used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Then the telephone bell rang and Mrs. Allen was obliged to talk about something so important that Margaret knew it might take up a good deal of time before dinner.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “They are finished except the buttonholes, which I am about to cut and make now,” her mother replied.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Are my new bloomers ready to wear?” cried Margaret one afternoon as she ran into the house after school.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading Are my new bloomers ready to wear?” cried Margaret one afternoon as she ran into the house after school.
AllennounUS /ˈælən/
United States comedienne remembered as the confused but imperturbable partner of her husband, George Burns (1906-1964)
From this reading Then the telephone bell rang and Mrs. Allen was obliged to talk about something so important that Margaret knew it might take up a good deal of time before dinner.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading “They are finished except the buttonholes, which I am about to cut and make now,” her mother replied.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “They are finished except the buttonholes, which I am about to cut and make now,” her mother replied.
Areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Are my new bloomers ready to wear?” cried Margaret one afternoon as she ran into the house after school.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Are my new bloomers ready to wear?” cried Margaret one afternoon as she ran into the house after school.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “I believe I’ll run up-stairs and ask Sir Bodkin to show _me_ how to make these buttonholes,” she said to herself.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Then the telephone bell rang and Mrs. Allen was obliged to talk about something so important that Margaret knew it might take up a good deal of time before dinner.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading “I believe I’ll run up-stairs and ask Sir Bodkin to show _me_ how to make these buttonholes,” she said to herself.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading Then the telephone bell rang and Mrs. Allen was obliged to talk about something so important that Margaret knew it might take up a good deal of time before dinner.
bloomersnounUS /ˈbluːmərz/
(used in the plural) underpants worn by women
From this reading Are my new bloomers ready to wear?” cried Margaret one afternoon as she ran into the house after school.
BodkinnounUS /ˈbɑːdkɪn/
a dagger with a slender blade
From this reading “I believe I’ll run up-stairs and ask Sir Bodkin to show _me_ how to make these buttonholes,” she said to herself.
buttonholesnounUS /ˈbʌtənhoʊlz/
plural of “buttonhole” — a hole through which buttons are pushed
From this reading “They are finished except the buttonholes, which I am about to cut and make now,” her mother replied.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading Are my new bloomers ready to wear?” cried Margaret one afternoon as she ran into the house after school.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading “They are finished except the buttonholes, which I am about to cut and make now,” her mother replied.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading Then the telephone bell rang and Mrs. Allen was obliged to talk about something so important that Margaret knew it might take up a good deal of time before dinner.
dearly loved
From this reading “Oh, Mother dear, we’re going on the most wonderful hike to-morrow!
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading Then the telephone bell rang and Mrs. Allen was obliged to talk about something so important that Margaret knew it might take up a good deal of time before dinner.
apart from; not including
From this reading “They are finished except the buttonholes, which I am about to cut and make now,” her mother replied.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading “They are finished except the buttonholes, which I am about to cut and make now,” her mother replied.
the act of departing
From this reading “Oh, Mother dear, we’re going on the most wonderful hike to-morrow!
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Then the telephone bell rang and Mrs. Allen was obliged to talk about something so important that Margaret knew it might take up a good deal of time before dinner.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “They are finished except the buttonholes, which I am about to cut and make now,” her mother replied.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading “I believe I’ll run up-stairs and ask Sir Bodkin to show _me_ how to make these buttonholes,” she said to herself.
hikenounUS /haɪk/
a long walk usually for exercise or pleasure
From this reading “Oh, Mother dear, we’re going on the most wonderful hike to-morrow!
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Are my new bloomers ready to wear?” cried Margaret one afternoon as she ran into the house after school.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I believe I’ll run up-stairs and ask Sir Bodkin to show _me_ how to make these buttonholes,” she said to herself.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “They are finished except the buttonholes, which I am about to cut and make now,” her mother replied.
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I believe I’ll run up-stairs and ask Sir Bodkin to show _me_ how to make these buttonholes,” she said to herself.
of great significance or value
From this reading Then the telephone bell rang and Mrs. Allen was obliged to talk about something so important that Margaret knew it might take up a good deal of time before dinner.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Are my new bloomers ready to wear?” cried Margaret one afternoon as she ran into the house after school.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Then the telephone bell rang and Mrs. Allen was obliged to talk about something so important that Margaret knew it might take up a good deal of time before dinner.
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 Then the telephone bell rang and Mrs. Allen was obliged to talk about something so important that Margaret knew it might take up a good deal of time before dinner.
engage in
From this reading “They are finished except the buttonholes, which I am about to cut and make now,” her mother replied.
Margaret
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Are my new bloomers ready to wear?” cried Margaret one afternoon as she ran into the house after school.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “I believe I’ll run up-stairs and ask Sir Bodkin to show _me_ how to make these buttonholes,” she said to herself.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Then the telephone bell rang and Mrs. Allen was obliged to talk about something so important that Margaret knew it might take up a good deal of time before dinner.
used to form the superlative
From this reading “Oh, Mother dear, we’re going on the most wonderful hike to-morrow!
