aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading For several days Basil appeared pre-occupied and went about with an anxious look on his face, while Porter seemed keeping out of the way as much as possible.
an unfortunate mishap; especially one causing damage or injury
From this reading It was only by accident, however, that she made the discovery of what was affecting the two brothers.
affectingadjectiveUS /əˈfektɪŋ/
arousing affect
From this reading It was only by accident, however, that she made the discovery of what was affecting the two brothers.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading For several days Basil appeared pre-occupied and went about with an anxious look on his face, while Porter seemed keeping out of the way as much as possible.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For several days Basil appeared pre-occupied and went about with an anxious look on his face, while Porter seemed keeping out of the way as much as possible.
eagerly desirous
From this reading For several days Basil appeared pre-occupied and went about with an anxious look on his face, while Porter seemed keeping out of the way as much as possible.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading For several days Basil appeared pre-occupied and went about with an anxious look on his face, while Porter seemed keeping out of the way as much as possible.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading For several days Basil appeared pre-occupied and went about with an anxious look on his face, while Porter seemed keeping out of the way as much as possible.
BasilnounUS /ˈbæzəl/
any of several Old World tropical aromatic annual or perennial herbs of the genus Ocimum
From this reading For several days Basil appeared pre-occupied and went about with an anxious look on his face, while Porter seemed keeping out of the way as much as possible.
Basil's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Persis, with her quick sympathies, saw that something was wrong, and, following Basil’s hint, did keep her eyes open.
plural of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading It was only by accident, however, that she made the discovery of what was affecting the two brothers.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was only by accident, however, that she made the discovery of what was affecting the two brothers.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading One cold day in January she and Mellicent were sitting in the cosey corner Persis called her very own.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading One cold day in January she and Mellicent were sitting in the cosey corner Persis called her very own.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading One cold day in January she and Mellicent were sitting in the cosey corner Persis called her very own.
cosey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One cold day in January she and Mellicent were sitting in the cosey corner Persis called her very own.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading One cold day in January she and Mellicent were sitting in the cosey corner Persis called her very own.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading For several days Basil appeared pre-occupied and went about with an anxious look on his face, while Porter seemed keeping out of the way as much as possible.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Persis, with her quick sympathies, saw that something was wrong, and, following Basil’s hint, did keep her eyes open.
the act of discovering something
From this reading It was only by accident, however, that she made the discovery of what was affecting the two brothers.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Persis, with her quick sympathies, saw that something was wrong, and, following Basil’s hint, did keep her eyes open.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading For several days Basil appeared pre-occupied and went about with an anxious look on his face, while Porter seemed keeping out of the way as much as possible.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading Persis, with her quick sympathies, saw that something was wrong, and, following Basil’s hint, did keep her eyes open.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading TROUBLE FOR TWO.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Persis, with her quick sympathies, saw that something was wrong, and, following Basil’s hint, did keep her eyes open.
an indirect suggestion
From this reading Persis, with her quick sympathies, saw that something was wrong, and, following Basil’s hint, did keep her eyes open.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading For several days Basil appeared pre-occupied and went about with an anxious look on his face, while Porter seemed keeping out of the way as much as possible.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading It was only by accident, however, that she made the discovery of what was affecting the two brothers.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading One cold day in January she and Mellicent were sitting in the cosey corner Persis called her very own.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was only by accident, however, that she made the discovery of what was affecting the two brothers.
JanuarynounUS /ˈdʒænjuːeri/
the first month of the year; begins 10 days after the winter solstice
From this reading One cold day in January she and Mellicent were sitting in the cosey corner Persis called her very own.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Persis, with her quick sympathies, saw that something was wrong, and, following Basil’s hint, did keep her eyes open.
conformity or harmony
From this reading For several days Basil appeared pre-occupied and went about with an anxious look on his face, while Porter seemed keeping out of the way as much as possible.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading For several days Basil appeared pre-occupied and went about with an anxious look on his face, while Porter seemed keeping out of the way as much as possible.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading It was only by accident, however, that she made the discovery of what was affecting the two brothers.
