used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When Hilda, Harold, and Hector were still very young indeed the Queen, their mother, was obliged to make a long journey to a far-off country, and to leave her children behind her.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading But before going she took them in her arms and said, 'My darlings, though I must leave you, you will not be left alone, either by night or by day.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE AUNT, THE CAT, AND THE DWARF.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading While you are awake you will be protected by a beautiful white cat that I shall send to you, named Tom; and while you are asleep your fairy aunt will keep watch over you; you will not see her, but you will know that she is with you by your pleasant dreams.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading But before going she took them in her arms and said, 'My darlings, though I must leave you, you will not be left alone, either by night or by day.
in a state of sleep
From this reading While you are awake you will be protected by a beautiful white cat that I shall send to you, named Tom; and while you are asleep your fairy aunt will keep watch over you; you will not see her, but you will know that she is with you by your pleasant dreams.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Only at one hour of the day will you be left unguarded, and that is the hour before sunset.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading THE AUNT, THE CAT, AND THE DWARF.
awakeadjectiveUS /əˈweɪk/
not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
From this reading While you are awake you will be protected by a beautiful white cat that I shall send to you, named Tom; and while you are asleep your fairy aunt will keep watch over you; you will not see her, but you will know that she is with you by your pleasant dreams.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But before going she took them in her arms and said, 'My darlings, though I must leave you, you will not be left alone, either by night or by day.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading While you are awake you will be protected by a beautiful white cat that I shall send to you, named Tom; and while you are asleep your fairy aunt will keep watch over you; you will not see her, but you will know that she is with you by your pleasant dreams.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading But before going she took them in her arms and said, 'My darlings, though I must leave you, you will not be left alone, either by night or by day.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading When Hilda, Harold, and Hector were still very young indeed the Queen, their mother, was obliged to make a long journey to a far-off country, and to leave her children behind her.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But before going she took them in her arms and said, 'My darlings, though I must leave you, you will not be left alone, either by night or by day.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But before going she took them in her arms and said, 'My darlings, though I must leave you, you will not be left alone, either by night or by day.
feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
From this reading THE AUNT, THE CAT, AND THE DWARF.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading When Hilda, Harold, and Hector were still very young indeed the Queen, their mother, was obliged to make a long journey to a far-off country, and to leave her children behind her.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading When Hilda, Harold, and Hector were still very young indeed the Queen, their mother, was obliged to make a long journey to a far-off country, and to leave her children behind her.
darlingsnounUS /ˈdɑːrlɪŋz/
plural of “darling” — a special loved one
From this reading But before going she took them in her arms and said, 'My darlings, though I must leave you, you will not be left alone, either by night or by day.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading But before going she took them in her arms and said, 'My darlings, though I must leave you, you will not be left alone, either by night or by day.
plural of “dream” — a series of mental images and emotions occurring during sleep
From this reading While you are awake you will be protected by a beautiful white cat that I shall send to you, named Tom; and while you are asleep your fairy aunt will keep watch over you; you will not see her, but you will know that she is with you by your pleasant dreams.
DWARFnounUS /dwɔːrf/
a person who is markedly small
From this reading THE AUNT, THE CAT, AND THE DWARF.
one or the other of two
From this reading But before going she took them in her arms and said, 'My darlings, though I must leave you, you will not be left alone, either by night or by day.
a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers
From this reading While you are awake you will be protected by a beautiful white cat that I shall send to you, named Tom; and while you are asleep your fairy aunt will keep watch over you; you will not see her, but you will know that she is with you by your pleasant dreams.
far-offadjective
very far away in space or time
From this reading When Hilda, Harold, and Hector were still very young indeed the Queen, their mother, was obliged to make a long journey to a far-off country, and to leave her children behind her.
the act of departing
From this reading But before going she took them in her arms and said, 'My darlings, though I must leave you, you will not be left alone, either by night or by day.
Harold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Hilda, Harold, and Hector were still very young indeed the Queen, their mother, was obliged to make a long journey to a far-off country, and to leave her children behind her.
HectornounUS /ˈhektər/
(Greek mythology) a mythical Trojan who was killed by Achilles during the Trojan War
From this reading When Hilda, Harold, and Hector were still very young indeed the Queen, their mother, was obliged to make a long journey to a far-off country, and to leave her children behind her.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When Hilda, Harold, and Hector were still very young indeed the Queen, their mother, was obliged to make a long journey to a far-off country, and to leave her children behind her.
