adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She crept into mother’s room and set the tray on a chair.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 ‘Egg, toast, tea, milk, tea-cup and saucer, egg-spoon, knife, butter--that’s all, I think,’ remarked Anthea, as she put the last touches to mother’s breakfast-tray, and went, very carefully up the stairs, feeling for every step with her toes, and holding on to the tray with all her fingers.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ‘Egg, toast, tea, milk, tea-cup and saucer, egg-spoon, knife, butter--that’s all, I think,’ remarked Anthea, as she put the last touches to mother’s breakfast-tray, and went, very carefully up the stairs, feeling for every step with her toes, and holding on to the tray with all her fingers.
Anthea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Egg, toast, tea, milk, tea-cup and saucer, egg-spoon, knife, butter--that’s all, I think,’ remarked Anthea, as she put the last touches to mother’s breakfast-tray, and went, very carefully up the stairs, feeling for every step with her toes, and holding on to the tray with all her fingers.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading ‘Egg, toast, tea, milk, tea-cup and saucer, egg-spoon, knife, butter--that’s all, I think,’ remarked Anthea, as she put the last touches to mother’s breakfast-tray, and went, very carefully up the stairs, feeling for every step with her toes, and holding on to the tray with all her fingers.
askedverbUS /æskt/
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading ‘Is your head better, mammy dear?’ she asked, in the soft little voice that she kept expressly for mother’s headaches.
betteradjectiveUS /ˈbetər/
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading ‘Is your head better, mammy dear?’ she asked, in the soft little voice that she kept expressly for mother’s headaches.
blindsnounUS /blaɪndz/
plural of “blind” — people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group
From this reading Then she pulled one of the blinds up very softly.
breakfast-tray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Egg, toast, tea, milk, tea-cup and saucer, egg-spoon, knife, butter--that’s all, I think,’ remarked Anthea, as she put the last touches to mother’s breakfast-tray, and went, very carefully up the stairs, feeling for every step with her toes, and holding on to the tray with all her fingers.
brekkie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘I’ve brought your brekkie, and I’ve put the little cloth with clover-leaves on it, the one I made you.’
broughtverbUS /brɔːt/
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading ‘I’ve brought your brekkie, and I’ve put the little cloth with clover-leaves on it, the one I made you.’
butternounUS /ˈbʌtər/
an edible emulsion of fat globules made by churning milk or cream; for cooking and table use
From this reading ‘Egg, toast, tea, milk, tea-cup and saucer, egg-spoon, knife, butter--that’s all, I think,’ remarked Anthea, as she put the last touches to mother’s breakfast-tray, and went, very carefully up the stairs, feeling for every step with her toes, and holding on to the tray with all her fingers.
carefullyadverbUS /ˈkerfəli/
taking care or paying attention
From this reading ‘Egg, toast, tea, milk, tea-cup and saucer, egg-spoon, knife, butter--that’s all, I think,’ remarked Anthea, as she put the last touches to mother’s breakfast-tray, and went, very carefully up the stairs, feeling for every step with her toes, and holding on to the tray with all her fingers.
chairnounUS /tʃer/
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading She crept into mother’s room and set the tray on a chair.
clothnounUS /klɔːθ/
artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers
From this reading ‘I’ve brought your brekkie, and I’ve put the little cloth with clover-leaves on it, the one I made you.’
clover-leaves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘I’ve brought your brekkie, and I’ve put the little cloth with clover-leaves on it, the one I made you.’
creptverbUS /krept/
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading She crept into mother’s room and set the tray on a chair.
dearadjectiveUS /dɪr/
dearly loved
From this reading ‘Is your head better, mammy dear?’ she asked, in the soft little voice that she kept expressly for mother’s headaches.
EggnounUS /eɡ/
animal reproductive body consisting of an ovum or embryo together with nutritive and protective envelopes; especially the thin-shelled reproductive body laid by e.g. female birds
From this reading ‘Egg, toast, tea, milk, tea-cup and saucer, egg-spoon, knife, butter--that’s all, I think,’ remarked Anthea, as she put the last touches to mother’s breakfast-tray, and went, very carefully up the stairs, feeling for every step with her toes, and holding on to the tray with all her fingers.
egg-spoon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Egg, toast, tea, milk, tea-cup and saucer, egg-spoon, knife, butter--that’s all, I think,’ remarked Anthea, as she put the last touches to mother’s breakfast-tray, and went, very carefully up the stairs, feeling for every step with her toes, and holding on to the tray with all her fingers.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading ‘Egg, toast, tea, milk, tea-cup and saucer, egg-spoon, knife, butter--that’s all, I think,’ remarked Anthea, as she put the last touches to mother’s breakfast-tray, and went, very carefully up the stairs, feeling for every step with her toes, and holding on to the tray with all her fingers.
