used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A DELICATE ERRAND.
Agatha
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hastings sat at the head of the table, his wife at the foot with her little daughters, Agatha, Sproatly, and Winifred between them.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The latter two had just driven over from the railroad settlement, as they did now and then, which explained why the meal, which is usually served early in the evening, had been delayed an hour or so.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was sharp frost outside, and the prairie was white with a thin sprinkle of snow, when a little party sat down to supper in the Hastings homestead one Saturday evening.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The latter two had just driven over from the railroad settlement, as they did now and then, which explained why the meal, which is usually served early in the evening, had been delayed an hour or so.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Hastings sat at the head of the table, his wife at the foot with her little daughters, Agatha, Sproatly, and Winifred between them.
barnnounUS /bɑːrn/
an outlying farm building for storing grain or animal feed and housing farm animals
From this reading The two hired men, whom Mrs. Hastings had not kept waiting, had gone out to some task in the barn or stables.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The latter two had just driven over from the railroad settlement, as they did now and then, which explained why the meal, which is usually served early in the evening, had been delayed an hour or so.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Hastings sat at the head of the table, his wife at the foot with her little daughters, Agatha, Sproatly, and Winifred between them.
plural of “daughter” — a female human offspring
From this reading Hastings sat at the head of the table, his wife at the foot with her little daughters, Agatha, Sproatly, and Winifred between them.
delayedadjectiveUS /dɪˈleɪd/
not as far along as normal in development
From this reading The latter two had just driven over from the railroad settlement, as they did now and then, which explained why the meal, which is usually served early in the evening, had been delayed an hour or so.
exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury
From this reading A DELICATE ERRAND.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The latter two had just driven over from the railroad settlement, as they did now and then, which explained why the meal, which is usually served early in the evening, had been delayed an hour or so.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading There was sharp frost outside, and the prairie was white with a thin sprinkle of snow, when a little party sat down to supper in the Hastings homestead one Saturday evening.
compelled forcibly by an outside agency
From this reading The latter two had just driven over from the railroad settlement, as they did now and then, which explained why the meal, which is usually served early in the evening, had been delayed an hour or so.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading The latter two had just driven over from the railroad settlement, as they did now and then, which explained why the meal, which is usually served early in the evening, had been delayed an hour or so.
ERRANDnounUS /ˈerənd/
a short trip that is taken in the performance of a necessary task or mission
From this reading A DELICATE ERRAND.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading There was sharp frost outside, and the prairie was white with a thin sprinkle of snow, when a little party sat down to supper in the Hastings homestead one Saturday evening.
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading The latter two had just driven over from the railroad settlement, as they did now and then, which explained why the meal, which is usually served early in the evening, had been delayed an hour or so.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Hastings sat at the head of the table, his wife at the foot with her little daughters, Agatha, Sproatly, and Winifred between them.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The latter two had just driven over from the railroad settlement, as they did now and then, which explained why the meal, which is usually served early in the evening, had been delayed an hour or so.
frostnounUS /frɔːst/
ice crystals forming a white deposit (especially on objects outside)
From this reading There was sharp frost outside, and the prairie was white with a thin sprinkle of snow, when a little party sat down to supper in the Hastings homestead one Saturday evening.
destroyed or killed
From this reading The two hired men, whom Mrs. Hastings had not kept waiting, had gone out to some task in the barn or stables.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The latter two had just driven over from the railroad settlement, as they did now and then, which explained why the meal, which is usually served early in the evening, had been delayed an hour or so.
HastingsnounUS /ˈheɪstɪŋz/
United States architect who formed and important architectural firm with John Merven Carrere (1860-1929)
From this reading There was sharp frost outside, and the prairie was white with a thin sprinkle of snow, when a little party sat down to supper in the Hastings homestead one Saturday evening.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Hastings sat at the head of the table, his wife at the foot with her little daughters, Agatha, Sproatly, and Winifred between them.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Hastings sat at the head of the table, his wife at the foot with her little daughters, Agatha, Sproatly, and Winifred between them.
hiredadjectiveUS /ˈhaɪərd/
having services engaged for a fee
From this reading The two hired men, whom Mrs. Hastings had not kept waiting, had gone out to some task in the barn or stables.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Hastings sat at the head of the table, his wife at the foot with her little daughters, Agatha, Sproatly, and Winifred between them.
