used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was not a ceremonious, grand dinner, as if there had been a party.
a-going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Excuse me, Miss Chatty, but it's a-going to smoke," he said; and in the meantime the family helped each other.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Old Joseph pottered about, and put the dishes on the table, and handed the potatoes now and then when they were not wanted, and sometimes leaned across between the young ladies to regulate the lamp, explaining why as he did so.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Old Joseph pottered about, and put the dishes on the table, and handed the potatoes now and then when they were not wanted, and sometimes leaned across between the young ladies to regulate the lamp, explaining why as he did so.
(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 They all sat round the table and took their evening meal together before Lady Markland went back.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They all sat round the table and took their evening meal together before Lady Markland went back.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was not a ceremonious, grand dinner, as if there had been a party.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading They all sat round the table and took their evening meal together before Lady Markland went back.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was not a ceremonious, grand dinner, as if there had been a party.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading They all sat round the table and took their evening meal together before Lady Markland went back.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Old Joseph pottered about, and put the dishes on the table, and handed the potatoes now and then when they were not wanted, and sometimes leaned across between the young ladies to regulate the lamp, explaining why as he did so.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Excuse me, Miss Chatty, but it's a-going to smoke," he said; and in the meantime the family helped each other.
ceremoniousadjective
characterized by pomp and ceremony and stately display
From this reading It was not a ceremonious, grand dinner, as if there had been a party.
ChattyadjectiveUS /ˈtʃæti/
full of trivial conversation
From this reading "Excuse me, Miss Chatty, but it's a-going to smoke," he said; and in the meantime the family helped each other.
intentionally conceived
From this reading But Lady Markland was not conscious of the defects in the service.
defectsnounUS /ˈdiːfekts/
plural of “defect” — an imperfection in a bodily system
From this reading But Lady Markland was not conscious of the defects in the service.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Old Joseph pottered about, and put the dishes on the table, and handed the potatoes now and then when they were not wanted, and sometimes leaned across between the young ladies to regulate the lamp, explaining why as he did so.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading It was not a ceremonious, grand dinner, as if there had been a party.
dishesnounUS /ˈdɪʃəz/
plural of “dish” — a piece of dishware normally used as a container for holding or serving food
From this reading Old Joseph pottered about, and put the dishes on the table, and handed the potatoes now and then when they were not wanted, and sometimes leaned across between the young ladies to regulate the lamp, explaining why as he did so.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading "Excuse me, Miss Chatty, but it's a-going to smoke," he said; and in the meantime the family helped each other.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading They all sat round the table and took their evening meal together before Lady Markland went back.
accept an excuse for
From this reading "Excuse me, Miss Chatty, but it's a-going to smoke," he said; and in the meantime the family helped each other.
explainingverbUS /ɪkˈspleɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading Old Joseph pottered about, and put the dishes on the table, and handed the potatoes now and then when they were not wanted, and sometimes leaned across between the young ladies to regulate the lamp, explaining why as he did so.
a social unit living together
From this reading "Excuse me, Miss Chatty, but it's a-going to smoke," he said; and in the meantime the family helped each other.
of behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope
From this reading It was not a ceremonious, grand dinner, as if there had been a party.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was not a ceremonious, grand dinner, as if there had been a party.
having or involving the use of hands
From this reading Old Joseph pottered about, and put the dishes on the table, and handed the potatoes now and then when they were not wanted, and sometimes leaned across between the young ladies to regulate the lamp, explaining why as he did so.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Old Joseph pottered about, and put the dishes on the table, and handed the potatoes now and then when they were not wanted, and sometimes leaned across between the young ladies to regulate the lamp, explaining why as he did so.
past form of “help” — give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading "Excuse me, Miss Chatty, but it's a-going to smoke," he said; and in the meantime the family helped each other.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It was not a ceremonious, grand dinner, as if there had been a party.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Excuse me, Miss Chatty, but it's a-going to smoke," he said; and in the meantime the family helped each other.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was not a ceremonious, grand dinner, as if there had been a party.
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Excuse me, Miss Chatty, but it's a-going to smoke," he said; and in the meantime the family helped each other.
leader of the Nez Perce in their retreat from United States troops (1840-1904)
From this reading Old Joseph pottered about, and put the dishes on the table, and handed the potatoes now and then when they were not wanted, and sometimes leaned across between the young ladies to regulate the lamp, explaining why as he did so.
plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading Old Joseph pottered about, and put the dishes on the table, and handed the potatoes now and then when they were not wanted, and sometimes leaned across between the young ladies to regulate the lamp, explaining why as he did so.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading They all sat round the table and took their evening meal together before Lady Markland went back.
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading Old Joseph pottered about, and put the dishes on the table, and handed the potatoes now and then when they were not wanted, and sometimes leaned across between the young ladies to regulate the lamp, explaining why as he did so.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading Old Joseph pottered about, and put the dishes on the table, and handed the potatoes now and then when they were not wanted, and sometimes leaned across between the young ladies to regulate the lamp, explaining why as he did so.
