used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading To us there fell no tremendous adventures; we might polish Aladdin’s lamp till it shone like the moon without gaining a single concrete acid-drop for our pains.
acid-drop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To us there fell no tremendous adventures; we might polish Aladdin’s lamp till it shone like the moon without gaining a single concrete acid-drop for our pains.
plural of “adventure” — a wild and exciting undertaking (not necessarily lawful)
From this reading To us there fell no tremendous adventures; we might polish Aladdin’s lamp till it shone like the moon without gaining a single concrete acid-drop for our pains.
Aladdin's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To us there fell no tremendous adventures; we might polish Aladdin’s lamp till it shone like the moon without gaining a single concrete acid-drop for our pains.
(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 But the “Arabian Nights” gave us all that we ever thought of seeking either in books or toys in those uncritical days—a starting-point for our dreams.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And this, I take it, is the best thing that a writer can give a child, and it was for lack of this that we considered the works of Lewis Carroll silly, while finding one of the books of Miss Molesworth—I wish I could recall its name—a masterpiece of fancy and erudition.
ArabiannounUS /əˈreɪbiən/
a member of a Semitic people originally from the Arabian peninsula and surrounding territories who speaks Arabic and who inhabits much of the Middle East and northern Africa
From this reading But the “Arabian Nights” gave us all that we ever thought of seeking either in books or toys in those uncritical days—a starting-point for our dreams.
authoritiesnounUS /əˈθɔːrətiz/
the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit
From this reading So when the din of the schoolroom did not suit my mood, or the authorities were unduly didactic, I would slip away to the twilit library and guide the magic carpet through the delicate meadows of my dreams.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading So when the din of the schoolroom did not suit my mood, or the authorities were unduly didactic, I would slip away to the twilit library and guide the magic carpet through the delicate meadows of my dreams.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading And this, I take it, is the best thing that a writer can give a child, and it was for lack of this that we considered the works of Lewis Carroll silly, while finding one of the books of Miss Molesworth—I wish I could recall its name—a masterpiece of fancy and erudition.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading But the “Arabian Nights” gave us all that we ever thought of seeking either in books or toys in those uncritical days—a starting-point for our dreams.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the “Arabian Nights” gave us all that we ever thought of seeking either in books or toys in those uncritical days—a starting-point for our dreams.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading And this, I take it, is the best thing that a writer can give a child, and it was for lack of this that we considered the works of Lewis Carroll silly, while finding one of the books of Miss Molesworth—I wish I could recall its name—a masterpiece of fancy and erudition.
carpetnounUS /ˈkɑːrpət/
floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
From this reading So when the din of the schoolroom did not suit my mood, or the authorities were unduly didactic, I would slip away to the twilit library and guide the magic carpet through the delicate meadows of my dreams.
CarrollnounUS /ˈkærəl/
English author; Charles Dodgson was an Oxford don of mathematics who is remembered for the children's stories he wrote under the pen name Lewis Carroll (1832-1898)
From this reading And this, I take it, is the best thing that a writer can give a child, and it was for lack of this that we considered the works of Lewis Carroll silly, while finding one of the books of Miss Molesworth—I wish I could recall its name—a masterpiece of fancy and erudition.
attractiveness that interests or pleases or stimulates
From this reading I must explain that we were not like those fortunate children of whom Miss Nesbit writes with such humorous charm.
a young person of either sex
From this reading And this, I take it, is the best thing that a writer can give a child, and it was for lack of this that we considered the works of Lewis Carroll silly, while finding one of the books of Miss Molesworth—I wish I could recall its name—a masterpiece of fancy and erudition.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading I must explain that we were not like those fortunate children of whom Miss Nesbit writes with such humorous charm.
concreteadjectiveUS /kənˈkriːt/
capable of being perceived by the senses; not abstract or imaginary
From this reading To us there fell no tremendous adventures; we might polish Aladdin’s lamp till it shone like the moon without gaining a single concrete acid-drop for our pains.
