adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading If they had not been able to trust Curdie himself, they would have refused to believe more than the half of what he reported, then they would have refused that half too, and at last would most likely for a time have disbelieved in the very existence of the princess, what evidence their own senses had given them notwithstanding.
ableadjectiveUS /ˈeɪbəl/
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading If they had not been able to trust Curdie himself, they would have refused to believe more than the half of what he reported, then they would have refused that half too, and at last would most likely for a time have disbelieved in the very existence of the princess, what evidence their own senses had given them notwithstanding.
allowverbUS /əˈlaʊ/
make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading When he held out his hands to them, his mother said they looked as if he had been washing them with soft soap, only they did smell of something nicer than that, and she must allow it was more like roses than anything else she knew.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Hands Curdie went home, pondering much, and told everything to his father and mother.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading When he held out his hands to them, his mother said they looked as if he had been washing them with soft soap, only they did smell of something nicer than that, and she must allow it was more like roses than anything else she knew.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As the old princess had said, it was now their turn to find what they heard hard to believe.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading If they had not been able to trust Curdie himself, they would have refused to believe more than the half of what he reported, then they would have refused that half too, and at last would most likely for a time have disbelieved in the very existence of the princess, what evidence their own senses had given them notwithstanding.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If they had not been able to trust Curdie himself, they would have refused to believe more than the half of what he reported, then they would have refused that half too, and at last would most likely for a time have disbelieved in the very existence of the princess, what evidence their own senses had given them notwithstanding.
believeverbUS /bɪˈliːv/
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading As the old princess had said, it was now their turn to find what they heard hard to believe.
conclusiveadjectiveUS /kənˈkluːsɪv/
forming an end or termination; especially putting an end to doubt or question
From this reading For he had nothing conclusive to show in proof of what he told them.
Curdie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hands Curdie went home, pondering much, and told everything to his father and mother.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading When he held out his hands to them, his mother said they looked as if he had been washing them with soft soap, only they did smell of something nicer than that, and she must allow it was more like roses than anything else she knew.
disbelieved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If they had not been able to trust Curdie himself, they would have refused to believe more than the half of what he reported, then they would have refused that half too, and at last would most likely for a time have disbelieved in the very existence of the princess, what evidence their own senses had given them notwithstanding.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When he held out his hands to them, his mother said they looked as if he had been washing them with soft soap, only they did smell of something nicer than that, and she must allow it was more like roses than anything else she knew.
everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading Hands Curdie went home, pondering much, and told everything to his father and mother.
evidencenounUS /ˈevədəns/
your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief
From this reading If they had not been able to trust Curdie himself, they would have refused to believe more than the half of what he reported, then they would have refused that half too, and at last would most likely for a time have disbelieved in the very existence of the princess, what evidence their own senses had given them notwithstanding.
existencenounUS /eɡˈzɪstəns/
the state or fact of existing
From this reading If they had not been able to trust Curdie himself, they would have refused to believe more than the half of what he reported, then they would have refused that half too, and at last would most likely for a time have disbelieved in the very existence of the princess, what evidence their own senses had given them notwithstanding.
fathernounUS /ˈfɑːðər/
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Hands Curdie went home, pondering much, and told everything to his father and mother.
findverbUS /faɪnd/
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading As the old princess had said, it was now their turn to find what they heard hard to believe.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading If they had not been able to trust Curdie himself, they would have refused to believe more than the half of what he reported, then they would have refused that half too, and at last would most likely for a time have disbelieved in the very existence of the princess, what evidence their own senses had given them notwithstanding.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading If they had not been able to trust Curdie himself, they would have refused to believe more than the half of what he reported, then they would have refused that half too, and at last would most likely for a time have disbelieved in the very existence of the princess, what evidence their own senses had given them notwithstanding.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As the old princess had said, it was now their turn to find what they heard hard to believe.
halfadjectiveUS /hæf/
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading If they had not been able to trust Curdie himself, they would have refused to believe more than the half of what he reported, then they would have refused that half too, and at last would most likely for a time have disbelieved in the very existence of the princess, what evidence their own senses had given them notwithstanding.
