used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “‘’Twas dark afore I got there, leastwise the bats were a flitterin’ aroun’ the gables and apple trees, a-lookin’ for thar suppers.
a-lookin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “‘’Twas dark afore I got there, leastwise the bats were a flitterin’ aroun’ the gables and apple trees, a-lookin’ for thar suppers.
afore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “‘’Twas dark afore I got there, leastwise the bats were a flitterin’ aroun’ the gables and apple trees, a-lookin’ for thar suppers.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “‘’Twas dark afore I got there, leastwise the bats were a flitterin’ aroun’ the gables and apple trees, a-lookin’ for thar suppers.
used to indicate that a statement explains or supports a previous statement
From this reading I gin the bell-knob a jerk anyhow, and pooty soon old Hurley hisself came to the door, with a candle in his hand.
applenounUS /ˈæpəl/
fruit with red or yellow or green skin and sweet to tart crisp whitish flesh
From this reading “‘’Twas dark afore I got there, leastwise the bats were a flitterin’ aroun’ the gables and apple trees, a-lookin’ for thar suppers.
aroun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “‘’Twas dark afore I got there, leastwise the bats were a flitterin’ aroun’ the gables and apple trees, a-lookin’ for thar suppers.
arter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He kind of gin a start, as though he was surprised to see me; and I gin a start, too, and jumped back from the door pooty quick, for I thought I heer’d him grit his teeth a leetle—somethin’ like a sheep arter she’s bin eatin’ beans—but I wasn’t sartain.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He kind of gin a start, as though he was surprised to see me; and I gin a start, too, and jumped back from the door pooty quick, for I thought I heer’d him grit his teeth a leetle—somethin’ like a sheep arter she’s bin eatin’ beans—but I wasn’t sartain.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He kind of gin a start, as though he was surprised to see me; and I gin a start, too, and jumped back from the door pooty quick, for I thought I heer’d him grit his teeth a leetle—somethin’ like a sheep arter she’s bin eatin’ beans—but I wasn’t sartain.
batsadjectiveUS /bæts/
informal or slang terms for mentally irregular
From this reading “‘’Twas dark afore I got there, leastwise the bats were a flitterin’ aroun’ the gables and apple trees, a-lookin’ for thar suppers.
beansnounUS /biːnz/
plural of “bean” — any of various edible seeds of plants of the family Leguminosae used for food
From this reading He kind of gin a start, as though he was surprised to see me; and I gin a start, too, and jumped back from the door pooty quick, for I thought I heer’d him grit his teeth a leetle—somethin’ like a sheep arter she’s bin eatin’ beans—but I wasn’t sartain.
bell-knob
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I gin the bell-knob a jerk anyhow, and pooty soon old Hurley hisself came to the door, with a candle in his hand.
binnounUS /bɪn/
a container; usually has a lid
From this reading He kind of gin a start, as though he was surprised to see me; and I gin a start, too, and jumped back from the door pooty quick, for I thought I heer’d him grit his teeth a leetle—somethin’ like a sheep arter she’s bin eatin’ beans—but I wasn’t sartain.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He kind of gin a start, as though he was surprised to see me; and I gin a start, too, and jumped back from the door pooty quick, for I thought I heer’d him grit his teeth a leetle—somethin’ like a sheep arter she’s bin eatin’ beans—but I wasn’t sartain.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading I gin the bell-knob a jerk anyhow, and pooty soon old Hurley hisself came to the door, with a candle in his hand.
stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading I gin the bell-knob a jerk anyhow, and pooty soon old Hurley hisself came to the door, with a candle in his hand.
coaxin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “‘Come in, M-i-s-t-e-r Dudley,’ ses he, kind of low and coaxin’ like.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He was in his shirt-sleeves, and I reckon he had jest come hum from work.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading “‘’Twas dark afore I got there, leastwise the bats were a flitterin’ aroun’ the gables and apple trees, a-lookin’ for thar suppers.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading I gin the bell-knob a jerk anyhow, and pooty soon old Hurley hisself came to the door, with a candle in his hand.
Dudley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “‘Come in, M-i-s-t-e-r Dudley,’ ses he, kind of low and coaxin’ like.
eatin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He kind of gin a start, as though he was surprised to see me; and I gin a start, too, and jumped back from the door pooty quick, for I thought I heer’d him grit his teeth a leetle—somethin’ like a sheep arter she’s bin eatin’ beans—but I wasn’t sartain.
flitterin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “‘’Twas dark afore I got there, leastwise the bats were a flitterin’ aroun’ the gables and apple trees, a-lookin’ for thar suppers.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “‘’Twas dark afore I got there, leastwise the bats were a flitterin’ aroun’ the gables and apple trees, a-lookin’ for thar suppers.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He was in his shirt-sleeves, and I reckon he had jest come hum from work.
gablesnounUS /ˈɡeɪbəlz/
plural of “gable” — the vertical triangular wall between the sloping ends of gable roof
From this reading “‘’Twas dark afore I got there, leastwise the bats were a flitterin’ aroun’ the gables and apple trees, a-lookin’ for thar suppers.
