used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading 'Give you a cake, little boy?' she said.
abashedadjectiveUS /əˈbæʃt/
feeling or caused to feel ill at ease or self-conscious or ashamed
From this reading I thought it perfectly natural to do so, being hungry; but when I reached the counter and felt the size of the shop, I was abashed, and had to repeat the nature of my petition twice to the young woman presiding there.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading 'Because I am hungry,' said I, pursuing my request.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I thought it perfectly natural to do so, being hungry; but when I reached the counter and felt the size of the shop, I was abashed, and had to repeat the nature of my petition twice to the young woman presiding there.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Another young woman came, laughing and shaking lots of ringlets.
for the reason that
From this reading 'Because I am hungry,' said I, pursuing my request.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading I thought it perfectly natural to do so, being hungry; but when I reached the counter and felt the size of the shop, I was abashed, and had to repeat the nature of my petition twice to the young woman presiding there.
a youthful male person
From this reading 'Give you a cake, little boy?' she said.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I thought it perfectly natural to do so, being hungry; but when I reached the counter and felt the size of the shop, I was abashed, and had to repeat the nature of my petition twice to the young woman presiding there.
cakenounUS /keɪk/
a block of solid substance (such as soap or wax)
From this reading 'Give you a cake, little boy?' she said.
cakesnounUS /keɪks/
plural of “cake” — a block of solid substance (such as soap or wax)
From this reading 'We don't give cakes, we sell them.'
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Another young woman came, laughing and shaking lots of ringlets.
counternounUS /ˈkaʊntər/
table consisting of a horizontal surface over which business is transacted
From this reading I thought it perfectly natural to do so, being hungry; but when I reached the counter and felt the size of the shop, I was abashed, and had to repeat the nature of my petition twice to the young woman presiding there.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading I thought it perfectly natural to do so, being hungry; but when I reached the counter and felt the size of the shop, I was abashed, and had to repeat the nature of my petition twice to the young woman presiding there.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'We don't give cakes, we sell them.'
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading I thought it perfectly natural to do so, being hungry; but when I reached the counter and felt the size of the shop, I was abashed, and had to repeat the nature of my petition twice to the young woman presiding there.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading 'Give you a cake, little boy?' she said.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I thought it perfectly natural to do so, being hungry; but when I reached the counter and felt the size of the shop, I was abashed, and had to repeat the nature of my petition twice to the young woman presiding there.
feeling hunger; feeling a need or desire to eat food
From this reading I thought it perfectly natural to do so, being hungry; but when I reached the counter and felt the size of the shop, I was abashed, and had to repeat the nature of my petition twice to the young woman presiding there.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I thought it perfectly natural to do so, being hungry; but when I reached the counter and felt the size of the shop, I was abashed, and had to repeat the nature of my petition twice to the young woman presiding there.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I thought it perfectly natural to do so, being hungry; but when I reached the counter and felt the size of the shop, I was abashed, and had to repeat the nature of my petition twice to the young woman presiding there.
showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness
From this reading Another young woman came, laughing and shaking lots of ringlets.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading 'Give you a cake, little boy?' she said.
lotsnounUS /lɑːts/
a large number or amount
From this reading Another young woman came, laughing and shaking lots of ringlets.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I thought it perfectly natural to do so, being hungry; but when I reached the counter and felt the size of the shop, I was abashed, and had to repeat the nature of my petition twice to the young woman presiding there.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading I thought it perfectly natural to do so, being hungry; but when I reached the counter and felt the size of the shop, I was abashed, and had to repeat the nature of my petition twice to the young woman presiding there.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading I thought it perfectly natural to do so, being hungry; but when I reached the counter and felt the size of the shop, I was abashed, and had to repeat the nature of my petition twice to the young woman presiding there.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I thought it perfectly natural to do so, being hungry; but when I reached the counter and felt the size of the shop, I was abashed, and had to repeat the nature of my petition twice to the young woman presiding there.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading I thought it perfectly natural to do so, being hungry; but when I reached the counter and felt the size of the shop, I was abashed, and had to repeat the nature of my petition twice to the young woman presiding there.
