used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The first act of Nicholas, when he became a rich and prosperous merchant, was to buy his father's old house.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading As time crept on, and there came gradually about him a group of lovely children, it was altered and enlarged; but no tree was rooted up, nothing with which there was any association of bygone times was ever removed or changed.
perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading The first act of Nicholas, when he became a rich and prosperous merchant, was to buy his father's old house.
alteredadjectiveUS /ˈɔːltərd/
changed in form or character without becoming something else
From this reading As time crept on, and there came gradually about him a group of lovely children, it was altered and enlarged; but no tree was rooted up, nothing with which there was any association of bygone times was ever removed or changed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The first act of Nicholas, when he became a rich and prosperous merchant, was to buy his father's old house.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading As time crept on, and there came gradually about him a group of lovely children, it was altered and enlarged; but no tree was rooted up, nothing with which there was any association of bygone times was ever removed or changed.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As time crept on, and there came gradually about him a group of lovely children, it was altered and enlarged; but no tree was rooted up, nothing with which there was any association of bygone times was ever removed or changed.
associationnounUS /əˌsoʊsiˈeɪʃən/
a formal organization of people or groups of people
From this reading As time crept on, and there came gradually about him a group of lovely children, it was altered and enlarged; but no tree was rooted up, nothing with which there was any association of bygone times was ever removed or changed.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Who needs to be told that they were happy?
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading The first act of Nicholas, when he became a rich and prosperous merchant, was to buy his father's old house.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Mr. Squeers, having come within the meshes of the law over some nefarious scheme of Ralph Nickleby's, suffered transportation beyond the seas, and with his disappearance Dotheboys Hall was broken up for good.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading Mr. Squeers, having come within the meshes of the law over some nefarious scheme of Ralph Nickleby's, suffered transportation beyond the seas, and with his disappearance Dotheboys Hall was broken up for good.
plural of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading The twin brothers retired.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading As time crept on, and there came gradually about him a group of lovely children, it was altered and enlarged; but no tree was rooted up, nothing with which there was any association of bygone times was ever removed or changed.
obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction
From this reading The first act of Nicholas, when he became a rich and prosperous merchant, was to buy his father's old house.
bygonenounUS /ˈbaɪɡɔːn/
past events to be put aside
From this reading As time crept on, and there came gradually about him a group of lovely children, it was altered and enlarged; but no tree was rooted up, nothing with which there was any association of bygone times was ever removed or changed.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading As time crept on, and there came gradually about him a group of lovely children, it was altered and enlarged; but no tree was rooted up, nothing with which there was any association of bygone times was ever removed or changed.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading As time crept on, and there came gradually about him a group of lovely children, it was altered and enlarged; but no tree was rooted up, nothing with which there was any association of bygone times was ever removed or changed.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading As time crept on, and there came gradually about him a group of lovely children, it was altered and enlarged; but no tree was rooted up, nothing with which there was any association of bygone times was ever removed or changed.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Mr. Squeers, having come within the meshes of the law over some nefarious scheme of Ralph Nickleby's, suffered transportation beyond the seas, and with his disappearance Dotheboys Hall was broken up for good.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading As time crept on, and there came gradually about him a group of lovely children, it was altered and enlarged; but no tree was rooted up, nothing with which there was any association of bygone times was ever removed or changed.
disappearancenounUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɪrəns/
the act of leaving secretly or without explanation
From this reading Mr. Squeers, having come within the meshes of the law over some nefarious scheme of Ralph Nickleby's, suffered transportation beyond the seas, and with his disappearance Dotheboys Hall was broken up for good.
Dotheboys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Squeers, having come within the meshes of the law over some nefarious scheme of Ralph Nickleby's, suffered transportation beyond the seas, and with his disappearance Dotheboys Hall was broken up for good.
enlargedadjectiveUS /ˌenˈlɑːrdʒd/
(of an organ or body part) excessively enlarged as a result of increased size in the constituent cells
From this reading As time crept on, and there came gradually about him a group of lovely children, it was altered and enlarged; but no tree was rooted up, nothing with which there was any association of bygone times was ever removed or changed.
at any time
From this reading As time crept on, and there came gradually about him a group of lovely children, it was altered and enlarged; but no tree was rooted up, nothing with which there was any association of bygone times was ever removed or changed.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading The first act of Nicholas, when he became a rich and prosperous merchant, was to buy his father's old house.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The first act of Nicholas, when he became a rich and prosperous merchant, was to buy his father's old house.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Mr. Squeers, having come within the meshes of the law over some nefarious scheme of Ralph Nickleby's, suffered transportation beyond the seas, and with his disappearance Dotheboys Hall was broken up for good.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Mr. Squeers, having come within the meshes of the law over some nefarious scheme of Ralph Nickleby's, suffered transportation beyond the seas, and with his disappearance Dotheboys Hall was broken up for good.
in a gradual manner
From this reading As time crept on, and there came gradually about him a group of lovely children, it was altered and enlarged; but no tree was rooted up, nothing with which there was any association of bygone times was ever removed or changed.
