used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The girl looked up, with narrow eyes and puckered brow, from the butcher's book, which she was laboriously "checking," at the boy who leaned back on the window seat picking out a tune on a banjo.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading They were brother and sister, Nell and Dick Lorton, and they made an extremely pretty picture in the sunny room.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Dick, how many are twenty-seven and eight?"
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Dick, how many are twenty-seven and eight?"
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The girl looked up, with narrow eyes and puckered brow, from the butcher's book, which she was laboriously "checking," at the boy who leaned back on the window seat picking out a tune on a banjo.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The girl looked up, with narrow eyes and puckered brow, from the butcher's book, which she was laboriously "checking," at the boy who leaned back on the window seat picking out a tune on a banjo.
banjonounUS /ˈbændʒoʊ/
a stringed instrument of the guitar family that has long neck and circular body
From this reading The girl looked up, with narrow eyes and puckered brow, from the butcher's book, which she was laboriously "checking," at the boy who leaned back on the window seat picking out a tune on a banjo.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading The girl looked up, with narrow eyes and puckered brow, from the butcher's book, which she was laboriously "checking," at the boy who leaned back on the window seat picking out a tune on a banjo.
a youthful male person
From this reading The girl looked up, with narrow eyes and puckered brow, from the butcher's book, which she was laboriously "checking," at the boy who leaned back on the window seat picking out a tune on a banjo.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading They were brother and sister, Nell and Dick Lorton, and they made an extremely pretty picture in the sunny room.
the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading The girl looked up, with narrow eyes and puckered brow, from the butcher's book, which she was laboriously "checking," at the boy who leaned back on the window seat picking out a tune on a banjo.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Thirty-nine," he replied lazily but promptly, without ceasing to peck, peck at the strings.
butcher'snounUS /ˈbʊtʃərz/
possessive form of “butcher” — a retailer of meat
From this reading The girl looked up, with narrow eyes and puckered brow, from the butcher's book, which she was laboriously "checking," at the boy who leaned back on the window seat picking out a tune on a banjo.
ceasingverbUS /ˈsiːsɪŋ/
-ing form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading "Thirty-nine," he replied lazily but promptly, without ceasing to peck, peck at the strings.
checkingverbUS /ˈtʃekɪŋ/
-ing form of “check” — examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition
From this reading The girl looked up, with narrow eyes and puckered brow, from the butcher's book, which she was laboriously "checking," at the boy who leaned back on the window seat picking out a tune on a banjo.
columnnounUS /ˈkɑːləm/
a line of units following one after another
From this reading She nodded her thanks, and traveled slowly up the column, counting with the end of her pencil and jotting down the result with a perplexed face.
countingnounUS /ˈkaʊntɪŋ/
the act of counting; reciting numbers in ascending order
From this reading She nodded her thanks, and traveled slowly up the column, counting with the end of her pencil and jotting down the result with a perplexed face.
someone who is a detective
From this reading "Dick, how many are twenty-seven and eight?"
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading She nodded her thanks, and traveled slowly up the column, counting with the end of her pencil and jotting down the result with a perplexed face.
being one more than seven
From this reading "Dick, how many are twenty-seven and eight?"
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading She nodded her thanks, and traveled slowly up the column, counting with the end of her pencil and jotting down the result with a perplexed face.
to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect
From this reading They were brother and sister, Nell and Dick Lorton, and they made an extremely pretty picture in the sunny room.
opinion or judgment
From this reading The girl looked up, with narrow eyes and puckered brow, from the butcher's book, which she was laboriously "checking," at the boy who leaned back on the window seat picking out a tune on a banjo.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading She nodded her thanks, and traveled slowly up the column, counting with the end of her pencil and jotting down the result with a perplexed face.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The girl looked up, with narrow eyes and puckered brow, from the butcher's book, which she was laboriously "checking," at the boy who leaned back on the window seat picking out a tune on a banjo.
a young female
From this reading The girl looked up, with narrow eyes and puckered brow, from the butcher's book, which she was laboriously "checking," at the boy who leaned back on the window seat picking out a tune on a banjo.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Thirty-nine," he replied lazily but promptly, without ceasing to peck, peck at the strings.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She nodded her thanks, and traveled slowly up the column, counting with the end of her pencil and jotting down the result with a perplexed face.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Dick, how many are twenty-seven and eight?"
