adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was the patter of small feet beyond Betty's door, and little Steve, who looked more like a nice fat black Cupid than anything else, rapped softly; at the same time he effected to squint through the keyhole.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was the patter of small feet beyond Betty's door, and little Steve, who looked more like a nice fat black Cupid than anything else, rapped softly; at the same time he effected to squint through the keyhole.
announcedadjectiveUS /əˈnaʊnst/
declared publicly; made widely known
From this reading “Supper served, Missy,” he announced, then he turned no less than seven handsprings in the upper hall and slid down the balustrade to the floor below.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading There was the patter of small feet beyond Betty's door, and little Steve, who looked more like a nice fat black Cupid than anything else, rapped softly; at the same time he effected to squint through the keyhole.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Now in his own youth big Steve with as fair a field had cut similar capers, yet he was impelled by his sense of duty to do for his grandson what his own father had so often done for him, and in no perfunctory manner.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There was the patter of small feet beyond Betty's door, and little Steve, who looked more like a nice fat black Cupid than anything else, rapped softly; at the same time he effected to squint through the keyhole.
balustradenoun
a railing at the side of a staircase or balcony to prevent people from falling
From this reading “Supper served, Missy,” he announced, then he turned no less than seven handsprings in the upper hall and slid down the balustrade to the floor below.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading He was far from being a model house servant.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading “Supper served, Missy,” he announced, then he turned no less than seven handsprings in the upper hall and slid down the balustrade to the floor below.
Betty's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was the patter of small feet beyond Betty's door, and little Steve, who looked more like a nice fat black Cupid than anything else, rapped softly; at the same time he effected to squint through the keyhole.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading There was the patter of small feet beyond Betty's door, and little Steve, who looked more like a nice fat black Cupid than anything else, rapped softly; at the same time he effected to squint through the keyhole.
bigadjectiveUS /bɪɡ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Now in his own youth big Steve with as fair a field had cut similar capers, yet he was impelled by his sense of duty to do for his grandson what his own father had so often done for him, and in no perfunctory manner.
blackadjectiveUS /blæk/
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading There was the patter of small feet beyond Betty's door, and little Steve, who looked more like a nice fat black Cupid than anything else, rapped softly; at the same time he effected to squint through the keyhole.
butlernounUS /ˈbʌtlər/
a manservant (usually the head servant of a household) who has charge of wines and the table
From this reading His descent was witnessed by the butler.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading His descent was witnessed by the butler.
capersnounUS /ˈkeɪpərz/
plural of “caper” — any of numerous plants of the genus Capparis
From this reading Now in his own youth big Steve with as fair a field had cut similar capers, yet he was impelled by his sense of duty to do for his grandson what his own father had so often done for him, and in no perfunctory manner.
CupidnounUS /ˈkjuːpɪd/
(Roman mythology) god of love; counterpart of Greek Eros
From this reading There was the patter of small feet beyond Betty's door, and little Steve, who looked more like a nice fat black Cupid than anything else, rapped softly; at the same time he effected to squint through the keyhole.
cutverbUS /kʌt/
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading Now in his own youth big Steve with as fair a field had cut similar capers, yet he was impelled by his sense of duty to do for his grandson what his own father had so often done for him, and in no perfunctory manner.
descentnounUS /dɪˈsent/
An action of moving downward, dropping, or falling into a deeper place.
From this reading His descent was witnessed by the butler.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Now in his own youth big Steve with as fair a field had cut similar capers, yet he was impelled by his sense of duty to do for his grandson what his own father had so often done for him, and in no perfunctory manner.
doneadjectiveUS /dʌn/
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading Now in his own youth big Steve with as fair a field had cut similar capers, yet he was impelled by his sense of duty to do for his grandson what his own father had so often done for him, and in no perfunctory manner.
doornounUS /dɔːr/
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading There was the patter of small feet beyond Betty's door, and little Steve, who looked more like a nice fat black Cupid than anything else, rapped softly; at the same time he effected to squint through the keyhole.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading “Supper served, Missy,” he announced, then he turned no less than seven handsprings in the upper hall and slid down the balustrade to the floor below.
dutynounUS /ˈduːti/
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading Now in his own youth big Steve with as fair a field had cut similar capers, yet he was impelled by his sense of duty to do for his grandson what his own father had so often done for him, and in no perfunctory manner.
