used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Auntie May and Rosamond had a chafing-dish, and they used to cook all sorts of messes in it for us and for mother, who was very fussy about her food, and took dislikes to the most ordinary things.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Auntie May and Rosamond had a chafing-dish, and they used to cook all sorts of messes in it for us and for mother, who was very fussy about her food, and took dislikes to the most ordinary things.
(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 Auntie May and Rosamond had a chafing-dish, and they used to cook all sorts of messes in it for us and for mother, who was very fussy about her food, and took dislikes to the most ordinary things.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading They burnt methylated spirit in the chafing-dish, and the first time I saw the sly curling flame winding up among Auntie May's new novel, I confess I was frightened.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Auntie May and Rosamond had a chafing-dish, and they used to cook all sorts of messes in it for us and for mother, who was very fussy about her food, and took dislikes to the most ordinary things.
AuntienounUS /ˈænti/
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading Auntie May and Rosamond had a chafing-dish, and they used to cook all sorts of messes in it for us and for mother, who was very fussy about her food, and took dislikes to the most ordinary things.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading They say that a sardine will sometimes bring a dying cat back to life.
biscuitsnounUS /ˈbɪskəts/
plural of “biscuit” — small round bread leavened with baking-powder or soda
From this reading For instance, porridge she would not touch, or cod-liver oil biscuits, while Hovis food, or Horlick's, or a sardine put her out of her mind with delight.
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading They say that a sardine will sometimes bring a dying cat back to life.
burntadjectiveUS /bɜːrnt/
ruined by overcooking
From this reading They burnt methylated spirit in the chafing-dish, and the first time I saw the sly curling flame winding up among Auntie May's new novel, I confess I was frightened.
feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
From this reading They say that a sardine will sometimes bring a dying cat back to life.
chafing-dish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Auntie May and Rosamond had a chafing-dish, and they used to cook all sorts of messes in it for us and for mother, who was very fussy about her food, and took dislikes to the most ordinary things.
cod-liver
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, porridge she would not touch, or cod-liver oil biscuits, while Hovis food, or Horlick's, or a sardine put her out of her mind with delight.
confess to a punishable or reprehensible deed, usually under pressure
From this reading They burnt methylated spirit in the chafing-dish, and the first time I saw the sly curling flame winding up among Auntie May's new novel, I confess I was frightened.
prepare a hot meal
From this reading Auntie May and Rosamond had a chafing-dish, and they used to cook all sorts of messes in it for us and for mother, who was very fussy about her food, and took dislikes to the most ordinary things.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading THE SCHOOLROOM We soon could do more than lap, we could eat things.
curlingnounUS /ˈkɜːrlɪŋ/
a game played on ice in which heavy stones with handles are slid toward a target
From this reading They burnt methylated spirit in the chafing-dish, and the first time I saw the sly curling flame winding up among Auntie May's new novel, I confess I was frightened.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading For instance, porridge she would not touch, or cod-liver oil biscuits, while Hovis food, or Horlick's, or a sardine put her out of her mind with delight.
dislikesnounUS /dɪˈslaɪks/
plural of “dislike” — an inclination to withhold approval from some person or group
From this reading Auntie May and Rosamond had a chafing-dish, and they used to cook all sorts of messes in it for us and for mother, who was very fussy about her food, and took dislikes to the most ordinary things.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading THE SCHOOLROOM We soon could do more than lap, we could eat things.
dyingadjectiveUS /ˈdaɪɪŋ/
in or associated with the process of passing from life or ceasing to be
From this reading They say that a sardine will sometimes bring a dying cat back to life.
take in solid food
From this reading THE SCHOOLROOM We soon could do more than lap, we could eat things.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading They burnt methylated spirit in the chafing-dish, and the first time I saw the sly curling flame winding up among Auntie May's new novel, I confess I was frightened.
A hot glowing body of ignited gas produced by fire.
From this reading They burnt methylated spirit in the chafing-dish, and the first time I saw the sly curling flame winding up among Auntie May's new novel, I confess I was frightened.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading Auntie May and Rosamond had a chafing-dish, and they used to cook all sorts of messes in it for us and for mother, who was very fussy about her food, and took dislikes to the most ordinary things.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Auntie May and Rosamond had a chafing-dish, and they used to cook all sorts of messes in it for us and for mother, who was very fussy about her food, and took dislikes to the most ordinary things.
made afraid
From this reading They burnt methylated spirit in the chafing-dish, and the first time I saw the sly curling flame winding up among Auntie May's new novel, I confess I was frightened.
fussyadjectiveUS /ˈfʌsi/
annoyed and irritable
From this reading Auntie May and Rosamond had a chafing-dish, and they used to cook all sorts of messes in it for us and for mother, who was very fussy about her food, and took dislikes to the most ordinary things.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Auntie May and Rosamond had a chafing-dish, and they used to cook all sorts of messes in it for us and for mother, who was very fussy about her food, and took dislikes to the most ordinary things.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Auntie May and Rosamond had a chafing-dish, and they used to cook all sorts of messes in it for us and for mother, who was very fussy about her food, and took dislikes to the most ordinary things.
