aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading SALLY IS YOUNG WITH HER CHILDREN Before Sally had any kittens she used to wonder at the shiftless way in which the wild tortoise-shell cat who sometimes came about the place dealt with her kittens.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But it is one thing to make imaginary children mind and quite another to deal with real ones.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading But it is one thing to make imaginary children mind and quite another to deal with real ones.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading SALLY IS YOUNG WITH HER CHILDREN Before Sally had any kittens she used to wonder at the shiftless way in which the wild tortoise-shell cat who sometimes came about the place dealt with her kittens.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Sally knew she would not have the slightest trouble in making her children mind, if she were so fortunate as to have any.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading SALLY IS YOUNG WITH HER CHILDREN Before Sally had any kittens she used to wonder at the shiftless way in which the wild tortoise-shell cat who sometimes came about the place dealt with her kittens.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She would say in her powerful voice, ‘Come, Patty, come, Eben, be quiet.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading SALLY IS YOUNG WITH HER CHILDREN Before Sally had any kittens she used to wonder at the shiftless way in which the wild tortoise-shell cat who sometimes came about the place dealt with her kittens.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But it is one thing to make imaginary children mind and quite another to deal with real ones.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading SALLY IS YOUNG WITH HER CHILDREN Before Sally had any kittens she used to wonder at the shiftless way in which the wild tortoise-shell cat who sometimes came about the place dealt with her kittens.
feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
From this reading SALLY IS YOUNG WITH HER CHILDREN Before Sally had any kittens she used to wonder at the shiftless way in which the wild tortoise-shell cat who sometimes came about the place dealt with her kittens.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading SALLY IS YOUNG WITH HER CHILDREN Before Sally had any kittens she used to wonder at the shiftless way in which the wild tortoise-shell cat who sometimes came about the place dealt with her kittens.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading She would say in her powerful voice, ‘Come, Patty, come, Eben, be quiet.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading But it is one thing to make imaginary children mind and quite another to deal with real ones.
dealtverbUS /delt/
inflected form of “deal” — act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading SALLY IS YOUNG WITH HER CHILDREN Before Sally had any kittens she used to wonder at the shiftless way in which the wild tortoise-shell cat who sometimes came about the place dealt with her kittens.
Eben
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would say in her powerful voice, ‘Come, Patty, come, Eben, be quiet.
having unexpected good fortune
From this reading Sally knew she would not have the slightest trouble in making her children mind, if she were so fortunate as to have any.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading SALLY IS YOUNG WITH HER CHILDREN Before Sally had any kittens she used to wonder at the shiftless way in which the wild tortoise-shell cat who sometimes came about the place dealt with her kittens.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Sally knew she would not have the slightest trouble in making her children mind, if she were so fortunate as to have any.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading SALLY IS YOUNG WITH HER CHILDREN Before Sally had any kittens she used to wonder at the shiftless way in which the wild tortoise-shell cat who sometimes came about the place dealt with her kittens.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Sally knew she would not have the slightest trouble in making her children mind, if she were so fortunate as to have any.
imaginaryadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈmædʒəneri/
not based on fact; existing only in the imagination
From this reading But it is one thing to make imaginary children mind and quite another to deal with real ones.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading SALLY IS YOUNG WITH HER CHILDREN Before Sally had any kittens she used to wonder at the shiftless way in which the wild tortoise-shell cat who sometimes came about the place dealt with her kittens.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading SALLY IS YOUNG WITH HER CHILDREN Before Sally had any kittens she used to wonder at the shiftless way in which the wild tortoise-shell cat who sometimes came about the place dealt with her kittens.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But it is one thing to make imaginary children mind and quite another to deal with real ones.
kittensnounUS /ˈkɪtənz/
plural of “kitten” — young domestic cat
From this reading SALLY IS YOUNG WITH HER CHILDREN Before Sally had any kittens she used to wonder at the shiftless way in which the wild tortoise-shell cat who sometimes came about the place dealt with her kittens.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Sally knew she would not have the slightest trouble in making her children mind, if she were so fortunate as to have any.
engage in
From this reading But it is one thing to make imaginary children mind and quite another to deal with real ones.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading Sally knew she would not have the slightest trouble in making her children mind, if she were so fortunate as to have any.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Come to me.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Sally knew she would not have the slightest trouble in making her children mind, if she were so fortunate as to have any.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Sally knew she would not have the slightest trouble in making her children mind, if she were so fortunate as to have any.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But it is one thing to make imaginary children mind and quite another to deal with real ones.
plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
From this reading But it is one thing to make imaginary children mind and quite another to deal with real ones.
