used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “I thought it would brighten up the house so, to have a child in it again!” sighed the Mistress as she and her husband discussed the matter, uselessly, for the fiftieth time, after one of these scenes.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading “I thought it would brighten up the house so, to have a child in it again!” sighed the Mistress as she and her husband discussed the matter, uselessly, for the fiftieth time, after one of these scenes.
anew
From this reading “I thought it would brighten up the house so, to have a child in it again!” sighed the Mistress as she and her husband discussed the matter, uselessly, for the fiftieth time, after one of these scenes.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “If I could devote five busy minutes a day to him,” grunted the Master, “with an axe-handle or perhaps a balestick—” “You wouldn’t do it!” denied his wife.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “I thought it would brighten up the house so, to have a child in it again!” sighed the Mistress as she and her husband discussed the matter, uselessly, for the fiftieth time, after one of these scenes.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading But he’s—oh, he isn’t like any child I ever heard of before!”
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “I thought it would brighten up the house so, to have a child in it again!” sighed the Mistress as she and her husband discussed the matter, uselessly, for the fiftieth time, after one of these scenes.
axe-handle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If I could devote five busy minutes a day to him,” grunted the Master, “with an axe-handle or perhaps a balestick—” “You wouldn’t do it!” denied his wife.
balestick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If I could devote five busy minutes a day to him,” grunted the Master, “with an axe-handle or perhaps a balestick—” “You wouldn’t do it!” denied his wife.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading But he’s—oh, he isn’t like any child I ever heard of before!”
brightenverbUS /ˈbraɪtən/
make more cheerful through the use of color
From this reading “I thought it would brighten up the house so, to have a child in it again!” sighed the Mistress as she and her husband discussed the matter, uselessly, for the fiftieth time, after one of these scenes.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading “If I could devote five busy minutes a day to him,” grunted the Master, “with an axe-handle or perhaps a balestick—” “You wouldn’t do it!” denied his wife.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But he’s—oh, he isn’t like any child I ever heard of before!”
a young person of either sex
From this reading “I thought it would brighten up the house so, to have a child in it again!” sighed the Mistress as she and her husband discussed the matter, uselessly, for the fiftieth time, after one of these scenes.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading “I looked forward so much to his coming here!
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “If I could devote five busy minutes a day to him,” grunted the Master, “with an axe-handle or perhaps a balestick—” “You wouldn’t do it!” denied his wife.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading “If I could devote five busy minutes a day to him,” grunted the Master, “with an axe-handle or perhaps a balestick—” “You wouldn’t do it!” denied his wife.
deniedverbUS /dɪˈnaɪd/
inflected form of “deny” — declare untrue; contradict
From this reading “If I could devote five busy minutes a day to him,” grunted the Master, “with an axe-handle or perhaps a balestick—” “You wouldn’t do it!” denied his wife.
devoteverbUS /dɪˈvoʊt/
give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause
From this reading “If I could devote five busy minutes a day to him,” grunted the Master, “with an axe-handle or perhaps a balestick—” “You wouldn’t do it!” denied his wife.
discussedverbUS /dɪˈskʌst/
past form of “discuss” — to consider or examine in speech or writing
From this reading “I thought it would brighten up the house so, to have a child in it again!” sighed the Mistress as she and her husband discussed the matter, uselessly, for the fiftieth time, after one of these scenes.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “If I could devote five busy minutes a day to him,” grunted the Master, “with an axe-handle or perhaps a balestick—” “You wouldn’t do it!” denied his wife.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “You wouldn’t harm him; any more than Lad does.
at any time
From this reading But he’s—oh, he isn’t like any child I ever heard of before!”
fiftiethadjectiveUS /ˈfɪftiɪθ/
the ordinal number of fifty in counting order
From this reading “I thought it would brighten up the house so, to have a child in it again!” sighed the Mistress as she and her husband discussed the matter, uselessly, for the fiftieth time, after one of these scenes.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading “If I could devote five busy minutes a day to him,” grunted the Master, “with an axe-handle or perhaps a balestick—” “You wouldn’t do it!” denied his wife.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “I thought it would brighten up the house so, to have a child in it again!” sighed the Mistress as she and her husband discussed the matter, uselessly, for the fiftieth time, after one of these scenes.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading “I looked forward so much to his coming here!
gruntedverbUS /ˈɡrʌntɪd/
past form of “grunt” — issue a grunting, low, animal-like noise
From this reading “If I could devote five busy minutes a day to him,” grunted the Master, “with an axe-handle or perhaps a balestick—” “You wouldn’t do it!” denied his wife.
any physical damage to the body caused by violence or accident or fracture etc.
From this reading “You wouldn’t harm him; any more than Lad does.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “I thought it would brighten up the house so, to have a child in it again!” sighed the Mistress as she and her husband discussed the matter, uselessly, for the fiftieth time, after one of these scenes.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But he’s—oh, he isn’t like any child I ever heard of before!”
he's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he’s—oh, he isn’t like any child I ever heard of before!”
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading But he’s—oh, he isn’t like any child I ever heard of before!”
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “I thought it would brighten up the house so, to have a child in it again!” sighed the Mistress as she and her husband discussed the matter, uselessly, for the fiftieth time, after one of these scenes.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading “I looked forward so much to his coming here!
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “If I could devote five busy minutes a day to him,” grunted the Master, “with an axe-handle or perhaps a balestick—” “You wouldn’t do it!” denied his wife.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “I looked forward so much to his coming here!
