Chapter I

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS The Blairs were a particularly nice family.

later than; following

From this reading Jack and Mildred Blair were named after their father and mother, and Brownie, whose real name was Katharine, was named for her grandmother; so to avoid getting everybody mixed, the children were called the Junior Blairs by everybody.

(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 That is, the father and mother thought the children were particularly nice, and the children thought their father and mother and each other particularly nice; and so, of course, they all must have been very nice indeed.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading That is what the neighbors always said of them, and, to tell the truth, the Blairs believed it.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading That is what the neighbors always said of them, and, to tell the truth, the Blairs believed it.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Saturdays and Sundays and vacation days were all holidays to them, and they did such interesting things, and laughed so much as they did them, that everybody said, "What good times those Blairs do have!"

stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something

From this reading Jack and Mildred Blair were named after their father and mother, and Brownie, whose real name was Katharine, was named for her grandmother; so to avoid getting everybody mixed, the children were called the Junior Blairs by everybody.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading That is, the father and mother thought the children were particularly nice, and the children thought their father and mother and each other particularly nice; and so, of course, they all must have been very nice indeed.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS The Blairs were a particularly nice family.

past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true

From this reading That is what the neighbors always said of them, and, to tell the truth, the Blairs believed it.

British statesman who became prime minister in 1997 (born in 1953)

From this reading Jack and Mildred Blair were named after their father and mother, and Brownie, whose real name was Katharine, was named for her grandmother; so to avoid getting everybody mixed, the children were called the Junior Blairs by everybody.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS The Blairs were a particularly nice family.

a junior Girl Scout

From this reading Jack and Mildred Blair were named after their father and mother, and Brownie, whose real name was Katharine, was named for her grandmother; so to avoid getting everybody mixed, the children were called the Junior Blairs by everybody.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Jack and Mildred Blair were named after their father and mother, and Brownie, whose real name was Katharine, was named for her grandmother; so to avoid getting everybody mixed, the children were called the Junior Blairs by everybody.

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading Jack and Mildred Blair were named after their father and mother, and Brownie, whose real name was Katharine, was named for her grandmother; so to avoid getting everybody mixed, the children were called the Junior Blairs by everybody.

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading That is, the father and mother thought the children were particularly nice, and the children thought their father and mother and each other particularly nice; and so, of course, they all must have been very nice indeed.

period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6

From this reading THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS The Blairs were a particularly nice family.

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading That is, the father and mother thought the children were particularly nice, and the children thought their father and mother and each other particularly nice; and so, of course, they all must have been very nice indeed.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS The Blairs were a particularly nice family.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading Saturdays and Sundays and vacation days were all holidays to them, and they did such interesting things, and laughed so much as they did them, that everybody said, "What good times those Blairs do have!"

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Saturdays and Sundays and vacation days were all holidays to them, and they did such interesting things, and laughed so much as they did them, that everybody said, "What good times those Blairs do have!"

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Saturdays and Sundays and vacation days were all holidays to them, and they did such interesting things, and laughed so much as they did them, that everybody said, "What good times those Blairs do have!"

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading That is, the father and mother thought the children were particularly nice, and the children thought their father and mother and each other particularly nice; and so, of course, they all must have been very nice indeed.

every person

From this reading Saturdays and Sundays and vacation days were all holidays to them, and they did such interesting things, and laughed so much as they did them, that everybody said, "What good times those Blairs do have!"

a social unit living together

From this reading THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS The Blairs were a particularly nice family.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading That is, the father and mother thought the children were particularly nice, and the children thought their father and mother and each other particularly nice; and so, of course, they all must have been very nice indeed.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Jack and Mildred Blair were named after their father and mother, and Brownie, whose real name was Katharine, was named for her grandmother; so to avoid getting everybody mixed, the children were called the Junior Blairs by everybody.

the act of acquiring something

From this reading Jack and Mildred Blair were named after their father and mother, and Brownie, whose real name was Katharine, was named for her grandmother; so to avoid getting everybody mixed, the children were called the Junior Blairs by everybody.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading Saturdays and Sundays and vacation days were all holidays to them, and they did such interesting things, and laughed so much as they did them, that everybody said, "What good times those Blairs do have!"

the mother of your father or mother

From this reading Jack and Mildred Blair were named after their father and mother, and Brownie, whose real name was Katharine, was named for her grandmother; so to avoid getting everybody mixed, the children were called the Junior Blairs by everybody.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading That is, the father and mother thought the children were particularly nice, and the children thought their father and mother and each other particularly nice; and so, of course, they all must have been very nice indeed.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Jack and Mildred Blair were named after their father and mother, and Brownie, whose real name was Katharine, was named for her grandmother; so to avoid getting everybody mixed, the children were called the Junior Blairs by everybody.

plural of “holiday” — leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure

From this reading Saturdays and Sundays and vacation days were all holidays to them, and they did such interesting things, and laughed so much as they did them, that everybody said, "What good times those Blairs do have!"

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading That is, the father and mother thought the children were particularly nice, and the children thought their father and mother and each other particularly nice; and so, of course, they all must have been very nice indeed.

arousing or holding the attention

From this reading Saturdays and Sundays and vacation days were all holidays to them, and they did such interesting things, and laughed so much as they did them, that everybody said, "What good times those Blairs do have!"

