used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Charlie Evans had been away with his mother for a month at the seaside.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He came round to the Cottage the first evening after his return home, and the little girls took him into the orchard, where they had been trying to erect a kind of tent with an old piece of sacking and four stout sticks, which wobbled about in the ground at the least touch.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading He came round to the Cottage the first evening after his return home, and the little girls took him into the orchard, where they had been trying to erect a kind of tent with an old piece of sacking and four stout sticks, which wobbled about in the ground at the least touch.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He came round to the Cottage the first evening after his return home, and the little girls took him into the orchard, where they had been trying to erect a kind of tent with an old piece of sacking and four stout sticks, which wobbled about in the ground at the least touch.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE GREY DONKEY THE summer holidays came at last and Miss Vale said good-bye to her pupils for six weeks.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Now he returned looking as brown as a berry and much stronger in every way.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE GREY DONKEY THE summer holidays came at last and Miss Vale said good-bye to her pupils for six weeks.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading Charlie did not think much of their attempt.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Charlie Evans had been away with his mother for a month at the seaside.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Charlie Evans had been away with his mother for a month at the seaside.
berrynounUS /ˈberi/
any of numerous small and pulpy edible fruits; used as desserts or in making jams and jellies and preserves
From this reading Now he returned looking as brown as a berry and much stronger in every way.
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading Now he returned looking as brown as a berry and much stronger in every way.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading THE GREY DONKEY THE summer holidays came at last and Miss Vale said good-bye to her pupils for six weeks.
Charlie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Charlie Evans had been away with his mother for a month at the seaside.
a small house with a single story
From this reading He came round to the Cottage the first evening after his return home, and the little girls took him into the orchard, where they had been trying to erect a kind of tent with an old piece of sacking and four stout sticks, which wobbled about in the ground at the least touch.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Charlie did not think much of their attempt.
DONKEYnounUS /ˈdɑːŋki/
the symbol of the Democratic Party; introduced in cartoons by Thomas Nast in 1874
From this reading THE GREY DONKEY THE summer holidays came at last and Miss Vale said good-bye to her pupils for six weeks.
erectverbUS /ɪˈrekt/
construct, build, or erect
From this reading He came round to the Cottage the first evening after his return home, and the little girls took him into the orchard, where they had been trying to erect a kind of tent with an old piece of sacking and four stout sticks, which wobbled about in the ground at the least touch.
EvansnounUS /ˈevənz/
United States anatomist who identified four pituitary hormones and discovered vitamin E (1882-1971)
From this reading Charlie Evans had been away with his mother for a month at the seaside.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading He came round to the Cottage the first evening after his return home, and the little girls took him into the orchard, where they had been trying to erect a kind of tent with an old piece of sacking and four stout sticks, which wobbled about in the ground at the least touch.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Now he returned looking as brown as a berry and much stronger in every way.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading He came round to the Cottage the first evening after his return home, and the little girls took him into the orchard, where they had been trying to erect a kind of tent with an old piece of sacking and four stout sticks, which wobbled about in the ground at the least touch.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE GREY DONKEY THE summer holidays came at last and Miss Vale said good-bye to her pupils for six weeks.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading He came round to the Cottage the first evening after his return home, and the little girls took him into the orchard, where they had been trying to erect a kind of tent with an old piece of sacking and four stout sticks, which wobbled about in the ground at the least touch.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading He came round to the Cottage the first evening after his return home, and the little girls took him into the orchard, where they had been trying to erect a kind of tent with an old piece of sacking and four stout sticks, which wobbled about in the ground at the least touch.