HandsnounUS /hændz/
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Hands Curdie went home, pondering much, and told everything to his father and mother.
hardadjectiveUS /hɑːrd/
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading As the old princess had said, it was now their turn to find what they heard hard to believe.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If they had not been able to trust Curdie himself, they would have refused to believe more than the half of what he reported, then they would have refused that half too, and at last would most likely for a time have disbelieved in the very existence of the princess, what evidence their own senses had given them notwithstanding.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If they had not been able to trust Curdie himself, they would have refused to believe more than the half of what he reported, then they would have refused that half too, and at last would most likely for a time have disbelieved in the very existence of the princess, what evidence their own senses had given them notwithstanding.
heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading As the old princess had said, it was now their turn to find what they heard hard to believe.
heldadjectiveUS /held/
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading When he held out his hands to them, his mother said they looked as if he had been washing them with soft soap, only they did smell of something nicer than that, and she must allow it was more like roses than anything else she knew.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading If they had not been able to trust Curdie himself, they would have refused to believe more than the half of what he reported, then they would have refused that half too, and at last would most likely for a time have disbelieved in the very existence of the princess, what evidence their own senses had given them notwithstanding.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Hands Curdie went home, pondering much, and told everything to his father and mother.
homenounUS /hoʊm/
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Hands Curdie went home, pondering much, and told everything to his father and mother.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If they had not been able to trust Curdie himself, they would have refused to believe more than the half of what he reported, then they would have refused that half too, and at last would most likely for a time have disbelieved in the very existence of the princess, what evidence their own senses had given them notwithstanding.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading If they had not been able to trust Curdie himself, they would have refused to believe more than the half of what he reported, then they would have refused that half too, and at last would most likely for a time have disbelieved in the very existence of the princess, what evidence their own senses had given them notwithstanding.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading As the old princess had said, it was now their turn to find what they heard hard to believe.
knewverbUS /nuː/
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 When he held out his hands to them, his mother said they looked as if he had been washing them with soft soap, only they did smell of something nicer than that, and she must allow it was more like roses than anything else she knew.
lastadjectiveUS /læst/
immediately past
From this reading If they had not been able to trust Curdie himself, they would have refused to believe more than the half of what he reported, then they would have refused that half too, and at last would most likely for a time have disbelieved in the very existence of the princess, what evidence their own senses had given them notwithstanding.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading When he held out his hands to them, his mother said they looked as if he had been washing them with soft soap, only they did smell of something nicer than that, and she must allow it was more like roses than anything else she knew.
likelyadjectiveUS /ˈlaɪkli/
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
From this reading If they had not been able to trust Curdie himself, they would have refused to believe more than the half of what he reported, then they would have refused that half too, and at last would most likely for a time have disbelieved in the very existence of the princess, what evidence their own senses had given them notwithstanding.
lookedverbUS /lʊkt/
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading When he held out his hands to them, his mother said they looked as if he had been washing them with soft soap, only they did smell of something nicer than that, and she must allow it was more like roses than anything else she knew.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading If they had not been able to trust Curdie himself, they would have refused to believe more than the half of what he reported, then they would have refused that half too, and at last would most likely for a time have disbelieved in the very existence of the princess, what evidence their own senses had given them notwithstanding.
mostadverbUS /moʊst/
used to form the superlative
From this reading If they had not been able to trust Curdie himself, they would have refused to believe more than the half of what he reported, then they would have refused that half too, and at last would most likely for a time have disbelieved in the very existence of the princess, what evidence their own senses had given them notwithstanding.
mothernounUS /ˈmʌðər/
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Hands Curdie went home, pondering much, and told everything to his father and mother.
muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Hands Curdie went home, pondering much, and told everything to his father and mother.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading When he held out his hands to them, his mother said they looked as if he had been washing them with soft soap, only they did smell of something nicer than that, and she must allow it was more like roses than anything else she knew.
