used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In a little while they went out to the kitchen.
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading “Then we’ll have biscuits and honey for supper,” she arranged it, and the principal thing settled: “How _is_ Jem?” she said, and then took account of her niece’s presence with “How you have grown!”
from one side of something to the other
From this reading As they entered, a chain rattled and drew across the zinc under the cooking-stove.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Then we’ll have biscuits and honey for supper,” she arranged it, and the principal thing settled: “How _is_ Jem?” she said, and then took account of her niece’s presence with “How you have grown!”
disposed or placed in a particular kind of order
From this reading “Then we’ll have biscuits and honey for supper,” she arranged it, and the principal thing settled: “How _is_ Jem?” she said, and then took account of her niece’s presence with “How you have grown!”
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As they entered, a chain rattled and drew across the zinc under the cooking-stove.
biscuitsnounUS /ˈbɪskəts/
plural of “biscuit” — small round bread leavened with baking-powder or soda
From this reading “Then we’ll have biscuits and honey for supper,” she arranged it, and the principal thing settled: “How _is_ Jem?” she said, and then took account of her niece’s presence with “How you have grown!”
a series of things depending on each other as if linked together
From this reading As they entered, a chain rattled and drew across the zinc under the cooking-stove.
complacencenoun
the feeling you have when you are satisfied with yourself
From this reading And there the plump complacence of the little house gave way, and they stood facing its tragedy.
cooking-stove
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As they entered, a chain rattled and drew across the zinc under the cooking-stove.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading As they entered, a chain rattled and drew across the zinc under the cooking-stove.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading As they entered, a chain rattled and drew across the zinc under the cooking-stove.
facingnounUS /ˈfeɪsɪŋ/
a lining applied to the edge of a garment for ornamentation or strengthening
From this reading And there the plump complacence of the little house gave way, and they stood facing its tragedy.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “Then we’ll have biscuits and honey for supper,” she arranged it, and the principal thing settled: “How _is_ Jem?” she said, and then took account of her niece’s presence with “How you have grown!”
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading And there the plump complacence of the little house gave way, and they stood facing its tragedy.
(of animals) fully developed
From this reading “Then we’ll have biscuits and honey for supper,” she arranged it, and the principal thing settled: “How _is_ Jem?” she said, and then took account of her niece’s presence with “How you have grown!”
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Then we’ll have biscuits and honey for supper,” she arranged it, and the principal thing settled: “How _is_ Jem?” she said, and then took account of her niece’s presence with “How you have grown!”
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “Then we’ll have biscuits and honey for supper,” she arranged it, and the principal thing settled: “How _is_ Jem?” she said, and then took account of her niece’s presence with “How you have grown!”
honeynounUS /ˈhʌni/
a sweet yellow liquid produced by bees
From this reading “Then we’ll have biscuits and honey for supper,” she arranged it, and the principal thing settled: “How _is_ Jem?” she said, and then took account of her niece’s presence with “How you have grown!”
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading And there the plump complacence of the little house gave way, and they stood facing its tragedy.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Then we’ll have biscuits and honey for supper,” she arranged it, and the principal thing settled: “How _is_ Jem?” she said, and then took account of her niece’s presence with “How you have grown!”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In a little while they went out to the kitchen.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Then we’ll have biscuits and honey for supper,” she arranged it, and the principal thing settled: “How _is_ Jem?” she said, and then took account of her niece’s presence with “How you have grown!”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Then we’ll have biscuits and honey for supper,” she arranged it, and the principal thing settled: “How _is_ Jem?” she said, and then took account of her niece’s presence with “How you have grown!”
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading And there the plump complacence of the little house gave way, and they stood facing its tragedy.
JemnounUS /dʒem/
a terrorist organization founded in 2000; a militant Islamic group active in Kashmir and closely aligned with al-Rashid Trust; seeks to secure release of imprisoned fellow militants by kidnappings
From this reading “Then we’ll have biscuits and honey for supper,” she arranged it, and the principal thing settled: “How _is_ Jem?” she said, and then took account of her niece’s presence with “How you have grown!”
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading In a little while they went out to the kitchen.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading In a little while they went out to the kitchen.
