used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Foggs lived on a funny little piece of land wedged in between two of the Greenfield farms.
acrenounUS /ˈeɪkər/
a unit of area (4840 square yards) used in English-speaking countries
From this reading An acre of woodland behind the house was supposed to furnish them with fuel, and there were always pigs and chickens running wild, with a dozen or so children, in the road and fields.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading An acre of woodland behind the house was supposed to furnish them with fuel, and there were always pigs and chickens running wild, with a dozen or so children, in the road and fields.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An acre of woodland behind the house was supposed to furnish them with fuel, and there were always pigs and chickens running wild, with a dozen or so children, in the road and fields.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The house was a cabin of two rooms, with a stone chimney built on the outside, but the Foggs boasted that fifty-three children had been born and brought up in it.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They raised corn and potatoes and little else in the ground enclosed by a "worm-fence," built, it was more than suspected, of rails stolen, a few at a time, from the Greenfield fences.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The house was a cabin of two rooms, with a stone chimney built on the outside, but the Foggs boasted that fifty-three children had been born and brought up in it.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading An acre of woodland behind the house was supposed to furnish them with fuel, and there were always pigs and chickens running wild, with a dozen or so children, in the road and fields.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The Foggs lived on a funny little piece of land wedged in between two of the Greenfield farms.
boastedverbUS /ˈboʊstəd/
past form of “boast” — show off
From this reading The house was a cabin of two rooms, with a stone chimney built on the outside, but the Foggs boasted that fifty-three children had been born and brought up in it.
brought into existence
From this reading The house was a cabin of two rooms, with a stone chimney built on the outside, but the Foggs boasted that fifty-three children had been born and brought up in it.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading The house was a cabin of two rooms, with a stone chimney built on the outside, but the Foggs boasted that fifty-three children had been born and brought up in it.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading The house was a cabin of two rooms, with a stone chimney built on the outside, but the Foggs boasted that fifty-three children had been born and brought up in it.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The house was a cabin of two rooms, with a stone chimney built on the outside, but the Foggs boasted that fifty-three children had been born and brought up in it.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading They raised corn and potatoes and little else in the ground enclosed by a "worm-fence," built, it was more than suspected, of rails stolen, a few at a time, from the Greenfield fences.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading The house was a cabin of two rooms, with a stone chimney built on the outside, but the Foggs boasted that fifty-three children had been born and brought up in it.
chickensnounUS /ˈtʃɪkənz/
plural of “chicken” — the flesh of a chicken used for food
From this reading An acre of woodland behind the house was supposed to furnish them with fuel, and there were always pigs and chickens running wild, with a dozen or so children, in the road and fields.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading The house was a cabin of two rooms, with a stone chimney built on the outside, but the Foggs boasted that fifty-three children had been born and brought up in it.
chimneynounUS /ˈtʃɪmni/
a vertical flue that provides a path through which smoke from a fire is carried away through the wall or roof of a building
From this reading The house was a cabin of two rooms, with a stone chimney built on the outside, but the Foggs boasted that fifty-three children had been born and brought up in it.
tall annual cereal grass bearing kernels on large ears: widely cultivated in America in many varieties; the principal cereal in Mexico and Central and South America since pre-Columbian times
From this reading They raised corn and potatoes and little else in the ground enclosed by a "worm-fence," built, it was more than suspected, of rails stolen, a few at a time, from the Greenfield fences.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading An acre of woodland behind the house was supposed to furnish them with fuel, and there were always pigs and chickens running wild, with a dozen or so children, in the road and fields.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They raised corn and potatoes and little else in the ground enclosed by a "worm-fence," built, it was more than suspected, of rails stolen, a few at a time, from the Greenfield fences.
enclosedadjectiveUS /enˈkloʊzd/
closed in or surrounded or included within
From this reading They raised corn and potatoes and little else in the ground enclosed by a "worm-fence," built, it was more than suspected, of rails stolen, a few at a time, from the Greenfield fences.
farmsnounUS /fɑːrmz/
plural of “farm” — workplace consisting of farm buildings and cultivated land as a unit
From this reading The Foggs lived on a funny little piece of land wedged in between two of the Greenfield farms.
fencesnounUS /ˈfensəz/
plural of “fence” — a barrier that serves to enclose an area
From this reading They raised corn and potatoes and little else in the ground enclosed by a "worm-fence," built, it was more than suspected, of rails stolen, a few at a time, from the Greenfield fences.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading They raised corn and potatoes and little else in the ground enclosed by a "worm-fence," built, it was more than suspected, of rails stolen, a few at a time, from the Greenfield fences.
