used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading One day, early in the charming month of May, Mary went into a wood near her home to get some branches and twigs of the willow and hazel.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading While he busied himself in this way, Mary read to him from the Bible or some good book, or, as her father worked, he talked to her about the highest matters.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading When her father was not busily engaged in the garden, he occupied his time in making baskets of all sorts, and particularly lady's work-baskets.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading One day, early in the charming month of May, Mary went into a wood near her home to get some branches and twigs of the willow and hazel.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading While he busied himself in this way, Mary read to him from the Bible or some good book, or, as her father worked, he talked to her about the highest matters.
a container that is usually woven and has handles
From this reading THE BASKET OF FLOWERS.
basket-work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While Mary was gathering the materials for her father's basket-work, she found some beautiful specimens of lily-of-the-valley; and, gathering sufficient of the flowers, she made two bunches, one for her father and the other for herself.
basketsnounUS /ˈbæskəts/
plural of “basket” — a container that is usually woven and has handles
From this reading When her father was not busily engaged in the garden, he occupied his time in making baskets of all sorts, and particularly lady's work-baskets.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading While Mary was gathering the materials for her father's basket-work, she found some beautiful specimens of lily-of-the-valley; and, gathering sufficient of the flowers, she made two bunches, one for her father and the other for herself.
the sacred writings of the Christian religions
From this reading While he busied himself in this way, Mary read to him from the Bible or some good book, or, as her father worked, he talked to her about the highest matters.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading While he busied himself in this way, Mary read to him from the Bible or some good book, or, as her father worked, he talked to her about the highest matters.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading One day, early in the charming month of May, Mary went into a wood near her home to get some branches and twigs of the willow and hazel.
bunchesnounUS /ˈbʌntʃəz/
plural of “bunch” — a grouping of a number of similar things
From this reading While Mary was gathering the materials for her father's basket-work, she found some beautiful specimens of lily-of-the-valley; and, gathering sufficient of the flowers, she made two bunches, one for her father and the other for herself.
busiedverbUS /ˈbɪzid/
inflected form of “busy” — keep busy with
From this reading While he busied himself in this way, Mary read to him from the Bible or some good book, or, as her father worked, he talked to her about the highest matters.
busilyadverbUS /ˈbɪzəli/
in a busy manner
From this reading When her father was not busily engaged in the garden, he occupied his time in making baskets of all sorts, and particularly lady's work-baskets.
pleasing or delighting
From this reading One day, early in the charming month of May, Mary went into a wood near her home to get some branches and twigs of the willow and hazel.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading One day, early in the charming month of May, Mary went into a wood near her home to get some branches and twigs of the willow and hazel.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading One day, early in the charming month of May, Mary went into a wood near her home to get some branches and twigs of the willow and hazel.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading When her father was not busily engaged in the garden, he occupied his time in making baskets of all sorts, and particularly lady's work-baskets.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading When her father was not busily engaged in the garden, he occupied his time in making baskets of all sorts, and particularly lady's work-baskets.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading While Mary was gathering the materials for her father's basket-work, she found some beautiful specimens of lily-of-the-valley; and, gathering sufficient of the flowers, she made two bunches, one for her father and the other for herself.
plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading THE BASKET OF FLOWERS.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading While Mary was gathering the materials for her father's basket-work, she found some beautiful specimens of lily-of-the-valley; and, gathering sufficient of the flowers, she made two bunches, one for her father and the other for herself.
set up or found
From this reading While Mary was gathering the materials for her father's basket-work, she found some beautiful specimens of lily-of-the-valley; and, gathering sufficient of the flowers, she made two bunches, one for her father and the other for herself.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading While he busied himself in this way, Mary read to him from the Bible or some good book, or, as her father worked, he talked to her about the highest matters.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading When her father was not busily engaged in the garden, he occupied his time in making baskets of all sorts, and particularly lady's work-baskets.
a group of persons together in one place
From this reading While Mary was gathering the materials for her father's basket-work, she found some beautiful specimens of lily-of-the-valley; and, gathering sufficient of the flowers, she made two bunches, one for her father and the other for herself.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading One day, early in the charming month of May, Mary went into a wood near her home to get some branches and twigs of the willow and hazel.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading While he busied himself in this way, Mary read to him from the Bible or some good book, or, as her father worked, he talked to her about the highest matters.
hazeladjectiveUS /ˈheɪzəl/
of a light brown or yellowish brown color
From this reading One day, early in the charming month of May, Mary went into a wood near her home to get some branches and twigs of the willow and hazel.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When her father was not busily engaged in the garden, he occupied his time in making baskets of all sorts, and particularly lady's work-baskets.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading One day, early in the charming month of May, Mary went into a wood near her home to get some branches and twigs of the willow and hazel.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading While Mary was gathering the materials for her father's basket-work, she found some beautiful specimens of lily-of-the-valley; and, gathering sufficient of the flowers, she made two bunches, one for her father and the other for herself.
superlative of “high” — greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading While he busied himself in this way, Mary read to him from the Bible or some good book, or, as her father worked, he talked to her about the highest matters.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading While he busied himself in this way, Mary read to him from the Bible or some good book, or, as her father worked, he talked to her about the highest matters.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading While he busied himself in this way, Mary read to him from the Bible or some good book, or, as her father worked, he talked to her about the highest matters.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When her father was not busily engaged in the garden, he occupied his time in making baskets of all sorts, and particularly lady's work-baskets.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading One day, early in the charming month of May, Mary went into a wood near her home to get some branches and twigs of the willow and hazel.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading One day, early in the charming month of May, Mary went into a wood near her home to get some branches and twigs of the willow and hazel.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading One day, early in the charming month of May, Mary went into a wood near her home to get some branches and twigs of the willow and hazel.
