used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE PRAYER STICK Bah was making a prayer stick.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The prayer stick is an old custom among the Indians, and every Indian child knows about it.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading The prayer stick is an old custom among the Indians, and every Indian child knows about it.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The prayer stick is an old custom among the Indians, and every Indian child knows about it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The prayer stick is an old custom among the Indians, and every Indian child knows about it.
any thing at all
From this reading But Bah had never wanted anything badly enough to try the charm.
to a severe or serious degree
From this reading But Bah had never wanted anything badly enough to try the charm.
Bah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PRAYER STICK Bah was making a prayer stick.
a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading She took the branch of a tree, a straight branch which she cleaned, and then she took the feather of an eagle.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Bah had never wanted anything badly enough to try the charm.
attractiveness that interests or pleases or stimulates
From this reading But Bah had never wanted anything badly enough to try the charm.
a young person of either sex
From this reading The prayer stick is an old custom among the Indians, and every Indian child knows about it.
cleanedverbUS /kliːnd/
past form of “clean” — make clean by removing dirt, filth, or unwanted substances from
From this reading She took the branch of a tree, a straight branch which she cleaned, and then she took the feather of an eagle.
accepted or habitual practice
From this reading The prayer stick is an old custom among the Indians, and every Indian child knows about it.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Now, it was the only thing left for her to do.
eaglenounUS /ˈiːɡəl/
any of various large keen-sighted diurnal birds of prey noted for their broad wings and strong soaring flight
From this reading She took the branch of a tree, a straight branch which she cleaned, and then she took the feather of an eagle.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading But Bah had never wanted anything badly enough to try the charm.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading The prayer stick is an old custom among the Indians, and every Indian child knows about it.
featherverbUS /ˈfeðər/
join tongue and groove, in carpentry
From this reading She took the branch of a tree, a straight branch which she cleaned, and then she took the feather of an eagle.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Now, it was the only thing left for her to do.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But Bah had never wanted anything badly enough to try the charm.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Now, it was the only thing left for her to do.
of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures
From this reading The prayer stick is an old custom among the Indians, and every Indian child knows about it.
plural of “indian” — a native or inhabitant of India
From this reading The prayer stick is an old custom among the Indians, and every Indian child knows about it.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The prayer stick is an old custom among the Indians, and every Indian child knows about it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The prayer stick is an old custom among the Indians, and every Indian child knows about it.
plural of “know” — the fact of being aware of information that is known to few people
From this reading The prayer stick is an old custom among the Indians, and every Indian child knows about it.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Now, it was the only thing left for her to do.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading THE PRAYER STICK Bah was making a prayer stick.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading But Bah had never wanted anything badly enough to try the charm.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now, it was the only thing left for her to do.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She took the branch of a tree, a straight branch which she cleaned, and then she took the feather of an eagle.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The prayer stick is an old custom among the Indians, and every Indian child knows about it.
and nothing more
From this reading Now, it was the only thing left for her to do.
the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving)
From this reading THE PRAYER STICK Bah was making a prayer stick.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She took the branch of a tree, a straight branch which she cleaned, and then she took the feather of an eagle.
put, fix, force, or implant
From this reading THE PRAYER STICK Bah was making a prayer stick.
successive (without a break)
From this reading She took the branch of a tree, a straight branch which she cleaned, and then she took the feather of an eagle.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PRAYER STICK Bah was making a prayer stick.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading She took the branch of a tree, a straight branch which she cleaned, and then she took the feather of an eagle.
a special situation
From this reading Now, it was the only thing left for her to do.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But Bah had never wanted anything badly enough to try the charm.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading She took the branch of a tree, a straight branch which she cleaned, and then she took the feather of an eagle.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading She took the branch of a tree, a straight branch which she cleaned, and then she took the feather of an eagle.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading But Bah had never wanted anything badly enough to try the charm.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading But Bah had never wanted anything badly enough to try the charm.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE PRAYER STICK Bah was making a prayer stick.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She took the branch of a tree, a straight branch which she cleaned, and then she took the feather of an eagle.
