used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Nick thumpingly agreed to all this but kept his eye on a plate of cookies that Mam’selle was lavishly sugaring.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading Late in the afternoon she contemplated cutting a door between the two north chambers, her own and the one her father had used, which had never been occupied since.
united by being of the same opinion
From this reading Nick thumpingly agreed to all this but kept his eye on a plate of cookies that Mam’selle was lavishly sugaring.
(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 Nick thumpingly agreed to all this but kept his eye on a plate of cookies that Mam’selle was lavishly sugaring.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Now I’ll bet you, Nick, that the Home is bristling with girl children and we’ll have none of them."
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Late in the afternoon she contemplated cutting a door between the two north chambers, her own and the one her father had used, which had never been occupied since.
maintain with or as if with a bet
From this reading "Now I’ll bet you, Nick, that the Home is bristling with girl children and we’ll have none of them."
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Late in the afternoon she contemplated cutting a door between the two north chambers, her own and the one her father had used, which had never been occupied since.
bristlingverbUS /ˈbrɪsəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “bristle” — be in a state of movement or action
From this reading "Now I’ll bet you, Nick, that the Home is bristling with girl children and we’ll have none of them."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Nick thumpingly agreed to all this but kept his eye on a plate of cookies that Mam’selle was lavishly sugaring.
chambersnounUS /ˈtʃeɪmbərz/
English architect (1723-1796)
From this reading Late in the afternoon she contemplated cutting a door between the two north chambers, her own and the one her father had used, which had never been occupied since.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading "Now I’ll bet you, Nick, that the Home is bristling with girl children and we’ll have none of them."
contemplatedverbUS /ˈkɑːntəmpleɪtɪd/
past form of “contemplate” — look at thoughtfully; observe deep in thought
From this reading Late in the afternoon she contemplated cutting a door between the two north chambers, her own and the one her father had used, which had never been occupied since.
cookiesnounUS /ˈkʊkiz/
plural of “cooky” — the cook on a ranch or at a camp
From this reading Nick thumpingly agreed to all this but kept his eye on a plate of cookies that Mam’selle was lavishly sugaring.
cookingnounUS /ˈkʊkɪŋ/
the act of preparing something (as food) by the application of heat
From this reading All day Jo worked, cooking and setting her house in order.
the activity of selecting the scenes to be shown and putting them together to create a film
From this reading Late in the afternoon she contemplated cutting a door between the two north chambers, her own and the one her father had used, which had never been occupied since.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading All day Jo worked, cooking and setting her house in order.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Nick did not spurn scraps but, like others, he yearned for tidbits.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Late in the afternoon she contemplated cutting a door between the two north chambers, her own and the one her father had used, which had never been occupied since.
the organ of sight
From this reading Nick thumpingly agreed to all this but kept his eye on a plate of cookies that Mam’selle was lavishly sugaring.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Late in the afternoon she contemplated cutting a door between the two north chambers, her own and the one her father had used, which had never been occupied since.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Nick did not spurn scraps but, like others, he yearned for tidbits.
a young female
From this reading "Now I’ll bet you, Nick, that the Home is bristling with girl children and we’ll have none of them."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Late in the afternoon she contemplated cutting a door between the two north chambers, her own and the one her father had used, which had never been occupied since.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Now I’ll bet you, Nick, that the Home is bristling with girl children and we’ll have none of them."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Nick did not spurn scraps but, like others, he yearned for tidbits.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading All day Jo worked, cooking and setting her house in order.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Nick thumpingly agreed to all this but kept his eye on a plate of cookies that Mam’selle was lavishly sugaring.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading "Now I’ll bet you, Nick, that the Home is bristling with girl children and we’ll have none of them."
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading All day Jo worked, cooking and setting her house in order.
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Now I’ll bet you, Nick, that the Home is bristling with girl children and we’ll have none of them."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading All day Jo worked, cooking and setting her house in order.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Now I’ll bet you, Nick, that the Home is bristling with girl children and we’ll have none of them."
Jo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All day Jo worked, cooking and setting her house in order.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading Nick thumpingly agreed to all this but kept his eye on a plate of cookies that Mam’selle was lavishly sugaring.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading Late in the afternoon she contemplated cutting a door between the two north chambers, her own and the one her father had used, which had never been occupied since.
lavishlyadverbUS /ˈlævɪʃli/
in a wasteful manner
From this reading Nick thumpingly agreed to all this but kept his eye on a plate of cookies that Mam’selle was lavishly sugaring.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Nick did not spurn scraps but, like others, he yearned for tidbits.
