used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "All that a man hath he will give for his life."
(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 "All that a man hath he will give for his life."
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading With an earthenware bracelet on each wrist and both hands full of grain, he reached the nearest tree; and there he opened his hands and dropped the grain.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The pots had not been very strong; and in his struggles he had broken off the rims.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But in this instance, the general opinion of observers was that the grain was dropped by inadvertence, as the monkey opened his hands in haste to climb, forgetting what he held.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The prisoner broke away.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The pots had not been very strong; and in his struggles he had broken off the rims.
the two together, not just one
From this reading With an earthenware bracelet on each wrist and both hands full of grain, he reached the nearest tree; and there he opened his hands and dropped the grain.
braceletnounUS /ˈbreɪslət/
a band of cloth or leather or metal links attached to a wristwatch and wrapped around the wrist
From this reading With an earthenware bracelet on each wrist and both hands full of grain, he reached the nearest tree; and there he opened his hands and dropped the grain.
lacking funds
From this reading The prisoner broke away.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading The pots had not been very strong; and in his struggles he had broken off the rims.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But in this instance, the general opinion of observers was that the grain was dropped by inadvertence, as the monkey opened his hands in haste to climb, forgetting what he held.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But in this instance, the general opinion of observers was that the grain was dropped by inadvertence, as the monkey opened his hands in haste to climb, forgetting what he held.
go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading But in this instance, the general opinion of observers was that the grain was dropped by inadvertence, as the monkey opened his hands in haste to climb, forgetting what he held.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading With an earthenware bracelet on each wrist and both hands full of grain, he reached the nearest tree; and there he opened his hands and dropped the grain.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading With an earthenware bracelet on each wrist and both hands full of grain, he reached the nearest tree; and there he opened his hands and dropped the grain.
earthenwarenounUS /ˈɜːrθənwer/
ceramic ware made of porous clay fired at low heat
From this reading With an earthenware bracelet on each wrist and both hands full of grain, he reached the nearest tree; and there he opened his hands and dropped the grain.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "All that a man hath he will give for his life."
forgettingverbUS /fərˈɡetɪŋ/
inflected form of “forget” — dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading But in this instance, the general opinion of observers was that the grain was dropped by inadvertence, as the monkey opened his hands in haste to climb, forgetting what he held.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading With an earthenware bracelet on each wrist and both hands full of grain, he reached the nearest tree; and there he opened his hands and dropped the grain.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading But in this instance, the general opinion of observers was that the grain was dropped by inadvertence, as the monkey opened his hands in haste to climb, forgetting what he held.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading "All that a man hath he will give for his life."
grainnounUS /ɡreɪn/
a relatively small granular particle of a substance
From this reading With an earthenware bracelet on each wrist and both hands full of grain, he reached the nearest tree; and there he opened his hands and dropped the grain.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The pots had not been very strong; and in his struggles he had broken off the rims.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading With an earthenware bracelet on each wrist and both hands full of grain, he reached the nearest tree; and there he opened his hands and dropped the grain.
overly eager speed (and possible carelessness)
From this reading But in this instance, the general opinion of observers was that the grain was dropped by inadvertence, as the monkey opened his hands in haste to climb, forgetting what he held.
hathauxiliary verbUS /hæθ/
an old form of “has”
From this reading "All that a man hath he will give for his life."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The pots had not been very strong; and in his struggles he had broken off the rims.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading But in this instance, the general opinion of observers was that the grain was dropped by inadvertence, as the monkey opened his hands in haste to climb, forgetting what he held.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The pots had not been very strong; and in his struggles he had broken off the rims.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The pots had not been very strong; and in his struggles he had broken off the rims.
inadvertencenounUS /ˌɪnədˈvɜːrtəns/
an unintentional omission resulting from failure to notice something
From this reading But in this instance, the general opinion of observers was that the grain was dropped by inadvertence, as the monkey opened his hands in haste to climb, forgetting what he held.
an occurrence of something
From this reading But in this instance, the general opinion of observers was that the grain was dropped by inadvertence, as the monkey opened his hands in haste to climb, forgetting what he held.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading "All that a man hath he will give for his life."