petitionnounUS /pəˈtɪʃən/
a formal message requesting something that is submitted to an authority
From this reading I thought it perfectly natural to do so, being hungry; but when I reached the counter and felt the size of the shop, I was abashed, and had to repeat the nature of my petition twice to the young woman presiding there.
presidingverbUS /prɪˈzaɪdɪŋ/
-ing form of “preside” — act as president
From this reading I thought it perfectly natural to do so, being hungry; but when I reached the counter and felt the size of the shop, I was abashed, and had to repeat the nature of my petition twice to the young woman presiding there.
pursuingadjectiveUS /pərˈsuːɪŋ/
following in order to overtake or capture or as accompaniment to such pursuit
From this reading 'Because I am hungry,' said I, pursuing my request.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading I thought it perfectly natural to do so, being hungry; but when I reached the counter and felt the size of the shop, I was abashed, and had to repeat the nature of my petition twice to the young woman presiding there.
to say, state, or perform again
From this reading I thought it perfectly natural to do so, being hungry; but when I reached the counter and felt the size of the shop, I was abashed, and had to repeat the nature of my petition twice to the young woman presiding there.
express the need or desire for
From this reading 'Because I am hungry,' said I, pursuing my request.
ringlets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Another young woman came, laughing and shaking lots of ringlets.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading 'Give you a cake, little boy?' she said.
exchange or deliver for money or its equivalent
From this reading 'We don't give cakes, we sell them.'
the act of causing something to move up and down (or back and forth) with quick movements
From this reading Another young woman came, laughing and shaking lots of ringlets.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading 'Give you a cake, little boy?' she said.
do one's shopping
From this reading I thought it perfectly natural to do so, being hungry; but when I reached the counter and felt the size of the shop, I was abashed, and had to repeat the nature of my petition twice to the young woman presiding there.
the physical magnitude of something (how big it is)
From this reading I thought it perfectly natural to do so, being hungry; but when I reached the counter and felt the size of the shop, I was abashed, and had to repeat the nature of my petition twice to the young woman presiding there.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I thought it perfectly natural to do so, being hungry; but when I reached the counter and felt the size of the shop, I was abashed, and had to repeat the nature of my petition twice to the young woman presiding there.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I thought it perfectly natural to do so, being hungry; but when I reached the counter and felt the size of the shop, I was abashed, and had to repeat the nature of my petition twice to the young woman presiding there.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading 'We don't give cakes, we sell them.'
in or at that place or location
From this reading I thought it perfectly natural to do so, being hungry; but when I reached the counter and felt the size of the shop, I was abashed, and had to repeat the nature of my petition twice to the young woman presiding there.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading I thought it perfectly natural to do so, being hungry; but when I reached the counter and felt the size of the shop, I was abashed, and had to repeat the nature of my petition twice to the young woman presiding there.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I thought it perfectly natural to do so, being hungry; but when I reached the counter and felt the size of the shop, I was abashed, and had to repeat the nature of my petition twice to the young woman presiding there.
two times
From this reading I thought it perfectly natural to do so, being hungry; but when I reached the counter and felt the size of the shop, I was abashed, and had to repeat the nature of my petition twice to the young woman presiding there.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I thought it perfectly natural to do so, being hungry; but when I reached the counter and felt the size of the shop, I was abashed, and had to repeat the nature of my petition twice to the young woman presiding there.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading 'We don't give cakes, we sell them.'
at the time that
From this reading I thought it perfectly natural to do so, being hungry; but when I reached the counter and felt the size of the shop, I was abashed, and had to repeat the nature of my petition twice to the young woman presiding there.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading I thought it perfectly natural to do so, being hungry; but when I reached the counter and felt the size of the shop, I was abashed, and had to repeat the nature of my petition twice to the young woman presiding there.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading 'Give you a cake, little boy?' she said.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading I thought it perfectly natural to do so, being hungry; but when I reached the counter and felt the size of the shop, I was abashed, and had to repeat the nature of my petition twice to the young woman presiding there.