Horlick's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, porridge she would not touch, or cod-liver oil biscuits, while Hovis food, or Horlick's, or a sardine put her out of her mind with delight.
Hovis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, porridge she would not touch, or cod-liver oil biscuits, while Hovis food, or Horlick's, or a sardine put her out of her mind with delight.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading They burnt methylated spirit in the chafing-dish, and the first time I saw the sly curling flame winding up among Auntie May's new novel, I confess I was frightened.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Auntie May and Rosamond had a chafing-dish, and they used to cook all sorts of messes in it for us and for mother, who was very fussy about her food, and took dislikes to the most ordinary things.
an occurrence of something
From this reading For instance, porridge she would not touch, or cod-liver oil biscuits, while Hovis food, or Horlick's, or a sardine put her out of her mind with delight.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Auntie May and Rosamond had a chafing-dish, and they used to cook all sorts of messes in it for us and for mother, who was very fussy about her food, and took dislikes to the most ordinary things.
lapverbUS /læp/
lie partly over or alongside of something or of one another
From this reading THE SCHOOLROOM We soon could do more than lap, we could eat things.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading They say that a sardine will sometimes bring a dying cat back to life.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Auntie May and Rosamond had a chafing-dish, and they used to cook all sorts of messes in it for us and for mother, who was very fussy about her food, and took dislikes to the most ordinary things.
May'snounUS /meɪz/
possessive form of “may” — the month following April and preceding June
From this reading They burnt methylated spirit in the chafing-dish, and the first time I saw the sly curling flame winding up among Auntie May's new novel, I confess I was frightened.
messesnounUS /ˈmesɪz/
plural of “mess” — a state of confusion and disorderliness
From this reading Auntie May and Rosamond had a chafing-dish, and they used to cook all sorts of messes in it for us and for mother, who was very fussy about her food, and took dislikes to the most ordinary things.
methylatedadjective
having received a methyl group
From this reading They burnt methylated spirit in the chafing-dish, and the first time I saw the sly curling flame winding up among Auntie May's new novel, I confess I was frightened.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading For instance, porridge she would not touch, or cod-liver oil biscuits, while Hovis food, or Horlick's, or a sardine put her out of her mind with delight.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading THE SCHOOLROOM We soon could do more than lap, we could eat things.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Auntie May and Rosamond had a chafing-dish, and they used to cook all sorts of messes in it for us and for mother, who was very fussy about her food, and took dislikes to the most ordinary things.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Auntie May and Rosamond had a chafing-dish, and they used to cook all sorts of messes in it for us and for mother, who was very fussy about her food, and took dislikes to the most ordinary things.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading They burnt methylated spirit in the chafing-dish, and the first time I saw the sly curling flame winding up among Auntie May's new novel, I confess I was frightened.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading For instance, porridge she would not touch, or cod-liver oil biscuits, while Hovis food, or Horlick's, or a sardine put her out of her mind with delight.
an extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story
From this reading They burnt methylated spirit in the chafing-dish, and the first time I saw the sly curling flame winding up among Auntie May's new novel, I confess I was frightened.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Auntie May and Rosamond had a chafing-dish, and they used to cook all sorts of messes in it for us and for mother, who was very fussy about her food, and took dislikes to the most ordinary things.
A viscous liquid derived from petroleum or plants, stored in large earthen jars.
From this reading For instance, porridge she would not touch, or cod-liver oil biscuits, while Hovis food, or Horlick's, or a sardine put her out of her mind with delight.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading For instance, porridge she would not touch, or cod-liver oil biscuits, while Hovis food, or Horlick's, or a sardine put her out of her mind with delight.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading Auntie May and Rosamond had a chafing-dish, and they used to cook all sorts of messes in it for us and for mother, who was very fussy about her food, and took dislikes to the most ordinary things.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading For instance, porridge she would not touch, or cod-liver oil biscuits, while Hovis food, or Horlick's, or a sardine put her out of her mind with delight.
porridgenounUS /ˈpɔːrədʒ/
soft food made by boiling oatmeal or other meal or legumes in water or milk until thick
From this reading For instance, porridge she would not touch, or cod-liver oil biscuits, while Hovis food, or Horlick's, or a sardine put her out of her mind with delight.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading For instance, porridge she would not touch, or cod-liver oil biscuits, while Hovis food, or Horlick's, or a sardine put her out of her mind with delight.
