Chapter XII

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading They told Mrs. Gilmour a little about it, but not all, and asked if she did not think dressing-up was the best way of welcoming father and mother.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading They told Mrs. Gilmour a little about it, but not all, and asked if she did not think dressing-up was the best way of welcoming father and mother.

(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 They told Mrs. Gilmour a little about it, but not all, and asked if she did not think dressing-up was the best way of welcoming father and mother.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading Welcoming always seems with children to mean doing something they like, and that the grown-up people are not likely to like, and this is exactly what happened.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading THE SURPRISE THAT FELL FLAT It was the day that Auntie May and Tom and Beatrice were to come home, and the children were very anxious to welcome them in some special way.

eagerly desirous

From this reading THE SURPRISE THAT FELL FLAT It was the day that Auntie May and Tom and Beatrice were to come home, and the children were very anxious to welcome them in some special way.

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading Mrs. Gilmour suggested that they should all take off their skirts to begin with, and appear in their blue serge knickerbockers, and then she would see what could be done.

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Welcoming always seems with children to mean doing something they like, and that the grown-up people are not likely to like, and this is exactly what happened.

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading They told Mrs. Gilmour a little about it, but not all, and asked if she did not think dressing-up was the best way of welcoming father and mother.

the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle

From this reading THE SURPRISE THAT FELL FLAT It was the day that Auntie May and Tom and Beatrice were to come home, and the children were very anxious to welcome them in some special way.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading It is extraordinary how naughty old ladies can be, far worse than children, when they give their minds to it.

the woman who guided Dante through Paradise in the Divine Comedy

From this reading THE SURPRISE THAT FELL FLAT It was the day that Auntie May and Tom and Beatrice were to come home, and the children were very anxious to welcome them in some special way.

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading Mrs. Gilmour suggested that they should all take off their skirts to begin with, and appear in their blue serge knickerbockers, and then she would see what could be done.

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading They told Mrs. Gilmour a little about it, but not all, and asked if she did not think dressing-up was the best way of welcoming father and mother.

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading Mrs. Gilmour suggested that they should all take off their skirts to begin with, and appear in their blue serge knickerbockers, and then she would see what could be done.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading They told Mrs. Gilmour a little about it, but not all, and asked if she did not think dressing-up was the best way of welcoming father and mother.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading It is extraordinary how naughty old ladies can be, far worse than children, when they give their minds to it.

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading THE SURPRISE THAT FELL FLAT It was the day that Auntie May and Tom and Beatrice were to come home, and the children were very anxious to welcome them in some special way.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading THE SURPRISE THAT FELL FLAT It was the day that Auntie May and Tom and Beatrice were to come home, and the children were very anxious to welcome them in some special way.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Mrs. Gilmour suggested that they should all take off their skirts to begin with, and appear in their blue serge knickerbockers, and then she would see what could be done.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading THE SURPRISE THAT FELL FLAT It was the day that Auntie May and Tom and Beatrice were to come home, and the children were very anxious to welcome them in some special way.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading They told Mrs. Gilmour a little about it, but not all, and asked if she did not think dressing-up was the best way of welcoming father and mother.

-ing form of “do” — engage in

From this reading Welcoming always seems with children to mean doing something they like, and that the grown-up people are not likely to like, and this is exactly what happened.

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading Mrs. Gilmour suggested that they should all take off their skirts to begin with, and appear in their blue serge knickerbockers, and then she would see what could be done.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They told Mrs. Gilmour a little about it, but not all, and asked if she did not think dressing-up was the best way of welcoming father and mother.

indicating exactness or preciseness

From this reading Welcoming always seems with children to mean doing something they like, and that the grown-up people are not likely to like, and this is exactly what happened.

beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable

From this reading It is extraordinary how naughty old ladies can be, far worse than children, when they give their minds to it.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading It is extraordinary how naughty old ladies can be, far worse than children, when they give their minds to it.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading They told Mrs. Gilmour a little about it, but not all, and asked if she did not think dressing-up was the best way of welcoming father and mother.

cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow

From this reading THE SURPRISE THAT FELL FLAT It was the day that Auntie May and Tom and Beatrice were to come home, and the children were very anxious to welcome them in some special way.

having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another

From this reading THE SURPRISE THAT FELL FLAT It was the day that Auntie May and Tom and Beatrice were to come home, and the children were very anxious to welcome them in some special way.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They told Mrs. Gilmour a little about it, but not all, and asked if she did not think dressing-up was the best way of welcoming father and mother.

