used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading If we’d known what a trouble Sammy was going to be to us all through the winter, I guess we’d have been more careful about making him our ward.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading If we’d known what a trouble Sammy was going to be to us all through the winter, I guess we’d have been more careful about making him our ward.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After winter came on we pretty nearly had to feed him.
(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 If we’d known what a trouble Sammy was going to be to us all through the winter, I guess we’d have been more careful about making him our ward.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But we’d done it, and there was nothing for us but to stand by him—and he did have a monstrous appetite.
appetitenounUS /ˈæpətaɪt/
a feeling of craving something
From this reading But we’d done it, and there was nothing for us but to stand by him—and he did have a monstrous appetite.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading We never asked how he got them, and he never told us, but I don’t imagine it was best for folks in that neighborhood to leave things laying after dark.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading If we’d known what a trouble Sammy was going to be to us all through the winter, I guess we’d have been more careful about making him our ward.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If we’d known what a trouble Sammy was going to be to us all through the winter, I guess we’d have been more careful about making him our ward.
in addition to; as well as
From this reading He did get things to eat besides what we took him—chicken sometimes, I guess, and things like that.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading We never asked how he got them, and he never told us, but I don’t imagine it was best for folks in that neighborhood to leave things laying after dark.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But we’d done it, and there was nothing for us but to stand by him—and he did have a monstrous appetite.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But we’d done it, and there was nothing for us but to stand by him—and he did have a monstrous appetite.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading After winter came on we pretty nearly had to feed him.
exercising caution or showing care or attention
From this reading If we’d known what a trouble Sammy was going to be to us all through the winter, I guess we’d have been more careful about making him our ward.
chickennounUS /ˈtʃɪkən/
the flesh of a chicken used for food
From this reading He did get things to eat besides what we took him—chicken sometimes, I guess, and things like that.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading We never asked how he got them, and he never told us, but I don’t imagine it was best for folks in that neighborhood to leave things laying after dark.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading But we’d done it, and there was nothing for us but to stand by him—and he did have a monstrous appetite.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We never asked how he got them, and he never told us, but I don’t imagine it was best for folks in that neighborhood to leave things laying after dark.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading But we’d done it, and there was nothing for us but to stand by him—and he did have a monstrous appetite.
take in solid food
From this reading He did get things to eat besides what we took him—chicken sometimes, I guess, and things like that.
provide as food
From this reading After winter came on we pretty nearly had to feed him.
your parents
From this reading We never asked how he got them, and he never told us, but I don’t imagine it was best for folks in that neighborhood to leave things laying after dark.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But we’d done it, and there was nothing for us but to stand by him—and he did have a monstrous appetite.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading He did get things to eat besides what we took him—chicken sometimes, I guess, and things like that.
the act of departing
From this reading If we’d known what a trouble Sammy was going to be to us all through the winter, I guess we’d have been more careful about making him our ward.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading We never asked how he got them, and he never told us, but I don’t imagine it was best for folks in that neighborhood to leave things laying after dark.
expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading If we’d known what a trouble Sammy was going to be to us all through the winter, I guess we’d have been more careful about making him our ward.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading After winter came on we pretty nearly had to feed him.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If we’d known what a trouble Sammy was going to be to us all through the winter, I guess we’d have been more careful about making him our ward.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But we’d done it, and there was nothing for us but to stand by him—and he did have a monstrous appetite.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading If we’d known what a trouble Sammy was going to be to us all through the winter, I guess we’d have been more careful about making him our ward.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We never asked how he got them, and he never told us, but I don’t imagine it was best for folks in that neighborhood to leave things laying after dark.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading If we’d known what a trouble Sammy was going to be to us all through the winter, I guess we’d have been more careful about making him our ward.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If we’d known what a trouble Sammy was going to be to us all through the winter, I guess we’d have been more careful about making him our ward.
