used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There were meals to get, dishes to wash, and it had been found that outdoor life was very rough on clothing, so there was a good bit of sewing and darning to be done.
(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 Fortunately all of the girls were handy with a needle, so that a rent in a coat or a dress received immediate attention.
alterationnounUS /ˌɔːltərˈeɪʃən/
an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another
From this reading "Now you must make the alteration in the house very nice," said Dora to Dick.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading UNEXPECTED VISITORS It had been decided by the castaways to enlarge one of the rooms of the house, and as soon as the captain, Tom, and Sam had departed on their exploring tour, Dick and old Jerry set to work to cut down the posts necessary for the building.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading UNEXPECTED VISITORS It had been decided by the castaways to enlarge one of the rooms of the house, and as soon as the captain, Tom, and Sam had departed on their exploring tour, Dick and old Jerry set to work to cut down the posts necessary for the building.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading Fortunately all of the girls were handy with a needle, so that a rent in a coat or a dress received immediate attention.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There were meals to get, dishes to wash, and it had been found that outdoor life was very rough on clothing, so there was a good bit of sewing and darning to be done.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading UNEXPECTED VISITORS It had been decided by the castaways to enlarge one of the rooms of the house, and as soon as the captain, Tom, and Sam had departed on their exploring tour, Dick and old Jerry set to work to cut down the posts necessary for the building.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading There were meals to get, dishes to wash, and it had been found that outdoor life was very rough on clothing, so there was a good bit of sewing and darning to be done.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading UNEXPECTED VISITORS It had been decided by the castaways to enlarge one of the rooms of the house, and as soon as the captain, Tom, and Sam had departed on their exploring tour, Dick and old Jerry set to work to cut down the posts necessary for the building.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading UNEXPECTED VISITORS It had been decided by the castaways to enlarge one of the rooms of the house, and as soon as the captain, Tom, and Sam had departed on their exploring tour, Dick and old Jerry set to work to cut down the posts necessary for the building.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading UNEXPECTED VISITORS It had been decided by the castaways to enlarge one of the rooms of the house, and as soon as the captain, Tom, and Sam had departed on their exploring tour, Dick and old Jerry set to work to cut down the posts necessary for the building.
castawaysnounUS /ˈkæstəweɪz/
plural of “castaway” — a person who is rejected (from society or home)
From this reading UNEXPECTED VISITORS It had been decided by the castaways to enlarge one of the rooms of the house, and as soon as the captain, Tom, and Sam had departed on their exploring tour, Dick and old Jerry set to work to cut down the posts necessary for the building.
clothingnounUS /ˈkloʊðɪŋ/
a covering designed to be worn on a person's body
From this reading There were meals to get, dishes to wash, and it had been found that outdoor life was very rough on clothing, so there was a good bit of sewing and darning to be done.
an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading Fortunately all of the girls were handy with a needle, so that a rent in a coat or a dress received immediate attention.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading UNEXPECTED VISITORS It had been decided by the castaways to enlarge one of the rooms of the house, and as soon as the captain, Tom, and Sam had departed on their exploring tour, Dick and old Jerry set to work to cut down the posts necessary for the building.
darningnoun
the act of mending a hole in a garment with crossing threads
From this reading There were meals to get, dishes to wash, and it had been found that outdoor life was very rough on clothing, so there was a good bit of sewing and darning to be done.
recognizable; marked
From this reading UNEXPECTED VISITORS It had been decided by the castaways to enlarge one of the rooms of the house, and as soon as the captain, Tom, and Sam had departed on their exploring tour, Dick and old Jerry set to work to cut down the posts necessary for the building.
well in the past; former
From this reading UNEXPECTED VISITORS It had been decided by the castaways to enlarge one of the rooms of the house, and as soon as the captain, Tom, and Sam had departed on their exploring tour, Dick and old Jerry set to work to cut down the posts necessary for the building.
someone who is a detective
From this reading UNEXPECTED VISITORS It had been decided by the castaways to enlarge one of the rooms of the house, and as soon as the captain, Tom, and Sam had departed on their exploring tour, Dick and old Jerry set to work to cut down the posts necessary for the building.
dishesnounUS /ˈdɪʃəz/
plural of “dish” — a piece of dishware normally used as a container for holding or serving food
From this reading There were meals to get, dishes to wash, and it had been found that outdoor life was very rough on clothing, so there was a good bit of sewing and darning to be done.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading There were meals to get, dishes to wash, and it had been found that outdoor life was very rough on clothing, so there was a good bit of sewing and darning to be done.
