used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE MAY PARTY "A May-day party, eh?" said Elder Haven, when Anne and Amanda told him of the plan.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It will surely be a pleasant sight to see the children dance about the May-pole, and I shall like well to come."
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After Elder Haven had approved the parents could find nothing wrong in the idea, and all the children went Maying for arbutus and trailing evergreens to wind about the pole.
(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 After Elder Haven had approved the parents could find nothing wrong in the idea, and all the children went Maying for arbutus and trailing evergreens to wind about the pole.
Amanda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MAY PARTY "A May-day party, eh?" said Elder Haven, when Anne and Amanda told him of the plan.
AmosnounUS /ˈeɪməs/
a Hebrew shepherd and minor prophet
From this reading Early on the morning of May-day Amos and Jimmie were at the spring with a long smooth pole.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "Why, I think it an excellent idea.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE MAY PARTY "A May-day party, eh?" said Elder Haven, when Anne and Amanda told him of the plan.
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 THE MAY PARTY "A May-day party, eh?" said Elder Haven, when Anne and Amanda told him of the plan.
approvedadjectiveUS /əˈpruːvd/
established by authority; given authoritative approval
From this reading After Elder Haven had approved the parents could find nothing wrong in the idea, and all the children went Maying for arbutus and trailing evergreens to wind about the pole.
arbutusnoun
any of several evergreen shrubs of the genus Arbutus of temperate Europe and America
From this reading After Elder Haven had approved the parents could find nothing wrong in the idea, and all the children went Maying for arbutus and trailing evergreens to wind about the pole.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Early on the morning of May-day Amos and Jimmie were at the spring with a long smooth pole.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It will surely be a pleasant sight to see the children dance about the May-pole, and I shall like well to come."
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading It will surely be a pleasant sight to see the children dance about the May-pole, and I shall like well to come."
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading It will surely be a pleasant sight to see the children dance about the May-pole, and I shall like well to come."
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading After Elder Haven had approved the parents could find nothing wrong in the idea, and all the children went Maying for arbutus and trailing evergreens to wind about the pole.
an artistic form of nonverbal communication
From this reading It will surely be a pleasant sight to see the children dance about the May-pole, and I shall like well to come."
EarlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading Early on the morning of May-day Amos and Jimmie were at the spring with a long smooth pole.
eh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MAY PARTY "A May-day party, eh?" said Elder Haven, when Anne and Amanda told him of the plan.
a person who is older than you are
From this reading THE MAY PARTY "A May-day party, eh?" said Elder Haven, when Anne and Amanda told him of the plan.
evergreensnounUS /ˈevərɡriːnz/
plural of “evergreen” — a plant having foliage that persists and remains green throughout the year
From this reading After Elder Haven had approved the parents could find nothing wrong in the idea, and all the children went Maying for arbutus and trailing evergreens to wind about the pole.
very good; of the highest quality
From this reading "Why, I think it an excellent idea.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading After Elder Haven had approved the parents could find nothing wrong in the idea, and all the children went Maying for arbutus and trailing evergreens to wind about the pole.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading After Elder Haven had approved the parents could find nothing wrong in the idea, and all the children went Maying for arbutus and trailing evergreens to wind about the pole.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading After Elder Haven had approved the parents could find nothing wrong in the idea, and all the children went Maying for arbutus and trailing evergreens to wind about the pole.
HavennounUS /ˈheɪvən/
a shelter serving as a place of safety or sanctuary
From this reading THE MAY PARTY "A May-day party, eh?" said Elder Haven, when Anne and Amanda told him of the plan.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE MAY PARTY "A May-day party, eh?" said Elder Haven, when Anne and Amanda told him of the plan.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Why, I think it an excellent idea.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading "Why, I think it an excellent idea.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading After Elder Haven had approved the parents could find nothing wrong in the idea, and all the children went Maying for arbutus and trailing evergreens to wind about the pole.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Why, I think it an excellent idea.
Jimmie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Early on the morning of May-day Amos and Jimmie were at the spring with a long smooth pole.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading It will surely be a pleasant sight to see the children dance about the May-pole, and I shall like well to come."
