adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a brassy glimmer in the cloudy west; the rest of the sky was covered by thick vapors.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It was Mammy Phillis who had interrupted her reverie, and she now laid an armful of seasoned hickory wood upon the hearth, and set herself about mending the fire, taking up the ashes which had accumulated since morning, putting the charred sticks together, and collecting the embers into a compact bed.
accumulatedadjectiveUS /əˈkjuːmjəleɪtɪd/
periodically accumulated over time
From this reading It was Mammy Phillis who had interrupted her reverie, and she now laid an armful of seasoned hickory wood upon the hearth, and set herself about mending the fire, taking up the ashes which had accumulated since morning, putting the charred sticks together, and collecting the embers into a compact bed.
achedverbUS /eɪkt/
past form of “ache” — feel physical pain
From this reading “The days are still very short,” she said, folding her work, and becoming aware that her eyes ached from long and close study of the intricate pattern.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was Mammy Phillis who had interrupted her reverie, and she now laid an armful of seasoned hickory wood upon the hearth, and set herself about mending the fire, taking up the ashes which had accumulated since morning, putting the charred sticks together, and collecting the embers into a compact bed.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “You are puttin' your eyes out, workin' so stiddy, honey, and it's gettin' dark.”
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “You are puttin' your eyes out, workin' so stiddy, honey, and it's gettin' dark.”
armfulnoun
the quantity that can be contained in the arms
From this reading It was Mammy Phillis who had interrupted her reverie, and she now laid an armful of seasoned hickory wood upon the hearth, and set herself about mending the fire, taking up the ashes which had accumulated since morning, putting the charred sticks together, and collecting the embers into a compact bed.
arousedadjectiveUS /ərˈaʊzd/
aroused to action
From this reading Mabel aroused herself from her intent attitude, and looked at the window.
ashesnounUS /ˈæʃ.ɪz/
The powdery residue left after the burning of a substance.
From this reading It was Mammy Phillis who had interrupted her reverie, and she now laid an armful of seasoned hickory wood upon the hearth, and set herself about mending the fire, taking up the ashes which had accumulated since morning, putting the charred sticks together, and collecting the embers into a compact bed.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Mabel aroused herself from her intent attitude, and looked at the window.
attitudenounUS /ˈætətuːd/
a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways
From this reading Mabel aroused herself from her intent attitude, and looked at the window.
awareadjectiveUS /əˈwer/
(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
From this reading “The days are still very short,” she said, folding her work, and becoming aware that her eyes ached from long and close study of the intricate pattern.
becomingadjectiveUS /bɪˈkʌmɪŋ/
according with custom or propriety
From this reading “The days are still very short,” she said, folding her work, and becoming aware that her eyes ached from long and close study of the intricate pattern.
bednounUS /bed/
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading It was Mammy Phillis who had interrupted her reverie, and she now laid an armful of seasoned hickory wood upon the hearth, and set herself about mending the fire, taking up the ashes which had accumulated since morning, putting the charred sticks together, and collecting the embers into a compact bed.
brassyadjectiveUS /ˈbræsi/
resembling the sound of a brass instrument
From this reading There was a brassy glimmer in the cloudy west; the rest of the sky was covered by thick vapors.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading There was a brassy glimmer in the cloudy west; the rest of the sky was covered by thick vapors.
charredverbUS /tʃɑːrd/
inflected form of “char” — burn to charcoal
From this reading It was Mammy Phillis who had interrupted her reverie, and she now laid an armful of seasoned hickory wood upon the hearth, and set herself about mending the fire, taking up the ashes which had accumulated since morning, putting the charred sticks together, and collecting the embers into a compact bed.
closeadjectiveUS /kloʊs/
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading “The days are still very short,” she said, folding her work, and becoming aware that her eyes ached from long and close study of the intricate pattern.
cloudyadjectiveUS /ˈklaʊdi/
lacking definite form or limits
From this reading There was a brassy glimmer in the cloudy west; the rest of the sky was covered by thick vapors.
collectingnounUS /kəˈlektɪŋ/
the act of gathering something together
From this reading It was Mammy Phillis who had interrupted her reverie, and she now laid an armful of seasoned hickory wood upon the hearth, and set herself about mending the fire, taking up the ashes which had accumulated since morning, putting the charred sticks together, and collecting the embers into a compact bed.
compactnounUS /ˈkɑːmpækt/
a small cosmetics case with a mirror; to be carried in a woman's purse
From this reading It was Mammy Phillis who had interrupted her reverie, and she now laid an armful of seasoned hickory wood upon the hearth, and set herself about mending the fire, taking up the ashes which had accumulated since morning, putting the charred sticks together, and collecting the embers into a compact bed.
