used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Confound the Christmas tree!" grumbled Mr. Wedmore, as he stumbled over a parcel of fluffy rabbits, whose heads screwed off to permit the insertion of sweets.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading By this time Dudley had recovered himself a little, and was able to answer the question Mr. Wedmore now put to him.
declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
From this reading And Doreen, with one watchful eye on Dudley all the time, made a lane through her boxes and her hampers to admit the passage of her father to a chair.
(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 And Doreen, with one watchful eye on Dudley all the time, made a lane through her boxes and her hampers to admit the passage of her father to a chair.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And Doreen, with one watchful eye on Dudley all the time, made a lane through her boxes and her hampers to admit the passage of her father to a chair.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading ONE MAN'S LOSS is ANOTHER MAN'S GAIN.
react verbally
From this reading By this time Dudley had recovered himself a little, and was able to answer the question Mr. Wedmore now put to him.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Confound the Christmas tree!" grumbled Mr. Wedmore, as he stumbled over a parcel of fluffy rabbits, whose heads screwed off to permit the insertion of sweets.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Oh, papa, you'll be saying 'Confound Christmas' next!"
boxesnounUS /ˈbɑːksəz/
plural of “box” — a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading And Doreen, with one watchful eye on Dudley all the time, made a lane through her boxes and her hampers to admit the passage of her father to a chair.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By this time Dudley had recovered himself a little, and was able to answer the question Mr. Wedmore now put to him.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading And Doreen, with one watchful eye on Dudley all the time, made a lane through her boxes and her hampers to admit the passage of her father to a chair.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading "Confound the Christmas tree!" grumbled Mr. Wedmore, as he stumbled over a parcel of fluffy rabbits, whose heads screwed off to permit the insertion of sweets.
ConfoundverbUS /kɑːnˈfaʊnd/
be confusing or perplexing to; cause to be unable to think clearly
From this reading "Confound the Christmas tree!" grumbled Mr. Wedmore, as he stumbled over a parcel of fluffy rabbits, whose heads screwed off to permit the insertion of sweets.
Doreen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Doreen, with one watchful eye on Dudley all the time, made a lane through her boxes and her hampers to admit the passage of her father to a chair.
Dudley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Doreen, with one watchful eye on Dudley all the time, made a lane through her boxes and her hampers to admit the passage of her father to a chair.
the organ of sight
From this reading And Doreen, with one watchful eye on Dudley all the time, made a lane through her boxes and her hampers to admit the passage of her father to a chair.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading And Doreen, with one watchful eye on Dudley all the time, made a lane through her boxes and her hampers to admit the passage of her father to a chair.
fluffyadjectiveUS /ˈflʌfi/
like down or as soft as down
From this reading "Confound the Christmas tree!" grumbled Mr. Wedmore, as he stumbled over a parcel of fluffy rabbits, whose heads screwed off to permit the insertion of sweets.
obtain
From this reading ONE MAN'S LOSS is ANOTHER MAN'S GAIN.
grumbledverbUS /ˈɡrʌmbəld/
past form of “grumble” — show one's unhappiness or critical attitude
From this reading "Confound the Christmas tree!" grumbled Mr. Wedmore, as he stumbled over a parcel of fluffy rabbits, whose heads screwed off to permit the insertion of sweets.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading By this time Dudley had recovered himself a little, and was able to answer the question Mr. Wedmore now put to him.
hampersnounUS /ˈhæmpərz/
plural of “hamper” — a restraint that confines or restricts freedom (especially something used to tie down or restrain a prisoner)
From this reading And Doreen, with one watchful eye on Dudley all the time, made a lane through her boxes and her hampers to admit the passage of her father to a chair.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Confound the Christmas tree!" grumbled Mr. Wedmore, as he stumbled over a parcel of fluffy rabbits, whose heads screwed off to permit the insertion of sweets.
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading "Confound the Christmas tree!" grumbled Mr. Wedmore, as he stumbled over a parcel of fluffy rabbits, whose heads screwed off to permit the insertion of sweets.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading And Doreen, with one watchful eye on Dudley all the time, made a lane through her boxes and her hampers to admit the passage of her father to a chair.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading By this time Dudley had recovered himself a little, and was able to answer the question Mr. Wedmore now put to him.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading By this time Dudley had recovered himself a little, and was able to answer the question Mr. Wedmore now put to him.
insertionnounUS /ˌɪnˈsɜːrʃən/
a message (spoken or written) that is introduced or inserted
From this reading "Confound the Christmas tree!" grumbled Mr. Wedmore, as he stumbled over a parcel of fluffy rabbits, whose heads screwed off to permit the insertion of sweets.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ONE MAN'S LOSS is ANOTHER MAN'S GAIN.
a narrow way or road
From this reading And Doreen, with one watchful eye on Dudley all the time, made a lane through her boxes and her hampers to admit the passage of her father to a chair.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading By this time Dudley had recovered himself a little, and was able to answer the question Mr. Wedmore now put to him.
something that is lost
From this reading ONE MAN'S LOSS is ANOTHER MAN'S GAIN.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading And Doreen, with one watchful eye on Dudley all the time, made a lane through her boxes and her hampers to admit the passage of her father to a chair.