expresslyadverbUS /ekˈspresli/
with specific intentions; for the express purpose
From this reading ‘Is your head better, mammy dear?’ she asked, in the soft little voice that she kept expressly for mother’s headaches.
feelingnounUS /ˈfiːlɪŋ/
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading ‘Egg, toast, tea, milk, tea-cup and saucer, egg-spoon, knife, butter--that’s all, I think,’ remarked Anthea, as she put the last touches to mother’s breakfast-tray, and went, very carefully up the stairs, feeling for every step with her toes, and holding on to the tray with all her fingers.
fingersnounUS /ˈfɪŋɡərz/
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading ‘Egg, toast, tea, milk, tea-cup and saucer, egg-spoon, knife, butter--that’s all, I think,’ remarked Anthea, as she put the last touches to mother’s breakfast-tray, and went, very carefully up the stairs, feeling for every step with her toes, and holding on to the tray with all her fingers.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading ‘Egg, toast, tea, milk, tea-cup and saucer, egg-spoon, knife, butter--that’s all, I think,’ remarked Anthea, as she put the last touches to mother’s breakfast-tray, and went, very carefully up the stairs, feeling for every step with her toes, and holding on to the tray with all her fingers.
headnounUS /hed/
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading ‘Is your head better, mammy dear?’ she asked, in the soft little voice that she kept expressly for mother’s headaches.
headachesnounUS /ˈhedeɪks/
plural of “headache” — something or someone that causes anxiety; a source of unhappiness
From this reading ‘Is your head better, mammy dear?’ she asked, in the soft little voice that she kept expressly for mother’s headaches.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading ‘Egg, toast, tea, milk, tea-cup and saucer, egg-spoon, knife, butter--that’s all, I think,’ remarked Anthea, as she put the last touches to mother’s breakfast-tray, and went, very carefully up the stairs, feeling for every step with her toes, and holding on to the tray with all her fingers.
holdingnounUS /ˈhoʊldɪŋ/
the act of retaining something
From this reading ‘Egg, toast, tea, milk, tea-cup and saucer, egg-spoon, knife, butter--that’s all, I think,’ remarked Anthea, as she put the last touches to mother’s breakfast-tray, and went, very carefully up the stairs, feeling for every step with her toes, and holding on to the tray with all her fingers.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading ‘Egg, toast, tea, milk, tea-cup and saucer, egg-spoon, knife, butter--that’s all, I think,’ remarked Anthea, as she put the last touches to mother’s breakfast-tray, and went, very carefully up the stairs, feeling for every step with her toes, and holding on to the tray with all her fingers.
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘I’ve brought your brekkie, and I’ve put the little cloth with clover-leaves on it, the one I made you.’
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ‘Is your head better, mammy dear?’ she asked, in the soft little voice that she kept expressly for mother’s headaches.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading She crept into mother’s room and set the tray on a chair.
Isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ‘Is your head better, mammy dear?’ she asked, in the soft little voice that she kept expressly for mother’s headaches.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading ‘I’ve brought your brekkie, and I’ve put the little cloth with clover-leaves on it, the one I made you.’
keptadjectiveUS /kept/
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading ‘Is your head better, mammy dear?’ she asked, in the soft little voice that she kept expressly for mother’s headaches.
knifenounUS /naɪf/
edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle
From this reading ‘Egg, toast, tea, milk, tea-cup and saucer, egg-spoon, knife, butter--that’s all, I think,’ remarked Anthea, as she put the last touches to mother’s breakfast-tray, and went, very carefully up the stairs, feeling for every step with her toes, and holding on to the tray with all her fingers.
lastadjectiveUS /læst/
immediately past
From this reading ‘Egg, toast, tea, milk, tea-cup and saucer, egg-spoon, knife, butter--that’s all, I think,’ remarked Anthea, as she put the last touches to mother’s breakfast-tray, and went, very carefully up the stairs, feeling for every step with her toes, and holding on to the tray with all her fingers.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading ‘Is your head better, mammy dear?’ she asked, in the soft little voice that she kept expressly for mother’s headaches.
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading ‘I’ve brought your brekkie, and I’ve put the little cloth with clover-leaves on it, the one I made you.’
mammynoun
an offensive term for a Black nursemaid in the southern U.S.
