used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Ellen was singing softly a little song of Schumann’s, which had been a favorite of her mother’s, when suddenly a head appeared over the fence.
personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading It was from over the fence on one side that Jeremy Todd first spoke to her, and over the fence on the other side that she made the acquaintance of Billy Dove-Hale.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading VIOLINS AND DOVES Within the next two or three days Ellen made at least two or three friends.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Ellen was singing softly a little song of Schumann’s, which had been a favorite of her mother’s, when suddenly a head appeared over the fence.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading VIOLINS AND DOVES Within the next two or three days Ellen made at least two or three friends.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She was gathering the last of the tomatoes which grew near the side toward the Todds; Miss Rindy had said they must be in before the frost nipped them.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Ellen was singing softly a little song of Schumann’s, which had been a favorite of her mother’s, when suddenly a head appeared over the fence.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading She was gathering the last of the tomatoes which grew near the side toward the Todds; Miss Rindy had said they must be in before the frost nipped them.
a short stout club used primarily by policemen
From this reading It was from over the fence on one side that Jeremy Todd first spoke to her, and over the fence on the other side that she made the acquaintance of Billy Dove-Hale.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading VIOLINS AND DOVES Within the next two or three days Ellen made at least two or three friends.
Dove-Hale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was from over the fence on one side that Jeremy Todd first spoke to her, and over the fence on the other side that she made the acquaintance of Billy Dove-Hale.
DOVESnounUS /dʌvz/
plural of “dove” — any of numerous small pigeons
From this reading VIOLINS AND DOVES Within the next two or three days Ellen made at least two or three friends.
Ellen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading VIOLINS AND DOVES Within the next two or three days Ellen made at least two or three friends.
favoritenounUS /ˈfeɪvərɪt/
something regarded with special favor or liking
From this reading Ellen was singing softly a little song of Schumann’s, which had been a favorite of her mother’s, when suddenly a head appeared over the fence.
enclose with a fence
From this reading It was from over the fence on one side that Jeremy Todd first spoke to her, and over the fence on the other side that she made the acquaintance of Billy Dove-Hale.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading It was from over the fence on one side that Jeremy Todd first spoke to her, and over the fence on the other side that she made the acquaintance of Billy Dove-Hale.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading VIOLINS AND DOVES Within the next two or three days Ellen made at least two or three friends.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was from over the fence on one side that Jeremy Todd first spoke to her, and over the fence on the other side that she made the acquaintance of Billy Dove-Hale.
frostnounUS /frɔːst/
ice crystals forming a white deposit (especially on objects outside)
From this reading She was gathering the last of the tomatoes which grew near the side toward the Todds; Miss Rindy had said they must be in before the frost nipped them.
a group of persons together in one place
From this reading She was gathering the last of the tomatoes which grew near the side toward the Todds; Miss Rindy had said they must be in before the frost nipped them.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading She was gathering the last of the tomatoes which grew near the side toward the Todds; Miss Rindy had said they must be in before the frost nipped them.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She was gathering the last of the tomatoes which grew near the side toward the Todds; Miss Rindy had said they must be in before the frost nipped them.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Ellen was singing softly a little song of Schumann’s, which had been a favorite of her mother’s, when suddenly a head appeared over the fence.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading It was from over the fence on one side that Jeremy Todd first spoke to her, and over the fence on the other side that she made the acquaintance of Billy Dove-Hale.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She was gathering the last of the tomatoes which grew near the side toward the Todds; Miss Rindy had said they must be in before the frost nipped them.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Who is that singing ‘Moonlight’?” said a man’s voice.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was from over the fence on one side that Jeremy Todd first spoke to her, and over the fence on the other side that she made the acquaintance of Billy Dove-Hale.
Jeremy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was from over the fence on one side that Jeremy Todd first spoke to her, and over the fence on the other side that she made the acquaintance of Billy Dove-Hale.
immediately past
From this reading She was gathering the last of the tomatoes which grew near the side toward the Todds; Miss Rindy had said they must be in before the frost nipped them.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading VIOLINS AND DOVES Within the next two or three days Ellen made at least two or three friends.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Ellen was singing softly a little song of Schumann’s, which had been a favorite of her mother’s, when suddenly a head appeared over the fence.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading VIOLINS AND DOVES Within the next two or three days Ellen made at least two or three friends.
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading “Who is that singing ‘Moonlight’?” said a man’s voice.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading She was gathering the last of the tomatoes which grew near the side toward the Todds; Miss Rindy had said they must be in before the frost nipped them.
the light of the Moon
From this reading “Who is that singing ‘Moonlight’?” said a man’s voice.
mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Ellen was singing softly a little song of Schumann’s, which had been a favorite of her mother’s, when suddenly a head appeared over the fence.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading She was gathering the last of the tomatoes which grew near the side toward the Todds; Miss Rindy had said they must be in before the frost nipped them.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading She was gathering the last of the tomatoes which grew near the side toward the Todds; Miss Rindy had said they must be in before the frost nipped them.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading VIOLINS AND DOVES Within the next two or three days Ellen made at least two or three friends.