niceradjectiveUS /ˈnaɪsər/
comparative of “nice” — pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance
From this reading When he held out his hands to them, his mother said they looked as if he had been washing them with soft soap, only they did smell of something nicer than that, and she must allow it was more like roses than anything else she knew.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading If they had not been able to trust Curdie himself, they would have refused to believe more than the half of what he reported, then they would have refused that half too, and at last would most likely for a time have disbelieved in the very existence of the princess, what evidence their own senses had given them notwithstanding.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading For he had nothing conclusive to show in proof of what he told them.
notwithstandingadverbUS /ˌnɑːtwɪθˈstændɪŋ/
despite anything to the contrary (usually preceding a concession)
From this reading If they had not been able to trust Curdie himself, they would have refused to believe more than the half of what he reported, then they would have refused that half too, and at last would most likely for a time have disbelieved in the very existence of the princess, what evidence their own senses had given them notwithstanding.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading As the old princess had said, it was now their turn to find what they heard hard to believe.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading If they had not been able to trust Curdie himself, they would have refused to believe more than the half of what he reported, then they would have refused that half too, and at last would most likely for a time have disbelieved in the very existence of the princess, what evidence their own senses had given them notwithstanding.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading As the old princess had said, it was now their turn to find what they heard hard to believe.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading When he held out his hands to them, his mother said they looked as if he had been washing them with soft soap, only they did smell of something nicer than that, and she must allow it was more like roses than anything else she knew.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading When he held out his hands to them, his mother said they looked as if he had been washing them with soft soap, only they did smell of something nicer than that, and she must allow it was more like roses than anything else she knew.
ownverbUS /oʊn/
have ownership or possession of
From this reading If they had not been able to trust Curdie himself, they would have refused to believe more than the half of what he reported, then they would have refused that half too, and at last would most likely for a time have disbelieved in the very existence of the princess, what evidence their own senses had given them notwithstanding.
ponderingadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːndərɪŋ/
deeply or seriously thoughtful
From this reading Hands Curdie went home, pondering much, and told everything to his father and mother.
princessnounUS /ˈprɪn.ses/
The daughter of a monarch; a female member of a royal family.
From this reading As the old princess had said, it was now their turn to find what they heard hard to believe.
proofnounUS /pruːf/
any factual evidence that helps to establish the truth of something
From this reading For he had nothing conclusive to show in proof of what he told them.
refusedverbUS /rəˈfjuːzd/
past form of “refuse” — show unwillingness towards
From this reading If they had not been able to trust Curdie himself, they would have refused to believe more than the half of what he reported, then they would have refused that half too, and at last would most likely for a time have disbelieved in the very existence of the princess, what evidence their own senses had given them notwithstanding.
reportedadjectiveUS /ˌriːˈpɔːrtɪd/
made known or told about; especially presented in a formal account
From this reading If they had not been able to trust Curdie himself, they would have refused to believe more than the half of what he reported, then they would have refused that half too, and at last would most likely for a time have disbelieved in the very existence of the princess, what evidence their own senses had given them notwithstanding.
rosesnounUS /ˈroʊzɪz/
plural of “rose” — any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading When he held out his hands to them, his mother said they looked as if he had been washing them with soft soap, only they did smell of something nicer than that, and she must allow it was more like roses than anything else she knew.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading As the old princess had said, it was now their turn to find what they heard hard to believe.
sensesnounUS /ˈsensɪz/
plural of “sens” — street names for marijuana
From this reading If they had not been able to trust Curdie himself, they would have refused to believe more than the half of what he reported, then they would have refused that half too, and at last would most likely for a time have disbelieved in the very existence of the princess, what evidence their own senses had given them notwithstanding.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When he held out his hands to them, his mother said they looked as if he had been washing them with soft soap, only they did smell of something nicer than that, and she must allow it was more like roses than anything else she knew.
showverbUS /ʃoʊ/
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading For he had nothing conclusive to show in proof of what he told them.
smellnounUS /smel/
the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading When he held out his hands to them, his mother said they looked as if he had been washing them with soft soap, only they did smell of something nicer than that, and she must allow it was more like roses than anything else she knew.
