adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Desire was seated upon a moss-covered rock, hugging her knees and gazing out to sea.
accordingadjectiveUS /əˈkɔːrdɪŋ/
(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with
From this reading It was her favorite attitude and, according to Professor Spence, a very dangerous one, especially in connection with a moss-covered rock.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The best he could do was to select another rock, not so slippery, and to provide an object lesson as to the proper way of sitting upon it.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Desire was seated upon a moss-covered rock, hugging her knees and gazing out to sea.
anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading The best he could do was to select another rock, not so slippery, and to provide an object lesson as to the proper way of sitting upon it.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The best he could do was to select another rock, not so slippery, and to provide an object lesson as to the proper way of sitting upon it.
attitudenounUS /ˈætətuːd/
a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways
From this reading It was her favorite attitude and, according to Professor Spence, a very dangerous one, especially in connection with a moss-covered rock.
AuntnounUS /ænt/
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading Aunt Caroline was fussy.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He would have liked to point out this obvious fact but that would have been fussy--and fussy the professor was firmly determined not to be.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He would have liked to point out this obvious fact but that would have been fussy--and fussy the professor was firmly determined not to be.
bestnounUS /best/
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading The best he could do was to select another rock, not so slippery, and to provide an object lesson as to the proper way of sitting upon it.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He would have liked to point out this obvious fact but that would have been fussy--and fussy the professor was firmly determined not to be.
CarolineadjectiveUS /ˈkerəlaɪn/
of or relating to the life and times of kings Charles I or Charles II of England
From this reading Aunt Caroline was fussy.
connectionnounUS /kəˈnekʃən/
a relation between things or events (as in the case of one causing the other or sharing features with it)
From this reading It was her favorite attitude and, according to Professor Spence, a very dangerous one, especially in connection with a moss-covered rock.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The best he could do was to select another rock, not so slippery, and to provide an object lesson as to the proper way of sitting upon it.
dangerousadjectiveUS /ˈdeɪndʒərəs/
involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm
From this reading It was her favorite attitude and, according to Professor Spence, a very dangerous one, especially in connection with a moss-covered rock.
DesirenounUS /dɪˈzaɪər/
the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state
From this reading Desire was seated upon a moss-covered rock, hugging her knees and gazing out to sea.
determinedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtɜːrmənd/
characterized by great determination
From this reading He would have liked to point out this obvious fact but that would have been fussy--and fussy the professor was firmly determined not to be.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading The best he could do was to select another rock, not so slippery, and to provide an object lesson as to the proper way of sitting upon it.
especiallyadverbUS /əˈspeʃli/
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading It was her favorite attitude and, according to Professor Spence, a very dangerous one, especially in connection with a moss-covered rock.
factnounUS /fækt/
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading He would have liked to point out this obvious fact but that would have been fussy--and fussy the professor was firmly determined not to be.
favoritenounUS /ˈfeɪvərɪt/
something regarded with special favor or liking
From this reading It was her favorite attitude and, according to Professor Spence, a very dangerous one, especially in connection with a moss-covered rock.
firmlyadverbUS /ˈfɜːrmli/
with resolute determination
From this reading He would have liked to point out this obvious fact but that would have been fussy--and fussy the professor was firmly determined not to be.
fussyadjectiveUS /ˈfʌsi/
annoyed and irritable
From this reading He would have liked to point out this obvious fact but that would have been fussy--and fussy the professor was firmly determined not to be.
gazingverbUS /ˈɡeɪzɪŋ/
-ing form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Desire was seated upon a moss-covered rock, hugging her knees and gazing out to sea.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He would have liked to point out this obvious fact but that would have been fussy--and fussy the professor was firmly determined not to be.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He would have liked to point out this obvious fact but that would have been fussy--and fussy the professor was firmly determined not to be.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Desire was seated upon a moss-covered rock, hugging her knees and gazing out to sea.
huggingnounUS /ˈhʌɡɪŋ/
affectionate play (or foreplay without contact with the genital organs)
From this reading Desire was seated upon a moss-covered rock, hugging her knees and gazing out to sea.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was her favorite attitude and, according to Professor Spence, a very dangerous one, especially in connection with a moss-covered rock.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was her favorite attitude and, according to Professor Spence, a very dangerous one, especially in connection with a moss-covered rock.