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They were brother and sister, Nell and Dick Lorton, and they made an extremely pretty picture in the sunny room.
jottingnoun
a brief (and hurriedly handwritten) note
From this reading She nodded her thanks, and traveled slowly up the column, counting with the end of her pencil and jotting down the result with a perplexed face.
laboriouslyadverbUS /ləˈbɔːriəsli/
in a laborious manner
From this reading The girl looked up, with narrow eyes and puckered brow, from the butcher's book, which she was laboriously "checking," at the boy who leaned back on the window seat picking out a tune on a banjo.
lazilyadverbUS /ˈlæzəli/
in a slow and lazy manner
From this reading "Thirty-nine," he replied lazily but promptly, without ceasing to peck, peck at the strings.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading The girl looked up, with narrow eyes and puckered brow, from the butcher's book, which she was laboriously "checking," at the boy who leaned back on the window seat picking out a tune on a banjo.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The girl looked up, with narrow eyes and puckered brow, from the butcher's book, which she was laboriously "checking," at the boy who leaned back on the window seat picking out a tune on a banjo.
Lorton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were brother and sister, Nell and Dick Lorton, and they made an extremely pretty picture in the sunny room.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading They were brother and sister, Nell and Dick Lorton, and they made an extremely pretty picture in the sunny room.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading "Dick, how many are twenty-seven and eight?"
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading The girl looked up, with narrow eyes and puckered brow, from the butcher's book, which she was laboriously "checking," at the boy who leaned back on the window seat picking out a tune on a banjo.
Nell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were brother and sister, Nell and Dick Lorton, and they made an extremely pretty picture in the sunny room.
inflected form of “nod” — express or signify by nodding
From this reading She nodded her thanks, and traveled slowly up the column, counting with the end of her pencil and jotting down the result with a perplexed face.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She nodded her thanks, and traveled slowly up the column, counting with the end of her pencil and jotting down the result with a perplexed face.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The girl looked up, with narrow eyes and puckered brow, from the butcher's book, which she was laboriously "checking," at the boy who leaned back on the window seat picking out a tune on a banjo.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The girl looked up, with narrow eyes and puckered brow, from the butcher's book, which she was laboriously "checking," at the boy who leaned back on the window seat picking out a tune on a banjo.
peckverbUS /pek/
hit lightly with a picking motion
From this reading "Thirty-nine," he replied lazily but promptly, without ceasing to peck, peck at the strings.
pencilnounUS /ˈpensəl/
a thin cylindrical pointed writing implement; a rod of marking substance encased in wood
From this reading She nodded her thanks, and traveled slowly up the column, counting with the end of her pencil and jotting down the result with a perplexed face.
perplexedadjectiveUS /pərˈplekst/
full of difficulty or confusion or bewilderment
From this reading She nodded her thanks, and traveled slowly up the column, counting with the end of her pencil and jotting down the result with a perplexed face.
pickingnounUS /ˈpɪkɪŋ/
the quantity of a crop that is harvested
From this reading The girl looked up, with narrow eyes and puckered brow, from the butcher's book, which she was laboriously "checking," at the boy who leaned back on the window seat picking out a tune on a banjo.
