used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a slate, in such distress because of a wrong figure in a sum that it had almost broken itself to pieces.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading It was a slate, in such distress because of a wrong figure in a sum that it had almost broken itself to pieces.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "What can that be now?" said Ole-Luk-Oie, going to the table and pulling out the drawer.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The pencil pulled and tugged at its string as if it were a little dog that wanted to help but could not.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the same time sounded dismal moans from the table drawer in which lay Hjalmar's schoolbooks.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "What can that be now?" said Ole-Luk-Oie, going to the table and pulling out the drawer.
for the reason that
From this reading It was a slate, in such distress because of a wrong figure in a sum that it had almost broken itself to pieces.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading And then came a moan from Hjalmar's copy book.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading It was a slate, in such distress because of a wrong figure in a sum that it had almost broken itself to pieces.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The pencil pulled and tugged at its string as if it were a little dog that wanted to help but could not.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading And then came a moan from Hjalmar's copy book.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "What can that be now?" said Ole-Luk-Oie, going to the table and pulling out the drawer.
a reproduction of a written record (e.g. of a legal or school record)
From this reading And then came a moan from Hjalmar's copy book.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The pencil pulled and tugged at its string as if it were a little dog that wanted to help but could not.
dismaladjectiveUS /ˈdɪzməl/
causing dejection
From this reading At the same time sounded dismal moans from the table drawer in which lay Hjalmar's schoolbooks.
psychological suffering
From this reading It was a slate, in such distress because of a wrong figure in a sum that it had almost broken itself to pieces.
a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading The pencil pulled and tugged at its string as if it were a little dog that wanted to help but could not.
drawernounUS /drɔːr/
a boxlike container in a piece of furniture; made so as to slide in and out
From this reading At the same time sounded dismal moans from the table drawer in which lay Hjalmar's schoolbooks.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading It was a slate, in such distress because of a wrong figure in a sum that it had almost broken itself to pieces.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading At the same time sounded dismal moans from the table drawer in which lay Hjalmar's schoolbooks.
the act of departing
From this reading "What can that be now?" said Ole-Luk-Oie, going to the table and pulling out the drawer.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was a slate, in such distress because of a wrong figure in a sum that it had almost broken itself to pieces.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading The pencil pulled and tugged at its string as if it were a little dog that wanted to help but could not.
Hjalmar's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the same time sounded dismal moans from the table drawer in which lay Hjalmar's schoolbooks.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The pencil pulled and tugged at its string as if it were a little dog that wanted to help but could not.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At the same time sounded dismal moans from the table drawer in which lay Hjalmar's schoolbooks.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a slate, in such distress because of a wrong figure in a sum that it had almost broken itself to pieces.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The pencil pulled and tugged at its string as if it were a little dog that wanted to help but could not.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading It was a slate, in such distress because of a wrong figure in a sum that it had almost broken itself to pieces.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading At the same time sounded dismal moans from the table drawer in which lay Hjalmar's schoolbooks.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The pencil pulled and tugged at its string as if it were a little dog that wanted to help but could not.
moannounUS /moʊn/
an utterance expressing pain or disapproval
From this reading And then came a moan from Hjalmar's copy book.
moansnounUS /moʊnz/
plural of “moan” — an utterance expressing pain or disapproval
From this reading At the same time sounded dismal moans from the table drawer in which lay Hjalmar's schoolbooks.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The pencil pulled and tugged at its string as if it were a little dog that wanted to help but could not.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "What can that be now?" said Ole-Luk-Oie, going to the table and pulling out the drawer.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was a slate, in such distress because of a wrong figure in a sum that it had almost broken itself to pieces.
Ole-Luk-Oie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What can that be now?" said Ole-Luk-Oie, going to the table and pulling out the drawer.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "What can that be now?" said Ole-Luk-Oie, going to the table and pulling out the drawer.
pencilnounUS /ˈpensəl/
a thin cylindrical pointed writing implement; a rod of marking substance encased in wood
From this reading The pencil pulled and tugged at its string as if it were a little dog that wanted to help but could not.
plural of “piece” — a separate part of a whole
From this reading It was a slate, in such distress because of a wrong figure in a sum that it had almost broken itself to pieces.
past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling
From this reading The pencil pulled and tugged at its string as if it were a little dog that wanted to help but could not.
pullingnounUS /ˈpʊlɪŋ/
the act of pulling; applying force to move something toward or with you
From this reading "What can that be now?" said Ole-Luk-Oie, going to the table and pulling out the drawer.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "What can that be now?" said Ole-Luk-Oie, going to the table and pulling out the drawer.
Identical; not different.
From this reading At the same time sounded dismal moans from the table drawer in which lay Hjalmar's schoolbooks.
schoolbooksnounUS /ˈskuːlbʊks/
plural of “schoolbook” — a book prepared for use in schools or colleges
From this reading At the same time sounded dismal moans from the table drawer in which lay Hjalmar's schoolbooks.
slatenounUS /sleɪt/
(formerly) a writing tablet made of slate
From this reading It was a slate, in such distress because of a wrong figure in a sum that it had almost broken itself to pieces.
past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way
From this reading At the same time sounded dismal moans from the table drawer in which lay Hjalmar's schoolbooks.
stringnounUS /strɪŋ/
a lightweight cord
From this reading The pencil pulled and tugged at its string as if it were a little dog that wanted to help but could not.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading It was a slate, in such distress because of a wrong figure in a sum that it had almost broken itself to pieces.
a quantity of money
From this reading It was a slate, in such distress because of a wrong figure in a sum that it had almost broken itself to pieces.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading At the same time sounded dismal moans from the table drawer in which lay Hjalmar's schoolbooks.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "What can that be now?" said Ole-Luk-Oie, going to the table and pulling out the drawer.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At the same time sounded dismal moans from the table drawer in which lay Hjalmar's schoolbooks.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading And then came a moan from Hjalmar's copy book.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading At the same time sounded dismal moans from the table drawer in which lay Hjalmar's schoolbooks.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "What can that be now?" said Ole-Luk-Oie, going to the table and pulling out the drawer.
tuggedverbUS /tʌɡd/
inflected form of “tug” — pull hard
From this reading The pencil pulled and tugged at its string as if it were a little dog that wanted to help but could not.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading The pencil pulled and tugged at its string as if it were a little dog that wanted to help but could not.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a slate, in such distress because of a wrong figure in a sum that it had almost broken itself to pieces.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The pencil pulled and tugged at its string as if it were a little dog that wanted to help but could not.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What can that be now?" said Ole-Luk-Oie, going to the table and pulling out the drawer.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading At the same time sounded dismal moans from the table drawer in which lay Hjalmar's schoolbooks.
not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
From this reading It was a slate, in such distress because of a wrong figure in a sum that it had almost broken itself to pieces.
