used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I fully expected to find a Constable in the kitchen, waiting to take me up.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading Mrs. Joe was prodigiously busy in getting the house ready for the festivities of the day, and Joe had been put upon the kitchen doorstep to keep him out of the dust-pan,—an article into which his destiny always led him, sooner or later, when my sister was vigorously reaping the floors of her establishment.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Mrs. Joe was prodigiously busy in getting the house ready for the festivities of the day, and Joe had been put upon the kitchen doorstep to keep him out of the dust-pan,—an article into which his destiny always led him, sooner or later, when my sister was vigorously reaping the floors of her establishment.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mrs. Joe was prodigiously busy in getting the house ready for the festivities of the day, and Joe had been put upon the kitchen doorstep to keep him out of the dust-pan,—an article into which his destiny always led him, sooner or later, when my sister was vigorously reaping the floors of her establishment.
nonfictional prose forming an independent part of a publication
From this reading Mrs. Joe was prodigiously busy in getting the house ready for the festivities of the day, and Joe had been put upon the kitchen doorstep to keep him out of the dust-pan,—an article into which his destiny always led him, sooner or later, when my sister was vigorously reaping the floors of her establishment.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading But not only was there no Constable there, but no discovery had yet been made of the robbery.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading Mrs. Joe was prodigiously busy in getting the house ready for the festivities of the day, and Joe had been put upon the kitchen doorstep to keep him out of the dust-pan,—an article into which his destiny always led him, sooner or later, when my sister was vigorously reaping the floors of her establishment.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But not only was there no Constable there, but no discovery had yet been made of the robbery.
CarolsnounUS /ˈkerəlz/
plural of “carol” — joyful religious song celebrating the birth of Christ
From this reading I said I had been down to hear the Carols.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading “And where the deuce ha’ _you_ been?” was Mrs. Joe’s Christmas salutation, when I and my conscience showed ourselves.
motivation deriving logically from ethical or moral principles that govern a person's thoughts and actions
From this reading “And where the deuce ha’ _you_ been?” was Mrs. Joe’s Christmas salutation, when I and my conscience showed ourselves.
ConstablenounUS /ˈkɑːnstəbəl/
a lawman with less authority and jurisdiction than a sheriff
From this reading I fully expected to find a Constable in the kitchen, waiting to take me up.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Mrs. Joe was prodigiously busy in getting the house ready for the festivities of the day, and Joe had been put upon the kitchen doorstep to keep him out of the dust-pan,—an article into which his destiny always led him, sooner or later, when my sister was vigorously reaping the floors of her establishment.
destinynounUS /ˈdestəni/
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading Mrs. Joe was prodigiously busy in getting the house ready for the festivities of the day, and Joe had been put upon the kitchen doorstep to keep him out of the dust-pan,—an article into which his destiny always led him, sooner or later, when my sister was vigorously reaping the floors of her establishment.
deucenounUS /duːs/
a tie in tennis or table tennis that requires winning two successive points to win the game
From this reading “And where the deuce ha’ _you_ been?” was Mrs. Joe’s Christmas salutation, when I and my conscience showed ourselves.
the act of discovering something
From this reading But not only was there no Constable there, but no discovery had yet been made of the robbery.
doorstepnounUS /ˈdɔːrstep/
the sill of a door; a horizontal piece of wood or stone that forms the bottom of a doorway and offers support when passing through a doorway
From this reading Mrs. Joe was prodigiously busy in getting the house ready for the festivities of the day, and Joe had been put upon the kitchen doorstep to keep him out of the dust-pan,—an article into which his destiny always led him, sooner or later, when my sister was vigorously reaping the floors of her establishment.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading I said I had been down to hear the Carols.
dust-pan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Joe was prodigiously busy in getting the house ready for the festivities of the day, and Joe had been put upon the kitchen doorstep to keep him out of the dust-pan,—an article into which his destiny always led him, sooner or later, when my sister was vigorously reaping the floors of her establishment.
establishmentnounUS /ɪˈstæblɪʃmənt/
the act of forming or establishing something
From this reading Mrs. Joe was prodigiously busy in getting the house ready for the festivities of the day, and Joe had been put upon the kitchen doorstep to keep him out of the dust-pan,—an article into which his destiny always led him, sooner or later, when my sister was vigorously reaping the floors of her establishment.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading I fully expected to find a Constable in the kitchen, waiting to take me up.
festivitiesnounUS /feˈstɪvətiz/
plural of “festivity” — any joyous diversion
From this reading Mrs. Joe was prodigiously busy in getting the house ready for the festivities of the day, and Joe had been put upon the kitchen doorstep to keep him out of the dust-pan,—an article into which his destiny always led him, sooner or later, when my sister was vigorously reaping the floors of her establishment.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading I fully expected to find a Constable in the kitchen, waiting to take me up.
