used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE THEFT OF A CHILDHOOD The Watts children were up the next morning by four o'clock.
(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 For Mrs. Watts did not consider that arising at four, and cooking and sweeping and tidying up the cabin, and quarreling with the Bishop as "a petty old bundle of botheration"--and storming around at the children--all by sun-up--this was not work at all.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading Mrs. Watts ate, always, by candle-light.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was merely an appetizer.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For Mrs. Watts did not consider that arising at four, and cooking and sweeping and tidying up the cabin, and quarreling with the Bishop as "a petty old bundle of botheration"--and storming around at the children--all by sun-up--this was not work at all.
appetizernounUS /ˈæpətaɪzər/
food or drink to stimulate the appetite (usually served before a meal or as the first course)
From this reading It was merely an appetizer.
arisingverbUS /ərˈaɪzɪŋ/
-ing form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape
From this reading For Mrs. Watts did not consider that arising at four, and cooking and sweeping and tidying up the cabin, and quarreling with the Bishop as "a petty old bundle of botheration"--and storming around at the children--all by sun-up--this was not work at all.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading For Mrs. Watts did not consider that arising at four, and cooking and sweeping and tidying up the cabin, and quarreling with the Bishop as "a petty old bundle of botheration"--and storming around at the children--all by sun-up--this was not work at all.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading For Mrs. Watts did not consider that arising at four, and cooking and sweeping and tidying up the cabin, and quarreling with the Bishop as "a petty old bundle of botheration"--and storming around at the children--all by sun-up--this was not work at all.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading For Mrs. Watts did not consider that arising at four, and cooking and sweeping and tidying up the cabin, and quarreling with the Bishop as "a petty old bundle of botheration"--and storming around at the children--all by sun-up--this was not work at all.
goddess of criminal rashness and its punishment
From this reading Mrs. Watts ate, always, by candle-light.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The sun, she thought, would be dishonored, were he to find her home in disorder, her breakfast uncooked, her day's work not ready for her, with his first beams.
beamsnounUS /biːmz/
plural of “beam” — a signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides airplane pilots in darkness or bad weather
From this reading The sun, she thought, would be dishonored, were he to find her home in disorder, her breakfast uncooked, her day's work not ready for her, with his first beams.
a senior member of the Christian clergy having spiritual and administrative authority; appointed in Christian churches to oversee priests or ministers; considered in some churches to be successors of the twelve Apostles of Christ
From this reading For Mrs. Watts did not consider that arising at four, and cooking and sweeping and tidying up the cabin, and quarreling with the Bishop as "a petty old bundle of botheration"--and storming around at the children--all by sun-up--this was not work at all.
botherationnoun
the psychological state of being irritated or annoyed
From this reading For Mrs. Watts did not consider that arising at four, and cooking and sweeping and tidying up the cabin, and quarreling with the Bishop as "a petty old bundle of botheration"--and storming around at the children--all by sun-up--this was not work at all.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading The sun, she thought, would be dishonored, were he to find her home in disorder, her breakfast uncooked, her day's work not ready for her, with his first beams.
bundlenounUS /ˈbʌndəl/
a collection of things wrapped or boxed together
From this reading For Mrs. Watts did not consider that arising at four, and cooking and sweeping and tidying up the cabin, and quarreling with the Bishop as "a petty old bundle of botheration"--and storming around at the children--all by sun-up--this was not work at all.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE THEFT OF A CHILDHOOD The Watts children were up the next morning by four o'clock.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading For Mrs. Watts did not consider that arising at four, and cooking and sweeping and tidying up the cabin, and quarreling with the Bishop as "a petty old bundle of botheration"--and storming around at the children--all by sun-up--this was not work at all.
candle-light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Watts ate, always, by candle-light.
the time of person's life when they are a child
From this reading THE THEFT OF A CHILDHOOD The Watts children were up the next morning by four o'clock.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading THE THEFT OF A CHILDHOOD The Watts children were up the next morning by four o'clock.
