used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A NEW WORLD.
accentnounUS /əkˈsent/
distinctive manner of oral expression
From this reading She was especially anxious that both Haddie and I should speak well, and not catch the Great Mexington accent, which was both peculiar and ugly.
using the voice; not silently
From this reading I could read aloud well, unusually well, I think, for mamma had taken great pains with my pronunciation.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She was especially anxious that both Haddie and I should speak well, and not catch the Great Mexington accent, which was both peculiar and ugly.
eagerly desirous
From this reading She was especially anxious that both Haddie and I should speak well, and not catch the Great Mexington accent, which was both peculiar and ugly.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading But the book which Miss Broom had put before me was hardly a fair test.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading But the book which Miss Broom had put before me was hardly a fair test.
the two together, not just one
From this reading She was especially anxious that both Haddie and I should speak well, and not catch the Great Mexington accent, which was both peculiar and ugly.
bristlingverbUS /ˈbrɪsəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “bristle” — be in a state of movement or action
From this reading I don't remember what it was--some very dry history, I think, bristling with long words, and in very small print.
BroomnounUS /bruːm/
a cleaning implement for sweeping; bundle of straws or twigs attached to a long handle
From this reading But the book which Miss Broom had put before me was hardly a fair test.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the book which Miss Broom had put before me was hardly a fair test.
discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading She was especially anxious that both Haddie and I should speak well, and not catch the Great Mexington accent, which was both peculiar and ugly.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I could read aloud well, unusually well, I think, for mamma had taken great pains with my pronunciation.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I don't remember what it was--some very dry history, I think, bristling with long words, and in very small print.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading I don't remember what it was--some very dry history, I think, bristling with long words, and in very small print.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading She was especially anxious that both Haddie and I should speak well, and not catch the Great Mexington accent, which was both peculiar and ugly.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading But the book which Miss Broom had put before me was hardly a fair test.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I could read aloud well, unusually well, I think, for mamma had taken great pains with my pronunciation.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading I could read aloud well, unusually well, I think, for mamma had taken great pains with my pronunciation.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I could read aloud well, unusually well, I think, for mamma had taken great pains with my pronunciation.
Haddie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was especially anxious that both Haddie and I should speak well, and not catch the Great Mexington accent, which was both peculiar and ugly.
only a very short time before
From this reading But the book which Miss Broom had put before me was hardly a fair test.
the aggregate of past events
From this reading I don't remember what it was--some very dry history, I think, bristling with long words, and in very small print.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I could read aloud well, unusually well, I think, for mamma had taken great pains with my pronunciation.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I don't remember what it was--some very dry history, I think, bristling with long words, and in very small print.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I don't remember what it was--some very dry history, I think, bristling with long words, and in very small print.
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 I don't remember what it was--some very dry history, I think, bristling with long words, and in very small print.
informal terms for a mother
From this reading I could read aloud well, unusually well, I think, for mamma had taken great pains with my pronunciation.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But the book which Miss Broom had put before me was hardly a fair test.
Mexington
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was especially anxious that both Haddie and I should speak well, and not catch the Great Mexington accent, which was both peculiar and ugly.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading But the book which Miss Broom had put before me was hardly a fair test.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I could read aloud well, unusually well, I think, for mamma had taken great pains with my pronunciation.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading A NEW WORLD.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She was especially anxious that both Haddie and I should speak well, and not catch the Great Mexington accent, which was both peculiar and ugly.
painsnounUS /peɪnz/
an effortful attempt to attain a goal
From this reading I could read aloud well, unusually well, I think, for mamma had taken great pains with my pronunciation.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading She was especially anxious that both Haddie and I should speak well, and not catch the Great Mexington accent, which was both peculiar and ugly.
printnounUS /prɪnt/
the text appearing in a book, newspaper, or other printed publication
From this reading I don't remember what it was--some very dry history, I think, bristling with long words, and in very small print.
pronunciationnounUS /proʊˌnʌnsiˈeɪʃən/
the manner in which someone utters a word
From this reading I could read aloud well, unusually well, I think, for mamma had taken great pains with my pronunciation.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading But the book which Miss Broom had put before me was hardly a fair test.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading I could read aloud well, unusually well, I think, for mamma had taken great pains with my pronunciation.
To recall to mind.
From this reading I don't remember what it was--some very dry history, I think, bristling with long words, and in very small print.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was especially anxious that both Haddie and I should speak well, and not catch the Great Mexington accent, which was both peculiar and ugly.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading She was especially anxious that both Haddie and I should speak well, and not catch the Great Mexington accent, which was both peculiar and ugly.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading I don't remember what it was--some very dry history, I think, bristling with long words, and in very small print.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading I don't remember what it was--some very dry history, I think, bristling with long words, and in very small print.
express in speech
From this reading She was especially anxious that both Haddie and I should speak well, and not catch the Great Mexington accent, which was both peculiar and ugly.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading I could read aloud well, unusually well, I think, for mamma had taken great pains with my pronunciation.
testnounUS /test/
trying something to find out about it
From this reading But the book which Miss Broom had put before me was hardly a fair test.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She was especially anxious that both Haddie and I should speak well, and not catch the Great Mexington accent, which was both peculiar and ugly.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She was especially anxious that both Haddie and I should speak well, and not catch the Great Mexington accent, which was both peculiar and ugly.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading I could read aloud well, unusually well, I think, for mamma had taken great pains with my pronunciation.
displeasing to the senses
From this reading She was especially anxious that both Haddie and I should speak well, and not catch the Great Mexington accent, which was both peculiar and ugly.
unusuallyadverbUS /əˈnjuːʒuːəli/
to a remarkable degree or extent
From this reading I could read aloud well, unusually well, I think, for mamma had taken great pains with my pronunciation.
precisely as stated
From this reading I don't remember what it was--some very dry history, I think, bristling with long words, and in very small print.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was especially anxious that both Haddie and I should speak well, and not catch the Great Mexington accent, which was both peculiar and ugly.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading I could read aloud well, unusually well, I think, for mamma had taken great pains with my pronunciation.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading I don't remember what it was--some very dry history, I think, bristling with long words, and in very small print.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She was especially anxious that both Haddie and I should speak well, and not catch the Great Mexington accent, which was both peculiar and ugly.
in the company of; together with
From this reading I could read aloud well, unusually well, I think, for mamma had taken great pains with my pronunciation.
the words that are spoken
From this reading I don't remember what it was--some very dry history, I think, bristling with long words, and in very small print.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading A NEW WORLD.
