adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It WAS hard lines for a little kid, especially if she was a girl.
AndconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “And so,” went on the little, plaintive voice, “I got to thinking how nice it would be if I only had a big sister, and I used to cry and say to myself--I couldn't speak plain, you know, I was so little-'Big sister would be real solly.'
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “And so,” went on the little, plaintive voice, “I got to thinking how nice it would be if I only had a big sister, and I used to cry and say to myself--I couldn't speak plain, you know, I was so little-'Big sister would be real solly.'
bigadjectiveUS /bɪɡ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “And so,” went on the little, plaintive voice, “I got to thinking how nice it would be if I only had a big sister, and I used to cry and say to myself--I couldn't speak plain, you know, I was so little-'Big sister would be real solly.'
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “Well, go on,” said Jim, but his voice was softer.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading And then first thing I knew--she came.”
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “And so,” went on the little, plaintive voice, “I got to thinking how nice it would be if I only had a big sister, and I used to cry and say to myself--I couldn't speak plain, you know, I was so little-'Big sister would be real solly.'
cryverbUS /kraɪ/
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading “And so,” went on the little, plaintive voice, “I got to thinking how nice it would be if I only had a big sister, and I used to cry and say to myself--I couldn't speak plain, you know, I was so little-'Big sister would be real solly.'
especiallyadverbUS /əˈspeʃli/
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading It WAS hard lines for a little kid, especially if she was a girl.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading And then first thing I knew--she came.”
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It WAS hard lines for a little kid, especially if she was a girl.
girlnounUS /ɡɜːrl/
a young female
From this reading It WAS hard lines for a little kid, especially if she was a girl.
goverbUS /ɡoʊ/
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading “Well, go on,” said Jim, but his voice was softer.
gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “And so,” went on the little, plaintive voice, “I got to thinking how nice it would be if I only had a big sister, and I used to cry and say to myself--I couldn't speak plain, you know, I was so little-'Big sister would be real solly.'
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “And so,” went on the little, plaintive voice, “I got to thinking how nice it would be if I only had a big sister, and I used to cry and say to myself--I couldn't speak plain, you know, I was so little-'Big sister would be real solly.'
hardadjectiveUS /hɑːrd/
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading It WAS hard lines for a little kid, especially if she was a girl.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “Well, go on,” said Jim, but his voice was softer.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “And so,” went on the little, plaintive voice, “I got to thinking how nice it would be if I only had a big sister, and I used to cry and say to myself--I couldn't speak plain, you know, I was so little-'Big sister would be real solly.'
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “And so,” went on the little, plaintive voice, “I got to thinking how nice it would be if I only had a big sister, and I used to cry and say to myself--I couldn't speak plain, you know, I was so little-'Big sister would be real solly.'
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It WAS hard lines for a little kid, especially if she was a girl.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It WAS hard lines for a little kid, especially if she was a girl.
Jim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Well, go on,” said Jim, but his voice was softer.
kidverbUS /kɪd/
tell false information to for fun
From this reading It WAS hard lines for a little kid, especially if she was a girl.
knewverbUS /nuː/
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 And then first thing I knew--she came.”
knowverbUS /noʊ/
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading “And so,” went on the little, plaintive voice, “I got to thinking how nice it would be if I only had a big sister, and I used to cry and say to myself--I couldn't speak plain, you know, I was so little-'Big sister would be real solly.'
linesnounUS /laɪnz/
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading It WAS hard lines for a little kid, especially if she was a girl.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It WAS hard lines for a little kid, especially if she was a girl.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading “And so,” went on the little, plaintive voice, “I got to thinking how nice it would be if I only had a big sister, and I used to cry and say to myself--I couldn't speak plain, you know, I was so little-'Big sister would be real solly.'
niceadjectiveUS /naɪs/
pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance
From this reading “And so,” went on the little, plaintive voice, “I got to thinking how nice it would be if I only had a big sister, and I used to cry and say to myself--I couldn't speak plain, you know, I was so little-'Big sister would be real solly.'
