used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTMAS PLAY "Come, bring with a noise, My merrie, merrie boys, The Christmas block to the firing; While my good dame, she, Bids ye all be free, And drink to your heart's desiring."
activitynounUS /ækˈtɪvəti/
any specific behavior
From this reading --_Herrick._ There was bustle and activity in the parish.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading There was a chill in the air, the presage of the rapidly approaching Christmas time.
(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 CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTMAS PLAY "Come, bring with a noise, My merrie, merrie boys, The Christmas block to the firing; While my good dame, she, Bids ye all be free, And drink to your heart's desiring."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTMAS PLAY "Come, bring with a noise, My merrie, merrie boys, The Christmas block to the firing; While my good dame, she, Bids ye all be free, And drink to your heart's desiring."
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading There was a chill in the air, the presage of the rapidly approaching Christmas time.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The small boy's eyes glistened as he watched the huge cakes, loaded with citron, currants, and coloured as yellow as gold with saffron, emerging from the oven and consigned, still steaming hot, to some secure place of retention.
bakingnounUS /ˈbeɪkɪŋ/
making bread or cake or pastry etc.
From this reading House cleaning and baking occupied the time of the busy housewives.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTMAS PLAY "Come, bring with a noise, My merrie, merrie boys, The Christmas block to the firing; While my good dame, she, Bids ye all be free, And drink to your heart's desiring."
BidsnounUS /bɪdz/
plural of “bid” — an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTMAS PLAY "Come, bring with a noise, My merrie, merrie boys, The Christmas block to the firing; While my good dame, she, Bids ye all be free, And drink to your heart's desiring."
blocknounUS /blɑːk/
a solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular sides)
From this reading CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTMAS PLAY "Come, bring with a noise, My merrie, merrie boys, The Christmas block to the firing; While my good dame, she, Bids ye all be free, And drink to your heart's desiring."
boy'snounUS /bɔɪz/
possessive form of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The small boy's eyes glistened as he watched the huge cakes, loaded with citron, currants, and coloured as yellow as gold with saffron, emerging from the oven and consigned, still steaming hot, to some secure place of retention.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTMAS PLAY "Come, bring with a noise, My merrie, merrie boys, The Christmas block to the firing; While my good dame, she, Bids ye all be free, And drink to your heart's desiring."
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTMAS PLAY "Come, bring with a noise, My merrie, merrie boys, The Christmas block to the firing; While my good dame, she, Bids ye all be free, And drink to your heart's desiring."
bustlenounUS /ˈbʌsəl/
a rapid active commotion
From this reading --_Herrick._ There was bustle and activity in the parish.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading House cleaning and baking occupied the time of the busy housewives.
cakesnounUS /keɪks/
plural of “cake” — a block of solid substance (such as soap or wax)
From this reading The small boy's eyes glistened as he watched the huge cakes, loaded with citron, currants, and coloured as yellow as gold with saffron, emerging from the oven and consigned, still steaming hot, to some secure place of retention.
chillnounUS /tʃɪl/
coldness due to a cold environment
From this reading There was a chill in the air, the presage of the rapidly approaching Christmas time.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTMAS PLAY "Come, bring with a noise, My merrie, merrie boys, The Christmas block to the firing; While my good dame, she, Bids ye all be free, And drink to your heart's desiring."
citronnounUS /ˈsɪtrən/
large lemonlike fruit with thick aromatic rind; usually preserved
From this reading The small boy's eyes glistened as he watched the huge cakes, loaded with citron, currants, and coloured as yellow as gold with saffron, emerging from the oven and consigned, still steaming hot, to some secure place of retention.
cleaningnounUS /ˈkliːnɪŋ/
the act of making something clean
From this reading House cleaning and baking occupied the time of the busy housewives.
colouredadjectiveUS /ˈkʌlərd/
having color or a certain color; sometimes used in combination
From this reading The small boy's eyes glistened as he watched the huge cakes, loaded with citron, currants, and coloured as yellow as gold with saffron, emerging from the oven and consigned, still steaming hot, to some secure place of retention.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTMAS PLAY "Come, bring with a noise, My merrie, merrie boys, The Christmas block to the firing; While my good dame, she, Bids ye all be free, And drink to your heart's desiring."
consignedverbUS /kənˈsaɪnd/
past form of “consign” — commit forever; commit irrevocably
From this reading The small boy's eyes glistened as he watched the huge cakes, loaded with citron, currants, and coloured as yellow as gold with saffron, emerging from the oven and consigned, still steaming hot, to some secure place of retention.
currants
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The small boy's eyes glistened as he watched the huge cakes, loaded with citron, currants, and coloured as yellow as gold with saffron, emerging from the oven and consigned, still steaming hot, to some secure place of retention.