Dora
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Now you must make the alteration in the house very nice," said Dora to Dick.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading UNEXPECTED VISITORS It had been decided by the castaways to enlarge one of the rooms of the house, and as soon as the captain, Tom, and Sam had departed on their exploring tour, Dick and old Jerry set to work to cut down the posts necessary for the building.
put on clothes
From this reading Fortunately all of the girls were handy with a needle, so that a rent in a coat or a dress received immediate attention.
enlargeverbUS /ˌenˈlɑːrdʒ/
make larger
From this reading UNEXPECTED VISITORS It had been decided by the castaways to enlarge one of the rooms of the house, and as soon as the captain, Tom, and Sam had departed on their exploring tour, Dick and old Jerry set to work to cut down the posts necessary for the building.
exploringverbUS /ɪkˈsplɔːrɪŋ/
-ing form of “explore” — inquire into
From this reading UNEXPECTED VISITORS It had been decided by the castaways to enlarge one of the rooms of the house, and as soon as the captain, Tom, and Sam had departed on their exploring tour, Dick and old Jerry set to work to cut down the posts necessary for the building.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading UNEXPECTED VISITORS It had been decided by the castaways to enlarge one of the rooms of the house, and as soon as the captain, Tom, and Sam had departed on their exploring tour, Dick and old Jerry set to work to cut down the posts necessary for the building.
FortunatelyadverbUS /ˈfɔːrtʃənətli/
by good fortune
From this reading Fortunately all of the girls were handy with a needle, so that a rent in a coat or a dress received immediate attention.
set up or found
From this reading There were meals to get, dishes to wash, and it had been found that outdoor life was very rough on clothing, so there was a good bit of sewing and darning to be done.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading There were meals to get, dishes to wash, and it had been found that outdoor life was very rough on clothing, so there was a good bit of sewing and darning to be done.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading While this was going on the three girls were by no means idle.
the act of departing
From this reading While this was going on the three girls were by no means idle.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading There were meals to get, dishes to wash, and it had been found that outdoor life was very rough on clothing, so there was a good bit of sewing and darning to be done.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading UNEXPECTED VISITORS It had been decided by the castaways to enlarge one of the rooms of the house, and as soon as the captain, Tom, and Sam had departed on their exploring tour, Dick and old Jerry set to work to cut down the posts necessary for the building.
handyadjectiveUS /ˈhændi/
easy to reach
From this reading Fortunately all of the girls were handy with a needle, so that a rent in a coat or a dress received immediate attention.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading UNEXPECTED VISITORS It had been decided by the castaways to enlarge one of the rooms of the house, and as soon as the captain, Tom, and Sam had departed on their exploring tour, Dick and old Jerry set to work to cut down the posts necessary for the building.
not in action or at work
From this reading While this was going on the three girls were by no means idle.
of the present time and place
From this reading Fortunately all of the girls were handy with a needle, so that a rent in a coat or a dress received immediate attention.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Fortunately all of the girls were handy with a needle, so that a rent in a coat or a dress received immediate attention.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading UNEXPECTED VISITORS It had been decided by the castaways to enlarge one of the rooms of the house, and as soon as the captain, Tom, and Sam had departed on their exploring tour, Dick and old Jerry set to work to cut down the posts necessary for the building.