soapnounUS /soʊp/
a cleansing agent made from the salts of vegetable or animal fats
From this reading When he held out his hands to them, his mother said they looked as if he had been washing them with soft soap, only they did smell of something nicer than that, and she must allow it was more like roses than anything else she knew.
softadjectiveUS /sɑːft/
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading When he held out his hands to them, his mother said they looked as if he had been washing them with soft soap, only they did smell of something nicer than that, and she must allow it was more like roses than anything else she knew.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading When he held out his hands to them, his mother said they looked as if he had been washing them with soft soap, only they did smell of something nicer than that, and she must allow it was more like roses than anything else she knew.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading If they had not been able to trust Curdie himself, they would have refused to believe more than the half of what he reported, then they would have refused that half too, and at last would most likely for a time have disbelieved in the very existence of the princess, what evidence their own senses had given them notwithstanding.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading If they had not been able to trust Curdie himself, they would have refused to believe more than the half of what he reported, then they would have refused that half too, and at last would most likely for a time have disbelieved in the very existence of the princess, what evidence their own senses had given them notwithstanding.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As the old princess had said, it was now their turn to find what they heard hard to believe.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading As the old princess had said, it was now their turn to find what they heard hard to believe.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading If they had not been able to trust Curdie himself, they would have refused to believe more than the half of what he reported, then they would have refused that half too, and at last would most likely for a time have disbelieved in the very existence of the princess, what evidence their own senses had given them notwithstanding.
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading If they had not been able to trust Curdie himself, they would have refused to believe more than the half of what he reported, then they would have refused that half too, and at last would most likely for a time have disbelieved in the very existence of the princess, what evidence their own senses had given them notwithstanding.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As the old princess had said, it was now their turn to find what they heard hard to believe.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading If they had not been able to trust Curdie himself, they would have refused to believe more than the half of what he reported, then they would have refused that half too, and at last would most likely for a time have disbelieved in the very existence of the princess, what evidence their own senses had given them notwithstanding.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Hands Curdie went home, pondering much, and told everything to his father and mother.
toldverbUS /toʊld/
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Hands Curdie went home, pondering much, and told everything to his father and mother.
tooadverbUS /tuː/
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading If they had not been able to trust Curdie himself, they would have refused to believe more than the half of what he reported, then they would have refused that half too, and at last would most likely for a time have disbelieved in the very existence of the princess, what evidence their own senses had given them notwithstanding.
trustnounUS /trʌst/
something (as property) held by one party (the trustee) for the benefit of another (the beneficiary)
From this reading If they had not been able to trust Curdie himself, they would have refused to believe more than the half of what he reported, then they would have refused that half too, and at last would most likely for a time have disbelieved in the very existence of the princess, what evidence their own senses had given them notwithstanding.
turnverbUS /tɜːrn/
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading As the old princess had said, it was now their turn to find what they heard hard to believe.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading If they had not been able to trust Curdie himself, they would have refused to believe more than the half of what he reported, then they would have refused that half too, and at last would most likely for a time have disbelieved in the very existence of the princess, what evidence their own senses had given them notwithstanding.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As the old princess had said, it was now their turn to find what they heard hard to believe.
washingnounUS /ˈwɑːʃɪŋ/
the work of cleansing (usually with soap and water)
From this reading When he held out his hands to them, his mother said they looked as if he had been washing them with soft soap, only they did smell of something nicer than that, and she must allow it was more like roses than anything else she knew.
wentverbUS /went/
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Hands Curdie went home, pondering much, and told everything to his father and mother.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading As the old princess had said, it was now their turn to find what they heard hard to believe.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When he held out his hands to them, his mother said they looked as if he had been washing them with soft soap, only they did smell of something nicer than that, and she must allow it was more like roses than anything else she knew.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading When he held out his hands to them, his mother said they looked as if he had been washing them with soft soap, only they did smell of something nicer than that, and she must allow it was more like roses than anything else she knew.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If they had not been able to trust Curdie himself, they would have refused to believe more than the half of what he reported, then they would have refused that half too, and at last would most likely for a time have disbelieved in the very existence of the princess, what evidence their own senses had given them notwithstanding.
