used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "A man at the wharf said that you didn't have any little girls," responded the child, "and so I thought----" "'Twas Joe Starkweather told you, I'll be bound," said Mrs. Stoddard.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading "Seven little girls?" said Anne Nelson, in an almost terror-stricken voice, her dark eyes looking earnestly into the stern face that frowned down upon her.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "Seven little girls?" said Anne Nelson, in an almost terror-stricken voice, her dark eyes looking earnestly into the stern face that frowned down upon her.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "A man at the wharf said that you didn't have any little girls," responded the child, "and so I thought----" "'Twas Joe Starkweather told you, I'll be bound," said Mrs. Stoddard.
Queen of England and Scotland and Ireland; daughter if James II and the last of the Stuart monarchs; in 1707 she was the last English ruler to exercise the royal veto over parliament (1665-1714)
From this reading "Seven little girls?" said Anne Nelson, in an almost terror-stricken voice, her dark eyes looking earnestly into the stern face that frowned down upon her.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading "A man at the wharf said that you didn't have any little girls," responded the child, "and so I thought----" "'Twas Joe Starkweather told you, I'll be bound," said Mrs. Stoddard.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "I don't know what I can do with you, I'm sure!" declared Mistress Stoddard, looking down at the small girl who stood on her door-step gazing wistfully up at her.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "A man at the wharf said that you didn't have any little girls," responded the child, "and so I thought----" "'Twas Joe Starkweather told you, I'll be bound," said Mrs. Stoddard.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading "And what would become of them if their mother should die, and their father be lost at sea?"
confined by bonds
From this reading "A man at the wharf said that you didn't have any little girls," responded the child, "and so I thought----" "'Twas Joe Starkweather told you, I'll be bound," said Mrs. Stoddard.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "I don't know what I can do with you, I'm sure!" declared Mistress Stoddard, looking down at the small girl who stood on her door-step gazing wistfully up at her.
a young person of either sex
From this reading "A man at the wharf said that you didn't have any little girls," responded the child, "and so I thought----" "'Twas Joe Starkweather told you, I'll be bound," said Mrs. Stoddard.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading "Seven little girls?" said Anne Nelson, in an almost terror-stricken voice, her dark eyes looking earnestly into the stern face that frowned down upon her.
made known or openly avowed
From this reading "I don't know what I can do with you, I'm sure!" declared Mistress Stoddard, looking down at the small girl who stood on her door-step gazing wistfully up at her.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "A man at the wharf said that you didn't have any little girls," responded the child, "and so I thought----" "'Twas Joe Starkweather told you, I'll be bound," said Mrs. Stoddard.
pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading "And what would become of them if their mother should die, and their father be lost at sea?"
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "I don't know what I can do with you, I'm sure!" declared Mistress Stoddard, looking down at the small girl who stood on her door-step gazing wistfully up at her.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don't know what I can do with you, I'm sure!" declared Mistress Stoddard, looking down at the small girl who stood on her door-step gazing wistfully up at her.
door-step
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don't know what I can do with you, I'm sure!" declared Mistress Stoddard, looking down at the small girl who stood on her door-step gazing wistfully up at her.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading "I don't know what I can do with you, I'm sure!" declared Mistress Stoddard, looking down at the small girl who stood on her door-step gazing wistfully up at her.
in a serious manner
From this reading "Seven little girls?" said Anne Nelson, in an almost terror-stricken voice, her dark eyes looking earnestly into the stern face that frowned down upon her.
opinion or judgment
From this reading "Seven little girls?" said Anne Nelson, in an almost terror-stricken voice, her dark eyes looking earnestly into the stern face that frowned down upon her.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading "Seven little girls?" said Anne Nelson, in an almost terror-stricken voice, her dark eyes looking earnestly into the stern face that frowned down upon her.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading "And what would become of them if their mother should die, and their father be lost at sea?"
fendverbUS /fend/
try to manage without help
From this reading "Well, he's seven of his own to fend for."
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Well, he's seven of his own to fend for."
frownedverbUS /fraʊnd/
past form of “frown” — look angry or sullen, wrinkle one's forehead, as if to signal disapproval
From this reading "Seven little girls?" said Anne Nelson, in an almost terror-stricken voice, her dark eyes looking earnestly into the stern face that frowned down upon her.
