adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Elizabeth Compton and Harriet Holden were completing the rounds of their friends' homes with Christmas remembrances--a custom that they had continued since childhood.
aliveadjectiveUS /əˈlaɪv/
possessing life
From this reading Elizabeth directed the chauffeur to turn over Van Buren to State, which at this season of the year was almost alive with belated Christmas shoppers and those other thousands who always seize upon the slightest pretext for a celebration.
almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Elizabeth directed the chauffeur to turn over Van Buren to State, which at this season of the year was almost alive with belated Christmas shoppers and those other thousands who always seize upon the slightest pretext for a celebration.
alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading Elizabeth directed the chauffeur to turn over Van Buren to State, which at this season of the year was almost alive with belated Christmas shoppers and those other thousands who always seize upon the slightest pretext for a celebration.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Elizabeth Compton and Harriet Holden were completing the rounds of their friends' homes with Christmas remembrances--a custom that they had continued since childhood.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Elizabeth directed the chauffeur to turn over Van Buren to State, which at this season of the year was almost alive with belated Christmas shoppers and those other thousands who always seize upon the slightest pretext for a celebration.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The last parcel had been delivered upon the South Side, and they were now being driven north on Michigan Boulevard toward home.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The last parcel had been delivered upon the South Side, and they were now being driven north on Michigan Boulevard toward home.
belatedadjectiveUS /bɪˈleɪtɪd/
after the expected or usual time; delayed
From this reading Elizabeth directed the chauffeur to turn over Van Buren to State, which at this season of the year was almost alive with belated Christmas shoppers and those other thousands who always seize upon the slightest pretext for a celebration.
BoulevardnounUS /ˈbʊləvɑːrd/
a wide street or thoroughfare
From this reading The last parcel had been delivered upon the South Side, and they were now being driven north on Michigan Boulevard toward home.
Buren
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Elizabeth directed the chauffeur to turn over Van Buren to State, which at this season of the year was almost alive with belated Christmas shoppers and those other thousands who always seize upon the slightest pretext for a celebration.
celebrationnounUS /ˌseləˈbreɪʃən/
a joyful occasion for special festivities to mark some happy event
From this reading Elizabeth directed the chauffeur to turn over Van Buren to State, which at this season of the year was almost alive with belated Christmas shoppers and those other thousands who always seize upon the slightest pretext for a celebration.
chauffeurnounUS /ʃoʊˈfɜːr/
a man paid to drive a privately owned car
From this reading Elizabeth directed the chauffeur to turn over Van Buren to State, which at this season of the year was almost alive with belated Christmas shoppers and those other thousands who always seize upon the slightest pretext for a celebration.
childhoodnounUS /ˈtʃaɪldhʊd/
the time of person's life when they are a child
From this reading Elizabeth Compton and Harriet Holden were completing the rounds of their friends' homes with Christmas remembrances--a custom that they had continued since childhood.
CHRISTMASnounUS /ˈkrɪsməs/
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading CHRISTMAS EVE.
completingadjectiveUS /kəmˈpliːtɪŋ/
acting as or providing a complement (something that completes the whole)
From this reading Elizabeth Compton and Harriet Holden were completing the rounds of their friends' homes with Christmas remembrances--a custom that they had continued since childhood.
ComptonnounUS /ˈkɑːmptən/
United States physicist noted for research on x-rays and gamma rays and nuclear energy
From this reading Elizabeth Compton and Harriet Holden were completing the rounds of their friends' homes with Christmas remembrances--a custom that they had continued since childhood.
continuedadjectiveUS /kənˈtɪnjuːd/
without stop or interruption
From this reading Elizabeth Compton and Harriet Holden were completing the rounds of their friends' homes with Christmas remembrances--a custom that they had continued since childhood.
customnounUS /ˈkʌstəm/
accepted or habitual practice
From this reading Elizabeth Compton and Harriet Holden were completing the rounds of their friends' homes with Christmas remembrances--a custom that they had continued since childhood.
deliveredverbUS /dɪˈlɪvərd/
past form of “deliver” — deliver (a speech, oration, or idea)
From this reading The last parcel had been delivered upon the South Side, and they were now being driven north on Michigan Boulevard toward home.
directedadjectiveUS /dərˈektəd/
(often used in combination) having a specified direction
From this reading Elizabeth directed the chauffeur to turn over Van Buren to State, which at this season of the year was almost alive with belated Christmas shoppers and those other thousands who always seize upon the slightest pretext for a celebration.
drivenadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪvən/
compelled forcibly by an outside agency
From this reading The last parcel had been delivered upon the South Side, and they were now being driven north on Michigan Boulevard toward home.
