AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A QUEER STORY For several seconds the boys and the man stared at one another.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A QUEER STORY For several seconds the boys and the man stared at one another.
anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading A QUEER STORY For several seconds the boys and the man stared at one another.
answerverbUS /ˈænsər/
react verbally
From this reading “Well, not exactly what you could call a friend,” was the answer.
askedverbUS /æskt/
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “Is he a friend of yours?” asked Nellie, of Jerry.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A QUEER STORY For several seconds the boys and the man stared at one another.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The stranger did not seem to be the least bit embarrassed but, on the contrary, was smiling in a genial manner.
bitnounUS /bɪt/
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading The stranger did not seem to be the least bit embarrassed but, on the contrary, was smiling in a genial manner.
boysnounUS /bɔɪz/
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading A QUEER STORY For several seconds the boys and the man stared at one another.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The stranger did not seem to be the least bit embarrassed but, on the contrary, was smiling in a genial manner.
callverbUS /kɔːl/
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading “Well, not exactly what you could call a friend,” was the answer.
contraryadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːntreri/
very opposed in nature or character or purpose
From this reading The stranger did not seem to be the least bit embarrassed but, on the contrary, was smiling in a genial manner.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “Well, not exactly what you could call a friend,” was the answer.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The stranger did not seem to be the least bit embarrassed but, on the contrary, was smiling in a genial manner.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We don’t even know his name,” and he spoke in a low voice.
embarrassedadjectiveUS /ɪmˈberəst/
feeling or caused to feel ill at ease or self-conscious or ashamed
From this reading The stranger did not seem to be the least bit embarrassed but, on the contrary, was smiling in a genial manner.
evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading “We don’t even know his name,” and he spoke in a low voice.
exactlyadverbUS /ɪɡˈzæktli/
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading “Well, not exactly what you could call a friend,” was the answer.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A QUEER STORY For several seconds the boys and the man stared at one another.
friendnounUS /frend/
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading “Is he a friend of yours?” asked Nellie, of Jerry.
genialadjectiveUS /ˈdʒiːnjəl/
diffusing warmth and friendliness
From this reading The stranger did not seem to be the least bit embarrassed but, on the contrary, was smiling in a genial manner.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Is he a friend of yours?” asked Nellie, of Jerry.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “We don’t even know his name,” and he spoke in a low voice.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The stranger did not seem to be the least bit embarrassed but, on the contrary, was smiling in a genial manner.
Isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Is he a friend of yours?” asked Nellie, of Jerry.
JerrynounUS /ˈdʒeri/
offensive term for a person of German descent
From this reading “Is he a friend of yours?” asked Nellie, of Jerry.
knowverbUS /noʊ/
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading “We don’t even know his name,” and he spoke in a low voice.
leastadjectiveUS /liːst/
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 The stranger did not seem to be the least bit embarrassed but, on the contrary, was smiling in a genial manner.
lowadjectiveUS /loʊ/
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading “We don’t even know his name,” and he spoke in a low voice.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A QUEER STORY For several seconds the boys and the man stared at one another.
mannernounUS /ˈmænər/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The stranger did not seem to be the least bit embarrassed but, on the contrary, was smiling in a genial manner.
nameverbUS /neɪm/
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading “We don’t even know his name,” and he spoke in a low voice.
Nellie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Is he a friend of yours?” asked Nellie, of Jerry.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The stranger did not seem to be the least bit embarrassed but, on the contrary, was smiling in a genial manner.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Is he a friend of yours?” asked Nellie, of Jerry.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The stranger did not seem to be the least bit embarrassed but, on the contrary, was smiling in a genial manner.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A QUEER STORY For several seconds the boys and the man stared at one another.
QUEERadjectiveUS /kwɪr/
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading A QUEER STORY For several seconds the boys and the man stared at one another.
secondsnounUS /ˈsekəndz/
plural of “second” — 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading A QUEER STORY For several seconds the boys and the man stared at one another.
seemverbUS /siːm/
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The stranger did not seem to be the least bit embarrassed but, on the contrary, was smiling in a genial manner.
severaladjectiveUS /ˈsevrəl/
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading A QUEER STORY For several seconds the boys and the man stared at one another.
smilingnounUS /ˈsmaɪlɪŋ/
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading The stranger did not seem to be the least bit embarrassed but, on the contrary, was smiling in a genial manner.
spokenounUS /spoʊk/
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading “We don’t even know his name,” and he spoke in a low voice.
staredverbUS /sterd/
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading A QUEER STORY For several seconds the boys and the man stared at one another.
STORYnounUS /ˈstɔːri/
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading A QUEER STORY For several seconds the boys and the man stared at one another.
strangernounUS /ˈstreɪndʒər/
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading The stranger did not seem to be the least bit embarrassed but, on the contrary, was smiling in a genial manner.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A QUEER STORY For several seconds the boys and the man stared at one another.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The stranger did not seem to be the least bit embarrassed but, on the contrary, was smiling in a genial manner.
voicenounUS /vɔɪs/
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading “We don’t even know his name,” and he spoke in a low voice.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The stranger did not seem to be the least bit embarrassed but, on the contrary, was smiling in a genial manner.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “We don’t even know his name,” and he spoke in a low voice.
WelladverbUS /wel/
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading “Well, not exactly what you could call a friend,” was the answer.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “Well, not exactly what you could call a friend,” was the answer.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Well, not exactly what you could call a friend,” was the answer.
yourspronounUS /jʊrz/
the one or ones belonging to the person spoken to
From this reading “Is he a friend of yours?” asked Nellie, of Jerry.
