adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading All the children wore their best clothes, and for a time they were a bit stiff and unnatural, standing shyly about in corners, against the walls, or sitting on chairs.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading All the children wore their best clothes, and for a time they were a bit stiff and unnatural, standing shyly about in corners, against the walls, or sitting on chairs.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE QUICKLY, after the first guests had arrived came the others.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading All the children wore their best clothes, and for a time they were a bit stiff and unnatural, standing shyly about in corners, against the walls, or sitting on chairs.
AlladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 All the children wore their best clothes, and for a time they were a bit stiff and unnatural, standing shyly about in corners, against the walls, or sitting on chairs.
ANdeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE QUICKLY, after the first guests had arrived came the others.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Nellie Parks, Grace Lavine friends of Nan, and Willie Porter and his sister Sadie, came first, and Freddie and Flossie let them in, the Porter children being some of their bestliked playmates.
anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading The boys seemed to all crowd together in one part of the room, and the girls in another.
answeringadjectiveUS /ˈænsərɪŋ/
replying
From this reading Flossie and Freddie, Nan and Bert, were so busy answering the door that they did not notice this at first.
arrivedverbUS /ərˈaɪvd/
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE QUICKLY, after the first guests had arrived came the others.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Flossie and Freddie, Nan and Bert, were so busy answering the door that they did not notice this at first.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Nellie Parks, Grace Lavine friends of Nan, and Willie Porter and his sister Sadie, came first, and Freddie and Flossie let them in, the Porter children being some of their bestliked playmates.
Bert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Flossie and Freddie, Nan and Bert, were so busy answering the door that they did not notice this at first.
bestnounUS /best/
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading All the children wore their best clothes, and for a time they were a bit stiff and unnatural, standing shyly about in corners, against the walls, or sitting on chairs.
bestliked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nellie Parks, Grace Lavine friends of Nan, and Willie Porter and his sister Sadie, came first, and Freddie and Flossie let them in, the Porter children being some of their bestliked playmates.
bitnounUS /bɪt/
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading All the children wore their best clothes, and for a time they were a bit stiff and unnatural, standing shyly about in corners, against the walls, or sitting on chairs.
boysnounUS /bɔɪz/
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The boys seemed to all crowd together in one part of the room, and the girls in another.
busyadjectiveUS /ˈbɪzi/
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading Flossie and Freddie, Nan and Bert, were so busy answering the door that they did not notice this at first.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE QUICKLY, after the first guests had arrived came the others.
chairsnounUS /tʃerz/
plural of “chair” — a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading All the children wore their best clothes, and for a time they were a bit stiff and unnatural, standing shyly about in corners, against the walls, or sitting on chairs.
childrennounUS /ˈtʃɪldrən/
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading Nellie Parks, Grace Lavine friends of Nan, and Willie Porter and his sister Sadie, came first, and Freddie and Flossie let them in, the Porter children being some of their bestliked playmates.
clothesnounUS /kloʊðz/
clothing in general
From this reading All the children wore their best clothes, and for a time they were a bit stiff and unnatural, standing shyly about in corners, against the walls, or sitting on chairs.
cornersnounUS /ˈkɔːrnərz/
plural of “corner” — a place off to the side of an area
From this reading All the children wore their best clothes, and for a time they were a bit stiff and unnatural, standing shyly about in corners, against the walls, or sitting on chairs.
crowdverbUS /kraʊd/
cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading The boys seemed to all crowd together in one part of the room, and the girls in another.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Flossie and Freddie, Nan and Bert, were so busy answering the door that they did not notice this at first.
doornounUS /dɔːr/
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Flossie and Freddie, Nan and Bert, were so busy answering the door that they did not notice this at first.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE QUICKLY, after the first guests had arrived came the others.
Flossie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nellie Parks, Grace Lavine friends of Nan, and Willie Porter and his sister Sadie, came first, and Freddie and Flossie let them in, the Porter children being some of their bestliked playmates.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading All the children wore their best clothes, and for a time they were a bit stiff and unnatural, standing shyly about in corners, against the walls, or sitting on chairs.