carefully weighed
From this reading And this, I take it, is the best thing that a writer can give a child, and it was for lack of this that we considered the works of Lewis Carroll silly, while finding one of the books of Miss Molesworth—I wish I could recall its name—a masterpiece of fancy and erudition.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading And this, I take it, is the best thing that a writer can give a child, and it was for lack of this that we considered the works of Lewis Carroll silly, while finding one of the books of Miss Molesworth—I wish I could recall its name—a masterpiece of fancy and erudition.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading But the “Arabian Nights” gave us all that we ever thought of seeking either in books or toys in those uncritical days—a starting-point for our dreams.
exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury
From this reading So when the din of the schoolroom did not suit my mood, or the authorities were unduly didactic, I would slip away to the twilit library and guide the magic carpet through the delicate meadows of my dreams.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading So when the din of the schoolroom did not suit my mood, or the authorities were unduly didactic, I would slip away to the twilit library and guide the magic carpet through the delicate meadows of my dreams.
didacticadjectiveUS /daɪˈdæktɪk/
instructive (especially excessively)
From this reading So when the din of the schoolroom did not suit my mood, or the authorities were unduly didactic, I would slip away to the twilit library and guide the magic carpet through the delicate meadows of my dreams.
dinnounUS /dɪn/
a loud harsh or strident noise
From this reading So when the din of the schoolroom did not suit my mood, or the authorities were unduly didactic, I would slip away to the twilit library and guide the magic carpet through the delicate meadows of my dreams.
plural of “dream” — a series of mental images and emotions occurring during sleep
From this reading But the “Arabian Nights” gave us all that we ever thought of seeking either in books or toys in those uncritical days—a starting-point for our dreams.
one or the other of two
From this reading But the “Arabian Nights” gave us all that we ever thought of seeking either in books or toys in those uncritical days—a starting-point for our dreams.
eruditionnounUS /ˌerəˈdɪʃən/
profound scholarly knowledge
From this reading And this, I take it, is the best thing that a writer can give a child, and it was for lack of this that we considered the works of Lewis Carroll silly, while finding one of the books of Miss Molesworth—I wish I could recall its name—a masterpiece of fancy and erudition.
at any time
From this reading But the “Arabian Nights” gave us all that we ever thought of seeking either in books or toys in those uncritical days—a starting-point for our dreams.
make plain and comprehensible
From this reading I must explain that we were not like those fortunate children of whom Miss Nesbit writes with such humorous charm.
something many people believe that is false
From this reading And this, I take it, is the best thing that a writer can give a child, and it was for lack of this that we considered the works of Lewis Carroll silly, while finding one of the books of Miss Molesworth—I wish I could recall its name—a masterpiece of fancy and erudition.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading To us there fell no tremendous adventures; we might polish Aladdin’s lamp till it shone like the moon without gaining a single concrete acid-drop for our pains.
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading And this, I take it, is the best thing that a writer can give a child, and it was for lack of this that we considered the works of Lewis Carroll silly, while finding one of the books of Miss Molesworth—I wish I could recall its name—a masterpiece of fancy and erudition.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading To us there fell no tremendous adventures; we might polish Aladdin’s lamp till it shone like the moon without gaining a single concrete acid-drop for our pains.
having unexpected good fortune
From this reading I must explain that we were not like those fortunate children of whom Miss Nesbit writes with such humorous charm.
gainingverbUS /ˈɡeɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “gain” — obtain
From this reading To us there fell no tremendous adventures; we might polish Aladdin’s lamp till it shone like the moon without gaining a single concrete acid-drop for our pains.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading But the “Arabian Nights” gave us all that we ever thought of seeking either in books or toys in those uncritical days—a starting-point for our dreams.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading And this, I take it, is the best thing that a writer can give a child, and it was for lack of this that we considered the works of Lewis Carroll silly, while finding one of the books of Miss Molesworth—I wish I could recall its name—a masterpiece of fancy and erudition.
someone employed to conduct others
From this reading So when the din of the schoolroom did not suit my mood, or the authorities were unduly didactic, I would slip away to the twilit library and guide the magic carpet through the delicate meadows of my dreams.
humorousadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmərəs/
full of or characterized by humor
From this reading I must explain that we were not like those fortunate children of whom Miss Nesbit writes with such humorous charm.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I must explain that we were not like those fortunate children of whom Miss Nesbit writes with such humorous charm.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But the “Arabian Nights” gave us all that we ever thought of seeking either in books or toys in those uncritical days—a starting-point for our dreams.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And this, I take it, is the best thing that a writer can give a child, and it was for lack of this that we considered the works of Lewis Carroll silly, while finding one of the books of Miss Molesworth—I wish I could recall its name—a masterpiece of fancy and erudition.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading To us there fell no tremendous adventures; we might polish Aladdin’s lamp till it shone like the moon without gaining a single concrete acid-drop for our pains.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading And this, I take it, is the best thing that a writer can give a child, and it was for lack of this that we considered the works of Lewis Carroll silly, while finding one of the books of Miss Molesworth—I wish I could recall its name—a masterpiece of fancy and erudition.
the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable
From this reading And this, I take it, is the best thing that a writer can give a child, and it was for lack of this that we considered the works of Lewis Carroll silly, while finding one of the books of Miss Molesworth—I wish I could recall its name—a masterpiece of fancy and erudition.
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading To us there fell no tremendous adventures; we might polish Aladdin’s lamp till it shone like the moon without gaining a single concrete acid-drop for our pains.
LewisnounUS /ˈluːɪs/
United States rock star singer and pianist (born in 1935)
From this reading And this, I take it, is the best thing that a writer can give a child, and it was for lack of this that we considered the works of Lewis Carroll silly, while finding one of the books of Miss Molesworth—I wish I could recall its name—a masterpiece of fancy and erudition.
a room where books are kept
From this reading So when the din of the schoolroom did not suit my mood, or the authorities were unduly didactic, I would slip away to the twilit library and guide the magic carpet through the delicate meadows of my dreams.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading I must explain that we were not like those fortunate children of whom Miss Nesbit writes with such humorous charm.
any art that invokes supernatural powers
From this reading So when the din of the schoolroom did not suit my mood, or the authorities were unduly didactic, I would slip away to the twilit library and guide the magic carpet through the delicate meadows of my dreams.
masterpiecenounUS /ˈmæstərpiːs/
the most outstanding work of a creative artist or craftsman
From this reading And this, I take it, is the best thing that a writer can give a child, and it was for lack of this that we considered the works of Lewis Carroll silly, while finding one of the books of Miss Molesworth—I wish I could recall its name—a masterpiece of fancy and erudition.
meadowsnounUS /ˈmedoʊz/
plural of “meadow” — a field where grass or alfalfa are grown to be made into hay
From this reading So when the din of the schoolroom did not suit my mood, or the authorities were unduly didactic, I would slip away to the twilit library and guide the magic carpet through the delicate meadows of my dreams.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading To us there fell no tremendous adventures; we might polish Aladdin’s lamp till it shone like the moon without gaining a single concrete acid-drop for our pains.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading I must explain that we were not like those fortunate children of whom Miss Nesbit writes with such humorous charm.
Molesworth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And this, I take it, is the best thing that a writer can give a child, and it was for lack of this that we considered the works of Lewis Carroll silly, while finding one of the books of Miss Molesworth—I wish I could recall its name—a masterpiece of fancy and erudition.
a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading So when the din of the schoolroom did not suit my mood, or the authorities were unduly didactic, I would slip away to the twilit library and guide the magic carpet through the delicate meadows of my dreams.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading To us there fell no tremendous adventures; we might polish Aladdin’s lamp till it shone like the moon without gaining a single concrete acid-drop for our pains.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading I must explain that we were not like those fortunate children of whom Miss Nesbit writes with such humorous charm.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading So when the din of the schoolroom did not suit my mood, or the authorities were unduly didactic, I would slip away to the twilit library and guide the magic carpet through the delicate meadows of my dreams.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading And this, I take it, is the best thing that a writer can give a child, and it was for lack of this that we considered the works of Lewis Carroll silly, while finding one of the books of Miss Molesworth—I wish I could recall its name—a masterpiece of fancy and erudition.
Nesbit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I must explain that we were not like those fortunate children of whom Miss Nesbit writes with such humorous charm.
