Chapter VII · Chapter 7

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading He had a new book, now, that a neighbor had let him take.

the first of the Old Testament patriarchs and the father of Isaac; according to Genesis, God promised to give Abraham's family (the Hebrews) the land of Canaan (the Promised Land); God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his son

From this reading Abraham took this book, the Life of George Washington, to bed with him and read it when the snow was sifting in through the cabin roof and over his quilt.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was the story of a boy who had, also, in his little boy days, an axe like Abraham's; but he had used it to cut down his father's cherry tree.

in addition

From this reading It was the story of a boy who had, also, in his little boy days, an axe like Abraham's; but he had used it to cut down his father's cherry tree.

a native or inhabitant of the United States

From this reading When he had grown to be a man, though, he was our Great American.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading It was the story of a boy who had, also, in his little boy days, an axe like Abraham's; but he had used it to cut down his father's cherry tree.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Abraham took this book, the Life of George Washington, to bed with him and read it when the snow was sifting in through the cabin roof and over his quilt.

an edge tool with a heavy bladed head mounted across a handle

From this reading It was the story of a boy who had, also, in his little boy days, an axe like Abraham's; but he had used it to cut down his father's cherry tree.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading When he had grown to be a man, though, he was our Great American.

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading Abraham took this book, the Life of George Washington, to bed with him and read it when the snow was sifting in through the cabin roof and over his quilt.

a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)

From this reading He had a new book, now, that a neighbor had let him take.

a youthful male person

From this reading It was the story of a boy who had, also, in his little boy days, an axe like Abraham's; but he had used it to cut down his father's cherry tree.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It was the story of a boy who had, also, in his little boy days, an axe like Abraham's; but he had used it to cut down his father's cherry tree.

small room on a ship or boat where people sleep

From this reading Abraham took this book, the Life of George Washington, to bed with him and read it when the snow was sifting in through the cabin roof and over his quilt.

wood of any of various cherry trees especially the black cherry

From this reading It was the story of a boy who had, also, in his little boy days, an axe like Abraham's; but he had used it to cut down his father's cherry tree.

separate with or as if with an instrument

From this reading It was the story of a boy who had, also, in his little boy days, an axe like Abraham's; but he had used it to cut down his father's cherry tree.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading It was the story of a boy who had, also, in his little boy days, an axe like Abraham's; but he had used it to cut down his father's cherry tree.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading It was the story of a boy who had, also, in his little boy days, an axe like Abraham's; but he had used it to cut down his father's cherry tree.

possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading It was the story of a boy who had, also, in his little boy days, an axe like Abraham's; but he had used it to cut down his father's cherry tree.

Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)

From this reading Abraham took this book, the Life of George Washington, to bed with him and read it when the snow was sifting in through the cabin roof and over his quilt.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading When he had grown to be a man, though, he was our Great American.

(of animals) fully developed

From this reading When he had grown to be a man, though, he was our Great American.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading He had a new book, now, that a neighbor had let him take.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He had a new book, now, that a neighbor had let him take.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading He had a new book, now, that a neighbor had let him take.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading It was the story of a boy who had, also, in his little boy days, an axe like Abraham's; but he had used it to cut down his father's cherry tree.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading It was the story of a boy who had, also, in his little boy days, an axe like Abraham's; but he had used it to cut down his father's cherry tree.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was the story of a boy who had, also, in his little boy days, an axe like Abraham's; but he had used it to cut down his father's cherry tree.

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading He had a new book, now, that a neighbor had let him take.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading Abraham took this book, the Life of George Washington, to bed with him and read it when the snow was sifting in through the cabin roof and over his quilt.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading It was the story of a boy who had, also, in his little boy days, an axe like Abraham's; but he had used it to cut down his father's cherry tree.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading It was the story of a boy who had, also, in his little boy days, an axe like Abraham's; but he had used it to cut down his father's cherry tree.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading When he had grown to be a man, though, he was our Great American.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading He read the book many times.

a person who lives (or is located) near another

From this reading He had a new book, now, that a neighbor had let him take.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading He had a new book, now, that a neighbor had let him take.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading He had a new book, now, that a neighbor had let him take.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was the story of a boy who had, also, in his little boy days, an axe like Abraham's; but he had used it to cut down his father's cherry tree.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading When he had grown to be a man, though, he was our Great American.

above and across; more than

From this reading Abraham took this book, the Life of George Washington, to bed with him and read it when the snow was sifting in through the cabin roof and over his quilt.

bedding made of two layers of cloth filled with stuffing and stitched together

From this reading Abraham took this book, the Life of George Washington, to bed with him and read it when the snow was sifting in through the cabin roof and over his quilt.

interpret something that is written or printed

From this reading Abraham took this book, the Life of George Washington, to bed with him and read it when the snow was sifting in through the cabin roof and over his quilt.

a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building

From this reading Abraham took this book, the Life of George Washington, to bed with him and read it when the snow was sifting in through the cabin roof and over his quilt.

the act of separating grain from chaff

From this reading Abraham took this book, the Life of George Washington, to bed with him and read it when the snow was sifting in through the cabin roof and over his quilt.

precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals

From this reading Abraham took this book, the Life of George Washington, to bed with him and read it when the snow was sifting in through the cabin roof and over his quilt.

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading It was the story of a boy who had, also, in his little boy days, an axe like Abraham's; but he had used it to cut down his father's cherry tree.

carry out

From this reading He had a new book, now, that a neighbor had let him take.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He had a new book, now, that a neighbor had let him take.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading It was the story of a boy who had, also, in his little boy days, an axe like Abraham's; but he had used it to cut down his father's cherry tree.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Abraham took this book, the Life of George Washington, to bed with him and read it when the snow was sifting in through the cabin roof and over his quilt.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading When he had grown to be a man, though, he was our Great American.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Abraham took this book, the Life of George Washington, to bed with him and read it when the snow was sifting in through the cabin roof and over his quilt.

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading He read the book many times.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading It was the story of a boy who had, also, in his little boy days, an axe like Abraham's; but he had used it to cut down his father's cherry tree.

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading Abraham took this book, the Life of George Washington, to bed with him and read it when the snow was sifting in through the cabin roof and over his quilt.

a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading It was the story of a boy who had, also, in his little boy days, an axe like Abraham's; but he had used it to cut down his father's cherry tree.

employed in accomplishing something

From this reading It was the story of a boy who had, also, in his little boy days, an axe like Abraham's; but he had used it to cut down his father's cherry tree.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading It was the story of a boy who had, also, in his little boy days, an axe like Abraham's; but he had used it to cut down his father's cherry tree.

the capital of the United States in the District of Columbia and a tourist mecca; George Washington commissioned Charles L'Enfant to lay out the city in 1791

From this reading Abraham took this book, the Life of George Washington, to bed with him and read it when the snow was sifting in through the cabin roof and over his quilt.

at the time that

From this reading When he had grown to be a man, though, he was our Great American.

which person or people

From this reading It was the story of a boy who had, also, in his little boy days, an axe like Abraham's; but he had used it to cut down his father's cherry tree.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Abraham took this book, the Life of George Washington, to bed with him and read it when the snow was sifting in through the cabin roof and over his quilt.