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "All that a man hath he will give for his life."
monkeynounUS /ˈmʌŋki/
any of various long-tailed primates (excluding the prosimians)
From this reading But in this instance, the general opinion of observers was that the grain was dropped by inadvertence, as the monkey opened his hands in haste to climb, forgetting what he held.
(superlative of “near” or “close”) within the shortest distance
From this reading With an earthenware bracelet on each wrist and both hands full of grain, he reached the nearest tree; and there he opened his hands and dropped the grain.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The pots had not been very strong; and in his struggles he had broken off the rims.
observersnounUS /əbˈzɜːrvərz/
plural of “observer” — a person who becomes aware (of things or events) through the senses
From this reading But in this instance, the general opinion of observers was that the grain was dropped by inadvertence, as the monkey opened his hands in haste to climb, forgetting what he held.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading With an earthenware bracelet on each wrist and both hands full of grain, he reached the nearest tree; and there he opened his hands and dropped the grain.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The pots had not been very strong; and in his struggles he had broken off the rims.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading With an earthenware bracelet on each wrist and both hands full of grain, he reached the nearest tree; and there he opened his hands and dropped the grain.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading With an earthenware bracelet on each wrist and both hands full of grain, he reached the nearest tree; and there he opened his hands and dropped the grain.
a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty
From this reading But in this instance, the general opinion of observers was that the grain was dropped by inadvertence, as the monkey opened his hands in haste to climb, forgetting what he held.
potsnounUS /pɑːts/
plural of “pot” — metal or earthenware cooking vessel that is usually round and deep; often has a handle and lid
From this reading The pots had not been very strong; and in his struggles he had broken off the rims.
a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading The prisoner broke away.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading With an earthenware bracelet on each wrist and both hands full of grain, he reached the nearest tree; and there he opened his hands and dropped the grain.
rimsnounUS /rɪmz/
plural of “rim” — the shape of a raised edge of a more or less circular object
From this reading The pots had not been very strong; and in his struggles he had broken off the rims.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading The pots had not been very strong; and in his struggles he had broken off the rims.
strugglesnounUS /ˈstrʌɡəlz/
plural of “struggle” — an energetic attempt to achieve something
From this reading The pots had not been very strong; and in his struggles he had broken off the rims.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "All that a man hath he will give for his life."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The prisoner broke away.
in or at that place or location
From this reading With an earthenware bracelet on each wrist and both hands full of grain, he reached the nearest tree; and there he opened his hands and dropped the grain.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But in this instance, the general opinion of observers was that the grain was dropped by inadvertence, as the monkey opened his hands in haste to climb, forgetting what he held.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But in this instance, the general opinion of observers was that the grain was dropped by inadvertence, as the monkey opened his hands in haste to climb, forgetting what he held.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading With an earthenware bracelet on each wrist and both hands full of grain, he reached the nearest tree; and there he opened his hands and dropped the grain.
precisely as stated
From this reading The pots had not been very strong; and in his struggles he had broken off the rims.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But in this instance, the general opinion of observers was that the grain was dropped by inadvertence, as the monkey opened his hands in haste to climb, forgetting what he held.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading But in this instance, the general opinion of observers was that the grain was dropped by inadvertence, as the monkey opened his hands in haste to climb, forgetting what he held.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "All that a man hath he will give for his life."
in the company of; together with
From this reading With an earthenware bracelet on each wrist and both hands full of grain, he reached the nearest tree; and there he opened his hands and dropped the grain.
wristnounUS /rɪst/
a joint between the distal end of the radius and the proximal row of carpal bones
From this reading With an earthenware bracelet on each wrist and both hands full of grain, he reached the nearest tree; and there he opened his hands and dropped the grain.