form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading We never asked how he got them, and he never told us, but I don’t imagine it was best for folks in that neighborhood to leave things laying after dark.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We never asked how he got them, and he never told us, but I don’t imagine it was best for folks in that neighborhood to leave things laying after dark.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But we’d done it, and there was nothing for us but to stand by him—and he did have a monstrous appetite.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading If we’d known what a trouble Sammy was going to be to us all through the winter, I guess we’d have been more careful about making him our ward.
the production of eggs (especially in birds)
From this reading We never asked how he got them, and he never told us, but I don’t imagine it was best for folks in that neighborhood to leave things laying after dark.
go away from a place
From this reading We never asked how he got them, and he never told us, but I don’t imagine it was best for folks in that neighborhood to leave things laying after dark.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading He did get things to eat besides what we took him—chicken sometimes, I guess, and things like that.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading If we’d known what a trouble Sammy was going to be to us all through the winter, I guess we’d have been more careful about making him our ward.
monstrousadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːnstrəs/
abnormally large
From this reading But we’d done it, and there was nothing for us but to stand by him—and he did have a monstrous appetite.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading If we’d known what a trouble Sammy was going to be to us all through the winter, I guess we’d have been more careful about making him our ward.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading After winter came on we pretty nearly had to feed him.
neighborhoodnounUS /ˈneɪbərhʊd/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading We never asked how he got them, and he never told us, but I don’t imagine it was best for folks in that neighborhood to leave things laying after dark.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading We never asked how he got them, and he never told us, but I don’t imagine it was best for folks in that neighborhood to leave things laying after dark.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading But we’d done it, and there was nothing for us but to stand by him—and he did have a monstrous appetite.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading After winter came on we pretty nearly had to feed him.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading If we’d known what a trouble Sammy was going to be to us all through the winter, I guess we’d have been more careful about making him our ward.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading After winter came on we pretty nearly had to feed him.
Sammy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If we’d known what a trouble Sammy was going to be to us all through the winter, I guess we’d have been more careful about making him our ward.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading He did get things to eat besides what we took him—chicken sometimes, I guess, and things like that.
be standing; be upright
From this reading But we’d done it, and there was nothing for us but to stand by him—and he did have a monstrous appetite.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He did get things to eat besides what we took him—chicken sometimes, I guess, and things like that.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading If we’d known what a trouble Sammy was going to be to us all through the winter, I guess we’d have been more careful about making him our ward.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading We never asked how he got them, and he never told us, but I don’t imagine it was best for folks in that neighborhood to leave things laying after dark.
in or at that place or location
From this reading But we’d done it, and there was nothing for us but to stand by him—and he did have a monstrous appetite.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading He did get things to eat besides what we took him—chicken sometimes, I guess, and things like that.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading If we’d known what a trouble Sammy was going to be to us all through the winter, I guess we’d have been more careful about making him our ward.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading If we’d known what a trouble Sammy was going to be to us all through the winter, I guess we’d have been more careful about making him our ward.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading We never asked how he got them, and he never told us, but I don’t imagine it was best for folks in that neighborhood to leave things laying after dark.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading He did get things to eat besides what we took him—chicken sometimes, I guess, and things like that.
a source of difficulty
From this reading If we’d known what a trouble Sammy was going to be to us all through the winter, I guess we’d have been more careful about making him our ward.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading If we’d known what a trouble Sammy was going to be to us all through the winter, I guess we’d have been more careful about making him our ward.
wardnounUS /wɔːrd/
a person who is under the protection or in the custody of another
From this reading If we’d known what a trouble Sammy was going to be to us all through the winter, I guess we’d have been more careful about making him our ward.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading If we’d known what a trouble Sammy was going to be to us all through the winter, I guess we’d have been more careful about making him our ward.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading After winter came on we pretty nearly had to feed him.
we'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If we’d known what a trouble Sammy was going to be to us all through the winter, I guess we’d have been more careful about making him our ward.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading If we’d known what a trouble Sammy was going to be to us all through the winter, I guess we’d have been more careful about making him our ward.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading If we’d known what a trouble Sammy was going to be to us all through the winter, I guess we’d have been more careful about making him our ward.
