used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The air was littered, an hour or so, With bits of gingham and calico, While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place Up with its hands before its face, For it always dreaded a family row!
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The air was littered, an hour or so, With bits of gingham and calico, While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place Up with its hands before its face, For it always dreaded a family row!
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading The air was littered, an hour or so, With bits of gingham and calico, While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place Up with its hands before its face, For it always dreaded a family row!
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The air was littered, an hour or so, With bits of gingham and calico, While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place Up with its hands before its face, For it always dreaded a family row!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And the calico cat replied “mee-ow!”
awfullest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the gingham dog and the calico cat Wallowed this way and tumbled that, Employing every tooth and claw In the awfullest way you ever saw-- And, oh! how the gingham and calico flew!
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The air was littered, an hour or so, With bits of gingham and calico, While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place Up with its hands before its face, For it always dreaded a family row!
bitsnounUS /bɪts/
plural of “bit” — a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading The air was littered, an hour or so, With bits of gingham and calico, While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place Up with its hands before its face, For it always dreaded a family row!
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading The Chinese plate looked very blue, And wailed, “Oh, dear! what shall we do!”
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the gingham dog and the calico cat Wallowed this way and tumbled that, Employing every tooth and claw In the awfullest way you ever saw-- And, oh! how the gingham and calico flew!
calicoadjectiveUS /ˈkæləkoʊ/
made of calico or resembling calico in being patterned
From this reading And the calico cat replied “mee-ow!”
feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
From this reading And the calico cat replied “mee-ow!”
chimney-place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The air was littered, an hour or so, With bits of gingham and calico, While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place Up with its hands before its face, For it always dreaded a family row!
ChinesenounUS /tʃaɪˈniːz/
any of the Sino-Tibetan languages spoken in China; regarded as dialects of a single language (even though they are mutually unintelligible) because they share an ideographic writing system
From this reading The Chinese plate looked very blue, And wailed, “Oh, dear! what shall we do!”
clawnounUS /klɔː/
sharp curved horny process on the toe of a bird or some mammals or reptiles
From this reading But the gingham dog and the calico cat Wallowed this way and tumbled that, Employing every tooth and claw In the awfullest way you ever saw-- And, oh! how the gingham and calico flew!
a timepiece that shows the time of day
From this reading The air was littered, an hour or so, With bits of gingham and calico, While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place Up with its hands before its face, For it always dreaded a family row!
dearly loved
From this reading The Chinese plate looked very blue, And wailed, “Oh, dear! what shall we do!”
declaresverbUS /dɪˈklerz/
third-person singular of “declare” — state emphatically and authoritatively
From this reading (_Now mind: I’m only telling you What the old Dutch clock declares is true_!)
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading The Chinese plate looked very blue, And wailed, “Oh, dear! what shall we do!”
a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading But the gingham dog and the calico cat Wallowed this way and tumbled that, Employing every tooth and claw In the awfullest way you ever saw-- And, oh! how the gingham and calico flew!
dreadedadjectiveUS /ˈdredɪd/
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading The air was littered, an hour or so, With bits of gingham and calico, While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place Up with its hands before its face, For it always dreaded a family row!
DutchadjectiveUS /dʌtʃ/
of or relating to the Netherlands or its people or culture
From this reading The air was littered, an hour or so, With bits of gingham and calico, While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place Up with its hands before its face, For it always dreaded a family row!
EmployingverbUS /emˈplɔɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “employ” — put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose
From this reading But the gingham dog and the calico cat Wallowed this way and tumbled that, Employing every tooth and claw In the awfullest way you ever saw-- And, oh! how the gingham and calico flew!
at any time
From this reading But the gingham dog and the calico cat Wallowed this way and tumbled that, Employing every tooth and claw In the awfullest way you ever saw-- And, oh! how the gingham and calico flew!
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading But the gingham dog and the calico cat Wallowed this way and tumbled that, Employing every tooth and claw In the awfullest way you ever saw-- And, oh! how the gingham and calico flew!
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The air was littered, an hour or so, With bits of gingham and calico, While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place Up with its hands before its face, For it always dreaded a family row!
a social unit living together
From this reading The air was littered, an hour or so, With bits of gingham and calico, While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place Up with its hands before its face, For it always dreaded a family row!
inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading But the gingham dog and the calico cat Wallowed this way and tumbled that, Employing every tooth and claw In the awfullest way you ever saw-- And, oh! how the gingham and calico flew!
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The air was littered, an hour or so, With bits of gingham and calico, While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place Up with its hands before its face, For it always dreaded a family row!
ginghamnounUS /ˈɡɪŋəm/
a clothing fabric in a plaid weave
From this reading The air was littered, an hour or so, With bits of gingham and calico, While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place Up with its hands before its face, For it always dreaded a family row!
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading The air was littered, an hour or so, With bits of gingham and calico, While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place Up with its hands before its face, For it always dreaded a family row!
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading The air was littered, an hour or so, With bits of gingham and calico, While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place Up with its hands before its face, For it always dreaded a family row!
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the gingham dog and the calico cat Wallowed this way and tumbled that, Employing every tooth and claw In the awfullest way you ever saw-- And, oh! how the gingham and calico flew!
