used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “I’m glad I ain’t goin’ to see a trunk for months; but—” she hesitated unwontedly, and then continued, “I’d like to go to Boston for a couple o’ days, Mrs. Bruce, if you can spare me.”
anew
From this reading She was standing again on the veranda of her summer cottage, where Betsy was airing and beating pillows.
united by being of the same opinion
From this reading “Pretty good place,” agreed Betsy.
ain't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’m glad I ain’t goin’ to see a trunk for months; but—” she hesitated unwontedly, and then continued, “I’d like to go to Boston for a couple o’ days, Mrs. Bruce, if you can spare me.”
airingnounUS /ˈerɪŋ/
the opening of a subject to widespread discussion and debate
From this reading She was standing again on the veranda of her summer cottage, where Betsy was airing and beating pillows.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She was standing again on the veranda of her summer cottage, where Betsy was airing and beating pillows.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading BRUCE’S HEADACHE “BE it ever so humble,” said Mrs. Bruce, “there’s no place like home!”
the act of overcoming or outdoing
From this reading She was standing again on the veranda of her summer cottage, where Betsy was airing and beating pillows.
Betsy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was standing again on the veranda of her summer cottage, where Betsy was airing and beating pillows.
state capital and largest city of Massachusetts; a major center for banking and financial services
From this reading “I’m glad I ain’t goin’ to see a trunk for months; but—” she hesitated unwontedly, and then continued, “I’d like to go to Boston for a couple o’ days, Mrs. Bruce, if you can spare me.”
BrucenounUS /bruːs/
Australian physician and bacteriologist who described the bacterium that causes undulant fever or brucellosis (1855-1931)
From this reading BRUCE’S HEADACHE “BE it ever so humble,” said Mrs. Bruce, “there’s no place like home!”
BRUCE'SnounUS /ˈbruːsəz/
possessive form of “bruce” — Australian physician and bacteriologist who described the bacterium that causes undulant fever or brucellosis (1855-1931)
From this reading BRUCE’S HEADACHE “BE it ever so humble,” said Mrs. Bruce, “there’s no place like home!”
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “I’m glad I ain’t goin’ to see a trunk for months; but—” she hesitated unwontedly, and then continued, “I’d like to go to Boston for a couple o’ days, Mrs. Bruce, if you can spare me.”
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading “I’m glad I ain’t goin’ to see a trunk for months; but—” she hesitated unwontedly, and then continued, “I’d like to go to Boston for a couple o’ days, Mrs. Bruce, if you can spare me.”
without stop or interruption
From this reading “I’m glad I ain’t goin’ to see a trunk for months; but—” she hesitated unwontedly, and then continued, “I’d like to go to Boston for a couple o’ days, Mrs. Bruce, if you can spare me.”
a small house with a single story
From this reading She was standing again on the veranda of her summer cottage, where Betsy was airing and beating pillows.
a pair who associate with one another
From this reading “I’m glad I ain’t goin’ to see a trunk for months; but—” she hesitated unwontedly, and then continued, “I’d like to go to Boston for a couple o’ days, Mrs. Bruce, if you can spare me.”
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading “I’m glad I ain’t goin’ to see a trunk for months; but—” she hesitated unwontedly, and then continued, “I’d like to go to Boston for a couple o’ days, Mrs. Bruce, if you can spare me.”
at any time
From this reading BRUCE’S HEADACHE “BE it ever so humble,” said Mrs. Bruce, “there’s no place like home!”
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “I’m glad I ain’t goin’ to see a trunk for months; but—” she hesitated unwontedly, and then continued, “I’d like to go to Boston for a couple o’ days, Mrs. Bruce, if you can spare me.”
showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy
From this reading “I’m glad I ain’t goin’ to see a trunk for months; but—” she hesitated unwontedly, and then continued, “I’d like to go to Boston for a couple o’ days, Mrs. Bruce, if you can spare me.”
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading “I’m glad I ain’t goin’ to see a trunk for months; but—” she hesitated unwontedly, and then continued, “I’d like to go to Boston for a couple o’ days, Mrs. Bruce, if you can spare me.”
goin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’m glad I ain’t goin’ to see a trunk for months; but—” she hesitated unwontedly, and then continued, “I’d like to go to Boston for a couple o’ days, Mrs. Bruce, if you can spare me.”
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading “Pretty good place,” agreed Betsy.
HEADACHEnounUS /ˈhedeɪk/
something or someone that causes anxiety; a source of unhappiness
From this reading BRUCE’S HEADACHE “BE it ever so humble,” said Mrs. Bruce, “there’s no place like home!”
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She was standing again on the veranda of her summer cottage, where Betsy was airing and beating pillows.
past form of “hesitate” — pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
From this reading “I’m glad I ain’t goin’ to see a trunk for months; but—” she hesitated unwontedly, and then continued, “I’d like to go to Boston for a couple o’ days, Mrs. Bruce, if you can spare me.”
where you live at a particular time
From this reading BRUCE’S HEADACHE “BE it ever so humble,” said Mrs. Bruce, “there’s no place like home!”
low or inferior in station or quality
From this reading BRUCE’S HEADACHE “BE it ever so humble,” said Mrs. Bruce, “there’s no place like home!”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I’m glad I ain’t goin’ to see a trunk for months; but—” she hesitated unwontedly, and then continued, “I’d like to go to Boston for a couple o’ days, Mrs. Bruce, if you can spare me.”
