used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "WOULD you believe it, Ruth, that girl's a regular Methodist; read her Bible, and said her prayers like any parson last night and again this morning.
anew
From this reading "WOULD you believe it, Ruth, that girl's a regular Methodist; read her Bible, and said her prayers like any parson last night and again this morning.
Alice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ruth looked up with a wondering glance at Alice, who entered the kitchen at that moment with brushes and brooms.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "WOULD you believe it, Ruth, that girl's a regular Methodist; read her Bible, and said her prayers like any parson last night and again this morning.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading "WOULD you believe it, Ruth, that girl's a regular Methodist; read her Bible, and said her prayers like any parson last night and again this morning.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading If she don't work as well as pray, I'll be down on her, sharp."
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Ruth looked up with a wondering glance at Alice, who entered the kitchen at that moment with brushes and brooms.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading If she don't work as well as pray, I'll be down on her, sharp."
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading "WOULD you believe it, Ruth, that girl's a regular Methodist; read her Bible, and said her prayers like any parson last night and again this morning.
the sacred writings of the Christian religions
From this reading "WOULD you believe it, Ruth, that girl's a regular Methodist; read her Bible, and said her prayers like any parson last night and again this morning.
Bible-reading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A Bible-reading, praying housemaid was a curiosity she had never witnessed.
broomsnounUS /bruːmz/
plural of “broom” — a cleaning implement for sweeping; bundle of straws or twigs attached to a long handle
From this reading Ruth looked up with a wondering glance at Alice, who entered the kitchen at that moment with brushes and brooms.
brushesnounUS /ˈbrʌʃɪz/
plural of “brush” — a dense growth of bushes
From this reading Ruth looked up with a wondering glance at Alice, who entered the kitchen at that moment with brushes and brooms.
a state in which you want to learn more about something
From this reading A Bible-reading, praying housemaid was a curiosity she had never witnessed.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she don't work as well as pray, I'll be down on her, sharp."
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading If she don't work as well as pray, I'll be down on her, sharp."
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading Ruth looked up with a wondering glance at Alice, who entered the kitchen at that moment with brushes and brooms.
girl'snounUS /ɡɜːrlz/
possessive form of “girl” — a young female
From this reading "WOULD you believe it, Ruth, that girl's a regular Methodist; read her Bible, and said her prayers like any parson last night and again this morning.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Ruth looked up with a wondering glance at Alice, who entered the kitchen at that moment with brushes and brooms.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A Bible-reading, praying housemaid was a curiosity she had never witnessed.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "WOULD you believe it, Ruth, that girl's a regular Methodist; read her Bible, and said her prayers like any parson last night and again this morning.
HOUSEMAIDnoun
a female domestic
From this reading THE NEW HOUSEMAID.
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she don't work as well as pray, I'll be down on her, sharp."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If she don't work as well as pray, I'll be down on her, sharp."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "WOULD you believe it, Ruth, that girl's a regular Methodist; read her Bible, and said her prayers like any parson last night and again this morning.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading Ruth looked up with a wondering glance at Alice, who entered the kitchen at that moment with brushes and brooms.
immediately past
From this reading "WOULD you believe it, Ruth, that girl's a regular Methodist; read her Bible, and said her prayers like any parson last night and again this morning.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "WOULD you believe it, Ruth, that girl's a regular Methodist; read her Bible, and said her prayers like any parson last night and again this morning.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Ruth looked up with a wondering glance at Alice, who entered the kitchen at that moment with brushes and brooms.
MethodistadjectiveUS /ˈmeθədəst/
of or pertaining to or characteristic of the branch of Protestantism adhering to the views of Wesley
From this reading "WOULD you believe it, Ruth, that girl's a regular Methodist; read her Bible, and said her prayers like any parson last night and again this morning.
a particular point in time
From this reading Ruth looked up with a wondering glance at Alice, who entered the kitchen at that moment with brushes and brooms.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading "WOULD you believe it, Ruth, that girl's a regular Methodist; read her Bible, and said her prayers like any parson last night and again this morning.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading A Bible-reading, praying housemaid was a curiosity she had never witnessed.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading THE NEW HOUSEMAID.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading "WOULD you believe it, Ruth, that girl's a regular Methodist; read her Bible, and said her prayers like any parson last night and again this morning.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading If she don't work as well as pray, I'll be down on her, sharp."
parsonnounUS /ˈpɑːrsən/
a person authorized to conduct religious worship
From this reading "WOULD you believe it, Ruth, that girl's a regular Methodist; read her Bible, and said her prayers like any parson last night and again this morning.
address a deity, a prophet, a saint or an object of worship; say a prayer
From this reading If she don't work as well as pray, I'll be down on her, sharp."
plural of “prayer” — the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving)
From this reading "WOULD you believe it, Ruth, that girl's a regular Methodist; read her Bible, and said her prayers like any parson last night and again this morning.
prayingverbUS /ˈpreɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “pray” — address a deity, a prophet, a saint or an object of worship; say a prayer
From this reading A Bible-reading, praying housemaid was a curiosity she had never witnessed.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading "WOULD you believe it, Ruth, that girl's a regular Methodist; read her Bible, and said her prayers like any parson last night and again this morning.
in accordance with fixed order or procedure or principle
From this reading "WOULD you believe it, Ruth, that girl's a regular Methodist; read her Bible, and said her prayers like any parson last night and again this morning.
United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading "WOULD you believe it, Ruth, that girl's a regular Methodist; read her Bible, and said her prayers like any parson last night and again this morning.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "WOULD you believe it, Ruth, that girl's a regular Methodist; read her Bible, and said her prayers like any parson last night and again this morning.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading If she don't work as well as pray, I'll be down on her, sharp."
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If she don't work as well as pray, I'll be down on her, sharp."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "WOULD you believe it, Ruth, that girl's a regular Methodist; read her Bible, and said her prayers like any parson last night and again this morning.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE NEW HOUSEMAID.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "WOULD you believe it, Ruth, that girl's a regular Methodist; read her Bible, and said her prayers like any parson last night and again this morning.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Ruth looked up with a wondering glance at Alice, who entered the kitchen at that moment with brushes and brooms.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A Bible-reading, praying housemaid was a curiosity she had never witnessed.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading If she don't work as well as pray, I'll be down on her, sharp."
which person or people
From this reading Ruth looked up with a wondering glance at Alice, who entered the kitchen at that moment with brushes and brooms.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Ruth looked up with a wondering glance at Alice, who entered the kitchen at that moment with brushes and brooms.
witnessedverbUS /ˈwɪtnəst/
past form of “witness” — be a witness to
From this reading A Bible-reading, praying housemaid was a curiosity she had never witnessed.
showing curiosity
From this reading Ruth looked up with a wondering glance at Alice, who entered the kitchen at that moment with brushes and brooms.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading If she don't work as well as pray, I'll be down on her, sharp."
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "WOULD you believe it, Ruth, that girl's a regular Methodist; read her Bible, and said her prayers like any parson last night and again this morning.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "WOULD you believe it, Ruth, that girl's a regular Methodist; read her Bible, and said her prayers like any parson last night and again this morning.
