used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When once in the garden, Mrs. Mason grew very serious, and stood some time in silence watching Ruth, who, bending low, was sweeping the green leaves from a host of plump berries, clustering red ripe in the sunshine.
abruptadjectiveUS /əˈbrʌpt/
marked by sudden changes in subject and sharp transitions
From this reading At last she spoke, with an effort, and her voice was abrupt if not severe.
a proposal for an appropriate course of action
From this reading EXCELLENT ADVICE.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading At last she spoke, with an effort, and her voice was abrupt if not severe.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When once in the garden, Mrs. Mason grew very serious, and stood some time in silence watching Ruth, who, bending low, was sweeping the green leaves from a host of plump berries, clustering red ripe in the sunshine.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At last she spoke, with an effort, and her voice was abrupt if not severe.
bendingnounUS /ˈbendɪŋ/
movement that causes the formation of a curve
From this reading When once in the garden, Mrs. Mason grew very serious, and stood some time in silence watching Ruth, who, bending low, was sweeping the green leaves from a host of plump berries, clustering red ripe in the sunshine.
berriesnounUS /ˈberiz/
plural of “berry” — any of numerous small and pulpy edible fruits; used as desserts or in making jams and jellies and preserves
From this reading When once in the garden, Mrs. Mason grew very serious, and stood some time in silence watching Ruth, who, bending low, was sweeping the green leaves from a host of plump berries, clustering red ripe in the sunshine.
clusteringnounUS /ˈklʌstərɪŋ/
a grouping of a number of similar things
From this reading When once in the garden, Mrs. Mason grew very serious, and stood some time in silence watching Ruth, who, bending low, was sweeping the green leaves from a host of plump berries, clustering red ripe in the sunshine.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading At last she spoke, with an effort, and her voice was abrupt if not severe.
very good; of the highest quality
From this reading EXCELLENT ADVICE.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading When once in the garden, Mrs. Mason grew very serious, and stood some time in silence watching Ruth, who, bending low, was sweeping the green leaves from a host of plump berries, clustering red ripe in the sunshine.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading When once in the garden, Mrs. Mason grew very serious, and stood some time in silence watching Ruth, who, bending low, was sweeping the green leaves from a host of plump berries, clustering red ripe in the sunshine.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading When once in the garden, Mrs. Mason grew very serious, and stood some time in silence watching Ruth, who, bending low, was sweeping the green leaves from a host of plump berries, clustering red ripe in the sunshine.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading When once in the garden, Mrs. Mason grew very serious, and stood some time in silence watching Ruth, who, bending low, was sweeping the green leaves from a host of plump berries, clustering red ripe in the sunshine.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Ruth," she said, "I have a thing to say which troubles me."
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading At last she spoke, with an effort, and her voice was abrupt if not severe.
a person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there
From this reading When once in the garden, Mrs. Mason grew very serious, and stood some time in silence watching Ruth, who, bending low, was sweeping the green leaves from a host of plump berries, clustering red ripe in the sunshine.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Ruth," she said, "I have a thing to say which troubles me."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading At last she spoke, with an effort, and her voice was abrupt if not severe.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When once in the garden, Mrs. Mason grew very serious, and stood some time in silence watching Ruth, who, bending low, was sweeping the green leaves from a host of plump berries, clustering red ripe in the sunshine.
immediately past
From this reading At last she spoke, with an effort, and her voice was abrupt if not severe.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading When once in the garden, Mrs. Mason grew very serious, and stood some time in silence watching Ruth, who, bending low, was sweeping the green leaves from a host of plump berries, clustering red ripe in the sunshine.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Ruth looked up wistfully.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading When once in the garden, Mrs. Mason grew very serious, and stood some time in silence watching Ruth, who, bending low, was sweeping the green leaves from a host of plump berries, clustering red ripe in the sunshine.
MasonnounUS /ˈmeɪsən/
American Revolutionary leader from Virginia whose objections led to the drafting of the Bill of Rights (1725-1792)
From this reading When once in the garden, Mrs. Mason grew very serious, and stood some time in silence watching Ruth, who, bending low, was sweeping the green leaves from a host of plump berries, clustering red ripe in the sunshine.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Ruth," she said, "I have a thing to say which troubles me."
