used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “It’s a big box for Daddy,” explained Bert.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Down in the hall below she could see, gathered about the mysterious box, the four twins.
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading She had heard the bell ring, and at first thought it was her husband, coming home early on account of the birthday celebration.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She had heard the bell ring, and at first thought it was her husband, coming home early on account of the birthday celebration.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She had heard the bell ring, and at first thought it was her husband, coming home early on account of the birthday celebration.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading She had heard the bell ring, and at first thought it was her husband, coming home early on account of the birthday celebration.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Down in the hall below she could see, gathered about the mysterious box, the four twins.
Bert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It’s a big box for Daddy,” explained Bert.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “It’s a big box for Daddy,” explained Bert.
birthdaynounUS /ˈbɜːrθdeɪ/
an anniversary of the day on which a person was born (or the celebration of it)
From this reading She had heard the bell ring, and at first thought it was her husband, coming home early on account of the birthday celebration.
Bobbsey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading QUEER NOISES “What is going on down there, my dears?” called Mrs. Bobbsey from the top of the stairs.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading Down in the hall below she could see, gathered about the mysterious box, the four twins.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But when she heard the strange tones of the expressman she realized that something else had happened, and she was curious to know what it was about.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading QUEER NOISES “What is going on down there, my dears?” called Mrs. Bobbsey from the top of the stairs.
celebrationnounUS /ˌseləˈbreɪʃən/
a joyful occasion for special festivities to mark some happy event
From this reading She had heard the bell ring, and at first thought it was her husband, coming home early on account of the birthday celebration.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading She had heard the bell ring, and at first thought it was her husband, coming home early on account of the birthday celebration.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Down in the hall below she could see, gathered about the mysterious box, the four twins.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading But when she heard the strange tones of the expressman she realized that something else had happened, and she was curious to know what it was about.
DaddynounUS /ˈdædi/
an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
From this reading “It’s a big box for Daddy,” explained Bert.
dears
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading QUEER NOISES “What is going on down there, my dears?” called Mrs. Bobbsey from the top of the stairs.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading QUEER NOISES “What is going on down there, my dears?” called Mrs. Bobbsey from the top of the stairs.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading She had heard the bell ring, and at first thought it was her husband, coming home early on account of the birthday celebration.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when she heard the strange tones of the expressman she realized that something else had happened, and she was curious to know what it was about.
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading “It’s a big box for Daddy,” explained Bert.
expressman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when she heard the strange tones of the expressman she realized that something else had happened, and she was curious to know what it was about.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading She had heard the bell ring, and at first thought it was her husband, coming home early on account of the birthday celebration.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “It’s a big box for Daddy,” explained Bert.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading Down in the hall below she could see, gathered about the mysterious box, the four twins.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading QUEER NOISES “What is going on down there, my dears?” called Mrs. Bobbsey from the top of the stairs.
brought together in one place
From this reading Down in the hall below she could see, gathered about the mysterious box, the four twins.
the act of departing
From this reading QUEER NOISES “What is going on down there, my dears?” called Mrs. Bobbsey from the top of the stairs.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had heard the bell ring, and at first thought it was her husband, coming home early on account of the birthday celebration.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading Down in the hall below she could see, gathered about the mysterious box, the four twins.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading But when she heard the strange tones of the expressman she realized that something else had happened, and she was curious to know what it was about.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading She had heard the bell ring, and at first thought it was her husband, coming home early on account of the birthday celebration.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She had heard the bell ring, and at first thought it was her husband, coming home early on account of the birthday celebration.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading She had heard the bell ring, and at first thought it was her husband, coming home early on account of the birthday celebration.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading She had heard the bell ring, and at first thought it was her husband, coming home early on account of the birthday celebration.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Down in the hall below she could see, gathered about the mysterious box, the four twins.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading QUEER NOISES “What is going on down there, my dears?” called Mrs. Bobbsey from the top of the stairs.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She had heard the bell ring, and at first thought it was her husband, coming home early on account of the birthday celebration.
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It’s a big box for Daddy,” explained Bert.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading But when she heard the strange tones of the expressman she realized that something else had happened, and she was curious to know what it was about.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading QUEER NOISES “What is going on down there, my dears?” called Mrs. Bobbsey from the top of the stairs.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading QUEER NOISES “What is going on down there, my dears?” called Mrs. Bobbsey from the top of the stairs.
of an obscure nature
From this reading Down in the hall below she could see, gathered about the mysterious box, the four twins.
NOISESnounUS /ˈnɔɪzɪz/
plural of “noise” — sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading QUEER NOISES “What is going on down there, my dears?” called Mrs. Bobbsey from the top of the stairs.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading QUEER NOISES “What is going on down there, my dears?” called Mrs. Bobbsey from the top of the stairs.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading QUEER NOISES “What is going on down there, my dears?” called Mrs. Bobbsey from the top of the stairs.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading QUEER NOISES “What is going on down there, my dears?” called Mrs. Bobbsey from the top of the stairs.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading But when she heard the strange tones of the expressman she realized that something else had happened, and she was curious to know what it was about.
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading She had heard the bell ring, and at first thought it was her husband, coming home early on account of the birthday celebration.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Down in the hall below she could see, gathered about the mysterious box, the four twins.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Down in the hall below she could see, gathered about the mysterious box, the four twins.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading But when she heard the strange tones of the expressman she realized that something else had happened, and she was curious to know what it was about.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading QUEER NOISES “What is going on down there, my dears?” called Mrs. Bobbsey from the top of the stairs.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading But when she heard the strange tones of the expressman she realized that something else had happened, and she was curious to know what it was about.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But when she heard the strange tones of the expressman she realized that something else had happened, and she was curious to know what it was about.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading QUEER NOISES “What is going on down there, my dears?” called Mrs. Bobbsey from the top of the stairs.
in or at that place or location
From this reading QUEER NOISES “What is going on down there, my dears?” called Mrs. Bobbsey from the top of the stairs.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading She had heard the bell ring, and at first thought it was her husband, coming home early on account of the birthday celebration.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But when she heard the strange tones of the expressman she realized that something else had happened, and she was curious to know what it was about.
plural of “tone” — the quality of a person's voice
From this reading But when she heard the strange tones of the expressman she realized that something else had happened, and she was curious to know what it was about.
the upper part of anything
From this reading QUEER NOISES “What is going on down there, my dears?” called Mrs. Bobbsey from the top of the stairs.
twinsnounUS /twɪnz/
(mineralogy) two interwoven crystals that are mirror images on each other
From this reading Down in the hall below she could see, gathered about the mysterious box, the four twins.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She had heard the bell ring, and at first thought it was her husband, coming home early on account of the birthday celebration.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading QUEER NOISES “What is going on down there, my dears?” called Mrs. Bobbsey from the top of the stairs.
at the time that
From this reading But when she heard the strange tones of the expressman she realized that something else had happened, and she was curious to know what it was about.
