used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading ‘You know I stopped directly when you made me a sign not to go on asking questions before the little ones.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading ‘Please, mamma, do tell us all about it,’ said the girl.
(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 ‘Please, mamma, do tell us all about it,’ said the girl.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And you said you should have to make us your friends while papa and the grown-ups are away.’
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading And you said you should have to make us your friends while papa and the grown-ups are away.’
the verbal act of requesting
From this reading ‘You know I stopped directly when you made me a sign not to go on asking questions before the little ones.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading And you said you should have to make us your friends while papa and the grown-ups are away.’
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading ‘I should think he would be very much obliged,’ observed the boy.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading ‘You know I stopped directly when you made me a sign not to go on asking questions before the little ones.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading ‘Well, Gillian, I know you can be discreet when you are warned, and perhaps it is best that you should know how things stand.
a youthful male person
From this reading ‘I should think he would be very much obliged,’ observed the boy.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading ‘Well, Gillian, I know you can be discreet when you are warned, and perhaps it is best that you should know how things stand.
without deviation
From this reading ‘You know I stopped directly when you made me a sign not to go on asking questions before the little ones.
discreetadjectiveUS /dɪˈskriːt/
marked by prudence or modesty and wise self-restraint
From this reading ‘Well, Gillian, I know you can be discreet when you are warned, and perhaps it is best that you should know how things stand.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading ‘Please, mamma, do tell us all about it,’ said the girl.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading And you said you should have to make us your friends while papa and the grown-ups are away.’
Gillian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Well, Gillian, I know you can be discreet when you are warned, and perhaps it is best that you should know how things stand.
a young female
From this reading ‘Please, mamma, do tell us all about it,’ said the girl.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading ‘You know I stopped directly when you made me a sign not to go on asking questions before the little ones.
grown-ups
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And you said you should have to make us your friends while papa and the grown-ups are away.’
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading And you said you should have to make us your friends while papa and the grown-ups are away.’
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading ‘I should think he would be very much obliged,’ observed the boy.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Well, Gillian, I know you can be discreet when you are warned, and perhaps it is best that you should know how things stand.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading ‘I should think he would be very much obliged,’ observed the boy.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ‘Well, Gillian, I know you can be discreet when you are warned, and perhaps it is best that you should know how things stand.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading ‘Please, mamma, do tell us all about it,’ said the girl.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading ‘You know I stopped directly when you made me a sign not to go on asking questions before the little ones.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading ‘You know I stopped directly when you made me a sign not to go on asking questions before the little ones.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading ‘You know I stopped directly when you made me a sign not to go on asking questions before the little ones.
engage in
From this reading And you said you should have to make us your friends while papa and the grown-ups are away.’
informal terms for a mother
From this reading ‘Please, mamma, do tell us all about it,’ said the girl.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading ‘You know I stopped directly when you made me a sign not to go on asking questions before the little ones.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading ‘I should think he would be very much obliged,’ observed the boy.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading ‘You know I stopped directly when you made me a sign not to go on asking questions before the little ones.
under a moral obligation to do something
From this reading ‘I should think he would be very much obliged,’ observed the boy.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading ‘I should think he would be very much obliged,’ observed the boy.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ‘You know I stopped directly when you made me a sign not to go on asking questions before the little ones.
plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
From this reading ‘You know I stopped directly when you made me a sign not to go on asking questions before the little ones.
an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
From this reading And you said you should have to make us your friends while papa and the grown-ups are away.’
by chance
From this reading ‘Well, Gillian, I know you can be discreet when you are warned, and perhaps it is best that you should know how things stand.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading ‘Please, mamma, do tell us all about it,’ said the girl.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading ‘You know I stopped directly when you made me a sign not to go on asking questions before the little ones.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading ‘Please, mamma, do tell us all about it,’ said the girl.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading ‘I should think he would be very much obliged,’ observed the boy.
a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading ‘You know I stopped directly when you made me a sign not to go on asking questions before the little ones.
be standing; be upright
From this reading ‘Well, Gillian, I know you can be discreet when you are warned, and perhaps it is best that you should know how things stand.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading ‘You know I stopped directly when you made me a sign not to go on asking questions before the little ones.
express in words
From this reading ‘Please, mamma, do tell us all about it,’ said the girl.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading ‘Well, Gillian, I know you can be discreet when you are warned, and perhaps it is best that you should know how things stand.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ‘I should think he would be very much obliged,’ observed the boy.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading ‘Well, Gillian, I know you can be discreet when you are warned, and perhaps it is best that you should know how things stand.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading ‘I should think he would be very much obliged,’ observed the boy.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ‘You know I stopped directly when you made me a sign not to go on asking questions before the little ones.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading ‘Please, mamma, do tell us all about it,’ said the girl.
precisely as stated
From this reading ‘I should think he would be very much obliged,’ observed the boy.
past form of “warn” — notify of danger, potential harm, or risk
From this reading ‘Well, Gillian, I know you can be discreet when you are warned, and perhaps it is best that you should know how things stand.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading ‘Well, Gillian, I know you can be discreet when you are warned, and perhaps it is best that you should know how things stand.
at the time that
From this reading ‘You know I stopped directly when you made me a sign not to go on asking questions before the little ones.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading And you said you should have to make us your friends while papa and the grown-ups are away.’
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading ‘I should think he would be very much obliged,’ observed the boy.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading ‘You know I stopped directly when you made me a sign not to go on asking questions before the little ones.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading And you said you should have to make us your friends while papa and the grown-ups are away.’