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading They were brother and sister, Nell and Dick Lorton, and they made an extremely pretty picture in the sunny room.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading They were brother and sister, Nell and Dick Lorton, and they made an extremely pretty picture in the sunny room.
promptlyadverbUS /ˈprɑːmptli/
with little or no delay
From this reading "Thirty-nine," he replied lazily but promptly, without ceasing to peck, peck at the strings.
puckered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The girl looked up, with narrow eyes and puckered brow, from the butcher's book, which she was laboriously "checking," at the boy who leaned back on the window seat picking out a tune on a banjo.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading "Thirty-nine," he replied lazily but promptly, without ceasing to peck, peck at the strings.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading She nodded her thanks, and traveled slowly up the column, counting with the end of her pencil and jotting down the result with a perplexed face.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading They were brother and sister, Nell and Dick Lorton, and they made an extremely pretty picture in the sunny room.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading The girl looked up, with narrow eyes and puckered brow, from the butcher's book, which she was laboriously "checking," at the boy who leaned back on the window seat picking out a tune on a banjo.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The girl looked up, with narrow eyes and puckered brow, from the butcher's book, which she was laboriously "checking," at the boy who leaned back on the window seat picking out a tune on a banjo.
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading They were brother and sister, Nell and Dick Lorton, and they made an extremely pretty picture in the sunny room.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading She nodded her thanks, and traveled slowly up the column, counting with the end of her pencil and jotting down the result with a perplexed face.
stringsnounUS /strɪŋz/
the section of an orchestra that plays stringed instruments
From this reading "Thirty-nine," he replied lazily but promptly, without ceasing to peck, peck at the strings.
sunnyadjectiveUS /ˈsʌni/
bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
From this reading They were brother and sister, Nell and Dick Lorton, and they made an extremely pretty picture in the sunny room.
an acknowledgment of appreciation
From this reading She nodded her thanks, and traveled slowly up the column, counting with the end of her pencil and jotting down the result with a perplexed face.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The girl looked up, with narrow eyes and puckered brow, from the butcher's book, which she was laboriously "checking," at the boy who leaned back on the window seat picking out a tune on a banjo.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were brother and sister, Nell and Dick Lorton, and they made an extremely pretty picture in the sunny room.
Thirty-nineadjective
being nine more than thirty
From this reading "Thirty-nine," he replied lazily but promptly, without ceasing to peck, peck at the strings.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Thirty-nine," he replied lazily but promptly, without ceasing to peck, peck at the strings.
traveledadjectiveUS /ˈtrævəld/
traveled over or through; sometimes used as a combining term
From this reading She nodded her thanks, and traveled slowly up the column, counting with the end of her pencil and jotting down the result with a perplexed face.
tunenounUS /tuːn/
a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence
From this reading The girl looked up, with narrow eyes and puckered brow, from the butcher's book, which she was laboriously "checking," at the boy who leaned back on the window seat picking out a tune on a banjo.
twenty-sevennoun
the cardinal number that is the sum of twenty-six and one
From this reading "Dick, how many are twenty-seven and eight?"
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The girl looked up, with narrow eyes and puckered brow, from the butcher's book, which she was laboriously "checking," at the boy who leaned back on the window seat picking out a tune on a banjo.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The girl looked up, with narrow eyes and puckered brow, from the butcher's book, which she was laboriously "checking," at the boy who leaned back on the window seat picking out a tune on a banjo.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were brother and sister, Nell and Dick Lorton, and they made an extremely pretty picture in the sunny room.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The girl looked up, with narrow eyes and puckered brow, from the butcher's book, which she was laboriously "checking," at the boy who leaned back on the window seat picking out a tune on a banjo.
which person or people
From this reading The girl looked up, with narrow eyes and puckered brow, from the butcher's book, which she was laboriously "checking," at the boy who leaned back on the window seat picking out a tune on a banjo.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading The girl looked up, with narrow eyes and puckered brow, from the butcher's book, which she was laboriously "checking," at the boy who leaned back on the window seat picking out a tune on a banjo.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The girl looked up, with narrow eyes and puckered brow, from the butcher's book, which she was laboriously "checking," at the boy who leaned back on the window seat picking out a tune on a banjo.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading "Thirty-nine," he replied lazily but promptly, without ceasing to peck, peck at the strings.