kneesnounUS /niːz/
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading Desire was seated upon a moss-covered rock, hugging her knees and gazing out to sea.
lessonnounUS /ˈlesən/
a unit of instruction
From this reading The best he could do was to select another rock, not so slippery, and to provide an object lesson as to the proper way of sitting upon it.
likedadjectiveUS /laɪkt/
found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form
From this reading He would have liked to point out this obvious fact but that would have been fussy--and fussy the professor was firmly determined not to be.
moss-covered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Desire was seated upon a moss-covered rock, hugging her knees and gazing out to sea.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He would have liked to point out this obvious fact but that would have been fussy--and fussy the professor was firmly determined not to be.
objectnounUS /ˈɑːbdʒekt/
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading The best he could do was to select another rock, not so slippery, and to provide an object lesson as to the proper way of sitting upon it.
obviousadjectiveUS /ˈɑːbviəs/
easily perceived by the senses or grasped by the mind
From this reading He would have liked to point out this obvious fact but that would have been fussy--and fussy the professor was firmly determined not to be.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The best he could do was to select another rock, not so slippery, and to provide an object lesson as to the proper way of sitting upon it.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was her favorite attitude and, according to Professor Spence, a very dangerous one, especially in connection with a moss-covered rock.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Desire was seated upon a moss-covered rock, hugging her knees and gazing out to sea.
pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading He would have liked to point out this obvious fact but that would have been fussy--and fussy the professor was firmly determined not to be.
ProfessornounUS /prəˈfesər/
someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university
From this reading It was her favorite attitude and, according to Professor Spence, a very dangerous one, especially in connection with a moss-covered rock.
properadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːpər/
marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness
From this reading The best he could do was to select another rock, not so slippery, and to provide an object lesson as to the proper way of sitting upon it.
provideverbUS /prəˈvaɪd/
give something useful or necessary to
From this reading The best he could do was to select another rock, not so slippery, and to provide an object lesson as to the proper way of sitting upon it.
rocknounUS /rɑːk/
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Desire was seated upon a moss-covered rock, hugging her knees and gazing out to sea.
seanounUS /siː/
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading Desire was seated upon a moss-covered rock, hugging her knees and gazing out to sea.
seatedadjectiveUS /ˈsiːtɪd/
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading Desire was seated upon a moss-covered rock, hugging her knees and gazing out to sea.
selectadjectiveUS /səˈlekt/
of superior grade
From this reading The best he could do was to select another rock, not so slippery, and to provide an object lesson as to the proper way of sitting upon it.
sittingnounUS /ˈsɪtɪŋ/
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading The best he could do was to select another rock, not so slippery, and to provide an object lesson as to the proper way of sitting upon it.
slipperyadjectiveUS /ˈslɪpəri/
causing or tending to cause things to slip or slide
From this reading The best he could do was to select another rock, not so slippery, and to provide an object lesson as to the proper way of sitting upon it.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The best he could do was to select another rock, not so slippery, and to provide an object lesson as to the proper way of sitting upon it.
Spence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was her favorite attitude and, according to Professor Spence, a very dangerous one, especially in connection with a moss-covered rock.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He would have liked to point out this obvious fact but that would have been fussy--and fussy the professor was firmly determined not to be.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He would have liked to point out this obvious fact but that would have been fussy--and fussy the professor was firmly determined not to be.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He would have liked to point out this obvious fact but that would have been fussy--and fussy the professor was firmly determined not to be.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Desire was seated upon a moss-covered rock, hugging her knees and gazing out to sea.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Desire was seated upon a moss-covered rock, hugging her knees and gazing out to sea.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading It was her favorite attitude and, according to Professor Spence, a very dangerous one, especially in connection with a moss-covered rock.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Desire was seated upon a moss-covered rock, hugging her knees and gazing out to sea.
waynounUS /weɪ/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The best he could do was to select another rock, not so slippery, and to provide an object lesson as to the proper way of sitting upon it.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was her favorite attitude and, according to Professor Spence, a very dangerous one, especially in connection with a moss-covered rock.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He would have liked to point out this obvious fact but that would have been fussy--and fussy the professor was firmly determined not to be.
