used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For a moment Bert hardly knew whether or not to believe what Freddie said.
anew
From this reading So Bert made up his mind to ask him again what he had said.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Of course he knew that his little brother would not tell an untruth, but Freddie might be mistaken.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The fish which had been nibbling at Bert’s bait seemed not to like it, and swam away.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading So Bert made up his mind to ask him again what he had said.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “What did you say you saw, Freddie?” asked the older boy.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The fish which had been nibbling at Bert’s bait seemed not to like it, and swam away.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The fish which had been nibbling at Bert’s bait seemed not to like it, and swam away.
baitverbUS /beɪt/
harass with persistent criticism or carping
From this reading The fish which had been nibbling at Bert’s bait seemed not to like it, and swam away.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Of course he knew that his little brother would not tell an untruth, but Freddie might be mistaken.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The fish which had been nibbling at Bert’s bait seemed not to like it, and swam away.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading For a moment Bert hardly knew whether or not to believe what Freddie said.
Bert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment Bert hardly knew whether or not to believe what Freddie said.
Bert's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fish which had been nibbling at Bert’s bait seemed not to like it, and swam away.
a youthful male person
From this reading “What did you say you saw, Freddie?” asked the older boy.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading Of course he knew that his little brother would not tell an untruth, but Freddie might be mistaken.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Of course he knew that his little brother would not tell an untruth, but Freddie might be mistaken.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Of course he knew that his little brother would not tell an untruth, but Freddie might be mistaken.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading “What did you say you saw, Freddie?” asked the older boy.
any of various mostly cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates usually having scales and breathing through gills
From this reading The fish which had been nibbling at Bert’s bait seemed not to like it, and swam away.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a moment Bert hardly knew whether or not to believe what Freddie said.
Freddie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment Bert hardly knew whether or not to believe what Freddie said.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading So Bert made up his mind to ask him again what he had said.
only a very short time before
From this reading For a moment Bert hardly knew whether or not to believe what Freddie said.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Of course he knew that his little brother would not tell an untruth, but Freddie might be mistaken.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading So Bert made up his mind to ask him again what he had said.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Of course he knew that his little brother would not tell an untruth, but Freddie might be mistaken.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The fish which had been nibbling at Bert’s bait seemed not to like it, and swam away.
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 For a moment Bert hardly knew whether or not to believe what Freddie said.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The fish which had been nibbling at Bert’s bait seemed not to like it, and swam away.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Of course he knew that his little brother would not tell an untruth, but Freddie might be mistaken.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading So Bert made up his mind to ask him again what he had said.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Of course he knew that his little brother would not tell an untruth, but Freddie might be mistaken.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading So Bert made up his mind to ask him again what he had said.
wrong in e.g. opinion or judgment
From this reading Of course he knew that his little brother would not tell an untruth, but Freddie might be mistaken.
a particular point in time
From this reading For a moment Bert hardly knew whether or not to believe what Freddie said.
nibblingverbUS /ˈnɪbəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “nibble” — bite off very small pieces
From this reading The fish which had been nibbling at Bert’s bait seemed not to like it, and swam away.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading For a moment Bert hardly knew whether or not to believe what Freddie said.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Of course he knew that his little brother would not tell an untruth, but Freddie might be mistaken.
olderadjectiveUS /ˈoʊldər/
advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)
From this reading “What did you say you saw, Freddie?” asked the older boy.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading For a moment Bert hardly knew whether or not to believe what Freddie said.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading For a moment Bert hardly knew whether or not to believe what Freddie said.
cut with a saw
From this reading “What did you say you saw, Freddie?” asked the older boy.
express in words
From this reading “What did you say you saw, Freddie?” asked the older boy.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The fish which had been nibbling at Bert’s bait seemed not to like it, and swam away.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So Bert made up his mind to ask him again what he had said.
swamverbUS /swæm/
inflected form of “swim” — travel through water
From this reading The fish which had been nibbling at Bert’s bait seemed not to like it, and swam away.
express in words
From this reading Of course he knew that his little brother would not tell an untruth, but Freddie might be mistaken.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Of course he knew that his little brother would not tell an untruth, but Freddie might be mistaken.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The fish which had been nibbling at Bert’s bait seemed not to like it, and swam away.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For a moment Bert hardly knew whether or not to believe what Freddie said.
untruthnounUS /ənˈtruːθ/
a false statement
From this reading Of course he knew that his little brother would not tell an untruth, but Freddie might be mistaken.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading So Bert made up his mind to ask him again what he had said.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading For a moment Bert hardly knew whether or not to believe what Freddie said.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading For a moment Bert hardly knew whether or not to believe what Freddie said.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The fish which had been nibbling at Bert’s bait seemed not to like it, and swam away.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Of course he knew that his little brother would not tell an untruth, but Freddie might be mistaken.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “What did you say you saw, Freddie?” asked the older boy.
