used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading With this awful indictment before me, you ask me, a "grown-up," to write an introduction for the "Firelight Fairy Book," and thereby to assume the responsibility for passing judgment upon it.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading With this awful indictment before me, you ask me, a "grown-up," to write an introduction for the "Firelight Fairy Book," and thereby to assume the responsibility for passing judgment upon it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The pantry was locked, and regular meals at regular periods were prescribed.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Any reasonable child will find many such parallel instances of the assumed omnipotence of "grownups."
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading With this awful indictment before me, you ask me, a "grown-up," to write an introduction for the "Firelight Fairy Book," and thereby to assume the responsibility for passing judgment upon it.
assumeverbUS /əˈsuːm/
take to be the case or to be true; accept without verification or proof
From this reading With this awful indictment before me, you ask me, a "grown-up," to write an introduction for the "Firelight Fairy Book," and thereby to assume the responsibility for passing judgment upon it.
adopted in order to deceive
From this reading Any reasonable child will find many such parallel instances of the assumed omnipotence of "grownups."
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The pantry was locked, and regular meals at regular periods were prescribed.
goddess of criminal rashness and its punishment
From this reading Indeed, poems with dreadful morals for those who ate between meals were recited to me, endeavor being made thereby to substitute terror for inclination.
awfuladjectiveUS /ˈɑːfəl/
exceptionally bad or displeasing
From this reading With this awful indictment before me, you ask me, a "grown-up," to write an introduction for the "Firelight Fairy Book," and thereby to assume the responsibility for passing judgment upon it.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading With this awful indictment before me, you ask me, a "grown-up," to write an introduction for the "Firelight Fairy Book," and thereby to assume the responsibility for passing judgment upon it.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Indeed, poems with dreadful morals for those who ate between meals were recited to me, endeavor being made thereby to substitute terror for inclination.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Indeed, poems with dreadful morals for those who ate between meals were recited to me, endeavor being made thereby to substitute terror for inclination.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading With this awful indictment before me, you ask me, a "grown-up," to write an introduction for the "Firelight Fairy Book," and thereby to assume the responsibility for passing judgment upon it.
a young person of either sex
From this reading Any reasonable child will find many such parallel instances of the assumed omnipotence of "grownups."
containingverbUS /kənˈteɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “contain” — include or contain; have as a component
From this reading Sundry unfortunate remarks were made containing references to gluttony.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading Indeed, poems with dreadful morals for those who ate between meals were recited to me, endeavor being made thereby to substitute terror for inclination.
endeavornounUS /ɪnˈdevər/
a purposeful or industrious undertaking (especially one that requires effort or boldness)
From this reading Indeed, poems with dreadful morals for those who ate between meals were recited to me, endeavor being made thereby to substitute terror for inclination.
a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers
From this reading With this awful indictment before me, you ask me, a "grown-up," to write an introduction for the "Firelight Fairy Book," and thereby to assume the responsibility for passing judgment upon it.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading Any reasonable child will find many such parallel instances of the assumed omnipotence of "grownups."
Firelightnoun
the light of a fire (especially in a fireplace)
From this reading With this awful indictment before me, you ask me, a "grown-up," to write an introduction for the "Firelight Fairy Book," and thereby to assume the responsibility for passing judgment upon it.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Indeed, poems with dreadful morals for those who ate between meals were recited to me, endeavor being made thereby to substitute terror for inclination.
gluttonynounUS /ˈɡlʌtəni/
habitual eating to excess
From this reading Sundry unfortunate remarks were made containing references to gluttony.
grown-up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With this awful indictment before me, you ask me, a "grown-up," to write an introduction for the "Firelight Fairy Book," and thereby to assume the responsibility for passing judgment upon it.
grownupsnounUS /ˈɡroʊnʌps/
plural of “grownup” — a fully developed person from maturity onward
From this reading Any reasonable child will find many such parallel instances of the assumed omnipotence of "grownups."
inclinationnounUS /ˌɪnkləˈneɪʃən/
an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others
From this reading Indeed, poems with dreadful morals for those who ate between meals were recited to me, endeavor being made thereby to substitute terror for inclination.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Indeed, poems with dreadful morals for those who ate between meals were recited to me, endeavor being made thereby to substitute terror for inclination.
indictmentnounUS /ˌɪnˈdaɪtmənt/
a formal document written for a prosecuting attorney charging a person with some offense
From this reading With this awful indictment before me, you ask me, a "grown-up," to write an introduction for the "Firelight Fairy Book," and thereby to assume the responsibility for passing judgment upon it.
instancesnounUS /ˈɪnstənsəz/
plural of “instance” — an occurrence of something
From this reading Any reasonable child will find many such parallel instances of the assumed omnipotence of "grownups."
introductionnounUS /ˌɪntrəˈdʌkʃən/
the act of beginning something new
From this reading With this awful indictment before me, you ask me, a "grown-up," to write an introduction for the "Firelight Fairy Book," and thereby to assume the responsibility for passing judgment upon it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading With this awful indictment before me, you ask me, a "grown-up," to write an introduction for the "Firelight Fairy Book," and thereby to assume the responsibility for passing judgment upon it.
an opinion formed by judging something
From this reading With this awful indictment before me, you ask me, a "grown-up," to write an introduction for the "Firelight Fairy Book," and thereby to assume the responsibility for passing judgment upon it.
past form of “lock” — fasten with a lock
From this reading The pantry was locked, and regular meals at regular periods were prescribed.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Sundry unfortunate remarks were made containing references to gluttony.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading Any reasonable child will find many such parallel instances of the assumed omnipotence of "grownups."