JerrynounUS /ˈdʒeri/
offensive term for a person of German descent
From this reading UNEXPECTED VISITORS It had been decided by the castaways to enlarge one of the rooms of the house, and as soon as the captain, Tom, and Sam had departed on their exploring tour, Dick and old Jerry set to work to cut down the posts necessary for the building.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading There were meals to get, dishes to wash, and it had been found that outdoor life was very rough on clothing, so there was a good bit of sewing and darning to be done.
engage in
From this reading "Now you must make the alteration in the house very nice," said Dora to Dick.
mealsnounUS /miːlz/
plural of “meal” — the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading There were meals to get, dishes to wash, and it had been found that outdoor life was very rough on clothing, so there was a good bit of sewing and darning to be done.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading While this was going on the three girls were by no means idle.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "Now you must make the alteration in the house very nice," said Dora to Dick.
absolutely essential
From this reading UNEXPECTED VISITORS It had been decided by the castaways to enlarge one of the rooms of the house, and as soon as the captain, Tom, and Sam had departed on their exploring tour, Dick and old Jerry set to work to cut down the posts necessary for the building.
needlenounUS /ˈniːdəl/
the leaf of a conifer
From this reading Fortunately all of the girls were handy with a needle, so that a rent in a coat or a dress received immediate attention.
pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance
From this reading "Now you must make the alteration in the house very nice," said Dora to Dick.
not any; not one
From this reading While this was going on the three girls were by no means idle.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Now you must make the alteration in the house very nice," said Dora to Dick.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading UNEXPECTED VISITORS It had been decided by the castaways to enlarge one of the rooms of the house, and as soon as the captain, Tom, and Sam had departed on their exploring tour, Dick and old Jerry set to work to cut down the posts necessary for the building.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading UNEXPECTED VISITORS It had been decided by the castaways to enlarge one of the rooms of the house, and as soon as the captain, Tom, and Sam had departed on their exploring tour, Dick and old Jerry set to work to cut down the posts necessary for the building.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading UNEXPECTED VISITORS It had been decided by the castaways to enlarge one of the rooms of the house, and as soon as the captain, Tom, and Sam had departed on their exploring tour, Dick and old Jerry set to work to cut down the posts necessary for the building.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading UNEXPECTED VISITORS It had been decided by the castaways to enlarge one of the rooms of the house, and as soon as the captain, Tom, and Sam had departed on their exploring tour, Dick and old Jerry set to work to cut down the posts necessary for the building.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Fortunately all of the girls were handy with a needle, so that a rent in a coat or a dress received immediate attention.
outdooradjectiveUS /ˈaʊtdɔːr/
located, suited for, or taking place in the open air
From this reading There were meals to get, dishes to wash, and it had been found that outdoor life was very rough on clothing, so there was a good bit of sewing and darning to be done.
postsnounUS /poʊsts/
plural of “post” — the position where someone (as a guard or sentry) stands or is assigned to stand
From this reading UNEXPECTED VISITORS It had been decided by the castaways to enlarge one of the rooms of the house, and as soon as the captain, Tom, and Sam had departed on their exploring tour, Dick and old Jerry set to work to cut down the posts necessary for the building.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading Fortunately all of the girls were handy with a needle, so that a rent in a coat or a dress received immediate attention.
rentverbUS /rent/
let for money
From this reading Fortunately all of the girls were handy with a needle, so that a rent in a coat or a dress received immediate attention.
apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
From this reading UNEXPECTED VISITORS It had been decided by the castaways to enlarge one of the rooms of the house, and as soon as the captain, Tom, and Sam had departed on their exploring tour, Dick and old Jerry set to work to cut down the posts necessary for the building.
