used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When the boat was properly secured, Uncle Phin, leaving Arthur to look out for it, shouldered his axe and went in search of a birch tree.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Within half an hour he returned, bringing a great bundle of twigs and the interesting information that there was a little boy and a little girl up in the bushes picking blackberries.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When the boat was properly secured, Uncle Phin, leaving Arthur to look out for it, shouldered his axe and went in search of a birch tree.
any person at all
From this reading He was fully in earnest, for he had such firm faith in Uncle Phin’s culinary skill that he believed he could make anything good to eat that anybody else could.
any thing at all
From this reading He was fully in earnest, for he had such firm faith in Uncle Phin’s culinary skill that he believed he could make anything good to eat that anybody else could.
elected vice president and became 21st President of the United States when Garfield was assassinated (1830-1886)
From this reading When the boat was properly secured, Uncle Phin, leaving Arthur to look out for it, shouldered his axe and went in search of a birch tree.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “Oh, can’t I go up there and pick some too?” asked Arthur; “they would be so good for dinner, and if I got enough you might make a pie, you know.”
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The old man only laughed at this, but said he might go if he wanted to; and the boy, taking a tincup in which to hold the berries, ran off, happily enough, to find the children.
axenounUS /æks/
an edge tool with a heavy bladed head mounted across a handle
From this reading When the boat was properly secured, Uncle Phin, leaving Arthur to look out for it, shouldered his axe and went in search of a birch tree.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “Oh, can’t I go up there and pick some too?” asked Arthur; “they would be so good for dinner, and if I got enough you might make a pie, you know.”
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading He was fully in earnest, for he had such firm faith in Uncle Phin’s culinary skill that he believed he could make anything good to eat that anybody else could.
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 The old man only laughed at this, but said he might go if he wanted to; and the boy, taking a tincup in which to hold the berries, ran off, happily enough, to find the children.
birchnounUS /bɜːrtʃ/
hard close-grained wood of any of various birch trees; used especially in furniture and interior finishes and plywood
From this reading When the boat was properly secured, Uncle Phin, leaving Arthur to look out for it, shouldered his axe and went in search of a birch tree.
blackberriesnounUS /ˈblækberiz/
plural of “blackberry” — large sweet black or very dark purple edible aggregate fruit of any of various bushes of the genus Rubus
From this reading Within half an hour he returned, bringing a great bundle of twigs and the interesting information that there was a little boy and a little girl up in the bushes picking blackberries.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading When the boat was properly secured, Uncle Phin, leaving Arthur to look out for it, shouldered his axe and went in search of a birch tree.
a youthful male person
From this reading Within half an hour he returned, bringing a great bundle of twigs and the interesting information that there was a little boy and a little girl up in the bushes picking blackberries.
the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail)
From this reading Within half an hour he returned, bringing a great bundle of twigs and the interesting information that there was a little boy and a little girl up in the bushes picking blackberries.
bundlenounUS /ˈbʌndəl/
a collection of things wrapped or boxed together
From this reading Within half an hour he returned, bringing a great bundle of twigs and the interesting information that there was a little boy and a little girl up in the bushes picking blackberries.
plural of “bush” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading Within half an hour he returned, bringing a great bundle of twigs and the interesting information that there was a little boy and a little girl up in the bushes picking blackberries.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The old man only laughed at this, but said he might go if he wanted to; and the boy, taking a tincup in which to hold the berries, ran off, happily enough, to find the children.
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Oh, can’t I go up there and pick some too?” asked Arthur; “they would be so good for dinner, and if I got enough you might make a pie, you know.”
