used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The house is old for this locality--larger than this family could have afforded, had it been in better condition,--a cheap house out of repair.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It is impossible to see what is the condition of the little garden before the door; but the bushes are somewhat straggling, and wave their long arms about in the rising wind.
affordedverbUS /əˈfɔːrdəd/
past form of “afford” — be able to spare or give up
From this reading The house is old for this locality--larger than this family could have afforded, had it been in better condition,--a cheap house out of repair.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Inside, the little hall is merely a passage, with a door on either side, a long row of pegs fastened against the wall, and a strip of brightly-painted oil-cloth on the floor.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It is impossible to see what is the condition of the little garden before the door; but the bushes are somewhat straggling, and wave their long arms about in the rising wind.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It is impossible to see what is the condition of the little garden before the door; but the bushes are somewhat straggling, and wave their long arms about in the rising wind.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading It is impossible to see what is the condition of the little garden before the door; but the bushes are somewhat straggling, and wave their long arms about in the rising wind.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There is a window on either side of the door, and the house is but two stories high: it is the most commonplace of houses, perfectly comfortable and uninteresting, so far as one may judge from without.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The house is old for this locality--larger than this family could have afforded, had it been in better condition,--a cheap house out of repair.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It is impossible to see what is the condition of the little garden before the door; but the bushes are somewhat straggling, and wave their long arms about in the rising wind.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading The house is old for this locality--larger than this family could have afforded, had it been in better condition,--a cheap house out of repair.
brightly-painted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inside, the little hall is merely a passage, with a door on either side, a long row of pegs fastened against the wall, and a strip of brightly-painted oil-cloth on the floor.
plural of “bush” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading It is impossible to see what is the condition of the little garden before the door; but the bushes are somewhat straggling, and wave their long arms about in the rising wind.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It is impossible to see what is the condition of the little garden before the door; but the bushes are somewhat straggling, and wave their long arms about in the rising wind.
cheapadjectiveUS /tʃiːp/
relatively low in price or charging low prices
From this reading The house is old for this locality--larger than this family could have afforded, had it been in better condition,--a cheap house out of repair.
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading There is a window on either side of the door, and the house is but two stories high: it is the most commonplace of houses, perfectly comfortable and uninteresting, so far as one may judge from without.
commonplaceadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmənpleɪs/
completely ordinary and unremarkable
From this reading There is a window on either side of the door, and the house is but two stories high: it is the most commonplace of houses, perfectly comfortable and uninteresting, so far as one may judge from without.
a state at a particular time
From this reading The house is old for this locality--larger than this family could have afforded, had it been in better condition,--a cheap house out of repair.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The house is old for this locality--larger than this family could have afforded, had it been in better condition,--a cheap house out of repair.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading It is impossible to see what is the condition of the little garden before the door; but the bushes are somewhat straggling, and wave their long arms about in the rising wind.
one or the other of two
From this reading There is a window on either side of the door, and the house is but two stories high: it is the most commonplace of houses, perfectly comfortable and uninteresting, so far as one may judge from without.
a social unit living together
From this reading The house is old for this locality--larger than this family could have afforded, had it been in better condition,--a cheap house out of repair.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading There is a window on either side of the door, and the house is but two stories high: it is the most commonplace of houses, perfectly comfortable and uninteresting, so far as one may judge from without.