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading But the “Arabian Nights” gave us all that we ever thought of seeking either in books or toys in those uncritical days—a starting-point for our dreams.
not any; not one
From this reading To us there fell no tremendous adventures; we might polish Aladdin’s lamp till it shone like the moon without gaining a single concrete acid-drop for our pains.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I must explain that we were not like those fortunate children of whom Miss Nesbit writes with such humorous charm.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I must explain that we were not like those fortunate children of whom Miss Nesbit writes with such humorous charm.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading And this, I take it, is the best thing that a writer can give a child, and it was for lack of this that we considered the works of Lewis Carroll silly, while finding one of the books of Miss Molesworth—I wish I could recall its name—a masterpiece of fancy and erudition.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading But the “Arabian Nights” gave us all that we ever thought of seeking either in books or toys in those uncritical days—a starting-point for our dreams.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading To us there fell no tremendous adventures; we might polish Aladdin’s lamp till it shone like the moon without gaining a single concrete acid-drop for our pains.
painsnounUS /peɪnz/
an effortful attempt to attain a goal
From this reading To us there fell no tremendous adventures; we might polish Aladdin’s lamp till it shone like the moon without gaining a single concrete acid-drop for our pains.
polishnounUS /ˈpɑːlɪʃ/
the property of being smooth and shiny
From this reading To us there fell no tremendous adventures; we might polish Aladdin’s lamp till it shone like the moon without gaining a single concrete acid-drop for our pains.
recallverbUS /ˈriːkɔːl/
recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading And this, I take it, is the best thing that a writer can give a child, and it was for lack of this that we considered the works of Lewis Carroll silly, while finding one of the books of Miss Molesworth—I wish I could recall its name—a masterpiece of fancy and erudition.
schoolroomnounUS /ˈskuːlruːm/
a room in a school where lessons take place
From this reading So when the din of the schoolroom did not suit my mood, or the authorities were unduly didactic, I would slip away to the twilit library and guide the magic carpet through the delicate meadows of my dreams.
the act of searching for something
From this reading But the “Arabian Nights” gave us all that we ever thought of seeking either in books or toys in those uncritical days—a starting-point for our dreams.
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading To us there fell no tremendous adventures; we might polish Aladdin’s lamp till it shone like the moon without gaining a single concrete acid-drop for our pains.
ludicrous, foolish
From this reading And this, I take it, is the best thing that a writer can give a child, and it was for lack of this that we considered the works of Lewis Carroll silly, while finding one of the books of Miss Molesworth—I wish I could recall its name—a masterpiece of fancy and erudition.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading To us there fell no tremendous adventures; we might polish Aladdin’s lamp till it shone like the moon without gaining a single concrete acid-drop for our pains.
move stealthily
From this reading So when the din of the schoolroom did not suit my mood, or the authorities were unduly didactic, I would slip away to the twilit library and guide the magic carpet through the delicate meadows of my dreams.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So when the din of the schoolroom did not suit my mood, or the authorities were unduly didactic, I would slip away to the twilit library and guide the magic carpet through the delicate meadows of my dreams.
starting-point
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the “Arabian Nights” gave us all that we ever thought of seeking either in books or toys in those uncritical days—a starting-point for our dreams.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading I must explain that we were not like those fortunate children of whom Miss Nesbit writes with such humorous charm.
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading So when the din of the schoolroom did not suit my mood, or the authorities were unduly didactic, I would slip away to the twilit library and guide the magic carpet through the delicate meadows of my dreams.
carry out
From this reading And this, I take it, is the best thing that a writer can give a child, and it was for lack of this that we considered the works of Lewis Carroll silly, while finding one of the books of Miss Molesworth—I wish I could recall its name—a masterpiece of fancy and erudition.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I must explain that we were not like those fortunate children of whom Miss Nesbit writes with such humorous charm.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading To us there fell no tremendous adventures; we might polish Aladdin’s lamp till it shone like the moon without gaining a single concrete acid-drop for our pains.
in or at that place or location
From this reading To us there fell no tremendous adventures; we might polish Aladdin’s lamp till it shone like the moon without gaining a single concrete acid-drop for our pains.
a special situation
From this reading And this, I take it, is the best thing that a writer can give a child, and it was for lack of this that we considered the works of Lewis Carroll silly, while finding one of the books of Miss Molesworth—I wish I could recall its name—a masterpiece of fancy and erudition.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading And this, I take it, is the best thing that a writer can give a child, and it was for lack of this that we considered the works of Lewis Carroll silly, while finding one of the books of Miss Molesworth—I wish I could recall its name—a masterpiece of fancy and erudition.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading I must explain that we were not like those fortunate children of whom Miss Nesbit writes with such humorous charm.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading But the “Arabian Nights” gave us all that we ever thought of seeking either in books or toys in those uncritical days—a starting-point for our dreams.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading So when the din of the schoolroom did not suit my mood, or the authorities were unduly didactic, I would slip away to the twilit library and guide the magic carpet through the delicate meadows of my dreams.
