used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Now a Russet Dog had noticed for some days a family of wrens, off which he wished to dine.
(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 might have been satisfied with one, but he was determined to have the whole lot--father and eighteen sons--but all so like that he could not tell one from the other, or the father from the children.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He might have been satisfied with one, but he was determined to have the whole lot--father and eighteen sons--but all so like that he could not tell one from the other, or the father from the children.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading "It is no use to kill one son," he said to himself, "because the old cock will take warning and fly away with the seventeen.
barnnounUS /bɑːrn/
an outlying farm building for storing grain or animal feed and housing farm animals
From this reading He set his wits to work to find out, and one day seeing them all threshing in a barn, he sat down to watch them; still he could not be sure.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He set his wits to work to find out, and one day seeing them all threshing in a barn, he sat down to watch them; still he could not be sure.
for the reason that
From this reading "It is no use to kill one son," he said to himself, "because the old cock will take warning and fly away with the seventeen.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He might have been satisfied with one, but he was determined to have the whole lot--father and eighteen sons--but all so like that he could not tell one from the other, or the father from the children.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He might have been satisfied with one, but he was determined to have the whole lot--father and eighteen sons--but all so like that he could not tell one from the other, or the father from the children.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading He might have been satisfied with one, but he was determined to have the whole lot--father and eighteen sons--but all so like that he could not tell one from the other, or the father from the children.
cockverbUS /kɑːk/
tilt or slant to one side
From this reading "It is no use to kill one son," he said to himself, "because the old cock will take warning and fly away with the seventeen.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He might have been satisfied with one, but he was determined to have the whole lot--father and eighteen sons--but all so like that he could not tell one from the other, or the father from the children.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading He set his wits to work to find out, and one day seeing them all threshing in a barn, he sat down to watch them; still he could not be sure.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Now a Russet Dog had noticed for some days a family of wrens, off which he wished to dine.
characterized by great determination
From this reading He might have been satisfied with one, but he was determined to have the whole lot--father and eighteen sons--but all so like that he could not tell one from the other, or the father from the children.
dineverbUS /daɪn/
have supper; eat dinner
From this reading Now a Russet Dog had noticed for some days a family of wrens, off which he wished to dine.
a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading Now a Russet Dog had noticed for some days a family of wrens, off which he wished to dine.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He set his wits to work to find out, and one day seeing them all threshing in a barn, he sat down to watch them; still he could not be sure.
eighteenadjectiveUS /eɪˈtiːn/
being one more than seventeen
From this reading He might have been satisfied with one, but he was determined to have the whole lot--father and eighteen sons--but all so like that he could not tell one from the other, or the father from the children.
a social unit living together
From this reading Now a Russet Dog had noticed for some days a family of wrens, off which he wished to dine.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading He might have been satisfied with one, but he was determined to have the whole lot--father and eighteen sons--but all so like that he could not tell one from the other, or the father from the children.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading He set his wits to work to find out, and one day seeing them all threshing in a barn, he sat down to watch them; still he could not be sure.
travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading "It is no use to kill one son," he said to himself, "because the old cock will take warning and fly away with the seventeen.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Now a Russet Dog had noticed for some days a family of wrens, off which he wished to dine.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He might have been satisfied with one, but he was determined to have the whole lot--father and eighteen sons--but all so like that he could not tell one from the other, or the father from the children.
a man of refinement
From this reading I wish I knew which is the old gentleman."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Now a Russet Dog had noticed for some days a family of wrens, off which he wished to dine.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He might have been satisfied with one, but he was determined to have the whole lot--father and eighteen sons--but all so like that he could not tell one from the other, or the father from the children.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Now a Russet Dog had noticed for some days a family of wrens, off which he wished to dine.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading "It is no use to kill one son," he said to himself, "because the old cock will take warning and fly away with the seventeen.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He set his wits to work to find out, and one day seeing them all threshing in a barn, he sat down to watch them; still he could not be sure.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I wish I knew which is the old gentleman."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He set his wits to work to find out, and one day seeing them all threshing in a barn, he sat down to watch them; still he could not be sure.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "It is no use to kill one son," he said to himself, "because the old cock will take warning and fly away with the seventeen.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "It is no use to kill one son," he said to himself, "because the old cock will take warning and fly away with the seventeen.
cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading "It is no use to kill one son," he said to himself, "because the old cock will take warning and fly away with the seventeen.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading I wish I knew which is the old gentleman."
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading He might have been satisfied with one, but he was determined to have the whole lot--father and eighteen sons--but all so like that he could not tell one from the other, or the father from the children.