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading The old man only laughed at this, but said he might go if he wanted to; and the boy, taking a tincup in which to hold the berries, ran off, happily enough, to find the children.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He was fully in earnest, for he had such firm faith in Uncle Phin’s culinary skill that he believed he could make anything good to eat that anybody else could.
culinaryadjectiveUS /ˈkjuːlɪneri/
of or relating to or used in cooking
From this reading He was fully in earnest, for he had such firm faith in Uncle Phin’s culinary skill that he believed he could make anything good to eat that anybody else could.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading “Oh, can’t I go up there and pick some too?” asked Arthur; “they would be so good for dinner, and if I got enough you might make a pie, you know.”
characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions
From this reading He was fully in earnest, for he had such firm faith in Uncle Phin’s culinary skill that he believed he could make anything good to eat that anybody else could.
take in solid food
From this reading He was fully in earnest, for he had such firm faith in Uncle Phin’s culinary skill that he believed he could make anything good to eat that anybody else could.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was fully in earnest, for he had such firm faith in Uncle Phin’s culinary skill that he believed he could make anything good to eat that anybody else could.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading “Oh, can’t I go up there and pick some too?” asked Arthur; “they would be so good for dinner, and if I got enough you might make a pie, you know.”
a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny
From this reading He was fully in earnest, for he had such firm faith in Uncle Phin’s culinary skill that he believed he could make anything good to eat that anybody else could.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading The old man only laughed at this, but said he might go if he wanted to; and the boy, taking a tincup in which to hold the berries, ran off, happily enough, to find the children.
marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable
From this reading He was fully in earnest, for he had such firm faith in Uncle Phin’s culinary skill that he believed he could make anything good to eat that anybody else could.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When the boat was properly secured, Uncle Phin, leaving Arthur to look out for it, shouldered his axe and went in search of a birch tree.
to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)
From this reading He was fully in earnest, for he had such firm faith in Uncle Phin’s culinary skill that he believed he could make anything good to eat that anybody else could.
a young female
From this reading Within half an hour he returned, bringing a great bundle of twigs and the interesting information that there was a little boy and a little girl up in the bushes picking blackberries.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading “Oh, can’t I go up there and pick some too?” asked Arthur; “they would be so good for dinner, and if I got enough you might make a pie, you know.”
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading “Oh, can’t I go up there and pick some too?” asked Arthur; “they would be so good for dinner, and if I got enough you might make a pie, you know.”
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “Oh, can’t I go up there and pick some too?” asked Arthur; “they would be so good for dinner, and if I got enough you might make a pie, you know.”
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Within half an hour he returned, bringing a great bundle of twigs and the interesting information that there was a little boy and a little girl up in the bushes picking blackberries.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was fully in earnest, for he had such firm faith in Uncle Phin’s culinary skill that he believed he could make anything good to eat that anybody else could.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Within half an hour he returned, bringing a great bundle of twigs and the interesting information that there was a little boy and a little girl up in the bushes picking blackberries.
happilyadverbUS /ˈhæpəli/
in a joyous manner
From this reading The old man only laughed at this, but said he might go if he wanted to; and the boy, taking a tincup in which to hold the berries, ran off, happily enough, to find the children.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Within half an hour he returned, bringing a great bundle of twigs and the interesting information that there was a little boy and a little girl up in the bushes picking blackberries.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When the boat was properly secured, Uncle Phin, leaving Arthur to look out for it, shouldered his axe and went in search of a birch tree.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading The old man only laughed at this, but said he might go if he wanted to; and the boy, taking a tincup in which to hold the berries, ran off, happily enough, to find the children.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading Within half an hour he returned, bringing a great bundle of twigs and the interesting information that there was a little boy and a little girl up in the bushes picking blackberries.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Oh, can’t I go up there and pick some too?” asked Arthur; “they would be so good for dinner, and if I got enough you might make a pie, you know.”
