used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They had sat by the fire together for a long time and had talked of the dead boys on the battlefield, while Robin's head had rested against the old fairy woman's knee and the shrivelled hand had stroked and patted her tremulously.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading They had sat by the fire together for a long time and had talked of the dead boys on the battlefield, while Robin's head had rested against the old fairy woman's knee and the shrivelled hand had stroked and patted her tremulously.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Sometimes there's things an old woman can do that young ones can't.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Robin had spent the night at the cottage and Mrs. Bennett had been very good to her.
any thing at all
From this reading "Isn't there anything you'd like me to do for you--anything on earth, Miss, dear?
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading It had been nearing dawn when the girl went to bed and at the last Mrs. Bennett had held on to her dress and asked her a pleading question.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Robin had spent the night at the cottage and Mrs. Bennett had been very good to her.
battlefieldnounUS /ˈbætəlfiːld/
a region where a battle is being (or has been) fought
From this reading They had sat by the fire together for a long time and had talked of the dead boys on the battlefield, while Robin's head had rested against the old fairy woman's knee and the shrivelled hand had stroked and patted her tremulously.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading It had been nearing dawn when the girl went to bed and at the last Mrs. Bennett had held on to her dress and asked her a pleading question.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Robin had spent the night at the cottage and Mrs. Bennett had been very good to her.
BennettnounUS /ˈbenət/
United States aviator who (with Richard E. Byrd) piloted the first flight over the North Pole (1890-1928)
From this reading Robin had spent the night at the cottage and Mrs. Bennett had been very good to her.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading They had sat by the fire together for a long time and had talked of the dead boys on the battlefield, while Robin's head had rested against the old fairy woman's knee and the shrivelled hand had stroked and patted her tremulously.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading They had sat by the fire together for a long time and had talked of the dead boys on the battlefield, while Robin's head had rested against the old fairy woman's knee and the shrivelled hand had stroked and patted her tremulously.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Sometimes there's things an old woman can do that young ones can't.
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes there's things an old woman can do that young ones can't.
a small house with a single story
From this reading Robin had spent the night at the cottage and Mrs. Bennett had been very good to her.
the first light of day
From this reading It had been nearing dawn when the girl went to bed and at the last Mrs. Bennett had held on to her dress and asked her a pleading question.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading They had sat by the fire together for a long time and had talked of the dead boys on the battlefield, while Robin's head had rested against the old fairy woman's knee and the shrivelled hand had stroked and patted her tremulously.
dearly loved
From this reading "Isn't there anything you'd like me to do for you--anything on earth, Miss, dear?
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "Isn't there anything you'd like me to do for you--anything on earth, Miss, dear?
put on clothes
From this reading It had been nearing dawn when the girl went to bed and at the last Mrs. Bennett had held on to her dress and asked her a pleading question.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading "Isn't there anything you'd like me to do for you--anything on earth, Miss, dear?
a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers
From this reading They had sat by the fire together for a long time and had talked of the dead boys on the battlefield, while Robin's head had rested against the old fairy woman's knee and the shrivelled hand had stroked and patted her tremulously.
start firing a weapon
From this reading They had sat by the fire together for a long time and had talked of the dead boys on the battlefield, while Robin's head had rested against the old fairy woman's knee and the shrivelled hand had stroked and patted her tremulously.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They had sat by the fire together for a long time and had talked of the dead boys on the battlefield, while Robin's head had rested against the old fairy woman's knee and the shrivelled hand had stroked and patted her tremulously.
a young female
From this reading It had been nearing dawn when the girl went to bed and at the last Mrs. Bennett had held on to her dress and asked her a pleading question.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Robin had spent the night at the cottage and Mrs. Bennett had been very good to her.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Robin had spent the night at the cottage and Mrs. Bennett had been very good to her.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading They had sat by the fire together for a long time and had talked of the dead boys on the battlefield, while Robin's head had rested against the old fairy woman's knee and the shrivelled hand had stroked and patted her tremulously.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading They had sat by the fire together for a long time and had talked of the dead boys on the battlefield, while Robin's head had rested against the old fairy woman's knee and the shrivelled hand had stroked and patted her tremulously.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading It had been nearing dawn when the girl went to bed and at the last Mrs. Bennett had held on to her dress and asked her a pleading question.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Robin had spent the night at the cottage and Mrs. Bennett had been very good to her.
Isn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Isn't there anything you'd like me to do for you--anything on earth, Miss, dear?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It had been nearing dawn when the girl went to bed and at the last Mrs. Bennett had held on to her dress and asked her a pleading question.
hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading They had sat by the fire together for a long time and had talked of the dead boys on the battlefield, while Robin's head had rested against the old fairy woman's knee and the shrivelled hand had stroked and patted her tremulously.
immediately past
From this reading It had been nearing dawn when the girl went to bed and at the last Mrs. Bennett had held on to her dress and asked her a pleading question.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "Isn't there anything you'd like me to do for you--anything on earth, Miss, dear?
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading They had sat by the fire together for a long time and had talked of the dead boys on the battlefield, while Robin's head had rested against the old fairy woman's knee and the shrivelled hand had stroked and patted her tremulously.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Isn't there anything you'd like me to do for you--anything on earth, Miss, dear?
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading "Isn't there anything you'd like me to do for you--anything on earth, Miss, dear?