lady'snounUS /ˈleɪdiz/
possessive form of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading When her father was not busily engaged in the garden, he occupied his time in making baskets of all sorts, and particularly lady's work-baskets.
lily-of-the-valley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While Mary was gathering the materials for her father's basket-work, she found some beautiful specimens of lily-of-the-valley; and, gathering sufficient of the flowers, she made two bunches, one for her father and the other for herself.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading While Mary was gathering the materials for her father's basket-work, she found some beautiful specimens of lily-of-the-valley; and, gathering sufficient of the flowers, she made two bunches, one for her father and the other for herself.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading When her father was not busily engaged in the garden, he occupied his time in making baskets of all sorts, and particularly lady's work-baskets.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading One day, early in the charming month of May, Mary went into a wood near her home to get some branches and twigs of the willow and hazel.
materialsnounUS /məˈtɪriəlz/
plural of “material” — the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object
From this reading While Mary was gathering the materials for her father's basket-work, she found some beautiful specimens of lily-of-the-valley; and, gathering sufficient of the flowers, she made two bunches, one for her father and the other for herself.
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading While he busied himself in this way, Mary read to him from the Bible or some good book, or, as her father worked, he talked to her about the highest matters.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading One day, early in the charming month of May, Mary went into a wood near her home to get some branches and twigs of the willow and hazel.
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading One day, early in the charming month of May, Mary went into a wood near her home to get some branches and twigs of the willow and hazel.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading One day, early in the charming month of May, Mary went into a wood near her home to get some branches and twigs of the willow and hazel.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading When her father was not busily engaged in the garden, he occupied his time in making baskets of all sorts, and particularly lady's work-baskets.
held or filled or in use
From this reading When her father was not busily engaged in the garden, he occupied his time in making baskets of all sorts, and particularly lady's work-baskets.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE BASKET OF FLOWERS.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One day, early in the charming month of May, Mary went into a wood near her home to get some branches and twigs of the willow and hazel.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading While he busied himself in this way, Mary read to him from the Bible or some good book, or, as her father worked, he talked to her about the highest matters.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading While Mary was gathering the materials for her father's basket-work, she found some beautiful specimens of lily-of-the-valley; and, gathering sufficient of the flowers, she made two bunches, one for her father and the other for herself.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading When her father was not busily engaged in the garden, he occupied his time in making baskets of all sorts, and particularly lady's work-baskets.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading While he busied himself in this way, Mary read to him from the Bible or some good book, or, as her father worked, he talked to her about the highest matters.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading While Mary was gathering the materials for her father's basket-work, she found some beautiful specimens of lily-of-the-valley; and, gathering sufficient of the flowers, she made two bunches, one for her father and the other for herself.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading One day, early in the charming month of May, Mary went into a wood near her home to get some branches and twigs of the willow and hazel.
plural of “sort” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading When her father was not busily engaged in the garden, he occupied his time in making baskets of all sorts, and particularly lady's work-baskets.
specimensnounUS /ˈspesəmənz/
plural of “specimen” — an example regarded as typical of its class
From this reading While Mary was gathering the materials for her father's basket-work, she found some beautiful specimens of lily-of-the-valley; and, gathering sufficient of the flowers, she made two bunches, one for her father and the other for herself.
of a quantity that can fulfill a need or requirement but without being abundant
From this reading While Mary was gathering the materials for her father's basket-work, she found some beautiful specimens of lily-of-the-valley; and, gathering sufficient of the flowers, she made two bunches, one for her father and the other for herself.
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading While he busied himself in this way, Mary read to him from the Bible or some good book, or, as her father worked, he talked to her about the highest matters.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BASKET OF FLOWERS.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading While he busied himself in this way, Mary read to him from the Bible or some good book, or, as her father worked, he talked to her about the highest matters.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading When her father was not busily engaged in the garden, he occupied his time in making baskets of all sorts, and particularly lady's work-baskets.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading One day, early in the charming month of May, Mary went into a wood near her home to get some branches and twigs of the willow and hazel.
twigsnounUS /twɪɡz/
plural of “twig” — a small branch or division of a branch (especially a terminal division); usually applied to branches of the current or preceding year
From this reading One day, early in the charming month of May, Mary went into a wood near her home to get some branches and twigs of the willow and hazel.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading While Mary was gathering the materials for her father's basket-work, she found some beautiful specimens of lily-of-the-valley; and, gathering sufficient of the flowers, she made two bunches, one for her father and the other for herself.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When her father was not busily engaged in the garden, he occupied his time in making baskets of all sorts, and particularly lady's work-baskets.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading While he busied himself in this way, Mary read to him from the Bible or some good book, or, as her father worked, he talked to her about the highest matters.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading One day, early in the charming month of May, Mary went into a wood near her home to get some branches and twigs of the willow and hazel.
at the time that
From this reading When her father was not busily engaged in the garden, he occupied his time in making baskets of all sorts, and particularly lady's work-baskets.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While he busied himself in this way, Mary read to him from the Bible or some good book, or, as her father worked, he talked to her about the highest matters.
willownounUS /ˈwɪloʊ/
any of numerous deciduous trees and shrubs of the genus Salix
From this reading One day, early in the charming month of May, Mary went into a wood near her home to get some branches and twigs of the willow and hazel.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading One day, early in the charming month of May, Mary went into a wood near her home to get some branches and twigs of the willow and hazel.
work-baskets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When her father was not busily engaged in the garden, he occupied his time in making baskets of all sorts, and particularly lady's work-baskets.
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading While he busied himself in this way, Mary read to him from the Bible or some good book, or, as her father worked, he talked to her about the highest matters.