coveredadjectiveUS /ˈkʌvərd/
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading There was a brassy glimmer in the cloudy west; the rest of the sky was covered by thick vapors.
darknounUS /dɑːrk/
absence of light or illumination
From this reading “You are puttin' your eyes out, workin' so stiddy, honey, and it's gettin' dark.”
daysnounUS /deɪz/
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading “The days are still very short,” she said, folding her work, and becoming aware that her eyes ached from long and close study of the intricate pattern.
embersnounUS /ˈembərz/
plural of “ember” — a hot fragment of wood or coal that is left from a fire and is glowing or smoldering
From this reading It was Mammy Phillis who had interrupted her reverie, and she now laid an armful of seasoned hickory wood upon the hearth, and set herself about mending the fire, taking up the ashes which had accumulated since morning, putting the charred sticks together, and collecting the embers into a compact bed.
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading “You are puttin' your eyes out, workin' so stiddy, honey, and it's gettin' dark.”
fireverbUS /ˈfaɪər/
start firing a weapon
From this reading It was Mammy Phillis who had interrupted her reverie, and she now laid an armful of seasoned hickory wood upon the hearth, and set herself about mending the fire, taking up the ashes which had accumulated since morning, putting the charred sticks together, and collecting the embers into a compact bed.
foldingnounUS /ˈfoʊldɪŋ/
the process whereby a protein molecule assumes its intricate three-dimensional shape
From this reading “The days are still very short,” she said, folding her work, and becoming aware that her eyes ached from long and close study of the intricate pattern.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Mabel aroused herself from her intent attitude, and looked at the window.
gettin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You are puttin' your eyes out, workin' so stiddy, honey, and it's gettin' dark.”
glimmernounUS /ˈɡlɪmər/
a flash of light (especially reflected light)
From this reading There was a brassy glimmer in the cloudy west; the rest of the sky was covered by thick vapors.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was Mammy Phillis who had interrupted her reverie, and she now laid an armful of seasoned hickory wood upon the hearth, and set herself about mending the fire, taking up the ashes which had accumulated since morning, putting the charred sticks together, and collecting the embers into a compact bed.
hearthnounUS /hɑːrθ/
an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built
From this reading It was Mammy Phillis who had interrupted her reverie, and she now laid an armful of seasoned hickory wood upon the hearth, and set herself about mending the fire, taking up the ashes which had accumulated since morning, putting the charred sticks together, and collecting the embers into a compact bed.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mabel aroused herself from her intent attitude, and looked at the window.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Mabel aroused herself from her intent attitude, and looked at the window.
hickorynounUS /ˈhɪkəri/
valuable tough heavy hardwood from various hickory trees
From this reading It was Mammy Phillis who had interrupted her reverie, and she now laid an armful of seasoned hickory wood upon the hearth, and set herself about mending the fire, taking up the ashes which had accumulated since morning, putting the charred sticks together, and collecting the embers into a compact bed.
honeynounUS /ˈhʌni/
a sweet yellow liquid produced by bees
From this reading “You are puttin' your eyes out, workin' so stiddy, honey, and it's gettin' dark.”
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was a brassy glimmer in the cloudy west; the rest of the sky was covered by thick vapors.
intentnounUS /ˌɪnˈtent/
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading Mabel aroused herself from her intent attitude, and looked at the window.
interruptedadjectiveUS /ˌɪntərˈʌptɪd/
discontinued temporarily
From this reading It was Mammy Phillis who had interrupted her reverie, and she now laid an armful of seasoned hickory wood upon the hearth, and set herself about mending the fire, taking up the ashes which had accumulated since morning, putting the charred sticks together, and collecting the embers into a compact bed.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading It was Mammy Phillis who had interrupted her reverie, and she now laid an armful of seasoned hickory wood upon the hearth, and set herself about mending the fire, taking up the ashes which had accumulated since morning, putting the charred sticks together, and collecting the embers into a compact bed.
intricateadjectiveUS /ˈɪntrəkət/
having many complexly arranged elements; elaborate
From this reading “The days are still very short,” she said, folding her work, and becoming aware that her eyes ached from long and close study of the intricate pattern.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was Mammy Phillis who had interrupted her reverie, and she now laid an armful of seasoned hickory wood upon the hearth, and set herself about mending the fire, taking up the ashes which had accumulated since morning, putting the charred sticks together, and collecting the embers into a compact bed.