good-byenounUS /ɡɪdˈbaɪ/
a farewell remark
From this reading THE GREY DONKEY THE summer holidays came at last and Miss Vale said good-bye to her pupils for six weeks.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading THE GREY DONKEY THE summer holidays came at last and Miss Vale said good-bye to her pupils for six weeks.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading He came round to the Cottage the first evening after his return home, and the little girls took him into the orchard, where they had been trying to erect a kind of tent with an old piece of sacking and four stout sticks, which wobbled about in the ground at the least touch.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Charlie Evans had been away with his mother for a month at the seaside.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Now he returned looking as brown as a berry and much stronger in every way.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE GREY DONKEY THE summer holidays came at last and Miss Vale said good-bye to her pupils for six weeks.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He came round to the Cottage the first evening after his return home, and the little girls took him into the orchard, where they had been trying to erect a kind of tent with an old piece of sacking and four stout sticks, which wobbled about in the ground at the least touch.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Charlie Evans had been away with his mother for a month at the seaside.
holidaysnounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪz/
plural of “holiday” — leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading THE GREY DONKEY THE summer holidays came at last and Miss Vale said good-bye to her pupils for six weeks.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading He came round to the Cottage the first evening after his return home, and the little girls took him into the orchard, where they had been trying to erect a kind of tent with an old piece of sacking and four stout sticks, which wobbled about in the ground at the least touch.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Now he returned looking as brown as a berry and much stronger in every way.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He came round to the Cottage the first evening after his return home, and the little girls took him into the orchard, where they had been trying to erect a kind of tent with an old piece of sacking and four stout sticks, which wobbled about in the ground at the least touch.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading He came round to the Cottage the first evening after his return home, and the little girls took him into the orchard, where they had been trying to erect a kind of tent with an old piece of sacking and four stout sticks, which wobbled about in the ground at the least touch.
immediately past
From this reading THE GREY DONKEY THE summer holidays came at last and Miss Vale said good-bye to her pupils for six weeks.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading He came round to the Cottage the first evening after his return home, and the little girls took him into the orchard, where they had been trying to erect a kind of tent with an old piece of sacking and four stout sticks, which wobbled about in the ground at the least touch.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He came round to the Cottage the first evening after his return home, and the little girls took him into the orchard, where they had been trying to erect a kind of tent with an old piece of sacking and four stout sticks, which wobbled about in the ground at the least touch.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Now he returned looking as brown as a berry and much stronger in every way.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading THE GREY DONKEY THE summer holidays came at last and Miss Vale said good-bye to her pupils for six weeks.
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading Charlie Evans had been away with his mother for a month at the seaside.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Charlie Evans had been away with his mother for a month at the seaside.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Now he returned looking as brown as a berry and much stronger in every way.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Charlie did not think much of their attempt.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now he returned looking as brown as a berry and much stronger in every way.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He came round to the Cottage the first evening after his return home, and the little girls took him into the orchard, where they had been trying to erect a kind of tent with an old piece of sacking and four stout sticks, which wobbled about in the ground at the least touch.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading He came round to the Cottage the first evening after his return home, and the little girls took him into the orchard, where they had been trying to erect a kind of tent with an old piece of sacking and four stout sticks, which wobbled about in the ground at the least touch.
orchardnounUS /ˈɔːrtʃərd/
garden consisting of a small cultivated wood without undergrowth
From this reading He came round to the Cottage the first evening after his return home, and the little girls took him into the orchard, where they had been trying to erect a kind of tent with an old piece of sacking and four stout sticks, which wobbled about in the ground at the least touch.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading He came round to the Cottage the first evening after his return home, and the little girls took him into the orchard, where they had been trying to erect a kind of tent with an old piece of sacking and four stout sticks, which wobbled about in the ground at the least touch.
pupilsnounUS /ˈpjuːpəlz/
plural of “pupil” — a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution
From this reading THE GREY DONKEY THE summer holidays came at last and Miss Vale said good-bye to her pupils for six weeks.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading He came round to the Cottage the first evening after his return home, and the little girls took him into the orchard, where they had been trying to erect a kind of tent with an old piece of sacking and four stout sticks, which wobbled about in the ground at the least touch.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Now he returned looking as brown as a berry and much stronger in every way.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading He came round to the Cottage the first evening after his return home, and the little girls took him into the orchard, where they had been trying to erect a kind of tent with an old piece of sacking and four stout sticks, which wobbled about in the ground at the least touch.
