adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There wasn’t anything said about a “dear, darling, kind old fairy” then, I can assure you.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There wasn’t anything said about a “dear, darling, kind old fairy” then, I can assure you.
acquaintancenounUS /əˈkweɪntəns/
personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading Then they all set to work arguing and quarrelling and crying like silly babies, when suddenly a familiar “Cuck-oo!” sounded in their ears, and they saw our old acquaintance perched on the window sill.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 Then they all set to work arguing and quarrelling and crying like silly babies, when suddenly a familiar “Cuck-oo!” sounded in their ears, and they saw our old acquaintance perched on the window sill.
althoughconjunctionUS /ˌɔːlˈðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading There wasn’t anything said about a “dear, darling, kind old fairy” then, I can assure you.
arguingnounUS /ˈɑːrɡjuːɪŋ/
a contentious speech act; a dispute where there is strong disagreement
From this reading Then they all set to work arguing and quarrelling and crying like silly babies, when suddenly a familiar “Cuck-oo!” sounded in their ears, and they saw our old acquaintance perched on the window sill.
assureverbUS /əˈʃʊr/
make certain of
From this reading There wasn’t anything said about a “dear, darling, kind old fairy” then, I can assure you.
babiesnounUS /ˈbeɪbiz/
plural of “baby” — a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
From this reading Then they all set to work arguing and quarrelling and crying like silly babies, when suddenly a familiar “Cuck-oo!” sounded in their ears, and they saw our old acquaintance perched on the window sill.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading There wasn’t anything said about a “dear, darling, kind old fairy” then, I can assure you.
chatterverbUS /ˈtʃætər/
click repeatedly or uncontrollably
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
colouradjectiveUS /ˈkʌlər/
having or capable of producing colors
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
cryingadjectiveUS /ˈkraɪɪŋ/
demanding attention
From this reading Then they all set to work arguing and quarrelling and crying like silly babies, when suddenly a familiar “Cuck-oo!” sounded in their ears, and they saw our old acquaintance perched on the window sill.
Cuck-oo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then they all set to work arguing and quarrelling and crying like silly babies, when suddenly a familiar “Cuck-oo!” sounded in their ears, and they saw our old acquaintance perched on the window sill.
daffodilnounUS /ˈdæfədɪl/
any of numerous varieties of Narcissus plants having showy often yellow flowers with a trumpet-shaped central crown
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
daintyadjectiveUS /ˈdeɪnti/
delicately beautiful
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
darlingnounUS /ˈdɑːrlɪŋ/
a special loved one
From this reading There wasn’t anything said about a “dear, darling, kind old fairy” then, I can assure you.
dearadjectiveUS /dɪr/
dearly loved
From this reading There wasn’t anything said about a “dear, darling, kind old fairy” then, I can assure you.
discoveredadjectiveUS /dɪˈskʌvərd/
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
earsnounUS /ɪrz/
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading Then they all set to work arguing and quarrelling and crying like silly babies, when suddenly a familiar “Cuck-oo!” sounded in their ears, and they saw our old acquaintance perched on the window sill.
eatverbUS /iːt/
take in solid food
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
fairynounUS /ˈferi/
a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
familiaradjectiveUS /fəˈmɪljər/
well known or easily recognized
From this reading Then they all set to work arguing and quarrelling and crying like silly babies, when suddenly a familiar “Cuck-oo!” sounded in their ears, and they saw our old acquaintance perched on the window sill.
feetnounUS /fiːt/
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The first daffodil said she was a wicked old witch.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
girlsnounUS /ɡɜːrlz/
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
greennounUS /ɡriːn/
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
halvesnounUS /hævz/
plural of “half” — one of two equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The second said she was a horrible old woman; and the third said she knew the fairy meant to pay them out, and she would like to scratch her.
horribleadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːrəbəl/
provoking horror
From this reading The second said she was a horrible old woman; and the third said she knew the fairy meant to pay them out, and she would like to scratch her.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading There wasn’t anything said about a “dear, darling, kind old fairy” then, I can assure you.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
kindadjectiveUS /kaɪnd/
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading There wasn’t anything said about a “dear, darling, kind old fairy” then, I can assure you.
knewverbUS /nuː/
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading The second said she was a horrible old woman; and the third said she knew the fairy meant to pay them out, and she would like to scratch her.
leavesnounUS /liːvz/
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
legsnounUS /leɡz/
staying power
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The second said she was a horrible old woman; and the third said she knew the fairy meant to pay them out, and she would like to scratch her.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
meantverbUS /ment/
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading The second said she was a horrible old woman; and the third said she knew the fairy meant to pay them out, and she would like to scratch her.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
offadverbUS /ɔːf/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading There wasn’t anything said about a “dear, darling, kind old fairy” then, I can assure you.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Then they all set to work arguing and quarrelling and crying like silly babies, when suddenly a familiar “Cuck-oo!” sounded in their ears, and they saw our old acquaintance perched on the window sill.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Then they all set to work arguing and quarrelling and crying like silly babies, when suddenly a familiar “Cuck-oo!” sounded in their ears, and they saw our old acquaintance perched on the window sill.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The second said she was a horrible old woman; and the third said she knew the fairy meant to pay them out, and she would like to scratch her.