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “Oh, can’t I go up there and pick some too?” asked Arthur; “they would be so good for dinner, and if I got enough you might make a pie, you know.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When the boat was properly secured, Uncle Phin, leaving Arthur to look out for it, shouldered his axe and went in search of a birch tree.
a message received and understood
From this reading Within half an hour he returned, bringing a great bundle of twigs and the interesting information that there was a little boy and a little girl up in the bushes picking blackberries.
arousing or holding the attention
From this reading Within half an hour he returned, bringing a great bundle of twigs and the interesting information that there was a little boy and a little girl up in the bushes picking blackberries.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading When the boat was properly secured, Uncle Phin, leaving Arthur to look out for it, shouldered his axe and went in search of a birch tree.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading “Oh, can’t I go up there and pick some too?” asked Arthur; “they would be so good for dinner, and if I got enough you might make a pie, you know.”
past form of “laugh” — produce laughter
From this reading The old man only laughed at this, but said he might go if he wanted to; and the boy, taking a tincup in which to hold the berries, ran off, happily enough, to find the children.
the act of departing
From this reading When the boat was properly secured, Uncle Phin, leaving Arthur to look out for it, shouldered his axe and went in search of a birch tree.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Within half an hour he returned, bringing a great bundle of twigs and the interesting information that there was a little boy and a little girl up in the bushes picking blackberries.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading When the boat was properly secured, Uncle Phin, leaving Arthur to look out for it, shouldered his axe and went in search of a birch tree.
engage in
From this reading “Oh, can’t I go up there and pick some too?” asked Arthur; “they would be so good for dinner, and if I got enough you might make a pie, you know.”
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The old man only laughed at this, but said he might go if he wanted to; and the boy, taking a tincup in which to hold the berries, ran off, happily enough, to find the children.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading “Oh, can’t I go up there and pick some too?” asked Arthur; “they would be so good for dinner, and if I got enough you might make a pie, you know.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When the boat was properly secured, Uncle Phin, leaving Arthur to look out for it, shouldered his axe and went in search of a birch tree.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The old man only laughed at this, but said he might go if he wanted to; and the boy, taking a tincup in which to hold the berries, ran off, happily enough, to find the children.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading “Oh, can’t I go up there and pick some too?” asked Arthur; “they would be so good for dinner, and if I got enough you might make a pie, you know.”
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The old man only laughed at this, but said he might go if he wanted to; and the boy, taking a tincup in which to hold the berries, ran off, happily enough, to find the children.
and nothing more
From this reading The old man only laughed at this, but said he might go if he wanted to; and the boy, taking a tincup in which to hold the berries, ran off, happily enough, to find the children.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading When the boat was properly secured, Uncle Phin, leaving Arthur to look out for it, shouldered his axe and went in search of a birch tree.
Phin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the boat was properly secured, Uncle Phin, leaving Arthur to look out for it, shouldered his axe and went in search of a birch tree.
Phin's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was fully in earnest, for he had such firm faith in Uncle Phin’s culinary skill that he believed he could make anything good to eat that anybody else could.
select carefully from a group
From this reading “Oh, can’t I go up there and pick some too?” asked Arthur; “they would be so good for dinner, and if I got enough you might make a pie, you know.”
pickingnounUS /ˈpɪkɪŋ/
the quantity of a crop that is harvested
From this reading Within half an hour he returned, bringing a great bundle of twigs and the interesting information that there was a little boy and a little girl up in the bushes picking blackberries.
pienounUS /paɪ/
dish baked in pastry-lined pan often with a pastry top
From this reading “Oh, can’t I go up there and pick some too?” asked Arthur; “they would be so good for dinner, and if I got enough you might make a pie, you know.”
in the right manner; correctly; suitably
From this reading When the boat was properly secured, Uncle Phin, leaving Arthur to look out for it, shouldered his axe and went in search of a birch tree.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading The old man only laughed at this, but said he might go if he wanted to; and the boy, taking a tincup in which to hold the berries, ran off, happily enough, to find the children.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Within half an hour he returned, bringing a great bundle of twigs and the interesting information that there was a little boy and a little girl up in the bushes picking blackberries.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading The old man only laughed at this, but said he might go if he wanted to; and the boy, taking a tincup in which to hold the berries, ran off, happily enough, to find the children.
