used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Never, since their earliest years of understanding, had she failed to assemble them together for a few minutes’ reading, morning and evening.
how long something has existed
From this reading She would take Hamish, a little fellow of three years old, upon her knee, read to him a short Bible story, suited to his age, and then talk to him.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Not for too long at once; she knew the value of _not tiring_ young children, when she was leading them to feel an interest in sacred things.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Breakfast was over, and she had the Bible open before her.
assembleverbUS /əˈsembəl/
create by putting components or members together
From this reading Never, since their earliest years of understanding, had she failed to assemble them together for a few minutes’ reading, morning and evening.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Not for too long at once; she knew the value of _not tiring_ young children, when she was leading them to feel an interest in sacred things.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Breakfast was over, and she had the Bible open before her.
the sacred writings of the Christian religions
From this reading Breakfast was over, and she had the Bible open before her.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading Breakfast was over, and she had the Bible open before her.
Channing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Channing sat with her children.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading Mrs. Channing sat with her children.
earliestadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrliəst/
(comparative and superlative of “early”) more early than; most early
From this reading Never, since their earliest years of understanding, had she failed to assemble them together for a few minutes’ reading, morning and evening.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Never, since their earliest years of understanding, had she failed to assemble them together for a few minutes’ reading, morning and evening.
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading Never, since their earliest years of understanding, had she failed to assemble them together for a few minutes’ reading, morning and evening.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading Not for too long at once; she knew the value of _not tiring_ young children, when she was leading them to feel an interest in sacred things.
a boy or man
From this reading She would take Hamish, a little fellow of three years old, upon her knee, read to him a short Bible story, suited to his age, and then talk to him.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Never, since their earliest years of understanding, had she failed to assemble them together for a few minutes’ reading, morning and evening.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Never, since their earliest years of understanding, had she failed to assemble them together for a few minutes’ reading, morning and evening.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Breakfast was over, and she had the Bible open before her.
Hamish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would take Hamish, a little fellow of three years old, upon her knee, read to him a short Bible story, suited to his age, and then talk to him.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Channing sat with her children.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She would take Hamish, a little fellow of three years old, upon her knee, read to him a short Bible story, suited to his age, and then talk to him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She would take Hamish, a little fellow of three years old, upon her knee, read to him a short Bible story, suited to his age, and then talk to him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Not for too long at once; she knew the value of _not tiring_ young children, when she was leading them to feel an interest in sacred things.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading Not for too long at once; she knew the value of _not tiring_ young children, when she was leading them to feel an interest in sacred things.
hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading She would take Hamish, a little fellow of three years old, upon her knee, read to him a short Bible story, suited to his age, and then talk to him.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Not for too long at once; she knew the value of _not tiring_ young children, when she was leading them to feel an interest in sacred things.
indicating the most important performer or role
From this reading Not for too long at once; she knew the value of _not tiring_ young children, when she was leading them to feel an interest in sacred things.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She would take Hamish, a little fellow of three years old, upon her knee, read to him a short Bible story, suited to his age, and then talk to him.
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 Not for too long at once; she knew the value of _not tiring_ young children, when she was leading them to feel an interest in sacred things.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading Never, since their earliest years of understanding, had she failed to assemble them together for a few minutes’ reading, morning and evening.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Never, since their earliest years of understanding, had she failed to assemble them together for a few minutes’ reading, morning and evening.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Channing sat with her children.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Never, since their earliest years of understanding, had she failed to assemble them together for a few minutes’ reading, morning and evening.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not for too long at once; she knew the value of _not tiring_ young children, when she was leading them to feel an interest in sacred things.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Never, since their earliest years of understanding, had she failed to assemble them together for a few minutes’ reading, morning and evening.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading She would take Hamish, a little fellow of three years old, upon her knee, read to him a short Bible story, suited to his age, and then talk to him.
on one occasion
From this reading Not for too long at once; she knew the value of _not tiring_ young children, when she was leading them to feel an interest in sacred things.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Breakfast was over, and she had the Bible open before her.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Breakfast was over, and she had the Bible open before her.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading She would take Hamish, a little fellow of three years old, upon her knee, read to him a short Bible story, suited to his age, and then talk to him.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading Never, since their earliest years of understanding, had she failed to assemble them together for a few minutes’ reading, morning and evening.
concerned with religion or religious purposes
From this reading Not for too long at once; she knew the value of _not tiring_ young children, when she was leading them to feel an interest in sacred things.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Mrs. Channing sat with her children.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Breakfast was over, and she had the Bible open before her.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading She would take Hamish, a little fellow of three years old, upon her knee, read to him a short Bible story, suited to his age, and then talk to him.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Never, since their earliest years of understanding, had she failed to assemble them together for a few minutes’ reading, morning and evening.
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 She would take Hamish, a little fellow of three years old, upon her knee, read to him a short Bible story, suited to his age, and then talk to him.
suitedadjectiveUS /ˈsuːtɪd/
meant or adapted for an occasion or use
From this reading She would take Hamish, a little fellow of three years old, upon her knee, read to him a short Bible story, suited to his age, and then talk to him.
carry out
From this reading She would take Hamish, a little fellow of three years old, upon her knee, read to him a short Bible story, suited to his age, and then talk to him.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading She would take Hamish, a little fellow of three years old, upon her knee, read to him a short Bible story, suited to his age, and then talk to him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Breakfast was over, and she had the Bible open before her.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Never, since their earliest years of understanding, had she failed to assemble them together for a few minutes’ reading, morning and evening.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Never, since their earliest years of understanding, had she failed to assemble them together for a few minutes’ reading, morning and evening.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading She would take Hamish, a little fellow of three years old, upon her knee, read to him a short Bible story, suited to his age, and then talk to him.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading Not for too long at once; she knew the value of _not tiring_ young children, when she was leading them to feel an interest in sacred things.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading She would take Hamish, a little fellow of three years old, upon her knee, read to him a short Bible story, suited to his age, and then talk to him.
tiringadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪrɪŋ/
producing exhaustion
From this reading Not for too long at once; she knew the value of _not tiring_ young children, when she was leading them to feel an interest in sacred things.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Never, since their earliest years of understanding, had she failed to assemble them together for a few minutes’ reading, morning and evening.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading Never, since their earliest years of understanding, had she failed to assemble them together for a few minutes’ reading, morning and evening.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Not for too long at once; she knew the value of _not tiring_ young children, when she was leading them to feel an interest in sacred things.
the cognitive condition of someone who understands
From this reading Never, since their earliest years of understanding, had she failed to assemble them together for a few minutes’ reading, morning and evening.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading She would take Hamish, a little fellow of three years old, upon her knee, read to him a short Bible story, suited to his age, and then talk to him.
a numerical quantity measured or assigned or computed
From this reading Not for too long at once; she knew the value of _not tiring_ young children, when she was leading them to feel an interest in sacred things.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Breakfast was over, and she had the Bible open before her.
at the time that
From this reading Not for too long at once; she knew the value of _not tiring_ young children, when she was leading them to feel an interest in sacred things.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Mrs. Channing sat with her children.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She would take Hamish, a little fellow of three years old, upon her knee, read to him a short Bible story, suited to his age, and then talk to him.
a late time of life
From this reading Never, since their earliest years of understanding, had she failed to assemble them together for a few minutes’ reading, morning and evening.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Not for too long at once; she knew the value of _not tiring_ young children, when she was leading them to feel an interest in sacred things.