effectedadjectiveUS /ɪˈfektɪd/
settled securely and unconditionally
From this reading There was the patter of small feet beyond Betty's door, and little Steve, who looked more like a nice fat black Cupid than anything else, rapped softly; at the same time he effected to squint through the keyhole.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was the patter of small feet beyond Betty's door, and little Steve, who looked more like a nice fat black Cupid than anything else, rapped softly; at the same time he effected to squint through the keyhole.
fairadjectiveUS /fer/
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading Now in his own youth big Steve with as fair a field had cut similar capers, yet he was impelled by his sense of duty to do for his grandson what his own father had so often done for him, and in no perfunctory manner.
faradverbUS /fɑːr/
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading He was far from being a model house servant.
fatadjectiveUS /fæt/
having an (over)abundance of flesh
From this reading There was the patter of small feet beyond Betty's door, and little Steve, who looked more like a nice fat black Cupid than anything else, rapped softly; at the same time he effected to squint through the keyhole.
fathernounUS /ˈfɑːðər/
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Now in his own youth big Steve with as fair a field had cut similar capers, yet he was impelled by his sense of duty to do for his grandson what his own father had so often done for him, and in no perfunctory manner.
feetnounUS /fiːt/
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading There was the patter of small feet beyond Betty's door, and little Steve, who looked more like a nice fat black Cupid than anything else, rapped softly; at the same time he effected to squint through the keyhole.
fieldnounUS /fiːld/
a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed
From this reading Now in his own youth big Steve with as fair a field had cut similar capers, yet he was impelled by his sense of duty to do for his grandson what his own father had so often done for him, and in no perfunctory manner.
floornounUS /flɔːr/
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading “Supper served, Missy,” he announced, then he turned no less than seven handsprings in the upper hall and slid down the balustrade to the floor below.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Now in his own youth big Steve with as fair a field had cut similar capers, yet he was impelled by his sense of duty to do for his grandson what his own father had so often done for him, and in no perfunctory manner.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He was far from being a model house servant.
grandsonnounUS /ˈɡrændsʌn/
a male grandchild
From this reading Now in his own youth big Steve with as fair a field had cut similar capers, yet he was impelled by his sense of duty to do for his grandson what his own father had so often done for him, and in no perfunctory manner.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Now in his own youth big Steve with as fair a field had cut similar capers, yet he was impelled by his sense of duty to do for his grandson what his own father had so often done for him, and in no perfunctory manner.
hallnounUS /hɔːl/
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading “Supper served, Missy,” he announced, then he turned no less than seven handsprings in the upper hall and slid down the balustrade to the floor below.
handsprings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Supper served, Missy,” he announced, then he turned no less than seven handsprings in the upper hall and slid down the balustrade to the floor below.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There was the patter of small feet beyond Betty's door, and little Steve, who looked more like a nice fat black Cupid than anything else, rapped softly; at the same time he effected to squint through the keyhole.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Now in his own youth big Steve with as fair a field had cut similar capers, yet he was impelled by his sense of duty to do for his grandson what his own father had so often done for him, and in no perfunctory manner.
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His descent was witnessed by the butler.
housenounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading He was far from being a model house servant.
impelledadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpeld/
urged or forced to action through moral pressure
From this reading Now in his own youth big Steve with as fair a field had cut similar capers, yet he was impelled by his sense of duty to do for his grandson what his own father had so often done for him, and in no perfunctory manner.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “Supper served, Missy,” he announced, then he turned no less than seven handsprings in the upper hall and slid down the balustrade to the floor below.
keyholenounUS /ˈkiːhoʊl/
the hole where a key is inserted
From this reading There was the patter of small feet beyond Betty's door, and little Steve, who looked more like a nice fat black Cupid than anything else, rapped softly; at the same time he effected to squint through the keyhole.
lessadverbUS /les/
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading “Supper served, Missy,” he announced, then he turned no less than seven handsprings in the upper hall and slid down the balustrade to the floor below.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading There was the patter of small feet beyond Betty's door, and little Steve, who looked more like a nice fat black Cupid than anything else, rapped softly; at the same time he effected to squint through the keyhole.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There was the patter of small feet beyond Betty's door, and little Steve, who looked more like a nice fat black Cupid than anything else, rapped softly; at the same time he effected to squint through the keyhole.
lookedverbUS /lʊkt/
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading There was the patter of small feet beyond Betty's door, and little Steve, who looked more like a nice fat black Cupid than anything else, rapped softly; at the same time he effected to squint through the keyhole.
mannernounUS /ˈmænər/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Now in his own youth big Steve with as fair a field had cut similar capers, yet he was impelled by his sense of duty to do for his grandson what his own father had so often done for him, and in no perfunctory manner.
