adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The children would have not only to account for the apparent absence of one of themselves, but for the obvious presence of a perfect stranger.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "She'd smell a rat if you did," Gerald owned "about the motor-car, I mean, and the adopting lady.
absencenounUS /ˈæbsəns/
the state of being absent
From this reading The children would have not only to account for the apparent absence of one of themselves, but for the obvious presence of a perfect stranger.
accountnounUS /əˈkaʊnt/
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading The children would have not only to account for the apparent absence of one of themselves, but for the obvious presence of a perfect stranger.
adoptingverbUS /əˈdɑːptɪŋ/
-ing form of “adopt” — choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans
From this reading "She'd smell a rat if you did," Gerald owned "about the motor-car, I mean, and the adopting lady.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The difficulty was not only that Gerald had got the ring on and couldn't get it off, and was therefore invisible, but that Mabel, who had been invisible and therefore possible to be smuggled into the house, was now plain to be seen and impossible for smuggling purposes.
apparentadjectiveUS /əˈperənt/
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading The children would have not only to account for the apparent absence of one of themselves, but for the obvious presence of a perfect stranger.
auntnounUS /ænt/
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading "I can't go back to aunt.
backadverbUS /bæk/
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading "I can't go back to aunt.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The difficulty was not only that Gerald had got the ring on and couldn't get it off, and was therefore invisible, but that Mabel, who had been invisible and therefore possible to be smuggled into the house, was now plain to be seen and impossible for smuggling purposes.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The difficulty was not only that Gerald had got the ring on and couldn't get it off, and was therefore invisible, but that Mabel, who had been invisible and therefore possible to be smuggled into the house, was now plain to be seen and impossible for smuggling purposes.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The difficulty was not only that Gerald had got the ring on and couldn't get it off, and was therefore invisible, but that Mabel, who had been invisible and therefore possible to be smuggled into the house, was now plain to be seen and impossible for smuggling purposes.
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I can't go back to aunt.
childrennounUS /ˈtʃɪldrən/
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading The children would have not only to account for the apparent absence of one of themselves, but for the obvious presence of a perfect stranger.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The difficulty was not only that Gerald had got the ring on and couldn't get it off, and was therefore invisible, but that Mabel, who had been invisible and therefore possible to be smuggled into the house, was now plain to be seen and impossible for smuggling purposes.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "She'd smell a rat if you did," Gerald owned "about the motor-car, I mean, and the adopting lady.
difficultynounUS /ˈdɪfəkəlti/
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading The difficulty was not only that Gerald had got the ring on and couldn't get it off, and was therefore invisible, but that Mabel, who had been invisible and therefore possible to be smuggled into the house, was now plain to be seen and impossible for smuggling purposes.
firmlyadverbUS /ˈfɜːrmli/
with resolute determination
From this reading I can't and I won't," said Mabel firmly, "not if I was visible twenty times over."
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The difficulty was not only that Gerald had got the ring on and couldn't get it off, and was therefore invisible, but that Mabel, who had been invisible and therefore possible to be smuggled into the house, was now plain to be seen and impossible for smuggling purposes.
Gerald
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The difficulty was not only that Gerald had got the ring on and couldn't get it off, and was therefore invisible, but that Mabel, who had been invisible and therefore possible to be smuggled into the house, was now plain to be seen and impossible for smuggling purposes.
getverbUS /ɡet/
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading The difficulty was not only that Gerald had got the ring on and couldn't get it off, and was therefore invisible, but that Mabel, who had been invisible and therefore possible to be smuggled into the house, was now plain to be seen and impossible for smuggling purposes.
goverbUS /ɡoʊ/
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "I can't go back to aunt.
gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading The difficulty was not only that Gerald had got the ring on and couldn't get it off, and was therefore invisible, but that Mabel, who had been invisible and therefore possible to be smuggled into the house, was now plain to be seen and impossible for smuggling purposes.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The difficulty was not only that Gerald had got the ring on and couldn't get it off, and was therefore invisible, but that Mabel, who had been invisible and therefore possible to be smuggled into the house, was now plain to be seen and impossible for smuggling purposes.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The children would have not only to account for the apparent absence of one of themselves, but for the obvious presence of a perfect stranger.
housenounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The difficulty was not only that Gerald had got the ring on and couldn't get it off, and was therefore invisible, but that Mabel, who had been invisible and therefore possible to be smuggled into the house, was now plain to be seen and impossible for smuggling purposes.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I can't go back to aunt.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading I can't and I won't," said Mabel firmly, "not if I was visible twenty times over."
impossibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpɑːsəbəl/
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading The difficulty was not only that Gerald had got the ring on and couldn't get it off, and was therefore invisible, but that Mabel, who had been invisible and therefore possible to be smuggled into the house, was now plain to be seen and impossible for smuggling purposes.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The difficulty was not only that Gerald had got the ring on and couldn't get it off, and was therefore invisible, but that Mabel, who had been invisible and therefore possible to be smuggled into the house, was now plain to be seen and impossible for smuggling purposes.
invisibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvɪzəbəl/
impossible or nearly impossible to see; imperceptible by the eye
From this reading The difficulty was not only that Gerald had got the ring on and couldn't get it off, and was therefore invisible, but that Mabel, who had been invisible and therefore possible to be smuggled into the house, was now plain to be seen and impossible for smuggling purposes.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The difficulty was not only that Gerald had got the ring on and couldn't get it off, and was therefore invisible, but that Mabel, who had been invisible and therefore possible to be smuggled into the house, was now plain to be seen and impossible for smuggling purposes.
ladynounUS /ˈleɪdi/
a polite name for any woman
From this reading "She'd smell a rat if you did," Gerald owned "about the motor-car, I mean, and the adopting lady.
Mabel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The difficulty was not only that Gerald had got the ring on and couldn't get it off, and was therefore invisible, but that Mabel, who had been invisible and therefore possible to be smuggled into the house, was now plain to be seen and impossible for smuggling purposes.
meanverbUS /miːn/
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading "She'd smell a rat if you did," Gerald owned "about the motor-car, I mean, and the adopting lady.
motor-car
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "She'd smell a rat if you did," Gerald owned "about the motor-car, I mean, and the adopting lady.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The difficulty was not only that Gerald had got the ring on and couldn't get it off, and was therefore invisible, but that Mabel, who had been invisible and therefore possible to be smuggled into the house, was now plain to be seen and impossible for smuggling purposes.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The difficulty was not only that Gerald had got the ring on and couldn't get it off, and was therefore invisible, but that Mabel, who had been invisible and therefore possible to be smuggled into the house, was now plain to be seen and impossible for smuggling purposes.
obviousadjectiveUS /ˈɑːbviəs/
easily perceived by the senses or grasped by the mind
From this reading The children would have not only to account for the apparent absence of one of themselves, but for the obvious presence of a perfect stranger.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The children would have not only to account for the apparent absence of one of themselves, but for the obvious presence of a perfect stranger.
offadverbUS /ɔːf/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The difficulty was not only that Gerald had got the ring on and couldn't get it off, and was therefore invisible, but that Mabel, who had been invisible and therefore possible to be smuggled into the house, was now plain to be seen and impossible for smuggling purposes.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The difficulty was not only that Gerald had got the ring on and couldn't get it off, and was therefore invisible, but that Mabel, who had been invisible and therefore possible to be smuggled into the house, was now plain to be seen and impossible for smuggling purposes.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The children would have not only to account for the apparent absence of one of themselves, but for the obvious presence of a perfect stranger.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading The difficulty was not only that Gerald had got the ring on and couldn't get it off, and was therefore invisible, but that Mabel, who had been invisible and therefore possible to be smuggled into the house, was now plain to be seen and impossible for smuggling purposes.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading I can't and I won't," said Mabel firmly, "not if I was visible twenty times over."
ownedadjectiveUS /oʊnd/
having an owner; often used in combination
From this reading "She'd smell a rat if you did," Gerald owned "about the motor-car, I mean, and the adopting lady.
perfectadjectiveUS /pərˈfekt/
being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish
From this reading The children would have not only to account for the apparent absence of one of themselves, but for the obvious presence of a perfect stranger.
plainadjectiveUS /pleɪn/
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading The difficulty was not only that Gerald had got the ring on and couldn't get it off, and was therefore invisible, but that Mabel, who had been invisible and therefore possible to be smuggled into the house, was now plain to be seen and impossible for smuggling purposes.
possibleadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːsəbəl/
capable of happening or existing
From this reading The difficulty was not only that Gerald had got the ring on and couldn't get it off, and was therefore invisible, but that Mabel, who had been invisible and therefore possible to be smuggled into the house, was now plain to be seen and impossible for smuggling purposes.
