used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The breakfast had been ready punctually at half past five, and it was well-cooked, as she had boasted it would be—corn-bread smoking hot, fried chicken, potatoes, flap-jacks and molasses—a meal for a king, to say nothing of a working-man and his negro help.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mrs. Weston was tired and sat down in her rocking-chair to rest.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Then they had gone off to the ploughing, while Olive had bustled around and got forward with her house-work.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The breakfast had been ready punctually at half past five, and it was well-cooked, as she had boasted it would be—corn-bread smoking hot, fried chicken, potatoes, flap-jacks and molasses—a meal for a king, to say nothing of a working-man and his negro help.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The breakfast had been ready punctually at half past five, and it was well-cooked, as she had boasted it would be—corn-bread smoking hot, fried chicken, potatoes, flap-jacks and molasses—a meal for a king, to say nothing of a working-man and his negro help.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The breakfast had been ready punctually at half past five, and it was well-cooked, as she had boasted it would be—corn-bread smoking hot, fried chicken, potatoes, flap-jacks and molasses—a meal for a king, to say nothing of a working-man and his negro help.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The breakfast had been ready punctually at half past five, and it was well-cooked, as she had boasted it would be—corn-bread smoking hot, fried chicken, potatoes, flap-jacks and molasses—a meal for a king, to say nothing of a working-man and his negro help.
boastedverbUS /ˈboʊstəd/
past form of “boast” — show off
From this reading The breakfast had been ready punctually at half past five, and it was well-cooked, as she had boasted it would be—corn-bread smoking hot, fried chicken, potatoes, flap-jacks and molasses—a meal for a king, to say nothing of a working-man and his negro help.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading The breakfast had been ready punctually at half past five, and it was well-cooked, as she had boasted it would be—corn-bread smoking hot, fried chicken, potatoes, flap-jacks and molasses—a meal for a king, to say nothing of a working-man and his negro help.
bustled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then they had gone off to the ploughing, while Olive had bustled around and got forward with her house-work.
chickennounUS /ˈtʃɪkən/
the flesh of a chicken used for food
From this reading The breakfast had been ready punctually at half past five, and it was well-cooked, as she had boasted it would be—corn-bread smoking hot, fried chicken, potatoes, flap-jacks and molasses—a meal for a king, to say nothing of a working-man and his negro help.
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 Ezra and Napoleon Pompey had partaken heartily, especially the latter, for he had been living on underdone hoe-cake and cold pork.
corn-bread
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The breakfast had been ready punctually at half past five, and it was well-cooked, as she had boasted it would be—corn-bread smoking hot, fried chicken, potatoes, flap-jacks and molasses—a meal for a king, to say nothing of a working-man and his negro help.
day'snounUS /deɪz/
possessive form of “day” — time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Her day’s work was fairly over.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Mrs. Weston was tired and sat down in her rocking-chair to rest.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading Ezra and Napoleon Pompey had partaken heartily, especially the latter, for he had been living on underdone hoe-cake and cold pork.
EzranounUS /ˈezrə/
a Jewish priest and scribe sent by the Persian king to restore Jewish law and worship in Jerusalem
From this reading Ezra and Napoleon Pompey had partaken heartily, especially the latter, for he had been living on underdone hoe-cake and cold pork.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading Her day’s work was fairly over.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading The breakfast had been ready punctually at half past five, and it was well-cooked, as she had boasted it would be—corn-bread smoking hot, fried chicken, potatoes, flap-jacks and molasses—a meal for a king, to say nothing of a working-man and his negro help.
flap-jacks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The breakfast had been ready punctually at half past five, and it was well-cooked, as she had boasted it would be—corn-bread smoking hot, fried chicken, potatoes, flap-jacks and molasses—a meal for a king, to say nothing of a working-man and his negro help.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The breakfast had been ready punctually at half past five, and it was well-cooked, as she had boasted it would be—corn-bread smoking hot, fried chicken, potatoes, flap-jacks and molasses—a meal for a king, to say nothing of a working-man and his negro help.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Then they had gone off to the ploughing, while Olive had bustled around and got forward with her house-work.
friedadjectiveUS /fraɪd/
cooked by frying in fat
From this reading The breakfast had been ready punctually at half past five, and it was well-cooked, as she had boasted it would be—corn-bread smoking hot, fried chicken, potatoes, flap-jacks and molasses—a meal for a king, to say nothing of a working-man and his negro help.