MissynounUS /ˈmɪsi/
a young female
From this reading “Supper served, Missy,” he announced, then he turned no less than seven handsprings in the upper hall and slid down the balustrade to the floor below.
modelnounUS /ˈmɑːdəl/
a hypothetical description of a complex entity or process
From this reading He was far from being a model house servant.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading There was the patter of small feet beyond Betty's door, and little Steve, who looked more like a nice fat black Cupid than anything else, rapped softly; at the same time he effected to squint through the keyhole.
niceadjectiveUS /naɪs/
pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance
From this reading There was the patter of small feet beyond Betty's door, and little Steve, who looked more like a nice fat black Cupid than anything else, rapped softly; at the same time he effected to squint through the keyhole.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading “Supper served, Missy,” he announced, then he turned no less than seven handsprings in the upper hall and slid down the balustrade to the floor below.
NowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now in his own youth big Steve with as fair a field had cut similar capers, yet he was impelled by his sense of duty to do for his grandson what his own father had so often done for him, and in no perfunctory manner.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was the patter of small feet beyond Betty's door, and little Steve, who looked more like a nice fat black Cupid than anything else, rapped softly; at the same time he effected to squint through the keyhole.
oftenadverbUS /ˈɔːfən/
many times at short intervals
From this reading Now in his own youth big Steve with as fair a field had cut similar capers, yet he was impelled by his sense of duty to do for his grandson what his own father had so often done for him, and in no perfunctory manner.
ownverbUS /oʊn/
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Now in his own youth big Steve with as fair a field had cut similar capers, yet he was impelled by his sense of duty to do for his grandson what his own father had so often done for him, and in no perfunctory manner.
patternounUS /ˈpætər/
plausible glib talk (especially useful to a salesperson)
From this reading There was the patter of small feet beyond Betty's door, and little Steve, who looked more like a nice fat black Cupid than anything else, rapped softly; at the same time he effected to squint through the keyhole.
perfunctoryadjectiveUS /pərˈfʌŋktəri/
hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough
From this reading Now in his own youth big Steve with as fair a field had cut similar capers, yet he was impelled by his sense of duty to do for his grandson what his own father had so often done for him, and in no perfunctory manner.
rappedverbUS /ræpt/
inflected form of “rap” — strike sharply
From this reading There was the patter of small feet beyond Betty's door, and little Steve, who looked more like a nice fat black Cupid than anything else, rapped softly; at the same time he effected to squint through the keyhole.
sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/
Identical; not different.
From this reading There was the patter of small feet beyond Betty's door, and little Steve, who looked more like a nice fat black Cupid than anything else, rapped softly; at the same time he effected to squint through the keyhole.
sensenounUS /sens/
a general conscious awareness
From this reading Now in his own youth big Steve with as fair a field had cut similar capers, yet he was impelled by his sense of duty to do for his grandson what his own father had so often done for him, and in no perfunctory manner.
servantnounUS /ˈsɜːrvənt/
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading He was far from being a model house servant.
servedverbUS /sɜːrvd/
past form of “serve” — serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading “Supper served, Missy,” he announced, then he turned no less than seven handsprings in the upper hall and slid down the balustrade to the floor below.
sevennounUS /ˈsevən/
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading “Supper served, Missy,” he announced, then he turned no less than seven handsprings in the upper hall and slid down the balustrade to the floor below.
similaradjectiveUS /ˈsɪmələr/
marked by correspondence or resemblance
From this reading Now in his own youth big Steve with as fair a field had cut similar capers, yet he was impelled by his sense of duty to do for his grandson what his own father had so often done for him, and in no perfunctory manner.
