Chapter VII · Chapter 7

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

From this reading "This is Alexina and she Is a girl but she Plays like I tell her and she Cried because we had to come away And this is Alexina."

in an absurd manner or to an absurd degree

From this reading She was laughing, but she was blushing absurdly, too.

-ing form of “address” — speak to

From this reading "He thinks, your son does," said Alexina, addressing herself to the Captain, "that he was a precocious person, whereas he was only--" "Young," said the Captain.

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

From this reading "This is Alexina and she Is a girl but she Plays like I tell her and she Cried because we had to come away And this is Alexina."

using the voice; not silently

From this reading She read them aloud.

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

From this reading "This is Alexina and she Is a girl but she Plays like I tell her and she Cried because we had to come away And this is Alexina."

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading "This is Alexina and she Is a girl but she Plays like I tell her and she Cried because we had to come away And this is Alexina."

for the reason that

From this reading "This is Alexina and she Is a girl but she Plays like I tell her and she Cried because we had to come away And this is Alexina."

having a red face from embarrassment or shame or agitation or emotional upset

From this reading She was laughing, but she was blushing absurdly, too.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading She was laughing, but she was blushing absurdly, too.

an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant

From this reading "He thinks, your son does," said Alexina, addressing herself to the Captain, "that he was a precocious person, whereas he was only--" "Young," said the Captain.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading "This is Alexina and she Is a girl but she Plays like I tell her and she Cried because we had to come away And this is Alexina."

inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading "This is Alexina and she Is a girl but she Plays like I tell her and she Cried because we had to come away And this is Alexina."

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

From this reading "He thinks, your son does," said Alexina, addressing herself to the Captain, "that he was a precocious person, whereas he was only--" "Young," said the Captain.

characteristic of those having an inflated idea of their own importance

From this reading "Lamentably egotistical," said Alexina.

a young female

From this reading "This is Alexina and she Is a girl but she Plays like I tell her and she Cried because we had to come away And this is Alexina."

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading "This is Alexina and she Is a girl but she Plays like I tell her and she Cried because we had to come away And this is Alexina."

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading "He thinks, your son does," said Alexina, addressing herself to the Captain, "that he was a precocious person, whereas he was only--" "Young," said the Captain.

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

From this reading "This is Alexina and she Is a girl but she Plays like I tell her and she Cried because we had to come away And this is Alexina."

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading "He thinks, your son does," said Alexina, addressing herself to the Captain, "that he was a precocious person, whereas he was only--" "Young," said the Captain.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading "This is Alexina and she Is a girl but she Plays like I tell her and she Cried because we had to come away And this is Alexina."

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

From this reading "This is Alexina and she Is a girl but she Plays like I tell her and she Cried because we had to come away And this is Alexina."

in an unfortunate or deplorable manner

From this reading "Lamentably egotistical," said Alexina.

showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness

From this reading She was laughing, but she was blushing absurdly, too.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading "This is Alexina and she Is a girl but she Plays like I tell her and she Cried because we had to come away And this is Alexina."

and nothing more

From this reading "He thinks, your son does," said Alexina, addressing herself to the Captain, "that he was a precocious person, whereas he was only--" "Young," said the Captain.

a human being

From this reading "He thinks, your son does," said Alexina, addressing herself to the Captain, "that he was a precocious person, whereas he was only--" "Young," said the Captain.

plural of “play” — a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage

From this reading "This is Alexina and she Is a girl but she Plays like I tell her and she Cried because we had to come away And this is Alexina."

characterized by or characteristic of exceptionally early development or maturity (especially in mental aptitude)

From this reading "He thinks, your son does," said Alexina, addressing herself to the Captain, "that he was a precocious person, whereas he was only--" "Young," said the Captain.

interpret something that is written or printed

From this reading She read them aloud.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "He thinks, your son does," said Alexina, addressing herself to the Captain, "that he was a precocious person, whereas he was only--" "Young," said the Captain.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She read them aloud.

a male human offspring

From this reading "He thinks, your son does," said Alexina, addressing herself to the Captain, "that he was a precocious person, whereas he was only--" "Young," said the Captain.

express in words

From this reading "This is Alexina and she Is a girl but she Plays like I tell her and she Cried because we had to come away And this is Alexina."

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "He thinks, your son does," said Alexina, addressing herself to the Captain, "that he was a precocious person, whereas he was only--" "Young," said the Captain.

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

From this reading "He thinks, your son does," said Alexina, addressing herself to the Captain, "that he was a precocious person, whereas he was only--" "Young," said the Captain.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading She read them aloud.

plural of “think” — an instance of deliberate thinking

From this reading "He thinks, your son does," said Alexina, addressing herself to the Captain, "that he was a precocious person, whereas he was only--" "Young," said the Captain.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading "This is Alexina and she Is a girl but she Plays like I tell her and she Cried because we had to come away And this is Alexina."

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

From this reading "This is Alexina and she Is a girl but she Plays like I tell her and she Cried because we had to come away And this is Alexina."

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading She was laughing, but she was blushing absurdly, too.

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

From this reading She was laughing, but she was blushing absurdly, too.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading "This is Alexina and she Is a girl but she Plays like I tell her and she Cried because we had to come away And this is Alexina."

in contrast with the fact that

From this reading "He thinks, your son does," said Alexina, addressing herself to the Captain, "that he was a precocious person, whereas he was only--" "Young," said the Captain.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading "He thinks, your son does," said Alexina, addressing herself to the Captain, "that he was a precocious person, whereas he was only--" "Young," said the Captain.

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "He thinks, your son does," said Alexina, addressing herself to the Captain, "that he was a precocious person, whereas he was only--" "Young," said the Captain.