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Robin had spent the night at the cottage and Mrs. Bennett had been very good to her.
nearingverbUS /ˈnɪrɪŋ/
-ing form of “near” — move towards
From this reading It had been nearing dawn when the girl went to bed and at the last Mrs. Bennett had held on to her dress and asked her a pleading question.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Robin had spent the night at the cottage and Mrs. Bennett had been very good to her.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They had sat by the fire together for a long time and had talked of the dead boys on the battlefield, while Robin's head had rested against the old fairy woman's knee and the shrivelled hand had stroked and patted her tremulously.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading They had sat by the fire together for a long time and had talked of the dead boys on the battlefield, while Robin's head had rested against the old fairy woman's knee and the shrivelled hand had stroked and patted her tremulously.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They had sat by the fire together for a long time and had talked of the dead boys on the battlefield, while Robin's head had rested against the old fairy woman's knee and the shrivelled hand had stroked and patted her tremulously.
plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Sometimes there's things an old woman can do that young ones can't.
pattedverbUS /ˈpætɪd/
inflected form of “pat” — pat or squeeze fondly or playfully, especially under the chin
From this reading They had sat by the fire together for a long time and had talked of the dead boys on the battlefield, while Robin's head had rested against the old fairy woman's knee and the shrivelled hand had stroked and patted her tremulously.
pleadingnounUS /ˈpliːdɪŋ/
(law) a statement in legal and logical form stating something on behalf of a party to a legal proceeding
From this reading It had been nearing dawn when the girl went to bed and at the last Mrs. Bennett had held on to her dress and asked her a pleading question.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading It had been nearing dawn when the girl went to bed and at the last Mrs. Bennett had held on to her dress and asked her a pleading question.
not tired; refreshed as by sleeping or relaxing
From this reading They had sat by the fire together for a long time and had talked of the dead boys on the battlefield, while Robin's head had rested against the old fairy woman's knee and the shrivelled hand had stroked and patted her tremulously.
RobinnounUS /ˈrɑːbən/
small Old World songbird with a reddish breast
From this reading Robin had spent the night at the cottage and Mrs. Bennett had been very good to her.
Robin'snounUS /ˈrɑːbənz/
possessive form of “robin” — small Old World songbird with a reddish breast
From this reading They had sat by the fire together for a long time and had talked of the dead boys on the battlefield, while Robin's head had rested against the old fairy woman's knee and the shrivelled hand had stroked and patted her tremulously.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading They had sat by the fire together for a long time and had talked of the dead boys on the battlefield, while Robin's head had rested against the old fairy woman's knee and the shrivelled hand had stroked and patted her tremulously.
shrivelledadjective
(used especially of vegetation) having lost all moisture
From this reading They had sat by the fire together for a long time and had talked of the dead boys on the battlefield, while Robin's head had rested against the old fairy woman's knee and the shrivelled hand had stroked and patted her tremulously.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading Sometimes there's things an old woman can do that young ones can't.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading Robin had spent the night at the cottage and Mrs. Bennett had been very good to her.
strokedverbUS /stroʊkt/
past form of “stroke” — touch lightly and repeatedly, as with brushing motions
From this reading They had sat by the fire together for a long time and had talked of the dead boys on the battlefield, while Robin's head had rested against the old fairy woman's knee and the shrivelled hand had stroked and patted her tremulously.
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading They had sat by the fire together for a long time and had talked of the dead boys on the battlefield, while Robin's head had rested against the old fairy woman's knee and the shrivelled hand had stroked and patted her tremulously.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Sometimes there's things an old woman can do that young ones can't.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Robin had spent the night at the cottage and Mrs. Bennett had been very good to her.
in or at that place or location
From this reading "Isn't there anything you'd like me to do for you--anything on earth, Miss, dear?
there's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes there's things an old woman can do that young ones can't.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had sat by the fire together for a long time and had talked of the dead boys on the battlefield, while Robin's head had rested against the old fairy woman's knee and the shrivelled hand had stroked and patted her tremulously.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading Sometimes there's things an old woman can do that young ones can't.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading They had sat by the fire together for a long time and had talked of the dead boys on the battlefield, while Robin's head had rested against the old fairy woman's knee and the shrivelled hand had stroked and patted her tremulously.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Robin had spent the night at the cottage and Mrs. Bennett had been very good to her.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading They had sat by the fire together for a long time and had talked of the dead boys on the battlefield, while Robin's head had rested against the old fairy woman's knee and the shrivelled hand had stroked and patted her tremulously.
tremulouslyadverbUS /ˈtremjələsli/
in a tremulous manner
From this reading They had sat by the fire together for a long time and had talked of the dead boys on the battlefield, while Robin's head had rested against the old fairy woman's knee and the shrivelled hand had stroked and patted her tremulously.
precisely as stated
From this reading Robin had spent the night at the cottage and Mrs. Bennett had been very good to her.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading It had been nearing dawn when the girl went to bed and at the last Mrs. Bennett had held on to her dress and asked her a pleading question.
at the time that
From this reading It had been nearing dawn when the girl went to bed and at the last Mrs. Bennett had held on to her dress and asked her a pleading question.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading They had sat by the fire together for a long time and had talked of the dead boys on the battlefield, while Robin's head had rested against the old fairy woman's knee and the shrivelled hand had stroked and patted her tremulously.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Sometimes there's things an old woman can do that young ones can't.
woman'snounUS /ˈwʊmənz/
possessive form of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading They had sat by the fire together for a long time and had talked of the dead boys on the battlefield, while Robin's head had rested against the old fairy woman's knee and the shrivelled hand had stroked and patted her tremulously.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Isn't there anything you'd like me to do for you--anything on earth, Miss, dear?
you'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Isn't there anything you'd like me to do for you--anything on earth, Miss, dear?
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Sometimes there's things an old woman can do that young ones can't.
