used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading One day they were at work together on a large flower-bed.
personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading Now that Captain Caldwell had made Beth's acquaintance, he liked to have her with him to help him when he was at work in the garden, and there was nothing that she loved so much.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He spent long hours in cultivating it, and that summer his vegetables, fruits, and flowers had been the wonder of the neighbourhood.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Now that Captain Caldwell had made Beth's acquaintance, he liked to have her with him to help him when he was at work in the garden, and there was nothing that she loved so much.
the season when the leaves fall from the trees
From this reading But now autumn had come, vegetables were dug, fruits gathered, flowers bedraggled; and there was little to be done but clear the beds, plant them with bulbs, and prepare them for the spring.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But now autumn had come, vegetables were dug, fruits gathered, flowers bedraggled; and there was little to be done but clear the beds, plant them with bulbs, and prepare them for the spring.
bedraggledadjectiveUS /bɪˈdræɡəld/
limp and soiled as if dragged in the mud
From this reading But now autumn had come, vegetables were dug, fruits gathered, flowers bedraggled; and there was little to be done but clear the beds, plant them with bulbs, and prepare them for the spring.
bedsnounUS /bedz/
plural of “bed” — a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading But now autumn had come, vegetables were dug, fruits gathered, flowers bedraggled; and there was little to be done but clear the beds, plant them with bulbs, and prepare them for the spring.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He spent long hours in cultivating it, and that summer his vegetables, fruits, and flowers had been the wonder of the neighbourhood.
Beth'snounUS /beθs/
possessive form of “beth” — the 2nd letter of the Hebrew alphabet
From this reading Now that Captain Caldwell had made Beth's acquaintance, he liked to have her with him to help him when he was at work in the garden, and there was nothing that she loved so much.
bulbsnounUS /bʌlbz/
plural of “bulb” — a modified bud consisting of a thickened globular underground stem serving as a reproductive structure
From this reading But now autumn had come, vegetables were dug, fruits gathered, flowers bedraggled; and there was little to be done but clear the beds, plant them with bulbs, and prepare them for the spring.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But now autumn had come, vegetables were dug, fruits gathered, flowers bedraggled; and there was little to be done but clear the beds, plant them with bulbs, and prepare them for the spring.
CaldwellnounUS /ˈkɔːldwel/
United States author remembered for novels about poverty and degeneration (1903-1987)
From this reading Now that Captain Caldwell had made Beth's acquaintance, he liked to have her with him to help him when he was at work in the garden, and there was nothing that she loved so much.
Caldwell'snounUS /ˈkɔːldwelz/
possessive form of “caldwell” — United States author remembered for novels about poverty and degeneration (1903-1987)
From this reading One of the interests of Captain Caldwell's life was his garden.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading One of the interests of Captain Caldwell's life was his garden.
rid of obstructions
From this reading But now autumn had come, vegetables were dug, fruits gathered, flowers bedraggled; and there was little to be done but clear the beds, plant them with bulbs, and prepare them for the spring.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading But now autumn had come, vegetables were dug, fruits gathered, flowers bedraggled; and there was little to be done but clear the beds, plant them with bulbs, and prepare them for the spring.
cultivatingverbUS /ˈkʌltɪveɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “cultivate” — foster the growth of
From this reading He spent long hours in cultivating it, and that summer his vegetables, fruits, and flowers had been the wonder of the neighbourhood.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading One day they were at work together on a large flower-bed.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading But now autumn had come, vegetables were dug, fruits gathered, flowers bedraggled; and there was little to be done but clear the beds, plant them with bulbs, and prepare them for the spring.
dugnounUS /dʌɡ/
an udder or breast or teat
From this reading But now autumn had come, vegetables were dug, fruits gathered, flowers bedraggled; and there was little to be done but clear the beds, plant them with bulbs, and prepare them for the spring.
flower-bed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One day they were at work together on a large flower-bed.
plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading He spent long hours in cultivating it, and that summer his vegetables, fruits, and flowers had been the wonder of the neighbourhood.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But now autumn had come, vegetables were dug, fruits gathered, flowers bedraggled; and there was little to be done but clear the beds, plant them with bulbs, and prepare them for the spring.
fruitsnounUS /fruːts/
plural of “fruit” — the ripened reproductive body of a seed plant
From this reading He spent long hours in cultivating it, and that summer his vegetables, fruits, and flowers had been the wonder of the neighbourhood.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading One of the interests of Captain Caldwell's life was his garden.
brought together in one place
From this reading But now autumn had come, vegetables were dug, fruits gathered, flowers bedraggled; and there was little to be done but clear the beds, plant them with bulbs, and prepare them for the spring.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He spent long hours in cultivating it, and that summer his vegetables, fruits, and flowers had been the wonder of the neighbourhood.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Now that Captain Caldwell had made Beth's acquaintance, he liked to have her with him to help him when he was at work in the garden, and there was nothing that she loved so much.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He spent long hours in cultivating it, and that summer his vegetables, fruits, and flowers had been the wonder of the neighbourhood.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading Now that Captain Caldwell had made Beth's acquaintance, he liked to have her with him to help him when he was at work in the garden, and there was nothing that she loved so much.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Now that Captain Caldwell had made Beth's acquaintance, he liked to have her with him to help him when he was at work in the garden, and there was nothing that she loved so much.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Now that Captain Caldwell had made Beth's acquaintance, he liked to have her with him to help him when he was at work in the garden, and there was nothing that she loved so much.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading One of the interests of Captain Caldwell's life was his garden.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading He spent long hours in cultivating it, and that summer his vegetables, fruits, and flowers had been the wonder of the neighbourhood.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He spent long hours in cultivating it, and that summer his vegetables, fruits, and flowers had been the wonder of the neighbourhood.