From this reading ‘Is your head better, mammy dear?’ she asked, in the soft little voice that she kept expressly for mother’s headaches.
milknounUS /mɪlk/
a white nutritious liquid secreted by mammals and used as food by human beings
From this reading ‘Egg, toast, tea, milk, tea-cup and saucer, egg-spoon, knife, butter--that’s all, I think,’ remarked Anthea, as she put the last touches to mother’s breakfast-tray, and went, very carefully up the stairs, feeling for every step with her toes, and holding on to the tray with all her fingers.
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 ‘Egg, toast, tea, milk, tea-cup and saucer, egg-spoon, knife, butter--that’s all, I think,’ remarked Anthea, as she put the last touches to mother’s breakfast-tray, and went, very carefully up the stairs, feeling for every step with her toes, and holding on to the tray with all her fingers.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Then she pulled one of the blinds up very softly.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ‘Egg, toast, tea, milk, tea-cup and saucer, egg-spoon, knife, butter--that’s all, I think,’ remarked Anthea, as she put the last touches to mother’s breakfast-tray, and went, very carefully up the stairs, feeling for every step with her toes, and holding on to the tray with all her fingers.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Then she pulled one of the blinds up very softly.
pulledverbUS /pʊld/
past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling
From this reading Then she pulled one of the blinds up very softly.
putverbUS /pʊt/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading ‘Egg, toast, tea, milk, tea-cup and saucer, egg-spoon, knife, butter--that’s all, I think,’ remarked Anthea, as she put the last touches to mother’s breakfast-tray, and went, very carefully up the stairs, feeling for every step with her toes, and holding on to the tray with all her fingers.
remarkedverbUS /rɪˈmɑːrkt/
past form of “remark” — make mention of
From this reading ‘Egg, toast, tea, milk, tea-cup and saucer, egg-spoon, knife, butter--that’s all, I think,’ remarked Anthea, as she put the last touches to mother’s breakfast-tray, and went, very carefully up the stairs, feeling for every step with her toes, and holding on to the tray with all her fingers.
roomnounUS /ruːm/
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading She crept into mother’s room and set the tray on a chair.
saucernounUS /ˈsɔːsər/
something with a round shape resembling a flat circular plate
From this reading ‘Egg, toast, tea, milk, tea-cup and saucer, egg-spoon, knife, butter--that’s all, I think,’ remarked Anthea, as she put the last touches to mother’s breakfast-tray, and went, very carefully up the stairs, feeling for every step with her toes, and holding on to the tray with all her fingers.
setverbUS /set/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading She crept into mother’s room and set the tray on a chair.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading ‘Egg, toast, tea, milk, tea-cup and saucer, egg-spoon, knife, butter--that’s all, I think,’ remarked Anthea, as she put the last touches to mother’s breakfast-tray, and went, very carefully up the stairs, feeling for every step with her toes, and holding on to the tray with all her fingers.
softadjectiveUS /sɑːft/
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading ‘Is your head better, mammy dear?’ she asked, in the soft little voice that she kept expressly for mother’s headaches.
softlyadverbUS /ˈsɔːftli/
with low volume
From this reading Then she pulled one of the blinds up very softly.
stairsnounUS /sterz/
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading ‘Egg, toast, tea, milk, tea-cup and saucer, egg-spoon, knife, butter--that’s all, I think,’ remarked Anthea, as she put the last touches to mother’s breakfast-tray, and went, very carefully up the stairs, feeling for every step with her toes, and holding on to the tray with all her fingers.
stepnounUS /step/
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading ‘Egg, toast, tea, milk, tea-cup and saucer, egg-spoon, knife, butter--that’s all, I think,’ remarked Anthea, as she put the last touches to mother’s breakfast-tray, and went, very carefully up the stairs, feeling for every step with her toes, and holding on to the tray with all her fingers.
teanounUS /tiː/
a beverage made by steeping tea leaves in water
From this reading ‘Egg, toast, tea, milk, tea-cup and saucer, egg-spoon, knife, butter--that’s all, I think,’ remarked Anthea, as she put the last touches to mother’s breakfast-tray, and went, very carefully up the stairs, feeling for every step with her toes, and holding on to the tray with all her fingers.
tea-cup
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Egg, toast, tea, milk, tea-cup and saucer, egg-spoon, knife, butter--that’s all, I think,’ remarked Anthea, as she put the last touches to mother’s breakfast-tray, and went, very carefully up the stairs, feeling for every step with her toes, and holding on to the tray with all her fingers.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading ‘Is your head better, mammy dear?’ she asked, in the soft little voice that she kept expressly for mother’s headaches.
