used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE WAR Well, but it was a snug little cabin!
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The mist-wraiths might drift by the window, might even pause to thrust their spectral faces against the pane, but it mattered nothing to those who were safe and snug within.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The mist-wraiths might drift by the window, might even pause to thrust their spectral faces against the pane, but it mattered nothing to those who were safe and snug within.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading Aunt Zillah cooked her special stew for supper, and served it with potatoes baked in the coals, raised biscuit, and honey and dainties for dessert.
bakedadjectiveUS /beɪkt/
dried out by heat or excessive exposure to sunlight
From this reading Aunt Zillah cooked her special stew for supper, and served it with potatoes baked in the coals, raised biscuit, and honey and dainties for dessert.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The girls saw that the occasion was to be a festive one, and put on the brightest frocks they could find in their trunks.
biscuitnounUS /ˈbɪskət/
small round bread leavened with baking-powder or soda
From this reading Aunt Zillah cooked her special stew for supper, and served it with potatoes baked in the coals, raised biscuit, and honey and dainties for dessert.
borrowedverbUS /ˈbɑːroʊd/
past form of “borrow” — get temporarily
From this reading Keefe had brought out his borrowed guitar and kept the room ringing with his melodies.
brightestadjectiveUS /ˈbraɪtəst/
superlative of “bright” — emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading The girls saw that the occasion was to be a festive one, and put on the brightest frocks they could find in their trunks.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading Keefe had brought out his borrowed guitar and kept the room ringing with his melodies.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THE WAR Well, but it was a snug little cabin!
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The mist-wraiths might drift by the window, might even pause to thrust their spectral faces against the pane, but it mattered nothing to those who were safe and snug within.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading THE WAR Well, but it was a snug little cabin!
coalsnounUS /koʊlz/
plural of “coal” — fossil fuel consisting of carbonized vegetable matter deposited in the Carboniferous period
From this reading Aunt Zillah cooked her special stew for supper, and served it with potatoes baked in the coals, raised biscuit, and honey and dainties for dessert.
cookedadjectiveUS /kʊkt/
having been prepared for eating by the application of heat
From this reading Aunt Zillah cooked her special stew for supper, and served it with potatoes baked in the coals, raised biscuit, and honey and dainties for dessert.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The girls saw that the occasion was to be a festive one, and put on the brightest frocks they could find in their trunks.
dainties
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Aunt Zillah cooked her special stew for supper, and served it with potatoes baked in the coals, raised biscuit, and honey and dainties for dessert.
dessertnounUS /dɪˈzɜːrt/
a dish served as the last course of a meal
From this reading Aunt Zillah cooked her special stew for supper, and served it with potatoes baked in the coals, raised biscuit, and honey and dainties for dessert.
driftverbUS /drɪft/
be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading The mist-wraiths might drift by the window, might even pause to thrust their spectral faces against the pane, but it mattered nothing to those who were safe and snug within.
divisible by two
From this reading The mist-wraiths might drift by the window, might even pause to thrust their spectral faces against the pane, but it mattered nothing to those who were safe and snug within.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The mist-wraiths might drift by the window, might even pause to thrust their spectral faces against the pane, but it mattered nothing to those who were safe and snug within.
festiveadjectiveUS /ˈfestɪv/
offering fun and gaiety
From this reading The girls saw that the occasion was to be a festive one, and put on the brightest frocks they could find in their trunks.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading The girls saw that the occasion was to be a festive one, and put on the brightest frocks they could find in their trunks.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Aunt Zillah cooked her special stew for supper, and served it with potatoes baked in the coals, raised biscuit, and honey and dainties for dessert.
frocksnounUS /frɑːks/
plural of “frock” — a long, loose outer garment
From this reading The girls saw that the occasion was to be a festive one, and put on the brightest frocks they could find in their trunks.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading The girls saw that the occasion was to be a festive one, and put on the brightest frocks they could find in their trunks.
guitarnounUS /ɡɪˈtɑːr/
a stringed instrument usually having six strings; played by strumming or plucking
From this reading Keefe had brought out his borrowed guitar and kept the room ringing with his melodies.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Keefe had brought out his borrowed guitar and kept the room ringing with his melodies.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Aunt Zillah cooked her special stew for supper, and served it with potatoes baked in the coals, raised biscuit, and honey and dainties for dessert.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Keefe had brought out his borrowed guitar and kept the room ringing with his melodies.
honeynounUS /ˈhʌni/
a sweet yellow liquid produced by bees
From this reading Aunt Zillah cooked her special stew for supper, and served it with potatoes baked in the coals, raised biscuit, and honey and dainties for dessert.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Aunt Zillah cooked her special stew for supper, and served it with potatoes baked in the coals, raised biscuit, and honey and dainties for dessert.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE WAR Well, but it was a snug little cabin!
