used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For explanation the old woman glanced at Phyllis, but Phyllis's eyes were on Ramsey with a light whose burning carried old Joy's memory back twenty years.
aboa'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You cayn't be goin' asho' whah Cap'm Hugh dess tell Phyllis yo' ma comin' aboa'd?"
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "Mammy," said her mistress, "want to go somewhere with your baby, about sundown this evening?"
aidedadjectiveUS /ˈeɪdəd/
having help; often used as a combining form
From this reading "Not ashore to stay," was the blithe reply as Phyllis aided the change of dress.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Not ashore to stay," was the blithe reply as Phyllis aided the change of dress.
asho
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You cayn't be goin' asho' whah Cap'm Hugh dess tell Phyllis yo' ma comin' aboa'd?"
ashoreadverbUS /əˈʃɔːr/
towards the shore from the water
From this reading "Not ashore to stay," was the blithe reply as Phyllis aided the change of dress.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading For explanation the old woman glanced at Phyllis, but Phyllis's eyes were on Ramsey with a light whose burning carried old Joy's memory back twenty years.
a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
From this reading "Mammy," said her mistress, "want to go somewhere with your baby, about sundown this evening?"
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading For explanation the old woman glanced at Phyllis, but Phyllis's eyes were on Ramsey with a light whose burning carried old Joy's memory back twenty years.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading You cayn't be goin' asho' whah Cap'm Hugh dess tell Phyllis yo' ma comin' aboa'd?"
blitheadjectiveUS /blaɪð/
lacking or showing a lack of due concern
From this reading "Not ashore to stay," was the blithe reply as Phyllis aided the change of dress.
the act of burning something
From this reading For explanation the old woman glanced at Phyllis, but Phyllis's eyes were on Ramsey with a light whose burning carried old Joy's memory back twenty years.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading For explanation the old woman glanced at Phyllis, but Phyllis's eyes were on Ramsey with a light whose burning carried old Joy's memory back twenty years.
Cap'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You cayn't be goin' asho' whah Cap'm Hugh dess tell Phyllis yo' ma comin' aboa'd?"
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading For explanation the old woman glanced at Phyllis, but Phyllis's eyes were on Ramsey with a light whose burning carried old Joy's memory back twenty years.
cayn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You cayn't be goin' asho' whah Cap'm Hugh dess tell Phyllis yo' ma comin' aboa'd?"
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading "Not ashore to stay," was the blithe reply as Phyllis aided the change of dress.
co'se
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Sundown?" echoed the nurse to gain time, "yass'm, o' co'se, ef--but, missie--sundown--dat mean' Natchez.
comin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You cayn't be goin' asho' whah Cap'm Hugh dess tell Phyllis yo' ma comin' aboa'd?"
a digital tape recording of sound
From this reading "Sundown?" echoed the nurse to gain time, "yass'm, o' co'se, ef--but, missie--sundown--dat mean' Natchez.
dess
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You cayn't be goin' asho' whah Cap'm Hugh dess tell Phyllis yo' ma comin' aboa'd?"
put on clothes
From this reading "Not ashore to stay," was the blithe reply as Phyllis aided the change of dress.
echoedverbUS /ˈekoʊd/
past form of “echo” — to say again or imitate
From this reading "Sundown?" echoed the nurse to gain time, "yass'm, o' co'se, ef--but, missie--sundown--dat mean' Natchez.
ef
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Sundown?" echoed the nurse to gain time, "yass'm, o' co'se, ef--but, missie--sundown--dat mean' Natchez.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading "Mammy," said her mistress, "want to go somewhere with your baby, about sundown this evening?"
a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
From this reading For explanation the old woman glanced at Phyllis, but Phyllis's eyes were on Ramsey with a light whose burning carried old Joy's memory back twenty years.
opinion or judgment
From this reading For explanation the old woman glanced at Phyllis, but Phyllis's eyes were on Ramsey with a light whose burning carried old Joy's memory back twenty years.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For explanation the old woman glanced at Phyllis, but Phyllis's eyes were on Ramsey with a light whose burning carried old Joy's memory back twenty years.
obtain
From this reading "Sundown?" echoed the nurse to gain time, "yass'm, o' co'se, ef--but, missie--sundown--dat mean' Natchez.
past form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading For explanation the old woman glanced at Phyllis, but Phyllis's eyes were on Ramsey with a light whose burning carried old Joy's memory back twenty years.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "Mammy," said her mistress, "want to go somewhere with your baby, about sundown this evening?"
goin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You cayn't be goin' asho' whah Cap'm Hugh dess tell Phyllis yo' ma comin' aboa'd?"
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "Mammy," said her mistress, "want to go somewhere with your baby, about sundown this evening?"
Hugh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You cayn't be goin' asho' whah Cap'm Hugh dess tell Phyllis yo' ma comin' aboa'd?"
Joy'snounUS /dʒɔɪz/
possessive form of “joy” — the emotion of great happiness
From this reading For explanation the old woman glanced at Phyllis, but Phyllis's eyes were on Ramsey with a light whose burning carried old Joy's memory back twenty years.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading For explanation the old woman glanced at Phyllis, but Phyllis's eyes were on Ramsey with a light whose burning carried old Joy's memory back twenty years.
manounUS /mɑː/
informal terms for a mother
From this reading You cayn't be goin' asho' whah Cap'm Hugh dess tell Phyllis yo' ma comin' aboa'd?"