slidverbUS /slɪd/
inflected form of “slide” — move obliquely or sideways, usually in an uncontrolled manner
From this reading “Supper served, Missy,” he announced, then he turned no less than seven handsprings in the upper hall and slid down the balustrade to the floor below.
smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There was the patter of small feet beyond Betty's door, and little Steve, who looked more like a nice fat black Cupid than anything else, rapped softly; at the same time he effected to squint through the keyhole.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Now in his own youth big Steve with as fair a field had cut similar capers, yet he was impelled by his sense of duty to do for his grandson what his own father had so often done for him, and in no perfunctory manner.
softlyadverbUS /ˈsɔːftli/
with low volume
From this reading There was the patter of small feet beyond Betty's door, and little Steve, who looked more like a nice fat black Cupid than anything else, rapped softly; at the same time he effected to squint through the keyhole.
squintverbUS /skwɪnt/
cross one's eyes as if in strabismus
From this reading There was the patter of small feet beyond Betty's door, and little Steve, who looked more like a nice fat black Cupid than anything else, rapped softly; at the same time he effected to squint through the keyhole.
Steve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was the patter of small feet beyond Betty's door, and little Steve, who looked more like a nice fat black Cupid than anything else, rapped softly; at the same time he effected to squint through the keyhole.
SuppernounUS /ˈsʌpər/
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading “Supper served, Missy,” he announced, then he turned no less than seven handsprings in the upper hall and slid down the balustrade to the floor below.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading There was the patter of small feet beyond Betty's door, and little Steve, who looked more like a nice fat black Cupid than anything else, rapped softly; at the same time he effected to squint through the keyhole.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was the patter of small feet beyond Betty's door, and little Steve, who looked more like a nice fat black Cupid than anything else, rapped softly; at the same time he effected to squint through the keyhole.
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading “Supper served, Missy,” he announced, then he turned no less than seven handsprings in the upper hall and slid down the balustrade to the floor below.
ThereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was the patter of small feet beyond Betty's door, and little Steve, who looked more like a nice fat black Cupid than anything else, rapped softly; at the same time he effected to squint through the keyhole.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading There was the patter of small feet beyond Betty's door, and little Steve, who looked more like a nice fat black Cupid than anything else, rapped softly; at the same time he effected to squint through the keyhole.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading There was the patter of small feet beyond Betty's door, and little Steve, who looked more like a nice fat black Cupid than anything else, rapped softly; at the same time he effected to squint through the keyhole.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was the patter of small feet beyond Betty's door, and little Steve, who looked more like a nice fat black Cupid than anything else, rapped softly; at the same time he effected to squint through the keyhole.
turnedadjectiveUS /tɜːrnd/
moved around an axis or center
From this reading “Supper served, Missy,” he announced, then he turned no less than seven handsprings in the upper hall and slid down the balustrade to the floor below.
upperadjectiveUS /ˈʌpər/
the topmost one of two
From this reading “Supper served, Missy,” he announced, then he turned no less than seven handsprings in the upper hall and slid down the balustrade to the floor below.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was the patter of small feet beyond Betty's door, and little Steve, who looked more like a nice fat black Cupid than anything else, rapped softly; at the same time he effected to squint through the keyhole.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Now in his own youth big Steve with as fair a field had cut similar capers, yet he was impelled by his sense of duty to do for his grandson what his own father had so often done for him, and in no perfunctory manner.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading There was the patter of small feet beyond Betty's door, and little Steve, who looked more like a nice fat black Cupid than anything else, rapped softly; at the same time he effected to squint through the keyhole.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Now in his own youth big Steve with as fair a field had cut similar capers, yet he was impelled by his sense of duty to do for his grandson what his own father had so often done for him, and in no perfunctory manner.
witnessedverbUS /ˈwɪtnəst/
past form of “witness” — be a witness to
From this reading His descent was witnessed by the butler.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Now in his own youth big Steve with as fair a field had cut similar capers, yet he was impelled by his sense of duty to do for his grandson what his own father had so often done for him, and in no perfunctory manner.
youthnounUS /juːθ/
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading Now in his own youth big Steve with as fair a field had cut similar capers, yet he was impelled by his sense of duty to do for his grandson what his own father had so often done for him, and in no perfunctory manner.