I'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’m glad I ain’t goin’ to see a trunk for months; but—” she hesitated unwontedly, and then continued, “I’d like to go to Boston for a couple o’ days, Mrs. Bruce, if you can spare me.”
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’m glad I ain’t goin’ to see a trunk for months; but—” she hesitated unwontedly, and then continued, “I’d like to go to Boston for a couple o’ days, Mrs. Bruce, if you can spare me.”
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “I’m glad I ain’t goin’ to see a trunk for months; but—” she hesitated unwontedly, and then continued, “I’d like to go to Boston for a couple o’ days, Mrs. Bruce, if you can spare me.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading BRUCE’S HEADACHE “BE it ever so humble,” said Mrs. Bruce, “there’s no place like home!”
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading BRUCE’S HEADACHE “BE it ever so humble,” said Mrs. Bruce, “there’s no place like home!”
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “I’m glad I ain’t goin’ to see a trunk for months; but—” she hesitated unwontedly, and then continued, “I’d like to go to Boston for a couple o’ days, Mrs. Bruce, if you can spare me.”
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading “I’m glad I ain’t goin’ to see a trunk for months; but—” she hesitated unwontedly, and then continued, “I’d like to go to Boston for a couple o’ days, Mrs. Bruce, if you can spare me.”
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading MRS.
not any; not one
From this reading BRUCE’S HEADACHE “BE it ever so humble,” said Mrs. Bruce, “there’s no place like home!”
a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust
From this reading “I’m glad I ain’t goin’ to see a trunk for months; but—” she hesitated unwontedly, and then continued, “I’d like to go to Boston for a couple o’ days, Mrs. Bruce, if you can spare me.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She was standing again on the veranda of her summer cottage, where Betsy was airing and beating pillows.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She was standing again on the veranda of her summer cottage, where Betsy was airing and beating pillows.
pillowsnounUS /ˈpɪloʊz/
plural of “pillow” — a cushion to support the head of a sleeping person
From this reading She was standing again on the veranda of her summer cottage, where Betsy was airing and beating pillows.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading BRUCE’S HEADACHE “BE it ever so humble,” said Mrs. Bruce, “there’s no place like home!”
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading “Pretty good place,” agreed Betsy.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading BRUCE’S HEADACHE “BE it ever so humble,” said Mrs. Bruce, “there’s no place like home!”
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading “I’m glad I ain’t goin’ to see a trunk for months; but—” she hesitated unwontedly, and then continued, “I’d like to go to Boston for a couple o’ days, Mrs. Bruce, if you can spare me.”
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was standing again on the veranda of her summer cottage, where Betsy was airing and beating pillows.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading BRUCE’S HEADACHE “BE it ever so humble,” said Mrs. Bruce, “there’s no place like home!”
refrain from harming
From this reading “I’m glad I ain’t goin’ to see a trunk for months; but—” she hesitated unwontedly, and then continued, “I’d like to go to Boston for a couple o’ days, Mrs. Bruce, if you can spare me.”
having a supporting base
From this reading She was standing again on the veranda of her summer cottage, where Betsy was airing and beating pillows.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading She was standing again on the veranda of her summer cottage, where Betsy was airing and beating pillows.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She was standing again on the veranda of her summer cottage, where Betsy was airing and beating pillows.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading “I’m glad I ain’t goin’ to see a trunk for months; but—” she hesitated unwontedly, and then continued, “I’d like to go to Boston for a couple o’ days, Mrs. Bruce, if you can spare me.”
there's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BRUCE’S HEADACHE “BE it ever so humble,” said Mrs. Bruce, “there’s no place like home!”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “I’m glad I ain’t goin’ to see a trunk for months; but—” she hesitated unwontedly, and then continued, “I’d like to go to Boston for a couple o’ days, Mrs. Bruce, if you can spare me.”
the main stem of a tree; usually covered with bark; the bole is usually the part that is commercially useful for lumber
From this reading “I’m glad I ain’t goin’ to see a trunk for months; but—” she hesitated unwontedly, and then continued, “I’d like to go to Boston for a couple o’ days, Mrs. Bruce, if you can spare me.”
unwontedlyadverb
in an unusual manner
From this reading “I’m glad I ain’t goin’ to see a trunk for months; but—” she hesitated unwontedly, and then continued, “I’d like to go to Boston for a couple o’ days, Mrs. Bruce, if you can spare me.”
verandanounUS /vərˈændə/
a porch along the outside of a building (sometimes partly enclosed)
From this reading She was standing again on the veranda of her summer cottage, where Betsy was airing and beating pillows.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was standing again on the veranda of her summer cottage, where Betsy was airing and beating pillows.
in or at the place that
From this reading She was standing again on the veranda of her summer cottage, where Betsy was airing and beating pillows.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I’m glad I ain’t goin’ to see a trunk for months; but—” she hesitated unwontedly, and then continued, “I’d like to go to Boston for a couple o’ days, Mrs. Bruce, if you can spare me.”
