used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Touch it off," she said, with a disproportioned recklessness.
adjustverbUS /əˈdʒʌst/
alter or regulate so as to achieve accuracy or conform to a standard
From this reading The cap'n did it, kneeling to adjust the sticks more nicely; and when one fell forward with the burning of the kindling, lifted it and laid it back solicitously.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The cap'n did it, kneeling to adjust the sticks more nicely; and when one fell forward with the burning of the kindling, lifted it and laid it back solicitously.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Then with a turkey-wing he swept up the hearth, its specklessness invaded by a rolling bit of coal, put the wing in place, and stood looking down at what seemed to be his own handiwork.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The cap'n did it, kneeling to adjust the sticks more nicely; and when one fell forward with the burning of the kindling, lifted it and laid it back solicitously.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Then with a turkey-wing he swept up the hearth, its specklessness invaded by a rolling bit of coal, put the wing in place, and stood looking down at what seemed to be his own handiwork.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading Then with a turkey-wing he swept up the hearth, its specklessness invaded by a rolling bit of coal, put the wing in place, and stood looking down at what seemed to be his own handiwork.
the act of burning something
From this reading The cap'n did it, kneeling to adjust the sticks more nicely; and when one fell forward with the burning of the kindling, lifted it and laid it back solicitously.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Then with a turkey-wing he swept up the hearth, its specklessness invaded by a rolling bit of coal, put the wing in place, and stood looking down at what seemed to be his own handiwork.
cap'n
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cap'n did it, kneeling to adjust the sticks more nicely; and when one fell forward with the burning of the kindling, lifted it and laid it back solicitously.
coalnounUS /koʊl/
fossil fuel consisting of carbonized vegetable matter deposited in the Carboniferous period
From this reading Then with a turkey-wing he swept up the hearth, its specklessness invaded by a rolling bit of coal, put the wing in place, and stood looking down at what seemed to be his own handiwork.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The cap'n did it, kneeling to adjust the sticks more nicely; and when one fell forward with the burning of the kindling, lifted it and laid it back solicitously.
disproportioned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Touch it off," she said, with a disproportioned recklessness.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Then with a turkey-wing he swept up the hearth, its specklessness invaded by a rolling bit of coal, put the wing in place, and stood looking down at what seemed to be his own handiwork.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading The cap'n did it, kneeling to adjust the sticks more nicely; and when one fell forward with the burning of the kindling, lifted it and laid it back solicitously.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading The cap'n did it, kneeling to adjust the sticks more nicely; and when one fell forward with the burning of the kindling, lifted it and laid it back solicitously.
handiworknounUS /ˈhændiwɜːrk/
a work produced by hand labor
From this reading Then with a turkey-wing he swept up the hearth, its specklessness invaded by a rolling bit of coal, put the wing in place, and stood looking down at what seemed to be his own handiwork.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then with a turkey-wing he swept up the hearth, its specklessness invaded by a rolling bit of coal, put the wing in place, and stood looking down at what seemed to be his own handiwork.
hearthnounUS /hɑːrθ/
an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built
From this reading Then with a turkey-wing he swept up the hearth, its specklessness invaded by a rolling bit of coal, put the wing in place, and stood looking down at what seemed to be his own handiwork.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Then with a turkey-wing he swept up the hearth, its specklessness invaded by a rolling bit of coal, put the wing in place, and stood looking down at what seemed to be his own handiwork.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Then with a turkey-wing he swept up the hearth, its specklessness invaded by a rolling bit of coal, put the wing in place, and stood looking down at what seemed to be his own handiwork.
invadedverbUS /ˌɪnˈveɪdəd/
past form of “invade” — march aggressively into another's territory by military force for the purposes of conquest and occupation
From this reading Then with a turkey-wing he swept up the hearth, its specklessness invaded by a rolling bit of coal, put the wing in place, and stood looking down at what seemed to be his own handiwork.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Touch it off," she said, with a disproportioned recklessness.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Then with a turkey-wing he swept up the hearth, its specklessness invaded by a rolling bit of coal, put the wing in place, and stood looking down at what seemed to be his own handiwork.
kindlingnounUS /ˈkɪndlɪŋ/
material for starting a fire
From this reading The cap'n did it, kneeling to adjust the sticks more nicely; and when one fell forward with the burning of the kindling, lifted it and laid it back solicitously.
kneelingnounUS /ˈniːlɪŋ/
supporting yourself on your knees
From this reading The cap'n did it, kneeling to adjust the sticks more nicely; and when one fell forward with the burning of the kindling, lifted it and laid it back solicitously.
set down according to a plan
From this reading The cap'n did it, kneeling to adjust the sticks more nicely; and when one fell forward with the burning of the kindling, lifted it and laid it back solicitously.
held up in the air
From this reading The cap'n did it, kneeling to adjust the sticks more nicely; and when one fell forward with the burning of the kindling, lifted it and laid it back solicitously.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Then with a turkey-wing he swept up the hearth, its specklessness invaded by a rolling bit of coal, put the wing in place, and stood looking down at what seemed to be his own handiwork.
mantel-tree
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "There's the matches on the mantel-tree."
matchesnounUS /ˈmætʃəz/
plural of “match” — lighter consisting of a thin piece of wood or cardboard tipped with combustible chemical; ignites with friction
From this reading "There's the matches on the mantel-tree."