Freddie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nellie Parks, Grace Lavine friends of Nan, and Willie Porter and his sister Sadie, came first, and Freddie and Flossie let them in, the Porter children being some of their bestliked playmates.
friendsnounUS /frendz/
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Nellie Parks, Grace Lavine friends of Nan, and Willie Porter and his sister Sadie, came first, and Freddie and Flossie let them in, the Porter children being some of their bestliked playmates.
girlsnounUS /ɡɜːrlz/
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading The boys seemed to all crowd together in one part of the room, and the girls in another.
GracenounUS /ɡreɪs/
(Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence
From this reading Nellie Parks, Grace Lavine friends of Nan, and Willie Porter and his sister Sadie, came first, and Freddie and Flossie let them in, the Porter children being some of their bestliked playmates.
guestsnounUS /ɡests/
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE QUICKLY, after the first guests had arrived came the others.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE QUICKLY, after the first guests had arrived came the others.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Nellie Parks, Grace Lavine friends of Nan, and Willie Porter and his sister Sadie, came first, and Freddie and Flossie let them in, the Porter children being some of their bestliked playmates.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Nellie Parks, Grace Lavine friends of Nan, and Willie Porter and his sister Sadie, came first, and Freddie and Flossie let them in, the Porter children being some of their bestliked playmates.
Lavine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nellie Parks, Grace Lavine friends of Nan, and Willie Porter and his sister Sadie, came first, and Freddie and Flossie let them in, the Porter children being some of their bestliked playmates.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading Nellie Parks, Grace Lavine friends of Nan, and Willie Porter and his sister Sadie, came first, and Freddie and Flossie let them in, the Porter children being some of their bestliked playmates.
NannounUS /næn/
your grandmother
From this reading Nellie Parks, Grace Lavine friends of Nan, and Willie Porter and his sister Sadie, came first, and Freddie and Flossie let them in, the Porter children being some of their bestliked playmates.
Nellie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nellie Parks, Grace Lavine friends of Nan, and Willie Porter and his sister Sadie, came first, and Freddie and Flossie let them in, the Porter children being some of their bestliked playmates.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Flossie and Freddie, Nan and Bert, were so busy answering the door that they did not notice this at first.
noticenounUS /ˈnoʊtəs/
an announcement containing information about an event
From this reading Flossie and Freddie, Nan and Bert, were so busy answering the door that they did not notice this at first.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Nellie Parks, Grace Lavine friends of Nan, and Willie Porter and his sister Sadie, came first, and Freddie and Flossie let them in, the Porter children being some of their bestliked playmates.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading All the children wore their best clothes, and for a time they were a bit stiff and unnatural, standing shyly about in corners, against the walls, or sitting on chairs.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The boys seemed to all crowd together in one part of the room, and the girls in another.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading All the children wore their best clothes, and for a time they were a bit stiff and unnatural, standing shyly about in corners, against the walls, or sitting on chairs.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE QUICKLY, after the first guests had arrived came the others.
ParksnounUS /pɑːrks/
United States civil rights leader who refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man in Montgomery (Alabama) and so triggered the national Civil Rights movement (born in 1913)
From this reading Nellie Parks, Grace Lavine friends of Nan, and Willie Porter and his sister Sadie, came first, and Freddie and Flossie let them in, the Porter children being some of their bestliked playmates.
partnounUS /pɑːrt/
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading The boys seemed to all crowd together in one part of the room, and the girls in another.
playmatesnounUS /ˈpleɪmeɪts/
plural of “playmate” — a companion at play
From this reading Nellie Parks, Grace Lavine friends of Nan, and Willie Porter and his sister Sadie, came first, and Freddie and Flossie let them in, the Porter children being some of their bestliked playmates.
PorternounUS /ˈpɔːrtər/
a person employed to carry luggage and supplies
From this reading Nellie Parks, Grace Lavine friends of Nan, and Willie Porter and his sister Sadie, came first, and Freddie and Flossie let them in, the Porter children being some of their bestliked playmates.
