used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A MIDNIGHT VISITOR Like a man in a dream, I walked with unsteady footsteps down the avenue, through the shrubbery, and across the park to the cottage.
a-coming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "John was just a-coming up to the house for you, sir," she exclaimed, shutting the door again.
a-fretting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She's been here more than an hour, a-fretting ever so because you wasn't here."
from one side of something to the other
From this reading A MIDNIGHT VISITOR Like a man in a dream, I walked with unsteady footsteps down the avenue, through the shrubbery, and across the park to the cottage.
anew
From this reading "John was just a-coming up to the house for you, sir," she exclaimed, shutting the door again.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She's been here more than an hour, a-fretting ever so because you wasn't here."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A MIDNIGHT VISITOR Like a man in a dream, I walked with unsteady footsteps down the avenue, through the shrubbery, and across the park to the cottage.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading I had forgotten my latch-key, and the servant who answered my ring welcomed me with a little cry of relief.
a line of approach
From this reading A MIDNIGHT VISITOR Like a man in a dream, I walked with unsteady footsteps down the avenue, through the shrubbery, and across the park to the cottage.
for the reason that
From this reading She's been here more than an hour, a-fretting ever so because you wasn't here."
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She's been here more than an hour, a-fretting ever so because you wasn't here."
a small house with a single story
From this reading A MIDNIGHT VISITOR Like a man in a dream, I walked with unsteady footsteps down the avenue, through the shrubbery, and across the park to the cottage.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading I had forgotten my latch-key, and the servant who answered my ring welcomed me with a little cry of relief.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading "John was just a-coming up to the house for you, sir," she exclaimed, shutting the door again.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading A MIDNIGHT VISITOR Like a man in a dream, I walked with unsteady footsteps down the avenue, through the shrubbery, and across the park to the cottage.
A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.
From this reading A MIDNIGHT VISITOR Like a man in a dream, I walked with unsteady footsteps down the avenue, through the shrubbery, and across the park to the cottage.
at any time
From this reading She's been here more than an hour, a-fretting ever so because you wasn't here."
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading "John was just a-coming up to the house for you, sir," she exclaimed, shutting the door again.
plural of “footstep” — the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading A MIDNIGHT VISITOR Like a man in a dream, I walked with unsteady footsteps down the avenue, through the shrubbery, and across the park to the cottage.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "John was just a-coming up to the house for you, sir," she exclaimed, shutting the door again.
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading I had forgotten my latch-key, and the servant who answered my ring welcomed me with a little cry of relief.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had forgotten my latch-key, and the servant who answered my ring welcomed me with a little cry of relief.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading She's been here more than an hour, a-fretting ever so because you wasn't here."
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading She's been here more than an hour, a-fretting ever so because you wasn't here."
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading "John was just a-coming up to the house for you, sir," she exclaimed, shutting the door again.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading A MIDNIGHT VISITOR Like a man in a dream, I walked with unsteady footsteps down the avenue, through the shrubbery, and across the park to the cottage.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A MIDNIGHT VISITOR Like a man in a dream, I walked with unsteady footsteps down the avenue, through the shrubbery, and across the park to the cottage.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading "John was just a-coming up to the house for you, sir," she exclaimed, shutting the door again.
and nothing more
From this reading "John was just a-coming up to the house for you, sir," she exclaimed, shutting the door again.
latch-key
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had forgotten my latch-key, and the servant who answered my ring welcomed me with a little cry of relief.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading A MIDNIGHT VISITOR Like a man in a dream, I walked with unsteady footsteps down the avenue, through the shrubbery, and across the park to the cottage.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading I had forgotten my latch-key, and the servant who answered my ring welcomed me with a little cry of relief.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A MIDNIGHT VISITOR Like a man in a dream, I walked with unsteady footsteps down the avenue, through the shrubbery, and across the park to the cottage.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I had forgotten my latch-key, and the servant who answered my ring welcomed me with a little cry of relief.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading A MIDNIGHT VISITOR Like a man in a dream, I walked with unsteady footsteps down the avenue, through the shrubbery, and across the park to the cottage.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading She's been here more than an hour, a-fretting ever so because you wasn't here."
