used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The report of a spot where they grew “as big as your thumb” inspired an ambition to fill the buckets, to can, to make pies, puddings, flummery, or anything else suggested.
(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 HAWAIIAN PINEAPPLE The girls had all gone off blackberrying.
a cherished desire
From this reading The report of a spot where they grew “as big as your thumb” inspired an ambition to fill the buckets, to can, to make pies, puddings, flummery, or anything else suggested.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The report of a spot where they grew “as big as your thumb” inspired an ambition to fill the buckets, to can, to make pies, puddings, flummery, or anything else suggested.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The canal boats passed up or down once in a while, the tramp of the mules and the cries of the drivers announcing their coming.
announcingverbUS /əˈnaʊnsɪŋ/
-ing form of “announce” — make known; make an announcement
From this reading The canal boats passed up or down once in a while, the tramp of the mules and the cries of the drivers announcing their coming.
any thing at all
From this reading The report of a spot where they grew “as big as your thumb” inspired an ambition to fill the buckets, to can, to make pies, puddings, flummery, or anything else suggested.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The report of a spot where they grew “as big as your thumb” inspired an ambition to fill the buckets, to can, to make pies, puddings, flummery, or anything else suggested.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The report of a spot where they grew “as big as your thumb” inspired an ambition to fill the buckets, to can, to make pies, puddings, flummery, or anything else suggested.
blackberrying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HAWAIIAN PINEAPPLE The girls had all gone off blackberrying.
plural of “boat” — a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading The canal boats passed up or down once in a while, the tramp of the mules and the cries of the drivers announcing their coming.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading The Virginia shores showed misty green under the July skies; the river shone silver bright, or displayed dancing flecks where it dashed over the rocky portions.
bucketsnounUS /ˈbʌkəts/
plural of “bucket” — a roughly cylindrical vessel that is open at the top
From this reading The report of a spot where they grew “as big as your thumb” inspired an ambition to fill the buckets, to can, to make pies, puddings, flummery, or anything else suggested.
temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
From this reading So silence reigned in the little camp.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading The report of a spot where they grew “as big as your thumb” inspired an ambition to fill the buckets, to can, to make pies, puddings, flummery, or anything else suggested.
canalnounUS /kəˈnæl/
(astronomy) an indistinct surface feature of Mars once thought to be a system of channels; they are now believed to be an optical illusion
From this reading The canal boats passed up or down once in a while, the tramp of the mules and the cries of the drivers announcing their coming.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading The canal boats passed up or down once in a while, the tramp of the mules and the cries of the drivers announcing their coming.
plural of “cry” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading The canal boats passed up or down once in a while, the tramp of the mules and the cries of the drivers announcing their coming.
taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music
From this reading The Virginia shores showed misty green under the July skies; the river shone silver bright, or displayed dancing flecks where it dashed over the rocky portions.
having gaps or spaces
From this reading The Virginia shores showed misty green under the July skies; the river shone silver bright, or displayed dancing flecks where it dashed over the rocky portions.
displayedverbUS /dɪˈspleɪd/
past form of “display” — to show, make visible or apparent
From this reading The Virginia shores showed misty green under the July skies; the river shone silver bright, or displayed dancing flecks where it dashed over the rocky portions.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The canal boats passed up or down once in a while, the tramp of the mules and the cries of the drivers announcing their coming.
driversnounUS /ˈdraɪvərz/
plural of “driver” — the operator of a motor vehicle
From this reading The canal boats passed up or down once in a while, the tramp of the mules and the cries of the drivers announcing their coming.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The report of a spot where they grew “as big as your thumb” inspired an ambition to fill the buckets, to can, to make pies, puddings, flummery, or anything else suggested.
make full, also in a metaphorical sense
From this reading The report of a spot where they grew “as big as your thumb” inspired an ambition to fill the buckets, to can, to make pies, puddings, flummery, or anything else suggested.
