absent-mindedly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Captain Meade shuffled the books and magazines on the sitting-room table, rearranging them precisely and absent-mindedly.
(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 "I don't like it at all, somehow, and yet I can't exactly tell you why."
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading On his forehead was an anxious frown.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "I don't like it at all, somehow, and yet I can't exactly tell you why."
eagerly desirous
From this reading On his forehead was an anxious frown.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "I don't like it at all, somehow, and yet I can't exactly tell you why."
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "But, Daddy," cried Patricia, "what possible objection can there be to my being friends with that lovely girl?
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading "But, Daddy," cried Patricia, "what possible objection can there be to my being friends with that lovely girl?
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading Captain Meade shuffled the books and magazines on the sitting-room table, rearranging them precisely and absent-mindedly.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "But, Daddy," cried Patricia, "what possible objection can there be to my being friends with that lovely girl?
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "But, Daddy," cried Patricia, "what possible objection can there be to my being friends with that lovely girl?
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don't like it at all, somehow, and yet I can't exactly tell you why."
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading Captain Meade shuffled the books and magazines on the sitting-room table, rearranging them precisely and absent-mindedly.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading "But, Daddy," cried Patricia, "what possible objection can there be to my being friends with that lovely girl?
DaddynounUS /ˈdædi/
an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
From this reading "But, Daddy," cried Patricia, "what possible objection can there be to my being friends with that lovely girl?
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don't like it at all, somehow, and yet I can't exactly tell you why."
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading "I don't like it at all, somehow, and yet I can't exactly tell you why."
the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading On his forehead was an anxious frown.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading "But, Daddy," cried Patricia, "what possible objection can there be to my being friends with that lovely girl?
frownverbUS /fraʊn/
look angry or sullen, wrinkle one's forehead, as if to signal disapproval
From this reading On his forehead was an anxious frown.
a young female
From this reading "But, Daddy," cried Patricia, "what possible objection can there be to my being friends with that lovely girl?
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading On his forehead was an anxious frown.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I don't like it at all, somehow, and yet I can't exactly tell you why."
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She is so lonely and so sad!
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "I don't like it at all, somehow, and yet I can't exactly tell you why."
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "I don't like it at all, somehow, and yet I can't exactly tell you why."
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading She is so lonely and so sad!
appealing to the emotions as well as the eye
From this reading "But, Daddy," cried Patricia, "what possible objection can there be to my being friends with that lovely girl?
magazinesnounUS /ˈmæɡəziːnz/
plural of “magazine” — a periodic publication containing pictures and stories and articles of interest to those who purchase it or subscribe to it
From this reading Captain Meade shuffled the books and magazines on the sitting-room table, rearranging them precisely and absent-mindedly.
MeadenounUS /miːd/
English economist noted for his studies of international trade and finance (1907-1995)
From this reading Captain Meade shuffled the books and magazines on the sitting-room table, rearranging them precisely and absent-mindedly.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "But, Daddy," cried Patricia, "what possible objection can there be to my being friends with that lovely girl?
objectionnounUS /əbˈdʒekʃən/
the act of expressing earnest opposition or protest
From this reading "But, Daddy," cried Patricia, "what possible objection can there be to my being friends with that lovely girl?
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Captain Meade shuffled the books and magazines on the sitting-room table, rearranging them precisely and absent-mindedly.
Patricia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "But, Daddy," cried Patricia, "what possible objection can there be to my being friends with that lovely girl?
capable of happening or existing
From this reading "But, Daddy," cried Patricia, "what possible objection can there be to my being friends with that lovely girl?
preciselyadverbUS /prɪˈsaɪsli/
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading Captain Meade shuffled the books and magazines on the sitting-room table, rearranging them precisely and absent-mindedly.
rearrangingverbUS /ˌriːərˈeɪndʒɪŋ/
-ing form of “rearrange” — put into a new order or arrangement
From this reading Captain Meade shuffled the books and magazines on the sitting-room table, rearranging them precisely and absent-mindedly.
experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness
From this reading She is so lonely and so sad!
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She is so lonely and so sad!
shuffledverbUS /ˈʃʌfəld/
past form of “shuffle” — walk by dragging one's feet
From this reading Captain Meade shuffled the books and magazines on the sitting-room table, rearranging them precisely and absent-mindedly.
sitting-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Captain Meade shuffled the books and magazines on the sitting-room table, rearranging them precisely and absent-mindedly.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She is so lonely and so sad!
in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means
From this reading "I don't like it at all, somehow, and yet I can't exactly tell you why."
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Captain Meade shuffled the books and magazines on the sitting-room table, rearranging them precisely and absent-mindedly.
express in words
From this reading "I don't like it at all, somehow, and yet I can't exactly tell you why."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "But, Daddy," cried Patricia, "what possible objection can there be to my being friends with that lovely girl?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Captain Meade shuffled the books and magazines on the sitting-room table, rearranging them precisely and absent-mindedly.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Captain Meade shuffled the books and magazines on the sitting-room table, rearranging them precisely and absent-mindedly.
in or at that place or location
From this reading "But, Daddy," cried Patricia, "what possible objection can there be to my being friends with that lovely girl?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "But, Daddy," cried Patricia, "what possible objection can there be to my being friends with that lovely girl?
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading On his forehead was an anxious frown.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "But, Daddy," cried Patricia, "what possible objection can there be to my being friends with that lovely girl?
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "I don't like it at all, somehow, and yet I can't exactly tell you why."
in the company of; together with
From this reading "But, Daddy," cried Patricia, "what possible objection can there be to my being friends with that lovely girl?
but in spite of that
From this reading "I don't like it at all, somehow, and yet I can't exactly tell you why."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I don't like it at all, somehow, and yet I can't exactly tell you why."
