used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a stormy autumn afternoon, and Phil sat in his rocking-chair before the red coal fire watching the clock upon the mantelpiece.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading It was a stormy autumn afternoon, and Phil sat in his rocking-chair before the red coal fire watching the clock upon the mantelpiece.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading He hoped it would strike soon and tell him what time it was, for he was expecting company, and he felt that he had already waited quite long enough.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The big dapple gray rocking-horse stood in his corner, his fore feet impatiently lifted and an eager gleam in his brown glass eye.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was a stormy autumn afternoon, and Phil sat in his rocking-chair before the red coal fire watching the clock upon the mantelpiece.
eagerly desirous
From this reading No doubt he was anxious to do his part by giving the visitor as many rides as she wished.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading No doubt he was anxious to do his part by giving the visitor as many rides as she wished.
the season when the leaves fall from the trees
From this reading It was a stormy autumn afternoon, and Phil sat in his rocking-chair before the red coal fire watching the clock upon the mantelpiece.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It was a stormy autumn afternoon, and Phil sat in his rocking-chair before the red coal fire watching the clock upon the mantelpiece.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The big dapple gray rocking-horse stood in his corner, his fore feet impatiently lifted and an eager gleam in his brown glass eye.
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading The big dapple gray rocking-horse stood in his corner, his fore feet impatiently lifted and an eager gleam in his brown glass eye.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading No doubt he was anxious to do his part by giving the visitor as many rides as she wished.
a timepiece that shows the time of day
From this reading It was a stormy autumn afternoon, and Phil sat in his rocking-chair before the red coal fire watching the clock upon the mantelpiece.
coalnounUS /koʊl/
fossil fuel consisting of carbonized vegetable matter deposited in the Carboniferous period
From this reading It was a stormy autumn afternoon, and Phil sat in his rocking-chair before the red coal fire watching the clock upon the mantelpiece.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading He hoped it would strike soon and tell him what time it was, for he was expecting company, and he felt that he had already waited quite long enough.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading The big dapple gray rocking-horse stood in his corner, his fore feet impatiently lifted and an eager gleam in his brown glass eye.
dapplenoun
a small contrasting part of something
From this reading The big dapple gray rocking-horse stood in his corner, his fore feet impatiently lifted and an eager gleam in his brown glass eye.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading No doubt he was anxious to do his part by giving the visitor as many rides as she wished.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading No doubt he was anxious to do his part by giving the visitor as many rides as she wished.
eageradjectiveUS /ˈiːɡər/
having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy
From this reading The big dapple gray rocking-horse stood in his corner, his fore feet impatiently lifted and an eager gleam in his brown glass eye.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading He hoped it would strike soon and tell him what time it was, for he was expecting company, and he felt that he had already waited quite long enough.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading He looked round the nursery and saw that everything was in its place, spick and span and ready for visitors, too.
-ing form of “expect” — regard something as probable or likely
From this reading He hoped it would strike soon and tell him what time it was, for he was expecting company, and he felt that he had already waited quite long enough.
the organ of sight
From this reading The big dapple gray rocking-horse stood in his corner, his fore feet impatiently lifted and an eager gleam in his brown glass eye.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The big dapple gray rocking-horse stood in his corner, his fore feet impatiently lifted and an eager gleam in his brown glass eye.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading He hoped it would strike soon and tell him what time it was, for he was expecting company, and he felt that he had already waited quite long enough.
start firing a weapon
From this reading It was a stormy autumn afternoon, and Phil sat in his rocking-chair before the red coal fire watching the clock upon the mantelpiece.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He hoped it would strike soon and tell him what time it was, for he was expecting company, and he felt that he had already waited quite long enough.
forenounUS /fɔːr/
front part of a vessel or aircraft
From this reading The big dapple gray rocking-horse stood in his corner, his fore feet impatiently lifted and an eager gleam in his brown glass eye.
the act of giving
From this reading No doubt he was anxious to do his part by giving the visitor as many rides as she wished.
a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure
From this reading The big dapple gray rocking-horse stood in his corner, his fore feet impatiently lifted and an eager gleam in his brown glass eye.
gleamverbUS /ɡliːm/
be shiny, as if wet
From this reading The big dapple gray rocking-horse stood in his corner, his fore feet impatiently lifted and an eager gleam in his brown glass eye.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading The big dapple gray rocking-horse stood in his corner, his fore feet impatiently lifted and an eager gleam in his brown glass eye.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He hoped it would strike soon and tell him what time it was, for he was expecting company, and he felt that he had already waited quite long enough.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He hoped it would strike soon and tell him what time it was, for he was expecting company, and he felt that he had already waited quite long enough.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He hoped it would strike soon and tell him what time it was, for he was expecting company, and he felt that he had already waited quite long enough.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was a stormy autumn afternoon, and Phil sat in his rocking-chair before the red coal fire watching the clock upon the mantelpiece.
past form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading He hoped it would strike soon and tell him what time it was, for he was expecting company, and he felt that he had already waited quite long enough.
with impatience; in an impatient manner
From this reading The big dapple gray rocking-horse stood in his corner, his fore feet impatiently lifted and an eager gleam in his brown glass eye.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was a stormy autumn afternoon, and Phil sat in his rocking-chair before the red coal fire watching the clock upon the mantelpiece.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a stormy autumn afternoon, and Phil sat in his rocking-chair before the red coal fire watching the clock upon the mantelpiece.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading He looked round the nursery and saw that everything was in its place, spick and span and ready for visitors, too.
held up in the air
From this reading The big dapple gray rocking-horse stood in his corner, his fore feet impatiently lifted and an eager gleam in his brown glass eye.
