used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Their mimic majesties were seated in two large chairs at one end of the parlour, the white-haired king laughing like a child, while the little queen was as grave as a judge.
abdicationnounUS /ˌæbdɪˈkeɪʃən/
a formal resignation and renunciation of powers
From this reading The snap-dragon followed, for which a summary abdication took place; and greatly amused was the old man to find Walter in abject fear of burning his fingers, while Kate plunged her hand into the blue flaming dish with sufficient courage for any knight in Christendom.
abjectadjectiveUS /ˈæbdʒekt/
of the most contemptible kind
From this reading The snap-dragon followed, for which a summary abdication took place; and greatly amused was the old man to find Walter in abject fear of burning his fingers, while Kate plunged her hand into the blue flaming dish with sufficient courage for any knight in Christendom.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The evening closed with hot cockles, after which Esther took possession of the children, declaring, with more earnestness than was her wont, that they must and should not stay up another minute.
(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 Perhaps the relics of Dr Thorpe's Lutheranism were to blame for his persistent determination to have Twelfth Day kept with all the honours.
pleasantly occupied
From this reading The snap-dragon followed, for which a summary abdication took place; and greatly amused was the old man to find Walter in abject fear of burning his fingers, while Kate plunged her hand into the blue flaming dish with sufficient courage for any knight in Christendom.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He insisted on cake and snap-dragon, and was rewarded for his urgency by drawing the king, while Kate was found to be his queen.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading The evening closed with hot cockles, after which Esther took possession of the children, declaring, with more earnestness than was her wont, that they must and should not stay up another minute.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The snap-dragon followed, for which a summary abdication took place; and greatly amused was the old man to find Walter in abject fear of burning his fingers, while Kate plunged her hand into the blue flaming dish with sufficient courage for any knight in Christendom.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Their mimic majesties were seated in two large chairs at one end of the parlour, the white-haired king laughing like a child, while the little queen was as grave as a judge.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Their mimic majesties were seated in two large chairs at one end of the parlour, the white-haired king laughing like a child, while the little queen was as grave as a judge.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He insisted on cake and snap-dragon, and was rewarded for his urgency by drawing the king, while Kate was found to be his queen.
put or pin the blame on
From this reading Perhaps the relics of Dr Thorpe's Lutheranism were to blame for his persistent determination to have Twelfth Day kept with all the honours.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading The snap-dragon followed, for which a summary abdication took place; and greatly amused was the old man to find Walter in abject fear of burning his fingers, while Kate plunged her hand into the blue flaming dish with sufficient courage for any knight in Christendom.
the act of burning something
From this reading The snap-dragon followed, for which a summary abdication took place; and greatly amused was the old man to find Walter in abject fear of burning his fingers, while Kate plunged her hand into the blue flaming dish with sufficient courage for any knight in Christendom.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He insisted on cake and snap-dragon, and was rewarded for his urgency by drawing the king, while Kate was found to be his queen.
cakenounUS /keɪk/
a block of solid substance (such as soap or wax)
From this reading He insisted on cake and snap-dragon, and was rewarded for his urgency by drawing the king, while Kate was found to be his queen.
plural of “chair” — a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Their mimic majesties were seated in two large chairs at one end of the parlour, the white-haired king laughing like a child, while the little queen was as grave as a judge.
a young person of either sex
From this reading Their mimic majesties were seated in two large chairs at one end of the parlour, the white-haired king laughing like a child, while the little queen was as grave as a judge.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading The evening closed with hot cockles, after which Esther took possession of the children, declaring, with more earnestness than was her wont, that they must and should not stay up another minute.