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Indeed, poems with dreadful morals for those who ate between meals were recited to me, endeavor being made thereby to substitute terror for inclination.
mealsnounUS /miːlz/
plural of “meal” — the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading The pantry was locked, and regular meals at regular periods were prescribed.
moralsnounUS /ˈmɔːrəlz/
motivation based on ideas of right and wrong
From this reading Indeed, poems with dreadful morals for those who ate between meals were recited to me, endeavor being made thereby to substitute terror for inclination.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Any reasonable child will find many such parallel instances of the assumed omnipotence of "grownups."
omnipotencenounUS /ɑːmˈnɪpətəns/
the state of being omnipotent; having unlimited power
From this reading Any reasonable child will find many such parallel instances of the assumed omnipotence of "grownups."
pantrynounUS /ˈpæntri/
a small storeroom for storing foods or wines
From this reading The pantry was locked, and regular meals at regular periods were prescribed.
parallelnounUS /ˈperəlel/
something having the property of being analogous to something else
From this reading Any reasonable child will find many such parallel instances of the assumed omnipotence of "grownups."
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
From this reading With this awful indictment before me, you ask me, a "grown-up," to write an introduction for the "Firelight Fairy Book," and thereby to assume the responsibility for passing judgment upon it.
periodsnounUS /ˈpɪriədz/
plural of “period” — an amount of time
From this reading The pantry was locked, and regular meals at regular periods were prescribed.
poemsnounUS /ˈpoʊəmz/
plural of “poem” — a composition written in metrical feet forming rhythmical lines
From this reading Indeed, poems with dreadful morals for those who ate between meals were recited to me, endeavor being made thereby to substitute terror for inclination.
prescribedadjectiveUS /priˈskraɪbd/
set down as a rule or guide
From this reading The pantry was locked, and regular meals at regular periods were prescribed.
showing reason or sound judgment
From this reading Any reasonable child will find many such parallel instances of the assumed omnipotence of "grownups."
recitedverbUS /rəˈsaɪtɪd/
past form of “recite” — recite in elocution
From this reading Indeed, poems with dreadful morals for those who ate between meals were recited to me, endeavor being made thereby to substitute terror for inclination.
referencesnounUS /ˈrefərənsɪz/
plural of “reference” — a remark that calls attention to something or someone
From this reading Sundry unfortunate remarks were made containing references to gluttony.
in accordance with fixed order or procedure or principle
From this reading The pantry was locked, and regular meals at regular periods were prescribed.
plural of “remark” — a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information
From this reading Sundry unfortunate remarks were made containing references to gluttony.
responsibilitynounUS /riˌspɑːnsəˈbɪləti/
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading With this awful indictment before me, you ask me, a "grown-up," to write an introduction for the "Firelight Fairy Book," and thereby to assume the responsibility for passing judgment upon it.
substituteverbUS /ˈsʌbstətuːt/
put in the place of another; switch seemingly equivalent items
From this reading Indeed, poems with dreadful morals for those who ate between meals were recited to me, endeavor being made thereby to substitute terror for inclination.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Any reasonable child will find many such parallel instances of the assumed omnipotence of "grownups."
SundryadjectiveUS /ˈsʌndri/
consisting of a haphazard assortment of different kinds
From this reading Sundry unfortunate remarks were made containing references to gluttony.
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading Indeed, poems with dreadful morals for those who ate between meals were recited to me, endeavor being made thereby to substitute terror for inclination.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The pantry was locked, and regular meals at regular periods were prescribed.
therebyadverbUS /ˈðerˈbaɪ/
by that means or because of that
From this reading Indeed, poems with dreadful morals for those who ate between meals were recited to me, endeavor being made thereby to substitute terror for inclination.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading With this awful indictment before me, you ask me, a "grown-up," to write an introduction for the "Firelight Fairy Book," and thereby to assume the responsibility for passing judgment upon it.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Indeed, poems with dreadful morals for those who ate between meals were recited to me, endeavor being made thereby to substitute terror for inclination.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Sundry unfortunate remarks were made containing references to gluttony.
not favored by fortune; marked or accompanied by or resulting in ill fortune
From this reading Sundry unfortunate remarks were made containing references to gluttony.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading With this awful indictment before me, you ask me, a "grown-up," to write an introduction for the "Firelight Fairy Book," and thereby to assume the responsibility for passing judgment upon it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The pantry was locked, and regular meals at regular periods were prescribed.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Sundry unfortunate remarks were made containing references to gluttony.
which person or people
From this reading Indeed, poems with dreadful morals for those who ate between meals were recited to me, endeavor being made thereby to substitute terror for inclination.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Any reasonable child will find many such parallel instances of the assumed omnipotence of "grownups."
in the company of; together with
From this reading Indeed, poems with dreadful morals for those who ate between meals were recited to me, endeavor being made thereby to substitute terror for inclination.
produce a literary work
From this reading With this awful indictment before me, you ask me, a "grown-up," to write an introduction for the "Firelight Fairy Book," and thereby to assume the responsibility for passing judgment upon it.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading With this awful indictment before me, you ask me, a "grown-up," to write an introduction for the "Firelight Fairy Book," and thereby to assume the responsibility for passing judgment upon it.
