used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading [Mary] felt a wee bit afraid, and began to run but her [foot] struck a [stone] and down she tumbled on her [nose]!
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Before she could get up something soft and woolly was rubbing gently against her [face], saying "Ba-a-a!"
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As she was coming home she heard a queer little patter, patter, behind her.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
Ba-a-a
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before she could get up something soft and woolly was rubbing gently against her [face], saying "Ba-a-a!"
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading She looked back and saw something white!
a container that is usually woven and has handles
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before she could get up something soft and woolly was rubbing gently against her [face], saying "Ba-a-a!"
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading [Mary] felt a wee bit afraid, and began to run but her [foot] struck a [stone] and down she tumbled on her [nose]!
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading As she was coming home she heard a queer little patter, patter, behind her.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading [Mary] felt a wee bit afraid, and began to run but her [foot] struck a [stone] and down she tumbled on her [nose]!
bonnetnounUS /ˈbɑːnət/
a hat tied under the chin
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
ClovernounUS /ˈkloʊvər/
a plant of the genus Trifolium
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading As she was coming home she heard a queer little patter, patter, behind her.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Before she could get up something soft and woolly was rubbing gently against her [face], saying "Ba-a-a!"
dollnounUS /dɑːl/
a small replica of a person; used as a toy
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
put on clothes
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
oval reproductive body of a fowl (especially a hen) used as food
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Before she could get up something soft and woolly was rubbing gently against her [face], saying "Ba-a-a!"
be a farmer; work as a farmer
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading [Mary] felt a wee bit afraid, and began to run but her [foot] struck a [stone] and down she tumbled on her [nose]!
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
in a gradual manner
From this reading Before she could get up something soft and woolly was rubbing gently against her [face], saying "Ba-a-a!"
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Before she could get up something soft and woolly was rubbing gently against her [face], saying "Ba-a-a!"
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading As she was coming home she heard a queer little patter, patter, behind her.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
where you live at a particular time
From this reading As she was coming home she heard a queer little patter, patter, behind her.
set down according to a plan
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading She looked back and saw something white!
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
Moffett's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals
From this reading [Mary] felt a wee bit afraid, and began to run but her [foot] struck a [stone] and down she tumbled on her [nose]!
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
patternounUS /ˈpætər/
plausible glib talk (especially useful to a salesperson)
From this reading As she was coming home she heard a queer little patter, patter, behind her.
a light shade of red
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading As she was coming home she heard a queer little patter, patter, behind her.
rubbingnounUS /ˈrʌbɪŋ/
the resistance encountered when one body is moved in contact with another
From this reading Before she could get up something soft and woolly was rubbing gently against her [face], saying "Ba-a-a!"
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading [Mary] felt a wee bit afraid, and began to run but her [foot] struck a [stone] and down she tumbled on her [nose]!
cut with a saw
From this reading She looked back and saw something white!
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading Before she could get up something soft and woolly was rubbing gently against her [face], saying "Ba-a-a!"
scissorsnounUS /ˈsɪzərz/
an edge tool having two crossed pivoting blades
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading Before she could get up something soft and woolly was rubbing gently against her [face], saying "Ba-a-a!"
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
a thing, without saying which
From this reading She looked back and saw something white!
sorryadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːri/
feeling or expressing regret or sorrow or a sense of loss over something done or undone
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading [Mary] felt a wee bit afraid, and began to run but her [foot] struck a [stone] and down she tumbled on her [nose]!
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading [Mary] felt a wee bit afraid, and began to run but her [foot] struck a [stone] and down she tumbled on her [nose]!
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
thimblenounUS /ˈθɪmbəl/
as much as a thimble will hold
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
bound or secured closely
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
tumbledverbUS /ˈtʌmbəld/
past form of “tumble” — fall down, as if collapsing
From this reading [Mary] felt a wee bit afraid, and began to run but her [foot] struck a [stone] and down she tumbled on her [nose]!
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
precisely as stated
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
weeadjectiveUS /wiː/
(used informally) very small
From this reading [Mary] felt a wee bit afraid, and began to run but her [foot] struck a [stone] and down she tumbled on her [nose]!
at the time that
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
a Caucasian
From this reading She looked back and saw something white!
in the company of; together with
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
woollyadjectiveUS /ˈwʊli/
having a fluffy character or appearance
From this reading Before she could get up something soft and woolly was rubbing gently against her [face], saying "Ba-a-a!"
yarnnounUS /jɑːrn/
the act of giving an account describing incidents or a course of events
From this reading When little Mary Moffett's mother asked her to go up to the Clover Farm for some fresh [eggs], Mary felt a little sorry, for she was very busy making her [doll] a [dress], but she laid down her [thimble] and [scissors] and [yarn], tied on her pink [bonnet], and set off up the hill, with her little [basket] on her [arm].
