used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Of course I know very well that you couldn't spare me,--but I can't help crying--just a minute, mother, that is all," said Ruth, while her tears dropped slowly.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "It's very silly, I know, mother; and I didn't mean to be vexed about it," she began, "but Julia said something about my going to the sea-side with them to spend the holidays.
(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 Of course I know very well that you couldn't spare me,--but I can't help crying--just a minute, mother, that is all," said Ruth, while her tears dropped slowly.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "It's very silly, I know, mother; and I didn't mean to be vexed about it," she began, "but Julia said something about my going to the sea-side with them to spend the holidays.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Have you read your cousin's letter, Ruth?" asked her mother as she took her seat.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Have you read your cousin's letter, Ruth?" asked her mother as she took her seat.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "It's very silly, I know, mother; and I didn't mean to be vexed about it," she began, "but Julia said something about my going to the sea-side with them to spend the holidays.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading "It's very silly, I know, mother; and I didn't mean to be vexed about it," she began, "but Julia said something about my going to the sea-side with them to spend the holidays.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "It's very silly, I know, mother; and I didn't mean to be vexed about it," she began, "but Julia said something about my going to the sea-side with them to spend the holidays.
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course I know very well that you couldn't spare me,--but I can't help crying--just a minute, mother, that is all," said Ruth, while her tears dropped slowly.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course I know very well that you couldn't spare me,--but I can't help crying--just a minute, mother, that is all," said Ruth, while her tears dropped slowly.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Of course I know very well that you couldn't spare me,--but I can't help crying--just a minute, mother, that is all," said Ruth, while her tears dropped slowly.
cousin'snounUS /ˈkʌzənz/
possessive form of “cousin” — the child of your aunt or uncle
From this reading "Have you read your cousin's letter, Ruth?" asked her mother as she took her seat.
demanding attention
From this reading Of course I know very well that you couldn't spare me,--but I can't help crying--just a minute, mother, that is all," said Ruth, while her tears dropped slowly.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's very silly, I know, mother; and I didn't mean to be vexed about it," she began, "but Julia said something about my going to the sea-side with them to spend the holidays.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading Of course I know very well that you couldn't spare me,--but I can't help crying--just a minute, mother, that is all," said Ruth, while her tears dropped slowly.
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading "Why, what makes you look so unhappy?" she exclaimed, observing the girl's grave face.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading "Why, what makes you look so unhappy?" she exclaimed, observing the girl's grave face.
girl'snounUS /ɡɜːrlz/
possessive form of “girl” — a young female
From this reading "Why, what makes you look so unhappy?" she exclaimed, observing the girl's grave face.
the act of departing
From this reading "It's very silly, I know, mother; and I didn't mean to be vexed about it," she began, "but Julia said something about my going to the sea-side with them to spend the holidays.
death of a person
From this reading "Why, what makes you look so unhappy?" she exclaimed, observing the girl's grave face.
Haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Have you read your cousin's letter, Ruth?" asked her mother as she took her seat.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading Of course I know very well that you couldn't spare me,--but I can't help crying--just a minute, mother, that is all," said Ruth, while her tears dropped slowly.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "Have you read your cousin's letter, Ruth?" asked her mother as she took her seat.
holidaysnounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪz/
plural of “holiday” — leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading "It's very silly, I know, mother; and I didn't mean to be vexed about it," she began, "but Julia said something about my going to the sea-side with them to spend the holidays.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "It's very silly, I know, mother; and I didn't mean to be vexed about it," she began, "but Julia said something about my going to the sea-side with them to spend the holidays.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Of course I know very well that you couldn't spare me,--but I can't help crying--just a minute, mother, that is all," said Ruth, while her tears dropped slowly.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading TALKING IT OVER.
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's very silly, I know, mother; and I didn't mean to be vexed about it," she began, "but Julia said something about my going to the sea-side with them to spend the holidays.
Julia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's very silly, I know, mother; and I didn't mean to be vexed about it," she began, "but Julia said something about my going to the sea-side with them to spend the holidays.
and nothing more
From this reading Of course I know very well that you couldn't spare me,--but I can't help crying--just a minute, mother, that is all," said Ruth, while her tears dropped slowly.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "It's very silly, I know, mother; and I didn't mean to be vexed about it," she began, "but Julia said something about my going to the sea-side with them to spend the holidays.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading "Have you read your cousin's letter, Ruth?" asked her mother as she took her seat.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading "Why, what makes you look so unhappy?" she exclaimed, observing the girl's grave face.