Mammynoun
an offensive term for a Black nursemaid in the southern U.S.
From this reading "Mammy," said her mistress, "want to go somewhere with your baby, about sundown this evening?"
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading "Sundown?" echoed the nurse to gain time, "yass'm, o' co'se, ef--but, missie--sundown--dat mean' Natchez.
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading For explanation the old woman glanced at Phyllis, but Phyllis's eyes were on Ramsey with a light whose burning carried old Joy's memory back twenty years.
missie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Sundown?" echoed the nurse to gain time, "yass'm, o' co'se, ef--but, missie--sundown--dat mean' Natchez.
an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
From this reading "Mammy," said her mistress, "want to go somewhere with your baby, about sundown this evening?"
NatcheznounUS /ˈnætʃez/
a town in southwest Mississippi on the Mississippi River
From this reading "Sundown?" echoed the nurse to gain time, "yass'm, o' co'se, ef--but, missie--sundown--dat mean' Natchez.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "Not ashore to stay," was the blithe reply as Phyllis aided the change of dress.
try to cure by special care of treatment, of an illness or injury
From this reading "Sundown?" echoed the nurse to gain time, "yass'm, o' co'se, ef--but, missie--sundown--dat mean' Natchez.
a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust
From this reading "Sundown?" echoed the nurse to gain time, "yass'm, o' co'se, ef--but, missie--sundown--dat mean' Natchez.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Not ashore to stay," was the blithe reply as Phyllis aided the change of dress.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading For explanation the old woman glanced at Phyllis, but Phyllis's eyes were on Ramsey with a light whose burning carried old Joy's memory back twenty years.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading For explanation the old woman glanced at Phyllis, but Phyllis's eyes were on Ramsey with a light whose burning carried old Joy's memory back twenty years.
Phyllis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For explanation the old woman glanced at Phyllis, but Phyllis's eyes were on Ramsey with a light whose burning carried old Joy's memory back twenty years.
Phyllis's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For explanation the old woman glanced at Phyllis, but Phyllis's eyes were on Ramsey with a light whose burning carried old Joy's memory back twenty years.
Ramsey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For explanation the old woman glanced at Phyllis, but Phyllis's eyes were on Ramsey with a light whose burning carried old Joy's memory back twenty years.
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading "Not ashore to stay," was the blithe reply as Phyllis aided the change of dress.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Mammy," said her mistress, "want to go somewhere with your baby, about sundown this evening?"
in or at or to some place
From this reading "Mammy," said her mistress, "want to go somewhere with your baby, about sundown this evening?"
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading "Not ashore to stay," was the blithe reply as Phyllis aided the change of dress.
sundownnounUS /ˈsʌndaʊn/
the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon
From this reading "Mammy," said her mistress, "want to go somewhere with your baby, about sundown this evening?"
express in words
From this reading You cayn't be goin' asho' whah Cap'm Hugh dess tell Phyllis yo' ma comin' aboa'd?"
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For explanation the old woman glanced at Phyllis, but Phyllis's eyes were on Ramsey with a light whose burning carried old Joy's memory back twenty years.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Mammy," said her mistress, "want to go somewhere with your baby, about sundown this evening?"
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading "Sundown?" echoed the nurse to gain time, "yass'm, o' co'se, ef--but, missie--sundown--dat mean' Natchez.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Mammy," said her mistress, "want to go somewhere with your baby, about sundown this evening?"
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading For explanation the old woman glanced at Phyllis, but Phyllis's eyes were on Ramsey with a light whose burning carried old Joy's memory back twenty years.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading "Mammy," said her mistress, "want to go somewhere with your baby, about sundown this evening?"
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Not ashore to stay," was the blithe reply as Phyllis aided the change of dress.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading For explanation the old woman glanced at Phyllis, but Phyllis's eyes were on Ramsey with a light whose burning carried old Joy's memory back twenty years.
whah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You cayn't be goin' asho' whah Cap'm Hugh dess tell Phyllis yo' ma comin' aboa'd?"
belonging to which person
From this reading For explanation the old woman glanced at Phyllis, but Phyllis's eyes were on Ramsey with a light whose burning carried old Joy's memory back twenty years.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Mammy," said her mistress, "want to go somewhere with your baby, about sundown this evening?"
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading For explanation the old woman glanced at Phyllis, but Phyllis's eyes were on Ramsey with a light whose burning carried old Joy's memory back twenty years.
yass'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Sundown?" echoed the nurse to gain time, "yass'm, o' co'se, ef--but, missie--sundown--dat mean' Natchez.
a late time of life
From this reading For explanation the old woman glanced at Phyllis, but Phyllis's eyes were on Ramsey with a light whose burning carried old Joy's memory back twenty years.
yo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You cayn't be goin' asho' whah Cap'm Hugh dess tell Phyllis yo' ma comin' aboa'd?"
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You cayn't be goin' asho' whah Cap'm Hugh dess tell Phyllis yo' ma comin' aboa'd?"
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Mammy," said her mistress, "want to go somewhere with your baby, about sundown this evening?"
