used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They found Ellen at one tub and Annie at another--up to her elbows in the soap suds, her cheeks still flushed, but a smile beginning to break through.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "An' she's comin' over to wash the dishes for me to-night," Ellen chimed in.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Five minutes later, Peter and Nora, who had been sitting on the back steps, waiting patiently for Ellen's diplomacy to bear fruit, returned to the laundry.
Annie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They found Ellen at one tub and Annie at another--up to her elbows in the soap suds, her cheeks still flushed, but a smile beginning to break through.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading They found Ellen at one tub and Annie at another--up to her elbows in the soap suds, her cheeks still flushed, but a smile beginning to break through.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They found Ellen at one tub and Annie at another--up to her elbows in the soap suds, her cheeks still flushed, but a smile beginning to break through.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Five minutes later, Peter and Nora, who had been sitting on the back steps, waiting patiently for Ellen's diplomacy to bear fruit, returned to the laundry.
have
From this reading Five minutes later, Peter and Nora, who had been sitting on the back steps, waiting patiently for Ellen's diplomacy to bear fruit, returned to the laundry.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Five minutes later, Peter and Nora, who had been sitting on the back steps, waiting patiently for Ellen's diplomacy to bear fruit, returned to the laundry.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading They found Ellen at one tub and Annie at another--up to her elbows in the soap suds, her cheeks still flushed, but a smile beginning to break through.
terminate
From this reading They found Ellen at one tub and Annie at another--up to her elbows in the soap suds, her cheeks still flushed, but a smile beginning to break through.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They found Ellen at one tub and Annie at another--up to her elbows in the soap suds, her cheeks still flushed, but a smile beginning to break through.
put or send forth
From this reading "We're havin' soup, an' fish, an' roast, an'----" Peter clapped his hand over his mouth and Nora cast him a warning look.
plural of “cheek” — either side of the face below the eyes
From this reading They found Ellen at one tub and Annie at another--up to her elbows in the soap suds, her cheeks still flushed, but a smile beginning to break through.
chimedverbUS /tʃaɪmd/
past form of “chime” — emit a sound
From this reading "An' she's comin' over to wash the dishes for me to-night," Ellen chimed in.
clappedverbUS /klæpt/
inflected form of “clap” — put quickly or forcibly
From this reading "We're havin' soup, an' fish, an' roast, an'----" Peter clapped his hand over his mouth and Nora cast him a warning look.
comin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "An' she's comin' over to wash the dishes for me to-night," Ellen chimed in.
diplomacynounUS /dɪˈploʊməsi/
negotiation between nations
From this reading Five minutes later, Peter and Nora, who had been sitting on the back steps, waiting patiently for Ellen's diplomacy to bear fruit, returned to the laundry.
dishesnounUS /ˈdɪʃəz/
plural of “dish” — a piece of dishware normally used as a container for holding or serving food
From this reading "An' she's comin' over to wash the dishes for me to-night," Ellen chimed in.
elbowsnounUS /ˈelboʊz/
plural of “elbow” — hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm and the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped
From this reading They found Ellen at one tub and Annie at another--up to her elbows in the soap suds, her cheeks still flushed, but a smile beginning to break through.
Ellen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They found Ellen at one tub and Annie at another--up to her elbows in the soap suds, her cheeks still flushed, but a smile beginning to break through.
Ellen's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five minutes later, Peter and Nora, who had been sitting on the back steps, waiting patiently for Ellen's diplomacy to bear fruit, returned to the laundry.
a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
From this reading "Ellen's helpin' me," she said in rather sheepish explanation.
any of various mostly cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates usually having scales and breathing through gills
From this reading "We're havin' soup, an' fish, an' roast, an'----" Peter clapped his hand over his mouth and Nora cast him a warning look.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading Five minutes later, Peter and Nora, who had been sitting on the back steps, waiting patiently for Ellen's diplomacy to bear fruit, returned to the laundry.
having the pinkish flush of health
From this reading They found Ellen at one tub and Annie at another--up to her elbows in the soap suds, her cheeks still flushed, but a smile beginning to break through.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Five minutes later, Peter and Nora, who had been sitting on the back steps, waiting patiently for Ellen's diplomacy to bear fruit, returned to the laundry.
set up or found
From this reading They found Ellen at one tub and Annie at another--up to her elbows in the soap suds, her cheeks still flushed, but a smile beginning to break through.
the ripened reproductive body of a seed plant
From this reading Five minutes later, Peter and Nora, who had been sitting on the back steps, waiting patiently for Ellen's diplomacy to bear fruit, returned to the laundry.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Five minutes later, Peter and Nora, who had been sitting on the back steps, waiting patiently for Ellen's diplomacy to bear fruit, returned to the laundry.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading "We're havin' soup, an' fish, an' roast, an'----" Peter clapped his hand over his mouth and Nora cast him a warning look.
havin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We're havin' soup, an' fish, an' roast, an'----" Peter clapped his hand over his mouth and Nora cast him a warning look.
helpin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ellen's helpin' me," she said in rather sheepish explanation.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading They found Ellen at one tub and Annie at another--up to her elbows in the soap suds, her cheeks still flushed, but a smile beginning to break through.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "We're havin' soup, an' fish, an' roast, an'----" Peter clapped his hand over his mouth and Nora cast him a warning look.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "We're havin' soup, an' fish, an' roast, an'----" Peter clapped his hand over his mouth and Nora cast him a warning look.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They found Ellen at one tub and Annie at another--up to her elbows in the soap suds, her cheeks still flushed, but a smile beginning to break through.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Five minutes later, Peter and Nora, who had been sitting on the back steps, waiting patiently for Ellen's diplomacy to bear fruit, returned to the laundry.
laundrynounUS /ˈlɔːndri/
garments or white goods that can be cleaned by laundering
From this reading Five minutes later, Peter and Nora, who had been sitting on the back steps, waiting patiently for Ellen's diplomacy to bear fruit, returned to the laundry.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading "We're havin' soup, an' fish, an' roast, an'----" Peter clapped his hand over his mouth and Nora cast him a warning look.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Ellen's helpin' me," she said in rather sheepish explanation.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading Five minutes later, Peter and Nora, who had been sitting on the back steps, waiting patiently for Ellen's diplomacy to bear fruit, returned to the laundry.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading "We're havin' soup, an' fish, an' roast, an'----" Peter clapped his hand over his mouth and Nora cast him a warning look.
