used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "If a cat comes to yo' it's a sign of good luck," she declared.
(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 All took to their hearts the little Indian child, and felt somewhat responsible for its welfare.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It seemed to them an omen of good will, and they believed that so long as it was with them they would not be disturbed by the Indians.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading All took to their hearts the little Indian child, and felt somewhat responsible for its welfare.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading BENEATH THE SPREADING MAPLE The little community of Loyal had most things in common, as is generally the custom in pioneer settlements.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It seemed to them an omen of good will, and they believed that so long as it was with them they would not be disturbed by the Indians.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading It seemed to them an omen of good will, and they believed that so long as it was with them they would not be disturbed by the Indians.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading BENEATH THE SPREADING MAPLE The little community of Loyal had most things in common, as is generally the custom in pioneer settlements.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It seemed to them an omen of good will, and they believed that so long as it was with them they would not be disturbed by the Indians.
feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
From this reading "If a cat comes to yo' it's a sign of good luck," she declared.
a young person of either sex
From this reading All took to their hearts the little Indian child, and felt somewhat responsible for its welfare.
plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract
From this reading "If a cat comes to yo' it's a sign of good luck," she declared.
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading BENEATH THE SPREADING MAPLE The little community of Loyal had most things in common, as is generally the custom in pioneer settlements.
communitynounUS /kəˈmjuːnəti/
a group of people living in a particular local area
From this reading BENEATH THE SPREADING MAPLE The little community of Loyal had most things in common, as is generally the custom in pioneer settlements.
accepted or habitual practice
From this reading BENEATH THE SPREADING MAPLE The little community of Loyal had most things in common, as is generally the custom in pioneer settlements.
made known or openly avowed
From this reading "If a cat comes to yo' it's a sign of good luck," she declared.
having the place or position changed
From this reading It seemed to them an omen of good will, and they believed that so long as it was with them they would not be disturbed by the Indians.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading All took to their hearts the little Indian child, and felt somewhat responsible for its welfare.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Old Mammy was very strong on this point, and was the one who first suggested the idea.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading All took to their hearts the little Indian child, and felt somewhat responsible for its welfare.
usually; as a rule
From this reading BENEATH THE SPREADING MAPLE The little community of Loyal had most things in common, as is generally the custom in pioneer settlements.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading It seemed to them an omen of good will, and they believed that so long as it was with them they would not be disturbed by the Indians.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading BENEATH THE SPREADING MAPLE The little community of Loyal had most things in common, as is generally the custom in pioneer settlements.
a form of whist in which players avoid winning tricks containing hearts or the queen of spades
From this reading All took to their hearts the little Indian child, and felt somewhat responsible for its welfare.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Old Mammy was very strong on this point, and was the one who first suggested the idea.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "If a cat comes to yo' it's a sign of good luck," she declared.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading BENEATH THE SPREADING MAPLE The little community of Loyal had most things in common, as is generally the custom in pioneer settlements.
of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures
From this reading All took to their hearts the little Indian child, and felt somewhat responsible for its welfare.
plural of “indian” — a native or inhabitant of India
From this reading It seemed to them an omen of good will, and they believed that so long as it was with them they would not be disturbed by the Indians.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading BENEATH THE SPREADING MAPLE The little community of Loyal had most things in common, as is generally the custom in pioneer settlements.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It seemed to them an omen of good will, and they believed that so long as it was with them they would not be disturbed by the Indians.
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If a cat comes to yo' it's a sign of good luck," she declared.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading All took to their hearts the little Indian child, and felt somewhat responsible for its welfare.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading BENEATH THE SPREADING MAPLE The little community of Loyal had most things in common, as is generally the custom in pioneer settlements.
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 It seemed to them an omen of good will, and they believed that so long as it was with them they would not be disturbed by the Indians.
LoyaladjectiveUS /ˈlɔɪəl/
steadfast in allegiance or duty
From this reading BENEATH THE SPREADING MAPLE The little community of Loyal had most things in common, as is generally the custom in pioneer settlements.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading "If a cat comes to yo' it's a sign of good luck," she declared.
Mammynoun
an offensive term for a Black nursemaid in the southern U.S.
From this reading Old Mammy was very strong on this point, and was the one who first suggested the idea.
