used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "It’s no use making a fuss, Flossie," she said wisely.
AMIABLEadjectiveUS /ˈeɪmiəbəl/
disposed to please
From this reading THE AMIABLE FLOSSIE Miss Clark did not tell that time.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And it’s the first night Ma’s at home, and Tom’s her favourite; and if you get him into trouble with Pa, she’ll give what she’s brought for you to somebody else.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading "Tom didn’t mean to spill your tea; he only wanted you to look at Johnnie cribbing jam when he’d been told not to have any.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "Tom didn’t mean to spill your tea; he only wanted you to look at Johnnie cribbing jam when he’d been told not to have any.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "Tom didn’t mean to spill your tea; he only wanted you to look at Johnnie cribbing jam when he’d been told not to have any.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading And it’s the first night Ma’s at home, and Tom’s her favourite; and if you get him into trouble with Pa, she’ll give what she’s brought for you to somebody else.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was not Flossie, but May, who poured oil on the troubled waters.
ClarknounUS /klɑːrk/
United States explorer who (with Meriwether Lewis) led an expedition from St. Louis to the mouth of the Columbia River; Clark was responsible for making maps of the area (1770-1838)
From this reading THE AMIABLE FLOSSIE Miss Clark did not tell that time.
cribbingverbUS /ˈkrɪbɪŋ/
inflected form of “crib” — use a crib, as in an exam
From this reading "Tom didn’t mean to spill your tea; he only wanted you to look at Johnnie cribbing jam when he’d been told not to have any.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading THE AMIABLE FLOSSIE Miss Clark did not tell that time.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Tom didn’t mean to spill your tea; he only wanted you to look at Johnnie cribbing jam when he’d been told not to have any.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And it’s the first night Ma’s at home, and Tom’s her favourite; and if you get him into trouble with Pa, she’ll give what she’s brought for you to somebody else.
a competitor thought likely to win
From this reading And it’s the first night Ma’s at home, and Tom’s her favourite; and if you get him into trouble with Pa, she’ll give what she’s brought for you to somebody else.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading And it’s the first night Ma’s at home, and Tom’s her favourite; and if you get him into trouble with Pa, she’ll give what she’s brought for you to somebody else.
FLOSSIE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE AMIABLE FLOSSIE Miss Clark did not tell that time.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading And it’s the first night Ma’s at home, and Tom’s her favourite; and if you get him into trouble with Pa, she’ll give what she’s brought for you to somebody else.
fussverbUS /fʌs/
worry unnecessarily or excessively
From this reading "It’s no use making a fuss, Flossie," she said wisely.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading And it’s the first night Ma’s at home, and Tom’s her favourite; and if you get him into trouble with Pa, she’ll give what she’s brought for you to somebody else.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading And it’s the first night Ma’s at home, and Tom’s her favourite; and if you get him into trouble with Pa, she’ll give what she’s brought for you to somebody else.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Tom didn’t mean to spill your tea; he only wanted you to look at Johnnie cribbing jam when he’d been told not to have any.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Tom didn’t mean to spill your tea; he only wanted you to look at Johnnie cribbing jam when he’d been told not to have any.
he'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Tom didn’t mean to spill your tea; he only wanted you to look at Johnnie cribbing jam when he’d been told not to have any.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading And it’s the first night Ma’s at home, and Tom’s her favourite; and if you get him into trouble with Pa, she’ll give what she’s brought for you to somebody else.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading And it’s the first night Ma’s at home, and Tom’s her favourite; and if you get him into trouble with Pa, she’ll give what she’s brought for you to somebody else.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading And it’s the first night Ma’s at home, and Tom’s her favourite; and if you get him into trouble with Pa, she’ll give what she’s brought for you to somebody else.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading And it’s the first night Ma’s at home, and Tom’s her favourite; and if you get him into trouble with Pa, she’ll give what she’s brought for you to somebody else.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading And it’s the first night Ma’s at home, and Tom’s her favourite; and if you get him into trouble with Pa, she’ll give what she’s brought for you to somebody else.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was not Flossie, but May, who poured oil on the troubled waters.
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It’s no use making a fuss, Flossie," she said wisely.
jamverbUS /dʒæm/
press tightly together or cram
From this reading "Tom didn’t mean to spill your tea; he only wanted you to look at Johnnie cribbing jam when he’d been told not to have any.
Johnnie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Tom didn’t mean to spill your tea; he only wanted you to look at Johnnie cribbing jam when he’d been told not to have any.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading "Tom didn’t mean to spill your tea; he only wanted you to look at Johnnie cribbing jam when he’d been told not to have any.