damenounUS /deɪm/
informal terms for a (young) woman
From this reading CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTMAS PLAY "Come, bring with a noise, My merrie, merrie boys, The Christmas block to the firing; While my good dame, she, Bids ye all be free, And drink to your heart's desiring."
desiringverbUS /dɪˈzaɪərɪŋ/
-ing form of “desire” — feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTMAS PLAY "Come, bring with a noise, My merrie, merrie boys, The Christmas block to the firing; While my good dame, she, Bids ye all be free, And drink to your heart's desiring."
take in liquids
From this reading CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTMAS PLAY "Come, bring with a noise, My merrie, merrie boys, The Christmas block to the firing; While my good dame, she, Bids ye all be free, And drink to your heart's desiring."
emergingadjectiveUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒɪŋ/
coming to maturity
From this reading The small boy's eyes glistened as he watched the huge cakes, loaded with citron, currants, and coloured as yellow as gold with saffron, emerging from the oven and consigned, still steaming hot, to some secure place of retention.
opinion or judgment
From this reading The small boy's eyes glistened as he watched the huge cakes, loaded with citron, currants, and coloured as yellow as gold with saffron, emerging from the oven and consigned, still steaming hot, to some secure place of retention.
firingnounUS /ˈfaɪrɪŋ/
the act of firing weapons or artillery at an enemy
From this reading CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTMAS PLAY "Come, bring with a noise, My merrie, merrie boys, The Christmas block to the firing; While my good dame, she, Bids ye all be free, And drink to your heart's desiring."
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTMAS PLAY "Come, bring with a noise, My merrie, merrie boys, The Christmas block to the firing; While my good dame, she, Bids ye all be free, And drink to your heart's desiring."
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The small boy's eyes glistened as he watched the huge cakes, loaded with citron, currants, and coloured as yellow as gold with saffron, emerging from the oven and consigned, still steaming hot, to some secure place of retention.
glistenedverbUS /ˈɡlɪsənd/
past form of “glisten” — be shiny, as if wet
From this reading The small boy's eyes glistened as he watched the huge cakes, loaded with citron, currants, and coloured as yellow as gold with saffron, emerging from the oven and consigned, still steaming hot, to some secure place of retention.
coins made of gold
From this reading The small boy's eyes glistened as he watched the huge cakes, loaded with citron, currants, and coloured as yellow as gold with saffron, emerging from the oven and consigned, still steaming hot, to some secure place of retention.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTMAS PLAY "Come, bring with a noise, My merrie, merrie boys, The Christmas block to the firing; While my good dame, she, Bids ye all be free, And drink to your heart's desiring."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The small boy's eyes glistened as he watched the huge cakes, loaded with citron, currants, and coloured as yellow as gold with saffron, emerging from the oven and consigned, still steaming hot, to some secure place of retention.
heart'snounUS /hɑːrts/
possessive form of “heart” — the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTMAS PLAY "Come, bring with a noise, My merrie, merrie boys, The Christmas block to the firing; While my good dame, she, Bids ye all be free, And drink to your heart's desiring."
HerricknounUS /ˈherɪk/
English lyric poet (1591-1674)
From this reading --_Herrick._ There was bustle and activity in the parish.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading The small boy's eyes glistened as he watched the huge cakes, loaded with citron, currants, and coloured as yellow as gold with saffron, emerging from the oven and consigned, still steaming hot, to some secure place of retention.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading House cleaning and baking occupied the time of the busy housewives.
housewivesnounUS /ˈhaʊswaɪvz/
plural of “housewife” — a wife who manages a household while her husband earns the family income
From this reading House cleaning and baking occupied the time of the busy housewives.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading The small boy's eyes glistened as he watched the huge cakes, loaded with citron, currants, and coloured as yellow as gold with saffron, emerging from the oven and consigned, still steaming hot, to some secure place of retention.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading --_Herrick._ There was bustle and activity in the parish.
loadedadjectiveUS /ˈloʊdɪd/
filled with a great quantity
From this reading The small boy's eyes glistened as he watched the huge cakes, loaded with citron, currants, and coloured as yellow as gold with saffron, emerging from the oven and consigned, still steaming hot, to some secure place of retention.
merrie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTMAS PLAY "Come, bring with a noise, My merrie, merrie boys, The Christmas block to the firing; While my good dame, she, Bids ye all be free, And drink to your heart's desiring."
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTMAS PLAY "Come, bring with a noise, My merrie, merrie boys, The Christmas block to the firing; While my good dame, she, Bids ye all be free, And drink to your heart's desiring."