Markland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They all sat round the table and took their evening meal together before Lady Markland went back.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Excuse me, Miss Chatty, but it's a-going to smoke," he said; and in the meantime the family helped each other.
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading They all sat round the table and took their evening meal together before Lady Markland went back.
the time between one event, process, or period and another
From this reading "Excuse me, Miss Chatty, but it's a-going to smoke," he said; and in the meantime the family helped each other.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading "Excuse me, Miss Chatty, but it's a-going to smoke," he said; and in the meantime the family helped each other.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was not a ceremonious, grand dinner, as if there had been a party.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Old Joseph pottered about, and put the dishes on the table, and handed the potatoes now and then when they were not wanted, and sometimes leaned across between the young ladies to regulate the lamp, explaining why as he did so.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But Lady Markland was not conscious of the defects in the service.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Old Joseph pottered about, and put the dishes on the table, and handed the potatoes now and then when they were not wanted, and sometimes leaned across between the young ladies to regulate the lamp, explaining why as he did so.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Old Joseph pottered about, and put the dishes on the table, and handed the potatoes now and then when they were not wanted, and sometimes leaned across between the young ladies to regulate the lamp, explaining why as he did so.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading "Excuse me, Miss Chatty, but it's a-going to smoke," he said; and in the meantime the family helped each other.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading It was not a ceremonious, grand dinner, as if there had been a party.
potatoesnounUS /pəˈteɪtoʊz/
plural of “potato” — an edible tuber native to South America; a staple food of Ireland
From this reading Old Joseph pottered about, and put the dishes on the table, and handed the potatoes now and then when they were not wanted, and sometimes leaned across between the young ladies to regulate the lamp, explaining why as he did so.
pottered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Old Joseph pottered about, and put the dishes on the table, and handed the potatoes now and then when they were not wanted, and sometimes leaned across between the young ladies to regulate the lamp, explaining why as he did so.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Old Joseph pottered about, and put the dishes on the table, and handed the potatoes now and then when they were not wanted, and sometimes leaned across between the young ladies to regulate the lamp, explaining why as he did so.
regulateverbUS /ˈreɡjəleɪt/
fix or adjust the time, amount, degree, or rate of
From this reading Old Joseph pottered about, and put the dishes on the table, and handed the potatoes now and then when they were not wanted, and sometimes leaned across between the young ladies to regulate the lamp, explaining why as he did so.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading They all sat round the table and took their evening meal together before Lady Markland went back.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Excuse me, Miss Chatty, but it's a-going to smoke," he said; and in the meantime the family helped each other.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading They all sat round the table and took their evening meal together before Lady Markland went back.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading But Lady Markland was not conscious of the defects in the service.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading "Excuse me, Miss Chatty, but it's a-going to smoke," he said; and in the meantime the family helped each other.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Old Joseph pottered about, and put the dishes on the table, and handed the potatoes now and then when they were not wanted, and sometimes leaned across between the young ladies to regulate the lamp, explaining why as he did so.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading Old Joseph pottered about, and put the dishes on the table, and handed the potatoes now and then when they were not wanted, and sometimes leaned across between the young ladies to regulate the lamp, explaining why as he did so.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading They all sat round the table and took their evening meal together before Lady Markland went back.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They all sat round the table and took their evening meal together before Lady Markland went back.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They all sat round the table and took their evening meal together before Lady Markland went back.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Old Joseph pottered about, and put the dishes on the table, and handed the potatoes now and then when they were not wanted, and sometimes leaned across between the young ladies to regulate the lamp, explaining why as he did so.
in or at that place or location
From this reading It was not a ceremonious, grand dinner, as if there had been a party.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They all sat round the table and took their evening meal together before Lady Markland went back.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Old Joseph pottered about, and put the dishes on the table, and handed the potatoes now and then when they were not wanted, and sometimes leaned across between the young ladies to regulate the lamp, explaining why as he did so.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading They all sat round the table and took their evening meal together before Lady Markland went back.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading They all sat round the table and took their evening meal together before Lady Markland went back.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading Old Joseph pottered about, and put the dishes on the table, and handed the potatoes now and then when they were not wanted, and sometimes leaned across between the young ladies to regulate the lamp, explaining why as he did so.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was not a ceremonious, grand dinner, as if there had been a party.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading They all sat round the table and took their evening meal together before Lady Markland went back.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Old Joseph pottered about, and put the dishes on the table, and handed the potatoes now and then when they were not wanted, and sometimes leaned across between the young ladies to regulate the lamp, explaining why as he did so.
at the time that
From this reading Old Joseph pottered about, and put the dishes on the table, and handed the potatoes now and then when they were not wanted, and sometimes leaned across between the young ladies to regulate the lamp, explaining why as he did so.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Old Joseph pottered about, and put the dishes on the table, and handed the potatoes now and then when they were not wanted, and sometimes leaned across between the young ladies to regulate the lamp, explaining why as he did so.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Old Joseph pottered about, and put the dishes on the table, and handed the potatoes now and then when they were not wanted, and sometimes leaned across between the young ladies to regulate the lamp, explaining why as he did so.
