used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading SEEKING CLUES The first shock of the discovery over (and it was a shock to them all, boys included), the young folks began to examine the stones more calmly.
(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with
From this reading There were several of fairly large size, and others much smaller; some, according to Allen, of only a sixteenth-karat in weight.
(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 SEEKING CLUES The first shock of the discovery over (and it was a shock to them all, boys included), the young folks began to examine the stones more calmly.
AllennounUS /ˈælən/
United States comedienne remembered as the confused but imperturbable partner of her husband, George Burns (1906-1964)
From this reading There were several of fairly large size, and others much smaller; some, according to Allen, of only a sixteenth-karat in weight.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading SEEKING CLUES The first shock of the discovery over (and it was a shock to them all, boys included), the young folks began to examine the stones more calmly.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "But stones of even that small size may be very valuable if they are pure and well cut," he said.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They spoke of them as diamonds, and hoped they would prove to be stones of value, and not mere imitations.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "And what would be the value of the largest ones?" asked Betty, for there were one or two stones that Will was sure were three or four karats in size.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They spoke of them as diamonds, and hoped they would prove to be stones of value, and not mere imitations.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading SEEKING CLUES The first shock of the discovery over (and it was a shock to them all, boys included), the young folks began to examine the stones more calmly.
Betty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And what would be the value of the largest ones?" asked Betty, for there were one or two stones that Will was sure were three or four karats in size.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading SEEKING CLUES The first shock of the discovery over (and it was a shock to them all, boys included), the young folks began to examine the stones more calmly.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "But stones of even that small size may be very valuable if they are pure and well cut," he said.
with self-possession (especially in times of stress)
From this reading SEEKING CLUES The first shock of the discovery over (and it was a shock to them all, boys included), the young folks began to examine the stones more calmly.
CLUESnounUS /kluːz/
plural of “clue” — a slight indication
From this reading SEEKING CLUES The first shock of the discovery over (and it was a shock to them all, boys included), the young folks began to examine the stones more calmly.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading "But stones of even that small size may be very valuable if they are pure and well cut," he said.
diamondsnounUS /ˈdaɪməndz/
plural of “diamond” — a transparent piece of diamond that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem
From this reading They spoke of them as diamonds, and hoped they would prove to be stones of value, and not mere imitations.
the act of discovering something
From this reading SEEKING CLUES The first shock of the discovery over (and it was a shock to them all, boys included), the young folks began to examine the stones more calmly.
divisible by two
From this reading "But stones of even that small size may be very valuable if they are pure and well cut," he said.
examineverbUS /ɪɡˈzæmɪn/
consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
From this reading SEEKING CLUES The first shock of the discovery over (and it was a shock to them all, boys included), the young folks began to examine the stones more calmly.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading There were several of fairly large size, and others much smaller; some, according to Allen, of only a sixteenth-karat in weight.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading SEEKING CLUES The first shock of the discovery over (and it was a shock to them all, boys included), the young folks began to examine the stones more calmly.
your parents
From this reading SEEKING CLUES The first shock of the discovery over (and it was a shock to them all, boys included), the young folks began to examine the stones more calmly.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "And what would be the value of the largest ones?" asked Betty, for there were one or two stones that Will was sure were three or four karats in size.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading "And what would be the value of the largest ones?" asked Betty, for there were one or two stones that Will was sure were three or four karats in size.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "But stones of even that small size may be very valuable if they are pure and well cut," he said.
past form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading They spoke of them as diamonds, and hoped they would prove to be stones of value, and not mere imitations.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "But stones of even that small size may be very valuable if they are pure and well cut," he said.
imitationsnounUS /ˌɪmɪˈteɪʃənz/
plural of “imitation” — the doctrine that representations of nature or human behavior should be accurate imitations
From this reading They spoke of them as diamonds, and hoped they would prove to be stones of value, and not mere imitations.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There were several of fairly large size, and others much smaller; some, according to Allen, of only a sixteenth-karat in weight.
includedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkluːdəd/
enclosed in the same envelope or package
From this reading SEEKING CLUES The first shock of the discovery over (and it was a shock to them all, boys included), the young folks began to examine the stones more calmly.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading SEEKING CLUES The first shock of the discovery over (and it was a shock to them all, boys included), the young folks began to examine the stones more calmly.
karats
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And what would be the value of the largest ones?" asked Betty, for there were one or two stones that Will was sure were three or four karats in size.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There were several of fairly large size, and others much smaller; some, according to Allen, of only a sixteenth-karat in weight.
largestadjectiveUS /ˈlɑːrdʒəst/
superlative of “large” — above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "And what would be the value of the largest ones?" asked Betty, for there were one or two stones that Will was sure were three or four karats in size.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading "But stones of even that small size may be very valuable if they are pure and well cut," he said.
