used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A bright, gray-eyed little Kentucky boy, of whom all have heard and whose memory is honored by the entire nation, lived years ago in a quaint log-cabin so small that it would now seem to be about the right size for a large play-house.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading A bright, gray-eyed little Kentucky boy, of whom all have heard and whose memory is honored by the entire nation, lived years ago in a quaint log-cabin so small that it would now seem to be about the right size for a large play-house.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading He never complained of any hardship, but always tried to better things; and after he grew up to manhood he tried to better his country, and succeeded.
in the past
From this reading A bright, gray-eyed little Kentucky boy, of whom all have heard and whose memory is honored by the entire nation, lived years ago in a quaint log-cabin so small that it would now seem to be about the right size for a large play-house.
(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 A bright, gray-eyed little Kentucky boy, of whom all have heard and whose memory is honored by the entire nation, lived years ago in a quaint log-cabin so small that it would now seem to be about the right size for a large play-house.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading He never complained of any hardship, but always tried to better things; and after he grew up to manhood he tried to better his country, and succeeded.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A bright, gray-eyed little Kentucky boy, of whom all have heard and whose memory is honored by the entire nation, lived years ago in a quaint log-cabin so small that it would now seem to be about the right size for a large play-house.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading He never complained of any hardship, but always tried to better things; and after he grew up to manhood he tried to better his country, and succeeded.
ascendverbUS /əˈsend/
travel up
From this reading There were no stairs for the little fellow to ascend, so he climbed to his primitive couch by means of wooden pegs driven in the side of the wall.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading A bright, gray-eyed little Kentucky boy, of whom all have heard and whose memory is honored by the entire nation, lived years ago in a quaint log-cabin so small that it would now seem to be about the right size for a large play-house.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading The boy, with his musical laugh, was busy and healthy, making the best of everything and sleeping soundly on the dried leaves piled in one corner of the loft over the room.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading He never complained of any hardship, but always tried to better things; and after he grew up to manhood he tried to better his country, and succeeded.
a youthful male person
From this reading A bright, gray-eyed little Kentucky boy, of whom all have heard and whose memory is honored by the entire nation, lived years ago in a quaint log-cabin so small that it would now seem to be about the right size for a large play-house.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading A bright, gray-eyed little Kentucky boy, of whom all have heard and whose memory is honored by the entire nation, lived years ago in a quaint log-cabin so small that it would now seem to be about the right size for a large play-house.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading The boy, with his musical laugh, was busy and healthy, making the best of everything and sleeping soundly on the dried leaves piled in one corner of the loft over the room.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There was but one room, and that contained only a few pieces of rough home-made furniture.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A bright, gray-eyed little Kentucky boy, of whom all have heard and whose memory is honored by the entire nation, lived years ago in a quaint log-cabin so small that it would now seem to be about the right size for a large play-house.
past form of “climb” — go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading There were no stairs for the little fellow to ascend, so he climbed to his primitive couch by means of wooden pegs driven in the side of the wall.
complainedverbUS /kəmˈpleɪnd/
past form of “complain” — express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness
From this reading He never complained of any hardship, but always tried to better things; and after he grew up to manhood he tried to better his country, and succeeded.
gotten under control
From this reading There was but one room, and that contained only a few pieces of rough home-made furniture.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading The boy, with his musical laugh, was busy and healthy, making the best of everything and sleeping soundly on the dried leaves piled in one corner of the loft over the room.
couchnounUS /kaʊtʃ/
an upholstered seat for more than one person
From this reading There were no stairs for the little fellow to ascend, so he climbed to his primitive couch by means of wooden pegs driven in the side of the wall.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading He never complained of any hardship, but always tried to better things; and after he grew up to manhood he tried to better his country, and succeeded.
driedadjectiveUS /draɪd/
not still wet
From this reading The boy, with his musical laugh, was busy and healthy, making the best of everything and sleeping soundly on the dried leaves piled in one corner of the loft over the room.
compelled forcibly by an outside agency
From this reading There were no stairs for the little fellow to ascend, so he climbed to his primitive couch by means of wooden pegs driven in the side of the wall.