presencenounUS /ˈprezəns/
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading The children would have not only to account for the apparent absence of one of themselves, but for the obvious presence of a perfect stranger.
purposesnounUS /ˈpɜːrpəsəz/
plural of “purpose” — an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading The difficulty was not only that Gerald had got the ring on and couldn't get it off, and was therefore invisible, but that Mabel, who had been invisible and therefore possible to be smuggled into the house, was now plain to be seen and impossible for smuggling purposes.
ratnounUS /ræt/
any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
From this reading "She'd smell a rat if you did," Gerald owned "about the motor-car, I mean, and the adopting lady.
ringverbUS /rɪŋ/
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading The difficulty was not only that Gerald had got the ring on and couldn't get it off, and was therefore invisible, but that Mabel, who had been invisible and therefore possible to be smuggled into the house, was now plain to be seen and impossible for smuggling purposes.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading I can't and I won't," said Mabel firmly, "not if I was visible twenty times over."
seenverbUS /siːn/
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The difficulty was not only that Gerald had got the ring on and couldn't get it off, and was therefore invisible, but that Mabel, who had been invisible and therefore possible to be smuggled into the house, was now plain to be seen and impossible for smuggling purposes.
She'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "She'd smell a rat if you did," Gerald owned "about the motor-car, I mean, and the adopting lady.
smellnounUS /smel/
the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading "She'd smell a rat if you did," Gerald owned "about the motor-car, I mean, and the adopting lady.
smuggledadjectiveUS /ˈsmʌɡəld/
distributed or sold illicitly
From this reading The difficulty was not only that Gerald had got the ring on and couldn't get it off, and was therefore invisible, but that Mabel, who had been invisible and therefore possible to be smuggled into the house, was now plain to be seen and impossible for smuggling purposes.
smugglingnounUS /ˈsmʌɡlɪŋ/
secretly importing prohibited goods or goods on which duty is due
From this reading The difficulty was not only that Gerald had got the ring on and couldn't get it off, and was therefore invisible, but that Mabel, who had been invisible and therefore possible to be smuggled into the house, was now plain to be seen and impossible for smuggling purposes.
strangernounUS /ˈstreɪndʒər/
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading The children would have not only to account for the apparent absence of one of themselves, but for the obvious presence of a perfect stranger.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The difficulty was not only that Gerald had got the ring on and couldn't get it off, and was therefore invisible, but that Mabel, who had been invisible and therefore possible to be smuggled into the house, was now plain to be seen and impossible for smuggling purposes.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The difficulty was not only that Gerald had got the ring on and couldn't get it off, and was therefore invisible, but that Mabel, who had been invisible and therefore possible to be smuggled into the house, was now plain to be seen and impossible for smuggling purposes.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading The children would have not only to account for the apparent absence of one of themselves, but for the obvious presence of a perfect stranger.
thereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/
for that reason; as a result
From this reading The difficulty was not only that Gerald had got the ring on and couldn't get it off, and was therefore invisible, but that Mabel, who had been invisible and therefore possible to be smuggled into the house, was now plain to be seen and impossible for smuggling purposes.
timesnounUS /taɪmz/
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading I can't and I won't," said Mabel firmly, "not if I was visible twenty times over."
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The difficulty was not only that Gerald had got the ring on and couldn't get it off, and was therefore invisible, but that Mabel, who had been invisible and therefore possible to be smuggled into the house, was now plain to be seen and impossible for smuggling purposes.
twentynounUS /ˈtwenti/
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading I can't and I won't," said Mabel firmly, "not if I was visible twenty times over."
visibleadjectiveUS /ˈvɪzəbəl/
capable of being seen; or open to easy view
From this reading I can't and I won't," said Mabel firmly, "not if I was visible twenty times over."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The difficulty was not only that Gerald had got the ring on and couldn't get it off, and was therefore invisible, but that Mabel, who had been invisible and therefore possible to be smuggled into the house, was now plain to be seen and impossible for smuggling purposes.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading The difficulty was not only that Gerald had got the ring on and couldn't get it off, and was therefore invisible, but that Mabel, who had been invisible and therefore possible to be smuggled into the house, was now plain to be seen and impossible for smuggling purposes.
won't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I can't and I won't," said Mabel firmly, "not if I was visible twenty times over."
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The children would have not only to account for the apparent absence of one of themselves, but for the obvious presence of a perfect stranger.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "She'd smell a rat if you did," Gerald owned "about the motor-car, I mean, and the adopting lady.