Hilda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Hilda, Harold, and Hector were still very young indeed the Queen, their mother, was obliged to make a long journey to a far-off country, and to leave her children behind her.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading Only at one hour of the day will you be left unguarded, and that is the hour before sunset.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading But before going she took them in her arms and said, 'My darlings, though I must leave you, you will not be left alone, either by night or by day.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But before going she took them in her arms and said, 'My darlings, though I must leave you, you will not be left alone, either by night or by day.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading When Hilda, Harold, and Hector were still very young indeed the Queen, their mother, was obliged to make a long journey to a far-off country, and to leave her children behind her.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading While you are awake you will be protected by a beautiful white cat that I shall send to you, named Tom; and while you are asleep your fairy aunt will keep watch over you; you will not see her, but you will know that she is with you by your pleasant dreams.
undertake a journey or trip
From this reading When Hilda, Harold, and Hector were still very young indeed the Queen, their mother, was obliged to make a long journey to a far-off country, and to leave her children behind her.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading While you are awake you will be protected by a beautiful white cat that I shall send to you, named Tom; and while you are asleep your fairy aunt will keep watch over you; you will not see her, but you will know that she is with you by your pleasant dreams.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading While you are awake you will be protected by a beautiful white cat that I shall send to you, named Tom; and while you are asleep your fairy aunt will keep watch over you; you will not see her, but you will know that she is with you by your pleasant dreams.
go away from a place
From this reading When Hilda, Harold, and Hector were still very young indeed the Queen, their mother, was obliged to make a long journey to a far-off country, and to leave her children behind her.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading But before going she took them in her arms and said, 'My darlings, though I must leave you, you will not be left alone, either by night or by day.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading When Hilda, Harold, and Hector were still very young indeed the Queen, their mother, was obliged to make a long journey to a far-off country, and to leave her children behind her.
engage in
From this reading When Hilda, Harold, and Hector were still very young indeed the Queen, their mother, was obliged to make a long journey to a far-off country, and to leave her children behind her.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading When Hilda, Harold, and Hector were still very young indeed the Queen, their mother, was obliged to make a long journey to a far-off country, and to leave her children behind her.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading But before going she took them in her arms and said, 'My darlings, though I must leave you, you will not be left alone, either by night or by day.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading But before going she took them in her arms and said, 'My darlings, though I must leave you, you will not be left alone, either by night or by day.
past form of “name” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading While you are awake you will be protected by a beautiful white cat that I shall send to you, named Tom; and while you are asleep your fairy aunt will keep watch over you; you will not see her, but you will know that she is with you by your pleasant dreams.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading But before going she took them in her arms and said, 'My darlings, though I must leave you, you will not be left alone, either by night or by day.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But before going she took them in her arms and said, 'My darlings, though I must leave you, you will not be left alone, either by night or by day.
under a moral obligation to do something
From this reading When Hilda, Harold, and Hector were still very young indeed the Queen, their mother, was obliged to make a long journey to a far-off country, and to leave her children behind her.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Only at one hour of the day will you be left unguarded, and that is the hour before sunset.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Only at one hour of the day will you be left unguarded, and that is the hour before sunset.
and nothing more
From this reading Only at one hour of the day will you be left unguarded, and that is the hour before sunset.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading But before going she took them in her arms and said, 'My darlings, though I must leave you, you will not be left alone, either by night or by day.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading While you are awake you will be protected by a beautiful white cat that I shall send to you, named Tom; and while you are asleep your fairy aunt will keep watch over you; you will not see her, but you will know that she is with you by your pleasant dreams.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading While you are awake you will be protected by a beautiful white cat that I shall send to you, named Tom; and while you are asleep your fairy aunt will keep watch over you; you will not see her, but you will know that she is with you by your pleasant dreams.
protectedadjectiveUS /prəˈtektɪd/
kept safe or defended from danger or injury or loss
From this reading While you are awake you will be protected by a beautiful white cat that I shall send to you, named Tom; and while you are asleep your fairy aunt will keep watch over you; you will not see her, but you will know that she is with you by your pleasant dreams.
the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs
From this reading When Hilda, Harold, and Hector were still very young indeed the Queen, their mother, was obliged to make a long journey to a far-off country, and to leave her children behind her.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading But before going she took them in her arms and said, 'My darlings, though I must leave you, you will not be left alone, either by night or by day.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading While you are awake you will be protected by a beautiful white cat that I shall send to you, named Tom; and while you are asleep your fairy aunt will keep watch over you; you will not see her, but you will know that she is with you by your pleasant dreams.