Rosamond
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Auntie May and Rosamond had a chafing-dish, and they used to cook all sorts of messes in it for us and for mother, who was very fussy about her food, and took dislikes to the most ordinary things.
sardinenounUS /sɑːrˈdiːn/
small fatty fish usually canned
From this reading For instance, porridge she would not touch, or cod-liver oil biscuits, while Hovis food, or Horlick's, or a sardine put her out of her mind with delight.
cut with a saw
From this reading They burnt methylated spirit in the chafing-dish, and the first time I saw the sly curling flame winding up among Auntie May's new novel, I confess I was frightened.
express in words
From this reading They say that a sardine will sometimes bring a dying cat back to life.
SCHOOLROOMnounUS /ˈskuːlruːm/
a room in a school where lessons take place
From this reading THE SCHOOLROOM We soon could do more than lap, we could eat things.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For instance, porridge she would not touch, or cod-liver oil biscuits, while Hovis food, or Horlick's, or a sardine put her out of her mind with delight.
slyadjectiveUS /slaɪ/
marked by skill in deception
From this reading They burnt methylated spirit in the chafing-dish, and the first time I saw the sly curling flame winding up among Auntie May's new novel, I confess I was frightened.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading They say that a sardine will sometimes bring a dying cat back to life.
in the near future
From this reading THE SCHOOLROOM We soon could do more than lap, we could eat things.
plural of “sort” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading Auntie May and Rosamond had a chafing-dish, and they used to cook all sorts of messes in it for us and for mother, who was very fussy about her food, and took dislikes to the most ordinary things.
the vital principle or animating force within living things
From this reading They burnt methylated spirit in the chafing-dish, and the first time I saw the sly curling flame winding up among Auntie May's new novel, I confess I was frightened.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading THE SCHOOLROOM We soon could do more than lap, we could eat things.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They say that a sardine will sometimes bring a dying cat back to life.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SCHOOLROOM We soon could do more than lap, we could eat things.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Auntie May and Rosamond had a chafing-dish, and they used to cook all sorts of messes in it for us and for mother, who was very fussy about her food, and took dislikes to the most ordinary things.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading THE SCHOOLROOM We soon could do more than lap, we could eat things.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading They burnt methylated spirit in the chafing-dish, and the first time I saw the sly curling flame winding up among Auntie May's new novel, I confess I was frightened.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Auntie May and Rosamond had a chafing-dish, and they used to cook all sorts of messes in it for us and for mother, who was very fussy about her food, and took dislikes to the most ordinary things.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Auntie May and Rosamond had a chafing-dish, and they used to cook all sorts of messes in it for us and for mother, who was very fussy about her food, and took dislikes to the most ordinary things.
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading For instance, porridge she would not touch, or cod-liver oil biscuits, while Hovis food, or Horlick's, or a sardine put her out of her mind with delight.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading They burnt methylated spirit in the chafing-dish, and the first time I saw the sly curling flame winding up among Auntie May's new novel, I confess I was frightened.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Auntie May and Rosamond had a chafing-dish, and they used to cook all sorts of messes in it for us and for mother, who was very fussy about her food, and took dislikes to the most ordinary things.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading Auntie May and Rosamond had a chafing-dish, and they used to cook all sorts of messes in it for us and for mother, who was very fussy about her food, and took dislikes to the most ordinary things.
precisely as stated
From this reading Auntie May and Rosamond had a chafing-dish, and they used to cook all sorts of messes in it for us and for mother, who was very fussy about her food, and took dislikes to the most ordinary things.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Auntie May and Rosamond had a chafing-dish, and they used to cook all sorts of messes in it for us and for mother, who was very fussy about her food, and took dislikes to the most ordinary things.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading THE SCHOOLROOM We soon could do more than lap, we could eat things.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading For instance, porridge she would not touch, or cod-liver oil biscuits, while Hovis food, or Horlick's, or a sardine put her out of her mind with delight.
which person or people
From this reading Auntie May and Rosamond had a chafing-dish, and they used to cook all sorts of messes in it for us and for mother, who was very fussy about her food, and took dislikes to the most ordinary things.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading They say that a sardine will sometimes bring a dying cat back to life.
windingadjectiveUS /ˈwaɪndɪŋ/
marked by repeated turns and bends
From this reading They burnt methylated spirit in the chafing-dish, and the first time I saw the sly curling flame winding up among Auntie May's new novel, I confess I was frightened.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For instance, porridge she would not touch, or cod-liver oil biscuits, while Hovis food, or Horlick's, or a sardine put her out of her mind with delight.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading For instance, porridge she would not touch, or cod-liver oil biscuits, while Hovis food, or Horlick's, or a sardine put her out of her mind with delight.
