adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
accustomedadjectiveUS /əˈkʌstəmd/
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
actualadjectiveUS /ˈæktʃəwəl/
presently existing in fact and not merely potential or possible
From this reading When he talked to them, it was the past speaking to the present, or rather to the future,--for the children were of a generation which had not become actual.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As yet, it was not their time to do.
assembleverbUS /əˈsembəl/
create by putting components or members together
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Their part in life, thus far, was only to be happy and to draw knowledge from a thousand sources.
becomeverbUS /bɪˈkʌm/
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading When he talked to them, it was the past speaking to the present, or rather to the future,--for the children were of a generation which had not become actual.
bedimmedadjective
made dim or indistinct
From this reading Sometimes, as Grandfather gazed at their fair, unworldly countenances, a mist of tears bedimmed his spectacles.
beholdverbUS /bɪˈhoʊld/
see with attention
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
chairnounUS /tʃer/
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
childrennounUS /ˈtʃɪldrən/
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
countenancesnounUS /ˈkaʊntənənsɪz/
plural of “countenance” — the appearance conveyed by a person's face
From this reading Sometimes, as Grandfather gazed at their fair, unworldly countenances, a mist of tears bedimmed his spectacles.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading As yet, it was not their time to do.
drawverbUS /drɔː/
cause to move by pulling
From this reading Their part in life, thus far, was only to be happy and to draw knowledge from a thousand sources.
fairadjectiveUS /fer/
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading Sometimes, as Grandfather gazed at their fair, unworldly countenances, a mist of tears bedimmed his spectacles.
faradverbUS /fɑːr/
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Their part in life, thus far, was only to be happy and to draw knowledge from a thousand sources.
floweryadjectiveUS /ˈflaʊəri/
of or relating to or suggestive of flowers
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When he talked to them, it was the past speaking to the present, or rather to the future,--for the children were of a generation which had not become actual.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Their part in life, thus far, was only to be happy and to draw knowledge from a thousand sources.
futureadjectiveUS /ˈfjuːtʃər/
yet to be or coming
From this reading When he talked to them, it was the past speaking to the present, or rather to the future,--for the children were of a generation which had not become actual.
gazedverbUS /ɡeɪzd/
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Sometimes, as Grandfather gazed at their fair, unworldly countenances, a mist of tears bedimmed his spectacles.
generationnounUS /ˌdʒenərˈeɪʃən/
all the people living at the same time or of approximately the same age
From this reading When he talked to them, it was the past speaking to the present, or rather to the future,--for the children were of a generation which had not become actual.
GrandfathernounUS /ˈɡrændfɑːðər/
the father of your father or mother
From this reading Sometimes, as Grandfather gazed at their fair, unworldly countenances, a mist of tears bedimmed his spectacles.
Grandfather'snounUS /ˈɡrændfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “grandfather” — the father of your father or mother
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When he talked to them, it was the past speaking to the present, or rather to the future,--for the children were of a generation which had not become actual.
happyadjectiveUS /ˈhæpi/
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading Their part in life, thus far, was only to be happy and to draw knowledge from a thousand sources.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When he talked to them, it was the past speaking to the present, or rather to the future,--for the children were of a generation which had not become actual.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Sometimes, as Grandfather gazed at their fair, unworldly countenances, a mist of tears bedimmed his spectacles.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Their part in life, thus far, was only to be happy and to draw knowledge from a thousand sources.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
knowledgenounUS /ˈnɑːlədʒ/
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading Their part in life, thus far, was only to be happy and to draw knowledge from a thousand sources.
lifenounUS /laɪf/
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Their part in life, thus far, was only to be happy and to draw knowledge from a thousand sources.
mistverbUS /mɪst/
become covered with mist
From this reading Sometimes, as Grandfather gazed at their fair, unworldly countenances, a mist of tears bedimmed his spectacles.
momentsnounUS /ˈmoʊmənts/
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading When he talked to them, it was the past speaking to the present, or rather to the future,--for the children were of a generation which had not become actual.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
oftenadverbUS /ˈɔːfən/
many times at short intervals
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading Their part in life, thus far, was only to be happy and to draw knowledge from a thousand sources.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading When he talked to them, it was the past speaking to the present, or rather to the future,--for the children were of a generation which had not become actual.
partnounUS /pɑːrt/
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Their part in life, thus far, was only to be happy and to draw knowledge from a thousand sources.
pastnounUS /pæst/
the time that has elapsed
From this reading When he talked to them, it was the past speaking to the present, or rather to the future,--for the children were of a generation which had not become actual.
peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
picturenounUS /ˈpɪktʃər/
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
presentverbUS /ˈprezənt/
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading When he talked to them, it was the past speaking to the present, or rather to the future,--for the children were of a generation which had not become actual.
ratheradverbUS /ˈræðər/
on the contrary
From this reading When he talked to them, it was the past speaking to the present, or rather to the future,--for the children were of a generation which had not become actual.
roundnounUS /raʊnd/
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
sireverbUS /ˈsaɪər/
make (offspring) by reproduction
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
SometimesadverbUS /səmˈtaɪmz/
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading Sometimes, as Grandfather gazed at their fair, unworldly countenances, a mist of tears bedimmed his spectacles.
sourcesnounUS /ˈsɔːrsəz/
plural of “source” — the place where something begins, where it springs into being
From this reading Their part in life, thus far, was only to be happy and to draw knowledge from a thousand sources.
speakingnounUS /ˈspiːkɪŋ/
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading When he talked to them, it was the past speaking to the present, or rather to the future,--for the children were of a generation which had not become actual.
spectaclesnounUS /ˈspektəkəlz/
(plural) optical instrument consisting of a frame that holds a pair of lenses for correcting defective vision
From this reading Sometimes, as Grandfather gazed at their fair, unworldly countenances, a mist of tears bedimmed his spectacles.
strikingadjectiveUS /ˈstraɪkɪŋ/
sensational in appearance or thrilling in effect
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
talkedverbUS /tɔːkt/
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading When he talked to them, it was the past speaking to the present, or rather to the future,--for the children were of a generation which had not become actual.
tearsnounUS /terz/
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
From this reading Sometimes, as Grandfather gazed at their fair, unworldly countenances, a mist of tears bedimmed his spectacles.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading When he talked to them, it was the past speaking to the present, or rather to the future,--for the children were of a generation which had not become actual.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
thousandnounUS /ˈθaʊzənd/
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading Their part in life, thus far, was only to be happy and to draw knowledge from a thousand sources.
thusadverbUS /ðʌs/
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading Their part in life, thus far, was only to be happy and to draw knowledge from a thousand sources.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading As yet, it was not their time to do.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
unoccupiedadjectiveUS /əˈnɑːkjəpaɪd/
not held or filled or in use
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
unworldlyadjective
not concerned with the temporal world or swayed by mundane considerations
From this reading Sometimes, as Grandfather gazed at their fair, unworldly countenances, a mist of tears bedimmed his spectacles.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When he talked to them, it was the past speaking to the present, or rather to the future,--for the children were of a generation which had not become actual.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading When he talked to them, it was the past speaking to the present, or rather to the future,--for the children were of a generation which had not become actual.
white-headed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
wreathnounUS /riːθ/
flower arrangement consisting of a circular band of foliage or flowers for ornamental purposes
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading As yet, it was not their time to do.
youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