constituting the full quantity or extent; complete
From this reading A bright, gray-eyed little Kentucky boy, of whom all have heard and whose memory is honored by the entire nation, lived years ago in a quaint log-cabin so small that it would now seem to be about the right size for a large play-house.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading The boy, with his musical laugh, was busy and healthy, making the best of everything and sleeping soundly on the dried leaves piled in one corner of the loft over the room.
a boy or man
From this reading There were no stairs for the little fellow to ascend, so he climbed to his primitive couch by means of wooden pegs driven in the side of the wall.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading There was but one room, and that contained only a few pieces of rough home-made furniture.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A bright, gray-eyed little Kentucky boy, of whom all have heard and whose memory is honored by the entire nation, lived years ago in a quaint log-cabin so small that it would now seem to be about the right size for a large play-house.
furnishings that make a room or other area ready for occupancy
From this reading There was but one room, and that contained only a few pieces of rough home-made furniture.
gray-eyed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A bright, gray-eyed little Kentucky boy, of whom all have heard and whose memory is honored by the entire nation, lived years ago in a quaint log-cabin so small that it would now seem to be about the right size for a large play-house.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading He never complained of any hardship, but always tried to better things; and after he grew up to manhood he tried to better his country, and succeeded.
hardshipnounUS /ˈhɑːrdʃɪp/
a state of misfortune or affliction
From this reading He never complained of any hardship, but always tried to better things; and after he grew up to manhood he tried to better his country, and succeeded.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A bright, gray-eyed little Kentucky boy, of whom all have heard and whose memory is honored by the entire nation, lived years ago in a quaint log-cabin so small that it would now seem to be about the right size for a large play-house.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There were no stairs for the little fellow to ascend, so he climbed to his primitive couch by means of wooden pegs driven in the side of the wall.
healthyadjectiveUS /ˈhelθi/
having or indicating good health in body or mind; free from infirmity or disease
From this reading The boy, with his musical laugh, was busy and healthy, making the best of everything and sleeping soundly on the dried leaves piled in one corner of the loft over the room.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading A bright, gray-eyed little Kentucky boy, of whom all have heard and whose memory is honored by the entire nation, lived years ago in a quaint log-cabin so small that it would now seem to be about the right size for a large play-house.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The boy, with his musical laugh, was busy and healthy, making the best of everything and sleeping soundly on the dried leaves piled in one corner of the loft over the room.
home-made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was but one room, and that contained only a few pieces of rough home-made furniture.
honoredadjectiveUS /ˈɑːnərd/
having an illustrious reputation; respected
From this reading A bright, gray-eyed little Kentucky boy, of whom all have heard and whose memory is honored by the entire nation, lived years ago in a quaint log-cabin so small that it would now seem to be about the right size for a large play-house.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A bright, gray-eyed little Kentucky boy, of whom all have heard and whose memory is honored by the entire nation, lived years ago in a quaint log-cabin so small that it would now seem to be about the right size for a large play-house.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A bright, gray-eyed little Kentucky boy, of whom all have heard and whose memory is honored by the entire nation, lived years ago in a quaint log-cabin so small that it would now seem to be about the right size for a large play-house.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A bright, gray-eyed little Kentucky boy, of whom all have heard and whose memory is honored by the entire nation, lived years ago in a quaint log-cabin so small that it would now seem to be about the right size for a large play-house.
KentuckynounUS /kənˈtʌki/
a state in east central United States; a border state during the American Civil War; famous for breeding race horses
From this reading A bright, gray-eyed little Kentucky boy, of whom all have heard and whose memory is honored by the entire nation, lived years ago in a quaint log-cabin so small that it would now seem to be about the right size for a large play-house.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A bright, gray-eyed little Kentucky boy, of whom all have heard and whose memory is honored by the entire nation, lived years ago in a quaint log-cabin so small that it would now seem to be about the right size for a large play-house.
the sound of laughing
From this reading The boy, with his musical laugh, was busy and healthy, making the best of everything and sleeping soundly on the dried leaves piled in one corner of the loft over the room.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading The boy, with his musical laugh, was busy and healthy, making the best of everything and sleeping soundly on the dried leaves piled in one corner of the loft over the room.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A bright, gray-eyed little Kentucky boy, of whom all have heard and whose memory is honored by the entire nation, lived years ago in a quaint log-cabin so small that it would now seem to be about the right size for a large play-house.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading A bright, gray-eyed little Kentucky boy, of whom all have heard and whose memory is honored by the entire nation, lived years ago in a quaint log-cabin so small that it would now seem to be about the right size for a large play-house.