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTMAS PLAY "Come, bring with a noise, My merrie, merrie boys, The Christmas block to the firing; While my good dame, she, Bids ye all be free, And drink to your heart's desiring."
held or filled or in use
From this reading House cleaning and baking occupied the time of the busy housewives.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was a chill in the air, the presage of the rapidly approaching Christmas time.
ovennounUS /ˈʌvən/
kitchen appliance used for baking or roasting
From this reading The small boy's eyes glistened as he watched the huge cakes, loaded with citron, currants, and coloured as yellow as gold with saffron, emerging from the oven and consigned, still steaming hot, to some secure place of retention.
parishnounUS /ˈpærɪʃ/
a local church community
From this reading --_Herrick._ There was bustle and activity in the parish.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The small boy's eyes glistened as he watched the huge cakes, loaded with citron, currants, and coloured as yellow as gold with saffron, emerging from the oven and consigned, still steaming hot, to some secure place of retention.
participate in games or sport
From this reading CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTMAS PLAY "Come, bring with a noise, My merrie, merrie boys, The Christmas block to the firing; While my good dame, she, Bids ye all be free, And drink to your heart's desiring."
presageverbUS /ˈpresɪdʒ/
indicate, as with a sign or an omen
From this reading There was a chill in the air, the presage of the rapidly approaching Christmas time.
with speed
From this reading There was a chill in the air, the presage of the rapidly approaching Christmas time.
retentionnounUS /riˈtenʃən/
the act of retaining something
From this reading The small boy's eyes glistened as he watched the huge cakes, loaded with citron, currants, and coloured as yellow as gold with saffron, emerging from the oven and consigned, still steaming hot, to some secure place of retention.
saffronnounUS /ˈsæfrən/
Old World crocus having purple or white flowers with aromatic pungent orange stigmas used in flavoring food
From this reading The small boy's eyes glistened as he watched the huge cakes, loaded with citron, currants, and coloured as yellow as gold with saffron, emerging from the oven and consigned, still steaming hot, to some secure place of retention.
get by special effort
From this reading The small boy's eyes glistened as he watched the huge cakes, loaded with citron, currants, and coloured as yellow as gold with saffron, emerging from the oven and consigned, still steaming hot, to some secure place of retention.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTMAS PLAY "Come, bring with a noise, My merrie, merrie boys, The Christmas block to the firing; While my good dame, she, Bids ye all be free, And drink to your heart's desiring."
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The small boy's eyes glistened as he watched the huge cakes, loaded with citron, currants, and coloured as yellow as gold with saffron, emerging from the oven and consigned, still steaming hot, to some secure place of retention.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The small boy's eyes glistened as he watched the huge cakes, loaded with citron, currants, and coloured as yellow as gold with saffron, emerging from the oven and consigned, still steaming hot, to some secure place of retention.
steamingadjectiveUS /ˈstiːmɪŋ/
filled with steam or emitting moisture in the form of vapor or mist
From this reading The small boy's eyes glistened as he watched the huge cakes, loaded with citron, currants, and coloured as yellow as gold with saffron, emerging from the oven and consigned, still steaming hot, to some secure place of retention.
not in physical motion
From this reading The small boy's eyes glistened as he watched the huge cakes, loaded with citron, currants, and coloured as yellow as gold with saffron, emerging from the oven and consigned, still steaming hot, to some secure place of retention.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTMAS PLAY "Come, bring with a noise, My merrie, merrie boys, The Christmas block to the firing; While my good dame, she, Bids ye all be free, And drink to your heart's desiring."
in or at that place or location
From this reading --_Herrick._ There was bustle and activity in the parish.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading There was a chill in the air, the presage of the rapidly approaching Christmas time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTMAS PLAY "Come, bring with a noise, My merrie, merrie boys, The Christmas block to the firing; While my good dame, she, Bids ye all be free, And drink to your heart's desiring."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading --_Herrick._ There was bustle and activity in the parish.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading The small boy's eyes glistened as he watched the huge cakes, loaded with citron, currants, and coloured as yellow as gold with saffron, emerging from the oven and consigned, still steaming hot, to some secure place of retention.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTMAS PLAY "Come, bring with a noise, My merrie, merrie boys, The Christmas block to the firing; While my good dame, she, Bids ye all be free, And drink to your heart's desiring."
in the company of; together with
From this reading CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTMAS PLAY "Come, bring with a noise, My merrie, merrie boys, The Christmas block to the firing; While my good dame, she, Bids ye all be free, And drink to your heart's desiring."
an old word for “you”, speaking to more than one person
From this reading CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTMAS PLAY "Come, bring with a noise, My merrie, merrie boys, The Christmas block to the firing; While my good dame, she, Bids ye all be free, And drink to your heart's desiring."
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading The small boy's eyes glistened as he watched the huge cakes, loaded with citron, currants, and coloured as yellow as gold with saffron, emerging from the oven and consigned, still steaming hot, to some secure place of retention.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTMAS PLAY "Come, bring with a noise, My merrie, merrie boys, The Christmas block to the firing; While my good dame, she, Bids ye all be free, And drink to your heart's desiring."