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 He hoped it would strike soon and tell him what time it was, for he was expecting company, and he felt that he had already waited quite long enough.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He looked round the nursery and saw that everything was in its place, spick and span and ready for visitors, too.
mantelpiecenoun
shelf that projects from wall above fireplace
From this reading It was a stormy autumn afternoon, and Phil sat in his rocking-chair before the red coal fire watching the clock upon the mantelpiece.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading No doubt he was anxious to do his part by giving the visitor as many rides as she wished.
not any; not one
From this reading No doubt he was anxious to do his part by giving the visitor as many rides as she wished.
nurserynounUS /ˈnɜːrsəri/
a child's room for a baby
From this reading He looked round the nursery and saw that everything was in its place, spick and span and ready for visitors, too.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading No doubt he was anxious to do his part by giving the visitor as many rides as she wished.
Phil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a stormy autumn afternoon, and Phil sat in his rocking-chair before the red coal fire watching the clock upon the mantelpiece.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading He looked round the nursery and saw that everything was in its place, spick and span and ready for visitors, too.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading He hoped it would strike soon and tell him what time it was, for he was expecting company, and he felt that he had already waited quite long enough.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading He looked round the nursery and saw that everything was in its place, spick and span and ready for visitors, too.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading It was a stormy autumn afternoon, and Phil sat in his rocking-chair before the red coal fire watching the clock upon the mantelpiece.
ridesnounUS /raɪdz/
plural of “ride” — a journey in a vehicle (usually an automobile)
From this reading No doubt he was anxious to do his part by giving the visitor as many rides as she wished.
rocking-chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a stormy autumn afternoon, and Phil sat in his rocking-chair before the red coal fire watching the clock upon the mantelpiece.
rocking-horse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The big dapple gray rocking-horse stood in his corner, his fore feet impatiently lifted and an eager gleam in his brown glass eye.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading He looked round the nursery and saw that everything was in its place, spick and span and ready for visitors, too.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading It was a stormy autumn afternoon, and Phil sat in his rocking-chair before the red coal fire watching the clock upon the mantelpiece.
cut with a saw
From this reading He looked round the nursery and saw that everything was in its place, spick and span and ready for visitors, too.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading No doubt he was anxious to do his part by giving the visitor as many rides as she wished.
in the near future
From this reading He hoped it would strike soon and tell him what time it was, for he was expecting company, and he felt that he had already waited quite long enough.
spannounUS /spæn/
the complete duration of something
From this reading He looked round the nursery and saw that everything was in its place, spick and span and ready for visitors, too.
spicknoun
(ethnic slur) offensive term for persons of Latin American descent
From this reading He looked round the nursery and saw that everything was in its place, spick and span and ready for visitors, too.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The big dapple gray rocking-horse stood in his corner, his fore feet impatiently lifted and an eager gleam in his brown glass eye.
stormyadjectiveUS /ˈstɔːrmi/
(especially of weather) affected or characterized by storms or commotion
From this reading It was a stormy autumn afternoon, and Phil sat in his rocking-chair before the red coal fire watching the clock upon the mantelpiece.
deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon
From this reading He hoped it would strike soon and tell him what time it was, for he was expecting company, and he felt that he had already waited quite long enough.
express in words
From this reading He hoped it would strike soon and tell him what time it was, for he was expecting company, and he felt that he had already waited quite long enough.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He hoped it would strike soon and tell him what time it was, for he was expecting company, and he felt that he had already waited quite long enough.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was a stormy autumn afternoon, and Phil sat in his rocking-chair before the red coal fire watching the clock upon the mantelpiece.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading He hoped it would strike soon and tell him what time it was, for he was expecting company, and he felt that he had already waited quite long enough.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading No doubt he was anxious to do his part by giving the visitor as many rides as she wished.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading He looked round the nursery and saw that everything was in its place, spick and span and ready for visitors, too.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading It was a stormy autumn afternoon, and Phil sat in his rocking-chair before the red coal fire watching the clock upon the mantelpiece.
someone who visits
From this reading No doubt he was anxious to do his part by giving the visitor as many rides as she wished.
plural of “visitor” — someone who visits
From this reading He looked round the nursery and saw that everything was in its place, spick and span and ready for visitors, too.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading He hoped it would strike soon and tell him what time it was, for he was expecting company, and he felt that he had already waited quite long enough.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a stormy autumn afternoon, and Phil sat in his rocking-chair before the red coal fire watching the clock upon the mantelpiece.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading It was a stormy autumn afternoon, and Phil sat in his rocking-chair before the red coal fire watching the clock upon the mantelpiece.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He hoped it would strike soon and tell him what time it was, for he was expecting company, and he felt that he had already waited quite long enough.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading No doubt he was anxious to do his part by giving the visitor as many rides as she wished.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He hoped it would strike soon and tell him what time it was, for he was expecting company, and he felt that he had already waited quite long enough.
