeably surprised to hear their father knock at the door, just as they had arranged themselves ready for their favorite game.
representedadjectiveUS /ˌreprɪˈzentɪd/
represented accurately or precisely
From this reading The little boy's motive was so thoughtful, that Mrs. Macdonald agreed; and called their attention to three persons, whom she represented standing in a doorway.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading He was soon up stairs, and was warmly thanked for having returned so soon.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I have," said he, "suffered much from headache this evening, and I thought this cheerful group might do me more good than anything."
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The little boy's motive was so thoughtful, that Mrs. Macdonald agreed; and called their attention to three persons, whom she represented standing in a doorway.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He was soon up stairs, and was warmly thanked for having returned so soon.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading "We must tell soft stories," said Alfred; "and as papa likes to hear you speak, mama, you had better begin."
in the near future
From this reading He was soon up stairs, and was warmly thanked for having returned so soon.
express in speech
From this reading "We must tell soft stories," said Alfred; "and as papa likes to hear you speak, mama, you had better begin."
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading He was soon up stairs, and was warmly thanked for having returned so soon.
having a supporting base
From this reading The little boy's motive was so thoughtful, that Mrs. Macdonald agreed; and called their attention to three persons, whom she represented standing in a doorway.
plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading "We must tell soft stories," said Alfred; "and as papa likes to hear you speak, mama, you had better begin."
past form of “suffer” — undergo or be subjected to
From this reading "I have," said he, "suffered much from headache this evening, and I thought this cheerful group might do me more good than anything."
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading The next evening the children were agreeably surprised to hear their father knock at the door, just as they had arranged themselves ready for their favorite game.
express in words
From this reading "We must tell soft stories," said Alfred; "and as papa likes to hear you speak, mama, you had better begin."
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading "I have," said he, "suffered much from headache this evening, and I thought this cheerful group might do me more good than anything."
thankedverbUS /θæŋkt/
past form of “thank” — express gratitude or show appreciation to
From this reading He was soon up stairs, and was warmly thanked for having returned so soon.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The little boy's motive was so thoughtful, that Mrs. Macdonald agreed; and called their attention to three persons, whom she represented standing in a doorway.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The next evening the children were agreeably surprised to hear their father knock at the door, just as they had arranged themselves ready for their favorite game.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The next evening the children were agreeably surprised to hear their father knock at the door, just as they had arranged themselves ready for their favorite game.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading The next evening the children were agreeably surprised to hear their father knock at the door, just as they had arranged themselves ready for their favorite game.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The next evening the children were agreeably surprised to hear their father knock at the door, just as they had arranged themselves ready for their favorite game.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "I have," said he, "suffered much from headache this evening, and I thought this cheerful group might do me more good than anything."
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading "I have," said he, "suffered much from headache this evening, and I thought this cheerful group might do me more good than anything."
thoughtfuladjectiveUS /ˈθɔːtfəl/
having intellectual depth
From this reading The little boy's motive was so thoughtful, that Mrs. Macdonald agreed; and called their attention to three persons, whom she represented standing in a doorway.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The little boy's motive was so thoughtful, that Mrs. Macdonald agreed; and called their attention to three persons, whom she represented standing in a doorway.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The next evening the children were agreeably surprised to hear their father knock at the door, just as they had arranged themselves ready for their favorite game.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He was soon up stairs, and was warmly thanked for having returned so soon.
warmlyadverbUS /ˈwɔːrmli/
in a hearty manner
From this reading He was soon up stairs, and was warmly thanked for having returned so soon.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was soon up stairs, and was warmly thanked for having returned so soon.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "We must tell soft stories," said Alfred; "and as papa likes to hear you speak, mama, you had better begin."
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The next evening the children were agreeably surprised to hear their father knock at the door, just as they had arranged themselves ready for their favorite game.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The little boy's motive was so thoughtful, that Mrs. Macdonald agreed; and called their attention to three persons, whom she represented standing in a doorway.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "We must tell soft stories," said Alfred; "and as papa likes to hear you speak, mama, you had better begin."
