used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She bustled about and in a very short time, which seemed long enough, however, to the hungry boys, had a smoking hot meal on the table.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading She bustled about and in a very short time, which seemed long enough, however, to the hungry boys, had a smoking hot meal on the table.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And she did it with the better grace because she herself was fond of the boys.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading The boys gathered around and pitched into the good things like so many hungry wolves, while the housekeeper watched them with a genial smile on her good-natured face.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "Some feed," pronounced Fred, with a sigh of satisfaction, when at last they were through.
for the reason that
From this reading And she did it with the better grace because she herself was fond of the boys.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading And she did it with the better grace because she herself was fond of the boys.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading And she did it with the better grace because she herself was fond of the boys.
bustled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She bustled about and in a very short time, which seemed long enough, however, to the hungry boys, had a smoking hot meal on the table.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading TOM HICKSLEY REAPPEARS The housekeeper carried out the principal's order to the letter.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading And she did it with the better grace because she herself was fond of the boys.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading She bustled about and in a very short time, which seemed long enough, however, to the hungry boys, had a smoking hot meal on the table.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The boys gathered around and pitched into the good things like so many hungry wolves, while the housekeeper watched them with a genial smile on her good-natured face.
provide as food
From this reading "Some feed," pronounced Fred, with a sigh of satisfaction, when at last they were through.
having or displaying warmth or affection
From this reading And she did it with the better grace because she herself was fond of the boys.
Fred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Some feed," pronounced Fred, with a sigh of satisfaction, when at last they were through.
brought together in one place
From this reading The boys gathered around and pitched into the good things like so many hungry wolves, while the housekeeper watched them with a genial smile on her good-natured face.
genialadjectiveUS /ˈdʒiːnjəl/
diffusing warmth and friendliness
From this reading The boys gathered around and pitched into the good things like so many hungry wolves, while the housekeeper watched them with a genial smile on her good-natured face.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading The boys gathered around and pitched into the good things like so many hungry wolves, while the housekeeper watched them with a genial smile on her good-natured face.
good-naturedadjective
having an easygoing and cheerful disposition
From this reading The boys gathered around and pitched into the good things like so many hungry wolves, while the housekeeper watched them with a genial smile on her good-natured face.
(Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence
From this reading And she did it with the better grace because she herself was fond of the boys.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She bustled about and in a very short time, which seemed long enough, however, to the hungry boys, had a smoking hot meal on the table.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The boys gathered around and pitched into the good things like so many hungry wolves, while the housekeeper watched them with a genial smile on her good-natured face.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading And she did it with the better grace because she herself was fond of the boys.
HICKSLEY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TOM HICKSLEY REAPPEARS The housekeeper carried out the principal's order to the letter.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading She bustled about and in a very short time, which seemed long enough, however, to the hungry boys, had a smoking hot meal on the table.
housekeepernounUS /ˈhaʊskiːpər/
a servant who is employed to perform domestic task in a household
From this reading TOM HICKSLEY REAPPEARS The housekeeper carried out the principal's order to the letter.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading She bustled about and in a very short time, which seemed long enough, however, to the hungry boys, had a smoking hot meal on the table.
feeling hunger; feeling a need or desire to eat food
From this reading She bustled about and in a very short time, which seemed long enough, however, to the hungry boys, had a smoking hot meal on the table.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She bustled about and in a very short time, which seemed long enough, however, to the hungry boys, had a smoking hot meal on the table.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The boys gathered around and pitched into the good things like so many hungry wolves, while the housekeeper watched them with a genial smile on her good-natured face.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And she did it with the better grace because she herself was fond of the boys.
immediately past
From this reading "Some feed," pronounced Fred, with a sigh of satisfaction, when at last they were through.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading TOM HICKSLEY REAPPEARS The housekeeper carried out the principal's order to the letter.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The boys gathered around and pitched into the good things like so many hungry wolves, while the housekeeper watched them with a genial smile on her good-natured face.
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 She bustled about and in a very short time, which seemed long enough, however, to the hungry boys, had a smoking hot meal on the table.
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 The boys gathered around and pitched into the good things like so many hungry wolves, while the housekeeper watched them with a genial smile on her good-natured face.
