used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "We've been discharged," said one with a red face.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "Of course I know that we shouldn't have come to bother you about it, Miss Spencer, but it was you who hired us, and I told him, said I, 'Miss Spencer's going to hear about this.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The four women were standing in the driveway by the side of the house, and if you had been there as Mary approached, they might have reminded you of four lost sheep catching sight of their shepherd.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading She won't stand for any dirty work.'"
past form of “approach” — move towards
From this reading The four women were standing in the driveway by the side of the house, and if you had been there as Mary approached, they might have reminded you of four lost sheep catching sight of their shepherd.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The four women were standing in the driveway by the side of the house, and if you had been there as Mary approached, they might have reminded you of four lost sheep catching sight of their shepherd.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The four women were standing in the driveway by the side of the house, and if you had been there as Mary approached, they might have reminded you of four lost sheep catching sight of their shepherd.
botherverbUS /ˈbɑːðər/
take the trouble to do something; concern oneself
From this reading "Of course I know that we shouldn't have come to bother you about it, Miss Spencer, but it was you who hired us, and I told him, said I, 'Miss Spencer's going to hear about this.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Of course I know that we shouldn't have come to bother you about it, Miss Spencer, but it was you who hired us, and I told him, said I, 'Miss Spencer's going to hear about this.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The four women were standing in the driveway by the side of the house, and if you had been there as Mary approached, they might have reminded you of four lost sheep catching sight of their shepherd.
catchingnounUS /ˈkætʃɪŋ/
(baseball) playing the position of catcher on a baseball team
From this reading The four women were standing in the driveway by the side of the house, and if you had been there as Mary approached, they might have reminded you of four lost sheep catching sight of their shepherd.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "Come and sit down," said Mary, "and tell me what's the matter."
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading "Of course I know that we shouldn't have come to bother you about it, Miss Spencer, but it was you who hired us, and I told him, said I, 'Miss Spencer's going to hear about this.
dirtyadjectiveUS /ˈdɜːrti/
soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime
From this reading She won't stand for any dirty work.'"
dischargedadjectiveUS /dɪsˈtʃɑːrdʒd/
having lost your job
From this reading "We've been discharged," said one with a red face.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading "Come and sit down," said Mary, "and tell me what's the matter."
drivewaynounUS /ˈdraɪvweɪ/
a road leading up to a private house
From this reading The four women were standing in the driveway by the side of the house, and if you had been there as Mary approached, they might have reminded you of four lost sheep catching sight of their shepherd.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading "We've been discharged," said one with a red face.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She won't stand for any dirty work.'"
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading The four women were standing in the driveway by the side of the house, and if you had been there as Mary approached, they might have reminded you of four lost sheep catching sight of their shepherd.
the act of departing
From this reading "Of course I know that we shouldn't have come to bother you about it, Miss Spencer, but it was you who hired us, and I told him, said I, 'Miss Spencer's going to hear about this.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The four women were standing in the driveway by the side of the house, and if you had been there as Mary approached, they might have reminded you of four lost sheep catching sight of their shepherd.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The four women were standing in the driveway by the side of the house, and if you had been there as Mary approached, they might have reminded you of four lost sheep catching sight of their shepherd.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading "Of course I know that we shouldn't have come to bother you about it, Miss Spencer, but it was you who hired us, and I told him, said I, 'Miss Spencer's going to hear about this.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Of course I know that we shouldn't have come to bother you about it, Miss Spencer, but it was you who hired us, and I told him, said I, 'Miss Spencer's going to hear about this.
hiredadjectiveUS /ˈhaɪərd/
having services engaged for a fee
From this reading "Of course I know that we shouldn't have come to bother you about it, Miss Spencer, but it was you who hired us, and I told him, said I, 'Miss Spencer's going to hear about this.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The four women were standing in the driveway by the side of the house, and if you had been there as Mary approached, they might have reminded you of four lost sheep catching sight of their shepherd.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Of course I know that we shouldn't have come to bother you about it, Miss Spencer, but it was you who hired us, and I told him, said I, 'Miss Spencer's going to hear about this.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The four women were standing in the driveway by the side of the house, and if you had been there as Mary approached, they might have reminded you of four lost sheep catching sight of their shepherd.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The four women were standing in the driveway by the side of the house, and if you had been there as Mary approached, they might have reminded you of four lost sheep catching sight of their shepherd.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Of course I know that we shouldn't have come to bother you about it, Miss Spencer, but it was you who hired us, and I told him, said I, 'Miss Spencer's going to hear about this.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "Of course I know that we shouldn't have come to bother you about it, Miss Spencer, but it was you who hired us, and I told him, said I, 'Miss Spencer's going to hear about this.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading The four women were standing in the driveway by the side of the house, and if you had been there as Mary approached, they might have reminded you of four lost sheep catching sight of their shepherd.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading The four women were standing in the driveway by the side of the house, and if you had been there as Mary approached, they might have reminded you of four lost sheep catching sight of their shepherd.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading "Come and sit down," said Mary, "and tell me what's the matter."
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Come and sit down," said Mary, "and tell me what's the matter."