flecksnounUS /fleks/
plural of “fleck” — a small fragment of something broken off from the whole
From this reading The Virginia shores showed misty green under the July skies; the river shone silver bright, or displayed dancing flecks where it dashed over the rocky portions.
flummerynoun
a bland custard or pudding especially of oatmeal
From this reading The report of a spot where they grew “as big as your thumb” inspired an ambition to fill the buckets, to can, to make pies, puddings, flummery, or anything else suggested.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading HAWAIIAN PINEAPPLE The girls had all gone off blackberrying.
destroyed or killed
From this reading HAWAIIAN PINEAPPLE The girls had all gone off blackberrying.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading The Virginia shores showed misty green under the July skies; the river shone silver bright, or displayed dancing flecks where it dashed over the rocky portions.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading The report of a spot where they grew “as big as your thumb” inspired an ambition to fill the buckets, to can, to make pies, puddings, flummery, or anything else suggested.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading HAWAIIAN PINEAPPLE The girls had all gone off blackberrying.
HAWAIIANnounUS /həˈwaɪən/
the Oceanic languages spoken on Hawaii
From this reading HAWAIIAN PINEAPPLE The girls had all gone off blackberrying.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading So silence reigned in the little camp.
inspiredadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈspaɪərd/
being of such surpassing excellence as to suggest inspiration by the gods
From this reading The report of a spot where they grew “as big as your thumb” inspired an ambition to fill the buckets, to can, to make pies, puddings, flummery, or anything else suggested.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The Virginia shores showed misty green under the July skies; the river shone silver bright, or displayed dancing flecks where it dashed over the rocky portions.
the month following June and preceding August
From this reading The Virginia shores showed misty green under the July skies; the river shone silver bright, or displayed dancing flecks where it dashed over the rocky portions.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading So silence reigned in the little camp.
engage in
From this reading The report of a spot where they grew “as big as your thumb” inspired an ambition to fill the buckets, to can, to make pies, puddings, flummery, or anything else suggested.
mistyadjectiveUS /ˈmɪsti/
filled or abounding with fog or mist
From this reading The Virginia shores showed misty green under the July skies; the river shone silver bright, or displayed dancing flecks where it dashed over the rocky portions.
mulesnounUS /mjuːlz/
plural of “mule” — hybrid offspring of a male donkey and a female horse; usually sterile
From this reading The canal boats passed up or down once in a while, the tramp of the mules and the cries of the drivers announcing their coming.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The report of a spot where they grew “as big as your thumb” inspired an ambition to fill the buckets, to can, to make pies, puddings, flummery, or anything else suggested.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading HAWAIIAN PINEAPPLE The girls had all gone off blackberrying.
on one occasion
From this reading The canal boats passed up or down once in a while, the tramp of the mules and the cries of the drivers announcing their coming.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The report of a spot where they grew “as big as your thumb” inspired an ambition to fill the buckets, to can, to make pies, puddings, flummery, or anything else suggested.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The Virginia shores showed misty green under the July skies; the river shone silver bright, or displayed dancing flecks where it dashed over the rocky portions.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading The canal boats passed up or down once in a while, the tramp of the mules and the cries of the drivers announcing their coming.
piesnounUS /paɪz/
plural of “pie” — dish baked in pastry-lined pan often with a pastry top
From this reading The report of a spot where they grew “as big as your thumb” inspired an ambition to fill the buckets, to can, to make pies, puddings, flummery, or anything else suggested.