sackingnounUS /ˈsækɪŋ/
coarse fabric used for bags or sacks
From this reading He came round to the Cottage the first evening after his return home, and the little girls took him into the orchard, where they had been trying to erect a kind of tent with an old piece of sacking and four stout sticks, which wobbled about in the ground at the least touch.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading THE GREY DONKEY THE summer holidays came at last and Miss Vale said good-bye to her pupils for six weeks.
seasidenounUS /ˈsiːsaɪd/
the shore of a sea or ocean regarded as a resort
From this reading Charlie Evans had been away with his mother for a month at the seaside.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading THE GREY DONKEY THE summer holidays came at last and Miss Vale said good-bye to her pupils for six weeks.
sticksnounUS /stɪks/
plural of “stick” — an implement consisting of a length of wood
From this reading He came round to the Cottage the first evening after his return home, and the little girls took him into the orchard, where they had been trying to erect a kind of tent with an old piece of sacking and four stout sticks, which wobbled about in the ground at the least touch.
dependable
From this reading He came round to the Cottage the first evening after his return home, and the little girls took him into the orchard, where they had been trying to erect a kind of tent with an old piece of sacking and four stout sticks, which wobbled about in the ground at the least touch.
comparative of “strong” — having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading Now he returned looking as brown as a berry and much stronger in every way.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading THE GREY DONKEY THE summer holidays came at last and Miss Vale said good-bye to her pupils for six weeks.
a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading He came round to the Cottage the first evening after his return home, and the little girls took him into the orchard, where they had been trying to erect a kind of tent with an old piece of sacking and four stout sticks, which wobbled about in the ground at the least touch.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE GREY DONKEY THE summer holidays came at last and Miss Vale said good-bye to her pupils for six weeks.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Charlie did not think much of their attempt.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He came round to the Cottage the first evening after his return home, and the little girls took him into the orchard, where they had been trying to erect a kind of tent with an old piece of sacking and four stout sticks, which wobbled about in the ground at the least touch.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading Charlie did not think much of their attempt.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE GREY DONKEY THE summer holidays came at last and Miss Vale said good-bye to her pupils for six weeks.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading He came round to the Cottage the first evening after his return home, and the little girls took him into the orchard, where they had been trying to erect a kind of tent with an old piece of sacking and four stout sticks, which wobbled about in the ground at the least touch.
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading He came round to the Cottage the first evening after his return home, and the little girls took him into the orchard, where they had been trying to erect a kind of tent with an old piece of sacking and four stout sticks, which wobbled about in the ground at the least touch.
hard to endure
From this reading He came round to the Cottage the first evening after his return home, and the little girls took him into the orchard, where they had been trying to erect a kind of tent with an old piece of sacking and four stout sticks, which wobbled about in the ground at the least touch.
ValenounUS /veɪl/
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading THE GREY DONKEY THE summer holidays came at last and Miss Vale said good-bye to her pupils for six weeks.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Now he returned looking as brown as a berry and much stronger in every way.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading THE GREY DONKEY THE summer holidays came at last and Miss Vale said good-bye to her pupils for six weeks.
in or at the place that
From this reading He came round to the Cottage the first evening after his return home, and the little girls took him into the orchard, where they had been trying to erect a kind of tent with an old piece of sacking and four stout sticks, which wobbled about in the ground at the least touch.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He came round to the Cottage the first evening after his return home, and the little girls took him into the orchard, where they had been trying to erect a kind of tent with an old piece of sacking and four stout sticks, which wobbled about in the ground at the least touch.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Charlie Evans had been away with his mother for a month at the seaside.
wobbledverbUS /ˈwɑːbəld/
past form of “wobble” — move unsteadily
From this reading He came round to the Cottage the first evening after his return home, and the little girls took him into the orchard, where they had been trying to erect a kind of tent with an old piece of sacking and four stout sticks, which wobbled about in the ground at the least touch.