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You are puttin' your eyes out, workin' so stiddy, honey, and it's gettin' dark.”
laidadjectiveUS /leɪd/
set down according to a plan
From this reading It was Mammy Phillis who had interrupted her reverie, and she now laid an armful of seasoned hickory wood upon the hearth, and set herself about mending the fire, taking up the ashes which had accumulated since morning, putting the charred sticks together, and collecting the embers into a compact bed.
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
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 “The days are still very short,” she said, folding her work, and becoming aware that her eyes ached from long and close study of the intricate pattern.
lookedverbUS /lʊkt/
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Mabel aroused herself from her intent attitude, and looked at the window.
Mabel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mabel aroused herself from her intent attitude, and looked at the window.
Mammynoun
an offensive term for a Black nursemaid in the southern U.S.
From this reading It was Mammy Phillis who had interrupted her reverie, and she now laid an armful of seasoned hickory wood upon the hearth, and set herself about mending the fire, taking up the ashes which had accumulated since morning, putting the charred sticks together, and collecting the embers into a compact bed.
mendingnounUS /ˈmendɪŋ/
garments that must be repaired
From this reading It was Mammy Phillis who had interrupted her reverie, and she now laid an armful of seasoned hickory wood upon the hearth, and set herself about mending the fire, taking up the ashes which had accumulated since morning, putting the charred sticks together, and collecting the embers into a compact bed.
morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading It was Mammy Phillis who had interrupted her reverie, and she now laid an armful of seasoned hickory wood upon the hearth, and set herself about mending the fire, taking up the ashes which had accumulated since morning, putting the charred sticks together, and collecting the embers into a compact bed.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It was Mammy Phillis who had interrupted her reverie, and she now laid an armful of seasoned hickory wood upon the hearth, and set herself about mending the fire, taking up the ashes which had accumulated since morning, putting the charred sticks together, and collecting the embers into a compact bed.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was a brassy glimmer in the cloudy west; the rest of the sky was covered by thick vapors.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading “You are puttin' your eyes out, workin' so stiddy, honey, and it's gettin' dark.”
patternnounUS /ˈpætərn/
a perceptual structure
From this reading “The days are still very short,” she said, folding her work, and becoming aware that her eyes ached from long and close study of the intricate pattern.
Phillis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Mammy Phillis who had interrupted her reverie, and she now laid an armful of seasoned hickory wood upon the hearth, and set herself about mending the fire, taking up the ashes which had accumulated since morning, putting the charred sticks together, and collecting the embers into a compact bed.
puttin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You are puttin' your eyes out, workin' so stiddy, honey, and it's gettin' dark.”
puttingnounUS /ˈpʌtɪŋ/
hitting a golf ball that is on the green using a putter
From this reading It was Mammy Phillis who had interrupted her reverie, and she now laid an armful of seasoned hickory wood upon the hearth, and set herself about mending the fire, taking up the ashes which had accumulated since morning, putting the charred sticks together, and collecting the embers into a compact bed.
restverbUS /rest/
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading There was a brassy glimmer in the cloudy west; the rest of the sky was covered by thick vapors.
reverienounUS /ˈrevəri/
absentminded dreaming while awake
From this reading It was Mammy Phillis who had interrupted her reverie, and she now laid an armful of seasoned hickory wood upon the hearth, and set herself about mending the fire, taking up the ashes which had accumulated since morning, putting the charred sticks together, and collecting the embers into a compact bed.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “The days are still very short,” she said, folding her work, and becoming aware that her eyes ached from long and close study of the intricate pattern.
seasonedadjectiveUS /ˈsiːzənd/
aged or processed
From this reading It was Mammy Phillis who had interrupted her reverie, and she now laid an armful of seasoned hickory wood upon the hearth, and set herself about mending the fire, taking up the ashes which had accumulated since morning, putting the charred sticks together, and collecting the embers into a compact bed.
setverbUS /set/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading It was Mammy Phillis who had interrupted her reverie, and she now laid an armful of seasoned hickory wood upon the hearth, and set herself about mending the fire, taking up the ashes which had accumulated since morning, putting the charred sticks together, and collecting the embers into a compact bed.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “The days are still very short,” she said, folding her work, and becoming aware that her eyes ached from long and close study of the intricate pattern.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔːrt/
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading “The days are still very short,” she said, folding her work, and becoming aware that her eyes ached from long and close study of the intricate pattern.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading It was Mammy Phillis who had interrupted her reverie, and she now laid an armful of seasoned hickory wood upon the hearth, and set herself about mending the fire, taking up the ashes which had accumulated since morning, putting the charred sticks together, and collecting the embers into a compact bed.