homesteadnounUS /ˈhoʊmsted/
the home and adjacent grounds occupied by a family
From this reading There was sharp frost outside, and the prairie was white with a thin sprinkle of snow, when a little party sat down to supper in the Hastings homestead one Saturday evening.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading The latter two had just driven over from the railroad settlement, as they did now and then, which explained why the meal, which is usually served early in the evening, had been delayed an hour or so.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was sharp frost outside, and the prairie was white with a thin sprinkle of snow, when a little party sat down to supper in the Hastings homestead one Saturday evening.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The latter two had just driven over from the railroad settlement, as they did now and then, which explained why the meal, which is usually served early in the evening, had been delayed an hour or so.
and nothing more
From this reading The latter two had just driven over from the railroad settlement, as they did now and then, which explained why the meal, which is usually served early in the evening, had been delayed an hour or so.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading The two hired men, whom Mrs. Hastings had not kept waiting, had gone out to some task in the barn or stables.
referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)
From this reading The latter two had just driven over from the railroad settlement, as they did now and then, which explained why the meal, which is usually served early in the evening, had been delayed an hour or so.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There was sharp frost outside, and the prairie was white with a thin sprinkle of snow, when a little party sat down to supper in the Hastings homestead one Saturday evening.
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading The latter two had just driven over from the railroad settlement, as they did now and then, which explained why the meal, which is usually served early in the evening, had been delayed an hour or so.
the force of workers available
From this reading The two hired men, whom Mrs. Hastings had not kept waiting, had gone out to some task in the barn or stables.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading The two hired men, whom Mrs. Hastings had not kept waiting, had gone out to some task in the barn or stables.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The two hired men, whom Mrs. Hastings had not kept waiting, had gone out to some task in the barn or stables.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The latter two had just driven over from the railroad settlement, as they did now and then, which explained why the meal, which is usually served early in the evening, had been delayed an hour or so.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was sharp frost outside, and the prairie was white with a thin sprinkle of snow, when a little party sat down to supper in the Hastings homestead one Saturday evening.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There was sharp frost outside, and the prairie was white with a thin sprinkle of snow, when a little party sat down to supper in the Hastings homestead one Saturday evening.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The latter two had just driven over from the railroad settlement, as they did now and then, which explained why the meal, which is usually served early in the evening, had been delayed an hour or so.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The two hired men, whom Mrs. Hastings had not kept waiting, had gone out to some task in the barn or stables.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading There was sharp frost outside, and the prairie was white with a thin sprinkle of snow, when a little party sat down to supper in the Hastings homestead one Saturday evening.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The latter two had just driven over from the railroad settlement, as they did now and then, which explained why the meal, which is usually served early in the evening, had been delayed an hour or so.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading There was sharp frost outside, and the prairie was white with a thin sprinkle of snow, when a little party sat down to supper in the Hastings homestead one Saturday evening.
prairienounUS /ˈpreri/
a treeless grassy plain
From this reading There was sharp frost outside, and the prairie was white with a thin sprinkle of snow, when a little party sat down to supper in the Hastings homestead one Saturday evening.
railroadnounUS /ˈreɪlroʊd/
line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight
From this reading The latter two had just driven over from the railroad settlement, as they did now and then, which explained why the meal, which is usually served early in the evening, had been delayed an hour or so.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading There was sharp frost outside, and the prairie was white with a thin sprinkle of snow, when a little party sat down to supper in the Hastings homestead one Saturday evening.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading There was sharp frost outside, and the prairie was white with a thin sprinkle of snow, when a little party sat down to supper in the Hastings homestead one Saturday evening.
past form of “serve” — serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading The latter two had just driven over from the railroad settlement, as they did now and then, which explained why the meal, which is usually served early in the evening, had been delayed an hour or so.