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “Well, go on,” said Jim, but his voice was softer.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading “And so,” went on the little, plaintive voice, “I got to thinking how nice it would be if I only had a big sister, and I used to cry and say to myself--I couldn't speak plain, you know, I was so little-'Big sister would be real solly.'
plainadjectiveUS /pleɪn/
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading “And so,” went on the little, plaintive voice, “I got to thinking how nice it would be if I only had a big sister, and I used to cry and say to myself--I couldn't speak plain, you know, I was so little-'Big sister would be real solly.'
plaintiveadjectiveUS /ˈpleɪntɪv/
expressing sorrow
From this reading “And so,” went on the little, plaintive voice, “I got to thinking how nice it would be if I only had a big sister, and I used to cry and say to myself--I couldn't speak plain, you know, I was so little-'Big sister would be real solly.'
realadjectiveUS /riːl/
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading “And so,” went on the little, plaintive voice, “I got to thinking how nice it would be if I only had a big sister, and I used to cry and say to myself--I couldn't speak plain, you know, I was so little-'Big sister would be real solly.'
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Well, go on,” said Jim, but his voice was softer.
sayverbUS /seɪ/
express in words
From this reading “And so,” went on the little, plaintive voice, “I got to thinking how nice it would be if I only had a big sister, and I used to cry and say to myself--I couldn't speak plain, you know, I was so little-'Big sister would be real solly.'
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It WAS hard lines for a little kid, especially if she was a girl.
sisternounUS /ˈsɪstər/
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading “And so,” went on the little, plaintive voice, “I got to thinking how nice it would be if I only had a big sister, and I used to cry and say to myself--I couldn't speak plain, you know, I was so little-'Big sister would be real solly.'
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “And so,” went on the little, plaintive voice, “I got to thinking how nice it would be if I only had a big sister, and I used to cry and say to myself--I couldn't speak plain, you know, I was so little-'Big sister would be real solly.'
softeradjectiveUS /ˈsɑːftər/
comparative of “soft” — yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading “Well, go on,” said Jim, but his voice was softer.
solly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “And so,” went on the little, plaintive voice, “I got to thinking how nice it would be if I only had a big sister, and I used to cry and say to myself--I couldn't speak plain, you know, I was so little-'Big sister would be real solly.'
speakverbUS /spiːk/
express in speech
From this reading “And so,” went on the little, plaintive voice, “I got to thinking how nice it would be if I only had a big sister, and I used to cry and say to myself--I couldn't speak plain, you know, I was so little-'Big sister would be real solly.'
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “And so,” went on the little, plaintive voice, “I got to thinking how nice it would be if I only had a big sister, and I used to cry and say to myself--I couldn't speak plain, you know, I was so little-'Big sister would be real solly.'
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading And then first thing I knew--she came.”
thingnounUS /θɪŋ/
a special situation
From this reading And then first thing I knew--she came.”
thinkingnounUS /ˈθɪŋkɪŋ/
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading “And so,” went on the little, plaintive voice, “I got to thinking how nice it would be if I only had a big sister, and I used to cry and say to myself--I couldn't speak plain, you know, I was so little-'Big sister would be real solly.'
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “And so,” went on the little, plaintive voice, “I got to thinking how nice it would be if I only had a big sister, and I used to cry and say to myself--I couldn't speak plain, you know, I was so little-'Big sister would be real solly.'
usedadjectiveUS /juːzd/
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading “And so,” went on the little, plaintive voice, “I got to thinking how nice it would be if I only had a big sister, and I used to cry and say to myself--I couldn't speak plain, you know, I was so little-'Big sister would be real solly.'
voicenounUS /vɔɪs/
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading “Well, go on,” said Jim, but his voice was softer.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Well, go on,” said Jim, but his voice was softer.
WelladverbUS /wel/
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading “Well, go on,” said Jim, but his voice was softer.
wentverbUS /went/
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading “And so,” went on the little, plaintive voice, “I got to thinking how nice it would be if I only had a big sister, and I used to cry and say to myself--I couldn't speak plain, you know, I was so little-'Big sister would be real solly.'
WhopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading “Who came?”
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “And so,” went on the little, plaintive voice, “I got to thinking how nice it would be if I only had a big sister, and I used to cry and say to myself--I couldn't speak plain, you know, I was so little-'Big sister would be real solly.'
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “And so,” went on the little, plaintive voice, “I got to thinking how nice it would be if I only had a big sister, and I used to cry and say to myself--I couldn't speak plain, you know, I was so little-'Big sister would be real solly.'