skynounUS /skaɪ/
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading There was a brassy glimmer in the cloudy west; the rest of the sky was covered by thick vapors.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “You are puttin' your eyes out, workin' so stiddy, honey, and it's gettin' dark.”
sticksnounUS /stɪks/
plural of “stick” — an implement consisting of a length of wood
From this reading It was Mammy Phillis who had interrupted her reverie, and she now laid an armful of seasoned hickory wood upon the hearth, and set herself about mending the fire, taking up the ashes which had accumulated since morning, putting the charred sticks together, and collecting the embers into a compact bed.
stiddy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You are puttin' your eyes out, workin' so stiddy, honey, and it's gettin' dark.”
stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/
not in physical motion
From this reading “The days are still very short,” she said, folding her work, and becoming aware that her eyes ached from long and close study of the intricate pattern.
studynounUS /ˈstʌdi/
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading “The days are still very short,” she said, folding her work, and becoming aware that her eyes ached from long and close study of the intricate pattern.
takingnounUS /ˈteɪkɪŋ/
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading It was Mammy Phillis who had interrupted her reverie, and she now laid an armful of seasoned hickory wood upon the hearth, and set herself about mending the fire, taking up the ashes which had accumulated since morning, putting the charred sticks together, and collecting the embers into a compact bed.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “The days are still very short,” she said, folding her work, and becoming aware that her eyes ached from long and close study of the intricate pattern.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mabel aroused herself from her intent attitude, and looked at the window.
ThereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a brassy glimmer in the cloudy west; the rest of the sky was covered by thick vapors.
thickadjectiveUS /θɪk/
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading There was a brassy glimmer in the cloudy west; the rest of the sky was covered by thick vapors.
togetheradverbUS /təˈɡeðər/
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading It was Mammy Phillis who had interrupted her reverie, and she now laid an armful of seasoned hickory wood upon the hearth, and set herself about mending the fire, taking up the ashes which had accumulated since morning, putting the charred sticks together, and collecting the embers into a compact bed.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading It was Mammy Phillis who had interrupted her reverie, and she now laid an armful of seasoned hickory wood upon the hearth, and set herself about mending the fire, taking up the ashes which had accumulated since morning, putting the charred sticks together, and collecting the embers into a compact bed.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading It was Mammy Phillis who had interrupted her reverie, and she now laid an armful of seasoned hickory wood upon the hearth, and set herself about mending the fire, taking up the ashes which had accumulated since morning, putting the charred sticks together, and collecting the embers into a compact bed.
vaporsnounUS /ˈveɪpərz/
a state of depression
From this reading There was a brassy glimmer in the cloudy west; the rest of the sky was covered by thick vapors.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading “The days are still very short,” she said, folding her work, and becoming aware that her eyes ached from long and close study of the intricate pattern.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a brassy glimmer in the cloudy west; the rest of the sky was covered by thick vapors.
westnounUS /west/
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading There was a brassy glimmer in the cloudy west; the rest of the sky was covered by thick vapors.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was Mammy Phillis who had interrupted her reverie, and she now laid an armful of seasoned hickory wood upon the hearth, and set herself about mending the fire, taking up the ashes which had accumulated since morning, putting the charred sticks together, and collecting the embers into a compact bed.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading It was Mammy Phillis who had interrupted her reverie, and she now laid an armful of seasoned hickory wood upon the hearth, and set herself about mending the fire, taking up the ashes which had accumulated since morning, putting the charred sticks together, and collecting the embers into a compact bed.
windownounUS /ˈwɪndoʊ/
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading Mabel aroused herself from her intent attitude, and looked at the window.
woodnounUS /wʊd/
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading It was Mammy Phillis who had interrupted her reverie, and she now laid an armful of seasoned hickory wood upon the hearth, and set herself about mending the fire, taking up the ashes which had accumulated since morning, putting the charred sticks together, and collecting the embers into a compact bed.
workverbUS /wɜːrk/
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading “The days are still very short,” she said, folding her work, and becoming aware that her eyes ached from long and close study of the intricate pattern.
workin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You are puttin' your eyes out, workin' so stiddy, honey, and it's gettin' dark.”
YoupronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You are puttin' your eyes out, workin' so stiddy, honey, and it's gettin' dark.”
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You are puttin' your eyes out, workin' so stiddy, honey, and it's gettin' dark.”
