used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Sure enough the historic "poke" was a pocket or recess between the old bedhead and the main wall.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE DISCOVERY The removal of the old chimney-piece was not an easy task.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading If the Hartley boys hadn't been big and strongly-built, they could scarcely have succeeded in tearing away the woodwork from the wall.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading If the Hartley boys hadn't been big and strongly-built, they could scarcely have succeeded in tearing away the woodwork from the wall.
bedhead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sure enough the historic "poke" was a pocket or recess between the old bedhead and the main wall.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If the Hartley boys hadn't been big and strongly-built, they could scarcely have succeeded in tearing away the woodwork from the wall.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Sure enough the historic "poke" was a pocket or recess between the old bedhead and the main wall.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading If the Hartley boys hadn't been big and strongly-built, they could scarcely have succeeded in tearing away the woodwork from the wall.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading If the Hartley boys hadn't been big and strongly-built, they could scarcely have succeeded in tearing away the woodwork from the wall.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading It was really built in the chimney itself, though not in the flue.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But they did do it, and their labours were rewarded by the discovery of the long-lost fortune!
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But they did do it, and their labours were rewarded by the discovery of the long-lost fortune!
chimneynounUS /ˈtʃɪmni/
a vertical flue that provides a path through which smoke from a fire is carried away through the wall or roof of a building
From this reading It was really built in the chimney itself, though not in the flue.
chimney-piece
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE DISCOVERY The removal of the old chimney-piece was not an easy task.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading If the Hartley boys hadn't been big and strongly-built, they could scarcely have succeeded in tearing away the woodwork from the wall.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading But they did do it, and their labours were rewarded by the discovery of the long-lost fortune!
the act of discovering something
From this reading THE DISCOVERY The removal of the old chimney-piece was not an easy task.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading But they did do it, and their labours were rewarded by the discovery of the long-lost fortune!
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading THE DISCOVERY The removal of the old chimney-piece was not an easy task.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Sure enough the historic "poke" was a pocket or recess between the old bedhead and the main wall.
fluenounUS /fluː/
flat bladelike projection on the arm of an anchor
From this reading It was really built in the chimney itself, though not in the flue.
an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading But they did do it, and their labours were rewarded by the discovery of the long-lost fortune!
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading If the Hartley boys hadn't been big and strongly-built, they could scarcely have succeeded in tearing away the woodwork from the wall.
hadn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the Hartley boys hadn't been big and strongly-built, they could scarcely have succeeded in tearing away the woodwork from the wall.
HartleynounUS /ˈhɑːrtli/
English philosopher who introduced the theory of the association of ideas (1705-1757)
From this reading If the Hartley boys hadn't been big and strongly-built, they could scarcely have succeeded in tearing away the woodwork from the wall.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If the Hartley boys hadn't been big and strongly-built, they could scarcely have succeeded in tearing away the woodwork from the wall.
historicadjectiveUS /hɪˈstɔːrɪk/
belonging to the past; of what is important or famous in the past
From this reading Sure enough the historic "poke" was a pocket or recess between the old bedhead and the main wall.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If the Hartley boys hadn't been big and strongly-built, they could scarcely have succeeded in tearing away the woodwork from the wall.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading If the Hartley boys hadn't been big and strongly-built, they could scarcely have succeeded in tearing away the woodwork from the wall.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But they did do it, and their labours were rewarded by the discovery of the long-lost fortune!
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading It was really built in the chimney itself, though not in the flue.
labours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But they did do it, and their labours were rewarded by the discovery of the long-lost fortune!
long-lost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But they did do it, and their labours were rewarded by the discovery of the long-lost fortune!
most important element
From this reading Sure enough the historic "poke" was a pocket or recess between the old bedhead and the main wall.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE DISCOVERY The removal of the old chimney-piece was not an easy task.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE DISCOVERY The removal of the old chimney-piece was not an easy task.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading THE DISCOVERY The removal of the old chimney-piece was not an easy task.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Sure enough the historic "poke" was a pocket or recess between the old bedhead and the main wall.
a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles
From this reading Sure enough the historic "poke" was a pocket or recess between the old bedhead and the main wall.
pokeverbUS /poʊk/
poke or thrust abruptly
From this reading Sure enough the historic "poke" was a pocket or recess between the old bedhead and the main wall.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading It was really built in the chimney itself, though not in the flue.
recessverbUS /rɪˈses/
put into a recess
From this reading Sure enough the historic "poke" was a pocket or recess between the old bedhead and the main wall.
removalnounUS /rɪˈmuːvəl/
the act of removing
From this reading THE DISCOVERY The removal of the old chimney-piece was not an easy task.
rewardedverbUS /rɪˈwɔːrdɪd/
past form of “reward” — bestow honor or rewards upon
From this reading But they did do it, and their labours were rewarded by the discovery of the long-lost fortune!
only a very short time before
From this reading If the Hartley boys hadn't been big and strongly-built, they could scarcely have succeeded in tearing away the woodwork from the wall.
strongly-built
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the Hartley boys hadn't been big and strongly-built, they could scarcely have succeeded in tearing away the woodwork from the wall.
past form of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal
From this reading If the Hartley boys hadn't been big and strongly-built, they could scarcely have succeeded in tearing away the woodwork from the wall.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading Sure enough the historic "poke" was a pocket or recess between the old bedhead and the main wall.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading THE DISCOVERY The removal of the old chimney-piece was not an easy task.
tearingnounUS /ˈterɪŋ/
shedding tears
From this reading If the Hartley boys hadn't been big and strongly-built, they could scarcely have succeeded in tearing away the woodwork from the wall.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DISCOVERY The removal of the old chimney-piece was not an easy task.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading But they did do it, and their labours were rewarded by the discovery of the long-lost fortune!
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If the Hartley boys hadn't been big and strongly-built, they could scarcely have succeeded in tearing away the woodwork from the wall.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading It was really built in the chimney itself, though not in the flue.
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 If the Hartley boys hadn't been big and strongly-built, they could scarcely have succeeded in tearing away the woodwork from the wall.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE DISCOVERY The removal of the old chimney-piece was not an easy task.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But they did do it, and their labours were rewarded by the discovery of the long-lost fortune!
woodworknounUS /ˈwʊdwɜːrk/
work made of wood; especially moldings or stairways or furniture
From this reading If the Hartley boys hadn't been big and strongly-built, they could scarcely have succeeded in tearing away the woodwork from the wall.
