used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a cold, dreary day and the country was white with snow, causing the sparsely settled village of Hickorytown to look even more desolate than usual.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was a cold, dreary day and the country was white with snow, causing the sparsely settled village of Hickorytown to look even more desolate than usual.
angryadjectiveUS /ˈæŋɡri/
feeling or showing anger
From this reading Old Deacon Joshua Marlowe and his wife were seated in the dingy kitchen of the old farmhouse, and it was plainly to be seen that they were both worried and angry.
apronnounUS /ˈeɪprən/
a garment of cloth or leather or plastic that is tied about the waist and worn to protect your clothing
From this reading Martha Marlowe dried her eyes with her apron now and then, and finally a decided sniff evinced to her husband that she was crying.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The farmer’s elbows were on his knees and his head between his hands, and as he sat in silent meditation he spitefully chewed a long wisp of straw.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Old Deacon Joshua Marlowe and his wife were seated in the dingy kitchen of the old farmhouse, and it was plainly to be seen that they were both worried and angry.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The farmer’s elbows were on his knees and his head between his hands, and as he sat in silent meditation he spitefully chewed a long wisp of straw.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Old Deacon Joshua Marlowe and his wife were seated in the dingy kitchen of the old farmhouse, and it was plainly to be seen that they were both worried and angry.
causingnounUS /ˈkɑːzɪŋ/
the act of causing something to happen
From this reading It was a cold, dreary day and the country was white with snow, causing the sparsely settled village of Hickorytown to look even more desolate than usual.
chewedverbUS /tʃuːd/
past form of “chew” — chew (food); to bite and grind with the teeth
From this reading The farmer’s elbows were on his knees and his head between his hands, and as he sat in silent meditation he spitefully chewed a long wisp of straw.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading It was a cold, dreary day and the country was white with snow, causing the sparsely settled village of Hickorytown to look even more desolate than usual.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading It was a cold, dreary day and the country was white with snow, causing the sparsely settled village of Hickorytown to look even more desolate than usual.
demanding attention
From this reading Martha Marlowe dried her eyes with her apron now and then, and finally a decided sniff evinced to her husband that she was crying.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading It was a cold, dreary day and the country was white with snow, causing the sparsely settled village of Hickorytown to look even more desolate than usual.
DeaconnounUS /ˈdiːkən/
a Protestant layman who assists the minister
From this reading Old Deacon Joshua Marlowe and his wife were seated in the dingy kitchen of the old farmhouse, and it was plainly to be seen that they were both worried and angry.
recognizable; marked
From this reading Martha Marlowe dried her eyes with her apron now and then, and finally a decided sniff evinced to her husband that she was crying.
desolateadjectiveUS /ˈdesələt/
providing no shelter or sustenance
From this reading It was a cold, dreary day and the country was white with snow, causing the sparsely settled village of Hickorytown to look even more desolate than usual.
dingyadjectiveUS /ˈdɪndʒi/
thickly covered with ingrained dirt or soot
From this reading Old Deacon Joshua Marlowe and his wife were seated in the dingy kitchen of the old farmhouse, and it was plainly to be seen that they were both worried and angry.
drearyadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪri/
lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise
From this reading It was a cold, dreary day and the country was white with snow, causing the sparsely settled village of Hickorytown to look even more desolate than usual.
driedadjectiveUS /draɪd/
not still wet
From this reading Martha Marlowe dried her eyes with her apron now and then, and finally a decided sniff evinced to her husband that she was crying.
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 The farmer’s elbows were on his knees and his head between his hands, and as he sat in silent meditation he spitefully chewed a long wisp of straw.
divisible by two
From this reading It was a cold, dreary day and the country was white with snow, causing the sparsely settled village of Hickorytown to look even more desolate than usual.
evincedverbUS /ɪˈvɪnst/
past form of “evince” — give expression to
From this reading Martha Marlowe dried her eyes with her apron now and then, and finally a decided sniff evinced to her husband that she was crying.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Martha Marlowe dried her eyes with her apron now and then, and finally a decided sniff evinced to her husband that she was crying.
farmer'snounUS /ˈfɑːrmərz/
possessive form of “farmer” — a person who operates a farm
From this reading The farmer’s elbows were on his knees and his head between his hands, and as he sat in silent meditation he spitefully chewed a long wisp of straw.