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading There were meals to get, dishes to wash, and it had been found that outdoor life was very rough on clothing, so there was a good bit of sewing and darning to be done.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Now you must make the alteration in the house very nice," said Dora to Dick.
a guided missile fired from land or shipboard against an airborne target
From this reading UNEXPECTED VISITORS It had been decided by the castaways to enlarge one of the rooms of the house, and as soon as the captain, Tom, and Sam had departed on their exploring tour, Dick and old Jerry set to work to cut down the posts necessary for the building.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading UNEXPECTED VISITORS It had been decided by the castaways to enlarge one of the rooms of the house, and as soon as the captain, Tom, and Sam had departed on their exploring tour, Dick and old Jerry set to work to cut down the posts necessary for the building.
sewingnounUS /ˈsoʊɪŋ/
joining or attaching by stitches
From this reading There were meals to get, dishes to wash, and it had been found that outdoor life was very rough on clothing, so there was a good bit of sewing and darning to be done.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading There were meals to get, dishes to wash, and it had been found that outdoor life was very rough on clothing, so there was a good bit of sewing and darning to be done.
in the near future
From this reading UNEXPECTED VISITORS It had been decided by the castaways to enlarge one of the rooms of the house, and as soon as the captain, Tom, and Sam had departed on their exploring tour, Dick and old Jerry set to work to cut down the posts necessary for the building.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There were meals to get, dishes to wash, and it had been found that outdoor life was very rough on clothing, so there was a good bit of sewing and darning to be done.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading UNEXPECTED VISITORS It had been decided by the castaways to enlarge one of the rooms of the house, and as soon as the captain, Tom, and Sam had departed on their exploring tour, Dick and old Jerry set to work to cut down the posts necessary for the building.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading UNEXPECTED VISITORS It had been decided by the castaways to enlarge one of the rooms of the house, and as soon as the captain, Tom, and Sam had departed on their exploring tour, Dick and old Jerry set to work to cut down the posts necessary for the building.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were meals to get, dishes to wash, and it had been found that outdoor life was very rough on clothing, so there was a good bit of sewing and darning to be done.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading While this was going on the three girls were by no means idle.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading While this was going on the three girls were by no means idle.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading UNEXPECTED VISITORS It had been decided by the castaways to enlarge one of the rooms of the house, and as soon as the captain, Tom, and Sam had departed on their exploring tour, Dick and old Jerry set to work to cut down the posts necessary for the building.
male cat
From this reading UNEXPECTED VISITORS It had been decided by the castaways to enlarge one of the rooms of the house, and as soon as the captain, Tom, and Sam had departed on their exploring tour, Dick and old Jerry set to work to cut down the posts necessary for the building.
tournounUS /tʊr/
a journey or route all the way around a particular place or area
From this reading UNEXPECTED VISITORS It had been decided by the castaways to enlarge one of the rooms of the house, and as soon as the captain, Tom, and Sam had departed on their exploring tour, Dick and old Jerry set to work to cut down the posts necessary for the building.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading UNEXPECTED VISITORS It had been decided by the castaways to enlarge one of the rooms of the house, and as soon as the captain, Tom, and Sam had departed on their exploring tour, Dick and old Jerry set to work to cut down the posts necessary for the building.
precisely as stated
From this reading There were meals to get, dishes to wash, and it had been found that outdoor life was very rough on clothing, so there was a good bit of sewing and darning to be done.
plural of “visitor” — someone who visits
From this reading UNEXPECTED VISITORS It had been decided by the castaways to enlarge one of the rooms of the house, and as soon as the captain, Tom, and Sam had departed on their exploring tour, Dick and old Jerry set to work to cut down the posts necessary for the building.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading While this was going on the three girls were by no means idle.
washverbUS /wɑːʃ/
clean with some chemical process
From this reading There were meals to get, dishes to wash, and it had been found that outdoor life was very rough on clothing, so there was a good bit of sewing and darning to be done.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading While this was going on the three girls were by no means idle.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While this was going on the three girls were by no means idle.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Fortunately all of the girls were handy with a needle, so that a rent in a coat or a dress received immediate attention.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading UNEXPECTED VISITORS It had been decided by the castaways to enlarge one of the rooms of the house, and as soon as the captain, Tom, and Sam had departed on their exploring tour, Dick and old Jerry set to work to cut down the posts necessary for the building.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Now you must make the alteration in the house very nice," said Dora to Dick.