ginnounUS /dʒɪn/
strong liquor flavored with juniper berries
From this reading I gin the bell-knob a jerk anyhow, and pooty soon old Hurley hisself came to the door, with a candle in his hand.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “‘’Twas dark afore I got there, leastwise the bats were a flitterin’ aroun’ the gables and apple trees, a-lookin’ for thar suppers.
gritnounUS /ɡrɪt/
a hard coarse-grained siliceous sandstone
From this reading He kind of gin a start, as though he was surprised to see me; and I gin a start, too, and jumped back from the door pooty quick, for I thought I heer’d him grit his teeth a leetle—somethin’ like a sheep arter she’s bin eatin’ beans—but I wasn’t sartain.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was in his shirt-sleeves, and I reckon he had jest come hum from work.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading I gin the bell-knob a jerk anyhow, and pooty soon old Hurley hisself came to the door, with a candle in his hand.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was in his shirt-sleeves, and I reckon he had jest come hum from work.
heer'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He kind of gin a start, as though he was surprised to see me; and I gin a start, too, and jumped back from the door pooty quick, for I thought I heer’d him grit his teeth a leetle—somethin’ like a sheep arter she’s bin eatin’ beans—but I wasn’t sartain.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He kind of gin a start, as though he was surprised to see me; and I gin a start, too, and jumped back from the door pooty quick, for I thought I heer’d him grit his teeth a leetle—somethin’ like a sheep arter she’s bin eatin’ beans—but I wasn’t sartain.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading I gin the bell-knob a jerk anyhow, and pooty soon old Hurley hisself came to the door, with a candle in his hand.
hisself
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I gin the bell-knob a jerk anyhow, and pooty soon old Hurley hisself came to the door, with a candle in his hand.
humverbUS /hʌm/
sing with closed lips
From this reading He was in his shirt-sleeves, and I reckon he had jest come hum from work.
Hurley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I gin the bell-knob a jerk anyhow, and pooty soon old Hurley hisself came to the door, with a candle in his hand.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “‘’Twas dark afore I got there, leastwise the bats were a flitterin’ aroun’ the gables and apple trees, a-lookin’ for thar suppers.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I gin the bell-knob a jerk anyhow, and pooty soon old Hurley hisself came to the door, with a candle in his hand.
jerkverbUS /dʒɜːrk/
pull, or move with a sudden movement
From this reading I gin the bell-knob a jerk anyhow, and pooty soon old Hurley hisself came to the door, with a candle in his hand.
a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter
From this reading He was in his shirt-sleeves, and I reckon he had jest come hum from work.
past form of “jump” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading He kind of gin a start, as though he was surprised to see me; and I gin a start, too, and jumped back from the door pooty quick, for I thought I heer’d him grit his teeth a leetle—somethin’ like a sheep arter she’s bin eatin’ beans—but I wasn’t sartain.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading He kind of gin a start, as though he was surprised to see me; and I gin a start, too, and jumped back from the door pooty quick, for I thought I heer’d him grit his teeth a leetle—somethin’ like a sheep arter she’s bin eatin’ beans—but I wasn’t sartain.
leastwiseadverb
if nothing else (“leastwise” is informal and “leastways” is colloquial)
From this reading “‘’Twas dark afore I got there, leastwise the bats were a flitterin’ aroun’ the gables and apple trees, a-lookin’ for thar suppers.
leetle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He kind of gin a start, as though he was surprised to see me; and I gin a start, too, and jumped back from the door pooty quick, for I thought I heer’d him grit his teeth a leetle—somethin’ like a sheep arter she’s bin eatin’ beans—but I wasn’t sartain.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading He kind of gin a start, as though he was surprised to see me; and I gin a start, too, and jumped back from the door pooty quick, for I thought I heer’d him grit his teeth a leetle—somethin’ like a sheep arter she’s bin eatin’ beans—but I wasn’t sartain.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading “‘Come in, M-i-s-t-e-r Dudley,’ ses he, kind of low and coaxin’ like.
M-i-s-t-e-r
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “‘Come in, M-i-s-t-e-r Dudley,’ ses he, kind of low and coaxin’ like.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He kind of gin a start, as though he was surprised to see me; and I gin a start, too, and jumped back from the door pooty quick, for I thought I heer’d him grit his teeth a leetle—somethin’ like a sheep arter she’s bin eatin’ beans—but I wasn’t sartain.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He kind of gin a start, as though he was surprised to see me; and I gin a start, too, and jumped back from the door pooty quick, for I thought I heer’d him grit his teeth a leetle—somethin’ like a sheep arter she’s bin eatin’ beans—but I wasn’t sartain.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading I gin the bell-knob a jerk anyhow, and pooty soon old Hurley hisself came to the door, with a candle in his hand.
pooty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I gin the bell-knob a jerk anyhow, and pooty soon old Hurley hisself came to the door, with a candle in his hand.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading He kind of gin a start, as though he was surprised to see me; and I gin a start, too, and jumped back from the door pooty quick, for I thought I heer’d him grit his teeth a leetle—somethin’ like a sheep arter she’s bin eatin’ beans—but I wasn’t sartain.
expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading He was in his shirt-sleeves, and I reckon he had jest come hum from work.