plural of “interest” — a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading One of the interests of Captain Caldwell's life was his garden.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He spent long hours in cultivating it, and that summer his vegetables, fruits, and flowers had been the wonder of the neighbourhood.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading One day they were at work together on a large flower-bed.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading One of the interests of Captain Caldwell's life was his garden.
found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form
From this reading Now that Captain Caldwell had made Beth's acquaintance, he liked to have her with him to help him when he was at work in the garden, and there was nothing that she loved so much.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading But now autumn had come, vegetables were dug, fruits gathered, flowers bedraggled; and there was little to be done but clear the beds, plant them with bulbs, and prepare them for the spring.
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 He spent long hours in cultivating it, and that summer his vegetables, fruits, and flowers had been the wonder of the neighbourhood.
held dear
From this reading Now that Captain Caldwell had made Beth's acquaintance, he liked to have her with him to help him when he was at work in the garden, and there was nothing that she loved so much.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Now that Captain Caldwell had made Beth's acquaintance, he liked to have her with him to help him when he was at work in the garden, and there was nothing that she loved so much.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Now that Captain Caldwell had made Beth's acquaintance, he liked to have her with him to help him when he was at work in the garden, and there was nothing that she loved so much.
neighbourhoodnounUS /ˈneɪbərhʊd/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading He spent long hours in cultivating it, and that summer his vegetables, fruits, and flowers had been the wonder of the neighbourhood.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Now that Captain Caldwell had made Beth's acquaintance, he liked to have her with him to help him when he was at work in the garden, and there was nothing that she loved so much.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But now autumn had come, vegetables were dug, fruits gathered, flowers bedraggled; and there was little to be done but clear the beds, plant them with bulbs, and prepare them for the spring.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading One of the interests of Captain Caldwell's life was his garden.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading One day they were at work together on a large flower-bed.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One of the interests of Captain Caldwell's life was his garden.
plantverbUS /plænt/
put or set (seeds, seedlings, or plants) into the ground
From this reading But now autumn had come, vegetables were dug, fruits gathered, flowers bedraggled; and there was little to be done but clear the beds, plant them with bulbs, and prepare them for the spring.
prepareverbUS /priˈper/
make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc
From this reading But now autumn had come, vegetables were dug, fruits gathered, flowers bedraggled; and there was little to be done but clear the beds, plant them with bulbs, and prepare them for the spring.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Now that Captain Caldwell had made Beth's acquaintance, he liked to have her with him to help him when he was at work in the garden, and there was nothing that she loved so much.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Now that Captain Caldwell had made Beth's acquaintance, he liked to have her with him to help him when he was at work in the garden, and there was nothing that she loved so much.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading He spent long hours in cultivating it, and that summer his vegetables, fruits, and flowers had been the wonder of the neighbourhood.
the season of growth
From this reading But now autumn had come, vegetables were dug, fruits gathered, flowers bedraggled; and there was little to be done but clear the beds, plant them with bulbs, and prepare them for the spring.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading He spent long hours in cultivating it, and that summer his vegetables, fruits, and flowers had been the wonder of the neighbourhood.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He spent long hours in cultivating it, and that summer his vegetables, fruits, and flowers had been the wonder of the neighbourhood.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading One of the interests of Captain Caldwell's life was his garden.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But now autumn had come, vegetables were dug, fruits gathered, flowers bedraggled; and there was little to be done but clear the beds, plant them with bulbs, and prepare them for the spring.
in or at that place or location
From this reading But now autumn had come, vegetables were dug, fruits gathered, flowers bedraggled; and there was little to be done but clear the beds, plant them with bulbs, and prepare them for the spring.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading One day they were at work together on a large flower-bed.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But now autumn had come, vegetables were dug, fruits gathered, flowers bedraggled; and there was little to be done but clear the beds, plant them with bulbs, and prepare them for the spring.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading One day they were at work together on a large flower-bed.
vegetablesnounUS /ˈvedʒtəbəlz/
plural of “vegetable” — edible seeds or roots or stems or leaves or bulbs or tubers or nonsweet fruits of any of numerous herbaceous plant
From this reading He spent long hours in cultivating it, and that summer his vegetables, fruits, and flowers had been the wonder of the neighbourhood.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading One of the interests of Captain Caldwell's life was his garden.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But now autumn had come, vegetables were dug, fruits gathered, flowers bedraggled; and there was little to be done but clear the beds, plant them with bulbs, and prepare them for the spring.
at the time that
From this reading Now that Captain Caldwell had made Beth's acquaintance, he liked to have her with him to help him when he was at work in the garden, and there was nothing that she loved so much.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But now autumn had come, vegetables were dug, fruits gathered, flowers bedraggled; and there was little to be done but clear the beds, plant them with bulbs, and prepare them for the spring.
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading He spent long hours in cultivating it, and that summer his vegetables, fruits, and flowers had been the wonder of the neighbourhood.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Now that Captain Caldwell had made Beth's acquaintance, he liked to have her with him to help him when he was at work in the garden, and there was nothing that she loved so much.
