used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The care of a large family is no light matter, as everybody knows.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading And that year I had an unusually large family.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And that year I had an unusually large family.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The care of a large family is no light matter, as everybody knows.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading No less than seven young urchins for Mrs. Hedgehog and myself to take care of and start in life; and there was not a prickly parent on this side of the brook, or within three fields beyond, who had more than four.
brought into existence
From this reading It was the summer that I myself was born.
brooknounUS /brʊk/
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading No less than seven young urchins for Mrs. Hedgehog and myself to take care of and start in life; and there was not a prickly parent on this side of the brook, or within three fields beyond, who had more than four.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading My father's brother had six one year, I know.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading The care of a large family is no light matter, as everybody knows.
every person
From this reading The care of a large family is no light matter, as everybody knows.
a social unit living together
From this reading The care of a large family is no light matter, as everybody knows.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading My father's brother had six one year, I know.
United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)
From this reading No less than seven young urchins for Mrs. Hedgehog and myself to take care of and start in life; and there was not a prickly parent on this side of the brook, or within three fields beyond, who had more than four.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading No less than seven young urchins for Mrs. Hedgehog and myself to take care of and start in life; and there was not a prickly parent on this side of the brook, or within three fields beyond, who had more than four.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading No less than seven young urchins for Mrs. Hedgehog and myself to take care of and start in life; and there was not a prickly parent on this side of the brook, or within three fields beyond, who had more than four.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading And that year I had an unusually large family.
HedgehognounUS /ˈhedʒhɑːɡ/
relatively large rodents with sharp erectile bristles mingled with the fur
From this reading No less than seven young urchins for Mrs. Hedgehog and myself to take care of and start in life; and there was not a prickly parent on this side of the brook, or within three fields beyond, who had more than four.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading And that year I had an unusually large family.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading No less than seven young urchins for Mrs. Hedgehog and myself to take care of and start in life; and there was not a prickly parent on this side of the brook, or within three fields beyond, who had more than four.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The care of a large family is no light matter, as everybody knows.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the summer that I myself was born.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading My father's brother had six one year, I know.
plural of “know” — the fact of being aware of information that is known to few people
From this reading The care of a large family is no light matter, as everybody knows.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The care of a large family is no light matter, as everybody knows.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading No less than seven young urchins for Mrs. Hedgehog and myself to take care of and start in life; and there was not a prickly parent on this side of the brook, or within three fields beyond, who had more than four.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading No less than seven young urchins for Mrs. Hedgehog and myself to take care of and start in life; and there was not a prickly parent on this side of the brook, or within three fields beyond, who had more than four.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The care of a large family is no light matter, as everybody knows.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading The care of a large family is no light matter, as everybody knows.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading No less than seven young urchins for Mrs. Hedgehog and myself to take care of and start in life; and there was not a prickly parent on this side of the brook, or within three fields beyond, who had more than four.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading No less than seven young urchins for Mrs. Hedgehog and myself to take care of and start in life; and there was not a prickly parent on this side of the brook, or within three fields beyond, who had more than four.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My father's brother had six one year, I know.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading No less than seven young urchins for Mrs. Hedgehog and myself to take care of and start in life; and there was not a prickly parent on this side of the brook, or within three fields beyond, who had more than four.
not any; not one
From this reading The care of a large family is no light matter, as everybody knows.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading No less than seven young urchins for Mrs. Hedgehog and myself to take care of and start in life; and there was not a prickly parent on this side of the brook, or within three fields beyond, who had more than four.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The care of a large family is no light matter, as everybody knows.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading No less than seven young urchins for Mrs. Hedgehog and myself to take care of and start in life; and there was not a prickly parent on this side of the brook, or within three fields beyond, who had more than four.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading My father's brother had six one year, I know.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading No less than seven young urchins for Mrs. Hedgehog and myself to take care of and start in life; and there was not a prickly parent on this side of the brook, or within three fields beyond, who had more than four.
parentnounUS /ˈperənt/
a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian
From this reading No less than seven young urchins for Mrs. Hedgehog and myself to take care of and start in life; and there was not a prickly parent on this side of the brook, or within three fields beyond, who had more than four.
pricklyadjectiveUS /ˈprɪkli/
very irritable
From this reading No less than seven young urchins for Mrs. Hedgehog and myself to take care of and start in life; and there was not a prickly parent on this side of the brook, or within three fields beyond, who had more than four.
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading No less than seven young urchins for Mrs. Hedgehog and myself to take care of and start in life; and there was not a prickly parent on this side of the brook, or within three fields beyond, who had more than four.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading No less than seven young urchins for Mrs. Hedgehog and myself to take care of and start in life; and there was not a prickly parent on this side of the brook, or within three fields beyond, who had more than four.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading My father's brother had six one year, I know.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading No less than seven young urchins for Mrs. Hedgehog and myself to take care of and start in life; and there was not a prickly parent on this side of the brook, or within three fields beyond, who had more than four.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading It was the summer that I myself was born.
carry out
From this reading No less than seven young urchins for Mrs. Hedgehog and myself to take care of and start in life; and there was not a prickly parent on this side of the brook, or within three fields beyond, who had more than four.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading No less than seven young urchins for Mrs. Hedgehog and myself to take care of and start in life; and there was not a prickly parent on this side of the brook, or within three fields beyond, who had more than four.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading And that year I had an unusually large family.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The care of a large family is no light matter, as everybody knows.
in or at that place or location
From this reading No less than seven young urchins for Mrs. Hedgehog and myself to take care of and start in life; and there was not a prickly parent on this side of the brook, or within three fields beyond, who had more than four.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading No less than seven young urchins for Mrs. Hedgehog and myself to take care of and start in life; and there was not a prickly parent on this side of the brook, or within three fields beyond, who had more than four.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading No less than seven young urchins for Mrs. Hedgehog and myself to take care of and start in life; and there was not a prickly parent on this side of the brook, or within three fields beyond, who had more than four.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading No less than seven young urchins for Mrs. Hedgehog and myself to take care of and start in life; and there was not a prickly parent on this side of the brook, or within three fields beyond, who had more than four.
unusuallyadverbUS /əˈnjuːʒuːəli/
to a remarkable degree or extent
From this reading And that year I had an unusually large family.
urchinsnounUS /ˈɜːrtʃənz/
plural of “urchin” — poor and often mischievous city child
From this reading No less than seven young urchins for Mrs. Hedgehog and myself to take care of and start in life; and there was not a prickly parent on this side of the brook, or within three fields beyond, who had more than four.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading No less than seven young urchins for Mrs. Hedgehog and myself to take care of and start in life; and there was not a prickly parent on this side of the brook, or within three fields beyond, who had more than four.
which person or people
From this reading No less than seven young urchins for Mrs. Hedgehog and myself to take care of and start in life; and there was not a prickly parent on this side of the brook, or within three fields beyond, who had more than four.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading No less than seven young urchins for Mrs. Hedgehog and myself to take care of and start in life; and there was not a prickly parent on this side of the brook, or within three fields beyond, who had more than four.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading And that year I had an unusually large family.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading No less than seven young urchins for Mrs. Hedgehog and myself to take care of and start in life; and there was not a prickly parent on this side of the brook, or within three fields beyond, who had more than four.
