used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Old Sam was up with the sun, but it was not until the big gourd he had found the night before was steaming with a luxurious duck stew that he awoke the tired lads.
inflected form of “awake” — stop sleeping
From this reading Old Sam was up with the sun, but it was not until the big gourd he had found the night before was steaming with a luxurious duck stew that he awoke the tired lads.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Old Sam was up with the sun, but it was not until the big gourd he had found the night before was steaming with a luxurious duck stew that he awoke the tired lads.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Old Sam was up with the sun, but it was not until the big gourd he had found the night before was steaming with a luxurious duck stew that he awoke the tired lads.
a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading Bill waved his wooden spoon—handmade by the old darkey—toward the savory-smelling gourd, which was their common pot.
boiledadjectiveUS /bɔɪld/
cooked in hot water
From this reading “This stew is boiled isn’t it?”
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Old Sam was up with the sun, but it was not until the big gourd he had found the night before was steaming with a luxurious duck stew that he awoke the tired lads.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Bill waved his wooden spoon—handmade by the old darkey—toward the savory-smelling gourd, which was their common pot.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading “But how come, Marse Bill?”
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading Bill waved his wooden spoon—handmade by the old darkey—toward the savory-smelling gourd, which was their common pot.
concoctverbUS /kənˈkɑːkt/
make a concoction (of) by mixing
From this reading “How in the world did you concoct this stew, Sam?”
darkey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bill waved his wooden spoon—handmade by the old darkey—toward the savory-smelling gourd, which was their common pot.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading “How in the world did you concoct this stew, Sam?”
duckverbUS /dʌk/
to move (the head or body) quickly downwards or away
From this reading Old Sam was up with the sun, but it was not until the big gourd he had found the night before was steaming with a luxurious duck stew that he awoke the tired lads.
set up or found
From this reading Old Sam was up with the sun, but it was not until the big gourd he had found the night before was steaming with a luxurious duck stew that he awoke the tired lads.
gourdnounUS /ɡɔːrd/
bottle made from the dried shell of a bottle gourd
From this reading Old Sam was up with the sun, but it was not until the big gourd he had found the night before was steaming with a luxurious duck stew that he awoke the tired lads.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Old Sam was up with the sun, but it was not until the big gourd he had found the night before was steaming with a luxurious duck stew that he awoke the tired lads.
handmadeadjectiveUS /ˈhændˈmeɪd/
made by hand or a hand process
From this reading Bill waved his wooden spoon—handmade by the old darkey—toward the savory-smelling gourd, which was their common pot.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Old Sam was up with the sun, but it was not until the big gourd he had found the night before was steaming with a luxurious duck stew that he awoke the tired lads.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Bill waved his wooden spoon—handmade by the old darkey—toward the savory-smelling gourd, which was their common pot.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “How in the world did you concoct this stew, Sam?”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “How in the world did you concoct this stew, Sam?”
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “This stew is boiled isn’t it?”
isn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “This stew is boiled isn’t it?”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Old Sam was up with the sun, but it was not until the big gourd he had found the night before was steaming with a luxurious duck stew that he awoke the tired lads.
plural of “lad” — a boy or man
From this reading Old Sam was up with the sun, but it was not until the big gourd he had found the night before was steaming with a luxurious duck stew that he awoke the tired lads.
luxuriousadjectiveUS /ləɡˈʒɜːriəs/
displaying luxury and furnishing gratification to the senses
From this reading Old Sam was up with the sun, but it was not until the big gourd he had found the night before was steaming with a luxurious duck stew that he awoke the tired lads.
Marse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But how come, Marse Bill?”
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Old Sam was up with the sun, but it was not until the big gourd he had found the night before was steaming with a luxurious duck stew that he awoke the tired lads.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Old Sam was up with the sun, but it was not until the big gourd he had found the night before was steaming with a luxurious duck stew that he awoke the tired lads.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Old Sam was up with the sun, but it was not until the big gourd he had found the night before was steaming with a luxurious duck stew that he awoke the tired lads.
potnounUS /pɑːt/
metal or earthenware cooking vessel that is usually round and deep; often has a handle and lid
From this reading Bill waved his wooden spoon—handmade by the old darkey—toward the savory-smelling gourd, which was their common pot.
a guided missile fired from land or shipboard against an airborne target
From this reading Old Sam was up with the sun, but it was not until the big gourd he had found the night before was steaming with a luxurious duck stew that he awoke the tired lads.
savory-smelling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bill waved his wooden spoon—handmade by the old darkey—toward the savory-smelling gourd, which was their common pot.
spoonnounUS /spuːn/
a piece of cutlery with a shallow bowl-shaped container and a handle; used to stir or serve or take up food
From this reading Bill waved his wooden spoon—handmade by the old darkey—toward the savory-smelling gourd, which was their common pot.
steamingadjectiveUS /ˈstiːmɪŋ/
filled with steam or emitting moisture in the form of vapor or mist
From this reading Old Sam was up with the sun, but it was not until the big gourd he had found the night before was steaming with a luxurious duck stew that he awoke the tired lads.
stewverbUS /stuː/
be in a huff; be silent or sullen
From this reading Old Sam was up with the sun, but it was not until the big gourd he had found the night before was steaming with a luxurious duck stew that he awoke the tired lads.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading Old Sam was up with the sun, but it was not until the big gourd he had found the night before was steaming with a luxurious duck stew that he awoke the tired lads.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Old Sam was up with the sun, but it was not until the big gourd he had found the night before was steaming with a luxurious duck stew that he awoke the tired lads.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Old Sam was up with the sun, but it was not until the big gourd he had found the night before was steaming with a luxurious duck stew that he awoke the tired lads.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Bill waved his wooden spoon—handmade by the old darkey—toward the savory-smelling gourd, which was their common pot.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “How in the world did you concoct this stew, Sam?”
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading Old Sam was up with the sun, but it was not until the big gourd he had found the night before was steaming with a luxurious duck stew that he awoke the tired lads.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Bill waved his wooden spoon—handmade by the old darkey—toward the savory-smelling gourd, which was their common pot.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Old Sam was up with the sun, but it was not until the big gourd he had found the night before was steaming with a luxurious duck stew that he awoke the tired lads.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Old Sam was up with the sun, but it was not until the big gourd he had found the night before was steaming with a luxurious duck stew that he awoke the tired lads.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Old Sam was up with the sun, but it was not until the big gourd he had found the night before was steaming with a luxurious duck stew that he awoke the tired lads.
past form of “wave” — signal with the hands or nod
From this reading Bill waved his wooden spoon—handmade by the old darkey—toward the savory-smelling gourd, which was their common pot.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Bill waved his wooden spoon—handmade by the old darkey—toward the savory-smelling gourd, which was their common pot.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Old Sam was up with the sun, but it was not until the big gourd he had found the night before was steaming with a luxurious duck stew that he awoke the tired lads.
made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood
From this reading Bill waved his wooden spoon—handmade by the old darkey—toward the savory-smelling gourd, which was their common pot.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading “How in the world did you concoct this stew, Sam?”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “How in the world did you concoct this stew, Sam?”