FARMHOUSEnounUS /ˈfɑːrmhaʊs/
house for a farmer and family
From this reading IN THE FARMHOUSE KITCHEN.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading Martha Marlowe dried her eyes with her apron now and then, and finally a decided sniff evinced to her husband that she was crying.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading The farmer’s elbows were on his knees and his head between his hands, and as he sat in silent meditation he spitefully chewed a long wisp of straw.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The farmer’s elbows were on his knees and his head between his hands, and as he sat in silent meditation he spitefully chewed a long wisp of straw.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading The farmer’s elbows were on his knees and his head between his hands, and as he sat in silent meditation he spitefully chewed a long wisp of straw.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Martha Marlowe dried her eyes with her apron now and then, and finally a decided sniff evinced to her husband that she was crying.
Hickorytown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a cold, dreary day and the country was white with snow, causing the sparsely settled village of Hickorytown to look even more desolate than usual.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Old Deacon Joshua Marlowe and his wife were seated in the dingy kitchen of the old farmhouse, and it was plainly to be seen that they were both worried and angry.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading Martha Marlowe dried her eyes with her apron now and then, and finally a decided sniff evinced to her husband that she was crying.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN THE FARMHOUSE KITCHEN.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a cold, dreary day and the country was white with snow, causing the sparsely settled village of Hickorytown to look even more desolate than usual.
JoshuanounUS /ˈdʒɑːʃuːə/
(Old Testament) Moses' successor who led the Israelites into the Promised Land; best remembered for his destruction of Jericho
From this reading Old Deacon Joshua Marlowe and his wife were seated in the dingy kitchen of the old farmhouse, and it was plainly to be seen that they were both worried and angry.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading IN THE FARMHOUSE KITCHEN.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading The farmer’s elbows were on his knees and his head between his hands, and as he sat in silent meditation he spitefully chewed a long wisp of straw.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading The farmer’s elbows were on his knees and his head between his hands, and as he sat in silent meditation he spitefully chewed a long wisp of straw.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading It was a cold, dreary day and the country was white with snow, causing the sparsely settled village of Hickorytown to look even more desolate than usual.
MarlowenounUS /ˈmɑːrloʊ/
English poet and playwright who introduced blank verse as a form of dramatic expression; was stabbed to death in a tavern brawl (1564-1593)
From this reading Old Deacon Joshua Marlowe and his wife were seated in the dingy kitchen of the old farmhouse, and it was plainly to be seen that they were both worried and angry.
Martha
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Martha Marlowe dried her eyes with her apron now and then, and finally a decided sniff evinced to her husband that she was crying.
meditationnounUS /ˌmedəˈteɪʃən/
continuous and profound contemplation or musing on a subject or series of subjects of a deep or abstruse nature
From this reading The farmer’s elbows were on his knees and his head between his hands, and as he sat in silent meditation he spitefully chewed a long wisp of straw.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading It was a cold, dreary day and the country was white with snow, causing the sparsely settled village of Hickorytown to look even more desolate than usual.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Martha Marlowe dried her eyes with her apron now and then, and finally a decided sniff evinced to her husband that she was crying.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was a cold, dreary day and the country was white with snow, causing the sparsely settled village of Hickorytown to look even more desolate than usual.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Old Deacon Joshua Marlowe and his wife were seated in the dingy kitchen of the old farmhouse, and it was plainly to be seen that they were both worried and angry.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The farmer’s elbows were on his knees and his head between his hands, and as he sat in silent meditation he spitefully chewed a long wisp of straw.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading Old Deacon Joshua Marlowe and his wife were seated in the dingy kitchen of the old farmhouse, and it was plainly to be seen that they were both worried and angry.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading The farmer’s elbows were on his knees and his head between his hands, and as he sat in silent meditation he spitefully chewed a long wisp of straw.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading Old Deacon Joshua Marlowe and his wife were seated in the dingy kitchen of the old farmhouse, and it was plainly to be seen that they were both worried and angry.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Old Deacon Joshua Marlowe and his wife were seated in the dingy kitchen of the old farmhouse, and it was plainly to be seen that they were both worried and angry.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading It was a cold, dreary day and the country was white with snow, causing the sparsely settled village of Hickorytown to look even more desolate than usual.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Martha Marlowe dried her eyes with her apron now and then, and finally a decided sniff evinced to her husband that she was crying.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading The farmer’s elbows were on his knees and his head between his hands, and as he sat in silent meditation he spitefully chewed a long wisp of straw.