PINEAPPLEnounUS /ˈpaɪnæpəl/
a tropical American plant bearing a large fleshy edible fruit with a terminal tuft of stiff leaves; widely cultivated in the tropics
From this reading HAWAIIAN PINEAPPLE The girls had all gone off blackberrying.
portionsnounUS /ˈpɔːrʃənz/
plural of “portion” — something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading The Virginia shores showed misty green under the July skies; the river shone silver bright, or displayed dancing flecks where it dashed over the rocky portions.
puddingsnounUS /ˈpʊdɪŋz/
plural of “pudding” — any of various soft thick unsweetened baked dishes
From this reading The report of a spot where they grew “as big as your thumb” inspired an ambition to fill the buckets, to can, to make pies, puddings, flummery, or anything else suggested.
reignedverbUS /reɪnd/
past form of “reign” — have sovereign power
From this reading So silence reigned in the little camp.
to give an account or representation of in words
From this reading The report of a spot where they grew “as big as your thumb” inspired an ambition to fill the buckets, to can, to make pies, puddings, flummery, or anything else suggested.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading The Virginia shores showed misty green under the July skies; the river shone silver bright, or displayed dancing flecks where it dashed over the rocky portions.
rockyadjectiveUS /ˈrɑːki/
abounding in rocks or stones
From this reading The Virginia shores showed misty green under the July skies; the river shone silver bright, or displayed dancing flecks where it dashed over the rocky portions.
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading The Virginia shores showed misty green under the July skies; the river shone silver bright, or displayed dancing flecks where it dashed over the rocky portions.
shoresnounUS /ʃɔːrz/
plural of “shore” — the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading The Virginia shores showed misty green under the July skies; the river shone silver bright, or displayed dancing flecks where it dashed over the rocky portions.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The Virginia shores showed misty green under the July skies; the river shone silver bright, or displayed dancing flecks where it dashed over the rocky portions.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading So silence reigned in the little camp.
a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography
From this reading The Virginia shores showed misty green under the July skies; the river shone silver bright, or displayed dancing flecks where it dashed over the rocky portions.
skiesnounUS /skaɪz/
plural of “sky” — the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The Virginia shores showed misty green under the July skies; the river shone silver bright, or displayed dancing flecks where it dashed over the rocky portions.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So silence reigned in the little camp.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The report of a spot where they grew “as big as your thumb” inspired an ambition to fill the buckets, to can, to make pies, puddings, flummery, or anything else suggested.
past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading The report of a spot where they grew “as big as your thumb” inspired an ambition to fill the buckets, to can, to make pies, puddings, flummery, or anything else suggested.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading HAWAIIAN PINEAPPLE The girls had all gone off blackberrying.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The canal boats passed up or down once in a while, the tramp of the mules and the cries of the drivers announcing their coming.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The report of a spot where they grew “as big as your thumb” inspired an ambition to fill the buckets, to can, to make pies, puddings, flummery, or anything else suggested.
thumbnounUS /θʌm/
the thick short innermost digit of the forelimb
From this reading The report of a spot where they grew “as big as your thumb” inspired an ambition to fill the buckets, to can, to make pies, puddings, flummery, or anything else suggested.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The report of a spot where they grew “as big as your thumb” inspired an ambition to fill the buckets, to can, to make pies, puddings, flummery, or anything else suggested.
trampnounUS /træmp/
a vagrant
From this reading The canal boats passed up or down once in a while, the tramp of the mules and the cries of the drivers announcing their coming.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The Virginia shores showed misty green under the July skies; the river shone silver bright, or displayed dancing flecks where it dashed over the rocky portions.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The canal boats passed up or down once in a while, the tramp of the mules and the cries of the drivers announcing their coming.
VirginianounUS /vərˈdʒɪnjə/
a state in the eastern United States; one of the original 13 colonies; one of the Confederate States in the American Civil War
From this reading The Virginia shores showed misty green under the July skies; the river shone silver bright, or displayed dancing flecks where it dashed over the rocky portions.
in or at the place that
From this reading The report of a spot where they grew “as big as your thumb” inspired an ambition to fill the buckets, to can, to make pies, puddings, flummery, or anything else suggested.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The canal boats passed up or down once in a while, the tramp of the mules and the cries of the drivers announcing their coming.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading The report of a spot where they grew “as big as your thumb” inspired an ambition to fill the buckets, to can, to make pies, puddings, flummery, or anything else suggested.