nippedverbUS /nɪpt/
inflected form of “nip” — squeeze tightly between the fingers
From this reading She was gathering the last of the tomatoes which grew near the side toward the Todds; Miss Rindy had said they must be in before the frost nipped them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was from over the fence on one side that Jeremy Todd first spoke to her, and over the fence on the other side that she made the acquaintance of Billy Dove-Hale.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was from over the fence on one side that Jeremy Todd first spoke to her, and over the fence on the other side that she made the acquaintance of Billy Dove-Hale.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was from over the fence on one side that Jeremy Todd first spoke to her, and over the fence on the other side that she made the acquaintance of Billy Dove-Hale.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading VIOLINS AND DOVES Within the next two or three days Ellen made at least two or three friends.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading It was from over the fence on one side that Jeremy Todd first spoke to her, and over the fence on the other side that she made the acquaintance of Billy Dove-Hale.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading It was from over the fence on one side that Jeremy Todd first spoke to her, and over the fence on the other side that she made the acquaintance of Billy Dove-Hale.
Rindy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was gathering the last of the tomatoes which grew near the side toward the Todds; Miss Rindy had said they must be in before the frost nipped them.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading She was gathering the last of the tomatoes which grew near the side toward the Todds; Miss Rindy had said they must be in before the frost nipped them.
Schumann'snounUS /ˈʃuːmənz/
possessive form of “schumann” — German pianist and composer of piano music; renowned for her interpretation of music, especially the music of her husband Robert Schumann (1819-1896)
From this reading Ellen was singing softly a little song of Schumann’s, which had been a favorite of her mother’s, when suddenly a head appeared over the fence.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was from over the fence on one side that Jeremy Todd first spoke to her, and over the fence on the other side that she made the acquaintance of Billy Dove-Hale.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading It was from over the fence on one side that Jeremy Todd first spoke to her, and over the fence on the other side that she made the acquaintance of Billy Dove-Hale.
the act of singing vocal music
From this reading Ellen was singing softly a little song of Schumann’s, which had been a favorite of her mother’s, when suddenly a head appeared over the fence.
with low volume
From this reading Ellen was singing softly a little song of Schumann’s, which had been a favorite of her mother’s, when suddenly a head appeared over the fence.
a short musical composition with words
From this reading Ellen was singing softly a little song of Schumann’s, which had been a favorite of her mother’s, when suddenly a head appeared over the fence.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading It was from over the fence on one side that Jeremy Todd first spoke to her, and over the fence on the other side that she made the acquaintance of Billy Dove-Hale.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Ellen was singing softly a little song of Schumann’s, which had been a favorite of her mother’s, when suddenly a head appeared over the fence.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was from over the fence on one side that Jeremy Todd first spoke to her, and over the fence on the other side that she made the acquaintance of Billy Dove-Hale.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading VIOLINS AND DOVES Within the next two or three days Ellen made at least two or three friends.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading She was gathering the last of the tomatoes which grew near the side toward the Todds; Miss Rindy had said they must be in before the frost nipped them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was gathering the last of the tomatoes which grew near the side toward the Todds; Miss Rindy had said they must be in before the frost nipped them.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading VIOLINS AND DOVES Within the next two or three days Ellen made at least two or three friends.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was from over the fence on one side that Jeremy Todd first spoke to her, and over the fence on the other side that she made the acquaintance of Billy Dove-Hale.
ToddnounUS /tɑːd/
Scottish chemist noted for his research into the structure of nucleic acids (born in 1907)
From this reading It was from over the fence on one side that Jeremy Todd first spoke to her, and over the fence on the other side that she made the acquaintance of Billy Dove-Hale.
Todds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was gathering the last of the tomatoes which grew near the side toward the Todds; Miss Rindy had said they must be in before the frost nipped them.
tomatoesnounUS /təˈmeɪtoʊz/
plural of “tomato” — mildly acid red or yellow pulpy fruit eaten as a vegetable
From this reading She was gathering the last of the tomatoes which grew near the side toward the Todds; Miss Rindy had said they must be in before the frost nipped them.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading She was gathering the last of the tomatoes which grew near the side toward the Todds; Miss Rindy had said they must be in before the frost nipped them.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading VIOLINS AND DOVES Within the next two or three days Ellen made at least two or three friends.
VIOLINSnounUS /vaɪəˈlɪnz/
plural of “violin” — bowed stringed instrument that is the highest member of the violin family; this instrument has four strings and a hollow body and an unfretted fingerboard and is played with a bow
From this reading VIOLINS AND DOVES Within the next two or three days Ellen made at least two or three friends.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading “Who is that singing ‘Moonlight’?” said a man’s voice.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was from over the fence on one side that Jeremy Todd first spoke to her, and over the fence on the other side that she made the acquaintance of Billy Dove-Hale.
at the time that
From this reading Ellen was singing softly a little song of Schumann’s, which had been a favorite of her mother’s, when suddenly a head appeared over the fence.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She was gathering the last of the tomatoes which grew near the side toward the Todds; Miss Rindy had said they must be in before the frost nipped them.
which person or people
From this reading “Who is that singing ‘Moonlight’?” said a man’s voice.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading VIOLINS AND DOVES Within the next two or three days Ellen made at least two or three friends.