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading As time crept on, and there came gradually about him a group of lovely children, it was altered and enlarged; but no tree was rooted up, nothing with which there was any association of bygone times was ever removed or changed.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading Mr. Squeers, having come within the meshes of the law over some nefarious scheme of Ralph Nickleby's, suffered transportation beyond the seas, and with his disappearance Dotheboys Hall was broken up for good.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading Who needs to be told that they were happy?
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Mr. Squeers, having come within the meshes of the law over some nefarious scheme of Ralph Nickleby's, suffered transportation beyond the seas, and with his disappearance Dotheboys Hall was broken up for good.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The first act of Nicholas, when he became a rich and prosperous merchant, was to buy his father's old house.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading As time crept on, and there came gradually about him a group of lovely children, it was altered and enlarged; but no tree was rooted up, nothing with which there was any association of bygone times was ever removed or changed.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The first act of Nicholas, when he became a rich and prosperous merchant, was to buy his father's old house.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The first act of Nicholas, when he became a rich and prosperous merchant, was to buy his father's old house.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading As time crept on, and there came gradually about him a group of lovely children, it was altered and enlarged; but no tree was rooted up, nothing with which there was any association of bygone times was ever removed or changed.
the collection of rules imposed by authority
From this reading Mr. Squeers, having come within the meshes of the law over some nefarious scheme of Ralph Nickleby's, suffered transportation beyond the seas, and with his disappearance Dotheboys Hall was broken up for good.
appealing to the emotions as well as the eye
From this reading As time crept on, and there came gradually about him a group of lovely children, it was altered and enlarged; but no tree was rooted up, nothing with which there was any association of bygone times was ever removed or changed.
A person or company involved in wholesale trade, especially with foreign countries.
From this reading The first act of Nicholas, when he became a rich and prosperous merchant, was to buy his father's old house.
meshesnounUS /ˈmeʃɪz/
plural of “mesh” — the number of openings per linear inch of a screen; measures size of particles
From this reading Mr. Squeers, having come within the meshes of the law over some nefarious scheme of Ralph Nickleby's, suffered transportation beyond the seas, and with his disappearance Dotheboys Hall was broken up for good.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Squeers, having come within the meshes of the law over some nefarious scheme of Ralph Nickleby's, suffered transportation beyond the seas, and with his disappearance Dotheboys Hall was broken up for good.
in such a manner as could not be otherwise
From this reading Who needs to be told that they were happy?
nefariousadjectiveUS /nəˈferiəs/
extremely wicked
From this reading Mr. Squeers, having come within the meshes of the law over some nefarious scheme of Ralph Nickleby's, suffered transportation beyond the seas, and with his disappearance Dotheboys Hall was broken up for good.
NicholasnounUS /ˈnɪkələs/
a bishop in Asia Minor who is associated with Santa Claus (4th century)
From this reading The first act of Nicholas, when he became a rich and prosperous merchant, was to buy his father's old house.
Nickleby's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Squeers, having come within the meshes of the law over some nefarious scheme of Ralph Nickleby's, suffered transportation beyond the seas, and with his disappearance Dotheboys Hall was broken up for good.
not any; not one
From this reading As time crept on, and there came gradually about him a group of lovely children, it was altered and enlarged; but no tree was rooted up, nothing with which there was any association of bygone times was ever removed or changed.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading As time crept on, and there came gradually about him a group of lovely children, it was altered and enlarged; but no tree was rooted up, nothing with which there was any association of bygone times was ever removed or changed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The first act of Nicholas, when he became a rich and prosperous merchant, was to buy his father's old house.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The first act of Nicholas, when he became a rich and prosperous merchant, was to buy his father's old house.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading As time crept on, and there came gradually about him a group of lovely children, it was altered and enlarged; but no tree was rooted up, nothing with which there was any association of bygone times was ever removed or changed.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading As time crept on, and there came gradually about him a group of lovely children, it was altered and enlarged; but no tree was rooted up, nothing with which there was any association of bygone times was ever removed or changed.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Mr. Squeers, having come within the meshes of the law over some nefarious scheme of Ralph Nickleby's, suffered transportation beyond the seas, and with his disappearance Dotheboys Hall was broken up for good.
prosperousadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːspərəs/
in fortunate circumstances financially; moderately rich
From this reading The first act of Nicholas, when he became a rich and prosperous merchant, was to buy his father's old house.