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The cap'n did it, kneeling to adjust the sticks more nicely; and when one fell forward with the burning of the kindling, lifted it and laid it back solicitously.
nicelyadverbUS /ˈnaɪsli/
in a nice way
From this reading The cap'n did it, kneeling to adjust the sticks more nicely; and when one fell forward with the burning of the kindling, lifted it and laid it back solicitously.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The cap'n did it, kneeling to adjust the sticks more nicely; and when one fell forward with the burning of the kindling, lifted it and laid it back solicitously.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading "Touch it off," she said, with a disproportioned recklessness.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "There's the matches on the mantel-tree."
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The cap'n did it, kneeling to adjust the sticks more nicely; and when one fell forward with the burning of the kindling, lifted it and laid it back solicitously.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Then with a turkey-wing he swept up the hearth, its specklessness invaded by a rolling bit of coal, put the wing in place, and stood looking down at what seemed to be his own handiwork.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Then with a turkey-wing he swept up the hearth, its specklessness invaded by a rolling bit of coal, put the wing in place, and stood looking down at what seemed to be his own handiwork.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Then with a turkey-wing he swept up the hearth, its specklessness invaded by a rolling bit of coal, put the wing in place, and stood looking down at what seemed to be his own handiwork.
recklessnessnounUS /ˈrekləsnəs/
the trait of giving little thought to danger
From this reading "Touch it off," she said, with a disproportioned recklessness.
uttered with a trill
From this reading Then with a turkey-wing he swept up the hearth, its specklessness invaded by a rolling bit of coal, put the wing in place, and stood looking down at what seemed to be his own handiwork.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Touch it off," she said, with a disproportioned recklessness.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Then with a turkey-wing he swept up the hearth, its specklessness invaded by a rolling bit of coal, put the wing in place, and stood looking down at what seemed to be his own handiwork.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Touch it off," she said, with a disproportioned recklessness.
solicitouslyadverb
in a concerned and solicitous manner
From this reading The cap'n did it, kneeling to adjust the sticks more nicely; and when one fell forward with the burning of the kindling, lifted it and laid it back solicitously.
specklessness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then with a turkey-wing he swept up the hearth, its specklessness invaded by a rolling bit of coal, put the wing in place, and stood looking down at what seemed to be his own handiwork.
sticksnounUS /stɪks/
plural of “stick” — an implement consisting of a length of wood
From this reading The cap'n did it, kneeling to adjust the sticks more nicely; and when one fell forward with the burning of the kindling, lifted it and laid it back solicitously.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Then with a turkey-wing he swept up the hearth, its specklessness invaded by a rolling bit of coal, put the wing in place, and stood looking down at what seemed to be his own handiwork.
possessing sweep
From this reading Then with a turkey-wing he swept up the hearth, its specklessness invaded by a rolling bit of coal, put the wing in place, and stood looking down at what seemed to be his own handiwork.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "There's the matches on the mantel-tree."
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then with a turkey-wing he swept up the hearth, its specklessness invaded by a rolling bit of coal, put the wing in place, and stood looking down at what seemed to be his own handiwork.
in or at that place or location
From this reading "There!" said he.
There's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "There's the matches on the mantel-tree."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The cap'n did it, kneeling to adjust the sticks more nicely; and when one fell forward with the burning of the kindling, lifted it and laid it back solicitously.
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading "Touch it off," she said, with a disproportioned recklessness.
turkey-wing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then with a turkey-wing he swept up the hearth, its specklessness invaded by a rolling bit of coal, put the wing in place, and stood looking down at what seemed to be his own handiwork.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Then with a turkey-wing he swept up the hearth, its specklessness invaded by a rolling bit of coal, put the wing in place, and stood looking down at what seemed to be his own handiwork.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Then with a turkey-wing he swept up the hearth, its specklessness invaded by a rolling bit of coal, put the wing in place, and stood looking down at what seemed to be his own handiwork.
at the time that
From this reading The cap'n did it, kneeling to adjust the sticks more nicely; and when one fell forward with the burning of the kindling, lifted it and laid it back solicitously.
wingnounUS /wɪŋ/
a movable organ for flying (one of a pair)
From this reading Then with a turkey-wing he swept up the hearth, its specklessness invaded by a rolling bit of coal, put the wing in place, and stood looking down at what seemed to be his own handiwork.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Touch it off," she said, with a disproportioned recklessness.