Ma's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And it’s the first night Ma’s at home, and Tom’s her favourite; and if you get him into trouble with Pa, she’ll give what she’s brought for you to somebody else.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading "It’s no use making a fuss, Flossie," she said wisely.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading It was not Flossie, but May, who poured oil on the troubled waters.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading "Tom didn’t mean to spill your tea; he only wanted you to look at Johnnie cribbing jam when he’d been told not to have any.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading THE AMIABLE FLOSSIE Miss Clark did not tell that time.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading And it’s the first night Ma’s at home, and Tom’s her favourite; and if you get him into trouble with Pa, she’ll give what she’s brought for you to somebody else.
not any; not one
From this reading "It’s no use making a fuss, Flossie," she said wisely.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE AMIABLE FLOSSIE Miss Clark did not tell that time.
A viscous liquid derived from petroleum or plants, stored in large earthen jars.
From this reading It was not Flossie, but May, who poured oil on the troubled waters.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was not Flossie, but May, who poured oil on the troubled waters.
and nothing more
From this reading "Tom didn’t mean to spill your tea; he only wanted you to look at Johnnie cribbing jam when he’d been told not to have any.
PanounUS /pɑː/
an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
From this reading And it’s the first night Ma’s at home, and Tom’s her favourite; and if you get him into trouble with Pa, she’ll give what she’s brought for you to somebody else.
past form of “pour” — cause to run
From this reading It was not Flossie, but May, who poured oil on the troubled waters.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "It’s no use making a fuss, Flossie," she said wisely.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "It’s no use making a fuss, Flossie," she said wisely.
she'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And it’s the first night Ma’s at home, and Tom’s her favourite; and if you get him into trouble with Pa, she’ll give what she’s brought for you to somebody else.
she's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And it’s the first night Ma’s at home, and Tom’s her favourite; and if you get him into trouble with Pa, she’ll give what she’s brought for you to somebody else.
a person, without saying who
From this reading And it’s the first night Ma’s at home, and Tom’s her favourite; and if you get him into trouble with Pa, she’ll give what she’s brought for you to somebody else.
spillverbUS /spɪl/
cause or allow (a liquid substance) to run or flow from a container
From this reading "Tom didn’t mean to spill your tea; he only wanted you to look at Johnnie cribbing jam when he’d been told not to have any.
a beverage made by steeping tea leaves in water
From this reading "Tom didn’t mean to spill your tea; he only wanted you to look at Johnnie cribbing jam when he’d been told not to have any.
express in words
From this reading THE AMIABLE FLOSSIE Miss Clark did not tell that time.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE AMIABLE FLOSSIE Miss Clark did not tell that time.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE AMIABLE FLOSSIE Miss Clark did not tell that time.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading THE AMIABLE FLOSSIE Miss Clark did not tell that time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Tom didn’t mean to spill your tea; he only wanted you to look at Johnnie cribbing jam when he’d been told not to have any.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading "Tom didn’t mean to spill your tea; he only wanted you to look at Johnnie cribbing jam when he’d been told not to have any.
male cat
From this reading "Tom didn’t mean to spill your tea; he only wanted you to look at Johnnie cribbing jam when he’d been told not to have any.
Tom'snounUS /tɑːmz/
possessive form of “tom” — male cat
From this reading And it’s the first night Ma’s at home, and Tom’s her favourite; and if you get him into trouble with Pa, she’ll give what she’s brought for you to somebody else.
a source of difficulty
From this reading And it’s the first night Ma’s at home, and Tom’s her favourite; and if you get him into trouble with Pa, she’ll give what she’s brought for you to somebody else.
characterized by or indicative of distress or affliction or danger or need
From this reading It was not Flossie, but May, who poured oil on the troubled waters.
the act of using
From this reading "It’s no use making a fuss, Flossie," she said wisely.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading "Tom didn’t mean to spill your tea; he only wanted you to look at Johnnie cribbing jam when he’d been told not to have any.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was not Flossie, but May, who poured oil on the troubled waters.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading It was not Flossie, but May, who poured oil on the troubled waters.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading And it’s the first night Ma’s at home, and Tom’s her favourite; and if you get him into trouble with Pa, she’ll give what she’s brought for you to somebody else.
at the time that
From this reading "Tom didn’t mean to spill your tea; he only wanted you to look at Johnnie cribbing jam when he’d been told not to have any.
which person or people
From this reading It was not Flossie, but May, who poured oil on the troubled waters.
wiselyadverbUS /ˈwaɪzli/
in a wise manner
From this reading "It’s no use making a fuss, Flossie," she said wisely.
in the company of; together with
From this reading And it’s the first night Ma’s at home, and Tom’s her favourite; and if you get him into trouble with Pa, she’ll give what she’s brought for you to somebody else.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Tom didn’t mean to spill your tea; he only wanted you to look at Johnnie cribbing jam when he’d been told not to have any.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Tom didn’t mean to spill your tea; he only wanted you to look at Johnnie cribbing jam when he’d been told not to have any.