loftnounUS /lɔːft/
floor consisting of a large unpartitioned space over a factory or warehouse or other commercial space
From this reading The boy, with his musical laugh, was busy and healthy, making the best of everything and sleeping soundly on the dried leaves piled in one corner of the loft over the room.
log-cabin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A bright, gray-eyed little Kentucky boy, of whom all have heard and whose memory is honored by the entire nation, lived years ago in a quaint log-cabin so small that it would now seem to be about the right size for a large play-house.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading The boy, with his musical laugh, was busy and healthy, making the best of everything and sleeping soundly on the dried leaves piled in one corner of the loft over the room.
manhoodnounUS /ˈmænhʊd/
the state of being a man; manly qualities
From this reading He never complained of any hardship, but always tried to better things; and after he grew up to manhood he tried to better his country, and succeeded.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading There were no stairs for the little fellow to ascend, so he climbed to his primitive couch by means of wooden pegs driven in the side of the wall.
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading A bright, gray-eyed little Kentucky boy, of whom all have heard and whose memory is honored by the entire nation, lived years ago in a quaint log-cabin so small that it would now seem to be about the right size for a large play-house.
musicaladjectiveUS /ˈmjuːzɪkəl/
characterized by or capable of producing music
From this reading The boy, with his musical laugh, was busy and healthy, making the best of everything and sleeping soundly on the dried leaves piled in one corner of the loft over the room.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading A bright, gray-eyed little Kentucky boy, of whom all have heard and whose memory is honored by the entire nation, lived years ago in a quaint log-cabin so small that it would now seem to be about the right size for a large play-house.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading He never complained of any hardship, but always tried to better things; and after he grew up to manhood he tried to better his country, and succeeded.
not any; not one
From this reading There were no stairs for the little fellow to ascend, so he climbed to his primitive couch by means of wooden pegs driven in the side of the wall.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading A bright, gray-eyed little Kentucky boy, of whom all have heard and whose memory is honored by the entire nation, lived years ago in a quaint log-cabin so small that it would now seem to be about the right size for a large play-house.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A bright, gray-eyed little Kentucky boy, of whom all have heard and whose memory is honored by the entire nation, lived years ago in a quaint log-cabin so small that it would now seem to be about the right size for a large play-house.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The boy, with his musical laugh, was busy and healthy, making the best of everything and sleeping soundly on the dried leaves piled in one corner of the loft over the room.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There was but one room, and that contained only a few pieces of rough home-made furniture.
and nothing more
From this reading There was but one room, and that contained only a few pieces of rough home-made furniture.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The boy, with his musical laugh, was busy and healthy, making the best of everything and sleeping soundly on the dried leaves piled in one corner of the loft over the room.
pegsnounUS /peɡz/
plural of “peg” — a wooden pin pushed or driven into a surface
From this reading There were no stairs for the little fellow to ascend, so he climbed to his primitive couch by means of wooden pegs driven in the side of the wall.
plural of “piece” — a separate part of a whole
From this reading There was but one room, and that contained only a few pieces of rough home-made furniture.
piledverbUS /paɪld/
past form of “pile” — arrange in stacks
From this reading The boy, with his musical laugh, was busy and healthy, making the best of everything and sleeping soundly on the dried leaves piled in one corner of the loft over the room.
play-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A bright, gray-eyed little Kentucky boy, of whom all have heard and whose memory is honored by the entire nation, lived years ago in a quaint log-cabin so small that it would now seem to be about the right size for a large play-house.
primitiveadjectiveUS /ˈprɪmətɪv/
belonging to an early stage of technical development; characterized by simplicity and (often) crudeness
From this reading There were no stairs for the little fellow to ascend, so he climbed to his primitive couch by means of wooden pegs driven in the side of the wall.
quaintadjectiveUS /kweɪnt/
strange in an interesting or pleasing way
From this reading A bright, gray-eyed little Kentucky boy, of whom all have heard and whose memory is honored by the entire nation, lived years ago in a quaint log-cabin so small that it would now seem to be about the right size for a large play-house.
precisely, exactly
From this reading A bright, gray-eyed little Kentucky boy, of whom all have heard and whose memory is honored by the entire nation, lived years ago in a quaint log-cabin so small that it would now seem to be about the right size for a large play-house.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading There was but one room, and that contained only a few pieces of rough home-made furniture.