cause to go somewhere
From this reading While you are awake you will be protected by a beautiful white cat that I shall send to you, named Tom; and while you are asleep your fairy aunt will keep watch over you; you will not see her, but you will know that she is with you by your pleasant dreams.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading While you are awake you will be protected by a beautiful white cat that I shall send to you, named Tom; and while you are asleep your fairy aunt will keep watch over you; you will not see her, but you will know that she is with you by your pleasant dreams.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But before going she took them in her arms and said, 'My darlings, though I must leave you, you will not be left alone, either by night or by day.
not in physical motion
From this reading When Hilda, Harold, and Hector were still very young indeed the Queen, their mother, was obliged to make a long journey to a far-off country, and to leave her children behind her.
the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon
From this reading Only at one hour of the day will you be left unguarded, and that is the hour before sunset.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading While you are awake you will be protected by a beautiful white cat that I shall send to you, named Tom; and while you are asleep your fairy aunt will keep watch over you; you will not see her, but you will know that she is with you by your pleasant dreams.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE AUNT, THE CAT, AND THE DWARF.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading When Hilda, Harold, and Hector were still very young indeed the Queen, their mother, was obliged to make a long journey to a far-off country, and to leave her children behind her.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But before going she took them in her arms and said, 'My darlings, though I must leave you, you will not be left alone, either by night or by day.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading But before going she took them in her arms and said, 'My darlings, though I must leave you, you will not be left alone, either by night or by day.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When Hilda, Harold, and Hector were still very young indeed the Queen, their mother, was obliged to make a long journey to a far-off country, and to leave her children behind her.
male cat
From this reading While you are awake you will be protected by a beautiful white cat that I shall send to you, named Tom; and while you are asleep your fairy aunt will keep watch over you; you will not see her, but you will know that she is with you by your pleasant dreams.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading But before going she took them in her arms and said, 'My darlings, though I must leave you, you will not be left alone, either by night or by day.
unguardedadjectiveUS /ənˈɡɑːrdɪd/
lacking protection or a guard
From this reading Only at one hour of the day will you be left unguarded, and that is the hour before sunset.
precisely as stated
From this reading When Hilda, Harold, and Hector were still very young indeed the Queen, their mother, was obliged to make a long journey to a far-off country, and to leave her children behind her.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When Hilda, Harold, and Hector were still very young indeed the Queen, their mother, was obliged to make a long journey to a far-off country, and to leave her children behind her.
look attentively
From this reading While you are awake you will be protected by a beautiful white cat that I shall send to you, named Tom; and while you are asleep your fairy aunt will keep watch over you; you will not see her, but you will know that she is with you by your pleasant dreams.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading When Hilda, Harold, and Hector were still very young indeed the Queen, their mother, was obliged to make a long journey to a far-off country, and to leave her children behind her.
at the time that
From this reading When Hilda, Harold, and Hector were still very young indeed the Queen, their mother, was obliged to make a long journey to a far-off country, and to leave her children behind her.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While you are awake you will be protected by a beautiful white cat that I shall send to you, named Tom; and while you are asleep your fairy aunt will keep watch over you; you will not see her, but you will know that she is with you by your pleasant dreams.
a Caucasian
From this reading While you are awake you will be protected by a beautiful white cat that I shall send to you, named Tom; and while you are asleep your fairy aunt will keep watch over you; you will not see her, but you will know that she is with you by your pleasant dreams.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading But before going she took them in her arms and said, 'My darlings, though I must leave you, you will not be left alone, either by night or by day.
in the company of; together with
From this reading While you are awake you will be protected by a beautiful white cat that I shall send to you, named Tom; and while you are asleep your fairy aunt will keep watch over you; you will not see her, but you will know that she is with you by your pleasant dreams.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading But before going she took them in her arms and said, 'My darlings, though I must leave you, you will not be left alone, either by night or by day.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading When Hilda, Harold, and Hector were still very young indeed the Queen, their mother, was obliged to make a long journey to a far-off country, and to leave her children behind her.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading While you are awake you will be protected by a beautiful white cat that I shall send to you, named Tom; and while you are asleep your fairy aunt will keep watch over you; you will not see her, but you will know that she is with you by your pleasant dreams.