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 Early on the morning of May-day Amos and Jimmie were at the spring with a long smooth pole.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading THE MAY PARTY "A May-day party, eh?" said Elder Haven, when Anne and Amanda told him of the plan.
May-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MAY PARTY "A May-day party, eh?" said Elder Haven, when Anne and Amanda told him of the plan.
May-pole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It will surely be a pleasant sight to see the children dance about the May-pole, and I shall like well to come."
Maying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After Elder Haven had approved the parents could find nothing wrong in the idea, and all the children went Maying for arbutus and trailing evergreens to wind about the pole.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Early on the morning of May-day Amos and Jimmie were at the spring with a long smooth pole.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading After Elder Haven had approved the parents could find nothing wrong in the idea, and all the children went Maying for arbutus and trailing evergreens to wind about the pole.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE MAY PARTY "A May-day party, eh?" said Elder Haven, when Anne and Amanda told him of the plan.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Early on the morning of May-day Amos and Jimmie were at the spring with a long smooth pole.
plural of “parent” — a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian
From this reading After Elder Haven had approved the parents could find nothing wrong in the idea, and all the children went Maying for arbutus and trailing evergreens to wind about the pole.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading THE MAY PARTY "A May-day party, eh?" said Elder Haven, when Anne and Amanda told him of the plan.
have the will and intention to carry out some action
From this reading THE MAY PARTY "A May-day party, eh?" said Elder Haven, when Anne and Amanda told him of the plan.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading It will surely be a pleasant sight to see the children dance about the May-pole, and I shall like well to come."
polenounUS /poʊl/
a long (usually round) rod of wood or metal or plastic
From this reading After Elder Haven had approved the parents could find nothing wrong in the idea, and all the children went Maying for arbutus and trailing evergreens to wind about the pole.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading THE MAY PARTY "A May-day party, eh?" said Elder Haven, when Anne and Amanda told him of the plan.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading It will surely be a pleasant sight to see the children dance about the May-pole, and I shall like well to come."
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading It will surely be a pleasant sight to see the children dance about the May-pole, and I shall like well to come."
an instance of visual perception
From this reading It will surely be a pleasant sight to see the children dance about the May-pole, and I shall like well to come."
having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities
From this reading Early on the morning of May-day Amos and Jimmie were at the spring with a long smooth pole.
the season of growth
From this reading Early on the morning of May-day Amos and Jimmie were at the spring with a long smooth pole.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading It will surely be a pleasant sight to see the children dance about the May-pole, and I shall like well to come."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE MAY PARTY "A May-day party, eh?" said Elder Haven, when Anne and Amanda told him of the plan.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "Why, I think it an excellent idea.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It will surely be a pleasant sight to see the children dance about the May-pole, and I shall like well to come."
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading THE MAY PARTY "A May-day party, eh?" said Elder Haven, when Anne and Amanda told him of the plan.
trailingnounUS /ˈtreɪlɪŋ/
the pursuit (of a person or animal) by following tracks or marks they left behind
From this reading After Elder Haven had approved the parents could find nothing wrong in the idea, and all the children went Maying for arbutus and trailing evergreens to wind about the pole.
(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 It will surely be a pleasant sight to see the children dance about the May-pole, and I shall like well to come."
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading After Elder Haven had approved the parents could find nothing wrong in the idea, and all the children went Maying for arbutus and trailing evergreens to wind about the pole.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Early on the morning of May-day Amos and Jimmie were at the spring with a long smooth pole.
at the time that
From this reading THE MAY PARTY "A May-day party, eh?" said Elder Haven, when Anne and Amanda told him of the plan.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "Why, I think it an excellent idea.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading It will surely be a pleasant sight to see the children dance about the May-pole, and I shall like well to come."
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading After Elder Haven had approved the parents could find nothing wrong in the idea, and all the children went Maying for arbutus and trailing evergreens to wind about the pole.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Early on the morning of May-day Amos and Jimmie were at the spring with a long smooth pole.
not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
From this reading After Elder Haven had approved the parents could find nothing wrong in the idea, and all the children went Maying for arbutus and trailing evergreens to wind about the pole.