firmly closed or secured
From this reading Inside, the little hall is merely a passage, with a door on either side, a long row of pegs fastened against the wall, and a strip of brightly-painted oil-cloth on the floor.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading Inside, the little hall is merely a passage, with a door on either side, a long row of pegs fastened against the wall, and a strip of brightly-painted oil-cloth on the floor.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The house is old for this locality--larger than this family could have afforded, had it been in better condition,--a cheap house out of repair.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading There is a window on either side of the door, and the house is but two stories high: it is the most commonplace of houses, perfectly comfortable and uninteresting, so far as one may judge from without.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading It is impossible to see what is the condition of the little garden before the door; but the bushes are somewhat straggling, and wave their long arms about in the rising wind.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The house is old for this locality--larger than this family could have afforded, had it been in better condition,--a cheap house out of repair.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading Inside, the little hall is merely a passage, with a door on either side, a long row of pegs fastened against the wall, and a strip of brightly-painted oil-cloth on the floor.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The house is old for this locality--larger than this family could have afforded, had it been in better condition,--a cheap house out of repair.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading There is a window on either side of the door, and the house is but two stories high: it is the most commonplace of houses, perfectly comfortable and uninteresting, so far as one may judge from without.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading HOME.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The house is old for this locality--larger than this family could have afforded, had it been in better condition,--a cheap house out of repair.
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading There is a window on either side of the door, and the house is but two stories high: it is the most commonplace of houses, perfectly comfortable and uninteresting, so far as one may judge from without.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading It is impossible to see what is the condition of the little garden before the door; but the bushes are somewhat straggling, and wave their long arms about in the rising wind.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The house is old for this locality--larger than this family could have afforded, had it been in better condition,--a cheap house out of repair.
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading Inside, the little hall is merely a passage, with a door on either side, a long row of pegs fastened against the wall, and a strip of brightly-painted oil-cloth on the floor.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The house is old for this locality--larger than this family could have afforded, had it been in better condition,--a cheap house out of repair.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The house is old for this locality--larger than this family could have afforded, had it been in better condition,--a cheap house out of repair.
determine the result of (a competition)
From this reading There is a window on either side of the door, and the house is but two stories high: it is the most commonplace of houses, perfectly comfortable and uninteresting, so far as one may judge from without.
large or big relative to something else
From this reading The house is old for this locality--larger than this family could have afforded, had it been in better condition,--a cheap house out of repair.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It is impossible to see what is the condition of the little garden before the door; but the bushes are somewhat straggling, and wave their long arms about in the rising wind.
localitynounUS /loʊˈkæləti/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading The house is old for this locality--larger than this family could have afforded, had it been in better condition,--a cheap house out of repair.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading It is impossible to see what is the condition of the little garden before the door; but the bushes are somewhat straggling, and wave their long arms about in the rising wind.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading There is a window on either side of the door, and the house is but two stories high: it is the most commonplace of houses, perfectly comfortable and uninteresting, so far as one may judge from without.
and nothing more
From this reading Inside, the little hall is merely a passage, with a door on either side, a long row of pegs fastened against the wall, and a strip of brightly-painted oil-cloth on the floor.
used to form the superlative
From this reading There is a window on either side of the door, and the house is but two stories high: it is the most commonplace of houses, perfectly comfortable and uninteresting, so far as one may judge from without.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The house is old for this locality--larger than this family could have afforded, had it been in better condition,--a cheap house out of repair.
oil-cloth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inside, the little hall is merely a passage, with a door on either side, a long row of pegs fastened against the wall, and a strip of brightly-painted oil-cloth on the floor.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The house is old for this locality--larger than this family could have afforded, had it been in better condition,--a cheap house out of repair.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There is a window on either side of the door, and the house is but two stories high: it is the most commonplace of houses, perfectly comfortable and uninteresting, so far as one may judge from without.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There is a window on either side of the door, and the house is but two stories high: it is the most commonplace of houses, perfectly comfortable and uninteresting, so far as one may judge from without.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The house is old for this locality--larger than this family could have afforded, had it been in better condition,--a cheap house out of repair.