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading (_Now mind: I’m only telling you What the old Dutch clock declares is true_!)
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The air was littered, an hour or so, With bits of gingham and calico, While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place Up with its hands before its face, For it always dreaded a family row!
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading (_Now mind: I’m only telling you What the old Dutch clock declares is true_!)
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The air was littered, an hour or so, With bits of gingham and calico, While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place Up with its hands before its face, For it always dreaded a family row!
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The air was littered, an hour or so, With bits of gingham and calico, While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place Up with its hands before its face, For it always dreaded a family row!
litteredadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtərd/
filled or scattered with a disorderly accumulation of objects or rubbish
From this reading The air was littered, an hour or so, With bits of gingham and calico, While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place Up with its hands before its face, For it always dreaded a family row!
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The Chinese plate looked very blue, And wailed, “Oh, dear! what shall we do!”
mee-ow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And the calico cat replied “mee-ow!”
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading (_Now mind: I’m only telling you What the old Dutch clock declares is true_!)
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading (_Now mind: I’m only telling you What the old Dutch clock declares is true_!)
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The air was littered, an hour or so, With bits of gingham and calico, While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place Up with its hands before its face, For it always dreaded a family row!
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading The Chinese plate looked very blue, And wailed, “Oh, dear! what shall we do!”
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The air was littered, an hour or so, With bits of gingham and calico, While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place Up with its hands before its face, For it always dreaded a family row!
and nothing more
From this reading (_Now mind: I’m only telling you What the old Dutch clock declares is true_!)
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The air was littered, an hour or so, With bits of gingham and calico, While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place Up with its hands before its face, For it always dreaded a family row!
(baseball) base consisting of a rubber slab where the batter stands; it must be touched by a base runner in order to score
From this reading The Chinese plate looked very blue, And wailed, “Oh, dear! what shall we do!”
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading And the calico cat replied “mee-ow!”
an arrangement of objects or people side by side in a line
From this reading The air was littered, an hour or so, With bits of gingham and calico, While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place Up with its hands before its face, For it always dreaded a family row!
cut with a saw
From this reading But the gingham dog and the calico cat Wallowed this way and tumbled that, Employing every tooth and claw In the awfullest way you ever saw-- And, oh! how the gingham and calico flew!
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading The Chinese plate looked very blue, And wailed, “Oh, dear! what shall we do!”
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The air was littered, an hour or so, With bits of gingham and calico, While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place Up with its hands before its face, For it always dreaded a family row!
disclosing unintentionally something concealed
From this reading (_Now mind: I’m only telling you What the old Dutch clock declares is true_!)
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But the gingham dog and the calico cat Wallowed this way and tumbled that, Employing every tooth and claw In the awfullest way you ever saw-- And, oh! how the gingham and calico flew!
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading And the calico cat replied “mee-ow!”
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But the gingham dog and the calico cat Wallowed this way and tumbled that, Employing every tooth and claw In the awfullest way you ever saw-- And, oh! how the gingham and calico flew!
toothnounUS /tuːθ/
hard bonelike structures in the jaws of vertebrates; used for biting and chewing or for attack and defense
From this reading But the gingham dog and the calico cat Wallowed this way and tumbled that, Employing every tooth and claw In the awfullest way you ever saw-- And, oh! how the gingham and calico flew!
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading (_Now mind: I’m only telling you What the old Dutch clock declares is true_!)
tumbledverbUS /ˈtʌmbəld/
past form of “tumble” — fall down, as if collapsing
From this reading But the gingham dog and the calico cat Wallowed this way and tumbled that, Employing every tooth and claw In the awfullest way you ever saw-- And, oh! how the gingham and calico flew!
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The air was littered, an hour or so, With bits of gingham and calico, While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place Up with its hands before its face, For it always dreaded a family row!
precisely as stated
From this reading The Chinese plate looked very blue, And wailed, “Oh, dear! what shall we do!”
wailedverbUS /weɪld/
past form of “wail” — emit long loud cries
From this reading The Chinese plate looked very blue, And wailed, “Oh, dear! what shall we do!”
WallowedverbUS /ˈwɑːloʊd/
past form of “wallow” — devote oneself entirely to something; indulge in to an immoderate degree, usually with pleasure
From this reading But the gingham dog and the calico cat Wallowed this way and tumbled that, Employing every tooth and claw In the awfullest way you ever saw-- And, oh! how the gingham and calico flew!
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The air was littered, an hour or so, With bits of gingham and calico, While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place Up with its hands before its face, For it always dreaded a family row!
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading But the gingham dog and the calico cat Wallowed this way and tumbled that, Employing every tooth and claw In the awfullest way you ever saw-- And, oh! how the gingham and calico flew!
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading The Chinese plate looked very blue, And wailed, “Oh, dear! what shall we do!”
used to ask for information about something
From this reading (_Now mind: I’m only telling you What the old Dutch clock declares is true_!)
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The air was littered, an hour or so, With bits of gingham and calico, While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place Up with its hands before its face, For it always dreaded a family row!
in the company of; together with
From this reading The air was littered, an hour or so, With bits of gingham and calico, While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place Up with its hands before its face, For it always dreaded a family row!
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading (_Now mind: I’m only telling you What the old Dutch clock declares is true_!)