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading He might have been satisfied with one, but he was determined to have the whole lot--father and eighteen sons--but all so like that he could not tell one from the other, or the father from the children.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He might have been satisfied with one, but he was determined to have the whole lot--father and eighteen sons--but all so like that he could not tell one from the other, or the father from the children.
not any; not one
From this reading "It is no use to kill one son," he said to himself, "because the old cock will take warning and fly away with the seventeen.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He might have been satisfied with one, but he was determined to have the whole lot--father and eighteen sons--but all so like that he could not tell one from the other, or the father from the children.
being perceived or observed
From this reading Now a Russet Dog had noticed for some days a family of wrens, off which he wished to dine.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now a Russet Dog had noticed for some days a family of wrens, off which he wished to dine.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Now a Russet Dog had noticed for some days a family of wrens, off which he wished to dine.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Now a Russet Dog had noticed for some days a family of wrens, off which he wished to dine.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading "It is no use to kill one son," he said to himself, "because the old cock will take warning and fly away with the seventeen.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He might have been satisfied with one, but he was determined to have the whole lot--father and eighteen sons--but all so like that he could not tell one from the other, or the father from the children.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He might have been satisfied with one, but he was determined to have the whole lot--father and eighteen sons--but all so like that he could not tell one from the other, or the father from the children.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading He might have been satisfied with one, but he was determined to have the whole lot--father and eighteen sons--but all so like that he could not tell one from the other, or the father from the children.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He set his wits to work to find out, and one day seeing them all threshing in a barn, he sat down to watch them; still he could not be sure.
RussetnounUS /ˈrʌsɪt/
a reddish brown homespun fabric
From this reading Now a Russet Dog had noticed for some days a family of wrens, off which he wished to dine.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "It is no use to kill one son," he said to himself, "because the old cock will take warning and fly away with the seventeen.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading He set his wits to work to find out, and one day seeing them all threshing in a barn, he sat down to watch them; still he could not be sure.
filled with satisfaction
From this reading He might have been satisfied with one, but he was determined to have the whole lot--father and eighteen sons--but all so like that he could not tell one from the other, or the father from the children.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading He set his wits to work to find out, and one day seeing them all threshing in a barn, he sat down to watch them; still he could not be sure.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He set his wits to work to find out, and one day seeing them all threshing in a barn, he sat down to watch them; still he could not be sure.
seventeenadjectiveUS /ˈsevənˈtiːn/
being one more than sixteen
From this reading "It is no use to kill one son," he said to himself, "because the old cock will take warning and fly away with the seventeen.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He might have been satisfied with one, but he was determined to have the whole lot--father and eighteen sons--but all so like that he could not tell one from the other, or the father from the children.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Now a Russet Dog had noticed for some days a family of wrens, off which he wished to dine.
a male human offspring
From this reading "It is no use to kill one son," he said to himself, "because the old cock will take warning and fly away with the seventeen.
plural of “son” — a male human offspring
From this reading He might have been satisfied with one, but he was determined to have the whole lot--father and eighteen sons--but all so like that he could not tell one from the other, or the father from the children.
not in physical motion
From this reading He set his wits to work to find out, and one day seeing them all threshing in a barn, he sat down to watch them; still he could not be sure.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading He set his wits to work to find out, and one day seeing them all threshing in a barn, he sat down to watch them; still he could not be sure.
carry out
From this reading "It is no use to kill one son," he said to himself, "because the old cock will take warning and fly away with the seventeen.
express in words
From this reading He might have been satisfied with one, but he was determined to have the whole lot--father and eighteen sons--but all so like that he could not tell one from the other, or the father from the children.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He might have been satisfied with one, but he was determined to have the whole lot--father and eighteen sons--but all so like that he could not tell one from the other, or the father from the children.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He might have been satisfied with one, but he was determined to have the whole lot--father and eighteen sons--but all so like that he could not tell one from the other, or the father from the children.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He set his wits to work to find out, and one day seeing them all threshing in a barn, he sat down to watch them; still he could not be sure.
threshingnoun
the separation of grain or seeds from the husks and straw
From this reading He set his wits to work to find out, and one day seeing them all threshing in a barn, he sat down to watch them; still he could not be sure.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Now a Russet Dog had noticed for some days a family of wrens, off which he wished to dine.
the act of using
From this reading "It is no use to kill one son," he said to himself, "because the old cock will take warning and fly away with the seventeen.
a message informing of danger
From this reading "It is no use to kill one son," he said to himself, "because the old cock will take warning and fly away with the seventeen.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He might have been satisfied with one, but he was determined to have the whole lot--father and eighteen sons--but all so like that he could not tell one from the other, or the father from the children.
look attentively
From this reading He set his wits to work to find out, and one day seeing them all threshing in a barn, he sat down to watch them; still he could not be sure.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Now a Russet Dog had noticed for some days a family of wrens, off which he wished to dine.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading He might have been satisfied with one, but he was determined to have the whole lot--father and eighteen sons--but all so like that he could not tell one from the other, or the father from the children.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "It is no use to kill one son," he said to himself, "because the old cock will take warning and fly away with the seventeen.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading I wish I knew which is the old gentleman."
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading Now a Russet Dog had noticed for some days a family of wrens, off which he wished to dine.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He might have been satisfied with one, but he was determined to have the whole lot--father and eighteen sons--but all so like that he could not tell one from the other, or the father from the children.
witsnounUS /wɪts/
the basic human power of intelligent thought and perception
From this reading He set his wits to work to find out, and one day seeing them all threshing in a barn, he sat down to watch them; still he could not be sure.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading He set his wits to work to find out, and one day seeing them all threshing in a barn, he sat down to watch them; still he could not be sure.
wrens
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now a Russet Dog had noticed for some days a family of wrens, off which he wished to dine.