United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)
From this reading An acre of woodland behind the house was supposed to furnish them with fuel, and there were always pigs and chickens running wild, with a dozen or so children, in the road and fields.
fifty-threeadjective
being three more than fifty
From this reading The house was a cabin of two rooms, with a stone chimney built on the outside, but the Foggs boasted that fifty-three children had been born and brought up in it.
Foggs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Foggs lived on a funny little piece of land wedged in between two of the Greenfield farms.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading They raised corn and potatoes and little else in the ground enclosed by a "worm-fence," built, it was more than suspected, of rails stolen, a few at a time, from the Greenfield fences.
fuelverbUS /ˈfjuːəl/
provide with a combustible substance that provides energy
From this reading An acre of woodland behind the house was supposed to furnish them with fuel, and there were always pigs and chickens running wild, with a dozen or so children, in the road and fields.
arousing or provoking laughter
From this reading The Foggs lived on a funny little piece of land wedged in between two of the Greenfield farms.
furnishverbUS /ˈfɜːrnɪʃ/
give something useful or necessary to
From this reading An acre of woodland behind the house was supposed to furnish them with fuel, and there were always pigs and chickens running wild, with a dozen or so children, in the road and fields.
Greenfield
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Foggs lived on a funny little piece of land wedged in between two of the Greenfield farms.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading They raised corn and potatoes and little else in the ground enclosed by a "worm-fence," built, it was more than suspected, of rails stolen, a few at a time, from the Greenfield fences.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The house was a cabin of two rooms, with a stone chimney built on the outside, but the Foggs boasted that fifty-three children had been born and brought up in it.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The house was a cabin of two rooms, with a stone chimney built on the outside, but the Foggs boasted that fifty-three children had been born and brought up in it.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How they lived was a partial mystery to the neighborhood.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Foggs lived on a funny little piece of land wedged in between two of the Greenfield farms.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The house was a cabin of two rooms, with a stone chimney built on the outside, but the Foggs boasted that fifty-three children had been born and brought up in it.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading The Foggs lived on a funny little piece of land wedged in between two of the Greenfield farms.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The Foggs lived on a funny little piece of land wedged in between two of the Greenfield farms.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading The Foggs lived on a funny little piece of land wedged in between two of the Greenfield farms.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading They raised corn and potatoes and little else in the ground enclosed by a "worm-fence," built, it was more than suspected, of rails stolen, a few at a time, from the Greenfield fences.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading How they lived was a partial mystery to the neighborhood.
neighborhoodnounUS /ˈneɪbərhʊd/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading How they lived was a partial mystery to the neighborhood.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Foggs lived on a funny little piece of land wedged in between two of the Greenfield farms.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The Foggs lived on a funny little piece of land wedged in between two of the Greenfield farms.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading An acre of woodland behind the house was supposed to furnish them with fuel, and there were always pigs and chickens running wild, with a dozen or so children, in the road and fields.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading The house was a cabin of two rooms, with a stone chimney built on the outside, but the Foggs boasted that fifty-three children had been born and brought up in it.
partialadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːrʃəl/
being or affecting only a part; not total
From this reading How they lived was a partial mystery to the neighborhood.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading The Foggs lived on a funny little piece of land wedged in between two of the Greenfield farms.
pigsnounUS /pɪɡz/
plural of “pig” — domestic swine
From this reading An acre of woodland behind the house was supposed to furnish them with fuel, and there were always pigs and chickens running wild, with a dozen or so children, in the road and fields.
potatoesnounUS /pəˈteɪtoʊz/
plural of “potato” — an edible tuber native to South America; a staple food of Ireland
From this reading They raised corn and potatoes and little else in the ground enclosed by a "worm-fence," built, it was more than suspected, of rails stolen, a few at a time, from the Greenfield fences.