being nothing more than specified
From this reading They spoke of them as diamonds, and hoped they would prove to be stones of value, and not mere imitations.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading SEEKING CLUES The first shock of the discovery over (and it was a shock to them all, boys included), the young folks began to examine the stones more calmly.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading There were several of fairly large size, and others much smaller; some, according to Allen, of only a sixteenth-karat in weight.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They spoke of them as diamonds, and hoped they would prove to be stones of value, and not mere imitations.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading SEEKING CLUES The first shock of the discovery over (and it was a shock to them all, boys included), the young folks began to examine the stones more calmly.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "And what would be the value of the largest ones?" asked Betty, for there were one or two stones that Will was sure were three or four karats in size.
plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
From this reading "And what would be the value of the largest ones?" asked Betty, for there were one or two stones that Will was sure were three or four karats in size.
and nothing more
From this reading There were several of fairly large size, and others much smaller; some, according to Allen, of only a sixteenth-karat in weight.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "And what would be the value of the largest ones?" asked Betty, for there were one or two stones that Will was sure were three or four karats in size.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were several of fairly large size, and others much smaller; some, according to Allen, of only a sixteenth-karat in weight.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading SEEKING CLUES The first shock of the discovery over (and it was a shock to them all, boys included), the young folks began to examine the stones more calmly.
be shown or be found to be
From this reading They spoke of them as diamonds, and hoped they would prove to be stones of value, and not mere imitations.
free of extraneous elements of any kind
From this reading "But stones of even that small size may be very valuable if they are pure and well cut," he said.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "But stones of even that small size may be very valuable if they are pure and well cut," he said.
the act of searching for something
From this reading SEEKING CLUES The first shock of the discovery over (and it was a shock to them all, boys included), the young folks began to examine the stones more calmly.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading There were several of fairly large size, and others much smaller; some, according to Allen, of only a sixteenth-karat in weight.
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading SEEKING CLUES The first shock of the discovery over (and it was a shock to them all, boys included), the young folks began to examine the stones more calmly.
sixteenth-karat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were several of fairly large size, and others much smaller; some, according to Allen, of only a sixteenth-karat in weight.
the physical magnitude of something (how big it is)
From this reading There were several of fairly large size, and others much smaller; some, according to Allen, of only a sixteenth-karat in weight.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "But stones of even that small size may be very valuable if they are pure and well cut," he said.
smalleradjectiveUS /ˈsmɔːlər/
small or little relative to something else
From this reading There were several of fairly large size, and others much smaller; some, according to Allen, of only a sixteenth-karat in weight.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading There were several of fairly large size, and others much smaller; some, according to Allen, of only a sixteenth-karat in weight.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading They spoke of them as diamonds, and hoped they would prove to be stones of value, and not mere imitations.
plural of “stone” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading SEEKING CLUES The first shock of the discovery over (and it was a shock to them all, boys included), the young folks began to examine the stones more calmly.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading "And what would be the value of the largest ones?" asked Betty, for there were one or two stones that Will was sure were three or four karats in size.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "But stones of even that small size may be very valuable if they are pure and well cut," he said.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SEEKING CLUES The first shock of the discovery over (and it was a shock to them all, boys included), the young folks began to examine the stones more calmly.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading SEEKING CLUES The first shock of the discovery over (and it was a shock to them all, boys included), the young folks began to examine the stones more calmly.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were several of fairly large size, and others much smaller; some, according to Allen, of only a sixteenth-karat in weight.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They spoke of them as diamonds, and hoped they would prove to be stones of value, and not mere imitations.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading "And what would be the value of the largest ones?" asked Betty, for there were one or two stones that Will was sure were three or four karats in size.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading SEEKING CLUES The first shock of the discovery over (and it was a shock to them all, boys included), the young folks began to examine the stones more calmly.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading "And what would be the value of the largest ones?" asked Betty, for there were one or two stones that Will was sure were three or four karats in size.
having great material or monetary value especially for use or exchange
From this reading "But stones of even that small size may be very valuable if they are pure and well cut," he said.
a numerical quantity measured or assigned or computed
From this reading They spoke of them as diamonds, and hoped they would prove to be stones of value, and not mere imitations.
precisely as stated
From this reading "But stones of even that small size may be very valuable if they are pure and well cut," he said.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading SEEKING CLUES The first shock of the discovery over (and it was a shock to them all, boys included), the young folks began to examine the stones more calmly.
the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity
From this reading There were several of fairly large size, and others much smaller; some, according to Allen, of only a sixteenth-karat in weight.
(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 "But stones of even that small size may be very valuable if they are pure and well cut," he said.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were several of fairly large size, and others much smaller; some, according to Allen, of only a sixteenth-karat in weight.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "And what would be the value of the largest ones?" asked Betty, for there were one or two stones that Will was sure were three or four karats in size.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "And what would be the value of the largest ones?" asked Betty, for there were one or two stones that Will was sure were three or four karats in size.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading They spoke of them as diamonds, and hoped they would prove to be stones of value, and not mere imitations.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading SEEKING CLUES The first shock of the discovery over (and it was a shock to them all, boys included), the young folks began to examine the stones more calmly.