floorsnounUS /flɔːrz/
plural of “floor” — the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading Mrs. Joe was prodigiously busy in getting the house ready for the festivities of the day, and Joe had been put upon the kitchen doorstep to keep him out of the dust-pan,—an article into which his destiny always led him, sooner or later, when my sister was vigorously reaping the floors of her establishment.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Mrs. Joe was prodigiously busy in getting the house ready for the festivities of the day, and Joe had been put upon the kitchen doorstep to keep him out of the dust-pan,—an article into which his destiny always led him, sooner or later, when my sister was vigorously reaping the floors of her establishment.
to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)
From this reading I fully expected to find a Constable in the kitchen, waiting to take me up.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading Mrs. Joe was prodigiously busy in getting the house ready for the festivities of the day, and Joe had been put upon the kitchen doorstep to keep him out of the dust-pan,—an article into which his destiny always led him, sooner or later, when my sister was vigorously reaping the floors of her establishment.
(astronomy) the angular distance of a celestial point measured westward along the celestial equator from the zenith crossing; the right ascension for an observer at a particular location and time of day
From this reading “And where the deuce ha’ _you_ been?” was Mrs. Joe’s Christmas salutation, when I and my conscience showed ourselves.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But not only was there no Constable there, but no discovery had yet been made of the robbery.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading I said I had been down to hear the Carols.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Joe was prodigiously busy in getting the house ready for the festivities of the day, and Joe had been put upon the kitchen doorstep to keep him out of the dust-pan,—an article into which his destiny always led him, sooner or later, when my sister was vigorously reaping the floors of her establishment.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Mrs. Joe was prodigiously busy in getting the house ready for the festivities of the day, and Joe had been put upon the kitchen doorstep to keep him out of the dust-pan,—an article into which his destiny always led him, sooner or later, when my sister was vigorously reaping the floors of her establishment.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Joe was prodigiously busy in getting the house ready for the festivities of the day, and Joe had been put upon the kitchen doorstep to keep him out of the dust-pan,—an article into which his destiny always led him, sooner or later, when my sister was vigorously reaping the floors of her establishment.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Mrs. Joe was prodigiously busy in getting the house ready for the festivities of the day, and Joe had been put upon the kitchen doorstep to keep him out of the dust-pan,—an article into which his destiny always led him, sooner or later, when my sister was vigorously reaping the floors of her establishment.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I fully expected to find a Constable in the kitchen, waiting to take me up.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I fully expected to find a Constable in the kitchen, waiting to take me up.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Mrs. Joe was prodigiously busy in getting the house ready for the festivities of the day, and Joe had been put upon the kitchen doorstep to keep him out of the dust-pan,—an article into which his destiny always led him, sooner or later, when my sister was vigorously reaping the floors of her establishment.
Joe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Joe was prodigiously busy in getting the house ready for the festivities of the day, and Joe had been put upon the kitchen doorstep to keep him out of the dust-pan,—an article into which his destiny always led him, sooner or later, when my sister was vigorously reaping the floors of her establishment.
Joe's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “And where the deuce ha’ _you_ been?” was Mrs. Joe’s Christmas salutation, when I and my conscience showed ourselves.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Mrs. Joe was prodigiously busy in getting the house ready for the festivities of the day, and Joe had been put upon the kitchen doorstep to keep him out of the dust-pan,—an article into which his destiny always led him, sooner or later, when my sister was vigorously reaping the floors of her establishment.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading I fully expected to find a Constable in the kitchen, waiting to take me up.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Mrs. Joe was prodigiously busy in getting the house ready for the festivities of the day, and Joe had been put upon the kitchen doorstep to keep him out of the dust-pan,—an article into which his destiny always led him, sooner or later, when my sister was vigorously reaping the floors of her establishment.
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading Mrs. Joe was prodigiously busy in getting the house ready for the festivities of the day, and Joe had been put upon the kitchen doorstep to keep him out of the dust-pan,—an article into which his destiny always led him, sooner or later, when my sister was vigorously reaping the floors of her establishment.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading But not only was there no Constable there, but no discovery had yet been made of the robbery.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I fully expected to find a Constable in the kitchen, waiting to take me up.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Joe was prodigiously busy in getting the house ready for the festivities of the day, and Joe had been put upon the kitchen doorstep to keep him out of the dust-pan,—an article into which his destiny always led him, sooner or later, when my sister was vigorously reaping the floors of her establishment.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Mrs. Joe was prodigiously busy in getting the house ready for the festivities of the day, and Joe had been put upon the kitchen doorstep to keep him out of the dust-pan,—an article into which his destiny always led him, sooner or later, when my sister was vigorously reaping the floors of her establishment.
not any; not one
From this reading But not only was there no Constable there, but no discovery had yet been made of the robbery.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But not only was there no Constable there, but no discovery had yet been made of the robbery.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But not only was there no Constable there, but no discovery had yet been made of the robbery.
and nothing more
From this reading But not only was there no Constable there, but no discovery had yet been made of the robbery.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Mrs. Joe was prodigiously busy in getting the house ready for the festivities of the day, and Joe had been put upon the kitchen doorstep to keep him out of the dust-pan,—an article into which his destiny always led him, sooner or later, when my sister was vigorously reaping the floors of her establishment.