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading It is extraordinary how naughty old ladies can be, far worse than children, when they give their minds to it.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Welcoming always seems with children to mean doing something they like, and that the grown-up people are not likely to like, and this is exactly what happened.

past form of “happen” — come to pass

From this reading Welcoming always seems with children to mean doing something they like, and that the grown-up people are not likely to like, and this is exactly what happened.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading THE SURPRISE THAT FELL FLAT It was the day that Auntie May and Tom and Beatrice were to come home, and the children were very anxious to welcome them in some special way.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is extraordinary how naughty old ladies can be, far worse than children, when they give their minds to it.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading They told Mrs. Gilmour a little about it, but not all, and asked if she did not think dressing-up was the best way of welcoming father and mother.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading THE SURPRISE THAT FELL FLAT It was the day that Auntie May and Tom and Beatrice were to come home, and the children were very anxious to welcome them in some special way.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Welcoming always seems with children to mean doing something they like, and that the grown-up people are not likely to like, and this is exactly what happened.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading THE SURPRISE THAT FELL FLAT It was the day that Auntie May and Tom and Beatrice were to come home, and the children were very anxious to welcome them in some special way.

(used in the plural) trousers ending above the knee

From this reading Mrs. Gilmour suggested that they should all take off their skirts to begin with, and appear in their blue serge knickerbockers, and then she would see what could be done.

plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman

From this reading It is extraordinary how naughty old ladies can be, far worse than children, when they give their minds to it.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Welcoming always seems with children to mean doing something they like, and that the grown-up people are not likely to like, and this is exactly what happened.

has a good chance of being the case or of coming about

From this reading Welcoming always seems with children to mean doing something they like, and that the grown-up people are not likely to like, and this is exactly what happened.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading They told Mrs. Gilmour a little about it, but not all, and asked if she did not think dressing-up was the best way of welcoming father and mother.

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading THE SURPRISE THAT FELL FLAT It was the day that Auntie May and Tom and Beatrice were to come home, and the children were very anxious to welcome them in some special way.

mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading Welcoming always seems with children to mean doing something they like, and that the grown-up people are not likely to like, and this is exactly what happened.

plural of “mind” — that which is responsible for one's thoughts, feelings, and conscious brain functions; the seat of the faculty of reason

From this reading It is extraordinary how naughty old ladies can be, far worse than children, when they give their minds to it.

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading They told Mrs. Gilmour a little about it, but not all, and asked if she did not think dressing-up was the best way of welcoming father and mother.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading They told Mrs. Gilmour a little about it, but not all, and asked if she did not think dressing-up was the best way of welcoming father and mother.

suggestive of sexual impropriety

From this reading It is extraordinary how naughty old ladies can be, far worse than children, when they give their minds to it.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Welcoming always seems with children to mean doing something they like, and that the grown-up people are not likely to like, and this is exactly what happened.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading They told Mrs. Gilmour a little about it, but not all, and asked if she did not think dressing-up was the best way of welcoming father and mother.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Mrs. Gilmour suggested that they should all take off their skirts to begin with, and appear in their blue serge knickerbockers, and then she would see what could be done.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading It is extraordinary how naughty old ladies can be, far worse than children, when they give their minds to it.

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading Welcoming always seems with children to mean doing something they like, and that the grown-up people are not likely to like, and this is exactly what happened.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Mrs. Gilmour suggested that they should all take off their skirts to begin with, and appear in their blue serge knickerbockers, and then she would see what could be done.

third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading Welcoming always seems with children to mean doing something they like, and that the grown-up people are not likely to like, and this is exactly what happened.

a twilled woolen fabric

From this reading Mrs. Gilmour suggested that they should all take off their skirts to begin with, and appear in their blue serge knickerbockers, and then she would see what could be done.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They told Mrs. Gilmour a little about it, but not all, and asked if she did not think dressing-up was the best way of welcoming father and mother.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Mrs. Gilmour suggested that they should all take off their skirts to begin with, and appear in their blue serge knickerbockers, and then she would see what could be done.

plural of “skirt” — cloth covering that forms the part of a garment below the waist