destroyed or killed
From this reading Then they had gone off to the ploughing, while Olive had bustled around and got forward with her house-work.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Then they had gone off to the ploughing, while Olive had bustled around and got forward with her house-work.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The breakfast had been ready punctually at half past five, and it was well-cooked, as she had boasted it would be—corn-bread smoking hot, fried chicken, potatoes, flap-jacks and molasses—a meal for a king, to say nothing of a working-man and his negro help.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading The breakfast had been ready punctually at half past five, and it was well-cooked, as she had boasted it would be—corn-bread smoking hot, fried chicken, potatoes, flap-jacks and molasses—a meal for a king, to say nothing of a working-man and his negro help.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Ezra and Napoleon Pompey had partaken heartily, especially the latter, for he had been living on underdone hoe-cake and cold pork.
with gusto and without reservation
From this reading Ezra and Napoleon Pompey had partaken heartily, especially the latter, for he had been living on underdone hoe-cake and cold pork.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading The breakfast had been ready punctually at half past five, and it was well-cooked, as she had boasted it would be—corn-bread smoking hot, fried chicken, potatoes, flap-jacks and molasses—a meal for a king, to say nothing of a working-man and his negro help.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Weston was tired and sat down in her rocking-chair to rest.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The breakfast had been ready punctually at half past five, and it was well-cooked, as she had boasted it would be—corn-bread smoking hot, fried chicken, potatoes, flap-jacks and molasses—a meal for a king, to say nothing of a working-man and his negro help.
hoe-cake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ezra and Napoleon Pompey had partaken heartily, especially the latter, for he had been living on underdone hoe-cake and cold pork.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading The breakfast had been ready punctually at half past five, and it was well-cooked, as she had boasted it would be—corn-bread smoking hot, fried chicken, potatoes, flap-jacks and molasses—a meal for a king, to say nothing of a working-man and his negro help.
house-work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then they had gone off to the ploughing, while Olive had bustled around and got forward with her house-work.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mrs. Weston was tired and sat down in her rocking-chair to rest.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The breakfast had been ready punctually at half past five, and it was well-cooked, as she had boasted it would be—corn-bread smoking hot, fried chicken, potatoes, flap-jacks and molasses—a meal for a king, to say nothing of a working-man and his negro help.
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading The breakfast had been ready punctually at half past five, and it was well-cooked, as she had boasted it would be—corn-bread smoking hot, fried chicken, potatoes, flap-jacks and molasses—a meal for a king, to say nothing of a working-man and his negro help.
referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)
From this reading Ezra and Napoleon Pompey had partaken heartily, especially the latter, for he had been living on underdone hoe-cake and cold pork.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading Ezra and Napoleon Pompey had partaken heartily, especially the latter, for he had been living on underdone hoe-cake and cold pork.
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading The breakfast had been ready punctually at half past five, and it was well-cooked, as she had boasted it would be—corn-bread smoking hot, fried chicken, potatoes, flap-jacks and molasses—a meal for a king, to say nothing of a working-man and his negro help.
molassesnounUS /məˈlæsəz/
thick dark syrup produced by boiling down juice from sugar cane; especially during sugar refining
From this reading The breakfast had been ready punctually at half past five, and it was well-cooked, as she had boasted it would be—corn-bread smoking hot, fried chicken, potatoes, flap-jacks and molasses—a meal for a king, to say nothing of a working-man and his negro help.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Weston was tired and sat down in her rocking-chair to rest.
NapoleonnounUS /nəˈpoʊliən/
French general who became emperor of the French (1769-1821)
From this reading Ezra and Napoleon Pompey had partaken heartily, especially the latter, for he had been living on underdone hoe-cake and cold pork.
negronounUS /ˈniːɡroʊ/
a person with African ancestry, "Negro" and "Negroid" are archaic and pejorative today
From this reading The breakfast had been ready punctually at half past five, and it was well-cooked, as she had boasted it would be—corn-bread smoking hot, fried chicken, potatoes, flap-jacks and molasses—a meal for a king, to say nothing of a working-man and his negro help.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading The breakfast had been ready punctually at half past five, and it was well-cooked, as she had boasted it would be—corn-bread smoking hot, fried chicken, potatoes, flap-jacks and molasses—a meal for a king, to say nothing of a working-man and his negro help.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The breakfast had been ready punctually at half past five, and it was well-cooked, as she had boasted it would be—corn-bread smoking hot, fried chicken, potatoes, flap-jacks and molasses—a meal for a king, to say nothing of a working-man and his negro help.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Then they had gone off to the ploughing, while Olive had bustled around and got forward with her house-work.
