used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Betty was a little girl; her mother was a widow, and had no more of her property left than a dilapidated cottage and two she-goats; but Betty was, nevertheless, always cheerful.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading Betty was a little girl; her mother was a widow, and had no more of her property left than a dilapidated cottage and two she-goats; but Betty was, nevertheless, always cheerful.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Betty was a little girl; her mother was a widow, and had no more of her property left than a dilapidated cottage and two she-goats; but Betty was, nevertheless, always cheerful.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As she had no distaff, she used to twine the flax round her head.
the season when the leaves fall from the trees
From this reading From spring to autumn she pastured the goats in the birch-wood.
a container that is usually woven and has handles
From this reading Whenever she went from home, her mother always gave her in a basket a slice of bread and a spindle, with the injunction, 'Let it be full.'
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Whenever she went from home, her mother always gave her in a basket a slice of bread and a spindle, with the injunction, 'Let it be full.'
Betty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Betty was a little girl; her mother was a widow, and had no more of her property left than a dilapidated cottage and two she-goats; but Betty was, nevertheless, always cheerful.
birch-wood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From spring to autumn she pastured the goats in the birch-wood.
food made from dough of flour or meal and usually raised with yeast or baking powder and then baked
From this reading Whenever she went from home, her mother always gave her in a basket a slice of bread and a spindle, with the injunction, 'Let it be full.'
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Betty was a little girl; her mother was a widow, and had no more of her property left than a dilapidated cottage and two she-goats; but Betty was, nevertheless, always cheerful.
being full of or promoting cheer; having or showing good spirits
From this reading Betty was a little girl; her mother was a widow, and had no more of her property left than a dilapidated cottage and two she-goats; but Betty was, nevertheless, always cheerful.
a small house with a single story
From this reading Betty was a little girl; her mother was a widow, and had no more of her property left than a dilapidated cottage and two she-goats; but Betty was, nevertheless, always cheerful.
dilapidatedadjectiveUS /dəˈlæpədeɪtɪd/
in deplorable condition
From this reading Betty was a little girl; her mother was a widow, and had no more of her property left than a dilapidated cottage and two she-goats; but Betty was, nevertheless, always cheerful.
distaffnoun
the sphere of work by women
From this reading As she had no distaff, she used to twine the flax round her head.
flaxnounUS /flæks/
fiber of the flax plant that is made into thread and woven into linen fabric
From this reading As she had no distaff, she used to twine the flax round her head.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From spring to autumn she pastured the goats in the birch-wood.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading Whenever she went from home, her mother always gave her in a basket a slice of bread and a spindle, with the injunction, 'Let it be full.'
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Whenever she went from home, her mother always gave her in a basket a slice of bread and a spindle, with the injunction, 'Let it be full.'
a young female
From this reading Betty was a little girl; her mother was a widow, and had no more of her property left than a dilapidated cottage and two she-goats; but Betty was, nevertheless, always cheerful.
goatsnounUS /ɡoʊts/
plural of “goat” — any of numerous agile ruminants related to sheep but having a beard and straight horns
From this reading From spring to autumn she pastured the goats in the birch-wood.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Betty was a little girl; her mother was a widow, and had no more of her property left than a dilapidated cottage and two she-goats; but Betty was, nevertheless, always cheerful.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading As she had no distaff, she used to twine the flax round her head.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Betty was a little girl; her mother was a widow, and had no more of her property left than a dilapidated cottage and two she-goats; but Betty was, nevertheless, always cheerful.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Whenever she went from home, her mother always gave her in a basket a slice of bread and a spindle, with the injunction, 'Let it be full.'
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading From spring to autumn she pastured the goats in the birch-wood.
injunctionnounUS /ˌɪnˈdʒʌŋkʃən/
a formal command or admonition
From this reading Whenever she went from home, her mother always gave her in a basket a slice of bread and a spindle, with the injunction, 'Let it be full.'
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Whenever she went from home, her mother always gave her in a basket a slice of bread and a spindle, with the injunction, 'Let it be full.'