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading When the boat was properly secured, Uncle Phin, leaving Arthur to look out for it, shouldered his axe and went in search of a birch tree.
past form of “secure” — get by special effort
From this reading When the boat was properly secured, Uncle Phin, leaving Arthur to look out for it, shouldered his axe and went in search of a birch tree.
shoulderedadjectiveUS /ˈʃoʊldərd/
having shoulders or shoulders as specified; usually used as a combining form
From this reading When the boat was properly secured, Uncle Phin, leaving Arthur to look out for it, shouldered his axe and went in search of a birch tree.
an ability that has been acquired by training
From this reading He was fully in earnest, for he had such firm faith in Uncle Phin’s culinary skill that he believed he could make anything good to eat that anybody else could.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “Oh, can’t I go up there and pick some too?” asked Arthur; “they would be so good for dinner, and if I got enough you might make a pie, you know.”
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading “Oh, can’t I go up there and pick some too?” asked Arthur; “they would be so good for dinner, and if I got enough you might make a pie, you know.”
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading He was fully in earnest, for he had such firm faith in Uncle Phin’s culinary skill that he believed he could make anything good to eat that anybody else could.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading The old man only laughed at this, but said he might go if he wanted to; and the boy, taking a tincup in which to hold the berries, ran off, happily enough, to find the children.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Within half an hour he returned, bringing a great bundle of twigs and the interesting information that there was a little boy and a little girl up in the bushes picking blackberries.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When the boat was properly secured, Uncle Phin, leaving Arthur to look out for it, shouldered his axe and went in search of a birch tree.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Within half an hour he returned, bringing a great bundle of twigs and the interesting information that there was a little boy and a little girl up in the bushes picking blackberries.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Oh, can’t I go up there and pick some too?” asked Arthur; “they would be so good for dinner, and if I got enough you might make a pie, you know.”
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The old man only laughed at this, but said he might go if he wanted to; and the boy, taking a tincup in which to hold the berries, ran off, happily enough, to find the children.
tincup
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old man only laughed at this, but said he might go if he wanted to; and the boy, taking a tincup in which to hold the berries, ran off, happily enough, to find the children.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When the boat was properly secured, Uncle Phin, leaving Arthur to look out for it, shouldered his axe and went in search of a birch tree.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading “Oh, can’t I go up there and pick some too?” asked Arthur; “they would be so good for dinner, and if I got enough you might make a pie, you know.”
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading When the boat was properly secured, Uncle Phin, leaving Arthur to look out for it, shouldered his axe and went in search of a birch tree.
twigsnounUS /twɪɡz/
plural of “twig” — a small branch or division of a branch (especially a terminal division); usually applied to branches of the current or preceding year
From this reading Within half an hour he returned, bringing a great bundle of twigs and the interesting information that there was a little boy and a little girl up in the bushes picking blackberries.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading When the boat was properly secured, Uncle Phin, leaving Arthur to look out for it, shouldered his axe and went in search of a birch tree.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Within half an hour he returned, bringing a great bundle of twigs and the interesting information that there was a little boy and a little girl up in the bushes picking blackberries.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading The old man only laughed at this, but said he might go if he wanted to; and the boy, taking a tincup in which to hold the berries, ran off, happily enough, to find the children.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When the boat was properly secured, Uncle Phin, leaving Arthur to look out for it, shouldered his axe and went in search of a birch tree.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading When the boat was properly secured, Uncle Phin, leaving Arthur to look out for it, shouldered his axe and went in search of a birch tree.
at the time that
From this reading When the boat was properly secured, Uncle Phin, leaving Arthur to look out for it, shouldered his axe and went in search of a birch tree.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The old man only laughed at this, but said he might go if he wanted to; and the boy, taking a tincup in which to hold the berries, ran off, happily enough, to find the children.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Within half an hour he returned, bringing a great bundle of twigs and the interesting information that there was a little boy and a little girl up in the bushes picking blackberries.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “Oh, can’t I go up there and pick some too?” asked Arthur; “they would be so good for dinner, and if I got enough you might make a pie, you know.”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Oh, can’t I go up there and pick some too?” asked Arthur; “they would be so good for dinner, and if I got enough you might make a pie, you know.”