ElizabethnounUS /ɪˈlɪzəbəθ/
daughter of George VI who became the Queen of England and Northern Ireland in 1952 on the death of her father (1926-)
From this reading Elizabeth Compton and Harriet Holden were completing the rounds of their friends' homes with Christmas remembrances--a custom that they had continued since childhood.
EVEnounUS /iːv/
(Old Testament) Adam's wife in Judeo-Christian mythology: the first woman and mother of the human race; God created Eve from Adam's rib and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden
From this reading CHRISTMAS EVE.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Elizabeth directed the chauffeur to turn over Van Buren to State, which at this season of the year was almost alive with belated Christmas shoppers and those other thousands who always seize upon the slightest pretext for a celebration.
friendsnounUS /frendz/
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Elizabeth Compton and Harriet Holden were completing the rounds of their friends' homes with Christmas remembrances--a custom that they had continued since childhood.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Elizabeth Compton and Harriet Holden were completing the rounds of their friends' homes with Christmas remembrances--a custom that they had continued since childhood.
Harriet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Elizabeth Compton and Harriet Holden were completing the rounds of their friends' homes with Christmas remembrances--a custom that they had continued since childhood.
Holden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Elizabeth Compton and Harriet Holden were completing the rounds of their friends' homes with Christmas remembrances--a custom that they had continued since childhood.
homenounUS /hoʊm/
where you live at a particular time
From this reading The last parcel had been delivered upon the South Side, and they were now being driven north on Michigan Boulevard toward home.
homesnounUS /hoʊmz/
plural of “home” — where you live at a particular time
From this reading Elizabeth Compton and Harriet Holden were completing the rounds of their friends' homes with Christmas remembrances--a custom that they had continued since childhood.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was Christmas Eve.
lastadjectiveUS /læst/
immediately past
From this reading The last parcel had been delivered upon the South Side, and they were now being driven north on Michigan Boulevard toward home.
MichigannounUS /ˈmɪʃɪɡən/
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading The last parcel had been delivered upon the South Side, and they were now being driven north on Michigan Boulevard toward home.
northnounUS /nɔːrθ/
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading The last parcel had been delivered upon the South Side, and they were now being driven north on Michigan Boulevard toward home.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The last parcel had been delivered upon the South Side, and they were now being driven north on Michigan Boulevard toward home.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Elizabeth Compton and Harriet Holden were completing the rounds of their friends' homes with Christmas remembrances--a custom that they had continued since childhood.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The last parcel had been delivered upon the South Side, and they were now being driven north on Michigan Boulevard toward home.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Elizabeth directed the chauffeur to turn over Van Buren to State, which at this season of the year was almost alive with belated Christmas shoppers and those other thousands who always seize upon the slightest pretext for a celebration.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Elizabeth directed the chauffeur to turn over Van Buren to State, which at this season of the year was almost alive with belated Christmas shoppers and those other thousands who always seize upon the slightest pretext for a celebration.
parcelnounUS /ˈpɑːrsəl/
a wrapped container
From this reading The last parcel had been delivered upon the South Side, and they were now being driven north on Michigan Boulevard toward home.
pretextnounUS /ˈpriːtekst/
something serving to conceal plans; a fictitious reason that is concocted in order to conceal the real reason
From this reading Elizabeth directed the chauffeur to turn over Van Buren to State, which at this season of the year was almost alive with belated Christmas shoppers and those other thousands who always seize upon the slightest pretext for a celebration.
remembrancesnounUS /rɪˈmembrənsɪz/
plural of “remembrance” — the ability to recall past occurrences
From this reading Elizabeth Compton and Harriet Holden were completing the rounds of their friends' homes with Christmas remembrances--a custom that they had continued since childhood.
roundsnounUS /raʊndz/
plural of “round” — a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Elizabeth Compton and Harriet Holden were completing the rounds of their friends' homes with Christmas remembrances--a custom that they had continued since childhood.
seasonnounUS /ˈsiːzən/
a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field
From this reading Elizabeth directed the chauffeur to turn over Van Buren to State, which at this season of the year was almost alive with belated Christmas shoppers and those other thousands who always seize upon the slightest pretext for a celebration.
seizeverbUS /siːz/
take hold of; grab
From this reading Elizabeth directed the chauffeur to turn over Van Buren to State, which at this season of the year was almost alive with belated Christmas shoppers and those other thousands who always seize upon the slightest pretext for a celebration.
shoppersnounUS /ˈʃɑːpərz/
plural of “shopper” — someone who visits stores in search of articles to buy
From this reading Elizabeth directed the chauffeur to turn over Van Buren to State, which at this season of the year was almost alive with belated Christmas shoppers and those other thousands who always seize upon the slightest pretext for a celebration.
