used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When it was nearly ready, he heard a knock at his gate.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Jim had come "to borry an axe," and Esther to ask for medicine for a sick child.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading David lighted his fire of pitch-pine, spread his little table, and began to cook his supper carefully.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Jim had come "to borry an axe," and Esther to ask for medicine for a sick child.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When it was nearly ready, he heard a knock at his gate.
axenounUS /æks/
an edge tool with a heavy bladed head mounted across a handle
From this reading Jim had come "to borry an axe," and Esther to ask for medicine for a sick child.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Two representative specimens of his scholars were waiting without--Jim, a field-hand, and a woman named Esther, who had been a house-servant in a planter's family.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading David lighted his fire of pitch-pine, spread his little table, and began to cook his supper carefully.
borry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jim had come "to borry an axe," and Esther to ask for medicine for a sick child.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading David lighted his fire of pitch-pine, spread his little table, and began to cook his supper carefully.
a young person of either sex
From this reading Jim had come "to borry an axe," and Esther to ask for medicine for a sick child.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Jim had come "to borry an axe," and Esther to ask for medicine for a sick child.
prepare a hot meal
From this reading David lighted his fire of pitch-pine, spread his little table, and began to cook his supper carefully.
patron saint of Wales (circa 520-600)
From this reading David lighted his fire of pitch-pine, spread his little table, and began to cook his supper carefully.
EsthernounUS /ˈestər/
(Old Testament) a beautiful Jewess chosen by the king of Persia to be his queen; she stopped a plot to massacre all the Jews in Persia (an event celebrated by Jews as the feast of Purim)
From this reading Two representative specimens of his scholars were waiting without--Jim, a field-hand, and a woman named Esther, who had been a house-servant in a planter's family.
a social unit living together
From this reading Two representative specimens of his scholars were waiting without--Jim, a field-hand, and a woman named Esther, who had been a house-servant in a planter's family.
field-hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two representative specimens of his scholars were waiting without--Jim, a field-hand, and a woman named Esther, who had been a house-servant in a planter's family.
start firing a weapon
From this reading David lighted his fire of pitch-pine, spread his little table, and began to cook his supper carefully.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Jim had come "to borry an axe," and Esther to ask for medicine for a sick child.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading When it was nearly ready, he heard a knock at his gate.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Two representative specimens of his scholars were waiting without--Jim, a field-hand, and a woman named Esther, who had been a house-servant in a planter's family.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When it was nearly ready, he heard a knock at his gate.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading When it was nearly ready, he heard a knock at his gate.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading David lighted his fire of pitch-pine, spread his little table, and began to cook his supper carefully.
house-servant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two representative specimens of his scholars were waiting without--Jim, a field-hand, and a woman named Esther, who had been a house-servant in a planter's family.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Two representative specimens of his scholars were waiting without--Jim, a field-hand, and a woman named Esther, who had been a house-servant in a planter's family.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Where is your own axe, Jim?" said the schoolmaster.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading When it was nearly ready, he heard a knock at his gate.
Jim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two representative specimens of his scholars were waiting without--Jim, a field-hand, and a woman named Esther, who had been a house-servant in a planter's family.
deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading When it was nearly ready, he heard a knock at his gate.
set afire or burning
From this reading David lighted his fire of pitch-pine, spread his little table, and began to cook his supper carefully.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading David lighted his fire of pitch-pine, spread his little table, and began to cook his supper carefully.
medicinenounUS /ˈmedəsən/
the branches of medical science that deal with nonsurgical techniques
From this reading Jim had come "to borry an axe," and Esther to ask for medicine for a sick child.
past form of “name” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Two representative specimens of his scholars were waiting without--Jim, a field-hand, and a woman named Esther, who had been a house-servant in a planter's family.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading When it was nearly ready, he heard a knock at his gate.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading David lighted his fire of pitch-pine, spread his little table, and began to cook his supper carefully.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading "Where is your own axe, Jim?" said the schoolmaster.
pitch-pine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David lighted his fire of pitch-pine, spread his little table, and began to cook his supper carefully.
planter's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two representative specimens of his scholars were waiting without--Jim, a field-hand, and a woman named Esther, who had been a house-servant in a planter's family.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading When it was nearly ready, he heard a knock at his gate.
representativenounUS /ˌreprəˈzentətɪv/
a person who represents others
From this reading Two representative specimens of his scholars were waiting without--Jim, a field-hand, and a woman named Esther, who had been a house-servant in a planter's family.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Where is your own axe, Jim?" said the schoolmaster.
scholarsnounUS /ˈskɑːlərz/
plural of “scholar” — a learned person (especially in the humanities); someone who by long study has gained mastery in one or more disciplines
From this reading Two representative specimens of his scholars were waiting without--Jim, a field-hand, and a woman named Esther, who had been a house-servant in a planter's family.
schoolmasternounUS /ˈskuːlmæstər/
presiding officer of a school
From this reading "Where is your own axe, Jim?" said the schoolmaster.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading Jim had come "to borry an axe," and Esther to ask for medicine for a sick child.
specimensnounUS /ˈspesəmənz/
plural of “specimen” — an example regarded as typical of its class
From this reading Two representative specimens of his scholars were waiting without--Jim, a field-hand, and a woman named Esther, who had been a house-servant in a planter's family.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading David lighted his fire of pitch-pine, spread his little table, and began to cook his supper carefully.
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading David lighted his fire of pitch-pine, spread his little table, and began to cook his supper carefully.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading David lighted his fire of pitch-pine, spread his little table, and began to cook his supper carefully.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Where is your own axe, Jim?" said the schoolmaster.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading David lighted his fire of pitch-pine, spread his little table, and began to cook his supper carefully.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two representative specimens of his scholars were waiting without--Jim, a field-hand, and a woman named Esther, who had been a house-servant in a planter's family.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading Two representative specimens of his scholars were waiting without--Jim, a field-hand, and a woman named Esther, who had been a house-servant in a planter's family.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When it was nearly ready, he heard a knock at his gate.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Two representative specimens of his scholars were waiting without--Jim, a field-hand, and a woman named Esther, who had been a house-servant in a planter's family.
at the time that
From this reading When it was nearly ready, he heard a knock at his gate.
in or at the place that
From this reading "Where is your own axe, Jim?" said the schoolmaster.
which person or people
From this reading Two representative specimens of his scholars were waiting without--Jim, a field-hand, and a woman named Esther, who had been a house-servant in a planter's family.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Two representative specimens of his scholars were waiting without--Jim, a field-hand, and a woman named Esther, who had been a house-servant in a planter's family.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Two representative specimens of his scholars were waiting without--Jim, a field-hand, and a woman named Esther, who had been a house-servant in a planter's family.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Where is your own axe, Jim?" said the schoolmaster.