ChristendomnounUS /ˈkrɪsəndəm/
the collective body of Christians throughout the world and history (found predominantly in Europe and the Americas and Australia)
From this reading The snap-dragon followed, for which a summary abdication took place; and greatly amused was the old man to find Walter in abject fear of burning his fingers, while Kate plunged her hand into the blue flaming dish with sufficient courage for any knight in Christendom.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading The evening closed with hot cockles, after which Esther took possession of the children, declaring, with more earnestness than was her wont, that they must and should not stay up another minute.
cocklesnounUS /ˈkɑːkəlz/
plural of “cockle” — common edible European bivalve
From this reading The evening closed with hot cockles, after which Esther took possession of the children, declaring, with more earnestness than was her wont, that they must and should not stay up another minute.
a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear
From this reading The snap-dragon followed, for which a summary abdication took place; and greatly amused was the old man to find Walter in abject fear of burning his fingers, while Kate plunged her hand into the blue flaming dish with sufficient courage for any knight in Christendom.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Perhaps the relics of Dr Thorpe's Lutheranism were to blame for his persistent determination to have Twelfth Day kept with all the honours.
declaringverbUS /dɪˈklerɪŋ/
-ing form of “declare” — state emphatically and authoritatively
From this reading The evening closed with hot cockles, after which Esther took possession of the children, declaring, with more earnestness than was her wont, that they must and should not stay up another minute.
determinationnounUS /dɪˌtɜːrməˈneɪʃən/
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading Perhaps the relics of Dr Thorpe's Lutheranism were to blame for his persistent determination to have Twelfth Day kept with all the honours.
dishnounUS /dɪʃ/
a piece of dishware normally used as a container for holding or serving food
From this reading The snap-dragon followed, for which a summary abdication took place; and greatly amused was the old man to find Walter in abject fear of burning his fingers, while Kate plunged her hand into the blue flaming dish with sufficient courage for any knight in Christendom.
Dr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps the relics of Dr Thorpe's Lutheranism were to blame for his persistent determination to have Twelfth Day kept with all the honours.
an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper
From this reading He insisted on cake and snap-dragon, and was rewarded for his urgency by drawing the king, while Kate was found to be his queen.
earnestnessnounUS /ˈɜːrnəstnəs/
an earnest and sincere feeling
From this reading The evening closed with hot cockles, after which Esther took possession of the children, declaring, with more earnestness than was her wont, that they must and should not stay up another minute.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Their mimic majesties were seated in two large chairs at one end of the parlour, the white-haired king laughing like a child, while the little queen was as grave as a judge.
EsthernounUS /ˈestər/
(Old Testament) a beautiful Jewess chosen by the king of Persia to be his queen; she stopped a plot to massacre all the Jews in Persia (an event celebrated by Jews as the feast of Purim)
From this reading The evening closed with hot cockles, after which Esther took possession of the children, declaring, with more earnestness than was her wont, that they must and should not stay up another minute.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading The evening closed with hot cockles, after which Esther took possession of the children, declaring, with more earnestness than was her wont, that they must and should not stay up another minute.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading The snap-dragon followed, for which a summary abdication took place; and greatly amused was the old man to find Walter in abject fear of burning his fingers, while Kate plunged her hand into the blue flaming dish with sufficient courage for any knight in Christendom.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading The snap-dragon followed, for which a summary abdication took place; and greatly amused was the old man to find Walter in abject fear of burning his fingers, while Kate plunged her hand into the blue flaming dish with sufficient courage for any knight in Christendom.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading The snap-dragon followed, for which a summary abdication took place; and greatly amused was the old man to find Walter in abject fear of burning his fingers, while Kate plunged her hand into the blue flaming dish with sufficient courage for any knight in Christendom.
flamingadjectiveUS /ˈfleɪmɪŋ/
informal intensifiers
From this reading The snap-dragon followed, for which a summary abdication took place; and greatly amused was the old man to find Walter in abject fear of burning his fingers, while Kate plunged her hand into the blue flaming dish with sufficient courage for any knight in Christendom.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading The snap-dragon followed, for which a summary abdication took place; and greatly amused was the old man to find Walter in abject fear of burning his fingers, while Kate plunged her hand into the blue flaming dish with sufficient courage for any knight in Christendom.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Perhaps the relics of Dr Thorpe's Lutheranism were to blame for his persistent determination to have Twelfth Day kept with all the honours.