up to a particular time
From this reading To us there fell no tremendous adventures; we might polish Aladdin’s lamp till it shone like the moon without gaining a single concrete acid-drop for our pains.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To us there fell no tremendous adventures; we might polish Aladdin’s lamp till it shone like the moon without gaining a single concrete acid-drop for our pains.
toysnounUS /tɔɪz/
plural of “toy” — an artifact designed to be played with
From this reading But the “Arabian Nights” gave us all that we ever thought of seeking either in books or toys in those uncritical days—a starting-point for our dreams.
extraordinarily large in size or extent or amount or power or degree
From this reading To us there fell no tremendous adventures; we might polish Aladdin’s lamp till it shone like the moon without gaining a single concrete acid-drop for our pains.
twilitadjective
lighted by or as if by twilight
From this reading So when the din of the schoolroom did not suit my mood, or the authorities were unduly didactic, I would slip away to the twilit library and guide the magic carpet through the delicate meadows of my dreams.
uncriticaladjectiveUS /ənˈkrɪtɪkəl/
marked by disregard for critical standards or procedures
From this reading But the “Arabian Nights” gave us all that we ever thought of seeking either in books or toys in those uncritical days—a starting-point for our dreams.
undulyadverbUS /ənˈduːli/
to an undue degree
From this reading So when the din of the schoolroom did not suit my mood, or the authorities were unduly didactic, I would slip away to the twilit library and guide the magic carpet through the delicate meadows of my dreams.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading To us there fell no tremendous adventures; we might polish Aladdin’s lamp till it shone like the moon without gaining a single concrete acid-drop for our pains.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And this, I take it, is the best thing that a writer can give a child, and it was for lack of this that we considered the works of Lewis Carroll silly, while finding one of the books of Miss Molesworth—I wish I could recall its name—a masterpiece of fancy and erudition.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading I must explain that we were not like those fortunate children of whom Miss Nesbit writes with such humorous charm.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading I must explain that we were not like those fortunate children of whom Miss Nesbit writes with such humorous charm.
at the time that
From this reading So when the din of the schoolroom did not suit my mood, or the authorities were unduly didactic, I would slip away to the twilit library and guide the magic carpet through the delicate meadows of my dreams.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading And this, I take it, is the best thing that a writer can give a child, and it was for lack of this that we considered the works of Lewis Carroll silly, while finding one of the books of Miss Molesworth—I wish I could recall its name—a masterpiece of fancy and erudition.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I must explain that we were not like those fortunate children of whom Miss Nesbit writes with such humorous charm.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading And this, I take it, is the best thing that a writer can give a child, and it was for lack of this that we considered the works of Lewis Carroll silly, while finding one of the books of Miss Molesworth—I wish I could recall its name—a masterpiece of fancy and erudition.
in the company of; together with
From this reading I must explain that we were not like those fortunate children of whom Miss Nesbit writes with such humorous charm.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading To us there fell no tremendous adventures; we might polish Aladdin’s lamp till it shone like the moon without gaining a single concrete acid-drop for our pains.
buildings for carrying on industrial labor
From this reading And this, I take it, is the best thing that a writer can give a child, and it was for lack of this that we considered the works of Lewis Carroll silly, while finding one of the books of Miss Molesworth—I wish I could recall its name—a masterpiece of fancy and erudition.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading So when the din of the schoolroom did not suit my mood, or the authorities were unduly didactic, I would slip away to the twilit library and guide the magic carpet through the delicate meadows of my dreams.
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading And this, I take it, is the best thing that a writer can give a child, and it was for lack of this that we considered the works of Lewis Carroll silly, while finding one of the books of Miss Molesworth—I wish I could recall its name—a masterpiece of fancy and erudition.
writesverbUS /raɪts/
third-person singular of “write” — produce a literary work
From this reading I must explain that we were not like those fortunate children of whom Miss Nesbit writes with such humorous charm.