settlementnounUS /ˈsetəlmənt/
a body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government
From this reading The latter two had just driven over from the railroad settlement, as they did now and then, which explained why the meal, which is usually served early in the evening, had been delayed an hour or so.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading There was sharp frost outside, and the prairie was white with a thin sprinkle of snow, when a little party sat down to supper in the Hastings homestead one Saturday evening.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading There was sharp frost outside, and the prairie was white with a thin sprinkle of snow, when a little party sat down to supper in the Hastings homestead one Saturday evening.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The latter two had just driven over from the railroad settlement, as they did now and then, which explained why the meal, which is usually served early in the evening, had been delayed an hour or so.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The two hired men, whom Mrs. Hastings had not kept waiting, had gone out to some task in the barn or stables.
sprinkleverbUS /ˈsprɪŋkəl/
distribute loosely
From this reading There was sharp frost outside, and the prairie was white with a thin sprinkle of snow, when a little party sat down to supper in the Hastings homestead one Saturday evening.
Sproatly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hastings sat at the head of the table, his wife at the foot with her little daughters, Agatha, Sproatly, and Winifred between them.
stablesnounUS /ˈsteɪbəlz/
plural of “stable” — a farm building for housing horses or other livestock
From this reading The two hired men, whom Mrs. Hastings had not kept waiting, had gone out to some task in the barn or stables.
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading There was sharp frost outside, and the prairie was white with a thin sprinkle of snow, when a little party sat down to supper in the Hastings homestead one Saturday evening.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Hastings sat at the head of the table, his wife at the foot with her little daughters, Agatha, Sproatly, and Winifred between them.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading The two hired men, whom Mrs. Hastings had not kept waiting, had gone out to some task in the barn or stables.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was sharp frost outside, and the prairie was white with a thin sprinkle of snow, when a little party sat down to supper in the Hastings homestead one Saturday evening.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Hastings sat at the head of the table, his wife at the foot with her little daughters, Agatha, Sproatly, and Winifred between them.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The latter two had just driven over from the railroad settlement, as they did now and then, which explained why the meal, which is usually served early in the evening, had been delayed an hour or so.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was sharp frost outside, and the prairie was white with a thin sprinkle of snow, when a little party sat down to supper in the Hastings homestead one Saturday evening.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The latter two had just driven over from the railroad settlement, as they did now and then, which explained why the meal, which is usually served early in the evening, had been delayed an hour or so.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading There was sharp frost outside, and the prairie was white with a thin sprinkle of snow, when a little party sat down to supper in the Hastings homestead one Saturday evening.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was sharp frost outside, and the prairie was white with a thin sprinkle of snow, when a little party sat down to supper in the Hastings homestead one Saturday evening.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The latter two had just driven over from the railroad settlement, as they did now and then, which explained why the meal, which is usually served early in the evening, had been delayed an hour or so.
under normal conditions
From this reading The latter two had just driven over from the railroad settlement, as they did now and then, which explained why the meal, which is usually served early in the evening, had been delayed an hour or so.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading The two hired men, whom Mrs. Hastings had not kept waiting, had gone out to some task in the barn or stables.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was sharp frost outside, and the prairie was white with a thin sprinkle of snow, when a little party sat down to supper in the Hastings homestead one Saturday evening.
at the time that
From this reading There was sharp frost outside, and the prairie was white with a thin sprinkle of snow, when a little party sat down to supper in the Hastings homestead one Saturday evening.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The latter two had just driven over from the railroad settlement, as they did now and then, which explained why the meal, which is usually served early in the evening, had been delayed an hour or so.
a Caucasian
From this reading There was sharp frost outside, and the prairie was white with a thin sprinkle of snow, when a little party sat down to supper in the Hastings homestead one Saturday evening.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The two hired men, whom Mrs. Hastings had not kept waiting, had gone out to some task in the barn or stables.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading The latter two had just driven over from the railroad settlement, as they did now and then, which explained why the meal, which is usually served early in the evening, had been delayed an hour or so.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading Hastings sat at the head of the table, his wife at the foot with her little daughters, Agatha, Sproatly, and Winifred between them.
Winifred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hastings sat at the head of the table, his wife at the foot with her little daughters, Agatha, Sproatly, and Winifred between them.
in the company of; together with
From this reading There was sharp frost outside, and the prairie was white with a thin sprinkle of snow, when a little party sat down to supper in the Hastings homestead one Saturday evening.
