used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Et's a good thing," she said, going to the bedroom door, and looking in upon her sleeping children; "et's a mercy and a blessing for them and--for--me.
anew
From this reading She sat by the dying embers of the fire until the house was still again; then she rose and wiped her eyes.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading III Although Gideon Deane contrived to find a nest for his blanket in the mouldy straw of the unfinished barn loft, he could not sleep.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She sat by the dying embers of the fire until the house was still again; then she rose and wiped her eyes.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He restlessly watched the stars through the cracks of the boarded roof, and listened to the wind that made the half-open structure as vocal as a sea-shell, until past midnight.
barnnounUS /bɑːrn/
an outlying farm building for storing grain or animal feed and housing farm animals
From this reading III Although Gideon Deane contrived to find a nest for his blanket in the mouldy straw of the unfinished barn loft, he could not sleep.
a room used primarily for sleeping
From this reading "Et's a good thing," she said, going to the bedroom door, and looking in upon her sleeping children; "et's a mercy and a blessing for them and--for--me.
blanketnounUS /ˈblæŋkət/
bedding that keeps a person warm in bed
From this reading III Although Gideon Deane contrived to find a nest for his blanket in the mouldy straw of the unfinished barn loft, he could not sleep.
the formal act of approving
From this reading "Et's a good thing," she said, going to the bedroom door, and looking in upon her sleeping children; "et's a mercy and a blessing for them and--for--me.
boardedverbUS /ˈbɔːrdəd/
past form of “board” — get on board of (trains, buses, ships, aircraft, etc.)
From this reading He restlessly watched the stars through the cracks of the boarded roof, and listened to the wind that made the half-open structure as vocal as a sea-shell, until past midnight.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But--but--he might--hev--said--he--loved me!"
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She sat by the dying embers of the fire until the house was still again; then she rose and wiped her eyes.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading "Et's a good thing," she said, going to the bedroom door, and looking in upon her sleeping children; "et's a mercy and a blessing for them and--for--me.
contrivedadjectiveUS /kənˈtraɪvd/
showing effects of planning or manipulation
From this reading III Although Gideon Deane contrived to find a nest for his blanket in the mouldy straw of the unfinished barn loft, he could not sleep.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading III Although Gideon Deane contrived to find a nest for his blanket in the mouldy straw of the unfinished barn loft, he could not sleep.
cracksnounUS /kræks/
plural of “crack” — a long narrow opening
From this reading He restlessly watched the stars through the cracks of the boarded roof, and listened to the wind that made the half-open structure as vocal as a sea-shell, until past midnight.
Deane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading III Although Gideon Deane contrived to find a nest for his blanket in the mouldy straw of the unfinished barn loft, he could not sleep.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading "Et's a good thing," she said, going to the bedroom door, and looking in upon her sleeping children; "et's a mercy and a blessing for them and--for--me.
dyingadjectiveUS /ˈdaɪɪŋ/
in or associated with the process of passing from life or ceasing to be
From this reading She sat by the dying embers of the fire until the house was still again; then she rose and wiped her eyes.
embersnounUS /ˈembərz/
plural of “ember” — a hot fragment of wood or coal that is left from a fire and is glowing or smoldering
From this reading She sat by the dying embers of the fire until the house was still again; then she rose and wiped her eyes.
Et's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Et's a good thing," she said, going to the bedroom door, and looking in upon her sleeping children; "et's a mercy and a blessing for them and--for--me.
opinion or judgment
From this reading She sat by the dying embers of the fire until the house was still again; then she rose and wiped her eyes.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading III Although Gideon Deane contrived to find a nest for his blanket in the mouldy straw of the unfinished barn loft, he could not sleep.
start firing a weapon
From this reading She sat by the dying embers of the fire until the house was still again; then she rose and wiped her eyes.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Et's a good thing," she said, going to the bedroom door, and looking in upon her sleeping children; "et's a mercy and a blessing for them and--for--me.
Gideon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading III Although Gideon Deane contrived to find a nest for his blanket in the mouldy straw of the unfinished barn loft, he could not sleep.
the act of departing
From this reading "Et's a good thing," she said, going to the bedroom door, and looking in upon her sleeping children; "et's a mercy and a blessing for them and--for--me.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading "Et's a good thing," she said, going to the bedroom door, and looking in upon her sleeping children; "et's a mercy and a blessing for them and--for--me.
half-open
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He restlessly watched the stars through the cracks of the boarded roof, and listened to the wind that made the half-open structure as vocal as a sea-shell, until past midnight.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But--but--he might--hev--said--he--loved me!"
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She sat by the dying embers of the fire until the house was still again; then she rose and wiped her eyes.
hev
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But--but--he might--hev--said--he--loved me!"
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading III Although Gideon Deane contrived to find a nest for his blanket in the mouldy straw of the unfinished barn loft, he could not sleep.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading She sat by the dying embers of the fire until the house was still again; then she rose and wiped her eyes.
IIInoun
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading III Although Gideon Deane contrived to find a nest for his blanket in the mouldy straw of the unfinished barn loft, he could not sleep.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Et's a good thing," she said, going to the bedroom door, and looking in upon her sleeping children; "et's a mercy and a blessing for them and--for--me.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading He restlessly watched the stars through the cracks of the boarded roof, and listened to the wind that made the half-open structure as vocal as a sea-shell, until past midnight.
loftnounUS /lɔːft/
floor consisting of a large unpartitioned space over a factory or warehouse or other commercial space
From this reading III Although Gideon Deane contrived to find a nest for his blanket in the mouldy straw of the unfinished barn loft, he could not sleep.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading "Et's a good thing," she said, going to the bedroom door, and looking in upon her sleeping children; "et's a mercy and a blessing for them and--for--me.
held dear
From this reading But--but--he might--hev--said--he--loved me!"