MAN'SnounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading ONE MAN'S LOSS is ANOTHER MAN'S GAIN.
a form of address for a man
From this reading "Confound the Christmas tree!" grumbled Mr. Wedmore, as he stumbled over a parcel of fluffy rabbits, whose heads screwed off to permit the insertion of sweets.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading "Oh, papa, you'll be saying 'Confound Christmas' next!"
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading By this time Dudley had recovered himself a little, and was able to answer the question Mr. Wedmore now put to him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Confound the Christmas tree!" grumbled Mr. Wedmore, as he stumbled over a parcel of fluffy rabbits, whose heads screwed off to permit the insertion of sweets.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading "Confound the Christmas tree!" grumbled Mr. Wedmore, as he stumbled over a parcel of fluffy rabbits, whose heads screwed off to permit the insertion of sweets.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading "Oh, papa, you'll be saying 'Confound Christmas' next!"
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading And Doreen, with one watchful eye on Dudley all the time, made a lane through her boxes and her hampers to admit the passage of her father to a chair.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading ONE MAN'S LOSS is ANOTHER MAN'S GAIN.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading "Confound the Christmas tree!" grumbled Mr. Wedmore, as he stumbled over a parcel of fluffy rabbits, whose heads screwed off to permit the insertion of sweets.
an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
From this reading "Oh, papa, you'll be saying 'Confound Christmas' next!"
parcelnounUS /ˈpɑːrsəl/
a wrapped container
From this reading "Confound the Christmas tree!" grumbled Mr. Wedmore, as he stumbled over a parcel of fluffy rabbits, whose heads screwed off to permit the insertion of sweets.
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading And Doreen, with one watchful eye on Dudley all the time, made a lane through her boxes and her hampers to admit the passage of her father to a chair.
a legal document giving official permission to do something
From this reading "Confound the Christmas tree!" grumbled Mr. Wedmore, as he stumbled over a parcel of fluffy rabbits, whose heads screwed off to permit the insertion of sweets.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading By this time Dudley had recovered himself a little, and was able to answer the question Mr. Wedmore now put to him.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading By this time Dudley had recovered himself a little, and was able to answer the question Mr. Wedmore now put to him.
rabbitsnounUS /ˈræbəts/
plural of “rabbit” — any of various burrowing animals of the family Leporidae having long ears and short tails; some domesticated and raised for pets or food
From this reading "Confound the Christmas tree!" grumbled Mr. Wedmore, as he stumbled over a parcel of fluffy rabbits, whose heads screwed off to permit the insertion of sweets.
freed from illness or injury
From this reading By this time Dudley had recovered himself a little, and was able to answer the question Mr. Wedmore now put to him.
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading "Oh, papa, you'll be saying 'Confound Christmas' next!"
screwedverbUS /skruːd/
past form of “screw” — have sexual intercourse with
From this reading "Confound the Christmas tree!" grumbled Mr. Wedmore, as he stumbled over a parcel of fluffy rabbits, whose heads screwed off to permit the insertion of sweets.
stumbledverbUS /ˈstʌmbəld/
past form of “stumble” — walk unsteadily
From this reading "Confound the Christmas tree!" grumbled Mr. Wedmore, as he stumbled over a parcel of fluffy rabbits, whose heads screwed off to permit the insertion of sweets.
sweetsnounUS /swiːts/
plural of “sweet” — English phonetician; one of the founders of modern phonetics (1845-1912)
From this reading "Confound the Christmas tree!" grumbled Mr. Wedmore, as he stumbled over a parcel of fluffy rabbits, whose heads screwed off to permit the insertion of sweets.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Confound the Christmas tree!" grumbled Mr. Wedmore, as he stumbled over a parcel of fluffy rabbits, whose heads screwed off to permit the insertion of sweets.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading By this time Dudley had recovered himself a little, and was able to answer the question Mr. Wedmore now put to him.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading And Doreen, with one watchful eye on Dudley all the time, made a lane through her boxes and her hampers to admit the passage of her father to a chair.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading And Doreen, with one watchful eye on Dudley all the time, made a lane through her boxes and her hampers to admit the passage of her father to a chair.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Confound the Christmas tree!" grumbled Mr. Wedmore, as he stumbled over a parcel of fluffy rabbits, whose heads screwed off to permit the insertion of sweets.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading "Confound the Christmas tree!" grumbled Mr. Wedmore, as he stumbled over a parcel of fluffy rabbits, whose heads screwed off to permit the insertion of sweets.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading By this time Dudley had recovered himself a little, and was able to answer the question Mr. Wedmore now put to him.
watchfuladjectiveUS /ˈwɑːtʃfəl/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading And Doreen, with one watchful eye on Dudley all the time, made a lane through her boxes and her hampers to admit the passage of her father to a chair.
Wedmore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Confound the Christmas tree!" grumbled Mr. Wedmore, as he stumbled over a parcel of fluffy rabbits, whose heads screwed off to permit the insertion of sweets.
belonging to which person
From this reading "Confound the Christmas tree!" grumbled Mr. Wedmore, as he stumbled over a parcel of fluffy rabbits, whose heads screwed off to permit the insertion of sweets.
in the company of; together with
From this reading And Doreen, with one watchful eye on Dudley all the time, made a lane through her boxes and her hampers to admit the passage of her father to a chair.
you'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Oh, papa, you'll be saying 'Confound Christmas' next!"