OliveadjectiveUS /ˈɑːləv/
of a yellow-green color similar to that of an unripe olive
From this reading Then they had gone off to the ploughing, while Olive had bustled around and got forward with her house-work.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Ezra and Napoleon Pompey had partaken heartily, especially the latter, for he had been living on underdone hoe-cake and cold pork.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Her day’s work was fairly over.
partaken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ezra and Napoleon Pompey had partaken heartily, especially the latter, for he had been living on underdone hoe-cake and cold pork.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading The breakfast had been ready punctually at half past five, and it was well-cooked, as she had boasted it would be—corn-bread smoking hot, fried chicken, potatoes, flap-jacks and molasses—a meal for a king, to say nothing of a working-man and his negro help.
ploughingnoun
tilling the land with a plow
From this reading Then they had gone off to the ploughing, while Olive had bustled around and got forward with her house-work.
PompeynounUS /ˈpɑːmpi/
Roman general and statesman who quarrelled with Caesar and fled to Egypt where he was murdered (106-48 BC)
From this reading Ezra and Napoleon Pompey had partaken heartily, especially the latter, for he had been living on underdone hoe-cake and cold pork.
porknounUS /pɔːrk/
meat from a domestic hog or pig
From this reading Ezra and Napoleon Pompey had partaken heartily, especially the latter, for he had been living on underdone hoe-cake and cold pork.
potatoesnounUS /pəˈteɪtoʊz/
plural of “potato” — an edible tuber native to South America; a staple food of Ireland
From this reading The breakfast had been ready punctually at half past five, and it was well-cooked, as she had boasted it would be—corn-bread smoking hot, fried chicken, potatoes, flap-jacks and molasses—a meal for a king, to say nothing of a working-man and his negro help.
punctuallyadverb
at the expected or proper time
From this reading The breakfast had been ready punctually at half past five, and it was well-cooked, as she had boasted it would be—corn-bread smoking hot, fried chicken, potatoes, flap-jacks and molasses—a meal for a king, to say nothing of a working-man and his negro help.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading The breakfast had been ready punctually at half past five, and it was well-cooked, as she had boasted it would be—corn-bread smoking hot, fried chicken, potatoes, flap-jacks and molasses—a meal for a king, to say nothing of a working-man and his negro help.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading Mrs. Weston was tired and sat down in her rocking-chair to rest.
rocking-chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Weston was tired and sat down in her rocking-chair to rest.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Mrs. Weston was tired and sat down in her rocking-chair to rest.
express in words
From this reading The breakfast had been ready punctually at half past five, and it was well-cooked, as she had boasted it would be—corn-bread smoking hot, fried chicken, potatoes, flap-jacks and molasses—a meal for a king, to say nothing of a working-man and his negro help.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The breakfast had been ready punctually at half past five, and it was well-cooked, as she had boasted it would be—corn-bread smoking hot, fried chicken, potatoes, flap-jacks and molasses—a meal for a king, to say nothing of a working-man and his negro help.
the act of smoking tobacco or other substances
From this reading The breakfast had been ready punctually at half past five, and it was well-cooked, as she had boasted it would be—corn-bread smoking hot, fried chicken, potatoes, flap-jacks and molasses—a meal for a king, to say nothing of a working-man and his negro help.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The breakfast had been ready punctually at half past five, and it was well-cooked, as she had boasted it would be—corn-bread smoking hot, fried chicken, potatoes, flap-jacks and molasses—a meal for a king, to say nothing of a working-man and his negro help.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then they had gone off to the ploughing, while Olive had bustled around and got forward with her house-work.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then they had gone off to the ploughing, while Olive had bustled around and got forward with her house-work.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading Mrs. Weston was tired and sat down in her rocking-chair to rest.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mrs. Weston was tired and sat down in her rocking-chair to rest.
underdoneadjective
insufficiently cooked
From this reading Ezra and Napoleon Pompey had partaken heartily, especially the latter, for he had been living on underdone hoe-cake and cold pork.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mrs. Weston was tired and sat down in her rocking-chair to rest.
well-cooked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The breakfast had been ready punctually at half past five, and it was well-cooked, as she had boasted it would be—corn-bread smoking hot, fried chicken, potatoes, flap-jacks and molasses—a meal for a king, to say nothing of a working-man and his negro help.
WestonnounUS /ˈwestən/
United States photographer(1886-1958)
From this reading Mrs. Weston was tired and sat down in her rocking-chair to rest.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Then they had gone off to the ploughing, while Olive had bustled around and got forward with her house-work.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Then they had gone off to the ploughing, while Olive had bustled around and got forward with her house-work.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Her day’s work was fairly over.
working-man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The breakfast had been ready punctually at half past five, and it was well-cooked, as she had boasted it would be—corn-bread smoking hot, fried chicken, potatoes, flap-jacks and molasses—a meal for a king, to say nothing of a working-man and his negro help.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The breakfast had been ready punctually at half past five, and it was well-cooked, as she had boasted it would be—corn-bread smoking hot, fried chicken, potatoes, flap-jacks and molasses—a meal for a king, to say nothing of a working-man and his negro help.