-ing form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading "I don't know what I can do with you, I'm sure!" declared Mistress Stoddard, looking down at the small girl who stood on her door-step gazing wistfully up at her.
a young female
From this reading "I don't know what I can do with you, I'm sure!" declared Mistress Stoddard, looking down at the small girl who stood on her door-step gazing wistfully up at her.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading "A man at the wharf said that you didn't have any little girls," responded the child, "and so I thought----" "'Twas Joe Starkweather told you, I'll be bound," said Mrs. Stoddard.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "A man at the wharf said that you didn't have any little girls," responded the child, "and so I thought----" "'Twas Joe Starkweather told you, I'll be bound," said Mrs. Stoddard.
he's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, he's seven of his own to fend for."
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "I don't know what I can do with you, I'm sure!" declared Mistress Stoddard, looking down at the small girl who stood on her door-step gazing wistfully up at her.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Well, he's seven of his own to fend for."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I don't know what I can do with you, I'm sure!" declared Mistress Stoddard, looking down at the small girl who stood on her door-step gazing wistfully up at her.
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "A man at the wharf said that you didn't have any little girls," responded the child, "and so I thought----" "'Twas Joe Starkweather told you, I'll be bound," said Mrs. Stoddard.
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don't know what I can do with you, I'm sure!" declared Mistress Stoddard, looking down at the small girl who stood on her door-step gazing wistfully up at her.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "And what would become of them if their mother should die, and their father be lost at sea?"
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Seven little girls?" said Anne Nelson, in an almost terror-stricken voice, her dark eyes looking earnestly into the stern face that frowned down upon her.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading "Seven little girls?" said Anne Nelson, in an almost terror-stricken voice, her dark eyes looking earnestly into the stern face that frowned down upon her.
Joe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "A man at the wharf said that you didn't have any little girls," responded the child, "and so I thought----" "'Twas Joe Starkweather told you, I'll be bound," said Mrs. Stoddard.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "I don't know what I can do with you, I'm sure!" declared Mistress Stoddard, looking down at the small girl who stood on her door-step gazing wistfully up at her.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "A man at the wharf said that you didn't have any little girls," responded the child, "and so I thought----" "'Twas Joe Starkweather told you, I'll be bound," said Mrs. Stoddard.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading "I don't know what I can do with you, I'm sure!" declared Mistress Stoddard, looking down at the small girl who stood on her door-step gazing wistfully up at her.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading "And what would become of them if their mother should die, and their father be lost at sea?"
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "A man at the wharf said that you didn't have any little girls," responded the child, "and so I thought----" "'Twas Joe Starkweather told you, I'll be bound," said Mrs. Stoddard.
an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
From this reading "I don't know what I can do with you, I'm sure!" declared Mistress Stoddard, looking down at the small girl who stood on her door-step gazing wistfully up at her.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading "And what would become of them if their mother should die, and their father be lost at sea?"
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading "A man at the wharf said that you didn't have any little girls," responded the child, "and so I thought----" "'Twas Joe Starkweather told you, I'll be bound," said Mrs. Stoddard.
NelsonnounUS /ˈnelsən/
English admiral who defeated the French fleets of Napoleon but was mortally wounded at Trafalgar (1758-1805)
From this reading "Seven little girls?" said Anne Nelson, in an almost terror-stricken voice, her dark eyes looking earnestly into the stern face that frowned down upon her.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Well, he's seven of his own to fend for."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "I don't know what I can do with you, I'm sure!" declared Mistress Stoddard, looking down at the small girl who stood on her door-step gazing wistfully up at her.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading "Well, he's seven of his own to fend for."
past form of “respond” — show a response or a reaction to something
From this reading "A man at the wharf said that you didn't have any little girls," responded the child, "and so I thought----" "'Twas Joe Starkweather told you, I'll be bound," said Mrs. Stoddard.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "A man at the wharf said that you didn't have any little girls," responded the child, "and so I thought----" "'Twas Joe Starkweather told you, I'll be bound," said Mrs. Stoddard.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading "And what would become of them if their mother should die, and their father be lost at sea?"
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading "Well, he's seven of his own to fend for."