railsnounUS /reɪlz/
a bar or pair of parallel bars of rolled steel making the railway along which railroad cars or other vehicles can roll
From this reading They raised corn and potatoes and little else in the ground enclosed by a "worm-fence," built, it was more than suspected, of rails stolen, a few at a time, from the Greenfield fences.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading They raised corn and potatoes and little else in the ground enclosed by a "worm-fence," built, it was more than suspected, of rails stolen, a few at a time, from the Greenfield fences.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading An acre of woodland behind the house was supposed to furnish them with fuel, and there were always pigs and chickens running wild, with a dozen or so children, in the road and fields.
apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
From this reading The house was a cabin of two rooms, with a stone chimney built on the outside, but the Foggs boasted that fifty-three children had been born and brought up in it.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading An acre of woodland behind the house was supposed to furnish them with fuel, and there were always pigs and chickens running wild, with a dozen or so children, in the road and fields.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading An acre of woodland behind the house was supposed to furnish them with fuel, and there were always pigs and chickens running wild, with a dozen or so children, in the road and fields.
inflected form of “steal” — take without the owner's consent
From this reading They raised corn and potatoes and little else in the ground enclosed by a "worm-fence," built, it was more than suspected, of rails stolen, a few at a time, from the Greenfield fences.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading The house was a cabin of two rooms, with a stone chimney built on the outside, but the Foggs boasted that fifty-three children had been born and brought up in it.
required or under orders
From this reading An acre of woodland behind the house was supposed to furnish them with fuel, and there were always pigs and chickens running wild, with a dozen or so children, in the road and fields.
believed likely
From this reading They raised corn and potatoes and little else in the ground enclosed by a "worm-fence," built, it was more than suspected, of rails stolen, a few at a time, from the Greenfield fences.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading They raised corn and potatoes and little else in the ground enclosed by a "worm-fence," built, it was more than suspected, of rails stolen, a few at a time, from the Greenfield fences.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The house was a cabin of two rooms, with a stone chimney built on the outside, but the Foggs boasted that fifty-three children had been born and brought up in it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Foggs lived on a funny little piece of land wedged in between two of the Greenfield farms.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading An acre of woodland behind the house was supposed to furnish them with fuel, and there were always pigs and chickens running wild, with a dozen or so children, in the road and fields.
in or at that place or location
From this reading An acre of woodland behind the house was supposed to furnish them with fuel, and there were always pigs and chickens running wild, with a dozen or so children, in the road and fields.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading How they lived was a partial mystery to the neighborhood.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading They raised corn and potatoes and little else in the ground enclosed by a "worm-fence," built, it was more than suspected, of rails stolen, a few at a time, from the Greenfield fences.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading How they lived was a partial mystery to the neighborhood.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The Foggs lived on a funny little piece of land wedged in between two of the Greenfield farms.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The house was a cabin of two rooms, with a stone chimney built on the outside, but the Foggs boasted that fifty-three children had been born and brought up in it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The house was a cabin of two rooms, with a stone chimney built on the outside, but the Foggs boasted that fifty-three children had been born and brought up in it.
wedgedadjectiveUS /wedʒd/
wedged or packed in together
From this reading The Foggs lived on a funny little piece of land wedged in between two of the Greenfield farms.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading An acre of woodland behind the house was supposed to furnish them with fuel, and there were always pigs and chickens running wild, with a dozen or so children, in the road and fields.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading An acre of woodland behind the house was supposed to furnish them with fuel, and there were always pigs and chickens running wild, with a dozen or so children, in the road and fields.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The house was a cabin of two rooms, with a stone chimney built on the outside, but the Foggs boasted that fifty-three children had been born and brought up in it.
woodlandnounUS /ˈwʊdlænd/
land that is covered with trees and shrubs
From this reading An acre of woodland behind the house was supposed to furnish them with fuel, and there were always pigs and chickens running wild, with a dozen or so children, in the road and fields.
worm-fence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They raised corn and potatoes and little else in the ground enclosed by a "worm-fence," built, it was more than suspected, of rails stolen, a few at a time, from the Greenfield fences.