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading Inside, the little hall is merely a passage, with a door on either side, a long row of pegs fastened against the wall, and a strip of brightly-painted oil-cloth on the floor.
pegsnounUS /peɡz/
plural of “peg” — a wooden pin pushed or driven into a surface
From this reading Inside, the little hall is merely a passage, with a door on either side, a long row of pegs fastened against the wall, and a strip of brightly-painted oil-cloth on the floor.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading There is a window on either side of the door, and the house is but two stories high: it is the most commonplace of houses, perfectly comfortable and uninteresting, so far as one may judge from without.
repairnounUS /rɪˈper/
the act of putting something in working order again
From this reading The house is old for this locality--larger than this family could have afforded, had it been in better condition,--a cheap house out of repair.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading It is impossible to see what is the condition of the little garden before the door; but the bushes are somewhat straggling, and wave their long arms about in the rising wind.
an arrangement of objects or people side by side in a line
From this reading Inside, the little hall is merely a passage, with a door on either side, a long row of pegs fastened against the wall, and a strip of brightly-painted oil-cloth on the floor.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading It is impossible to see what is the condition of the little garden before the door; but the bushes are somewhat straggling, and wave their long arms about in the rising wind.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading There is a window on either side of the door, and the house is but two stories high: it is the most commonplace of houses, perfectly comfortable and uninteresting, so far as one may judge from without.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading There is a window on either side of the door, and the house is but two stories high: it is the most commonplace of houses, perfectly comfortable and uninteresting, so far as one may judge from without.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading It is impossible to see what is the condition of the little garden before the door; but the bushes are somewhat straggling, and wave their long arms about in the rising wind.
plural of “story” — 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 There is a window on either side of the door, and the house is but two stories high: it is the most commonplace of houses, perfectly comfortable and uninteresting, so far as one may judge from without.
stragglingadjective
spreading out in different directions or distributed irregularly
From this reading It is impossible to see what is the condition of the little garden before the door; but the bushes are somewhat straggling, and wave their long arms about in the rising wind.
stripverbUS /strɪp/
take away possessions from someone
From this reading Inside, the little hall is merely a passage, with a door on either side, a long row of pegs fastened against the wall, and a strip of brightly-painted oil-cloth on the floor.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The house is old for this locality--larger than this family could have afforded, had it been in better condition,--a cheap house out of repair.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The house is old for this locality--larger than this family could have afforded, had it been in better condition,--a cheap house out of repair.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading It is impossible to see what is the condition of the little garden before the door; but the bushes are somewhat straggling, and wave their long arms about in the rising wind.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There is a window on either side of the door, and the house is but two stories high: it is the most commonplace of houses, perfectly comfortable and uninteresting, so far as one may judge from without.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The house is old for this locality--larger than this family could have afforded, had it been in better condition,--a cheap house out of repair.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It is impossible to see what is the condition of the little garden before the door; but the bushes are somewhat straggling, and wave their long arms about in the rising wind.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading There is a window on either side of the door, and the house is but two stories high: it is the most commonplace of houses, perfectly comfortable and uninteresting, so far as one may judge from without.
uninterestingadjectiveUS /əˈnɪntrəstɪŋ/
arousing no interest or attention or curiosity or excitement
From this reading There is a window on either side of the door, and the house is but two stories high: it is the most commonplace of houses, perfectly comfortable and uninteresting, so far as one may judge from without.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Inside, the little hall is merely a passage, with a door on either side, a long row of pegs fastened against the wall, and a strip of brightly-painted oil-cloth on the floor.
one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading It is impossible to see what is the condition of the little garden before the door; but the bushes are somewhat straggling, and wave their long arms about in the rising wind.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading It is impossible to see what is the condition of the little garden before the door; but the bushes are somewhat straggling, and wave their long arms about in the rising wind.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading It is impossible to see what is the condition of the little garden before the door; but the bushes are somewhat straggling, and wave their long arms about in the rising wind.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading There is a window on either side of the door, and the house is but two stories high: it is the most commonplace of houses, perfectly comfortable and uninteresting, so far as one may judge from without.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Inside, the little hall is merely a passage, with a door on either side, a long row of pegs fastened against the wall, and a strip of brightly-painted oil-cloth on the floor.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading There is a window on either side of the door, and the house is but two stories high: it is the most commonplace of houses, perfectly comfortable and uninteresting, so far as one may judge from without.
