adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was spick-and-span, with shining cheeks and a damp and glossy top-knot, and his blue eyes stared at the strange crowd stolidly for several minutes before he suddenly crumpled up his face and uttered a howl of terror.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Carey junior joined the Christmas party after breakfast, and was handed round.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Carey junior joined the Christmas party after breakfast, and was handed round.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He was spick-and-span, with shining cheeks and a damp and glossy top-knot, and his blue eyes stared at the strange crowd stolidly for several minutes before he suddenly crumpled up his face and uttered a howl of terror.
babynounUS /ˈbeɪbi/
a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
From this reading "It's a baby," Frances explained, dancing round it.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He was spick-and-span, with shining cheeks and a damp and glossy top-knot, and his blue eyes stared at the strange crowd stolidly for several minutes before he suddenly crumpled up his face and uttered a howl of terror.
blueadjectiveUS /bluː/
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading He was spick-and-span, with shining cheeks and a damp and glossy top-knot, and his blue eyes stared at the strange crowd stolidly for several minutes before he suddenly crumpled up his face and uttered a howl of terror.
breakfastverbUS /ˈbrekfəst/
eat an early morning meal
From this reading Carey junior joined the Christmas party after breakfast, and was handed round.
browsnounUS /braʊz/
plural of “brow” — the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading "What is it?" queried Dalzell, with raised brows, pretending that he had never seen such a thing before.
Carey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Carey junior joined the Christmas party after breakfast, and was handed round.
cheeksnounUS /tʃiːks/
plural of “cheek” — either side of the face below the eyes
From this reading He was spick-and-span, with shining cheeks and a damp and glossy top-knot, and his blue eyes stared at the strange crowd stolidly for several minutes before he suddenly crumpled up his face and uttered a howl of terror.
ChristmasnounUS /ˈkrɪsməs/
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading Carey junior joined the Christmas party after breakfast, and was handed round.
crowdverbUS /kraʊd/
cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading He was spick-and-span, with shining cheeks and a damp and glossy top-knot, and his blue eyes stared at the strange crowd stolidly for several minutes before he suddenly crumpled up his face and uttered a howl of terror.
crumpledadjectiveUS /ˈkrʌmpəld/
of metal e.g.
From this reading He was spick-and-span, with shining cheeks and a damp and glossy top-knot, and his blue eyes stared at the strange crowd stolidly for several minutes before he suddenly crumpled up his face and uttered a howl of terror.
Dalzell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What is it?" queried Dalzell, with raised brows, pretending that he had never seen such a thing before.
dampadjectiveUS /dæmp/
slightly wet
From this reading He was spick-and-span, with shining cheeks and a damp and glossy top-knot, and his blue eyes stared at the strange crowd stolidly for several minutes before he suddenly crumpled up his face and uttered a howl of terror.
dancingnounUS /ˈdænsɪŋ/
taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music
From this reading "It's a baby," Frances explained, dancing round it.
explainedverbUS /ɪkˈspleɪnd/
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading "It's a baby," Frances explained, dancing round it.
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading He was spick-and-span, with shining cheeks and a damp and glossy top-knot, and his blue eyes stared at the strange crowd stolidly for several minutes before he suddenly crumpled up his face and uttered a howl of terror.
facenounUS /feɪs/
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading He was spick-and-span, with shining cheeks and a damp and glossy top-knot, and his blue eyes stared at the strange crowd stolidly for several minutes before he suddenly crumpled up his face and uttered a howl of terror.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He was spick-and-span, with shining cheeks and a damp and glossy top-knot, and his blue eyes stared at the strange crowd stolidly for several minutes before he suddenly crumpled up his face and uttered a howl of terror.
FrancesnounUS /ˈfrænsɪs/
plural of “france” — a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe
From this reading "It's a baby," Frances explained, dancing round it.
glossyadjectiveUS /ˈɡlɔːsi/
based on pretense; deceptively pleasing
From this reading He was spick-and-span, with shining cheeks and a damp and glossy top-knot, and his blue eyes stared at the strange crowd stolidly for several minutes before he suddenly crumpled up his face and uttered a howl of terror.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "What is it?" queried Dalzell, with raised brows, pretending that he had never seen such a thing before.
handedadjectiveUS /ˈhændəd/
having or involving the use of hands
From this reading Carey junior joined the Christmas party after breakfast, and was handed round.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was spick-and-span, with shining cheeks and a damp and glossy top-knot, and his blue eyes stared at the strange crowd stolidly for several minutes before he suddenly crumpled up his face and uttered a howl of terror.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Mary introduced him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was spick-and-span, with shining cheeks and a damp and glossy top-knot, and his blue eyes stared at the strange crowd stolidly for several minutes before he suddenly crumpled up his face and uttered a howl of terror.
howlverbUS /haʊl/
emit long loud cries
From this reading He was spick-and-span, with shining cheeks and a damp and glossy top-knot, and his blue eyes stared at the strange crowd stolidly for several minutes before he suddenly crumpled up his face and uttered a howl of terror.
introducedverbUS /ˌɪntrəˈduːst/
past form of “introduce” — cause to come to know personally
From this reading Mary introduced him.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "What is it?" queried Dalzell, with raised brows, pretending that he had never seen such a thing before.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "What is it?" queried Dalzell, with raised brows, pretending that he had never seen such a thing before.