sartain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He kind of gin a start, as though he was surprised to see me; and I gin a start, too, and jumped back from the door pooty quick, for I thought I heer’d him grit his teeth a leetle—somethin’ like a sheep arter she’s bin eatin’ beans—but I wasn’t sartain.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He kind of gin a start, as though he was surprised to see me; and I gin a start, too, and jumped back from the door pooty quick, for I thought I heer’d him grit his teeth a leetle—somethin’ like a sheep arter she’s bin eatin’ beans—but I wasn’t sartain.
ses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “‘Come in, M-i-s-t-e-r Dudley,’ ses he, kind of low and coaxin’ like.
she's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He kind of gin a start, as though he was surprised to see me; and I gin a start, too, and jumped back from the door pooty quick, for I thought I heer’d him grit his teeth a leetle—somethin’ like a sheep arter she’s bin eatin’ beans—but I wasn’t sartain.
woolly usually horned ruminant mammal related to the goat
From this reading He kind of gin a start, as though he was surprised to see me; and I gin a start, too, and jumped back from the door pooty quick, for I thought I heer’d him grit his teeth a leetle—somethin’ like a sheep arter she’s bin eatin’ beans—but I wasn’t sartain.
shirt-sleeves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was in his shirt-sleeves, and I reckon he had jest come hum from work.
somethin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He kind of gin a start, as though he was surprised to see me; and I gin a start, too, and jumped back from the door pooty quick, for I thought I heer’d him grit his teeth a leetle—somethin’ like a sheep arter she’s bin eatin’ beans—but I wasn’t sartain.
in the near future
From this reading I gin the bell-knob a jerk anyhow, and pooty soon old Hurley hisself came to the door, with a candle in his hand.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading He kind of gin a start, as though he was surprised to see me; and I gin a start, too, and jumped back from the door pooty quick, for I thought I heer’d him grit his teeth a leetle—somethin’ like a sheep arter she’s bin eatin’ beans—but I wasn’t sartain.
suppersnounUS /ˈsʌpərz/
plural of “supper” — a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading “‘’Twas dark afore I got there, leastwise the bats were a flitterin’ aroun’ the gables and apple trees, a-lookin’ for thar suppers.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading He kind of gin a start, as though he was surprised to see me; and I gin a start, too, and jumped back from the door pooty quick, for I thought I heer’d him grit his teeth a leetle—somethin’ like a sheep arter she’s bin eatin’ beans—but I wasn’t sartain.
the kind and number and arrangement of teeth (collectively) in a person or animal
From this reading He kind of gin a start, as though he was surprised to see me; and I gin a start, too, and jumped back from the door pooty quick, for I thought I heer’d him grit his teeth a leetle—somethin’ like a sheep arter she’s bin eatin’ beans—but I wasn’t sartain.
thar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “‘’Twas dark afore I got there, leastwise the bats were a flitterin’ aroun’ the gables and apple trees, a-lookin’ for thar suppers.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “‘’Twas dark afore I got there, leastwise the bats were a flitterin’ aroun’ the gables and apple trees, a-lookin’ for thar suppers.
in or at that place or location
From this reading “‘’Twas dark afore I got there, leastwise the bats were a flitterin’ aroun’ the gables and apple trees, a-lookin’ for thar suppers.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading He kind of gin a start, as though he was surprised to see me; and I gin a start, too, and jumped back from the door pooty quick, for I thought I heer’d him grit his teeth a leetle—somethin’ like a sheep arter she’s bin eatin’ beans—but I wasn’t sartain.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He kind of gin a start, as though he was surprised to see me; and I gin a start, too, and jumped back from the door pooty quick, for I thought I heer’d him grit his teeth a leetle—somethin’ like a sheep arter she’s bin eatin’ beans—but I wasn’t sartain.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I gin the bell-knob a jerk anyhow, and pooty soon old Hurley hisself came to the door, with a candle in his hand.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading He kind of gin a start, as though he was surprised to see me; and I gin a start, too, and jumped back from the door pooty quick, for I thought I heer’d him grit his teeth a leetle—somethin’ like a sheep arter she’s bin eatin’ beans—but I wasn’t sartain.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading “‘’Twas dark afore I got there, leastwise the bats were a flitterin’ aroun’ the gables and apple trees, a-lookin’ for thar suppers.
Twas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “‘’Twas dark afore I got there, leastwise the bats were a flitterin’ aroun’ the gables and apple trees, a-lookin’ for thar suppers.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was in his shirt-sleeves, and I reckon he had jest come hum from work.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He kind of gin a start, as though he was surprised to see me; and I gin a start, too, and jumped back from the door pooty quick, for I thought I heer’d him grit his teeth a leetle—somethin’ like a sheep arter she’s bin eatin’ beans—but I wasn’t sartain.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “‘’Twas dark afore I got there, leastwise the bats were a flitterin’ aroun’ the gables and apple trees, a-lookin’ for thar suppers.
in the company of; together with
From this reading I gin the bell-knob a jerk anyhow, and pooty soon old Hurley hisself came to the door, with a candle in his hand.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading He was in his shirt-sleeves, and I reckon he had jest come hum from work.