set up or found
From this reading He insisted on cake and snap-dragon, and was rewarded for his urgency by drawing the king, while Kate was found to be his queen.
death of a person
From this reading Their mimic majesties were seated in two large chairs at one end of the parlour, the white-haired king laughing like a child, while the little queen was as grave as a judge.
to an extraordinary extent or degree
From this reading The snap-dragon followed, for which a summary abdication took place; and greatly amused was the old man to find Walter in abject fear of burning his fingers, while Kate plunged her hand into the blue flaming dish with sufficient courage for any knight in Christendom.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading The snap-dragon followed, for which a summary abdication took place; and greatly amused was the old man to find Walter in abject fear of burning his fingers, while Kate plunged her hand into the blue flaming dish with sufficient courage for any knight in Christendom.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Perhaps the relics of Dr Thorpe's Lutheranism were to blame for his persistent determination to have Twelfth Day kept with all the honours.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He insisted on cake and snap-dragon, and was rewarded for his urgency by drawing the king, while Kate was found to be his queen.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The snap-dragon followed, for which a summary abdication took place; and greatly amused was the old man to find Walter in abject fear of burning his fingers, while Kate plunged her hand into the blue flaming dish with sufficient courage for any knight in Christendom.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Perhaps the relics of Dr Thorpe's Lutheranism were to blame for his persistent determination to have Twelfth Day kept with all the honours.
honoursnoun
a university degree with honors
From this reading Perhaps the relics of Dr Thorpe's Lutheranism were to blame for his persistent determination to have Twelfth Day kept with all the honours.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading The evening closed with hot cockles, after which Esther took possession of the children, declaring, with more earnestness than was her wont, that they must and should not stay up another minute.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Their mimic majesties were seated in two large chairs at one end of the parlour, the white-haired king laughing like a child, while the little queen was as grave as a judge.
past form of “insist” — be emphatic or resolute and refuse to budge
From this reading He insisted on cake and snap-dragon, and was rewarded for his urgency by drawing the king, while Kate was found to be his queen.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The snap-dragon followed, for which a summary abdication took place; and greatly amused was the old man to find Walter in abject fear of burning his fingers, while Kate plunged her hand into the blue flaming dish with sufficient courage for any knight in Christendom.
determine the result of (a competition)
From this reading Their mimic majesties were seated in two large chairs at one end of the parlour, the white-haired king laughing like a child, while the little queen was as grave as a judge.
Kate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He insisted on cake and snap-dragon, and was rewarded for his urgency by drawing the king, while Kate was found to be his queen.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading Perhaps the relics of Dr Thorpe's Lutheranism were to blame for his persistent determination to have Twelfth Day kept with all the honours.
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading He insisted on cake and snap-dragon, and was rewarded for his urgency by drawing the king, while Kate was found to be his queen.
originally a person of noble birth trained to arms and chivalry; today in Great Britain a person honored by the sovereign for personal merit
From this reading The snap-dragon followed, for which a summary abdication took place; and greatly amused was the old man to find Walter in abject fear of burning his fingers, while Kate plunged her hand into the blue flaming dish with sufficient courage for any knight in Christendom.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Their mimic majesties were seated in two large chairs at one end of the parlour, the white-haired king laughing like a child, while the little queen was as grave as a judge.
showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness
From this reading Their mimic majesties were seated in two large chairs at one end of the parlour, the white-haired king laughing like a child, while the little queen was as grave as a judge.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Their mimic majesties were seated in two large chairs at one end of the parlour, the white-haired king laughing like a child, while the little queen was as grave as a judge.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Their mimic majesties were seated in two large chairs at one end of the parlour, the white-haired king laughing like a child, while the little queen was as grave as a judge.