deem to be
From this reading For Mrs. Watts did not consider that arising at four, and cooking and sweeping and tidying up the cabin, and quarreling with the Bishop as "a petty old bundle of botheration"--and storming around at the children--all by sun-up--this was not work at all.
cookingnounUS /ˈkʊkɪŋ/
the act of preparing something (as food) by the application of heat
From this reading For Mrs. Watts did not consider that arising at four, and cooking and sweeping and tidying up the cabin, and quarreling with the Bishop as "a petty old bundle of botheration"--and storming around at the children--all by sun-up--this was not work at all.
day'snounUS /deɪz/
possessive form of “day” — time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The sun, she thought, would be dishonored, were he to find her home in disorder, her breakfast uncooked, her day's work not ready for her, with his first beams.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading For Mrs. Watts did not consider that arising at four, and cooking and sweeping and tidying up the cabin, and quarreling with the Bishop as "a petty old bundle of botheration"--and storming around at the children--all by sun-up--this was not work at all.
dishonoredadjectiveUS /dɪˈsɑːnərd/
suffering shame
From this reading The sun, she thought, would be dishonored, were he to find her home in disorder, her breakfast uncooked, her day's work not ready for her, with his first beams.
disordernounUS /dɪˈsɔːrdər/
a physical condition in which there is a disturbance of normal functioning
From this reading The sun, she thought, would be dishonored, were he to find her home in disorder, her breakfast uncooked, her day's work not ready for her, with his first beams.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading The sun, she thought, would be dishonored, were he to find her home in disorder, her breakfast uncooked, her day's work not ready for her, with his first beams.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The sun, she thought, would be dishonored, were he to find her home in disorder, her breakfast uncooked, her day's work not ready for her, with his first beams.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The sun, she thought, would be dishonored, were he to find her home in disorder, her breakfast uncooked, her day's work not ready for her, with his first beams.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading THE THEFT OF A CHILDHOOD The Watts children were up the next morning by four o'clock.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The sun, she thought, would be dishonored, were he to find her home in disorder, her breakfast uncooked, her day's work not ready for her, with his first beams.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The sun, she thought, would be dishonored, were he to find her home in disorder, her breakfast uncooked, her day's work not ready for her, with his first beams.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The sun, she thought, would be dishonored, were he to find her home in disorder, her breakfast uncooked, her day's work not ready for her, with his first beams.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading The sun, she thought, would be dishonored, were he to find her home in disorder, her breakfast uncooked, her day's work not ready for her, with his first beams.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The sun, she thought, would be dishonored, were he to find her home in disorder, her breakfast uncooked, her day's work not ready for her, with his first beams.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was merely an appetizer.
and nothing more
From this reading It was merely an appetizer.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading THE THEFT OF A CHILDHOOD The Watts children were up the next morning by four o'clock.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Watts ate, always, by candle-light.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading THE THEFT OF A CHILDHOOD The Watts children were up the next morning by four o'clock.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The sun, she thought, would be dishonored, were he to find her home in disorder, her breakfast uncooked, her day's work not ready for her, with his first beams.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading THE THEFT OF A CHILDHOOD The Watts children were up the next morning by four o'clock.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE THEFT OF A CHILDHOOD The Watts children were up the next morning by four o'clock.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading For Mrs. Watts did not consider that arising at four, and cooking and sweeping and tidying up the cabin, and quarreling with the Bishop as "a petty old bundle of botheration"--and storming around at the children--all by sun-up--this was not work at all.
pettyadjectiveUS /ˈpetiː/
inferior in rank or status
From this reading For Mrs. Watts did not consider that arising at four, and cooking and sweeping and tidying up the cabin, and quarreling with the Bishop as "a petty old bundle of botheration"--and storming around at the children--all by sun-up--this was not work at all.