From this reading Mrs. Gilmour suggested that they should all take off their skirts to begin with, and appear in their blue serge knickerbockers, and then she would see what could be done.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading THE SURPRISE THAT FELL FLAT It was the day that Auntie May and Tom and Beatrice were to come home, and the children were very anxious to welcome them in some special way.

a thing, without saying which

From this reading Welcoming always seems with children to mean doing something they like, and that the grown-up people are not likely to like, and this is exactly what happened.

unique or specific to a person or thing or category

From this reading THE SURPRISE THAT FELL FLAT It was the day that Auntie May and Tom and Beatrice were to come home, and the children were very anxious to welcome them in some special way.

past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something

From this reading Mrs. Gilmour suggested that they should all take off their skirts to begin with, and appear in their blue serge knickerbockers, and then she would see what could be done.

the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you

From this reading THE SURPRISE THAT FELL FLAT It was the day that Auntie May and Tom and Beatrice were to come home, and the children were very anxious to welcome them in some special way.

carry out

From this reading Mrs. Gilmour suggested that they should all take off their skirts to begin with, and appear in their blue serge knickerbockers, and then she would see what could be done.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading It is extraordinary how naughty old ladies can be, far worse than children, when they give their minds to it.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading THE SURPRISE THAT FELL FLAT It was the day that Auntie May and Tom and Beatrice were to come home, and the children were very anxious to welcome them in some special way.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading THE SURPRISE THAT FELL FLAT It was the day that Auntie May and Tom and Beatrice were to come home, and the children were very anxious to welcome them in some special way.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading It is extraordinary how naughty old ladies can be, far worse than children, when they give their minds to it.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading THE SURPRISE THAT FELL FLAT It was the day that Auntie May and Tom and Beatrice were to come home, and the children were very anxious to welcome them in some special way.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Mrs. Gilmour suggested that they should all take off their skirts to begin with, and appear in their blue serge knickerbockers, and then she would see what could be done.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Welcoming always seems with children to mean doing something they like, and that the grown-up people are not likely to like, and this is exactly what happened.

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading They told Mrs. Gilmour a little about it, but not all, and asked if she did not think dressing-up was the best way of welcoming father and mother.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Welcoming always seems with children to mean doing something they like, and that the grown-up people are not likely to like, and this is exactly what happened.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading THE SURPRISE THAT FELL FLAT It was the day that Auntie May and Tom and Beatrice were to come home, and the children were very anxious to welcome them in some special way.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading They told Mrs. Gilmour a little about it, but not all, and asked if she did not think dressing-up was the best way of welcoming father and mother.

male cat

From this reading THE SURPRISE THAT FELL FLAT It was the day that Auntie May and Tom and Beatrice were to come home, and the children were very anxious to welcome them in some special way.

precisely as stated

From this reading THE SURPRISE THAT FELL FLAT It was the day that Auntie May and Tom and Beatrice were to come home, and the children were very anxious to welcome them in some special way.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading THE SURPRISE THAT FELL FLAT It was the day that Auntie May and Tom and Beatrice were to come home, and the children were very anxious to welcome them in some special way.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading THE SURPRISE THAT FELL FLAT It was the day that Auntie May and Tom and Beatrice were to come home, and the children were very anxious to welcome them in some special way.

accept gladly

From this reading THE SURPRISE THAT FELL FLAT It was the day that Auntie May and Tom and Beatrice were to come home, and the children were very anxious to welcome them in some special way.

very cordial

From this reading Welcoming always seems with children to mean doing something they like, and that the grown-up people are not likely to like, and this is exactly what happened.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading THE SURPRISE THAT FELL FLAT It was the day that Auntie May and Tom and Beatrice were to come home, and the children were very anxious to welcome them in some special way.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Welcoming always seems with children to mean doing something they like, and that the grown-up people are not likely to like, and this is exactly what happened.

at the time that

From this reading It is extraordinary how naughty old ladies can be, far worse than children, when they give their minds to it.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Welcoming always seems with children to mean doing something they like, and that the grown-up people are not likely to like, and this is exactly what happened.

(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability

From this reading It is extraordinary how naughty old ladies can be, far worse than children, when they give their minds to it.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Mrs. Gilmour suggested that they should all take off their skirts to begin with, and appear in their blue serge knickerbockers, and then she would see what could be done.