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading He restlessly watched the stars through the cracks of the boarded roof, and listened to the wind that made the half-open structure as vocal as a sea-shell, until past midnight.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Et's a good thing," she said, going to the bedroom door, and looking in upon her sleeping children; "et's a mercy and a blessing for them and--for--me.
leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice
From this reading "Et's a good thing," she said, going to the bedroom door, and looking in upon her sleeping children; "et's a mercy and a blessing for them and--for--me.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading He restlessly watched the stars through the cracks of the boarded roof, and listened to the wind that made the half-open structure as vocal as a sea-shell, until past midnight.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading But--but--he might--hev--said--he--loved me!"
mouldyadjectiveUS /ˈmoʊldi/
covered with or smelling of mold
From this reading III Although Gideon Deane contrived to find a nest for his blanket in the mouldy straw of the unfinished barn loft, he could not sleep.
nestnounUS /nest/
a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young
From this reading III Although Gideon Deane contrived to find a nest for his blanket in the mouldy straw of the unfinished barn loft, he could not sleep.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading III Although Gideon Deane contrived to find a nest for his blanket in the mouldy straw of the unfinished barn loft, he could not sleep.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She sat by the dying embers of the fire until the house was still again; then she rose and wiped her eyes.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading He restlessly watched the stars through the cracks of the boarded roof, and listened to the wind that made the half-open structure as vocal as a sea-shell, until past midnight.
restlesslyadverbUS /ˈrestləsli/
in a restless manner
From this reading He restlessly watched the stars through the cracks of the boarded roof, and listened to the wind that made the half-open structure as vocal as a sea-shell, until past midnight.
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading He restlessly watched the stars through the cracks of the boarded roof, and listened to the wind that made the half-open structure as vocal as a sea-shell, until past midnight.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading She sat by the dying embers of the fire until the house was still again; then she rose and wiped her eyes.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Et's a good thing," she said, going to the bedroom door, and looking in upon her sleeping children; "et's a mercy and a blessing for them and--for--me.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading She sat by the dying embers of the fire until the house was still again; then she rose and wiped her eyes.
sea-shell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He restlessly watched the stars through the cracks of the boarded roof, and listened to the wind that made the half-open structure as vocal as a sea-shell, until past midnight.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She sat by the dying embers of the fire until the house was still again; then she rose and wiped her eyes.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading III Although Gideon Deane contrived to find a nest for his blanket in the mouldy straw of the unfinished barn loft, he could not sleep.
the state of being asleep
From this reading "Et's a good thing," she said, going to the bedroom door, and looking in upon her sleeping children; "et's a mercy and a blessing for them and--for--me.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading He restlessly watched the stars through the cracks of the boarded roof, and listened to the wind that made the half-open structure as vocal as a sea-shell, until past midnight.
not in physical motion
From this reading She sat by the dying embers of the fire until the house was still again; then she rose and wiped her eyes.
plant fiber used e.g. for making baskets and hats or as fodder
From this reading III Although Gideon Deane contrived to find a nest for his blanket in the mouldy straw of the unfinished barn loft, he could not sleep.
structurenounUS /ˈstrʌktʃər/
a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts
From this reading He restlessly watched the stars through the cracks of the boarded roof, and listened to the wind that made the half-open structure as vocal as a sea-shell, until past midnight.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He restlessly watched the stars through the cracks of the boarded roof, and listened to the wind that made the half-open structure as vocal as a sea-shell, until past midnight.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She sat by the dying embers of the fire until the house was still again; then she rose and wiped her eyes.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading "Et's a good thing," she said, going to the bedroom door, and looking in upon her sleeping children; "et's a mercy and a blessing for them and--for--me.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading She sat by the dying embers of the fire until the house was still again; then she rose and wiped her eyes.
a special situation
From this reading "Et's a good thing," she said, going to the bedroom door, and looking in upon her sleeping children; "et's a mercy and a blessing for them and--for--me.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading He restlessly watched the stars through the cracks of the boarded roof, and listened to the wind that made the half-open structure as vocal as a sea-shell, until past midnight.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Et's a good thing," she said, going to the bedroom door, and looking in upon her sleeping children; "et's a mercy and a blessing for them and--for--me.
unfinishedadjectiveUS /ənˈfɪnɪʃt/
not brought to the desired final state
From this reading III Although Gideon Deane contrived to find a nest for his blanket in the mouldy straw of the unfinished barn loft, he could not sleep.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading She sat by the dying embers of the fire until the house was still again; then she rose and wiped her eyes.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading "Et's a good thing," she said, going to the bedroom door, and looking in upon her sleeping children; "et's a mercy and a blessing for them and--for--me.
vocaladjectiveUS /ˈvoʊkəl/
relating to or designed for or using the singing voice
From this reading He restlessly watched the stars through the cracks of the boarded roof, and listened to the wind that made the half-open structure as vocal as a sea-shell, until past midnight.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She sat by the dying embers of the fire until the house was still again; then she rose and wiped her eyes.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading He restlessly watched the stars through the cracks of the boarded roof, and listened to the wind that made the half-open structure as vocal as a sea-shell, until past midnight.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading He restlessly watched the stars through the cracks of the boarded roof, and listened to the wind that made the half-open structure as vocal as a sea-shell, until past midnight.
wipedverbUS /waɪpt/
past form of “wipe” — rub with a circular motion
From this reading She sat by the dying embers of the fire until the house was still again; then she rose and wiped her eyes.
