used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading At the second table she split her johnny-cake, and spread it open, saying it was a singing-book, and began to sing out of it,-- "Little drops of water, Little _grains_ of sand."
a-singin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I think," answered the child, "you ought to call me to you and say, 'You been a-singin' to the table, Prudy.'
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At the second table she split her johnny-cake, and spread it open, saying it was a singing-book, and began to sing out of it,-- "Little drops of water, Little _grains_ of sand."
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading "I think," answered the child, "you ought to call me to you and say, 'You been a-singin' to the table, Prudy.'
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "What shall I do with such a little girl as this?" said she, shaking her finger at Prudy.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the second table she split her johnny-cake, and spread it open, saying it was a singing-book, and began to sing out of it,-- "Little drops of water, Little _grains_ of sand."
inflected form of “awake” — stop sleeping
From this reading PRUDY TRYING TO HELP Prudy awoke one morning full of mischief.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "I think," answered the child, "you ought to call me to you and say, 'You been a-singin' to the table, Prudy.'
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading At the second table she split her johnny-cake, and spread it open, saying it was a singing-book, and began to sing out of it,-- "Little drops of water, Little _grains_ of sand."
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "I think," answered the child, "you ought to call me to you and say, 'You been a-singin' to the table, Prudy.'
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Grandma heard her from the next room, and came in very much surprised.
a young person of either sex
From this reading "I think," answered the child, "you ought to call me to you and say, 'You been a-singin' to the table, Prudy.'
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "What shall I do with such a little girl as this?" said she, shaking her finger at Prudy.
dropsnounUS /drɑːps/
plural of “drop” — a shape that is spherical and small
From this reading At the second table she split her johnny-cake, and spread it open, saying it was a singing-book, and began to sing out of it,-- "Little drops of water, Little _grains_ of sand."
feel or handle with the fingers
From this reading "What shall I do with such a little girl as this?" said she, shaking her finger at Prudy.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Grandma heard her from the next room, and came in very much surprised.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading PRUDY TRYING TO HELP Prudy awoke one morning full of mischief.
a young female
From this reading "What shall I do with such a little girl as this?" said she, shaking her finger at Prudy.
grainsnounUS /ɡreɪnz/
plural of “grain” — a relatively small granular particle of a substance
From this reading At the second table she split her johnny-cake, and spread it open, saying it was a singing-book, and began to sing out of it,-- "Little drops of water, Little _grains_ of sand."
GrandmanounUS /ˈɡrændmɑː/
the mother of your father or mother
From this reading Grandma heard her from the next room, and came in very much surprised.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Grandma heard her from the next room, and came in very much surprised.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading PRUDY TRYING TO HELP Prudy awoke one morning full of mischief.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading At the second table she split her johnny-cake, and spread it open, saying it was a singing-book, and began to sing out of it,-- "Little drops of water, Little _grains_ of sand."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "What shall I do with such a little girl as this?" said she, shaking her finger at Prudy.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Grandma heard her from the next room, and came in very much surprised.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading At the second table she split her johnny-cake, and spread it open, saying it was a singing-book, and began to sing out of it,-- "Little drops of water, Little _grains_ of sand."
johnny-cake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the second table she split her johnny-cake, and spread it open, saying it was a singing-book, and began to sing out of it,-- "Little drops of water, Little _grains_ of sand."
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading At the second table she split her johnny-cake, and spread it open, saying it was a singing-book, and began to sing out of it,-- "Little drops of water, Little _grains_ of sand."
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "I think," answered the child, "you ought to call me to you and say, 'You been a-singin' to the table, Prudy.'
reckless or malicious behavior that causes discomfort or annoyance in others
From this reading PRUDY TRYING TO HELP Prudy awoke one morning full of mischief.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading PRUDY TRYING TO HELP Prudy awoke one morning full of mischief.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Grandma heard her from the next room, and came in very much surprised.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Grandma heard her from the next room, and came in very much surprised.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading PRUDY TRYING TO HELP Prudy awoke one morning full of mischief.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading PRUDY TRYING TO HELP Prudy awoke one morning full of mischief.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading At the second table she split her johnny-cake, and spread it open, saying it was a singing-book, and began to sing out of it,-- "Little drops of water, Little _grains_ of sand."