Lutheranismnoun
teachings of Martin Luther emphasizing the cardinal doctrine of justification by faith alone
From this reading Perhaps the relics of Dr Thorpe's Lutheranism were to blame for his persistent determination to have Twelfth Day kept with all the honours.
majesties
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their mimic majesties were seated in two large chairs at one end of the parlour, the white-haired king laughing like a child, while the little queen was as grave as a judge.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The snap-dragon followed, for which a summary abdication took place; and greatly amused was the old man to find Walter in abject fear of burning his fingers, while Kate plunged her hand into the blue flaming dish with sufficient courage for any knight in Christendom.
mimicnounUS /ˈmɪmɪk/
someone who mimics (especially an actor or actress)
From this reading Their mimic majesties were seated in two large chairs at one end of the parlour, the white-haired king laughing like a child, while the little queen was as grave as a judge.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading The evening closed with hot cockles, after which Esther took possession of the children, declaring, with more earnestness than was her wont, that they must and should not stay up another minute.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The evening closed with hot cockles, after which Esther took possession of the children, declaring, with more earnestness than was her wont, that they must and should not stay up another minute.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading The evening closed with hot cockles, after which Esther took possession of the children, declaring, with more earnestness than was her wont, that they must and should not stay up another minute.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The evening closed with hot cockles, after which Esther took possession of the children, declaring, with more earnestness than was her wont, that they must and should not stay up another minute.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Perhaps the relics of Dr Thorpe's Lutheranism were to blame for his persistent determination to have Twelfth Day kept with all the honours.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The snap-dragon followed, for which a summary abdication took place; and greatly amused was the old man to find Walter in abject fear of burning his fingers, while Kate plunged her hand into the blue flaming dish with sufficient courage for any knight in Christendom.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He insisted on cake and snap-dragon, and was rewarded for his urgency by drawing the king, while Kate was found to be his queen.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Their mimic majesties were seated in two large chairs at one end of the parlour, the white-haired king laughing like a child, while the little queen was as grave as a judge.
parlournounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received
From this reading Their mimic majesties were seated in two large chairs at one end of the parlour, the white-haired king laughing like a child, while the little queen was as grave as a judge.
by chance
From this reading Perhaps the relics of Dr Thorpe's Lutheranism were to blame for his persistent determination to have Twelfth Day kept with all the honours.
persistentadjectiveUS /pərˈsɪstənt/
never-ceasing
From this reading Perhaps the relics of Dr Thorpe's Lutheranism were to blame for his persistent determination to have Twelfth Day kept with all the honours.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The snap-dragon followed, for which a summary abdication took place; and greatly amused was the old man to find Walter in abject fear of burning his fingers, while Kate plunged her hand into the blue flaming dish with sufficient courage for any knight in Christendom.
past form of “plunge” — thrust or throw into
From this reading The snap-dragon followed, for which a summary abdication took place; and greatly amused was the old man to find Walter in abject fear of burning his fingers, while Kate plunged her hand into the blue flaming dish with sufficient courage for any knight in Christendom.
the act of having and controlling property
From this reading The evening closed with hot cockles, after which Esther took possession of the children, declaring, with more earnestness than was her wont, that they must and should not stay up another minute.
the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs
From this reading He insisted on cake and snap-dragon, and was rewarded for his urgency by drawing the king, while Kate was found to be his queen.
relicsnounUS /ˈrelɪks/
plural of “relic” — an antiquity that has survived from the distant past
From this reading Perhaps the relics of Dr Thorpe's Lutheranism were to blame for his persistent determination to have Twelfth Day kept with all the honours.
rewardedverbUS /rɪˈwɔːrdɪd/
past form of “reward” — bestow honor or rewards upon
From this reading He insisted on cake and snap-dragon, and was rewarded for his urgency by drawing the king, while Kate was found to be his queen.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading Their mimic majesties were seated in two large chairs at one end of the parlour, the white-haired king laughing like a child, while the little queen was as grave as a judge.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading The evening closed with hot cockles, after which Esther took possession of the children, declaring, with more earnestness than was her wont, that they must and should not stay up another minute.
snap-dragon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He insisted on cake and snap-dragon, and was rewarded for his urgency by drawing the king, while Kate was found to be his queen.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading The evening closed with hot cockles, after which Esther took possession of the children, declaring, with more earnestness than was her wont, that they must and should not stay up another minute.