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading When once in the garden, Mrs. Mason grew very serious, and stood some time in silence watching Ruth, who, bending low, was sweeping the green leaves from a host of plump berries, clustering red ripe in the sunshine.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading At last she spoke, with an effort, and her voice was abrupt if not severe.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When once in the garden, Mrs. Mason grew very serious, and stood some time in silence watching Ruth, who, bending low, was sweeping the green leaves from a host of plump berries, clustering red ripe in the sunshine.
on one occasion
From this reading When once in the garden, Mrs. Mason grew very serious, and stood some time in silence watching Ruth, who, bending low, was sweeping the green leaves from a host of plump berries, clustering red ripe in the sunshine.
plumpadjectiveUS /plʌmp/
sufficiently fat so as to have a pleasing fullness of figure
From this reading When once in the garden, Mrs. Mason grew very serious, and stood some time in silence watching Ruth, who, bending low, was sweeping the green leaves from a host of plump berries, clustering red ripe in the sunshine.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading When once in the garden, Mrs. Mason grew very serious, and stood some time in silence watching Ruth, who, bending low, was sweeping the green leaves from a host of plump berries, clustering red ripe in the sunshine.
ripeadjectiveUS /raɪp/
fully developed or matured and ready to be eaten or used
From this reading When once in the garden, Mrs. Mason grew very serious, and stood some time in silence watching Ruth, who, bending low, was sweeping the green leaves from a host of plump berries, clustering red ripe in the sunshine.
United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading When once in the garden, Mrs. Mason grew very serious, and stood some time in silence watching Ruth, who, bending low, was sweeping the green leaves from a host of plump berries, clustering red ripe in the sunshine.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Ruth," she said, "I have a thing to say which troubles me."
express in words
From this reading "Ruth," she said, "I have a thing to say which troubles me."
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading When once in the garden, Mrs. Mason grew very serious, and stood some time in silence watching Ruth, who, bending low, was sweeping the green leaves from a host of plump berries, clustering red ripe in the sunshine.
intensely or extremely bad or unpleasant in degree or quality
From this reading At last she spoke, with an effort, and her voice was abrupt if not severe.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At last she spoke, with an effort, and her voice was abrupt if not severe.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading When once in the garden, Mrs. Mason grew very serious, and stood some time in silence watching Ruth, who, bending low, was sweeping the green leaves from a host of plump berries, clustering red ripe in the sunshine.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading When once in the garden, Mrs. Mason grew very serious, and stood some time in silence watching Ruth, who, bending low, was sweeping the green leaves from a host of plump berries, clustering red ripe in the sunshine.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading At last she spoke, with an effort, and her voice was abrupt if not severe.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading When once in the garden, Mrs. Mason grew very serious, and stood some time in silence watching Ruth, who, bending low, was sweeping the green leaves from a host of plump berries, clustering red ripe in the sunshine.
the rays of the sun
From this reading When once in the garden, Mrs. Mason grew very serious, and stood some time in silence watching Ruth, who, bending low, was sweeping the green leaves from a host of plump berries, clustering red ripe in the sunshine.
sweepingadjectiveUS /ˈswiːpɪŋ/
taking in or moving over (or as if over) a wide area; often used in combination
From this reading When once in the garden, Mrs. Mason grew very serious, and stood some time in silence watching Ruth, who, bending low, was sweeping the green leaves from a host of plump berries, clustering red ripe in the sunshine.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When once in the garden, Mrs. Mason grew very serious, and stood some time in silence watching Ruth, who, bending low, was sweeping the green leaves from a host of plump berries, clustering red ripe in the sunshine.
a special situation
From this reading "Ruth," she said, "I have a thing to say which troubles me."
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading When once in the garden, Mrs. Mason grew very serious, and stood some time in silence watching Ruth, who, bending low, was sweeping the green leaves from a host of plump berries, clustering red ripe in the sunshine.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Ruth," she said, "I have a thing to say which troubles me."
plural of “trouble” — a source of difficulty
From this reading "Ruth," she said, "I have a thing to say which troubles me."
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Ruth looked up wistfully.
precisely as stated
From this reading When once in the garden, Mrs. Mason grew very serious, and stood some time in silence watching Ruth, who, bending low, was sweeping the green leaves from a host of plump berries, clustering red ripe in the sunshine.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading At last she spoke, with an effort, and her voice was abrupt if not severe.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When once in the garden, Mrs. Mason grew very serious, and stood some time in silence watching Ruth, who, bending low, was sweeping the green leaves from a host of plump berries, clustering red ripe in the sunshine.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading When once in the garden, Mrs. Mason grew very serious, and stood some time in silence watching Ruth, who, bending low, was sweeping the green leaves from a host of plump berries, clustering red ripe in the sunshine.
at the time that
From this reading When once in the garden, Mrs. Mason grew very serious, and stood some time in silence watching Ruth, who, bending low, was sweeping the green leaves from a host of plump berries, clustering red ripe in the sunshine.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading "Ruth," she said, "I have a thing to say which troubles me."
which person or people
From this reading When once in the garden, Mrs. Mason grew very serious, and stood some time in silence watching Ruth, who, bending low, was sweeping the green leaves from a host of plump berries, clustering red ripe in the sunshine.
wistfullyadverbUS /ˈwɪstfəli/
in a wistful manner
From this reading Ruth looked up wistfully.
in the company of; together with
From this reading At last she spoke, with an effort, and her voice was abrupt if not severe.