used to form the superlative
From this reading "There's a strange woman wants to see you most particular.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I had forgotten my latch-key, and the servant who answered my ring welcomed me with a little cry of relief.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I had forgotten my latch-key, and the servant who answered my ring welcomed me with a little cry of relief.
a large area of land preserved in its natural state as public property
From this reading A MIDNIGHT VISITOR Like a man in a dream, I walked with unsteady footsteps down the avenue, through the shrubbery, and across the park to the cottage.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading "There's a strange woman wants to see you most particular.
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading I had forgotten my latch-key, and the servant who answered my ring welcomed me with a little cry of relief.
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading I had forgotten my latch-key, and the servant who answered my ring welcomed me with a little cry of relief.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "There's a strange woman wants to see you most particular.
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading I had forgotten my latch-key, and the servant who answered my ring welcomed me with a little cry of relief.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "John was just a-coming up to the house for you, sir," she exclaimed, shutting the door again.
She's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She's been here more than an hour, a-fretting ever so because you wasn't here."
shrubberynounUS /ˈʃrʌbəri/
an area where a number of shrubs are planted
From this reading A MIDNIGHT VISITOR Like a man in a dream, I walked with unsteady footsteps down the avenue, through the shrubbery, and across the park to the cottage.
shuttingnounUS /ˈʃʌtɪŋ/
the act of closing something
From this reading "John was just a-coming up to the house for you, sir," she exclaimed, shutting the door again.
term of address for a man
From this reading "John was just a-coming up to the house for you, sir," she exclaimed, shutting the door again.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She's been here more than an hour, a-fretting ever so because you wasn't here."
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading "There's a strange woman wants to see you most particular.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading She's been here more than an hour, a-fretting ever so because you wasn't here."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A MIDNIGHT VISITOR Like a man in a dream, I walked with unsteady footsteps down the avenue, through the shrubbery, and across the park to the cottage.
There's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "There's a strange woman wants to see you most particular.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading A MIDNIGHT VISITOR Like a man in a dream, I walked with unsteady footsteps down the avenue, through the shrubbery, and across the park to the cottage.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A MIDNIGHT VISITOR Like a man in a dream, I walked with unsteady footsteps down the avenue, through the shrubbery, and across the park to the cottage.
unsteadyadjectiveUS /ənˈstedi/
subject to change or variation
From this reading A MIDNIGHT VISITOR Like a man in a dream, I walked with unsteady footsteps down the avenue, through the shrubbery, and across the park to the cottage.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "John was just a-coming up to the house for you, sir," she exclaimed, shutting the door again.
someone who visits
From this reading A MIDNIGHT VISITOR Like a man in a dream, I walked with unsteady footsteps down the avenue, through the shrubbery, and across the park to the cottage.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading A MIDNIGHT VISITOR Like a man in a dream, I walked with unsteady footsteps down the avenue, through the shrubbery, and across the park to the cottage.
plural of “want” — a state of extreme poverty
From this reading "There's a strange woman wants to see you most particular.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "John was just a-coming up to the house for you, sir," she exclaimed, shutting the door again.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She's been here more than an hour, a-fretting ever so because you wasn't here."
welcomedverbUS /ˈwelkəmd/
past form of “welcome” — accept gladly
From this reading I had forgotten my latch-key, and the servant who answered my ring welcomed me with a little cry of relief.
which person or people
From this reading I had forgotten my latch-key, and the servant who answered my ring welcomed me with a little cry of relief.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A MIDNIGHT VISITOR Like a man in a dream, I walked with unsteady footsteps down the avenue, through the shrubbery, and across the park to the cottage.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading "There's a strange woman wants to see you most particular.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "John was just a-coming up to the house for you, sir," she exclaimed, shutting the door again.