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Betty was a little girl; her mother was a widow, and had no more of her property left than a dilapidated cottage and two she-goats; but Betty was, nevertheless, always cheerful.
Letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading Whenever she went from home, her mother always gave her in a basket a slice of bread and a spindle, with the injunction, 'Let it be full.'
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Betty was a little girl; her mother was a widow, and had no more of her property left than a dilapidated cottage and two she-goats; but Betty was, nevertheless, always cheerful.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Betty was a little girl; her mother was a widow, and had no more of her property left than a dilapidated cottage and two she-goats; but Betty was, nevertheless, always cheerful.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Betty was a little girl; her mother was a widow, and had no more of her property left than a dilapidated cottage and two she-goats; but Betty was, nevertheless, always cheerful.
in spite of what has just been said
From this reading Betty was a little girl; her mother was a widow, and had no more of her property left than a dilapidated cottage and two she-goats; but Betty was, nevertheless, always cheerful.
not any; not one
From this reading Betty was a little girl; her mother was a widow, and had no more of her property left than a dilapidated cottage and two she-goats; but Betty was, nevertheless, always cheerful.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Betty was a little girl; her mother was a widow, and had no more of her property left than a dilapidated cottage and two she-goats; but Betty was, nevertheless, always cheerful.
pastured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From spring to autumn she pastured the goats in the birch-wood.
something owned; any tangible or intangible possession that is owned by someone
From this reading Betty was a little girl; her mother was a widow, and had no more of her property left than a dilapidated cottage and two she-goats; but Betty was, nevertheless, always cheerful.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading As she had no distaff, she used to twine the flax round her head.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading From spring to autumn she pastured the goats in the birch-wood.
she-goats
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Betty was a little girl; her mother was a widow, and had no more of her property left than a dilapidated cottage and two she-goats; but Betty was, nevertheless, always cheerful.
slicenounUS /slaɪs/
a share of something
From this reading Whenever she went from home, her mother always gave her in a basket a slice of bread and a spindle, with the injunction, 'Let it be full.'
spindlenounUS /ˈspɪndəl/
(biology) tiny fibers that are seen in cell division; the fibers radiate from two poles and meet at the equator in the middle
From this reading Whenever she went from home, her mother always gave her in a basket a slice of bread and a spindle, with the injunction, 'Let it be full.'
the season of growth
From this reading From spring to autumn she pastured the goats in the birch-wood.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Betty was a little girl; her mother was a widow, and had no more of her property left than a dilapidated cottage and two she-goats; but Betty was, nevertheless, always cheerful.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading VI.--THE WOOD-LADY.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading From spring to autumn she pastured the goats in the birch-wood.
twineverbUS /twaɪn/
spin, wind, or twist together
From this reading As she had no distaff, she used to twine the flax round her head.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Betty was a little girl; her mother was a widow, and had no more of her property left than a dilapidated cottage and two she-goats; but Betty was, nevertheless, always cheerful.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading As she had no distaff, she used to twine the flax round her head.
VInounUS /vaɪ/
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading VI.--THE WOOD-LADY.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Betty was a little girl; her mother was a widow, and had no more of her property left than a dilapidated cottage and two she-goats; but Betty was, nevertheless, always cheerful.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Whenever she went from home, her mother always gave her in a basket a slice of bread and a spindle, with the injunction, 'Let it be full.'
at any time that; every time that
From this reading Whenever she went from home, her mother always gave her in a basket a slice of bread and a spindle, with the injunction, 'Let it be full.'
a woman whose husband is dead especially one who has not remarried
From this reading Betty was a little girl; her mother was a widow, and had no more of her property left than a dilapidated cottage and two she-goats; but Betty was, nevertheless, always cheerful.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Whenever she went from home, her mother always gave her in a basket a slice of bread and a spindle, with the injunction, 'Let it be full.'
WOOD-LADY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading VI.--THE WOOD-LADY.