that's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Egg, toast, tea, milk, tea-cup and saucer, egg-spoon, knife, butter--that’s all, I think,’ remarked Anthea, as she put the last touches to mother’s breakfast-tray, and went, very carefully up the stairs, feeling for every step with her toes, and holding on to the tray with all her fingers.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ‘Egg, toast, tea, milk, tea-cup and saucer, egg-spoon, knife, butter--that’s all, I think,’ remarked Anthea, as she put the last touches to mother’s breakfast-tray, and went, very carefully up the stairs, feeling for every step with her toes, and holding on to the tray with all her fingers.
ThenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then she pulled one of the blinds up very softly.
thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading ‘Egg, toast, tea, milk, tea-cup and saucer, egg-spoon, knife, butter--that’s all, I think,’ remarked Anthea, as she put the last touches to mother’s breakfast-tray, and went, very carefully up the stairs, feeling for every step with her toes, and holding on to the tray with all her fingers.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ‘Egg, toast, tea, milk, tea-cup and saucer, egg-spoon, knife, butter--that’s all, I think,’ remarked Anthea, as she put the last touches to mother’s breakfast-tray, and went, very carefully up the stairs, feeling for every step with her toes, and holding on to the tray with all her fingers.
toastverbUS /toʊst/
make brown and crisp by heating
From this reading ‘Egg, toast, tea, milk, tea-cup and saucer, egg-spoon, knife, butter--that’s all, I think,’ remarked Anthea, as she put the last touches to mother’s breakfast-tray, and went, very carefully up the stairs, feeling for every step with her toes, and holding on to the tray with all her fingers.
toesnounUS /toʊz/
plural of “toe” — one of the digits of the foot
From this reading ‘Egg, toast, tea, milk, tea-cup and saucer, egg-spoon, knife, butter--that’s all, I think,’ remarked Anthea, as she put the last touches to mother’s breakfast-tray, and went, very carefully up the stairs, feeling for every step with her toes, and holding on to the tray with all her fingers.
touchesnounUS /ˈtʌtʃəz/
plural of “touch” — the event of something coming in contact with the body
From this reading ‘Egg, toast, tea, milk, tea-cup and saucer, egg-spoon, knife, butter--that’s all, I think,’ remarked Anthea, as she put the last touches to mother’s breakfast-tray, and went, very carefully up the stairs, feeling for every step with her toes, and holding on to the tray with all her fingers.
traynounUS /treɪ/
an open receptacle for holding or displaying or serving articles or food
From this reading ‘Egg, toast, tea, milk, tea-cup and saucer, egg-spoon, knife, butter--that’s all, I think,’ remarked Anthea, as she put the last touches to mother’s breakfast-tray, and went, very carefully up the stairs, feeling for every step with her toes, and holding on to the tray with all her fingers.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading ‘Egg, toast, tea, milk, tea-cup and saucer, egg-spoon, knife, butter--that’s all, I think,’ remarked Anthea, as she put the last touches to mother’s breakfast-tray, and went, very carefully up the stairs, feeling for every step with her toes, and holding on to the tray with all her fingers.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading ‘Egg, toast, tea, milk, tea-cup and saucer, egg-spoon, knife, butter--that’s all, I think,’ remarked Anthea, as she put the last touches to mother’s breakfast-tray, and went, very carefully up the stairs, feeling for every step with her toes, and holding on to the tray with all her fingers.
voicenounUS /vɔɪs/
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading ‘Is your head better, mammy dear?’ she asked, in the soft little voice that she kept expressly for mother’s headaches.
wentverbUS /went/
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading ‘Egg, toast, tea, milk, tea-cup and saucer, egg-spoon, knife, butter--that’s all, I think,’ remarked Anthea, as she put the last touches to mother’s breakfast-tray, and went, very carefully up the stairs, feeling for every step with her toes, and holding on to the tray with all her fingers.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading ‘Egg, toast, tea, milk, tea-cup and saucer, egg-spoon, knife, butter--that’s all, I think,’ remarked Anthea, as she put the last touches to mother’s breakfast-tray, and went, very carefully up the stairs, feeling for every step with her toes, and holding on to the tray with all her fingers.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading ‘I’ve brought your brekkie, and I’ve put the little cloth with clover-leaves on it, the one I made you.’
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading ‘Is your head better, mammy dear?’ she asked, in the soft little voice that she kept expressly for mother’s headaches.