of a quantity that can fulfill a need or requirement but without being abundant
From this reading The snap-dragon followed, for which a summary abdication took place; and greatly amused was the old man to find Walter in abject fear of burning his fingers, while Kate plunged her hand into the blue flaming dish with sufficient courage for any knight in Christendom.
summarynounUS /ˈsʌməri/
a brief statement that presents the main points in a concise form
From this reading The snap-dragon followed, for which a summary abdication took place; and greatly amused was the old man to find Walter in abject fear of burning his fingers, while Kate plunged her hand into the blue flaming dish with sufficient courage for any knight in Christendom.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The evening closed with hot cockles, after which Esther took possession of the children, declaring, with more earnestness than was her wont, that they must and should not stay up another minute.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The evening closed with hot cockles, after which Esther took possession of the children, declaring, with more earnestness than was her wont, that they must and should not stay up another minute.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Perhaps the relics of Dr Thorpe's Lutheranism were to blame for his persistent determination to have Twelfth Day kept with all the honours.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Their mimic majesties were seated in two large chairs at one end of the parlour, the white-haired king laughing like a child, while the little queen was as grave as a judge.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The evening closed with hot cockles, after which Esther took possession of the children, declaring, with more earnestness than was her wont, that they must and should not stay up another minute.
Thorpe's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps the relics of Dr Thorpe's Lutheranism were to blame for his persistent determination to have Twelfth Day kept with all the honours.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Perhaps the relics of Dr Thorpe's Lutheranism were to blame for his persistent determination to have Twelfth Day kept with all the honours.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading The snap-dragon followed, for which a summary abdication took place; and greatly amused was the old man to find Walter in abject fear of burning his fingers, while Kate plunged her hand into the blue flaming dish with sufficient courage for any knight in Christendom.
TwelfthadjectiveUS /twelfθ/
coming next after the eleventh and just before the thirteenth in position
From this reading Perhaps the relics of Dr Thorpe's Lutheranism were to blame for his persistent determination to have Twelfth Day kept with all the honours.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Their mimic majesties were seated in two large chairs at one end of the parlour, the white-haired king laughing like a child, while the little queen was as grave as a judge.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The evening closed with hot cockles, after which Esther took possession of the children, declaring, with more earnestness than was her wont, that they must and should not stay up another minute.
urgencynounUS /ˈɜːrdʒənsi/
the state of being urgent; an earnest and insistent necessity
From this reading He insisted on cake and snap-dragon, and was rewarded for his urgency by drawing the king, while Kate was found to be his queen.
German conductor (1876-1962)
From this reading The snap-dragon followed, for which a summary abdication took place; and greatly amused was the old man to find Walter in abject fear of burning his fingers, while Kate plunged her hand into the blue flaming dish with sufficient courage for any knight in Christendom.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He insisted on cake and snap-dragon, and was rewarded for his urgency by drawing the king, while Kate was found to be his queen.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Perhaps the relics of Dr Thorpe's Lutheranism were to blame for his persistent determination to have Twelfth Day kept with all the honours.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The snap-dragon followed, for which a summary abdication took place; and greatly amused was the old man to find Walter in abject fear of burning his fingers, while Kate plunged her hand into the blue flaming dish with sufficient courage for any knight in Christendom.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading He insisted on cake and snap-dragon, and was rewarded for his urgency by drawing the king, while Kate was found to be his queen.
white-hairedadjective
showing characteristics of age, especially having grey or white hair
From this reading Their mimic majesties were seated in two large chairs at one end of the parlour, the white-haired king laughing like a child, while the little queen was as grave as a judge.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Perhaps the relics of Dr Thorpe's Lutheranism were to blame for his persistent determination to have Twelfth Day kept with all the honours.
wontnounUS /woʊnt/
an established custom
From this reading The evening closed with hot cockles, after which Esther took possession of the children, declaring, with more earnestness than was her wont, that they must and should not stay up another minute.