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading "And what would become of them if their mother should die, and their father be lost at sea?"
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "I don't know what I can do with you, I'm sure!" declared Mistress Stoddard, looking down at the small girl who stood on her door-step gazing wistfully up at her.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "A man at the wharf said that you didn't have any little girls," responded the child, "and so I thought----" "'Twas Joe Starkweather told you, I'll be bound," said Mrs. Stoddard.
Starkweather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "A man at the wharf said that you didn't have any little girls," responded the child, "and so I thought----" "'Twas Joe Starkweather told you, I'll be bound," said Mrs. Stoddard.
sternadjectiveUS /stɜːrn/
of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect
From this reading "Seven little girls?" said Anne Nelson, in an almost terror-stricken voice, her dark eyes looking earnestly into the stern face that frowned down upon her.
Stoddard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don't know what I can do with you, I'm sure!" declared Mistress Stoddard, looking down at the small girl who stood on her door-step gazing wistfully up at her.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading "I don't know what I can do with you, I'm sure!" declared Mistress Stoddard, looking down at the small girl who stood on her door-step gazing wistfully up at her.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading "I don't know what I can do with you, I'm sure!" declared Mistress Stoddard, looking down at the small girl who stood on her door-step gazing wistfully up at her.
terror-strickenadjective
struck or filled with terror
From this reading "Seven little girls?" said Anne Nelson, in an almost terror-stricken voice, her dark eyes looking earnestly into the stern face that frowned down upon her.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "A man at the wharf said that you didn't have any little girls," responded the child, "and so I thought----" "'Twas Joe Starkweather told you, I'll be bound," said Mrs. Stoddard.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "I don't know what I can do with you, I'm sure!" declared Mistress Stoddard, looking down at the small girl who stood on her door-step gazing wistfully up at her.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading "And what would become of them if their mother should die, and their father be lost at sea?"
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading "And what would become of them if their mother should die, and their father be lost at sea?"
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading "A man at the wharf said that you didn't have any little girls," responded the child, "and so I thought----" "'Twas Joe Starkweather told you, I'll be bound," said Mrs. Stoddard.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Well, he's seven of his own to fend for."
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading "A man at the wharf said that you didn't have any little girls," responded the child, "and so I thought----" "'Twas Joe Starkweather told you, I'll be bound," said Mrs. Stoddard.
Twas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "A man at the wharf said that you didn't have any little girls," responded the child, "and so I thought----" "'Twas Joe Starkweather told you, I'll be bound," said Mrs. Stoddard.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "I don't know what I can do with you, I'm sure!" declared Mistress Stoddard, looking down at the small girl who stood on her door-step gazing wistfully up at her.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading "Seven little girls?" said Anne Nelson, in an almost terror-stricken voice, her dark eyes looking earnestly into the stern face that frowned down upon her.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading "Seven little girls?" said Anne Nelson, in an almost terror-stricken voice, her dark eyes looking earnestly into the stern face that frowned down upon her.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading "Well, he's seven of his own to fend for."
wharfnounUS /wɔːrf/
a platform built out from the shore into the water and supported by piles; provides access to ships and boats
From this reading "A man at the wharf said that you didn't have any little girls," responded the child, "and so I thought----" "'Twas Joe Starkweather told you, I'll be bound," said Mrs. Stoddard.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "I don't know what I can do with you, I'm sure!" declared Mistress Stoddard, looking down at the small girl who stood on her door-step gazing wistfully up at her.
which person or people
From this reading "I don't know what I can do with you, I'm sure!" declared Mistress Stoddard, looking down at the small girl who stood on her door-step gazing wistfully up at her.
wistfullyadverbUS /ˈwɪstfəli/
in a wistful manner
From this reading "I don't know what I can do with you, I'm sure!" declared Mistress Stoddard, looking down at the small girl who stood on her door-step gazing wistfully up at her.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "I don't know what I can do with you, I'm sure!" declared Mistress Stoddard, looking down at the small girl who stood on her door-step gazing wistfully up at her.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "And what would become of them if their mother should die, and their father be lost at sea?"
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I don't know what I can do with you, I'm sure!" declared Mistress Stoddard, looking down at the small girl who stood on her door-step gazing wistfully up at her.