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The four women were standing in the driveway by the side of the house, and if you had been there as Mary approached, they might have reminded you of four lost sheep catching sight of their shepherd.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading "Of course I know that we shouldn't have come to bother you about it, Miss Spencer, but it was you who hired us, and I told him, said I, 'Miss Spencer's going to hear about this.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The four women were standing in the driveway by the side of the house, and if you had been there as Mary approached, they might have reminded you of four lost sheep catching sight of their shepherd.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "We've been discharged," said one with a red face.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading "We've been discharged," said one with a red face.
past form of “remind” — put in the mind of someone
From this reading The four women were standing in the driveway by the side of the house, and if you had been there as Mary approached, they might have reminded you of four lost sheep catching sight of their shepherd.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Come and sit down," said Mary, "and tell me what's the matter."
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She won't stand for any dirty work.'"
woolly usually horned ruminant mammal related to the goat
From this reading The four women were standing in the driveway by the side of the house, and if you had been there as Mary approached, they might have reminded you of four lost sheep catching sight of their shepherd.
shepherdnounUS /ˈʃepərd/
a clergyman who watches over a group of people
From this reading The four women were standing in the driveway by the side of the house, and if you had been there as Mary approached, they might have reminded you of four lost sheep catching sight of their shepherd.
shouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Of course I know that we shouldn't have come to bother you about it, Miss Spencer, but it was you who hired us, and I told him, said I, 'Miss Spencer's going to hear about this.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The four women were standing in the driveway by the side of the house, and if you had been there as Mary approached, they might have reminded you of four lost sheep catching sight of their shepherd.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading The four women were standing in the driveway by the side of the house, and if you had been there as Mary approached, they might have reminded you of four lost sheep catching sight of their shepherd.
be seated
From this reading "Come and sit down," said Mary, "and tell me what's the matter."
SpencernounUS /ˈspensər/
English philosopher and sociologist who applied the theory of natural selection to human societies (1820-1903)
From this reading "Of course I know that we shouldn't have come to bother you about it, Miss Spencer, but it was you who hired us, and I told him, said I, 'Miss Spencer's going to hear about this.
Spencer'snounUS /ˈspensərz/
possessive form of “spencer” — English philosopher and sociologist who applied the theory of natural selection to human societies (1820-1903)
From this reading "Of course I know that we shouldn't have come to bother you about it, Miss Spencer, but it was you who hired us, and I told him, said I, 'Miss Spencer's going to hear about this.
be standing; be upright
From this reading She won't stand for any dirty work.'"
having a supporting base
From this reading The four women were standing in the driveway by the side of the house, and if you had been there as Mary approached, they might have reminded you of four lost sheep catching sight of their shepherd.
express in words
From this reading "Come and sit down," said Mary, "and tell me what's the matter."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Of course I know that we shouldn't have come to bother you about it, Miss Spencer, but it was you who hired us, and I told him, said I, 'Miss Spencer's going to hear about this.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The four women were standing in the driveway by the side of the house, and if you had been there as Mary approached, they might have reminded you of four lost sheep catching sight of their shepherd.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The four women were standing in the driveway by the side of the house, and if you had been there as Mary approached, they might have reminded you of four lost sheep catching sight of their shepherd.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The four women were standing in the driveway by the side of the house, and if you had been there as Mary approached, they might have reminded you of four lost sheep catching sight of their shepherd.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The four women were standing in the driveway by the side of the house, and if you had been there as Mary approached, they might have reminded you of four lost sheep catching sight of their shepherd.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Of course I know that we shouldn't have come to bother you about it, Miss Spencer, but it was you who hired us, and I told him, said I, 'Miss Spencer's going to hear about this.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Of course I know that we shouldn't have come to bother you about it, Miss Spencer, but it was you who hired us, and I told him, said I, 'Miss Spencer's going to hear about this.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading "Of course I know that we shouldn't have come to bother you about it, Miss Spencer, but it was you who hired us, and I told him, said I, 'Miss Spencer's going to hear about this.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Of course I know that we shouldn't have come to bother you about it, Miss Spencer, but it was you who hired us, and I told him, said I, 'Miss Spencer's going to hear about this.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Of course I know that we shouldn't have come to bother you about it, Miss Spencer, but it was you who hired us, and I told him, said I, 'Miss Spencer's going to hear about this.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "Of course I know that we shouldn't have come to bother you about it, Miss Spencer, but it was you who hired us, and I told him, said I, 'Miss Spencer's going to hear about this.
We've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We've been discharged," said one with a red face.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The four women were standing in the driveway by the side of the house, and if you had been there as Mary approached, they might have reminded you of four lost sheep catching sight of their shepherd.
what's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Come and sit down," said Mary, "and tell me what's the matter."
which person or people
From this reading "Of course I know that we shouldn't have come to bother you about it, Miss Spencer, but it was you who hired us, and I told him, said I, 'Miss Spencer's going to hear about this.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "We've been discharged," said one with a red face.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The four women were standing in the driveway by the side of the house, and if you had been there as Mary approached, they might have reminded you of four lost sheep catching sight of their shepherd.
won't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She won't stand for any dirty work.'"
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading She won't stand for any dirty work.'"
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading The four women were standing in the driveway by the side of the house, and if you had been there as Mary approached, they might have reminded you of four lost sheep catching sight of their shepherd.