payverbUS /peɪ/
give money, usually in exchange for goods or services
From this reading The second said she was a horrible old woman; and the third said she knew the fairy meant to pay them out, and she would like to scratch her.
perchedverbUS /pɜːrtʃt/
past form of “perch” — sit, as on a branch
From this reading Then they all set to work arguing and quarrelling and crying like silly babies, when suddenly a familiar “Cuck-oo!” sounded in their ears, and they saw our old acquaintance perched on the window sill.
prettiestadjectiveUS /ˈprɪtiəst/
superlative of “pretty” — pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
properadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːpər/
marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
pulledverbUS /pʊld/
past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
quarrelling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then they all set to work arguing and quarrelling and crying like silly babies, when suddenly a familiar “Cuck-oo!” sounded in their ears, and they saw our old acquaintance perched on the window sill.
quiteadverbUS /kwaɪt/
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
realadjectiveUS /riːl/
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading There wasn’t anything said about a “dear, darling, kind old fairy” then, I can assure you.
sawverbUS /sɔː/
cut with a saw
From this reading Then they all set to work arguing and quarrelling and crying like silly babies, when suddenly a familiar “Cuck-oo!” sounded in their ears, and they saw our old acquaintance perched on the window sill.
scratchverbUS /skrætʃ/
cause friction
From this reading The second said she was a horrible old woman; and the third said she knew the fairy meant to pay them out, and she would like to scratch her.
secondnounUS /ˈsekənd/
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading The second said she was a horrible old woman; and the third said she knew the fairy meant to pay them out, and she would like to scratch her.
setverbUS /set/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Then they all set to work arguing and quarrelling and crying like silly babies, when suddenly a familiar “Cuck-oo!” sounded in their ears, and they saw our old acquaintance perched on the window sill.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The first daffodil said she was a wicked old witch.
shoesnounUS /ʃuːz/
a particular situation
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
sillnounUS /sɪl/
structural member consisting of a continuous horizontal timber forming the lowest member of a framework or supporting structure
From this reading Then they all set to work arguing and quarrelling and crying like silly babies, when suddenly a familiar “Cuck-oo!” sounded in their ears, and they saw our old acquaintance perched on the window sill.
sillyadjectiveUS /ˈsɪli/
ludicrous, foolish
From this reading Then they all set to work arguing and quarrelling and crying like silly babies, when suddenly a familiar “Cuck-oo!” sounded in their ears, and they saw our old acquaintance perched on the window sill.
sleepnounUS /sliːp/
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
soundedverbUS /ˈsaʊndɪd/
past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way
From this reading Then they all set to work arguing and quarrelling and crying like silly babies, when suddenly a familiar “Cuck-oo!” sounded in their ears, and they saw our old acquaintance perched on the window sill.
stockingsnounUS /ˈstɑːkɪŋz/
plural of “stocking” — close-fitting hosiery to cover the foot and leg; come in matched pairs (usually used in the plural)
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
suddenlyadverbUS /ˈsʌdənli/
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Then they all set to work arguing and quarrelling and crying like silly babies, when suddenly a familiar “Cuck-oo!” sounded in their ears, and they saw our old acquaintance perched on the window sill.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Then they all set to work arguing and quarrelling and crying like silly babies, when suddenly a familiar “Cuck-oo!” sounded in their ears, and they saw our old acquaintance perched on the window sill.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The second said she was a horrible old woman; and the third said she knew the fairy meant to pay them out, and she would like to scratch her.
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading There wasn’t anything said about a “dear, darling, kind old fairy” then, I can assure you.
ThereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading There wasn’t anything said about a “dear, darling, kind old fairy” then, I can assure you.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
thingsnounUS /θɪŋz/
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
thirdnounUS /θɜːrd/
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading The second said she was a horrible old woman; and the third said she knew the fairy meant to pay them out, and she would like to scratch her.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
toesnounUS /toʊz/
plural of “toe” — one of the digits of the foot
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There wasn’t anything said about a “dear, darling, kind old fairy” then, I can assure you.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
wickedadjectiveUS /ˈwɪkəd/
morally bad in principle or practice
From this reading The first daffodil said she was a wicked old witch.
windownounUS /ˈwɪndoʊ/
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading Then they all set to work arguing and quarrelling and crying like silly babies, when suddenly a familiar “Cuck-oo!” sounded in their ears, and they saw our old acquaintance perched on the window sill.
witchnounUS /wɪtʃ/
a female sorcerer or magician
From this reading The first daffodil said she was a wicked old witch.
womannounUS /ˈwʊmən/
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The second said she was a horrible old woman; and the third said she knew the fairy meant to pay them out, and she would like to scratch her.
workverbUS /wɜːrk/
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Then they all set to work arguing and quarrelling and crying like silly babies, when suddenly a familiar “Cuck-oo!” sounded in their ears, and they saw our old acquaintance perched on the window sill.
worldnounUS /wɜːrld/
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading They were girls, real proper girls, they could chatter and eat and sleep, for the fairy was not one to do things by halves; but when they pulled off the dainty green shoes and stockings, they discovered that although they had the prettiest little legs and feet and toes in the world, they were quite green, the colour of daffodil leaves.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The second said she was a horrible old woman; and the third said she knew the fairy meant to pay them out, and she would like to scratch her.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading There wasn’t anything said about a “dear, darling, kind old fairy” then, I can assure you.