MAPLEnounUS /ˈmeɪpəl/
wood of any of various maple trees; especially the hard close-grained wood of the sugar maple; used especially for furniture and flooring
From this reading BENEATH THE SPREADING MAPLE The little community of Loyal had most things in common, as is generally the custom in pioneer settlements.
used to form the superlative
From this reading BENEATH THE SPREADING MAPLE The little community of Loyal had most things in common, as is generally the custom in pioneer settlements.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It seemed to them an omen of good will, and they believed that so long as it was with them they would not be disturbed by the Indians.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading BENEATH THE SPREADING MAPLE The little community of Loyal had most things in common, as is generally the custom in pioneer settlements.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Old Mammy was very strong on this point, and was the one who first suggested the idea.
omennounUS /ˈoʊmən/
a sign of something about to happen
From this reading It seemed to them an omen of good will, and they believed that so long as it was with them they would not be disturbed by the Indians.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Old Mammy was very strong on this point, and was the one who first suggested the idea.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Old Mammy was very strong on this point, and was the one who first suggested the idea.
pioneernounUS /ˌpaɪəˈnɪr/
someone who helps to open up a new line of research or technology or art
From this reading BENEATH THE SPREADING MAPLE The little community of Loyal had most things in common, as is generally the custom in pioneer settlements.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading Old Mammy was very strong on this point, and was the one who first suggested the idea.
responsibleadjectiveUS /riˈspɑːnsəbəl/
worthy of or requiring responsibility or trust; or held accountable
From this reading All took to their hearts the little Indian child, and felt somewhat responsible for its welfare.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seemed to them an omen of good will, and they believed that so long as it was with them they would not be disturbed by the Indians.
settlementsnounUS /ˈsetəlmənts/
plural of “settlement” — a body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government
From this reading BENEATH THE SPREADING MAPLE The little community of Loyal had most things in common, as is generally the custom in pioneer settlements.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "If a cat comes to yo' it's a sign of good luck," she declared.
a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading "If a cat comes to yo' it's a sign of good luck," she declared.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It seemed to them an omen of good will, and they believed that so long as it was with them they would not be disturbed by the Indians.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading All took to their hearts the little Indian child, and felt somewhat responsible for its welfare.
SPREADINGnounUS /ˈspredɪŋ/
process or result of distributing or extending over a wide expanse of space
From this reading BENEATH THE SPREADING MAPLE The little community of Loyal had most things in common, as is generally the custom in pioneer settlements.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading Old Mammy was very strong on this point, and was the one who first suggested the idea.
past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading Old Mammy was very strong on this point, and was the one who first suggested the idea.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It seemed to them an omen of good will, and they believed that so long as it was with them they would not be disturbed by the Indians.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading BENEATH THE SPREADING MAPLE The little community of Loyal had most things in common, as is generally the custom in pioneer settlements.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading All took to their hearts the little Indian child, and felt somewhat responsible for its welfare.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading It seemed to them an omen of good will, and they believed that so long as it was with them they would not be disturbed by the Indians.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It seemed to them an omen of good will, and they believed that so long as it was with them they would not be disturbed by the Indians.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading BENEATH THE SPREADING MAPLE The little community of Loyal had most things in common, as is generally the custom in pioneer settlements.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Old Mammy was very strong on this point, and was the one who first suggested the idea.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading All took to their hearts the little Indian child, and felt somewhat responsible for its welfare.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading All took to their hearts the little Indian child, and felt somewhat responsible for its welfare.
precisely as stated
From this reading Old Mammy was very strong on this point, and was the one who first suggested the idea.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It seemed to them an omen of good will, and they believed that so long as it was with them they would not be disturbed by the Indians.
welfarenounUS /ˈwelfer/
governmental provision of economic assistance to persons in need
From this reading All took to their hearts the little Indian child, and felt somewhat responsible for its welfare.
which person or people
From this reading Old Mammy was very strong on this point, and was the one who first suggested the idea.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading It seemed to them an omen of good will, and they believed that so long as it was with them they would not be disturbed by the Indians.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It seemed to them an omen of good will, and they believed that so long as it was with them they would not be disturbed by the Indians.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It seemed to them an omen of good will, and they believed that so long as it was with them they would not be disturbed by the Indians.
yo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If a cat comes to yo' it's a sign of good luck," she declared.
