used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I remember one morning, when a boy, loitering by an old wall to watch the operations of a garden spider whose web seemed to be in great request.
absorbingadjectiveUS /əbˈzɔːrbɪŋ/
capable of arousing and holding the attention
From this reading But just when she was most interested in that absorbing employment came a couple of May-flies, and then a gnat, and then a blue-bottle,--all at different angles of the web.
(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 But just when she was most interested in that absorbing employment came a couple of May-flies, and then a gnat, and then a blue-bottle,--all at different angles of the web.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading I remember one morning, when a boy, loitering by an old wall to watch the operations of a garden spider whose web seemed to be in great request.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When I first stopped, she was engaged very quietly with a fly of the domestic species, whom she managed with ease and dignity.
anglesnounUS /ˈæŋɡəlz/
plural of “angle” — the space between two lines or planes that intersect; the inclination of one line to another; measured in degrees or radians
From this reading But just when she was most interested in that absorbing employment came a couple of May-flies, and then a gnat, and then a blue-bottle,--all at different angles of the web.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But just when she was most interested in that absorbing employment came a couple of May-flies, and then a gnat, and then a blue-bottle,--all at different angles of the web.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I remember one morning, when a boy, loitering by an old wall to watch the operations of a garden spider whose web seemed to be in great request.
blue-bottle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But just when she was most interested in that absorbing employment came a couple of May-flies, and then a gnat, and then a blue-bottle,--all at different angles of the web.
a youthful male person
From this reading I remember one morning, when a boy, loitering by an old wall to watch the operations of a garden spider whose web seemed to be in great request.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But just when she was most interested in that absorbing employment came a couple of May-flies, and then a gnat, and then a blue-bottle,--all at different angles of the web.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading I remember one morning, when a boy, loitering by an old wall to watch the operations of a garden spider whose web seemed to be in great request.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading But just when she was most interested in that absorbing employment came a couple of May-flies, and then a gnat, and then a blue-bottle,--all at different angles of the web.
a pair who associate with one another
From this reading But just when she was most interested in that absorbing employment came a couple of May-flies, and then a gnat, and then a blue-bottle,--all at different angles of the web.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading She evidently did not know which godsend to take first.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading But just when she was most interested in that absorbing employment came a couple of May-flies, and then a gnat, and then a blue-bottle,--all at different angles of the web.
the quality of being worthy of esteem or respect
From this reading When I first stopped, she was engaged very quietly with a fly of the domestic species, whom she managed with ease and dignity.
distractedadjectiveUS /dɪˈstræktəd/
having the attention diverted especially because of anxiety
From this reading Never was a poor spider so distracted by her good fortune!
of concern to or concerning the internal affairs of a nation
From this reading When I first stopped, she was engaged very quietly with a fly of the domestic species, whom she managed with ease and dignity.
move gently or carefully
From this reading When I first stopped, she was engaged very quietly with a fly of the domestic species, whom she managed with ease and dignity.
employmentnounUS /emˈplɔɪmənt/
the state of being employed or having a job
From this reading But just when she was most interested in that absorbing employment came a couple of May-flies, and then a gnat, and then a blue-bottle,--all at different angles of the web.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading When I first stopped, she was engaged very quietly with a fly of the domestic species, whom she managed with ease and dignity.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading She evidently did not know which godsend to take first.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading When I first stopped, she was engaged very quietly with a fly of the domestic species, whom she managed with ease and dignity.
travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading When I first stopped, she was engaged very quietly with a fly of the domestic species, whom she managed with ease and dignity.
an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading Never was a poor spider so distracted by her good fortune!
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading I remember one morning, when a boy, loitering by an old wall to watch the operations of a garden spider whose web seemed to be in great request.
gnatnounUS /næt/
any of various small biting flies: midges; biting midges; black flies; sand flies
From this reading But just when she was most interested in that absorbing employment came a couple of May-flies, and then a gnat, and then a blue-bottle,--all at different angles of the web.
godsendnounUS /ˈɡɑːdsend/
a sudden happening that brings good fortune (as a sudden opportunity to make money)
From this reading She evidently did not know which godsend to take first.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Never was a poor spider so distracted by her good fortune!
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading I remember one morning, when a boy, loitering by an old wall to watch the operations of a garden spider whose web seemed to be in great request.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Never was a poor spider so distracted by her good fortune!