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's a baby," Frances explained, dancing round it.
joinedadjectiveUS /dʒɔɪnd/
of or relating to two people who are married to each other
From this reading Carey junior joined the Christmas party after breakfast, and was handed round.
juniornounUS /ˈdʒuːnjər/
term of address for a disrespectful and annoying male
From this reading Carey junior joined the Christmas party after breakfast, and was handed round.
MarynounUS /ˈmeri/
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading Mary introduced him.
minutesnounUS /ˈmɪnəts/
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading He was spick-and-span, with shining cheeks and a damp and glossy top-knot, and his blue eyes stared at the strange crowd stolidly for several minutes before he suddenly crumpled up his face and uttered a howl of terror.
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading "What is it?" queried Dalzell, with raised brows, pretending that he had never seen such a thing before.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was spick-and-span, with shining cheeks and a damp and glossy top-knot, and his blue eyes stared at the strange crowd stolidly for several minutes before he suddenly crumpled up his face and uttered a howl of terror.
partynounUS /ˈpɑːrti/
an organization to gain political power
From this reading Carey junior joined the Christmas party after breakfast, and was handed round.
pretendingnounUS /priˈtendɪŋ/
the act of giving a false appearance
From this reading "What is it?" queried Dalzell, with raised brows, pretending that he had never seen such a thing before.
queriedverbUS /ˈkwɪrid/
inflected form of “query” — pose a question
From this reading "What is it?" queried Dalzell, with raised brows, pretending that he had never seen such a thing before.
raisedadjectiveUS /reɪzd/
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading "What is it?" queried Dalzell, with raised brows, pretending that he had never seen such a thing before.
roundnounUS /raʊnd/
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Carey junior joined the Christmas party after breakfast, and was handed round.
seenverbUS /siːn/
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "What is it?" queried Dalzell, with raised brows, pretending that he had never seen such a thing before.
severaladjectiveUS /ˈsevrəl/
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading He was spick-and-span, with shining cheeks and a damp and glossy top-knot, and his blue eyes stared at the strange crowd stolidly for several minutes before he suddenly crumpled up his face and uttered a howl of terror.
shiningadjectiveUS /ˈʃaɪnɪŋ/
marked by exceptional merit
From this reading He was spick-and-span, with shining cheeks and a damp and glossy top-knot, and his blue eyes stared at the strange crowd stolidly for several minutes before he suddenly crumpled up his face and uttered a howl of terror.
spick-and-spanadjective
conspicuously new
From this reading He was spick-and-span, with shining cheeks and a damp and glossy top-knot, and his blue eyes stared at the strange crowd stolidly for several minutes before he suddenly crumpled up his face and uttered a howl of terror.
staredverbUS /sterd/
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading He was spick-and-span, with shining cheeks and a damp and glossy top-knot, and his blue eyes stared at the strange crowd stolidly for several minutes before he suddenly crumpled up his face and uttered a howl of terror.
stolidlyadverb
in a stolid manner
From this reading He was spick-and-span, with shining cheeks and a damp and glossy top-knot, and his blue eyes stared at the strange crowd stolidly for several minutes before he suddenly crumpled up his face and uttered a howl of terror.
strangeadjectiveUS /streɪndʒ/
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading He was spick-and-span, with shining cheeks and a damp and glossy top-knot, and his blue eyes stared at the strange crowd stolidly for several minutes before he suddenly crumpled up his face and uttered a howl of terror.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading "What is it?" queried Dalzell, with raised brows, pretending that he had never seen such a thing before.
suddenlyadverbUS /ˈsʌdənli/
happening unexpectedly
From this reading He was spick-and-span, with shining cheeks and a damp and glossy top-knot, and his blue eyes stared at the strange crowd stolidly for several minutes before he suddenly crumpled up his face and uttered a howl of terror.
terrornounUS /ˈterər/
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading He was spick-and-span, with shining cheeks and a damp and glossy top-knot, and his blue eyes stared at the strange crowd stolidly for several minutes before he suddenly crumpled up his face and uttered a howl of terror.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "What is it?" queried Dalzell, with raised brows, pretending that he had never seen such a thing before.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Carey junior joined the Christmas party after breakfast, and was handed round.
thingnounUS /θɪŋ/
a special situation
From this reading "What is it?" queried Dalzell, with raised brows, pretending that he had never seen such a thing before.
top-knot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was spick-and-span, with shining cheeks and a damp and glossy top-knot, and his blue eyes stared at the strange crowd stolidly for several minutes before he suddenly crumpled up his face and uttered a howl of terror.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He was spick-and-span, with shining cheeks and a damp and glossy top-knot, and his blue eyes stared at the strange crowd stolidly for several minutes before he suddenly crumpled up his face and uttered a howl of terror.
utteredadjectiveUS /ˈʌtərd/
communicated in words
From this reading He was spick-and-span, with shining cheeks and a damp and glossy top-knot, and his blue eyes stared at the strange crowd stolidly for several minutes before he suddenly crumpled up his face and uttered a howl of terror.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Carey junior joined the Christmas party after breakfast, and was handed round.
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What is it?" queried Dalzell, with raised brows, pretending that he had never seen such a thing before.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was spick-and-span, with shining cheeks and a damp and glossy top-knot, and his blue eyes stared at the strange crowd stolidly for several minutes before he suddenly crumpled up his face and uttered a howl of terror.