LorynounUS /ˈlɔːri/
small brightly colored Australasian parrots having a brush-tipped tongue for feeding on nectar and soft fruits
From this reading Lory nodded.
niece'snounUS /ˈniːsɪz/
possessive form of “niece” — a daughter of your brother or sister
From this reading “Then we’ll have biscuits and honey for supper,” she arranged it, and the principal thing settled: “How _is_ Jem?” she said, and then took account of her niece’s presence with “How you have grown!”
inflected form of “nod” — express or signify by nodding
From this reading Lory nodded.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Then we’ll have biscuits and honey for supper,” she arranged it, and the principal thing settled: “How _is_ Jem?” she said, and then took account of her niece’s presence with “How you have grown!”
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading In a little while they went out to the kitchen.
plumpadjectiveUS /plʌmp/
sufficiently fat so as to have a pleasing fullness of figure
From this reading And there the plump complacence of the little house gave way, and they stood facing its tragedy.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading “Then we’ll have biscuits and honey for supper,” she arranged it, and the principal thing settled: “How _is_ Jem?” she said, and then took account of her niece’s presence with “How you have grown!”
the original amount of a debt on which interest is calculated
From this reading “Then we’ll have biscuits and honey for supper,” she arranged it, and the principal thing settled: “How _is_ Jem?” she said, and then took account of her niece’s presence with “How you have grown!”
rattledadjectiveUS /ˈrætəld/
thrown into a state of agitated confusion; (“rattled” is an informal term)
From this reading As they entered, a chain rattled and drew across the zinc under the cooking-stove.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Then we’ll have biscuits and honey for supper,” she arranged it, and the principal thing settled: “How _is_ Jem?” she said, and then took account of her niece’s presence with “How you have grown!”
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading “Then we’ll have biscuits and honey for supper,” she arranged it, and the principal thing settled: “How _is_ Jem?” she said, and then took account of her niece’s presence with “How you have grown!”
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Then we’ll have biscuits and honey for supper,” she arranged it, and the principal thing settled: “How _is_ Jem?” she said, and then took account of her niece’s presence with “How you have grown!”
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading And there the plump complacence of the little house gave way, and they stood facing its tragedy.
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading “Then we’ll have biscuits and honey for supper,” she arranged it, and the principal thing settled: “How _is_ Jem?” she said, and then took account of her niece’s presence with “How you have grown!”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Then we’ll have biscuits and honey for supper,” she arranged it, and the principal thing settled: “How _is_ Jem?” she said, and then took account of her niece’s presence with “How you have grown!”
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading “Then we’ll have biscuits and honey for supper,” she arranged it, and the principal thing settled: “How _is_ Jem?” she said, and then took account of her niece’s presence with “How you have grown!”
in or at that place or location
From this reading And there the plump complacence of the little house gave way, and they stood facing its tragedy.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In a little while they went out to the kitchen.
a special situation
From this reading “Then we’ll have biscuits and honey for supper,” she arranged it, and the principal thing settled: “How _is_ Jem?” she said, and then took account of her niece’s presence with “How you have grown!”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In a little while they went out to the kitchen.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading “Then we’ll have biscuits and honey for supper,” she arranged it, and the principal thing settled: “How _is_ Jem?” she said, and then took account of her niece’s presence with “How you have grown!”
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading And there the plump complacence of the little house gave way, and they stood facing its tragedy.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading As they entered, a chain rattled and drew across the zinc under the cooking-stove.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading And there the plump complacence of the little house gave way, and they stood facing its tragedy.
we'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Then we’ll have biscuits and honey for supper,” she arranged it, and the principal thing settled: “How _is_ Jem?” she said, and then took account of her niece’s presence with “How you have grown!”
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading In a little while they went out to the kitchen.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading In a little while they went out to the kitchen.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “Then we’ll have biscuits and honey for supper,” she arranged it, and the principal thing settled: “How _is_ Jem?” she said, and then took account of her niece’s presence with “How you have grown!”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Then we’ll have biscuits and honey for supper,” she arranged it, and the principal thing settled: “How _is_ Jem?” she said, and then took account of her niece’s presence with “How you have grown!”
zincnounUS /zɪŋk/
a bluish-white lustrous metallic element; brittle at ordinary temperatures but malleable when heated; used in a wide variety of alloys and in galvanizing iron; it occurs naturally as zinc sulphide in zinc blende
From this reading As they entered, a chain rattled and drew across the zinc under the cooking-stove.