QUICKLYadverbUS /ˈkwɪkli/
with speed
From this reading AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE QUICKLY, after the first guests had arrived came the others.
roomnounUS /ruːm/
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The boys seemed to all crowd together in one part of the room, and the girls in another.
Sadie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nellie Parks, Grace Lavine friends of Nan, and Willie Porter and his sister Sadie, came first, and Freddie and Flossie let them in, the Porter children being some of their bestliked playmates.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The boys seemed to all crowd together in one part of the room, and the girls in another.
shylyadverbUS /ˈʃaɪli/
in a shy or timid or bashful manner
From this reading All the children wore their best clothes, and for a time they were a bit stiff and unnatural, standing shyly about in corners, against the walls, or sitting on chairs.
sisternounUS /ˈsɪstər/
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading Nellie Parks, Grace Lavine friends of Nan, and Willie Porter and his sister Sadie, came first, and Freddie and Flossie let them in, the Porter children being some of their bestliked playmates.
sittingnounUS /ˈsɪtɪŋ/
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading All the children wore their best clothes, and for a time they were a bit stiff and unnatural, standing shyly about in corners, against the walls, or sitting on chairs.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Flossie and Freddie, Nan and Bert, were so busy answering the door that they did not notice this at first.
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Nellie Parks, Grace Lavine friends of Nan, and Willie Porter and his sister Sadie, came first, and Freddie and Flossie let them in, the Porter children being some of their bestliked playmates.
standingadjectiveUS /ˈstændɪŋ/
having a supporting base
From this reading All the children wore their best clothes, and for a time they were a bit stiff and unnatural, standing shyly about in corners, against the walls, or sitting on chairs.
stiffadjectiveUS /stɪf/
not moving or operating freely
From this reading All the children wore their best clothes, and for a time they were a bit stiff and unnatural, standing shyly about in corners, against the walls, or sitting on chairs.
SURPRISEnounUS /sərˈpraɪz/
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE QUICKLY, after the first guests had arrived came the others.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Flossie and Freddie, Nan and Bert, were so busy answering the door that they did not notice this at first.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE QUICKLY, after the first guests had arrived came the others.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Nellie Parks, Grace Lavine friends of Nan, and Willie Porter and his sister Sadie, came first, and Freddie and Flossie let them in, the Porter children being some of their bestliked playmates.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Nellie Parks, Grace Lavine friends of Nan, and Willie Porter and his sister Sadie, came first, and Freddie and Flossie let them in, the Porter children being some of their bestliked playmates.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading All the children wore their best clothes, and for a time they were a bit stiff and unnatural, standing shyly about in corners, against the walls, or sitting on chairs.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Flossie and Freddie, Nan and Bert, were so busy answering the door that they did not notice this at first.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading All the children wore their best clothes, and for a time they were a bit stiff and unnatural, standing shyly about in corners, against the walls, or sitting on chairs.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The boys seemed to all crowd together in one part of the room, and the girls in another.
togetheradverbUS /təˈɡeðər/
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading The boys seemed to all crowd together in one part of the room, and the girls in another.
unnaturaladjectiveUS /ənˈnætʃərəl/
not in accordance with or determined by nature; contrary to nature
From this reading All the children wore their best clothes, and for a time they were a bit stiff and unnatural, standing shyly about in corners, against the walls, or sitting on chairs.
UNPLEASANTadjectiveUS /ənˈplezənt/
offensive or disagreeable; causing discomfort or unhappiness
From this reading AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE QUICKLY, after the first guests had arrived came the others.
wallsnounUS /wɔːlz/
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading All the children wore their best clothes, and for a time they were a bit stiff and unnatural, standing shyly about in corners, against the walls, or sitting on chairs.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading All the children wore their best clothes, and for a time they were a bit stiff and unnatural, standing shyly about in corners, against the walls, or sitting on chairs.
Willie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nellie Parks, Grace Lavine friends of Nan, and Willie Porter and his sister Sadie, came first, and Freddie and Flossie let them in, the Porter children being some of their bestliked playmates.
woreverbUS /wɔːr/
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading All the children wore their best clothes, and for a time they were a bit stiff and unnatural, standing shyly about in corners, against the walls, or sitting on chairs.