Keefe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Keefe had brought out his borrowed guitar and kept the room ringing with his melodies.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading Keefe had brought out his borrowed guitar and kept the room ringing with his melodies.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading THE WAR Well, but it was a snug little cabin!
matteredverbUS /ˈmætərd/
past form of “matter” — have weight; have import, carry weight
From this reading The mist-wraiths might drift by the window, might even pause to thrust their spectral faces against the pane, but it mattered nothing to those who were safe and snug within.
melodiesnounUS /ˈmelədiz/
plural of “melody” — a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence
From this reading Keefe had brought out his borrowed guitar and kept the room ringing with his melodies.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The mist-wraiths might drift by the window, might even pause to thrust their spectral faces against the pane, but it mattered nothing to those who were safe and snug within.
mist-wraiths
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mist-wraiths might drift by the window, might even pause to thrust their spectral faces against the pane, but it mattered nothing to those who were safe and snug within.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading The mist-wraiths might drift by the window, might even pause to thrust their spectral faces against the pane, but it mattered nothing to those who were safe and snug within.
an event that occurs at a critical time
From this reading The girls saw that the occasion was to be a festive one, and put on the brightest frocks they could find in their trunks.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The girls saw that the occasion was to be a festive one, and put on the brightest frocks they could find in their trunks.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The girls saw that the occasion was to be a festive one, and put on the brightest frocks they could find in their trunks.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Keefe had brought out his borrowed guitar and kept the room ringing with his melodies.
panenounUS /peɪn/
sheet glass cut in shapes for windows or doors
From this reading The mist-wraiths might drift by the window, might even pause to thrust their spectral faces against the pane, but it mattered nothing to those who were safe and snug within.
a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something
From this reading The mist-wraiths might drift by the window, might even pause to thrust their spectral faces against the pane, but it mattered nothing to those who were safe and snug within.
potatoesnounUS /pəˈteɪtoʊz/
plural of “potato” — an edible tuber native to South America; a staple food of Ireland
From this reading Aunt Zillah cooked her special stew for supper, and served it with potatoes baked in the coals, raised biscuit, and honey and dainties for dessert.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The girls saw that the occasion was to be a festive one, and put on the brightest frocks they could find in their trunks.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading Aunt Zillah cooked her special stew for supper, and served it with potatoes baked in the coals, raised biscuit, and honey and dainties for dessert.
ringingnounUS /ˈrɪŋɪŋ/
the sound of a bell ringing
From this reading Keefe had brought out his borrowed guitar and kept the room ringing with his melodies.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Keefe had brought out his borrowed guitar and kept the room ringing with his melodies.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading The mist-wraiths might drift by the window, might even pause to thrust their spectral faces against the pane, but it mattered nothing to those who were safe and snug within.
cut with a saw
From this reading The girls saw that the occasion was to be a festive one, and put on the brightest frocks they could find in their trunks.
past form of “serve” — serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading Aunt Zillah cooked her special stew for supper, and served it with potatoes baked in the coals, raised biscuit, and honey and dainties for dessert.
snugadjectiveUS /snʌɡ/
offering safety; well protected or concealed
From this reading THE WAR Well, but it was a snug little cabin!
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading Aunt Zillah cooked her special stew for supper, and served it with potatoes baked in the coals, raised biscuit, and honey and dainties for dessert.
spectraladjectiveUS /ˈspektrəl/
of or relating to a spectrum
From this reading The mist-wraiths might drift by the window, might even pause to thrust their spectral faces against the pane, but it mattered nothing to those who were safe and snug within.
stewverbUS /stuː/
be in a huff; be silent or sullen
From this reading Aunt Zillah cooked her special stew for supper, and served it with potatoes baked in the coals, raised biscuit, and honey and dainties for dessert.
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading Aunt Zillah cooked her special stew for supper, and served it with potatoes baked in the coals, raised biscuit, and honey and dainties for dessert.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The girls saw that the occasion was to be a festive one, and put on the brightest frocks they could find in their trunks.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE WAR Well, but it was a snug little cabin!
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The mist-wraiths might drift by the window, might even pause to thrust their spectral faces against the pane, but it mattered nothing to those who were safe and snug within.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The girls saw that the occasion was to be a festive one, and put on the brightest frocks they could find in their trunks.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading The mist-wraiths might drift by the window, might even pause to thrust their spectral faces against the pane, but it mattered nothing to those who were safe and snug within.
push forcefully
From this reading The mist-wraiths might drift by the window, might even pause to thrust their spectral faces against the pane, but it mattered nothing to those who were safe and snug within.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The mist-wraiths might drift by the window, might even pause to thrust their spectral faces against the pane, but it mattered nothing to those who were safe and snug within.
trunksnounUS /trʌŋks/
(used in the plural) trousers that end at or above the knee
From this reading The girls saw that the occasion was to be a festive one, and put on the brightest frocks they could find in their trunks.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading THE WAR Well, but it was a snug little cabin!
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE WAR Well, but it was a snug little cabin!
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading THE WAR Well, but it was a snug little cabin!
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The mist-wraiths might drift by the window, might even pause to thrust their spectral faces against the pane, but it mattered nothing to those who were safe and snug within.
which person or people
From this reading The mist-wraiths might drift by the window, might even pause to thrust their spectral faces against the pane, but it mattered nothing to those who were safe and snug within.
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 The mist-wraiths might drift by the window, might even pause to thrust their spectral faces against the pane, but it mattered nothing to those who were safe and snug within.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Aunt Zillah cooked her special stew for supper, and served it with potatoes baked in the coals, raised biscuit, and honey and dainties for dessert.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading The mist-wraiths might drift by the window, might even pause to thrust their spectral faces against the pane, but it mattered nothing to those who were safe and snug within.
Zillah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Aunt Zillah cooked her special stew for supper, and served it with potatoes baked in the coals, raised biscuit, and honey and dainties for dessert.