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading That is what the neighbors always said of them, and, to tell the truth, the Blairs believed it.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading That is what the neighbors always said of them, and, to tell the truth, the Blairs believed it.

a small worthless amount

From this reading Jack and Mildred Blair were named after their father and mother, and Brownie, whose real name was Katharine, was named for her grandmother; so to avoid getting everybody mixed, the children were called the Junior Blairs by everybody.

term of address for a disrespectful and annoying male

From this reading Jack and Mildred Blair were named after their father and mother, and Brownie, whose real name was Katharine, was named for her grandmother; so to avoid getting everybody mixed, the children were called the Junior Blairs by everybody.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Jack and Mildred Blair were named after their father and mother, and Brownie, whose real name was Katharine, was named for her grandmother; so to avoid getting everybody mixed, the children were called the Junior Blairs by everybody.

past form of “laugh” — produce laughter

From this reading Saturdays and Sundays and vacation days were all holidays to them, and they did such interesting things, and laughed so much as they did them, that everybody said, "What good times those Blairs do have!"

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Jack and Mildred Blair were named after their father and mother, and Brownie, whose real name was Katharine, was named for her grandmother; so to avoid getting everybody mixed, the children were called the Junior Blairs by everybody.

consisting of a haphazard assortment of different kinds

From this reading Jack and Mildred Blair were named after their father and mother, and Brownie, whose real name was Katharine, was named for her grandmother; so to avoid getting everybody mixed, the children were called the Junior Blairs by everybody.

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading That is, the father and mother thought the children were particularly nice, and the children thought their father and mother and each other particularly nice; and so, of course, they all must have been very nice indeed.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading Saturdays and Sundays and vacation days were all holidays to them, and they did such interesting things, and laughed so much as they did them, that everybody said, "What good times those Blairs do have!"

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading That is, the father and mother thought the children were particularly nice, and the children thought their father and mother and each other particularly nice; and so, of course, they all must have been very nice indeed.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading Jack and Mildred Blair were named after their father and mother, and Brownie, whose real name was Katharine, was named for her grandmother; so to avoid getting everybody mixed, the children were called the Junior Blairs by everybody.

past form of “name” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading Jack and Mildred Blair were named after their father and mother, and Brownie, whose real name was Katharine, was named for her grandmother; so to avoid getting everybody mixed, the children were called the Junior Blairs by everybody.

plural of “neighbor” — a person who lives (or is located) near another

From this reading That is what the neighbors always said of them, and, to tell the truth, the Blairs believed it.

pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance

From this reading THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS The Blairs were a particularly nice family.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading That is what the neighbors always said of them, and, to tell the truth, the Blairs believed it.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading That is, the father and mother thought the children were particularly nice, and the children thought their father and mother and each other particularly nice; and so, of course, they all must have been very nice indeed.

to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common

From this reading THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS The Blairs were a particularly nice family.

being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory

From this reading Jack and Mildred Blair were named after their father and mother, and Brownie, whose real name was Katharine, was named for her grandmother; so to avoid getting everybody mixed, the children were called the Junior Blairs by everybody.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading That is what the neighbors always said of them, and, to tell the truth, the Blairs believed it.

plural of “saturday” — the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading Saturdays and Sundays and vacation days were all holidays to them, and they did such interesting things, and laughed so much as they did them, that everybody said, "What good times those Blairs do have!"

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading That is, the father and mother thought the children were particularly nice, and the children thought their father and mother and each other particularly nice; and so, of course, they all must have been very nice indeed.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Saturdays and Sundays and vacation days were all holidays to them, and they did such interesting things, and laughed so much as they did them, that everybody said, "What good times those Blairs do have!"

plural of “sunday” — first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians

From this reading Saturdays and Sundays and vacation days were all holidays to them, and they did such interesting things, and laughed so much as they did them, that everybody said, "What good times those Blairs do have!"

express in words

From this reading That is what the neighbors always said of them, and, to tell the truth, the Blairs believed it.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading That is what the neighbors always said of them, and, to tell the truth, the Blairs believed it.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS The Blairs were a particularly nice family.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading That is, the father and mother thought the children were particularly nice, and the children thought their father and mother and each other particularly nice; and so, of course, they all must have been very nice indeed.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading That is what the neighbors always said of them, and, to tell the truth, the Blairs believed it.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading That is, the father and mother thought the children were particularly nice, and the children thought their father and mother and each other particularly nice; and so, of course, they all must have been very nice indeed.

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading Saturdays and Sundays and vacation days were all holidays to them, and they did such interesting things, and laughed so much as they did them, that everybody said, "What good times those Blairs do have!"

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading Saturdays and Sundays and vacation days were all holidays to them, and they did such interesting things, and laughed so much as they did them, that everybody said, "What good times those Blairs do have!"

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading That is, the father and mother thought the children were particularly nice, and the children thought their father and mother and each other particularly nice; and so, of course, they all must have been very nice indeed.

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading Saturdays and Sundays and vacation days were all holidays to them, and they did such interesting things, and laughed so much as they did them, that everybody said, "What good times those Blairs do have!"

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading That is what the neighbors always said of them, and, to tell the truth, the Blairs believed it.

a fact that has been verified

From this reading That is what the neighbors always said of them, and, to tell the truth, the Blairs believed it.

leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure

From this reading Saturdays and Sundays and vacation days were all holidays to them, and they did such interesting things, and laughed so much as they did them, that everybody said, "What good times those Blairs do have!"

precisely as stated

From this reading That is, the father and mother thought the children were particularly nice, and the children thought their father and mother and each other particularly nice; and so, of course, they all must have been very nice indeed.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Jack and Mildred Blair were named after their father and mother, and Brownie, whose real name was Katharine, was named for her grandmother; so to avoid getting everybody mixed, the children were called the Junior Blairs by everybody.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS The Blairs were a particularly nice family.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading That is what the neighbors always said of them, and, to tell the truth, the Blairs believed it.

belonging to which person

From this reading Jack and Mildred Blair were named after their father and mother, and Brownie, whose real name was Katharine, was named for her grandmother; so to avoid getting everybody mixed, the children were called the Junior Blairs by everybody.