Nora
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five minutes later, Peter and Nora, who had been sitting on the back steps, waiting patiently for Ellen's diplomacy to bear fruit, returned to the laundry.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Five minutes later, Peter and Nora, who had been sitting on the back steps, waiting patiently for Ellen's diplomacy to bear fruit, returned to the laundry.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading They found Ellen at one tub and Annie at another--up to her elbows in the soap suds, her cheeks still flushed, but a smile beginning to break through.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading "An' she's comin' over to wash the dishes for me to-night," Ellen chimed in.
patientlyadverbUS /ˈpeɪʃəntli/
with patience; in a patient manner
From this reading Five minutes later, Peter and Nora, who had been sitting on the back steps, waiting patiently for Ellen's diplomacy to bear fruit, returned to the laundry.
disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading Five minutes later, Peter and Nora, who had been sitting on the back steps, waiting patiently for Ellen's diplomacy to bear fruit, returned to the laundry.
on the contrary
From this reading "Ellen's helpin' me," she said in rather sheepish explanation.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Five minutes later, Peter and Nora, who had been sitting on the back steps, waiting patiently for Ellen's diplomacy to bear fruit, returned to the laundry.
roastverbUS /roʊst/
cook with dry heat, usually in an oven
From this reading "We're havin' soup, an' fish, an' roast, an'----" Peter clapped his hand over his mouth and Nora cast him a warning look.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Ellen's helpin' me," she said in rather sheepish explanation.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Ellen's helpin' me," she said in rather sheepish explanation.
she's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "An' she's comin' over to wash the dishes for me to-night," Ellen chimed in.
sheepishadjectiveUS /ˈʃiːpɪʃ/
like or suggestive of a sheep in docility or stupidity or meekness or timidity
From this reading "Ellen's helpin' me," she said in rather sheepish explanation.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading Five minutes later, Peter and Nora, who had been sitting on the back steps, waiting patiently for Ellen's diplomacy to bear fruit, returned to the laundry.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading They found Ellen at one tub and Annie at another--up to her elbows in the soap suds, her cheeks still flushed, but a smile beginning to break through.
soapnounUS /soʊp/
a cleansing agent made from the salts of vegetable or animal fats
From this reading They found Ellen at one tub and Annie at another--up to her elbows in the soap suds, her cheeks still flushed, but a smile beginning to break through.
soupnounUS /suːp/
liquid food especially of meat or fish or vegetable stock often containing pieces of solid food
From this reading "We're havin' soup, an' fish, an' roast, an'----" Peter clapped his hand over his mouth and Nora cast him a warning look.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Five minutes later, Peter and Nora, who had been sitting on the back steps, waiting patiently for Ellen's diplomacy to bear fruit, returned to the laundry.
not in physical motion
From this reading They found Ellen at one tub and Annie at another--up to her elbows in the soap suds, her cheeks still flushed, but a smile beginning to break through.
sudsnounUS /sʌdz/
the froth produced by soaps or detergents
From this reading They found Ellen at one tub and Annie at another--up to her elbows in the soap suds, her cheeks still flushed, but a smile beginning to break through.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Five minutes later, Peter and Nora, who had been sitting on the back steps, waiting patiently for Ellen's diplomacy to bear fruit, returned to the laundry.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They found Ellen at one tub and Annie at another--up to her elbows in the soap suds, her cheeks still flushed, but a smile beginning to break through.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading They found Ellen at one tub and Annie at another--up to her elbows in the soap suds, her cheeks still flushed, but a smile beginning to break through.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Five minutes later, Peter and Nora, who had been sitting on the back steps, waiting patiently for Ellen's diplomacy to bear fruit, returned to the laundry.
to-night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "An' she's comin' over to wash the dishes for me to-night," Ellen chimed in.
tubnounUS /tʌb/
a relatively large open container that you fill with water and use to wash the body
From this reading They found Ellen at one tub and Annie at another--up to her elbows in the soap suds, her cheeks still flushed, but a smile beginning to break through.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading They found Ellen at one tub and Annie at another--up to her elbows in the soap suds, her cheeks still flushed, but a smile beginning to break through.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading Five minutes later, Peter and Nora, who had been sitting on the back steps, waiting patiently for Ellen's diplomacy to bear fruit, returned to the laundry.
a message informing of danger
From this reading "We're havin' soup, an' fish, an' roast, an'----" Peter clapped his hand over his mouth and Nora cast him a warning look.
washverbUS /wɑːʃ/
clean with some chemical process
From this reading "An' she's comin' over to wash the dishes for me to-night," Ellen chimed in.
We're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We're havin' soup, an' fish, an' roast, an'----" Peter clapped his hand over his mouth and Nora cast him a warning look.
which person or people
From this reading Five minutes later, Peter and Nora, who had been sitting on the back steps, waiting patiently for Ellen's diplomacy to bear fruit, returned to the laundry.
