used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A little girl in a short-sleeved, blue ruffled nightgown flung herself across the foot of Grandmother Swift's great guest-chamber bed, and sobbed as if her heart would break.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading A little girl in a short-sleeved, blue ruffled nightgown flung herself across the foot of Grandmother Swift's great guest-chamber bed, and sobbed as if her heart would break.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Downstairs, each in an old-fashioned, valanced rocking chair before one of the living-room windows, Grandfather and Grandmother Swift were discussing the newcomer.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A little girl in a short-sleeved, blue ruffled nightgown flung herself across the foot of Grandmother Swift's great guest-chamber bed, and sobbed as if her heart would break.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading "I never see any brown berries.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A little girl in a short-sleeved, blue ruffled nightgown flung herself across the foot of Grandmother Swift's great guest-chamber bed, and sobbed as if her heart would break.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "I think she seems real glad to be here," Grandmother was saying.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading A little girl in a short-sleeved, blue ruffled nightgown flung herself across the foot of Grandmother Swift's great guest-chamber bed, and sobbed as if her heart would break.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Downstairs, each in an old-fashioned, valanced rocking chair before one of the living-room windows, Grandfather and Grandmother Swift were discussing the newcomer.
berriesnounUS /ˈberiz/
plural of “berry” — any of numerous small and pulpy edible fruits; used as desserts or in making jams and jellies and preserves
From this reading "I never see any brown berries.
berrynounUS /ˈberi/
any of numerous small and pulpy edible fruits; used as desserts or in making jams and jellies and preserves
From this reading "She looks a little pale and peaked, but we'll soon have her fed up and as brown as a berry."
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading A little girl in a short-sleeved, blue ruffled nightgown flung herself across the foot of Grandmother Swift's great guest-chamber bed, and sobbed as if her heart would break.
terminate
From this reading A little girl in a short-sleeved, blue ruffled nightgown flung herself across the foot of Grandmother Swift's great guest-chamber bed, and sobbed as if her heart would break.
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading "She looks a little pale and peaked, but we'll soon have her fed up and as brown as a berry."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "She looks a little pale and peaked, but we'll soon have her fed up and as brown as a berry."
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Downstairs, each in an old-fashioned, valanced rocking chair before one of the living-room windows, Grandfather and Grandmother Swift were discussing the newcomer.
discussingverbUS /dɪˈskʌsɪŋ/
-ing form of “discuss” — to consider or examine in speech or writing
From this reading Downstairs, each in an old-fashioned, valanced rocking chair before one of the living-room windows, Grandfather and Grandmother Swift were discussing the newcomer.
DownstairsadverbUS /ˈdaʊnˈsterz/
on a floor below
From this reading Downstairs, each in an old-fashioned, valanced rocking chair before one of the living-room windows, Grandfather and Grandmother Swift were discussing the newcomer.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Downstairs, each in an old-fashioned, valanced rocking chair before one of the living-room windows, Grandfather and Grandmother Swift were discussing the newcomer.
fednounUS /fed/
any federal law-enforcement officer
From this reading "She looks a little pale and peaked, but we'll soon have her fed up and as brown as a berry."
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading A little girl in a short-sleeved, blue ruffled nightgown flung herself across the foot of Grandmother Swift's great guest-chamber bed, and sobbed as if her heart would break.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading A little girl in a short-sleeved, blue ruffled nightgown flung herself across the foot of Grandmother Swift's great guest-chamber bed, and sobbed as if her heart would break.
a young female
From this reading A little girl in a short-sleeved, blue ruffled nightgown flung herself across the foot of Grandmother Swift's great guest-chamber bed, and sobbed as if her heart would break.
showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy
From this reading "I think she seems real glad to be here," Grandmother was saying.
the father of your father or mother
From this reading Downstairs, each in an old-fashioned, valanced rocking chair before one of the living-room windows, Grandfather and Grandmother Swift were discussing the newcomer.
the mother of your father or mother
From this reading A little girl in a short-sleeved, blue ruffled nightgown flung herself across the foot of Grandmother Swift's great guest-chamber bed, and sobbed as if her heart would break.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading A little girl in a short-sleeved, blue ruffled nightgown flung herself across the foot of Grandmother Swift's great guest-chamber bed, and sobbed as if her heart would break.
guest-chamber
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A little girl in a short-sleeved, blue ruffled nightgown flung herself across the foot of Grandmother Swift's great guest-chamber bed, and sobbed as if her heart would break.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "She looks a little pale and peaked, but we'll soon have her fed up and as brown as a berry."