plural of “make” — a recognizable kind
From this reading "Why, what makes you look so unhappy?" she exclaimed, observing the girl's grave face.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Of course I know very well that you couldn't spare me,--but I can't help crying--just a minute, mother, that is all," said Ruth, while her tears dropped slowly.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading "It's very silly, I know, mother; and I didn't mean to be vexed about it," she began, "but Julia said something about my going to the sea-side with them to spend the holidays.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading Of course I know very well that you couldn't spare me,--but I can't help crying--just a minute, mother, that is all," said Ruth, while her tears dropped slowly.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading "Have you read your cousin's letter, Ruth?" asked her mother as she took her seat.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "It's very silly, I know, mother; and I didn't mean to be vexed about it," she began, "but Julia said something about my going to the sea-side with them to spend the holidays.
observingadjectiveUS /əbˈzɜːrvɪŋ/
quick to notice; showing quick and keen perception
From this reading "Why, what makes you look so unhappy?" she exclaimed, observing the girl's grave face.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Of course I know very well that you couldn't spare me,--but I can't help crying--just a minute, mother, that is all," said Ruth, while her tears dropped slowly.
OVERprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading TALKING IT OVER.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading "Have you read your cousin's letter, Ruth?" asked her mother as she took her seat.
United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading "Have you read your cousin's letter, Ruth?" asked her mother as she took her seat.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "It's very silly, I know, mother; and I didn't mean to be vexed about it," she began, "but Julia said something about my going to the sea-side with them to spend the holidays.
sea-side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's very silly, I know, mother; and I didn't mean to be vexed about it," she began, "but Julia said something about my going to the sea-side with them to spend the holidays.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading "Have you read your cousin's letter, Ruth?" asked her mother as she took her seat.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Have you read your cousin's letter, Ruth?" asked her mother as she took her seat.
ludicrous, foolish
From this reading "It's very silly, I know, mother; and I didn't mean to be vexed about it," she began, "but Julia said something about my going to the sea-side with them to spend the holidays.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Of course I know very well that you couldn't spare me,--but I can't help crying--just a minute, mother, that is all," said Ruth, while her tears dropped slowly.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "Why, what makes you look so unhappy?" she exclaimed, observing the girl's grave face.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading "It's very silly, I know, mother; and I didn't mean to be vexed about it," she began, "but Julia said something about my going to the sea-side with them to spend the holidays.
refrain from harming
From this reading Of course I know very well that you couldn't spare me,--but I can't help crying--just a minute, mother, that is all," said Ruth, while her tears dropped slowly.
use up a period of time in a specific way
From this reading "It's very silly, I know, mother; and I didn't mean to be vexed about it," she began, "but Julia said something about my going to the sea-side with them to spend the holidays.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading TALKING IT OVER.
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
From this reading Of course I know very well that you couldn't spare me,--but I can't help crying--just a minute, mother, that is all," said Ruth, while her tears dropped slowly.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Of course I know very well that you couldn't spare me,--but I can't help crying--just a minute, mother, that is all," said Ruth, while her tears dropped slowly.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Why, what makes you look so unhappy?" she exclaimed, observing the girl's grave face.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading "It's very silly, I know, mother; and I didn't mean to be vexed about it," she began, "but Julia said something about my going to the sea-side with them to spend the holidays.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "It's very silly, I know, mother; and I didn't mean to be vexed about it," she began, "but Julia said something about my going to the sea-side with them to spend the holidays.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading "Have you read your cousin's letter, Ruth?" asked her mother as she took her seat.
experiencing or marked by or causing sadness or sorrow or discontent
From this reading "Why, what makes you look so unhappy?" she exclaimed, observing the girl's grave face.
precisely as stated
From this reading "It's very silly, I know, mother; and I didn't mean to be vexed about it," she began, "but Julia said something about my going to the sea-side with them to spend the holidays.
vexedadjectiveUS /vekst/
troubled persistently especially with petty annoyances
From this reading "It's very silly, I know, mother; and I didn't mean to be vexed about it," she began, "but Julia said something about my going to the sea-side with them to spend the holidays.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Of course I know very well that you couldn't spare me,--but I can't help crying--just a minute, mother, that is all," said Ruth, while her tears dropped slowly.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "Why, what makes you look so unhappy?" she exclaimed, observing the girl's grave face.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Of course I know very well that you couldn't spare me,--but I can't help crying--just a minute, mother, that is all," said Ruth, while her tears dropped slowly.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "Why, what makes you look so unhappy?" she exclaimed, observing the girl's grave face.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "It's very silly, I know, mother; and I didn't mean to be vexed about it," she began, "but Julia said something about my going to the sea-side with them to spend the holidays.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Have you read your cousin's letter, Ruth?" asked her mother as she took her seat.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Have you read your cousin's letter, Ruth?" asked her mother as she took her seat.
