used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They sought her that night and they sought her next day, They sought her in vain ‘till a week passed away; The highest, the lowest, the loneliest spot; Her neighbors sought wildly, but found her not.
(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 Miss Joe’s preparations for Christmas were all made, with the exception of the turkey and the materials for the plum-pudding.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading _—Mistletoe Bough._ Days and weeks passed on, and brought Christmas, when an event occurred of so startling and inexplicable a nature as to fill the whole neighborhood with wonder.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They sought her that night and they sought her next day, They sought her in vain ‘till a week passed away; The highest, the lowest, the loneliest spot; Her neighbors sought wildly, but found her not.
nonfictional prose forming an independent part of a publication
From this reading Now, to have a roast turkey and a plum-pudding at Christmas was Miss Joe’s eleventh commandment of the Lord and fortieth article of the Episcopal faith.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading _—Mistletoe Bough._ Days and weeks passed on, and brought Christmas, when an event occurred of so startling and inexplicable a nature as to fill the whole neighborhood with wonder.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Now, to have a roast turkey and a plum-pudding at Christmas was Miss Joe’s eleventh commandment of the Lord and fortieth article of the Episcopal faith.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading They sought her that night and they sought her next day, They sought her in vain ‘till a week passed away; The highest, the lowest, the loneliest spot; Her neighbors sought wildly, but found her not.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Miss Joe’s turkeys had all been drowned in the great flood.
BoughnounUS /baʊ/
any of the larger branches of a tree
From this reading _—Mistletoe Bough._ Days and weeks passed on, and brought Christmas, when an event occurred of so startling and inexplicable a nature as to fill the whole neighborhood with wonder.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading _—Mistletoe Bough._ Days and weeks passed on, and brought Christmas, when an event occurred of so startling and inexplicable a nature as to fill the whole neighborhood with wonder.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They sought her that night and they sought her next day, They sought her in vain ‘till a week passed away; The highest, the lowest, the loneliest spot; Her neighbors sought wildly, but found her not.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading _—Mistletoe Bough._ Days and weeks passed on, and brought Christmas, when an event occurred of so startling and inexplicable a nature as to fill the whole neighborhood with wonder.
commandmentnounUS /kəˈmændmənt/
something that is commanded
From this reading Now, to have a roast turkey and a plum-pudding at Christmas was Miss Joe’s eleventh commandment of the Lord and fortieth article of the Episcopal faith.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading They sought her that night and they sought her next day, They sought her in vain ‘till a week passed away; The highest, the lowest, the loneliest spot; Her neighbors sought wildly, but found her not.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading _—Mistletoe Bough._ Days and weeks passed on, and brought Christmas, when an event occurred of so startling and inexplicable a nature as to fill the whole neighborhood with wonder.
drownedverbUS /draʊnd/
past form of “drown” — cover completely or make imperceptible
From this reading Miss Joe’s turkeys had all been drowned in the great flood.
eleventhadjectiveUS /ɪˈlevənθ/
coming next after the tenth and just before the twelfth in position
From this reading Now, to have a roast turkey and a plum-pudding at Christmas was Miss Joe’s eleventh commandment of the Lord and fortieth article of the Episcopal faith.
EpiscopaladjectiveUS /ɪˈpɪskəpəl/
of or pertaining to or characteristic of the Episcopal church
From this reading Now, to have a roast turkey and a plum-pudding at Christmas was Miss Joe’s eleventh commandment of the Lord and fortieth article of the Episcopal faith.
something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading _—Mistletoe Bough._ Days and weeks passed on, and brought Christmas, when an event occurred of so startling and inexplicable a nature as to fill the whole neighborhood with wonder.
exceptionnounUS /ɪkˈsepʃən/
a deliberate act of omission
From this reading Miss Joe’s preparations for Christmas were all made, with the exception of the turkey and the materials for the plum-pudding.
a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny
From this reading Now, to have a roast turkey and a plum-pudding at Christmas was Miss Joe’s eleventh commandment of the Lord and fortieth article of the Episcopal faith.
make full, also in a metaphorical sense
From this reading _—Mistletoe Bough._ Days and weeks passed on, and brought Christmas, when an event occurred of so startling and inexplicable a nature as to fill the whole neighborhood with wonder.
the rising of a body of water and its overflowing onto normally dry land
From this reading Miss Joe’s turkeys had all been drowned in the great flood.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Miss Joe’s preparations for Christmas were all made, with the exception of the turkey and the materials for the plum-pudding.
