used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He spent all his spare time now--it was not much--in the vine pergola, and he was picking out the ripe grapes from a bunch as he answered her.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "Duke," she said, for at least the twentieth time, "I keep wondering how it came about."
(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 He spent all his spare time now--it was not much--in the vine pergola, and he was picking out the ripe grapes from a bunch as he answered her.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "What an excuse for falling in love," she protested half-vexedly; "but I should like to know."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He spent all his spare time now--it was not much--in the vine pergola, and he was picking out the ripe grapes from a bunch as he answered her.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading He spent all his spare time now--it was not much--in the vine pergola, and he was picking out the ripe grapes from a bunch as he answered her.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He spent all his spare time now--it was not much--in the vine pergola, and he was picking out the ripe grapes from a bunch as he answered her.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "Duke," she said, for at least the twentieth time, "I keep wondering how it came about."
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading I had been thinking about you a lot; and then I was tired--really done!"
bunchnounUS /bʌntʃ/
a grouping of a number of similar things
From this reading He spent all his spare time now--it was not much--in the vine pergola, and he was picking out the ripe grapes from a bunch as he answered her.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "What an excuse for falling in love," she protested half-vexedly; "but I should like to know."
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "Duke," she said, for at least the twentieth time, "I keep wondering how it came about."
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don't.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading I had been thinking about you a lot; and then I was tired--really done!"
a British peer of the highest rank
From this reading "Duke," she said, for at least the twentieth time, "I keep wondering how it came about."
accept an excuse for
From this reading "What an excuse for falling in love," she protested half-vexedly; "but I should like to know."
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading "What an excuse for falling in love," she protested half-vexedly; "but I should like to know."
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Duke," she said, for at least the twentieth time, "I keep wondering how it came about."
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He spent all his spare time now--it was not much--in the vine pergola, and he was picking out the ripe grapes from a bunch as he answered her.
grapesnounUS /ɡreɪps/
plural of “grape” — any of various juicy fruit of the genus Vitis with green or purple skins; grow in clusters
From this reading He spent all his spare time now--it was not much--in the vine pergola, and he was picking out the ripe grapes from a bunch as he answered her.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had been thinking about you a lot; and then I was tired--really done!"
half-vexedly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What an excuse for falling in love," she protested half-vexedly; "but I should like to know."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He spent all his spare time now--it was not much--in the vine pergola, and he was picking out the ripe grapes from a bunch as he answered her.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He spent all his spare time now--it was not much--in the vine pergola, and he was picking out the ripe grapes from a bunch as he answered her.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He spent all his spare time now--it was not much--in the vine pergola, and he was picking out the ripe grapes from a bunch as he answered her.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Duke," she said, for at least the twentieth time, "I keep wondering how it came about."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Duke," she said, for at least the twentieth time, "I keep wondering how it came about."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He spent all his spare time now--it was not much--in the vine pergola, and he was picking out the ripe grapes from a bunch as he answered her.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Duke," she said, for at least the twentieth time, "I keep wondering how it came about."
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading "Duke," she said, for at least the twentieth time, "I keep wondering how it came about."
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "What an excuse for falling in love," she protested half-vexedly; "but I should like to know."
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 "Duke," she said, for at least the twentieth time, "I keep wondering how it came about."
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "What an excuse for falling in love," she protested half-vexedly; "but I should like to know."
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading I had been thinking about you a lot; and then I was tired--really done!"
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading "What an excuse for falling in love," she protested half-vexedly; "but I should like to know."
to a great degree or extent
From this reading He spent all his spare time now--it was not much--in the vine pergola, and he was picking out the ripe grapes from a bunch as he answered her.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He spent all his spare time now--it was not much--in the vine pergola, and he was picking out the ripe grapes from a bunch as he answered her.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He spent all his spare time now--it was not much--in the vine pergola, and he was picking out the ripe grapes from a bunch as he answered her.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He spent all his spare time now--it was not much--in the vine pergola, and he was picking out the ripe grapes from a bunch as he answered her.
pergolanounUS /ˈpɜːrɡələ/
a framework that supports climbing plants
From this reading He spent all his spare time now--it was not much--in the vine pergola, and he was picking out the ripe grapes from a bunch as he answered her.
pickingnounUS /ˈpɪkɪŋ/
the quantity of a crop that is harvested
From this reading He spent all his spare time now--it was not much--in the vine pergola, and he was picking out the ripe grapes from a bunch as he answered her.
past form of “protest” — utter words of protest
From this reading "What an excuse for falling in love," she protested half-vexedly; "but I should like to know."
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading I had been thinking about you a lot; and then I was tired--really done!"
ripeadjectiveUS /raɪp/
fully developed or matured and ready to be eaten or used
From this reading He spent all his spare time now--it was not much--in the vine pergola, and he was picking out the ripe grapes from a bunch as he answered her.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Duke," she said, for at least the twentieth time, "I keep wondering how it came about."
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Duke," she said, for at least the twentieth time, "I keep wondering how it came about."
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading "What an excuse for falling in love," she protested half-vexedly; "but I should like to know."
refrain from harming
From this reading He spent all his spare time now--it was not much--in the vine pergola, and he was picking out the ripe grapes from a bunch as he answered her.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading He spent all his spare time now--it was not much--in the vine pergola, and he was picking out the ripe grapes from a bunch as he answered her.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Duke," she said, for at least the twentieth time, "I keep wondering how it came about."
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading I had been thinking about you a lot; and then I was tired--really done!"
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading I had been thinking about you a lot; and then I was tired--really done!"
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading "Duke," she said, for at least the twentieth time, "I keep wondering how it came about."
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading I had been thinking about you a lot; and then I was tired--really done!"
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "What an excuse for falling in love," she protested half-vexedly; "but I should like to know."
twentiethnounUS /ˈtwentiəθ/
position 20 in a countable series of things
From this reading "Duke," she said, for at least the twentieth time, "I keep wondering how it came about."
vinenounUS /vaɪn/
a plant with a weak stem that derives support from climbing, twining, or creeping along a surface
From this reading He spent all his spare time now--it was not much--in the vine pergola, and he was picking out the ripe grapes from a bunch as he answered her.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He spent all his spare time now--it was not much--in the vine pergola, and he was picking out the ripe grapes from a bunch as he answered her.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What an excuse for falling in love," she protested half-vexedly; "but I should like to know."
showing curiosity
From this reading "Duke," she said, for at least the twentieth time, "I keep wondering how it came about."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I had been thinking about you a lot; and then I was tired--really done!"