sniffverbUS /snɪf/
perceive by inhaling through the nose
From this reading Martha Marlowe dried her eyes with her apron now and then, and finally a decided sniff evinced to her husband that she was crying.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading It was a cold, dreary day and the country was white with snow, causing the sparsely settled village of Hickorytown to look even more desolate than usual.
sparselyadverbUS /ˈspɑːrsli/
in a sparse way
From this reading It was a cold, dreary day and the country was white with snow, causing the sparsely settled village of Hickorytown to look even more desolate than usual.
spitefullyadverb
in a maliciously spiteful manner
From this reading The farmer’s elbows were on his knees and his head between his hands, and as he sat in silent meditation he spitefully chewed a long wisp of straw.
plant fiber used e.g. for making baskets and hats or as fodder
From this reading The farmer’s elbows were on his knees and his head between his hands, and as he sat in silent meditation he spitefully chewed a long wisp of straw.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It was a cold, dreary day and the country was white with snow, causing the sparsely settled village of Hickorytown to look even more desolate than usual.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Old Deacon Joshua Marlowe and his wife were seated in the dingy kitchen of the old farmhouse, and it was plainly to be seen that they were both worried and angry.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN THE FARMHOUSE KITCHEN.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Martha Marlowe dried her eyes with her apron now and then, and finally a decided sniff evinced to her husband that she was crying.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Old Deacon Joshua Marlowe and his wife were seated in the dingy kitchen of the old farmhouse, and it was plainly to be seen that they were both worried and angry.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was a cold, dreary day and the country was white with snow, causing the sparsely settled village of Hickorytown to look even more desolate than usual.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading It was a cold, dreary day and the country was white with snow, causing the sparsely settled village of Hickorytown to look even more desolate than usual.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading It was a cold, dreary day and the country was white with snow, causing the sparsely settled village of Hickorytown to look even more desolate than usual.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a cold, dreary day and the country was white with snow, causing the sparsely settled village of Hickorytown to look even more desolate than usual.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Old Deacon Joshua Marlowe and his wife were seated in the dingy kitchen of the old farmhouse, and it was plainly to be seen that they were both worried and angry.
a Caucasian
From this reading It was a cold, dreary day and the country was white with snow, causing the sparsely settled village of Hickorytown to look even more desolate than usual.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading Old Deacon Joshua Marlowe and his wife were seated in the dingy kitchen of the old farmhouse, and it was plainly to be seen that they were both worried and angry.
wispnounUS /wɪsp/
a small tuft or lock
From this reading The farmer’s elbows were on his knees and his head between his hands, and as he sat in silent meditation he spitefully chewed a long wisp of straw.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was a cold, dreary day and the country was white with snow, causing the sparsely settled village of Hickorytown to look even more desolate than usual.
worriedadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːrid/
afflicted with or marked by anxious uneasiness or trouble or grief
From this reading Old Deacon Joshua Marlowe and his wife were seated in the dingy kitchen of the old farmhouse, and it was plainly to be seen that they were both worried and angry.
