used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Jest about as spry as a crippled fiddler crab," he expressed it.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "Jest about as spry as a crippled fiddler crab," he expressed it.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading But after the meal he insisted upon going out of doors.
ALLEGORYnounUS /ˈæləɡɔːri/
a short moral story (often with animal characters)
From this reading THE ALLEGORY Cap'n Jonah hobbled downstairs in season for the noonday dinner.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Helmford assisted him, although Sarah tried to get Tom to offer his arm first.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The lout, however, was backward and Helmford went down the lane with the old mariner.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading Helmford assisted him, although Sarah tried to get Tom to offer his arm first.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Jest about as spry as a crippled fiddler crab," he expressed it.
assistedadjectiveUS /əˈsɪstɪd/
having help; often used as a combining form
From this reading Helmford assisted him, although Sarah tried to get Tom to offer his arm first.
backwardadverbUS /ˈbækwərd/
at or to or toward the back or rear
From this reading The lout, however, was backward and Helmford went down the lane with the old mariner.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But after the meal he insisted upon going out of doors.
Cap'n
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ALLEGORY Cap'n Jonah hobbled downstairs in season for the noonday dinner.
crabnounUS /kræb/
decapod having eyes on short stalks and a broad flattened carapace with a small abdomen folded under the thorax and pincers
From this reading "Jest about as spry as a crippled fiddler crab," he expressed it.
crippledadjectiveUS /ˈkrɪpəld/
disabled in the feet or legs
From this reading "Jest about as spry as a crippled fiddler crab," he expressed it.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading THE ALLEGORY Cap'n Jonah hobbled downstairs in season for the noonday dinner.
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading But after the meal he insisted upon going out of doors.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The lout, however, was backward and Helmford went down the lane with the old mariner.
downstairsadverbUS /ˈdaʊnˈsterz/
on a floor below
From this reading THE ALLEGORY Cap'n Jonah hobbled downstairs in season for the noonday dinner.
communicated in words
From this reading "Jest about as spry as a crippled fiddler crab," he expressed it.
fiddlernounUS /ˈfɪdələr/
a musician who plays the violin
From this reading "Jest about as spry as a crippled fiddler crab," he expressed it.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Helmford assisted him, although Sarah tried to get Tom to offer his arm first.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE ALLEGORY Cap'n Jonah hobbled downstairs in season for the noonday dinner.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Helmford assisted him, although Sarah tried to get Tom to offer his arm first.
the act of departing
From this reading But after the meal he insisted upon going out of doors.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Jest about as spry as a crippled fiddler crab," he expressed it.
Helmford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Helmford assisted him, although Sarah tried to get Tom to offer his arm first.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Helmford assisted him, although Sarah tried to get Tom to offer his arm first.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Helmford assisted him, although Sarah tried to get Tom to offer his arm first.
hobbledverbUS /ˈhɑːbəld/
past form of “hobble” — walk impeded by some physical limitation or injury
From this reading THE ALLEGORY Cap'n Jonah hobbled downstairs in season for the noonday dinner.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading The lout, however, was backward and Helmford went down the lane with the old mariner.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE ALLEGORY Cap'n Jonah hobbled downstairs in season for the noonday dinner.
past form of “insist” — be emphatic or resolute and refuse to budge
From this reading But after the meal he insisted upon going out of doors.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Jest about as spry as a crippled fiddler crab," he expressed it.
a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter
From this reading "Jest about as spry as a crippled fiddler crab," he expressed it.
JonahnounUS /ˈdʒoʊnə/
(Old Testament) Jonah did not wish to become a prophet so God caused a great storm to throw him overboard from a ship; he was saved by being swallowed by a whale that vomited him out onto dry land
From this reading THE ALLEGORY Cap'n Jonah hobbled downstairs in season for the noonday dinner.
a narrow way or road
From this reading The lout, however, was backward and Helmford went down the lane with the old mariner.
loutnounUS /laʊt/
an awkward stupid person
From this reading The lout, however, was backward and Helmford went down the lane with the old mariner.
marinernounUS /ˈmerənər/
a man who serves as a sailor
From this reading The lout, however, was backward and Helmford went down the lane with the old mariner.
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading But after the meal he insisted upon going out of doors.
noondaynoun
the middle of the day
From this reading THE ALLEGORY Cap'n Jonah hobbled downstairs in season for the noonday dinner.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But after the meal he insisted upon going out of doors.
make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading Helmford assisted him, although Sarah tried to get Tom to offer his arm first.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The lout, however, was backward and Helmford went down the lane with the old mariner.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading But after the meal he insisted upon going out of doors.
SarahnounUS /ˈserə/
(Old Testament) the wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac
From this reading Helmford assisted him, although Sarah tried to get Tom to offer his arm first.
a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field
From this reading THE ALLEGORY Cap'n Jonah hobbled downstairs in season for the noonday dinner.
spryadjectiveUS /spraɪ/
moving quickly and lightly
From this reading "Jest about as spry as a crippled fiddler crab," he expressed it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE ALLEGORY Cap'n Jonah hobbled downstairs in season for the noonday dinner.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Helmford assisted him, although Sarah tried to get Tom to offer his arm first.
male cat
From this reading Helmford assisted him, although Sarah tried to get Tom to offer his arm first.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading Helmford assisted him, although Sarah tried to get Tom to offer his arm first.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading But after the meal he insisted upon going out of doors.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The lout, however, was backward and Helmford went down the lane with the old mariner.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The lout, however, was backward and Helmford went down the lane with the old mariner.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The lout, however, was backward and Helmford went down the lane with the old mariner.