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I remember one morning, when a boy, loitering by an old wall to watch the operations of a garden spider whose web seemed to be in great request.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I remember one morning, when a boy, loitering by an old wall to watch the operations of a garden spider whose web seemed to be in great request.
having or showing interest; especially curiosity or fascination or concern
From this reading But just when she was most interested in that absorbing employment came a couple of May-flies, and then a gnat, and then a blue-bottle,--all at different angles of the web.
and nothing more
From this reading But just when she was most interested in that absorbing employment came a couple of May-flies, and then a gnat, and then a blue-bottle,--all at different angles of the web.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading She evidently did not know which godsend to take first.
loiteringverbUS /ˈlɔɪtərɪŋ/
-ing form of “loiter” — be about
From this reading I remember one morning, when a boy, loitering by an old wall to watch the operations of a garden spider whose web seemed to be in great request.
past form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal
From this reading When I first stopped, she was engaged very quietly with a fly of the domestic species, whom she managed with ease and dignity.
May-flies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But just when she was most interested in that absorbing employment came a couple of May-flies, and then a gnat, and then a blue-bottle,--all at different angles of the web.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading I remember one morning, when a boy, loitering by an old wall to watch the operations of a garden spider whose web seemed to be in great request.
used to form the superlative
From this reading But just when she was most interested in that absorbing employment came a couple of May-flies, and then a gnat, and then a blue-bottle,--all at different angles of the web.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Never was a poor spider so distracted by her good fortune!
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She evidently did not know which godsend to take first.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I remember one morning, when a boy, loitering by an old wall to watch the operations of a garden spider whose web seemed to be in great request.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading I remember one morning, when a boy, loitering by an old wall to watch the operations of a garden spider whose web seemed to be in great request.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I remember one morning, when a boy, loitering by an old wall to watch the operations of a garden spider whose web seemed to be in great request.
operationsnounUS /ˌɑːpərˈeɪʃənz/
financial transactions at a brokerage; having to do with the execution of trades and keeping customer records
From this reading I remember one morning, when a boy, loitering by an old wall to watch the operations of a garden spider whose web seemed to be in great request.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading Never was a poor spider so distracted by her good fortune!
with low volume
From this reading When I first stopped, she was engaged very quietly with a fly of the domestic species, whom she managed with ease and dignity.
To recall to mind.
From this reading I remember one morning, when a boy, loitering by an old wall to watch the operations of a garden spider whose web seemed to be in great request.
express the need or desire for
From this reading I remember one morning, when a boy, loitering by an old wall to watch the operations of a garden spider whose web seemed to be in great request.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading I remember one morning, when a boy, loitering by an old wall to watch the operations of a garden spider whose web seemed to be in great request.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When I first stopped, she was engaged very quietly with a fly of the domestic species, whom she managed with ease and dignity.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Never was a poor spider so distracted by her good fortune!
speciesnounUS /ˈspiːʃiz/
(biology) taxonomic group whose members can interbreed
From this reading When I first stopped, she was engaged very quietly with a fly of the domestic species, whom she managed with ease and dignity.
spidernounUS /ˈspaɪdər/
predatory arachnid with eight legs, two poison fangs, two feelers, and usually two silk-spinning organs at the back end of the body; they spin silk to make cocoons for eggs or traps for prey
From this reading I remember one morning, when a boy, loitering by an old wall to watch the operations of a garden spider whose web seemed to be in great request.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading When I first stopped, she was engaged very quietly with a fly of the domestic species, whom she managed with ease and dignity.
carry out
From this reading She evidently did not know which godsend to take first.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But just when she was most interested in that absorbing employment came a couple of May-flies, and then a gnat, and then a blue-bottle,--all at different angles of the web.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I remember one morning, when a boy, loitering by an old wall to watch the operations of a garden spider whose web seemed to be in great request.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading But just when she was most interested in that absorbing employment came a couple of May-flies, and then a gnat, and then a blue-bottle,--all at different angles of the web.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I remember one morning, when a boy, loitering by an old wall to watch the operations of a garden spider whose web seemed to be in great request.
precisely as stated
From this reading When I first stopped, she was engaged very quietly with a fly of the domestic species, whom she managed with ease and dignity.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading I remember one morning, when a boy, loitering by an old wall to watch the operations of a garden spider whose web seemed to be in great request.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When I first stopped, she was engaged very quietly with a fly of the domestic species, whom she managed with ease and dignity.
look attentively
From this reading I remember one morning, when a boy, loitering by an old wall to watch the operations of a garden spider whose web seemed to be in great request.
webnounUS /web/
an intricate network suggesting something that was formed by weaving or interweaving
From this reading I remember one morning, when a boy, loitering by an old wall to watch the operations of a garden spider whose web seemed to be in great request.
at the time that
From this reading I remember one morning, when a boy, loitering by an old wall to watch the operations of a garden spider whose web seemed to be in great request.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She evidently did not know which godsend to take first.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When I first stopped, she was engaged very quietly with a fly of the domestic species, whom she managed with ease and dignity.
belonging to which person
From this reading I remember one morning, when a boy, loitering by an old wall to watch the operations of a garden spider whose web seemed to be in great request.
in the company of; together with
From this reading When I first stopped, she was engaged very quietly with a fly of the domestic species, whom she managed with ease and dignity.