SidenounUS /saɪd/
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The last parcel had been delivered upon the South Side, and they were now being driven north on Michigan Boulevard toward home.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Elizabeth Compton and Harriet Holden were completing the rounds of their friends' homes with Christmas remembrances--a custom that they had continued since childhood.
slightestadjectiveUS /ˈslaɪtəst/
superlative of “slight” — (quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with “a”) at least some
From this reading Elizabeth directed the chauffeur to turn over Van Buren to State, which at this season of the year was almost alive with belated Christmas shoppers and those other thousands who always seize upon the slightest pretext for a celebration.
SouthnounUS /saʊθ/
the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading The last parcel had been delivered upon the South Side, and they were now being driven north on Michigan Boulevard toward home.
StatenounUS /steɪt/
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading Elizabeth directed the chauffeur to turn over Van Buren to State, which at this season of the year was almost alive with belated Christmas shoppers and those other thousands who always seize upon the slightest pretext for a celebration.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Elizabeth Compton and Harriet Holden were completing the rounds of their friends' homes with Christmas remembrances--a custom that they had continued since childhood.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Elizabeth Compton and Harriet Holden were completing the rounds of their friends' homes with Christmas remembrances--a custom that they had continued since childhood.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Elizabeth Compton and Harriet Holden were completing the rounds of their friends' homes with Christmas remembrances--a custom that they had continued since childhood.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Elizabeth Compton and Harriet Holden were completing the rounds of their friends' homes with Christmas remembrances--a custom that they had continued since childhood.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Elizabeth directed the chauffeur to turn over Van Buren to State, which at this season of the year was almost alive with belated Christmas shoppers and those other thousands who always seize upon the slightest pretext for a celebration.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Elizabeth directed the chauffeur to turn over Van Buren to State, which at this season of the year was almost alive with belated Christmas shoppers and those other thousands who always seize upon the slightest pretext for a celebration.
thousandsnounUS /ˈθaʊzəndz/
plural of “thousand” — the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading Elizabeth directed the chauffeur to turn over Van Buren to State, which at this season of the year was almost alive with belated Christmas shoppers and those other thousands who always seize upon the slightest pretext for a celebration.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Elizabeth directed the chauffeur to turn over Van Buren to State, which at this season of the year was almost alive with belated Christmas shoppers and those other thousands who always seize upon the slightest pretext for a celebration.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading The last parcel had been delivered upon the South Side, and they were now being driven north on Michigan Boulevard toward home.
turnverbUS /tɜːrn/
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading Elizabeth directed the chauffeur to turn over Van Buren to State, which at this season of the year was almost alive with belated Christmas shoppers and those other thousands who always seize upon the slightest pretext for a celebration.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The last parcel had been delivered upon the South Side, and they were now being driven north on Michigan Boulevard toward home.
VannounUS /væn/
any creative group active in the innovation and application of new concepts and techniques in a given field (especially in the arts)
From this reading Elizabeth directed the chauffeur to turn over Van Buren to State, which at this season of the year was almost alive with belated Christmas shoppers and those other thousands who always seize upon the slightest pretext for a celebration.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was Christmas Eve.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Elizabeth Compton and Harriet Holden were completing the rounds of their friends' homes with Christmas remembrances--a custom that they had continued since childhood.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Elizabeth directed the chauffeur to turn over Van Buren to State, which at this season of the year was almost alive with belated Christmas shoppers and those other thousands who always seize upon the slightest pretext for a celebration.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Elizabeth directed the chauffeur to turn over Van Buren to State, which at this season of the year was almost alive with belated Christmas shoppers and those other thousands who always seize upon the slightest pretext for a celebration.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Elizabeth Compton and Harriet Holden were completing the rounds of their friends' homes with Christmas remembrances--a custom that they had continued since childhood.
yearnounUS /jɪr/
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading Elizabeth directed the chauffeur to turn over Van Buren to State, which at this season of the year was almost alive with belated Christmas shoppers and those other thousands who always seize upon the slightest pretext for a celebration.
