used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Ours are the villages on the heights,' said a voice in the background.
(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 These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But he felt that to cry before a native, excepting only his mother's _ayah_, would be an infamy greater than any mutiny.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Take up the child and the girl, and we can at least ask for the ransom.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading But he felt that to cry before a native, excepting only his mother's _ayah_, would be an infamy greater than any mutiny.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Ours are the villages on the heights,' said a voice in the background.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Take up the child and the girl, and we can at least ask for the ransom.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Take up the child and the girl, and we can at least ask for the ransom.
ayahnoun
(in India) a native nursemaid who looks after children
From this reading But he felt that to cry before a native, excepting only his mother's _ayah_, would be an infamy greater than any mutiny.
backgroundnounUS /ˈbækɡraʊnd/
a person's social heritage: previous experience or training
From this reading Ours are the villages on the heights,' said a voice in the background.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But he felt that to cry before a native, excepting only his mother's _ayah_, would be an infamy greater than any mutiny.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading But he felt that to cry before a native, excepting only his mother's _ayah_, would be an infamy greater than any mutiny.
burstingverbUS /ˈbɜːrstɪŋ/
-ing form of “burst” — come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But he felt that to cry before a native, excepting only his mother's _ayah_, would be an infamy greater than any mutiny.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Take up the child and the girl, and we can at least ask for the ransom.
a young person of either sex
From this reading Take up the child and the girl, and we can at least ask for the ransom.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading But he felt that to cry before a native, excepting only his mother's _ayah_, would be an infamy greater than any mutiny.
exceptingverbUS /ˌekˈseptɪŋ/
-ing form of “except” — take exception to
From this reading But he felt that to cry before a native, excepting only his mother's _ayah_, would be an infamy greater than any mutiny.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading But he felt that to cry before a native, excepting only his mother's _ayah_, would be an infamy greater than any mutiny.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Take up the child and the girl, and we can at least ask for the ransom.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears.
a young female
From this reading Take up the child and the girl, and we can at least ask for the ransom.
GoblinsnounUS /ˈɡɑːblɪnz/
plural of “goblin” — (folklore) a small grotesque supernatural creature that makes trouble for human beings
From this reading These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears.
greater in size or importance or degree
From this reading But he felt that to cry before a native, excepting only his mother's _ayah_, would be an infamy greater than any mutiny.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But he felt that to cry before a native, excepting only his mother's _ayah_, would be an infamy greater than any mutiny.
heightsnounUS /haɪts/
a high place
From this reading Ours are the villages on the heights,' said a voice in the background.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But he felt that to cry before a native, excepting only his mother's _ayah_, would be an infamy greater than any mutiny.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Ours are the villages on the heights,' said a voice in the background.
infamynounUS /ˈɪnfəmi/
a state of extreme dishonor
From this reading But he felt that to cry before a native, excepting only his mother's _ayah_, would be an infamy greater than any mutiny.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading 'What is the use of this talk?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading Take up the child and the girl, and we can at least ask for the ransom.
the force of workers available
From this reading These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears.
mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading But he felt that to cry before a native, excepting only his mother's _ayah_, would be an infamy greater than any mutiny.
mutinynounUS /ˈmjuːtəni/
open rebellion against constituted authority (especially by seamen or soldiers against their officers)
From this reading But he felt that to cry before a native, excepting only his mother's _ayah_, would be an infamy greater than any mutiny.
characteristic of or existing by virtue of geographic origin
From this reading But he felt that to cry before a native, excepting only his mother's _ayah_, would be an infamy greater than any mutiny.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading 'What is the use of this talk?
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Ours are the villages on the heights,' said a voice in the background.
and nothing more
From this reading But he felt that to cry before a native, excepting only his mother's _ayah_, would be an infamy greater than any mutiny.
the one or ones belonging to us
From this reading Ours are the villages on the heights,' said a voice in the background.
keep from happening or arising; make impossible
From this reading These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears.
ransomnounUS /ˈrænsəm/
money demanded for the return of a captured person
From this reading Take up the child and the girl, and we can at least ask for the ransom.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Ours are the villages on the heights,' said a voice in the background.
carry out
From this reading Take up the child and the girl, and we can at least ask for the ransom.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading 'What is the use of this talk?
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
From this reading These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But he felt that to cry before a native, excepting only his mother's _ayah_, would be an infamy greater than any mutiny.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading 'What is the use of this talk?
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading 'What is the use of this talk?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears.
trainingnounUS /ˈtreɪnɪŋ/
activity leading to skilled behavior
From this reading These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Take up the child and the girl, and we can at least ask for the ransom.
the act of using
From this reading 'What is the use of this talk?
villagesnounUS /ˈvɪlədʒəz/
plural of “village” — a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading Ours are the villages on the heights,' said a voice in the background.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Ours are the villages on the heights,' said a voice in the background.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Take up the child and the girl, and we can at least ask for the ransom.
WeeadjectiveUS /wiː/
(used informally) very small
From this reading These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading 'What is the use of this talk?
Willie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears.
Winkie's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears.
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But he felt that to cry before a native, excepting only his mother's _ayah_, would be an infamy greater than any mutiny.
