used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “I guess so,” Gaitskill said, and his voice was so soft that each word was like a caress.
(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 “We all remember Henry.”
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “Marse Tommy, de Gaitskill fambly is de top of de heap fer kindness an’ goodness to dis pore ole nigger!”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “I guess so,” Gaitskill said, and his voice was so soft that each word was like a caress.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He sank back into his chair, wiping the tears from his eyes.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading “Dat’s so, suh,” Popsy said, suddenly straightening his bent and quivering shoulders.
caressnounUS /kərˈes/
a gentle affectionate stroking (or something resembling it)
From this reading “I guess so,” Gaitskill said, and his voice was so soft that each word was like a caress.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading He sank back into his chair, wiping the tears from his eyes.
Dat's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Dat’s so, suh,” Popsy said, suddenly straightening his bent and quivering shoulders.
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading “Marse Tommy, de Gaitskill fambly is de top of de heap fer kindness an’ goodness to dis pore ole nigger!”
disnounUS /dɪs/
(Roman mythology) god of the underworld; counterpart of Greek Hades
From this reading “Marse Tommy, de Gaitskill fambly is de top of de heap fer kindness an’ goodness to dis pore ole nigger!”
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading “I guess so,” Gaitskill said, and his voice was so soft that each word was like a caress.
opinion or judgment
From this reading He sank back into his chair, wiping the tears from his eyes.
fambly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Marse Tommy, de Gaitskill fambly is de top of de heap fer kindness an’ goodness to dis pore ole nigger!”
fer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Marse Tommy, de Gaitskill fambly is de top of de heap fer kindness an’ goodness to dis pore ole nigger!”
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He sank back into his chair, wiping the tears from his eyes.
Gaitskill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Marse Tommy, de Gaitskill fambly is de top of de heap fer kindness an’ goodness to dis pore ole nigger!”
that which is pleasing or valuable or useful
From this reading “Marse Tommy, de Gaitskill fambly is de top of de heap fer kindness an’ goodness to dis pore ole nigger!”
expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading “I guess so,” Gaitskill said, and his voice was so soft that each word was like a caress.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He sank back into his chair, wiping the tears from his eyes.
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading “Marse Tommy, de Gaitskill fambly is de top of de heap fer kindness an’ goodness to dis pore ole nigger!”
a unit of inductance in which an induced electromotive force of one volt is produced when the current is varied at the rate of one ampere per second
From this reading “We all remember Henry.”
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He sank back into his chair, wiping the tears from his eyes.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I guess so,” Gaitskill said, and his voice was so soft that each word was like a caress.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He sank back into his chair, wiping the tears from his eyes.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Marse Tommy, de Gaitskill fambly is de top of de heap fer kindness an’ goodness to dis pore ole nigger!”
the quality of being warmhearted and considerate and humane and sympathetic
From this reading “Marse Tommy, de Gaitskill fambly is de top of de heap fer kindness an’ goodness to dis pore ole nigger!”
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading “I guess so,” Gaitskill said, and his voice was so soft that each word was like a caress.
Marse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Marse Tommy, de Gaitskill fambly is de top of de heap fer kindness an’ goodness to dis pore ole nigger!”
nigger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Marse Tommy, de Gaitskill fambly is de top of de heap fer kindness an’ goodness to dis pore ole nigger!”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Marse Tommy, de Gaitskill fambly is de top of de heap fer kindness an’ goodness to dis pore ole nigger!”
ole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Marse Tommy, de Gaitskill fambly is de top of de heap fer kindness an’ goodness to dis pore ole nigger!”
Popsy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Dat’s so, suh,” Popsy said, suddenly straightening his bent and quivering shoulders.
porenounUS /pɔːr/
any tiny hole admitting passage of a liquid (fluid or gas)
From this reading “Marse Tommy, de Gaitskill fambly is de top of de heap fer kindness an’ goodness to dis pore ole nigger!”
quiveringnounUS /ˈkwɪvərɪŋ/
a shaky motion
From this reading “Dat’s so, suh,” Popsy said, suddenly straightening his bent and quivering shoulders.
To recall to mind.
From this reading “We all remember Henry.”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “I guess so,” Gaitskill said, and his voice was so soft that each word was like a caress.
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading He sank back into his chair, wiping the tears from his eyes.
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading “Dat’s so, suh,” Popsy said, suddenly straightening his bent and quivering shoulders.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “I guess so,” Gaitskill said, and his voice was so soft that each word was like a caress.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading “I guess so,” Gaitskill said, and his voice was so soft that each word was like a caress.
straighteningverbUS /ˈstreɪtənɪŋ/
-ing form of “straighten” — straighten up or out; make straight
From this reading “Dat’s so, suh,” Popsy said, suddenly straightening his bent and quivering shoulders.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading “Dat’s so, suh,” Popsy said, suddenly straightening his bent and quivering shoulders.
suh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Dat’s so, suh,” Popsy said, suddenly straightening his bent and quivering shoulders.
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
From this reading He sank back into his chair, wiping the tears from his eyes.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “I guess so,” Gaitskill said, and his voice was so soft that each word was like a caress.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He sank back into his chair, wiping the tears from his eyes.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Marse Tommy, de Gaitskill fambly is de top of de heap fer kindness an’ goodness to dis pore ole nigger!”
Tommy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Marse Tommy, de Gaitskill fambly is de top of de heap fer kindness an’ goodness to dis pore ole nigger!”
the upper part of anything
From this reading “Marse Tommy, de Gaitskill fambly is de top of de heap fer kindness an’ goodness to dis pore ole nigger!”
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading “I guess so,” Gaitskill said, and his voice was so soft that each word was like a caress.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “I guess so,” Gaitskill said, and his voice was so soft that each word was like a caress.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “We all remember Henry.”
wipingverbUS /ˈwaɪpɪŋ/
-ing form of “wipe” — rub with a circular motion
From this reading He sank back into his chair, wiping the tears from his eyes.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading “I guess so,” Gaitskill said, and his voice was so soft that each word was like a caress.
