used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When he withdrew his hand it held a letter.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “Well, now, if I didn’t forget all about this here epistle,” he exclaimed, frowning.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading “Jim Peeler gave it to me this afternoon.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading “Well, now, if I didn’t forget all about this here epistle,” he exclaimed, frowning.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The father arose and hung the fiddle on its nail.
inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape
From this reading The father arose and hung the fiddle on its nail.
ax-handle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Best go to bed, Boy,” he yawned, picking up the huge clasp-knife with which he had been shaping the ax-handle and putting it in his pocket.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading “Best go to bed, Boy,” he yawned, picking up the huge clasp-knife with which he had been shaping the ax-handle and putting it in his pocket.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “Best go to bed, Boy,” he yawned, picking up the huge clasp-knife with which he had been shaping the ax-handle and putting it in his pocket.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading “Best go to bed, Boy,” he yawned, picking up the huge clasp-knife with which he had been shaping the ax-handle and putting it in his pocket.
a youthful male person
From this reading “Best go to bed, Boy,” he yawned, picking up the huge clasp-knife with which he had been shaping the ax-handle and putting it in his pocket.
clasp-knife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Best go to bed, Boy,” he yawned, picking up the huge clasp-knife with which he had been shaping the ax-handle and putting it in his pocket.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Well, now, if I didn’t forget all about this here epistle,” he exclaimed, frowning.
epistlenounUS /ɪˈpɪsəl/
a specially long, formal letter
From this reading “Well, now, if I didn’t forget all about this here epistle,” he exclaimed, frowning.
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading “Well, now, if I didn’t forget all about this here epistle,” he exclaimed, frowning.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading The father arose and hung the fiddle on its nail.
fiddlenounUS /ˈfɪdəl/
bowed stringed instrument that is the highest member of the violin family; this instrument has four strings and a hollow body and an unfretted fingerboard and is played with a bow
From this reading The father arose and hung the fiddle on its nail.
dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading “Well, now, if I didn’t forget all about this here epistle,” he exclaimed, frowning.
frowningadjectiveUS /ˈfraʊnɪŋ/
showing displeasure or anger
From this reading “Well, now, if I didn’t forget all about this here epistle,” he exclaimed, frowning.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading “Jim Peeler gave it to me this afternoon.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading “Best go to bed, Boy,” he yawned, picking up the huge clasp-knife with which he had been shaping the ax-handle and putting it in his pocket.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “Best go to bed, Boy,” he yawned, picking up the huge clasp-knife with which he had been shaping the ax-handle and putting it in his pocket.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading When he withdrew his hand it held a letter.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Best go to bed, Boy,” he yawned, picking up the huge clasp-knife with which he had been shaping the ax-handle and putting it in his pocket.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading When he withdrew his hand it held a letter.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading “Well, now, if I didn’t forget all about this here epistle,” he exclaimed, frowning.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “Best go to bed, Boy,” he yawned, picking up the huge clasp-knife with which he had been shaping the ax-handle and putting it in his pocket.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading “Best go to bed, Boy,” he yawned, picking up the huge clasp-knife with which he had been shaping the ax-handle and putting it in his pocket.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading The father arose and hung the fiddle on its nail.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Well, now, if I didn’t forget all about this here epistle,” he exclaimed, frowning.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “Well, now, if I didn’t forget all about this here epistle,” he exclaimed, frowning.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “Best go to bed, Boy,” he yawned, picking up the huge clasp-knife with which he had been shaping the ax-handle and putting it in his pocket.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Best go to bed, Boy,” he yawned, picking up the huge clasp-knife with which he had been shaping the ax-handle and putting it in his pocket.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The father arose and hung the fiddle on its nail.
Jim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Jim Peeler gave it to me this afternoon.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading When he withdrew his hand it held a letter.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Jim Peeler gave it to me this afternoon.
nailverbUS /neɪl/
attach something somewhere by means of nails
From this reading The father arose and hung the fiddle on its nail.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “Well, now, if I didn’t forget all about this here epistle,” he exclaimed, frowning.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The father arose and hung the fiddle on its nail.
PeelernounUS /ˈpiːlər/
a performer who provides erotic entertainment by undressing to music
From this reading “Jim Peeler gave it to me this afternoon.
pickingnounUS /ˈpɪkɪŋ/
the quantity of a crop that is harvested
From this reading “Best go to bed, Boy,” he yawned, picking up the huge clasp-knife with which he had been shaping the ax-handle and putting it in his pocket.
a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles
From this reading “Best go to bed, Boy,” he yawned, picking up the huge clasp-knife with which he had been shaping the ax-handle and putting it in his pocket.
hitting a golf ball that is on the green using a putter
From this reading “Best go to bed, Boy,” he yawned, picking up the huge clasp-knife with which he had been shaping the ax-handle and putting it in his pocket.
shapingnounUS /ˈʃeɪpɪŋ/
any process serving to define the shape of something
From this reading “Best go to bed, Boy,” he yawned, picking up the huge clasp-knife with which he had been shaping the ax-handle and putting it in his pocket.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The father arose and hung the fiddle on its nail.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “Well, now, if I didn’t forget all about this here epistle,” he exclaimed, frowning.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Best go to bed, Boy,” he yawned, picking up the huge clasp-knife with which he had been shaping the ax-handle and putting it in his pocket.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading “Best go to bed, Boy,” he yawned, picking up the huge clasp-knife with which he had been shaping the ax-handle and putting it in his pocket.
(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, now, if I didn’t forget all about this here epistle,” he exclaimed, frowning.
at the time that
From this reading When he withdrew his hand it held a letter.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading “Best go to bed, Boy,” he yawned, picking up the huge clasp-knife with which he had been shaping the ax-handle and putting it in his pocket.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “Best go to bed, Boy,” he yawned, picking up the huge clasp-knife with which he had been shaping the ax-handle and putting it in his pocket.
withdrewverbUS /wɪθˈdruː/
inflected form of “withdraw” — pull back or move away or backward
From this reading When he withdrew his hand it held a letter.
yawnedverbUS /jɔːnd/
past form of “yawn” — utter a yawn, as from lack of oxygen or when one is tired
From this reading “Best go to bed, Boy,” he yawned, picking up the huge clasp-knife with which he had been shaping the ax-handle and putting it in his pocket.