Mam'selle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nick thumpingly agreed to all this but kept his eye on a plate of cookies that Mam’selle was lavishly sugaring.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Late in the afternoon she contemplated cutting a door between the two north chambers, her own and the one her father had used, which had never been occupied since.
NickverbUS /nɪk/
cut slightly, with a razor
From this reading "Now I’ll bet you, Nick, that the Home is bristling with girl children and we’ll have none of them."
not one, and not any
From this reading "Now I’ll bet you, Nick, that the Home is bristling with girl children and we’ll have none of them."
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading Late in the afternoon she contemplated cutting a door between the two north chambers, her own and the one her father had used, which had never been occupied since.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Nick did not spurn scraps but, like others, he yearned for tidbits.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Now I’ll bet you, Nick, that the Home is bristling with girl children and we’ll have none of them."
held or filled or in use
From this reading Late in the afternoon she contemplated cutting a door between the two north chambers, her own and the one her father had used, which had never been occupied since.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Now I’ll bet you, Nick, that the Home is bristling with girl children and we’ll have none of them."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Nick thumpingly agreed to all this but kept his eye on a plate of cookies that Mam’selle was lavishly sugaring.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Late in the afternoon she contemplated cutting a door between the two north chambers, her own and the one her father had used, which had never been occupied since.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading All day Jo worked, cooking and setting her house in order.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nick did not spurn scraps but, like others, he yearned for tidbits.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Late in the afternoon she contemplated cutting a door between the two north chambers, her own and the one her father had used, which had never been occupied since.
(baseball) base consisting of a rubber slab where the batter stands; it must be touched by a base runner in order to score
From this reading Nick thumpingly agreed to all this but kept his eye on a plate of cookies that Mam’selle was lavishly sugaring.
scrapsnounUS /skræps/
food that is discarded (as from a kitchen)
From this reading Nick did not spurn scraps but, like others, he yearned for tidbits.
the context and environment in which something is set
From this reading All day Jo worked, cooking and setting her house in order.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Late in the afternoon she contemplated cutting a door between the two north chambers, her own and the one her father had used, which had never been occupied since.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Late in the afternoon she contemplated cutting a door between the two north chambers, her own and the one her father had used, which had never been occupied since.
spurnverbUS /spɜːrn/
reject with contempt
From this reading Nick did not spurn scraps but, like others, he yearned for tidbits.
sugaring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nick thumpingly agreed to all this but kept his eye on a plate of cookies that Mam’selle was lavishly sugaring.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Now I’ll bet you, Nick, that the Home is bristling with girl children and we’ll have none of them."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Now I’ll bet you, Nick, that the Home is bristling with girl children and we’ll have none of them."
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading "Now I’ll bet you, Nick, that the Home is bristling with girl children and we’ll have none of them."
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Nick thumpingly agreed to all this but kept his eye on a plate of cookies that Mam’selle was lavishly sugaring.
thumpingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nick thumpingly agreed to all this but kept his eye on a plate of cookies that Mam’selle was lavishly sugaring.
tidbitsnounUS /ˈtɪdbɪts/
plural of “tidbit” — a small tasty bit of food
From this reading Nick did not spurn scraps but, like others, he yearned for tidbits.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Nick thumpingly agreed to all this but kept his eye on a plate of cookies that Mam’selle was lavishly sugaring.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Late in the afternoon she contemplated cutting a door between the two north chambers, her own and the one her father had used, which had never been occupied since.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading Late in the afternoon she contemplated cutting a door between the two north chambers, her own and the one her father had used, which had never been occupied since.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Nick thumpingly agreed to all this but kept his eye on a plate of cookies that Mam’selle was lavishly sugaring.
we'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Now I’ll bet you, Nick, that the Home is bristling with girl children and we’ll have none of them."
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Late in the afternoon she contemplated cutting a door between the two north chambers, her own and the one her father had used, which had never been occupied since.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Now I’ll bet you, Nick, that the Home is bristling with girl children and we’ll have none of them."
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading All day Jo worked, cooking and setting her house in order.
yearnedverbUS /jɜːrnd/
past form of “yearn” — desire strongly or persistently
From this reading Nick did not spurn scraps but, like others, he yearned for tidbits.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Now I’ll bet you, Nick, that the Home is bristling with girl children and we’ll have none of them."