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading “Oh, Mother dear, we’re going on the most wonderful hike to-morrow!
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Then the telephone bell rang and Mrs. Allen was obliged to talk about something so important that Margaret knew it might take up a good deal of time before dinner.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Are my new bloomers ready to wear?” cried Margaret one afternoon as she ran into the house after school.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Are my new bloomers ready to wear?” cried Margaret one afternoon as she ran into the house after school.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “They are finished except the buttonholes, which I am about to cut and make now,” her mother replied.
under a moral obligation to do something
From this reading Then the telephone bell rang and Mrs. Allen was obliged to talk about something so important that Margaret knew it might take up a good deal of time before dinner.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Then the telephone bell rang and Mrs. Allen was obliged to talk about something so important that Margaret knew it might take up a good deal of time before dinner.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading “Oh, Mother dear, we’re going on the most wonderful hike to-morrow!
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “Oh, Mother dear, we’re going on the most wonderful hike to-morrow!
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Are my new bloomers ready to wear?” cried Margaret one afternoon as she ran into the house after school.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading Are my new bloomers ready to wear?” cried Margaret one afternoon as she ran into the house after school.
inflected form of “ring” — sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading Then the telephone bell rang and Mrs. Allen was obliged to talk about something so important that Margaret knew it might take up a good deal of time before dinner.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading Are my new bloomers ready to wear?” cried Margaret one afternoon as she ran into the house after school.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading “They are finished except the buttonholes, which I am about to cut and make now,” her mother replied.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading “I believe I’ll run up-stairs and ask Sir Bodkin to show _me_ how to make these buttonholes,” she said to herself.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “I believe I’ll run up-stairs and ask Sir Bodkin to show _me_ how to make these buttonholes,” she said to herself.
an educational institution
From this reading Are my new bloomers ready to wear?” cried Margaret one afternoon as she ran into the house after school.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Are my new bloomers ready to wear?” cried Margaret one afternoon as she ran into the house after school.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading “I believe I’ll run up-stairs and ask Sir Bodkin to show _me_ how to make these buttonholes,” she said to herself.
term of address for a man
From this reading “I believe I’ll run up-stairs and ask Sir Bodkin to show _me_ how to make these buttonholes,” she said to herself.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Then the telephone bell rang and Mrs. Allen was obliged to talk about something so important that Margaret knew it might take up a good deal of time before dinner.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Then the telephone bell rang and Mrs. Allen was obliged to talk about something so important that Margaret knew it might take up a good deal of time before dinner.
carry out
From this reading Then the telephone bell rang and Mrs. Allen was obliged to talk about something so important that Margaret knew it might take up a good deal of time before dinner.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading Then the telephone bell rang and Mrs. Allen was obliged to talk about something so important that Margaret knew it might take up a good deal of time before dinner.
telephonenounUS /ˈteləfoʊn/
electronic equipment that converts sound into electrical signals that can be transmitted over distances and then converts received signals back into sounds
From this reading Then the telephone bell rang and Mrs. Allen was obliged to talk about something so important that Margaret knew it might take up a good deal of time before dinner.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Then the telephone bell rang and Mrs. Allen was obliged to talk about something so important that Margaret knew it might take up a good deal of time before dinner.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Oh, Mother dear, we’re going on the most wonderful hike to-morrow!
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then the telephone bell rang and Mrs. Allen was obliged to talk about something so important that Margaret knew it might take up a good deal of time before dinner.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading “I believe I’ll run up-stairs and ask Sir Bodkin to show _me_ how to make these buttonholes,” she said to herself.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “They are finished except the buttonholes, which I am about to cut and make now,” her mother replied.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Then the telephone bell rang and Mrs. Allen was obliged to talk about something so important that Margaret knew it might take up a good deal of time before dinner.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Are my new bloomers ready to wear?” cried Margaret one afternoon as she ran into the house after school.
to-morrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Oh, Mother dear, we’re going on the most wonderful hike to-morrow!
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Then the telephone bell rang and Mrs. Allen was obliged to talk about something so important that Margaret knew it might take up a good deal of time before dinner.
up-stairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I believe I’ll run up-stairs and ask Sir Bodkin to show _me_ how to make these buttonholes,” she said to herself.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Then the telephone bell rang and Mrs. Allen was obliged to talk about something so important that Margaret knew it might take up a good deal of time before dinner.
we're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Oh, Mother dear, we’re going on the most wonderful hike to-morrow!
be dressed in
From this reading Are my new bloomers ready to wear?” cried Margaret one afternoon as she ran into the house after school.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading “They are finished except the buttonholes, which I am about to cut and make now,” her mother replied.
extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
From this reading “Oh, Mother dear, we’re going on the most wonderful hike to-morrow!
