used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading One evening in winter, when he had been putting coals on his grannie's fire, she told him to take a chair beside her, as she wanted a little talk with him.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Willie had just been helping to shoe a horse at the smithy, and, in fact, had driven one of the nails--an operation perilous to the horse.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Willie had just been helping to shoe a horse at the smithy, and, in fact, had driven one of the nails--an operation perilous to the horse.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading One evening in winter, when he had been putting coals on his grannie's fire, she told him to take a chair beside her, as she wanted a little talk with him.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Willie had just been helping to shoe a horse at the smithy, and, in fact, had driven one of the nails--an operation perilous to the horse.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Well, Willie," she said, "what would you like to be?"
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading One evening in winter, when he had been putting coals on his grannie's fire, she told him to take a chair beside her, as she wanted a little talk with him.
next to; at the side of
From this reading One evening in winter, when he had been putting coals on his grannie's fire, she told him to take a chair beside her, as she wanted a little talk with him.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading One evening in winter, when he had been putting coals on his grannie's fire, she told him to take a chair beside her, as she wanted a little talk with him.
coalsnounUS /koʊlz/
plural of “coal” — fossil fuel consisting of carbonized vegetable matter deposited in the Carboniferous period
From this reading One evening in winter, when he had been putting coals on his grannie's fire, she told him to take a chair beside her, as she wanted a little talk with him.
compelled forcibly by an outside agency
From this reading Willie had just been helping to shoe a horse at the smithy, and, in fact, had driven one of the nails--an operation perilous to the horse.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading One evening in winter, when he had been putting coals on his grannie's fire, she told him to take a chair beside her, as she wanted a little talk with him.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading Willie had just been helping to shoe a horse at the smithy, and, in fact, had driven one of the nails--an operation perilous to the horse.
start firing a weapon
From this reading One evening in winter, when he had been putting coals on his grannie's fire, she told him to take a chair beside her, as she wanted a little talk with him.
gladlyadverbUS /ˈɡlædli/
in a willing manner
From this reading He obeyed her gladly.
GRANDMOTHERnounUS /ˈɡrændmʌðər/
the mother of your father or mother
From this reading WILLIE'S TALK WITH HIS GRANDMOTHER.
grannie's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One evening in winter, when he had been putting coals on his grannie's fire, she told him to take a chair beside her, as she wanted a little talk with him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading One evening in winter, when he had been putting coals on his grannie's fire, she told him to take a chair beside her, as she wanted a little talk with him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading One evening in winter, when he had been putting coals on his grannie's fire, she told him to take a chair beside her, as she wanted a little talk with him.
helpingnounUS /ˈhelpɪŋ/
an individual quantity of food or drink taken as part of a meal
From this reading Willie had just been helping to shoe a horse at the smithy, and, in fact, had driven one of the nails--an operation perilous to the horse.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading One evening in winter, when he had been putting coals on his grannie's fire, she told him to take a chair beside her, as she wanted a little talk with him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading One evening in winter, when he had been putting coals on his grannie's fire, she told him to take a chair beside her, as she wanted a little talk with him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading WILLIE'S TALK WITH HIS GRANDMOTHER.
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading Willie had just been helping to shoe a horse at the smithy, and, in fact, had driven one of the nails--an operation perilous to the horse.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading One evening in winter, when he had been putting coals on his grannie's fire, she told him to take a chair beside her, as she wanted a little talk with him.
and nothing more
From this reading Willie had just been helping to shoe a horse at the smithy, and, in fact, had driven one of the nails--an operation perilous to the horse.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "Well, Willie," she said, "what would you like to be?"
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading One evening in winter, when he had been putting coals on his grannie's fire, she told him to take a chair beside her, as she wanted a little talk with him.
nailsnounUS /neɪlz/
plural of “nail” — horny plate covering and protecting part of the dorsal surface of the digits
From this reading Willie had just been helping to shoe a horse at the smithy, and, in fact, had driven one of the nails--an operation perilous to the horse.
past form of “obey” — be obedient to
From this reading He obeyed her gladly.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Willie had just been helping to shoe a horse at the smithy, and, in fact, had driven one of the nails--an operation perilous to the horse.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading One evening in winter, when he had been putting coals on his grannie's fire, she told him to take a chair beside her, as she wanted a little talk with him.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One evening in winter, when he had been putting coals on his grannie's fire, she told him to take a chair beside her, as she wanted a little talk with him.
operationnounUS /ˌɑːpərˈeɪʃən/
the state of being in effect or being operative
From this reading Willie had just been helping to shoe a horse at the smithy, and, in fact, had driven one of the nails--an operation perilous to the horse.
perilousadjectiveUS /ˈperələs/
fraught with danger
From this reading Willie had just been helping to shoe a horse at the smithy, and, in fact, had driven one of the nails--an operation perilous to the horse.
hitting a golf ball that is on the green using a putter
From this reading One evening in winter, when he had been putting coals on his grannie's fire, she told him to take a chair beside her, as she wanted a little talk with him.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Well, Willie," she said, "what would you like to be?"
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading One evening in winter, when he had been putting coals on his grannie's fire, she told him to take a chair beside her, as she wanted a little talk with him.
shoenounUS /ʃuː/
footwear shaped to fit the foot (below the ankle) with a flexible upper of leather or plastic and a sole and heel of heavier material
From this reading Willie had just been helping to shoe a horse at the smithy, and, in fact, had driven one of the nails--an operation perilous to the horse.
smithynoun
a workplace where metal is worked by heating and hammering
From this reading Willie had just been helping to shoe a horse at the smithy, and, in fact, had driven one of the nails--an operation perilous to the horse.
carry out
From this reading One evening in winter, when he had been putting coals on his grannie's fire, she told him to take a chair beside her, as she wanted a little talk with him.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading WILLIE'S TALK WITH HIS GRANDMOTHER.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Willie had just been helping to shoe a horse at the smithy, and, in fact, had driven one of the nails--an operation perilous to the horse.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading One evening in winter, when he had been putting coals on his grannie's fire, she told him to take a chair beside her, as she wanted a little talk with him.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading One evening in winter, when he had been putting coals on his grannie's fire, she told him to take a chair beside her, as she wanted a little talk with him.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading One evening in winter, when he had been putting coals on his grannie's fire, she told him to take a chair beside her, as she wanted a little talk with him.
(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 "Well, Willie," she said, "what would you like to be?"
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "Well, Willie," she said, "what would you like to be?"
at the time that
From this reading One evening in winter, when he had been putting coals on his grannie's fire, she told him to take a chair beside her, as she wanted a little talk with him.
Willie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, Willie," she said, "what would you like to be?"
WILLIE'SnounUS /ˈwɪliz/
possessive form of “willies” — feelings of uneasiness
From this reading WILLIE'S TALK WITH HIS GRANDMOTHER.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading One evening in winter, when he had been putting coals on his grannie's fire, she told him to take a chair beside her, as she wanted a little talk with him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading WILLIE'S TALK WITH HIS GRANDMOTHER.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "Well, Willie," she said, "what would you like to be?"
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Well, Willie," she said, "what would you like to be?"