PattynounUS /ˈpæti/
small flat mass of chopped food
From this reading She would say in her powerful voice, ‘Come, Patty, come, Eben, be quiet.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading SALLY IS YOUNG WITH HER CHILDREN Before Sally had any kittens she used to wonder at the shiftless way in which the wild tortoise-shell cat who sometimes came about the place dealt with her kittens.
having great power or force or potency or effect
From this reading She would say in her powerful voice, ‘Come, Patty, come, Eben, be quiet.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading She would say in her powerful voice, ‘Come, Patty, come, Eben, be quiet.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading But it is one thing to make imaginary children mind and quite another to deal with real ones.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading But it is one thing to make imaginary children mind and quite another to deal with real ones.
witty remark
From this reading SALLY IS YOUNG WITH HER CHILDREN Before Sally had any kittens she used to wonder at the shiftless way in which the wild tortoise-shell cat who sometimes came about the place dealt with her kittens.
express in words
From this reading She would say in her powerful voice, ‘Come, Patty, come, Eben, be quiet.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading SALLY IS YOUNG WITH HER CHILDREN Before Sally had any kittens she used to wonder at the shiftless way in which the wild tortoise-shell cat who sometimes came about the place dealt with her kittens.
shiftlessadjectiveUS /ˈʃɪftlɪs/
lacking or characterized by lack of ambition or initiative; lazy
From this reading SALLY IS YOUNG WITH HER CHILDREN Before Sally had any kittens she used to wonder at the shiftless way in which the wild tortoise-shell cat who sometimes came about the place dealt with her kittens.
superlative of “slight” — (quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with “a”) at least some
From this reading Sally knew she would not have the slightest trouble in making her children mind, if she were so fortunate as to have any.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Sally knew she would not have the slightest trouble in making her children mind, if she were so fortunate as to have any.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading SALLY IS YOUNG WITH HER CHILDREN Before Sally had any kittens she used to wonder at the shiftless way in which the wild tortoise-shell cat who sometimes came about the place dealt with her kittens.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SALLY IS YOUNG WITH HER CHILDREN Before Sally had any kittens she used to wonder at the shiftless way in which the wild tortoise-shell cat who sometimes came about the place dealt with her kittens.
a special situation
From this reading But it is one thing to make imaginary children mind and quite another to deal with real ones.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading SALLY IS YOUNG WITH HER CHILDREN Before Sally had any kittens she used to wonder at the shiftless way in which the wild tortoise-shell cat who sometimes came about the place dealt with her kittens.
tortoise-shell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SALLY IS YOUNG WITH HER CHILDREN Before Sally had any kittens she used to wonder at the shiftless way in which the wild tortoise-shell cat who sometimes came about the place dealt with her kittens.
a source of difficulty
From this reading Sally knew she would not have the slightest trouble in making her children mind, if she were so fortunate as to have any.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading SALLY IS YOUNG WITH HER CHILDREN Before Sally had any kittens she used to wonder at the shiftless way in which the wild tortoise-shell cat who sometimes came about the place dealt with her kittens.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading She would say in her powerful voice, ‘Come, Patty, come, Eben, be quiet.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading SALLY IS YOUNG WITH HER CHILDREN Before Sally had any kittens she used to wonder at the shiftless way in which the wild tortoise-shell cat who sometimes came about the place dealt with her kittens.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Sally knew she would not have the slightest trouble in making her children mind, if she were so fortunate as to have any.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading SALLY IS YOUNG WITH HER CHILDREN Before Sally had any kittens she used to wonder at the shiftless way in which the wild tortoise-shell cat who sometimes came about the place dealt with her kittens.
which person or people
From this reading SALLY IS YOUNG WITH HER CHILDREN Before Sally had any kittens she used to wonder at the shiftless way in which the wild tortoise-shell cat who sometimes came about the place dealt with her kittens.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading SALLY IS YOUNG WITH HER CHILDREN Before Sally had any kittens she used to wonder at the shiftless way in which the wild tortoise-shell cat who sometimes came about the place dealt with her kittens.
in the company of; together with
From this reading SALLY IS YOUNG WITH HER CHILDREN Before Sally had any kittens she used to wonder at the shiftless way in which the wild tortoise-shell cat who sometimes came about the place dealt with her kittens.
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading SALLY IS YOUNG WITH HER CHILDREN Before Sally had any kittens she used to wonder at the shiftless way in which the wild tortoise-shell cat who sometimes came about the place dealt with her kittens.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Sally knew she would not have the slightest trouble in making her children mind, if she were so fortunate as to have any.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading SALLY IS YOUNG WITH HER CHILDREN Before Sally had any kittens she used to wonder at the shiftless way in which the wild tortoise-shell cat who sometimes came about the place dealt with her kittens.