Ralph
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Squeers, having come within the meshes of the law over some nefarious scheme of Ralph Nickleby's, suffered transportation beyond the seas, and with his disappearance Dotheboys Hall was broken up for good.
separated in relationship by a given degree of descent
From this reading As time crept on, and there came gradually about him a group of lovely children, it was altered and enlarged; but no tree was rooted up, nothing with which there was any association of bygone times was ever removed or changed.
no longer active in your work or profession
From this reading The twin brothers retired.
possessing material wealth
From this reading The first act of Nicholas, when he became a rich and prosperous merchant, was to buy his father's old house.
rootedadjectiveUS /ˈruːtəd/
absolutely still
From this reading As time crept on, and there came gradually about him a group of lovely children, it was altered and enlarged; but no tree was rooted up, nothing with which there was any association of bygone times was ever removed or changed.
an elaborate and systematic plan of action
From this reading Mr. Squeers, having come within the meshes of the law over some nefarious scheme of Ralph Nickleby's, suffered transportation beyond the seas, and with his disappearance Dotheboys Hall was broken up for good.
seasnounUS /siːz/
plural of “sea” — a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading Mr. Squeers, having come within the meshes of the law over some nefarious scheme of Ralph Nickleby's, suffered transportation beyond the seas, and with his disappearance Dotheboys Hall was broken up for good.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Mr. Squeers, having come within the meshes of the law over some nefarious scheme of Ralph Nickleby's, suffered transportation beyond the seas, and with his disappearance Dotheboys Hall was broken up for good.
Squeers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Squeers, having come within the meshes of the law over some nefarious scheme of Ralph Nickleby's, suffered transportation beyond the seas, and with his disappearance Dotheboys Hall was broken up for good.
past form of “suffer” — undergo or be subjected to
From this reading Mr. Squeers, having come within the meshes of the law over some nefarious scheme of Ralph Nickleby's, suffered transportation beyond the seas, and with his disappearance Dotheboys Hall was broken up for good.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Who needs to be told that they were happy?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The twin brothers retired.
in or at that place or location
From this reading As time crept on, and there came gradually about him a group of lovely children, it was altered and enlarged; but no tree was rooted up, nothing with which there was any association of bygone times was ever removed or changed.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Who needs to be told that they were happy?
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading As time crept on, and there came gradually about him a group of lovely children, it was altered and enlarged; but no tree was rooted up, nothing with which there was any association of bygone times was ever removed or changed.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading As time crept on, and there came gradually about him a group of lovely children, it was altered and enlarged; but no tree was rooted up, nothing with which there was any association of bygone times was ever removed or changed.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Who needs to be told that they were happy?
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Who needs to be told that they were happy?
transportationnounUS /ˌtrænspərˈteɪʃən/
a facility consisting of the means and equipment necessary for the movement of passengers or goods
From this reading Mr. Squeers, having come within the meshes of the law over some nefarious scheme of Ralph Nickleby's, suffered transportation beyond the seas, and with his disappearance Dotheboys Hall was broken up for good.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading As time crept on, and there came gradually about him a group of lovely children, it was altered and enlarged; but no tree was rooted up, nothing with which there was any association of bygone times was ever removed or changed.
twinnounUS /twɪn/
either of two offspring born at the same time from the same pregnancy
From this reading The twin brothers retired.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading As time crept on, and there came gradually about him a group of lovely children, it was altered and enlarged; but no tree was rooted up, nothing with which there was any association of bygone times was ever removed or changed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The first act of Nicholas, when he became a rich and prosperous merchant, was to buy his father's old house.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Who needs to be told that they were happy?
at the time that
From this reading The first act of Nicholas, when he became a rich and prosperous merchant, was to buy his father's old house.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading As time crept on, and there came gradually about him a group of lovely children, it was altered and enlarged; but no tree was rooted up, nothing with which there was any association of bygone times was ever removed or changed.
which person or people
From this reading Who needs to be told that they were happy?
in the company of; together with
From this reading As time crept on, and there came gradually about him a group of lovely children, it was altered and enlarged; but no tree was rooted up, nothing with which there was any association of bygone times was ever removed or changed.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Mr. Squeers, having come within the meshes of the law over some nefarious scheme of Ralph Nickleby's, suffered transportation beyond the seas, and with his disappearance Dotheboys Hall was broken up for good.