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading There was but one room, and that contained only a few pieces of rough home-made furniture.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading A bright, gray-eyed little Kentucky boy, of whom all have heard and whose memory is honored by the entire nation, lived years ago in a quaint log-cabin so small that it would now seem to be about the right size for a large play-house.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading There were no stairs for the little fellow to ascend, so he climbed to his primitive couch by means of wooden pegs driven in the side of the wall.
the physical magnitude of something (how big it is)
From this reading A bright, gray-eyed little Kentucky boy, of whom all have heard and whose memory is honored by the entire nation, lived years ago in a quaint log-cabin so small that it would now seem to be about the right size for a large play-house.
the state of being asleep
From this reading The boy, with his musical laugh, was busy and healthy, making the best of everything and sleeping soundly on the dried leaves piled in one corner of the loft over the room.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A bright, gray-eyed little Kentucky boy, of whom all have heard and whose memory is honored by the entire nation, lived years ago in a quaint log-cabin so small that it would now seem to be about the right size for a large play-house.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading A bright, gray-eyed little Kentucky boy, of whom all have heard and whose memory is honored by the entire nation, lived years ago in a quaint log-cabin so small that it would now seem to be about the right size for a large play-house.
soundlyadverbUS /ˈsaʊndli/
deeply or completely
From this reading The boy, with his musical laugh, was busy and healthy, making the best of everything and sleeping soundly on the dried leaves piled in one corner of the loft over the room.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading There were no stairs for the little fellow to ascend, so he climbed to his primitive couch by means of wooden pegs driven in the side of the wall.
past form of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal
From this reading He never complained of any hardship, but always tried to better things; and after he grew up to manhood he tried to better his country, and succeeded.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A bright, gray-eyed little Kentucky boy, of whom all have heard and whose memory is honored by the entire nation, lived years ago in a quaint log-cabin so small that it would now seem to be about the right size for a large play-house.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A bright, gray-eyed little Kentucky boy, of whom all have heard and whose memory is honored by the entire nation, lived years ago in a quaint log-cabin so small that it would now seem to be about the right size for a large play-house.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was but one room, and that contained only a few pieces of rough home-made furniture.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading He never complained of any hardship, but always tried to better things; and after he grew up to manhood he tried to better his country, and succeeded.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A bright, gray-eyed little Kentucky boy, of whom all have heard and whose memory is honored by the entire nation, lived years ago in a quaint log-cabin so small that it would now seem to be about the right size for a large play-house.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading He never complained of any hardship, but always tried to better things; and after he grew up to manhood he tried to better his country, and succeeded.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He never complained of any hardship, but always tried to better things; and after he grew up to manhood he tried to better his country, and succeeded.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading There were no stairs for the little fellow to ascend, so he climbed to his primitive couch by means of wooden pegs driven in the side of the wall.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was but one room, and that contained only a few pieces of rough home-made furniture.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were no stairs for the little fellow to ascend, so he climbed to his primitive couch by means of wooden pegs driven in the side of the wall.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A bright, gray-eyed little Kentucky boy, of whom all have heard and whose memory is honored by the entire nation, lived years ago in a quaint log-cabin so small that it would now seem to be about the right size for a large play-house.
belonging to which person
From this reading A bright, gray-eyed little Kentucky boy, of whom all have heard and whose memory is honored by the entire nation, lived years ago in a quaint log-cabin so small that it would now seem to be about the right size for a large play-house.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The boy, with his musical laugh, was busy and healthy, making the best of everything and sleeping soundly on the dried leaves piled in one corner of the loft over the room.
made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood
From this reading There were no stairs for the little fellow to ascend, so he climbed to his primitive couch by means of wooden pegs driven in the side of the wall.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading A bright, gray-eyed little Kentucky boy, of whom all have heard and whose memory is honored by the entire nation, lived years ago in a quaint log-cabin so small that it would now seem to be about the right size for a large play-house.
a late time of life
From this reading A bright, gray-eyed little Kentucky boy, of whom all have heard and whose memory is honored by the entire nation, lived years ago in a quaint log-cabin so small that it would now seem to be about the right size for a large play-house.
