used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Preparations commenced on a large scale; for Uncle Joshua, a little proud, it may be, of his handsome house, had determined on a large party.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE WEDDING The autumn months were gone; December had come and "Christmas was coming."
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
the season when the leaves fall from the trees
From this reading THE WEDDING The autumn months were gone; December had come and "Christmas was coming."
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The negroes far and near had counted the days which must pass before their expected holidays.
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading THE WEDDING The autumn months were gone; December had come and "Christmas was coming."
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading THE WEDDING The autumn months were gone; December had come and "Christmas was coming."
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading THE WEDDING The autumn months were gone; December had come and "Christmas was coming."
commencedverbUS /kəˈmenst/
past form of “commence” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Preparations commenced on a large scale; for Uncle Joshua, a little proud, it may be, of his handsome house, had determined on a large party.
countedverbUS /ˈkaʊntɪd/
past form of “count” — determine the number or amount of
From this reading The negroes far and near had counted the days which must pass before their expected holidays.
demanding attention
From this reading In Uncle Joshua’s kitchen there was much talking and laughing, fixing and fussing, and some crying.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading The negroes far and near had counted the days which must pass before their expected holidays.
DecembernounUS /dɪˈsembər/
the last (12th) month of the year
From this reading THE WEDDING The autumn months were gone; December had come and "Christmas was coming."
characterized by great determination
From this reading Preparations commenced on a large scale; for Uncle Joshua, a little proud, it may be, of his handsome house, had determined on a large party.
(Old Testament) Adam's wife in Judeo-Christian mythology: the first woman and mother of the human race; God created Eve from Adam's rib and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden
From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading The negroes far and near had counted the days which must pass before their expected holidays.
the fleshy part of the human body that you sit on
From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading The negroes far and near had counted the days which must pass before their expected holidays.
fixingnounUS /ˈfɪksɪŋ/
the act of putting something in working order again
From this reading In Uncle Joshua’s kitchen there was much talking and laughing, fixing and fussing, and some crying.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
fussingverbUS /ˈfʌsɪŋ/
-ing form of “fuss” — worry unnecessarily or excessively
From this reading In Uncle Joshua’s kitchen there was much talking and laughing, fixing and fussing, and some crying.
destroyed or killed
From this reading THE WEDDING The autumn months were gone; December had come and "Christmas was coming."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE WEDDING The autumn months were gone; December had come and "Christmas was coming."
pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion
From this reading Preparations commenced on a large scale; for Uncle Joshua, a little proud, it may be, of his handsome house, had determined on a large party.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Preparations commenced on a large scale; for Uncle Joshua, a little proud, it may be, of his handsome house, had determined on a large party.
holidaysnounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪz/
plural of “holiday” — leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading The negroes far and near had counted the days which must pass before their expected holidays.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Preparations commenced on a large scale; for Uncle Joshua, a little proud, it may be, of his handsome house, had determined on a large party.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In Uncle Joshua’s kitchen there was much talking and laughing, fixing and fussing, and some crying.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Preparations commenced on a large scale; for Uncle Joshua, a little proud, it may be, of his handsome house, had determined on a large party.
JoshuanounUS /ˈdʒɑːʃuːə/
(Old Testament) Moses' successor who led the Israelites into the Promised Land; best remembered for his destruction of Jericho
From this reading Preparations commenced on a large scale; for Uncle Joshua, a little proud, it may be, of his handsome house, had determined on a large party.
Joshua'snounUS /ˈdʒɑːʃuːəz/
possessive form of “joshua” — (Old Testament) Moses' successor who led the Israelites into the Promised Land; best remembered for his destruction of Jericho
From this reading In Uncle Joshua’s kitchen there was much talking and laughing, fixing and fussing, and some crying.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading In Uncle Joshua’s kitchen there was much talking and laughing, fixing and fussing, and some crying.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Preparations commenced on a large scale; for Uncle Joshua, a little proud, it may be, of his handsome house, had determined on a large party.
showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness
From this reading In Uncle Joshua’s kitchen there was much talking and laughing, fixing and fussing, and some crying.
go away from a place
From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Preparations commenced on a large scale; for Uncle Joshua, a little proud, it may be, of his handsome house, had determined on a large party.
joined in matrimony
From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Preparations commenced on a large scale; for Uncle Joshua, a little proud, it may be, of his handsome house, had determined on a large party.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading THE WEDDING The autumn months were gone; December had come and "Christmas was coming."
to a great degree or extent
From this reading In Uncle Joshua’s kitchen there was much talking and laughing, fixing and fussing, and some crying.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading The negroes far and near had counted the days which must pass before their expected holidays.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading The negroes far and near had counted the days which must pass before their expected holidays.
negroesnounUS /ˈniːɡroʊz/
plural of “negro” — a person with African ancestry, "Negro" and "Negroid" are archaic and pejorative today
From this reading The negroes far and near had counted the days which must pass before their expected holidays.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Preparations commenced on a large scale; for Uncle Joshua, a little proud, it may be, of his handsome house, had determined on a large party.
OrleansnounUS /ˈɔːrliənz/
a city on the Loire river in north central France; site of the siege of Orleans by the English (1428-1429)
From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading Preparations commenced on a large scale; for Uncle Joshua, a little proud, it may be, of his handsome house, had determined on a large party.
go across or through
From this reading The negroes far and near had counted the days which must pass before their expected holidays.
PreparationsnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “preparation” — the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
From this reading Preparations commenced on a large scale; for Uncle Joshua, a little proud, it may be, of his handsome house, had determined on a large party.
feeling self-respect or pleasure in something by which you measure your self-worth; or being a reason for pride
From this reading Preparations commenced on a large scale; for Uncle Joshua, a little proud, it may be, of his handsome house, had determined on a large party.
scalenounUS /skeɪl/
an ordered reference standard
From this reading Preparations commenced on a large scale; for Uncle Joshua, a little proud, it may be, of his handsome house, had determined on a large party.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading In Uncle Joshua’s kitchen there was much talking and laughing, fixing and fussing, and some crying.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading In Uncle Joshua’s kitchen there was much talking and laughing, fixing and fussing, and some crying.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE WEDDING The autumn months were gone; December had come and "Christmas was coming."
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The negroes far and near had counted the days which must pass before their expected holidays.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
in or at that place or location
From this reading In Uncle Joshua’s kitchen there was much talking and laughing, fixing and fussing, and some crying.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading In Uncle Joshua’s kitchen there was much talking and laughing, fixing and fussing, and some crying.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE WEDDING The autumn months were gone; December had come and "Christmas was coming."
the social event at which the ceremony of marriage is performed
From this reading THE WEDDING The autumn months were gone; December had come and "Christmas was coming."
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE WEDDING The autumn months were gone; December had come and "Christmas was coming."
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The negroes far and near had counted the days which must pass before their expected holidays.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