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading She bustled about and in a very short time, which seemed long enough, however, to the hungry boys, had a smoking hot meal on the table.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading And she did it with the better grace because she herself was fond of the boys.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She bustled about and in a very short time, which seemed long enough, however, to the hungry boys, had a smoking hot meal on the table.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading TOM HICKSLEY REAPPEARS The housekeeper carried out the principal's order to the letter.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading TOM HICKSLEY REAPPEARS The housekeeper carried out the principal's order to the letter.
pitchedadjectiveUS /pɪtʃt/
(of sound) set to a certain pitch or key; usually used as a combining form
From this reading The boys gathered around and pitched into the good things like so many hungry wolves, while the housekeeper watched them with a genial smile on her good-natured face.
principal'snounUS /ˈprɪnsəpəlz/
possessive form of “principal” — the original amount of a debt on which interest is calculated
From this reading TOM HICKSLEY REAPPEARS The housekeeper carried out the principal's order to the letter.
pronouncedadjectiveUS /prəˈnaʊnst/
strongly marked; easily noticeable
From this reading "Some feed," pronounced Fred, with a sigh of satisfaction, when at last they were through.
REAPPEARSverbUS /ˌriːəˈpɪrz/
third-person singular of “reappear” — appear again
From this reading TOM HICKSLEY REAPPEARS The housekeeper carried out the principal's order to the letter.
the contentment one feels when one has fulfilled a desire, need, or expectation
From this reading "Some feed," pronounced Fred, with a sigh of satisfaction, when at last they were through.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading She bustled about and in a very short time, which seemed long enough, however, to the hungry boys, had a smoking hot meal on the table.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And she did it with the better grace because she herself was fond of the boys.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading She bustled about and in a very short time, which seemed long enough, however, to the hungry boys, had a smoking hot meal on the table.
heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading "Some feed," pronounced Fred, with a sigh of satisfaction, when at last they were through.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading The boys gathered around and pitched into the good things like so many hungry wolves, while the housekeeper watched them with a genial smile on her good-natured face.
the act of smoking tobacco or other substances
From this reading She bustled about and in a very short time, which seemed long enough, however, to the hungry boys, had a smoking hot meal on the table.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The boys gathered around and pitched into the good things like so many hungry wolves, while the housekeeper watched them with a genial smile on her good-natured face.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading "Some feed," pronounced Fred, with a sigh of satisfaction, when at last they were through.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading She bustled about and in a very short time, which seemed long enough, however, to the hungry boys, had a smoking hot meal on the table.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading TOM HICKSLEY REAPPEARS The housekeeper carried out the principal's order to the letter.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The boys gathered around and pitched into the good things like so many hungry wolves, while the housekeeper watched them with a genial smile on her good-natured face.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Some feed," pronounced Fred, with a sigh of satisfaction, when at last they were through.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading The boys gathered around and pitched into the good things like so many hungry wolves, while the housekeeper watched them with a genial smile on her good-natured face.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading "Some feed," pronounced Fred, with a sigh of satisfaction, when at last they were through.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading She bustled about and in a very short time, which seemed long enough, however, to the hungry boys, had a smoking hot meal on the table.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading TOM HICKSLEY REAPPEARS The housekeeper carried out the principal's order to the letter.
male cat
From this reading TOM HICKSLEY REAPPEARS The housekeeper carried out the principal's order to the letter.
precisely as stated
From this reading She bustled about and in a very short time, which seemed long enough, however, to the hungry boys, had a smoking hot meal on the table.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And she did it with the better grace because she herself was fond of the boys.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading The boys gathered around and pitched into the good things like so many hungry wolves, while the housekeeper watched them with a genial smile on her good-natured face.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Some feed," pronounced Fred, with a sigh of satisfaction, when at last they were through.
at the time that
From this reading "Some feed," pronounced Fred, with a sigh of satisfaction, when at last they were through.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She bustled about and in a very short time, which seemed long enough, however, to the hungry boys, had a smoking hot meal on the table.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The boys gathered around and pitched into the good things like so many hungry wolves, while the housekeeper watched them with a genial smile on her good-natured face.
in the company of; together with
From this reading And she did it with the better grace because she herself was fond of the boys.
wolvesnounUS /wʊlvz/
plural of “wolf” — any of various predatory carnivorous canine mammals of North America and Eurasia that usually hunt in packs
From this reading The boys gathered around and pitched into the good things like so many hungry wolves, while the housekeeper watched them with a genial smile on her good-natured face.
