used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading And, indeed, once she had taken a thing in her head she would go through with it in spite of everything.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading But I knew that would only make her all the keener to go.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Indeed, I was throwing up stones at her window when she was already dressed and out in the little back garden feeding the hens.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Of course I know I should have tried to dissuade Elsie from going on such an errand.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading WE MEET DAFT JEREMY The next morning, bright and early, Elsie and I were up and out.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Indeed, I was throwing up stones at her window when she was already dressed and out in the little back garden feeding the hens.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Indeed, I was throwing up stones at her window when she was already dressed and out in the little back garden feeding the hens.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading WE MEET DAFT JEREMY The next morning, bright and early, Elsie and I were up and out.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But I knew that would only make her all the keener to go.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Of course I know I should have tried to dissuade Elsie from going on such an errand.
DAFTadjectiveUS /dæft/
informal or slang terms for mentally irregular
From this reading WE MEET DAFT JEREMY The next morning, bright and early, Elsie and I were up and out.
dissuadeverbUS /dɪˈsweɪd/
turn away from by persuasion
From this reading Of course I know I should have tried to dissuade Elsie from going on such an errand.
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading Indeed, I was throwing up stones at her window when she was already dressed and out in the little back garden feeding the hens.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading WE MEET DAFT JEREMY The next morning, bright and early, Elsie and I were up and out.
Elsie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WE MEET DAFT JEREMY The next morning, bright and early, Elsie and I were up and out.
errandnounUS /ˈerənd/
a short trip that is taken in the performance of a necessary task or mission
From this reading Of course I know I should have tried to dissuade Elsie from going on such an errand.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading And, indeed, once she had taken a thing in her head she would go through with it in spite of everything.
feedingnounUS /ˈfiːdɪŋ/
the act of consuming food
From this reading Indeed, I was throwing up stones at her window when she was already dressed and out in the little back garden feeding the hens.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Of course I know I should have tried to dissuade Elsie from going on such an errand.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading Indeed, I was throwing up stones at her window when she was already dressed and out in the little back garden feeding the hens.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading But I knew that would only make her all the keener to go.
the act of departing
From this reading Of course I know I should have tried to dissuade Elsie from going on such an errand.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading And, indeed, once she had taken a thing in her head she would go through with it in spite of everything.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Of course I know I should have tried to dissuade Elsie from going on such an errand.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading And, indeed, once she had taken a thing in her head she would go through with it in spite of everything.
hensnounUS /henz/
plural of “hen” — adult female chicken
From this reading Indeed, I was throwing up stones at her window when she was already dressed and out in the little back garden feeding the hens.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Indeed, I was throwing up stones at her window when she was already dressed and out in the little back garden feeding the hens.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading WE MEET DAFT JEREMY The next morning, bright and early, Elsie and I were up and out.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Indeed, I was throwing up stones at her window when she was already dressed and out in the little back garden feeding the hens.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Indeed, I was throwing up stones at her window when she was already dressed and out in the little back garden feeding the hens.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And, indeed, once she had taken a thing in her head she would go through with it in spite of everything.
JEREMY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WE MEET DAFT JEREMY The next morning, bright and early, Elsie and I were up and out.
keeneradjectiveUS /ˈkiːnər/
comparative of “keen” — having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading But I knew that would only make her all the keener to go.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading But I knew that would only make her all the keener to go.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Of course I know I should have tried to dissuade Elsie from going on such an errand.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Indeed, I was throwing up stones at her window when she was already dressed and out in the little back garden feeding the hens.
engage in
From this reading But I knew that would only make her all the keener to go.
come together
From this reading WE MEET DAFT JEREMY The next morning, bright and early, Elsie and I were up and out.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading WE MEET DAFT JEREMY The next morning, bright and early, Elsie and I were up and out.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading WE MEET DAFT JEREMY The next morning, bright and early, Elsie and I were up and out.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Of course I know I should have tried to dissuade Elsie from going on such an errand.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Of course I know I should have tried to dissuade Elsie from going on such an errand.
on one occasion
From this reading And, indeed, once she had taken a thing in her head she would go through with it in spite of everything.
and nothing more
From this reading But I knew that would only make her all the keener to go.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading WE MEET DAFT JEREMY The next morning, bright and early, Elsie and I were up and out.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Indeed, I was throwing up stones at her window when she was already dressed and out in the little back garden feeding the hens.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Of course I know I should have tried to dissuade Elsie from going on such an errand.
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading And, indeed, once she had taken a thing in her head she would go through with it in spite of everything.
plural of “stone” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Indeed, I was throwing up stones at her window when she was already dressed and out in the little back garden feeding the hens.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Of course I know I should have tried to dissuade Elsie from going on such an errand.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading And, indeed, once she had taken a thing in her head she would go through with it in spite of everything.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But I knew that would only make her all the keener to go.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WE MEET DAFT JEREMY The next morning, bright and early, Elsie and I were up and out.
a special situation
From this reading And, indeed, once she had taken a thing in her head she would go through with it in spite of everything.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading And, indeed, once she had taken a thing in her head she would go through with it in spite of everything.
-ing form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading Indeed, I was throwing up stones at her window when she was already dressed and out in the little back garden feeding the hens.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Of course I know I should have tried to dissuade Elsie from going on such an errand.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading Of course I know I should have tried to dissuade Elsie from going on such an errand.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading WE MEET DAFT JEREMY The next morning, bright and early, Elsie and I were up and out.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Indeed, I was throwing up stones at her window when she was already dressed and out in the little back garden feeding the hens.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading WE MEET DAFT JEREMY The next morning, bright and early, Elsie and I were up and out.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading WE MEET DAFT JEREMY The next morning, bright and early, Elsie and I were up and out.
at the time that
From this reading Indeed, I was throwing up stones at her window when she was already dressed and out in the little back garden feeding the hens.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading Indeed, I was throwing up stones at her window when she was already dressed and out in the little back garden feeding the hens.
in the company of; together with
From this reading And, indeed, once she had taken a thing in her head she would go through with it in spite of everything.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But I knew that would only make her all the keener to go.