fortiethnounUS /ˈfɔːrtiɪθ/
position 40 in a countable series of things
From this reading Now, to have a roast turkey and a plum-pudding at Christmas was Miss Joe’s eleventh commandment of the Lord and fortieth article of the Episcopal faith.
set up or found
From this reading They sought her that night and they sought her next day, They sought her in vain ‘till a week passed away; The highest, the lowest, the loneliest spot; Her neighbors sought wildly, but found her not.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Miss Joe’s turkeys had all been drowned in the great flood.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Miss Joe’s turkeys had all been drowned in the great flood.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Now, to have a roast turkey and a plum-pudding at Christmas was Miss Joe’s eleventh commandment of the Lord and fortieth article of the Episcopal faith.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading They sought her that night and they sought her next day, They sought her in vain ‘till a week passed away; The highest, the lowest, the loneliest spot; Her neighbors sought wildly, but found her not.
superlative of “high” — greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading They sought her that night and they sought her next day, They sought her in vain ‘till a week passed away; The highest, the lowest, the loneliest spot; Her neighbors sought wildly, but found her not.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They sought her that night and they sought her next day, They sought her in vain ‘till a week passed away; The highest, the lowest, the loneliest spot; Her neighbors sought wildly, but found her not.
inexplicableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnəkˈsplɪsəbəl/
incapable of being explained or accounted for
From this reading _—Mistletoe Bough._ Days and weeks passed on, and brought Christmas, when an event occurred of so startling and inexplicable a nature as to fill the whole neighborhood with wonder.
Joe's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Joe’s preparations for Christmas were all made, with the exception of the turkey and the materials for the plum-pudding.
loneliest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They sought her that night and they sought her next day, They sought her in vain ‘till a week passed away; The highest, the lowest, the loneliest spot; Her neighbors sought wildly, but found her not.
terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading Now, to have a roast turkey and a plum-pudding at Christmas was Miss Joe’s eleventh commandment of the Lord and fortieth article of the Episcopal faith.
lowestadjectiveUS /ˈloʊəst/
lowest in rank or importance
From this reading They sought her that night and they sought her next day, They sought her in vain ‘till a week passed away; The highest, the lowest, the loneliest spot; Her neighbors sought wildly, but found her not.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Miss Joe’s preparations for Christmas were all made, with the exception of the turkey and the materials for the plum-pudding.
materialsnounUS /məˈtɪriəlz/
plural of “material” — the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object
From this reading Miss Joe’s preparations for Christmas were all made, with the exception of the turkey and the materials for the plum-pudding.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Miss Joe’s preparations for Christmas were all made, with the exception of the turkey and the materials for the plum-pudding.
MistletoenounUS /ˈmɪsəltoʊ/
American plants closely resembling Old World mistletoe
From this reading _—Mistletoe Bough._ Days and weeks passed on, and brought Christmas, when an event occurred of so startling and inexplicable a nature as to fill the whole neighborhood with wonder.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading _—Mistletoe Bough._ Days and weeks passed on, and brought Christmas, when an event occurred of so startling and inexplicable a nature as to fill the whole neighborhood with wonder.
neighborhoodnounUS /ˈneɪbərhʊd/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading _—Mistletoe Bough._ Days and weeks passed on, and brought Christmas, when an event occurred of so startling and inexplicable a nature as to fill the whole neighborhood with wonder.
neighborsnounUS /ˈneɪbərz/
plural of “neighbor” — a person who lives (or is located) near another
From this reading They sought her that night and they sought her next day, They sought her in vain ‘till a week passed away; The highest, the lowest, the loneliest spot; Her neighbors sought wildly, but found her not.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading They sought her that night and they sought her next day, They sought her in vain ‘till a week passed away; The highest, the lowest, the loneliest spot; Her neighbors sought wildly, but found her not.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading They sought her that night and they sought her next day, They sought her in vain ‘till a week passed away; The highest, the lowest, the loneliest spot; Her neighbors sought wildly, but found her not.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They sought her that night and they sought her next day, They sought her in vain ‘till a week passed away; The highest, the lowest, the loneliest spot; Her neighbors sought wildly, but found her not.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now, to have a roast turkey and a plum-pudding at Christmas was Miss Joe’s eleventh commandment of the Lord and fortieth article of the Episcopal faith.