used when we are both doing the action and receiving it
From this reading “And where the deuce ha’ _you_ been?” was Mrs. Joe’s Christmas salutation, when I and my conscience showed ourselves.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Mrs. Joe was prodigiously busy in getting the house ready for the festivities of the day, and Joe had been put upon the kitchen doorstep to keep him out of the dust-pan,—an article into which his destiny always led him, sooner or later, when my sister was vigorously reaping the floors of her establishment.
prodigiouslyadverbUS /proʊˈdɪdʒɪsli/
to a prodigious degree
From this reading Mrs. Joe was prodigiously busy in getting the house ready for the festivities of the day, and Joe had been put upon the kitchen doorstep to keep him out of the dust-pan,—an article into which his destiny always led him, sooner or later, when my sister was vigorously reaping the floors of her establishment.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Mrs. Joe was prodigiously busy in getting the house ready for the festivities of the day, and Joe had been put upon the kitchen doorstep to keep him out of the dust-pan,—an article into which his destiny always led him, sooner or later, when my sister was vigorously reaping the floors of her establishment.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading Mrs. Joe was prodigiously busy in getting the house ready for the festivities of the day, and Joe had been put upon the kitchen doorstep to keep him out of the dust-pan,—an article into which his destiny always led him, sooner or later, when my sister was vigorously reaping the floors of her establishment.
reapingverbUS /ˈriːpɪŋ/
-ing form of “reap” — gather, as of natural products
From this reading Mrs. Joe was prodigiously busy in getting the house ready for the festivities of the day, and Joe had been put upon the kitchen doorstep to keep him out of the dust-pan,—an article into which his destiny always led him, sooner or later, when my sister was vigorously reaping the floors of her establishment.
robberynounUS /ˈrɑːbəri/
larceny by threat of violence
From this reading But not only was there no Constable there, but no discovery had yet been made of the robbery.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading I said I had been down to hear the Carols.
salutationnoun
an act of honor or courteous recognition
From this reading “And where the deuce ha’ _you_ been?” was Mrs. Joe’s Christmas salutation, when I and my conscience showed ourselves.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading “And where the deuce ha’ _you_ been?” was Mrs. Joe’s Christmas salutation, when I and my conscience showed ourselves.
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading Mrs. Joe was prodigiously busy in getting the house ready for the festivities of the day, and Joe had been put upon the kitchen doorstep to keep him out of the dust-pan,—an article into which his destiny always led him, sooner or later, when my sister was vigorously reaping the floors of her establishment.
comparatives of “soon” or “early”
From this reading Mrs. Joe was prodigiously busy in getting the house ready for the festivities of the day, and Joe had been put upon the kitchen doorstep to keep him out of the dust-pan,—an article into which his destiny always led him, sooner or later, when my sister was vigorously reaping the floors of her establishment.
carry out
From this reading I fully expected to find a Constable in the kitchen, waiting to take me up.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I fully expected to find a Constable in the kitchen, waiting to take me up.
in or at that place or location
From this reading But not only was there no Constable there, but no discovery had yet been made of the robbery.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I fully expected to find a Constable in the kitchen, waiting to take me up.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading I fully expected to find a Constable in the kitchen, waiting to take me up.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Mrs. Joe was prodigiously busy in getting the house ready for the festivities of the day, and Joe had been put upon the kitchen doorstep to keep him out of the dust-pan,—an article into which his destiny always led him, sooner or later, when my sister was vigorously reaping the floors of her establishment.
vigorouslyadverbUS /ˈvɪɡərəsli/
with vigor; in a vigorous manner
From this reading Mrs. Joe was prodigiously busy in getting the house ready for the festivities of the day, and Joe had been put upon the kitchen doorstep to keep him out of the dust-pan,—an article into which his destiny always led him, sooner or later, when my sister was vigorously reaping the floors of her establishment.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading I fully expected to find a Constable in the kitchen, waiting to take me up.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But not only was there no Constable there, but no discovery had yet been made of the robbery.
at the time that
From this reading Mrs. Joe was prodigiously busy in getting the house ready for the festivities of the day, and Joe had been put upon the kitchen doorstep to keep him out of the dust-pan,—an article into which his destiny always led him, sooner or later, when my sister was vigorously reaping the floors of her establishment.
in or at the place that
From this reading “And where the deuce ha’ _you_ been?” was Mrs. Joe’s Christmas salutation, when I and my conscience showed ourselves.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Joe was prodigiously busy in getting the house ready for the festivities of the day, and Joe had been put upon the kitchen doorstep to keep him out of the dust-pan,—an article into which his destiny always led him, sooner or later, when my sister was vigorously reaping the floors of her establishment.
but in spite of that
From this reading But not only was there no Constable there, but no discovery had yet been made of the robbery.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “And where the deuce ha’ _you_ been?” was Mrs. Joe’s Christmas salutation, when I and my conscience showed ourselves.