quarrelingverbUS /ˈkwɑːrəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “quarrel” — have a disagreement over something
From this reading For Mrs. Watts did not consider that arising at four, and cooking and sweeping and tidying up the cabin, and quarreling with the Bishop as "a petty old bundle of botheration"--and storming around at the children--all by sun-up--this was not work at all.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading The sun, she thought, would be dishonored, were he to find her home in disorder, her breakfast uncooked, her day's work not ready for her, with his first beams.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The sun, she thought, would be dishonored, were he to find her home in disorder, her breakfast uncooked, her day's work not ready for her, with his first beams.
stormingverbUS /ˈstɔːrmɪŋ/
-ing form of “storm” — behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading For Mrs. Watts did not consider that arising at four, and cooking and sweeping and tidying up the cabin, and quarreling with the Bishop as "a petty old bundle of botheration"--and storming around at the children--all by sun-up--this was not work at all.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The sun, she thought, would be dishonored, were he to find her home in disorder, her breakfast uncooked, her day's work not ready for her, with his first beams.
sun-up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For Mrs. Watts did not consider that arising at four, and cooking and sweeping and tidying up the cabin, and quarreling with the Bishop as "a petty old bundle of botheration"--and storming around at the children--all by sun-up--this was not work at all.
sweepingadjectiveUS /ˈswiːpɪŋ/
taking in or moving over (or as if over) a wide area; often used in combination
From this reading For Mrs. Watts did not consider that arising at four, and cooking and sweeping and tidying up the cabin, and quarreling with the Bishop as "a petty old bundle of botheration"--and storming around at the children--all by sun-up--this was not work at all.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For Mrs. Watts did not consider that arising at four, and cooking and sweeping and tidying up the cabin, and quarreling with the Bishop as "a petty old bundle of botheration"--and storming around at the children--all by sun-up--this was not work at all.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE THEFT OF A CHILDHOOD The Watts children were up the next morning by four o'clock.
THEFTnounUS /θeft/
the act of taking something from someone unlawfully
From this reading THE THEFT OF A CHILDHOOD The Watts children were up the next morning by four o'clock.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading For Mrs. Watts did not consider that arising at four, and cooking and sweeping and tidying up the cabin, and quarreling with the Bishop as "a petty old bundle of botheration"--and storming around at the children--all by sun-up--this was not work at all.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The sun, she thought, would be dishonored, were he to find her home in disorder, her breakfast uncooked, her day's work not ready for her, with his first beams.
tidying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For Mrs. Watts did not consider that arising at four, and cooking and sweeping and tidying up the cabin, and quarreling with the Bishop as "a petty old bundle of botheration"--and storming around at the children--all by sun-up--this was not work at all.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The sun, she thought, would be dishonored, were he to find her home in disorder, her breakfast uncooked, her day's work not ready for her, with his first beams.
uncookedadjective
not cooked
From this reading The sun, she thought, would be dishonored, were he to find her home in disorder, her breakfast uncooked, her day's work not ready for her, with his first beams.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading THE THEFT OF A CHILDHOOD The Watts children were up the next morning by four o'clock.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For Mrs. Watts did not consider that arising at four, and cooking and sweeping and tidying up the cabin, and quarreling with the Bishop as "a petty old bundle of botheration"--and storming around at the children--all by sun-up--this was not work at all.
WattsnounUS /wɑːts/
English poet and theologian (1674-1748)
From this reading THE THEFT OF A CHILDHOOD The Watts children were up the next morning by four o'clock.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE THEFT OF A CHILDHOOD The Watts children were up the next morning by four o'clock.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The sun, she thought, would be dishonored, were he to find her home in disorder, her breakfast uncooked, her day's work not ready for her, with his first beams.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading The sun, she thought, would be dishonored, were he to find her home in disorder, her breakfast uncooked, her day's work not ready for her, with his first beams.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The sun, she thought, would be dishonored, were he to find her home in disorder, her breakfast uncooked, her day's work not ready for her, with his first beams.