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading “I thought it would brighten up the house so, to have a child in it again!” sighed the Mistress as she and her husband discussed the matter, uselessly, for the fiftieth time, after one of these scenes.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading “I thought it would brighten up the house so, to have a child in it again!” sighed the Mistress as she and her husband discussed the matter, uselessly, for the fiftieth time, after one of these scenes.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I thought it would brighten up the house so, to have a child in it again!” sighed the Mistress as she and her husband discussed the matter, uselessly, for the fiftieth time, after one of these scenes.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “If I could devote five busy minutes a day to him,” grunted the Master, “with an axe-handle or perhaps a balestick—” “You wouldn’t do it!” denied his wife.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “I thought it would brighten up the house so, to have a child in it again!” sighed the Mistress as she and her husband discussed the matter, uselessly, for the fiftieth time, after one of these scenes.
isn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he’s—oh, he isn’t like any child I ever heard of before!”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “I thought it would brighten up the house so, to have a child in it again!” sighed the Mistress as she and her husband discussed the matter, uselessly, for the fiftieth time, after one of these scenes.
a boy or man
From this reading “You wouldn’t harm him; any more than Lad does.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading But he’s—oh, he isn’t like any child I ever heard of before!”
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading “I looked forward so much to his coming here!
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading “If I could devote five busy minutes a day to him,” grunted the Master, “with an axe-handle or perhaps a balestick—” “You wouldn’t do it!” denied his wife.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading “I thought it would brighten up the house so, to have a child in it again!” sighed the Mistress as she and her husband discussed the matter, uselessly, for the fiftieth time, after one of these scenes.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading “If I could devote five busy minutes a day to him,” grunted the Master, “with an axe-handle or perhaps a balestick—” “You wouldn’t do it!” denied his wife.
an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
From this reading “I thought it would brighten up the house so, to have a child in it again!” sighed the Mistress as she and her husband discussed the matter, uselessly, for the fiftieth time, after one of these scenes.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading “You wouldn’t harm him; any more than Lad does.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading “I looked forward so much to his coming here!
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “I thought it would brighten up the house so, to have a child in it again!” sighed the Mistress as she and her husband discussed the matter, uselessly, for the fiftieth time, after one of these scenes.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading But he’s—oh, he isn’t like any child I ever heard of before!”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “I thought it would brighten up the house so, to have a child in it again!” sighed the Mistress as she and her husband discussed the matter, uselessly, for the fiftieth time, after one of these scenes.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading “If I could devote five busy minutes a day to him,” grunted the Master, “with an axe-handle or perhaps a balestick—” “You wouldn’t do it!” denied his wife.
by chance
From this reading “If I could devote five busy minutes a day to him,” grunted the Master, “with an axe-handle or perhaps a balestick—” “You wouldn’t do it!” denied his wife.
plural of “scene” — the place where some action occurs
From this reading “I thought it would brighten up the house so, to have a child in it again!” sighed the Mistress as she and her husband discussed the matter, uselessly, for the fiftieth time, after one of these scenes.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “I thought it would brighten up the house so, to have a child in it again!” sighed the Mistress as she and her husband discussed the matter, uselessly, for the fiftieth time, after one of these scenes.
past form of “sigh” — heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading “I thought it would brighten up the house so, to have a child in it again!” sighed the Mistress as she and her husband discussed the matter, uselessly, for the fiftieth time, after one of these scenes.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “I thought it would brighten up the house so, to have a child in it again!” sighed the Mistress as she and her husband discussed the matter, uselessly, for the fiftieth time, after one of these scenes.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading “You wouldn’t harm him; any more than Lad does.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “I thought it would brighten up the house so, to have a child in it again!” sighed the Mistress as she and her husband discussed the matter, uselessly, for the fiftieth time, after one of these scenes.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading “I thought it would brighten up the house so, to have a child in it again!” sighed the Mistress as she and her husband discussed the matter, uselessly, for the fiftieth time, after one of these scenes.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading “I thought it would brighten up the house so, to have a child in it again!” sighed the Mistress as she and her husband discussed the matter, uselessly, for the fiftieth time, after one of these scenes.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading “I thought it would brighten up the house so, to have a child in it again!” sighed the Mistress as she and her husband discussed the matter, uselessly, for the fiftieth time, after one of these scenes.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “I thought it would brighten up the house so, to have a child in it again!” sighed the Mistress as she and her husband discussed the matter, uselessly, for the fiftieth time, after one of these scenes.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading “I thought it would brighten up the house so, to have a child in it again!” sighed the Mistress as she and her husband discussed the matter, uselessly, for the fiftieth time, after one of these scenes.
uselesslyadverb
in a useless manner
From this reading “I thought it would brighten up the house so, to have a child in it again!” sighed the Mistress as she and her husband discussed the matter, uselessly, for the fiftieth time, after one of these scenes.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading “If I could devote five busy minutes a day to him,” grunted the Master, “with an axe-handle or perhaps a balestick—” “You wouldn’t do it!” denied his wife.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “If I could devote five busy minutes a day to him,” grunted the Master, “with an axe-handle or perhaps a balestick—” “You wouldn’t do it!” denied his wife.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “I thought it would brighten up the house so, to have a child in it again!” sighed the Mistress as she and her husband discussed the matter, uselessly, for the fiftieth time, after one of these scenes.
wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If I could devote five busy minutes a day to him,” grunted the Master, “with an axe-handle or perhaps a balestick—” “You wouldn’t do it!” denied his wife.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “If I could devote five busy minutes a day to him,” grunted the Master, “with an axe-handle or perhaps a balestick—” “You wouldn’t do it!” denied his wife.