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading A little girl in a short-sleeved, blue ruffled nightgown flung herself across the foot of Grandmother Swift's great guest-chamber bed, and sobbed as if her heart would break.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A little girl in a short-sleeved, blue ruffled nightgown flung herself across the foot of Grandmother Swift's great guest-chamber bed, and sobbed as if her heart would break.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading "I think she seems real glad to be here," Grandmother was saying.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading A little girl in a short-sleeved, blue ruffled nightgown flung herself across the foot of Grandmother Swift's great guest-chamber bed, and sobbed as if her heart would break.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I think she seems real glad to be here," Grandmother was saying.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading A little girl in a short-sleeved, blue ruffled nightgown flung herself across the foot of Grandmother Swift's great guest-chamber bed, and sobbed as if her heart would break.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A little girl in a short-sleeved, blue ruffled nightgown flung herself across the foot of Grandmother Swift's great guest-chamber bed, and sobbed as if her heart would break.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A little girl in a short-sleeved, blue ruffled nightgown flung herself across the foot of Grandmother Swift's great guest-chamber bed, and sobbed as if her heart would break.
living-roomnoun
a room in a private house or establishment where people can sit and talk and relax
From this reading Downstairs, each in an old-fashioned, valanced rocking chair before one of the living-room windows, Grandfather and Grandmother Swift were discussing the newcomer.
plural of “look” — the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading "She looks a little pale and peaked, but we'll soon have her fed up and as brown as a berry."
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading "I never see any brown berries.
newcomernounUS /ˈnuːkʌmər/
any new participant in some activity
From this reading Downstairs, each in an old-fashioned, valanced rocking chair before one of the living-room windows, Grandfather and Grandmother Swift were discussing the newcomer.
nightgownnoun
lingerie consisting of a loose dress designed to be worn in bed by women
From this reading A little girl in a short-sleeved, blue ruffled nightgown flung herself across the foot of Grandmother Swift's great guest-chamber bed, and sobbed as if her heart would break.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A little girl in a short-sleeved, blue ruffled nightgown flung herself across the foot of Grandmother Swift's great guest-chamber bed, and sobbed as if her heart would break.
old-fashionedadjectiveUS /ˌoʊldˈfæʃənd/
out of fashion
From this reading Downstairs, each in an old-fashioned, valanced rocking chair before one of the living-room windows, Grandfather and Grandmother Swift were discussing the newcomer.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Downstairs, each in an old-fashioned, valanced rocking chair before one of the living-room windows, Grandfather and Grandmother Swift were discussing the newcomer.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading "She looks a little pale and peaked, but we'll soon have her fed up and as brown as a berry."
peakedadjectiveUS /piːkt/
somewhat ill or prone to illness
From this reading "She looks a little pale and peaked, but we'll soon have her fed up and as brown as a berry."
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading "I think she seems real glad to be here," Grandmother was saying.
rockingverbUS /ˈrɑːkɪŋ/
-ing form of “rock” — move back and forth or sideways
From this reading Downstairs, each in an old-fashioned, valanced rocking chair before one of the living-room windows, Grandfather and Grandmother Swift were discussing the newcomer.
ruffledadjectiveUS /ˈrʌfəld/
shaken into waves or undulations as by wind
From this reading A little girl in a short-sleeved, blue ruffled nightgown flung herself across the foot of Grandmother Swift's great guest-chamber bed, and sobbed as if her heart would break.
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading "I think she seems real glad to be here," Grandmother was saying.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "I never see any brown berries.
third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading "I think she seems real glad to be here," Grandmother was saying.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I think she seems real glad to be here," Grandmother was saying.
short-sleeved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A little girl in a short-sleeved, blue ruffled nightgown flung herself across the foot of Grandmother Swift's great guest-chamber bed, and sobbed as if her heart would break.
sobbedverbUS /sɑːbd/
inflected form of “sob” — weep convulsively
From this reading A little girl in a short-sleeved, blue ruffled nightgown flung herself across the foot of Grandmother Swift's great guest-chamber bed, and sobbed as if her heart would break.
in the near future
From this reading "She looks a little pale and peaked, but we'll soon have her fed up and as brown as a berry."
moving very fast
From this reading Downstairs, each in an old-fashioned, valanced rocking chair before one of the living-room windows, Grandfather and Grandmother Swift were discussing the newcomer.
Swift'snounUS /swɪfts/
possessive form of “swift” — United States meat-packer who began the use of refrigerated railroad cars (1839-1903)
From this reading A little girl in a short-sleeved, blue ruffled nightgown flung herself across the foot of Grandmother Swift's great guest-chamber bed, and sobbed as if her heart would break.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A little girl in a short-sleeved, blue ruffled nightgown flung herself across the foot of Grandmother Swift's great guest-chamber bed, and sobbed as if her heart would break.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "I think she seems real glad to be here," Grandmother was saying.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "I think she seems real glad to be here," Grandmother was saying.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "She looks a little pale and peaked, but we'll soon have her fed up and as brown as a berry."
valanced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Downstairs, each in an old-fashioned, valanced rocking chair before one of the living-room windows, Grandfather and Grandmother Swift were discussing the newcomer.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "I think she seems real glad to be here," Grandmother was saying.
we'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "She looks a little pale and peaked, but we'll soon have her fed up and as brown as a berry."
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Downstairs, each in an old-fashioned, valanced rocking chair before one of the living-room windows, Grandfather and Grandmother Swift were discussing the newcomer.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading Downstairs, each in an old-fashioned, valanced rocking chair before one of the living-room windows, Grandfather and Grandmother Swift were discussing the newcomer.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading A little girl in a short-sleeved, blue ruffled nightgown flung herself across the foot of Grandmother Swift's great guest-chamber bed, and sobbed as if her heart would break.