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading _—Mistletoe Bough._ Days and weeks passed on, and brought Christmas, when an event occurred of so startling and inexplicable a nature as to fill the whole neighborhood with wonder.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _—Mistletoe Bough._ Days and weeks passed on, and brought Christmas, when an event occurred of so startling and inexplicable a nature as to fill the whole neighborhood with wonder.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading _—Mistletoe Bough._ Days and weeks passed on, and brought Christmas, when an event occurred of so startling and inexplicable a nature as to fill the whole neighborhood with wonder.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading They sought her that night and they sought her next day, They sought her in vain ‘till a week passed away; The highest, the lowest, the loneliest spot; Her neighbors sought wildly, but found her not.
plum-pudding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Joe’s preparations for Christmas were all made, with the exception of the turkey and the materials for the plum-pudding.
preparationsnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “preparation” — the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
From this reading Miss Joe’s preparations for Christmas were all made, with the exception of the turkey and the materials for the plum-pudding.
roastverbUS /roʊst/
cook with dry heat, usually in an oven
From this reading Now, to have a roast turkey and a plum-pudding at Christmas was Miss Joe’s eleventh commandment of the Lord and fortieth article of the Episcopal faith.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading _—Mistletoe Bough._ Days and weeks passed on, and brought Christmas, when an event occurred of so startling and inexplicable a nature as to fill the whole neighborhood with wonder.
that is looked for
From this reading They sought her that night and they sought her next day, They sought her in vain ‘till a week passed away; The highest, the lowest, the loneliest spot; Her neighbors sought wildly, but found her not.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading They sought her that night and they sought her next day, They sought her in vain ‘till a week passed away; The highest, the lowest, the loneliest spot; Her neighbors sought wildly, but found her not.
startlingadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading _—Mistletoe Bough._ Days and weeks passed on, and brought Christmas, when an event occurred of so startling and inexplicable a nature as to fill the whole neighborhood with wonder.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They sought her that night and they sought her next day, They sought her in vain ‘till a week passed away; The highest, the lowest, the loneliest spot; Her neighbors sought wildly, but found her not.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They sought her that night and they sought her next day, They sought her in vain ‘till a week passed away; The highest, the lowest, the loneliest spot; Her neighbors sought wildly, but found her not.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They sought her that night and they sought her next day, They sought her in vain ‘till a week passed away; The highest, the lowest, the loneliest spot; Her neighbors sought wildly, but found her not.
up to a particular time
From this reading They sought her that night and they sought her next day, They sought her in vain ‘till a week passed away; The highest, the lowest, the loneliest spot; Her neighbors sought wildly, but found her not.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _—Mistletoe Bough._ Days and weeks passed on, and brought Christmas, when an event occurred of so startling and inexplicable a nature as to fill the whole neighborhood with wonder.
turkeynounUS /ˈtɜːrki/
large gallinaceous bird with fan-shaped tail; widely domesticated for food
From this reading Miss Joe’s preparations for Christmas were all made, with the exception of the turkey and the materials for the plum-pudding.
turkeysnounUS /ˈtɜːrkiz/
plural of “turkey” — large gallinaceous bird with fan-shaped tail; widely domesticated for food
From this reading Miss Joe’s turkeys had all been drowned in the great flood.
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading They sought her that night and they sought her next day, They sought her in vain ‘till a week passed away; The highest, the lowest, the loneliest spot; Her neighbors sought wildly, but found her not.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Now, to have a roast turkey and a plum-pudding at Christmas was Miss Joe’s eleventh commandment of the Lord and fortieth article of the Episcopal faith.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading They sought her that night and they sought her next day, They sought her in vain ‘till a week passed away; The highest, the lowest, the loneliest spot; Her neighbors sought wildly, but found her not.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading _—Mistletoe Bough._ Days and weeks passed on, and brought Christmas, when an event occurred of so startling and inexplicable a nature as to fill the whole neighborhood with wonder.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Miss Joe’s preparations for Christmas were all made, with the exception of the turkey and the materials for the plum-pudding.
at the time that
From this reading _—Mistletoe Bough._ Days and weeks passed on, and brought Christmas, when an event occurred of so startling and inexplicable a nature as to fill the whole neighborhood with wonder.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading _—Mistletoe Bough._ Days and weeks passed on, and brought Christmas, when an event occurred of so startling and inexplicable a nature as to fill the whole neighborhood with wonder.
wildlyadverbUS /ˈwaɪldli/
to an extreme or greatly exaggerated degree
From this reading They sought her that night and they sought her next day, They sought her in vain ‘till a week passed away; The highest, the lowest, the loneliest spot; Her neighbors sought wildly, but found her not.
in the company of; together with
From this reading _—Mistletoe Bough._ Days and weeks passed on, and brought Christmas, when an event occurred of so startling and inexplicable a nature as to fill the whole neighborhood with wonder.
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading _—Mistletoe Bough._ Days and weeks passed on, and brought Christmas, when an event occurred of so startling and inexplicable a nature as to fill the whole neighborhood with wonder.
