used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She and Mother sat one afternoon in the cool sewing-room as Betsey passed the door lugging a pail of soapsuds.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading She and Mother sat one afternoon in the cool sewing-room as Betsey passed the door lugging a pail of soapsuds.
the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising
From this reading “What on earth is Betsey doing with that _pail_?” asked Cousin Margaret in amazement.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She and Mother sat one afternoon in the cool sewing-room as Betsey passed the door lugging a pail of soapsuds.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “Betsey, what are you up to?
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She and Mother sat one afternoon in the cool sewing-room as Betsey passed the door lugging a pail of soapsuds.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “What on earth is Betsey doing with that _pail_?” asked Cousin Margaret in amazement.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading “Just so,” replied Betsey, coming back slowly and setting her steaming pail on the floor.
Betsey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What on earth is Betsey doing with that _pail_?” asked Cousin Margaret in amazement.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Cleaning house?” she called, laughing.
CleaningnounUS /ˈkliːnɪŋ/
the act of making something clean
From this reading Cleaning house?” she called, laughing.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading “Just so,” replied Betsey, coming back slowly and setting her steaming pail on the floor.
neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat
From this reading She and Mother sat one afternoon in the cool sewing-room as Betsey passed the door lugging a pail of soapsuds.
the child of your aunt or uncle
From this reading “What on earth is Betsey doing with that _pail_?” asked Cousin Margaret in amazement.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading “What on earth is Betsey doing with that _pail_?” asked Cousin Margaret in amazement.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading She and Mother sat one afternoon in the cool sewing-room as Betsey passed the door lugging a pail of soapsuds.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading “What on earth is Betsey doing with that _pail_?” asked Cousin Margaret in amazement.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading “Just so,” replied Betsey, coming back slowly and setting her steaming pail on the floor.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “Just so,” replied Betsey, coming back slowly and setting her steaming pail on the floor.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Cleaning house?” she called, laughing.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “What on earth is Betsey doing with that _pail_?” asked Cousin Margaret in amazement.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “What on earth is Betsey doing with that _pail_?” asked Cousin Margaret in amazement.
and nothing more
From this reading “Just so,” replied Betsey, coming back slowly and setting her steaming pail on the floor.
showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness
From this reading Cleaning house?” she called, laughing.
luggingverbUS /ˈlʌɡɪŋ/
inflected form of “lug” — carry with difficulty
From this reading She and Mother sat one afternoon in the cool sewing-room as Betsey passed the door lugging a pail of soapsuds.
Margaret
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What on earth is Betsey doing with that _pail_?” asked Cousin Margaret in amazement.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading She and Mother sat one afternoon in the cool sewing-room as Betsey passed the door lugging a pail of soapsuds.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She and Mother sat one afternoon in the cool sewing-room as Betsey passed the door lugging a pail of soapsuds.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “What on earth is Betsey doing with that _pail_?” asked Cousin Margaret in amazement.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She and Mother sat one afternoon in the cool sewing-room as Betsey passed the door lugging a pail of soapsuds.
pailnounUS /peɪl/
a roughly cylindrical vessel that is open at the top
From this reading “What on earth is Betsey doing with that _pail_?” asked Cousin Margaret in amazement.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading She and Mother sat one afternoon in the cool sewing-room as Betsey passed the door lugging a pail of soapsuds.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading “Just so,” replied Betsey, coming back slowly and setting her steaming pail on the floor.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading She and Mother sat one afternoon in the cool sewing-room as Betsey passed the door lugging a pail of soapsuds.
the context and environment in which something is set
From this reading “Just so,” replied Betsey, coming back slowly and setting her steaming pail on the floor.
sewing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She and Mother sat one afternoon in the cool sewing-room as Betsey passed the door lugging a pail of soapsuds.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She and Mother sat one afternoon in the cool sewing-room as Betsey passed the door lugging a pail of soapsuds.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading “Just so,” replied Betsey, coming back slowly and setting her steaming pail on the floor.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “Just so,” replied Betsey, coming back slowly and setting her steaming pail on the floor.
soapsudsnoun
the froth produced by soaps or detergents
From this reading She and Mother sat one afternoon in the cool sewing-room as Betsey passed the door lugging a pail of soapsuds.
steamingadjectiveUS /ˈstiːmɪŋ/
filled with steam or emitting moisture in the form of vapor or mist
From this reading “Just so,” replied Betsey, coming back slowly and setting her steaming pail on the floor.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “What on earth is Betsey doing with that _pail_?” asked Cousin Margaret in amazement.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She and Mother sat one afternoon in the cool sewing-room as Betsey passed the door lugging a pail of soapsuds.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Betsey, what are you up to?
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading “Betsey, what are you up to?
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “What on earth is Betsey doing with that _pail_?” asked Cousin Margaret in amazement.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “What on earth is Betsey doing with that _pail_?” asked Cousin Margaret in amazement.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Betsey, what are you up to?