Mellicent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One cold day in January she and Mellicent were sitting in the cosey corner Persis called her very own.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading For several days Basil appeared pre-occupied and went about with an anxious look on his face, while Porter seemed keeping out of the way as much as possible.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For several days Basil appeared pre-occupied and went about with an anxious look on his face, while Porter seemed keeping out of the way as much as possible.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading For several days Basil appeared pre-occupied and went about with an anxious look on his face, while Porter seemed keeping out of the way as much as possible.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One cold day in January she and Mellicent were sitting in the cosey corner Persis called her very own.
and nothing more
From this reading It was only by accident, however, that she made the discovery of what was affecting the two brothers.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Persis, with her quick sympathies, saw that something was wrong, and, following Basil’s hint, did keep her eyes open.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading For several days Basil appeared pre-occupied and went about with an anxious look on his face, while Porter seemed keeping out of the way as much as possible.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading One cold day in January she and Mellicent were sitting in the cosey corner Persis called her very own.
Persis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Persis, with her quick sympathies, saw that something was wrong, and, following Basil’s hint, did keep her eyes open.
PorternounUS /ˈpɔːrtər/
a person employed to carry luggage and supplies
From this reading For several days Basil appeared pre-occupied and went about with an anxious look on his face, while Porter seemed keeping out of the way as much as possible.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading For several days Basil appeared pre-occupied and went about with an anxious look on his face, while Porter seemed keeping out of the way as much as possible.
pre-occupied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For several days Basil appeared pre-occupied and went about with an anxious look on his face, while Porter seemed keeping out of the way as much as possible.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading Persis, with her quick sympathies, saw that something was wrong, and, following Basil’s hint, did keep her eyes open.
cut with a saw
From this reading Persis, with her quick sympathies, saw that something was wrong, and, following Basil’s hint, did keep her eyes open.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading For several days Basil appeared pre-occupied and went about with an anxious look on his face, while Porter seemed keeping out of the way as much as possible.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading For several days Basil appeared pre-occupied and went about with an anxious look on his face, while Porter seemed keeping out of the way as much as possible.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was only by accident, however, that she made the discovery of what was affecting the two brothers.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading One cold day in January she and Mellicent were sitting in the cosey corner Persis called her very own.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Persis, with her quick sympathies, saw that something was wrong, and, following Basil’s hint, did keep her eyes open.
sympathiesnounUS /ˈsɪmpəθiz/
plural of “sympathy” — an inclination to support or be loyal to or to agree with an opinion
From this reading Persis, with her quick sympathies, saw that something was wrong, and, following Basil’s hint, did keep her eyes open.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Persis, with her quick sympathies, saw that something was wrong, and, following Basil’s hint, did keep her eyes open.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For several days Basil appeared pre-occupied and went about with an anxious look on his face, while Porter seemed keeping out of the way as much as possible.
a source of difficulty
From this reading TROUBLE FOR TWO.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading TROUBLE FOR TWO.
precisely as stated
From this reading One cold day in January she and Mellicent were sitting in the cosey corner Persis called her very own.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Persis, with her quick sympathies, saw that something was wrong, and, following Basil’s hint, did keep her eyes open.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading For several days Basil appeared pre-occupied and went about with an anxious look on his face, while Porter seemed keeping out of the way as much as possible.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading For several days Basil appeared pre-occupied and went about with an anxious look on his face, while Porter seemed keeping out of the way as much as possible.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading One cold day in January she and Mellicent were sitting in the cosey corner Persis called her very own.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading It was only by accident, however, that she made the discovery of what was affecting the two brothers.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading For several days Basil appeared pre-occupied and went about with an anxious look on his face, while Porter seemed keeping out of the way as much as possible.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For several days Basil appeared pre-occupied and went about with an anxious look on his face, while Porter seemed keeping out of the way as much as possible.
not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
From this reading Persis, with her quick sympathies, saw that something was wrong, and, following Basil’s hint, did keep her eyes open.
