used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She cooked their meals on a coal-oil stove, performing all her little domestic rites carefully and exultingly, and they ate out on the verandah that almost overhung the lake.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading And Barney smiling his twisted, enigmatical smile at her across the table.
(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 She cooked their meals on a coal-oil stove, performing all her little domestic rites carefully and exultingly, and they ate out on the verandah that almost overhung the lake.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading She cooked their meals on a coal-oil stove, performing all her little domestic rites carefully and exultingly, and they ate out on the verandah that almost overhung the lake.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She cooked their meals on a coal-oil stove, performing all her little domestic rites carefully and exultingly, and they ate out on the verandah that almost overhung the lake.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading And Barney smiling his twisted, enigmatical smile at her across the table.
goddess of criminal rashness and its punishment
From this reading She cooked their meals on a coal-oil stove, performing all her little domestic rites carefully and exultingly, and they ate out on the verandah that almost overhung the lake.
Barney
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Barney smiling his twisted, enigmatical smile at her across the table.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before them lay Mistawis, like a scene out of some fairy tale of old time.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading She cooked their meals on a coal-oil stove, performing all her little domestic rites carefully and exultingly, and they ate out on the verandah that almost overhung the lake.
coal-oil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She cooked their meals on a coal-oil stove, performing all her little domestic rites carefully and exultingly, and they ate out on the verandah that almost overhung the lake.
cookedadjectiveUS /kʊkt/
having been prepared for eating by the application of heat
From this reading She cooked their meals on a coal-oil stove, performing all her little domestic rites carefully and exultingly, and they ate out on the verandah that almost overhung the lake.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Valancy toiled not, neither did she spin.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading There was really very little work to do.
of concern to or concerning the internal affairs of a nation
From this reading She cooked their meals on a coal-oil stove, performing all her little domestic rites carefully and exultingly, and they ate out on the verandah that almost overhung the lake.
enigmaticaladjective
not clear to the understanding
From this reading And Barney smiling his twisted, enigmatical smile at her across the table.
exultinglyadverb
in an exultant manner
From this reading She cooked their meals on a coal-oil stove, performing all her little domestic rites carefully and exultingly, and they ate out on the verandah that almost overhung the lake.
a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers
From this reading Before them lay Mistawis, like a scene out of some fairy tale of old time.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She cooked their meals on a coal-oil stove, performing all her little domestic rites carefully and exultingly, and they ate out on the verandah that almost overhung the lake.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading And Barney smiling his twisted, enigmatical smile at her across the table.
a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
From this reading She cooked their meals on a coal-oil stove, performing all her little domestic rites carefully and exultingly, and they ate out on the verandah that almost overhung the lake.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Before them lay Mistawis, like a scene out of some fairy tale of old time.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Before them lay Mistawis, like a scene out of some fairy tale of old time.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There was really very little work to do.
mealsnounUS /miːlz/
plural of “meal” — the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading She cooked their meals on a coal-oil stove, performing all her little domestic rites carefully and exultingly, and they ate out on the verandah that almost overhung the lake.
Mistawis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before them lay Mistawis, like a scene out of some fairy tale of old time.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading Valancy toiled not, neither did she spin.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Valancy toiled not, neither did she spin.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Before them lay Mistawis, like a scene out of some fairy tale of old time.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Before them lay Mistawis, like a scene out of some fairy tale of old time.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She cooked their meals on a coal-oil stove, performing all her little domestic rites carefully and exultingly, and they ate out on the verandah that almost overhung the lake.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading She cooked their meals on a coal-oil stove, performing all her little domestic rites carefully and exultingly, and they ate out on the verandah that almost overhung the lake.
overhungverbUS /oʊvərˈhʌŋ/
inflected form of “overhang” — project over
From this reading She cooked their meals on a coal-oil stove, performing all her little domestic rites carefully and exultingly, and they ate out on the verandah that almost overhung the lake.
performingnounUS /pərˈfɔːrmɪŋ/
the performance of a part or role in a drama
From this reading She cooked their meals on a coal-oil stove, performing all her little domestic rites carefully and exultingly, and they ate out on the verandah that almost overhung the lake.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading There was really very little work to do.
ritesnounUS /raɪts/
plural of “rite” — an established ceremony prescribed by a religion
From this reading She cooked their meals on a coal-oil stove, performing all her little domestic rites carefully and exultingly, and they ate out on the verandah that almost overhung the lake.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading Before them lay Mistawis, like a scene out of some fairy tale of old time.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Valancy toiled not, neither did she spin.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading And Barney smiling his twisted, enigmatical smile at her across the table.
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading And Barney smiling his twisted, enigmatical smile at her across the table.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Before them lay Mistawis, like a scene out of some fairy tale of old time.
spinverbUS /spɪn/
revolve quickly and repeatedly around one's own axis
From this reading Valancy toiled not, neither did she spin.
stovenounUS /stoʊv/
a kitchen appliance used for cooking food
From this reading She cooked their meals on a coal-oil stove, performing all her little domestic rites carefully and exultingly, and they ate out on the verandah that almost overhung the lake.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading And Barney smiling his twisted, enigmatical smile at her across the table.
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 Before them lay Mistawis, like a scene out of some fairy tale of old time.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She cooked their meals on a coal-oil stove, performing all her little domestic rites carefully and exultingly, and they ate out on the verandah that almost overhung the lake.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She cooked their meals on a coal-oil stove, performing all her little domestic rites carefully and exultingly, and they ate out on the verandah that almost overhung the lake.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading She cooked their meals on a coal-oil stove, performing all her little domestic rites carefully and exultingly, and they ate out on the verandah that almost overhung the lake.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Before them lay Mistawis, like a scene out of some fairy tale of old time.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was really very little work to do.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She cooked their meals on a coal-oil stove, performing all her little domestic rites carefully and exultingly, and they ate out on the verandah that almost overhung the lake.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Before them lay Mistawis, like a scene out of some fairy tale of old time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was really very little work to do.
toiledverbUS /tɔɪld/
past form of “toil” — work hard
From this reading Valancy toiled not, neither did she spin.
twistedadjectiveUS /ˈtwɪstɪd/
having an intended meaning altered or misrepresented
From this reading And Barney smiling his twisted, enigmatical smile at her across the table.
Valancy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Valancy toiled not, neither did she spin.
verandahnoun
a porch along the outside of a building (sometimes partly enclosed)
From this reading She cooked their meals on a coal-oil stove, performing all her little domestic rites carefully and exultingly, and they ate out on the verandah that almost overhung the lake.
precisely as stated
From this reading There was really very little work to do.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was really very little work to do.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading There was really very little work to do.
