used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A shadow falling across the door-way made her look up.
ABIGAIL
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ABIGAIL sat just inside the door, turning the noisy hand-mill that ground out the next day's supply of flour.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading A shadow falling across the door-way made her look up.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "You are home early, my Phineas," she said, with a smile.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading The rough mill-stones grated so harshly on each other that she did not hear the steps coming up the path.
day'snounUS /deɪz/
possessive form of “day” — time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading ABIGAIL sat just inside the door, turning the noisy hand-mill that ground out the next day's supply of flour.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The rough mill-stones grated so harshly on each other that she did not hear the steps coming up the path.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading ABIGAIL sat just inside the door, turning the noisy hand-mill that ground out the next day's supply of flour.
door-way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A shadow falling across the door-way made her look up.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading The rough mill-stones grated so harshly on each other that she did not hear the steps coming up the path.
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 "You are home early, my Phineas," she said, with a smile.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading A shadow falling across the door-way made her look up.
flournounUS /ˈflaʊər/
fine powdery foodstuff obtained by grinding and sifting the meal of a cereal grain
From this reading ABIGAIL sat just inside the door, turning the noisy hand-mill that ground out the next day's supply of flour.
gratedverbUS /ˈɡreɪtɪd/
past form of “grate” — furnish with a grate
From this reading The rough mill-stones grated so harshly on each other that she did not hear the steps coming up the path.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading ABIGAIL sat just inside the door, turning the noisy hand-mill that ground out the next day's supply of flour.
hand-mill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ABIGAIL sat just inside the door, turning the noisy hand-mill that ground out the next day's supply of flour.
harshlyadverbUS /ˈhɑːrʃli/
in a harsh or unkind manner
From this reading The rough mill-stones grated so harshly on each other that she did not hear the steps coming up the path.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Well, I shall soon have your supper ready.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading The rough mill-stones grated so harshly on each other that she did not hear the steps coming up the path.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A shadow falling across the door-way made her look up.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading "You are home early, my Phineas," she said, with a smile.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Well, I shall soon have your supper ready.
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading ABIGAIL sat just inside the door, turning the noisy hand-mill that ground out the next day's supply of flour.
and nothing more
From this reading ABIGAIL sat just inside the door, turning the noisy hand-mill that ground out the next day's supply of flour.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading A shadow falling across the door-way made her look up.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading A shadow falling across the door-way made her look up.
mill-stones
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough mill-stones grated so harshly on each other that she did not hear the steps coming up the path.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "You are home early, my Phineas," she said, with a smile.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading ABIGAIL sat just inside the door, turning the noisy hand-mill that ground out the next day's supply of flour.
noisyadjectiveUS /ˈnɔɪzi/
full of or characterized by loud and nonmusical sounds
From this reading ABIGAIL sat just inside the door, turning the noisy hand-mill that ground out the next day's supply of flour.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The rough mill-stones grated so harshly on each other that she did not hear the steps coming up the path.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ABIGAIL sat just inside the door, turning the noisy hand-mill that ground out the next day's supply of flour.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The rough mill-stones grated so harshly on each other that she did not hear the steps coming up the path.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The rough mill-stones grated so harshly on each other that she did not hear the steps coming up the path.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading ABIGAIL sat just inside the door, turning the noisy hand-mill that ground out the next day's supply of flour.
a course of conduct
From this reading The rough mill-stones grated so harshly on each other that she did not hear the steps coming up the path.
Phineas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You are home early, my Phineas," she said, with a smile.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading "Well, I shall soon have your supper ready.
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading The rough mill-stones grated so harshly on each other that she did not hear the steps coming up the path.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "You are home early, my Phineas," she said, with a smile.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading ABIGAIL sat just inside the door, turning the noisy hand-mill that ground out the next day's supply of flour.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading A shadow falling across the door-way made her look up.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading "Well, I shall soon have your supper ready.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The rough mill-stones grated so harshly on each other that she did not hear the steps coming up the path.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading "You are home early, my Phineas," she said, with a smile.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The rough mill-stones grated so harshly on each other that she did not hear the steps coming up the path.
in the near future
From this reading "Well, I shall soon have your supper ready.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading The rough mill-stones grated so harshly on each other that she did not hear the steps coming up the path.
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading "Well, I shall soon have your supper ready.
give something useful or necessary to
From this reading ABIGAIL sat just inside the door, turning the noisy hand-mill that ground out the next day's supply of flour.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading ABIGAIL sat just inside the door, turning the noisy hand-mill that ground out the next day's supply of flour.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ABIGAIL sat just inside the door, turning the noisy hand-mill that ground out the next day's supply of flour.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading ABIGAIL sat just inside the door, turning the noisy hand-mill that ground out the next day's supply of flour.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The rough mill-stones grated so harshly on each other that she did not hear the steps coming up the path.
(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, I shall soon have your supper ready.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "You are home early, my Phineas," she said, with a smile.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You are home early, my Phineas," she said, with a smile.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Well, I shall soon have your supper ready.