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading "I think," answered the child, "you ought to call me to you and say, 'You been a-singin' to the table, Prudy.'
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading At the second table she split her johnny-cake, and spread it open, saying it was a singing-book, and began to sing out of it,-- "Little drops of water, Little _grains_ of sand."
PRUDY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PRUDY TRYING TO HELP Prudy awoke one morning full of mischief.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Grandma heard her from the next room, and came in very much surprised.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "What shall I do with such a little girl as this?" said she, shaking her finger at Prudy.
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading At the second table she split her johnny-cake, and spread it open, saying it was a singing-book, and began to sing out of it,-- "Little drops of water, Little _grains_ of sand."
express in words
From this reading "I think," answered the child, "you ought to call me to you and say, 'You been a-singin' to the table, Prudy.'
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading At the second table she split her johnny-cake, and spread it open, saying it was a singing-book, and began to sing out of it,-- "Little drops of water, Little _grains_ of sand."
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading At the second table she split her johnny-cake, and spread it open, saying it was a singing-book, and began to sing out of it,-- "Little drops of water, Little _grains_ of sand."
the act of causing something to move up and down (or back and forth) with quick movements
From this reading "What shall I do with such a little girl as this?" said she, shaking her finger at Prudy.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading "What shall I do with such a little girl as this?" said she, shaking her finger at Prudy.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At the second table she split her johnny-cake, and spread it open, saying it was a singing-book, and began to sing out of it,-- "Little drops of water, Little _grains_ of sand."
deliver by singing
From this reading At the second table she split her johnny-cake, and spread it open, saying it was a singing-book, and began to sing out of it,-- "Little drops of water, Little _grains_ of sand."
singing-book
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the second table she split her johnny-cake, and spread it open, saying it was a singing-book, and began to sing out of it,-- "Little drops of water, Little _grains_ of sand."
splitverbUS /splɪt/
separate into parts or portions
From this reading At the second table she split her johnny-cake, and spread it open, saying it was a singing-book, and began to sing out of it,-- "Little drops of water, Little _grains_ of sand."
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading At the second table she split her johnny-cake, and spread it open, saying it was a singing-book, and began to sing out of it,-- "Little drops of water, Little _grains_ of sand."
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading "What shall I do with such a little girl as this?" said she, shaking her finger at Prudy.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading Grandma heard her from the next room, and came in very much surprised.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading At the second table she split her johnny-cake, and spread it open, saying it was a singing-book, and began to sing out of it,-- "Little drops of water, Little _grains_ of sand."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At the second table she split her johnny-cake, and spread it open, saying it was a singing-book, and began to sing out of it,-- "Little drops of water, Little _grains_ of sand."
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "I think," answered the child, "you ought to call me to you and say, 'You been a-singin' to the table, Prudy.'
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "What shall I do with such a little girl as this?" said she, shaking her finger at Prudy.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading PRUDY TRYING TO HELP Prudy awoke one morning full of mischief.
hard to endure
From this reading PRUDY TRYING TO HELP Prudy awoke one morning full of mischief.
precisely as stated
From this reading Grandma heard her from the next room, and came in very much surprised.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading At the second table she split her johnny-cake, and spread it open, saying it was a singing-book, and began to sing out of it,-- "Little drops of water, Little _grains_ of sand."
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading At the second table she split her johnny-cake, and spread it open, saying it was a singing-book, and began to sing out of it,-- "Little drops of water, Little _grains_ of sand."
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What shall I do with such a little girl as this?" said she, shaking her finger at Prudy.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "What shall I do with such a little girl as this?" said she, shaking her finger at Prudy.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I think," answered the child, "you ought to call me to you and say, 'You been a-singin' to the table, Prudy.'
