used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Early the next morning, long before Pepper was awake, Tom got up, washed his face and hands in the old cracked hand-basin in one corner of the room, laid a small fire in the grate, and put some matches near it, ready for Pepper to strike when he chose to rise.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Early the next morning, long before Pepper was awake, Tom got up, washed his face and hands in the old cracked hand-basin in one corner of the room, laid a small fire in the grate, and put some matches near it, ready for Pepper to strike when he chose to rise.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading TOM AT WORK.
awakeadjectiveUS /əˈweɪk/
not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
From this reading Early the next morning, long before Pepper was awake, Tom got up, washed his face and hands in the old cracked hand-basin in one corner of the room, laid a small fire in the grate, and put some matches near it, ready for Pepper to strike when he chose to rise.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Early the next morning, long before Pepper was awake, Tom got up, washed his face and hands in the old cracked hand-basin in one corner of the room, laid a small fire in the grate, and put some matches near it, ready for Pepper to strike when he chose to rise.
broomnounUS /bruːm/
a cleaning implement for sweeping; bundle of straws or twigs attached to a long handle
From this reading Then, with a nod of farewell at the sleeping Pepper, and a pat of Trusty's head, he shouldered his broom and ran downstairs.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The pence he laid on the three-legged stool, by the side of the matches, the halfpenny he put for safety into his mouth.
inflected form of “choose” — pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading Early the next morning, long before Pepper was awake, Tom got up, washed his face and hands in the old cracked hand-basin in one corner of the room, laid a small fire in the grate, and put some matches near it, ready for Pepper to strike when he chose to rise.
having come or been brought to a conclusion
From this reading These preparations concluded, he thrust his hands into his ragged trousers pocket and pulled from thence twopence and a halfpenny.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading Early the next morning, long before Pepper was awake, Tom got up, washed his face and hands in the old cracked hand-basin in one corner of the room, laid a small fire in the grate, and put some matches near it, ready for Pepper to strike when he chose to rise.
crackedadjectiveUS /krækt/
used of skin roughened as a result of cold or exposure
From this reading Early the next morning, long before Pepper was awake, Tom got up, washed his face and hands in the old cracked hand-basin in one corner of the room, laid a small fire in the grate, and put some matches near it, ready for Pepper to strike when he chose to rise.
downstairsadverbUS /ˈdaʊnˈsterz/
on a floor below
From this reading Then, with a nod of farewell at the sleeping Pepper, and a pat of Trusty's head, he shouldered his broom and ran downstairs.
EarlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading Early the next morning, long before Pepper was awake, Tom got up, washed his face and hands in the old cracked hand-basin in one corner of the room, laid a small fire in the grate, and put some matches near it, ready for Pepper to strike when he chose to rise.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Early the next morning, long before Pepper was awake, Tom got up, washed his face and hands in the old cracked hand-basin in one corner of the room, laid a small fire in the grate, and put some matches near it, ready for Pepper to strike when he chose to rise.
an acknowledgment or expression of goodwill at parting
From this reading Then, with a nod of farewell at the sleeping Pepper, and a pat of Trusty's head, he shouldered his broom and ran downstairs.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Early the next morning, long before Pepper was awake, Tom got up, washed his face and hands in the old cracked hand-basin in one corner of the room, laid a small fire in the grate, and put some matches near it, ready for Pepper to strike when he chose to rise.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Early the next morning, long before Pepper was awake, Tom got up, washed his face and hands in the old cracked hand-basin in one corner of the room, laid a small fire in the grate, and put some matches near it, ready for Pepper to strike when he chose to rise.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading These preparations concluded, he thrust his hands into his ragged trousers pocket and pulled from thence twopence and a halfpenny.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Early the next morning, long before Pepper was awake, Tom got up, washed his face and hands in the old cracked hand-basin in one corner of the room, laid a small fire in the grate, and put some matches near it, ready for Pepper to strike when he chose to rise.
gratenounUS /ɡreɪt/
a frame of iron bars to hold a fire
From this reading Early the next morning, long before Pepper was awake, Tom got up, washed his face and hands in the old cracked hand-basin in one corner of the room, laid a small fire in the grate, and put some matches near it, ready for Pepper to strike when he chose to rise.
halfpennynoun
an English coin worth half a penny
From this reading These preparations concluded, he thrust his hands into his ragged trousers pocket and pulled from thence twopence and a halfpenny.
hand-basin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Early the next morning, long before Pepper was awake, Tom got up, washed his face and hands in the old cracked hand-basin in one corner of the room, laid a small fire in the grate, and put some matches near it, ready for Pepper to strike when he chose to rise.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Early the next morning, long before Pepper was awake, Tom got up, washed his face and hands in the old cracked hand-basin in one corner of the room, laid a small fire in the grate, and put some matches near it, ready for Pepper to strike when he chose to rise.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Early the next morning, long before Pepper was awake, Tom got up, washed his face and hands in the old cracked hand-basin in one corner of the room, laid a small fire in the grate, and put some matches near it, ready for Pepper to strike when he chose to rise.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Then, with a nod of farewell at the sleeping Pepper, and a pat of Trusty's head, he shouldered his broom and ran downstairs.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Early the next morning, long before Pepper was awake, Tom got up, washed his face and hands in the old cracked hand-basin in one corner of the room, laid a small fire in the grate, and put some matches near it, ready for Pepper to strike when he chose to rise.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Early the next morning, long before Pepper was awake, Tom got up, washed his face and hands in the old cracked hand-basin in one corner of the room, laid a small fire in the grate, and put some matches near it, ready for Pepper to strike when he chose to rise.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading These preparations concluded, he thrust his hands into his ragged trousers pocket and pulled from thence twopence and a halfpenny.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Early the next morning, long before Pepper was awake, Tom got up, washed his face and hands in the old cracked hand-basin in one corner of the room, laid a small fire in the grate, and put some matches near it, ready for Pepper to strike when he chose to rise.
set down according to a plan
From this reading Early the next morning, long before Pepper was awake, Tom got up, washed his face and hands in the old cracked hand-basin in one corner of the room, laid a small fire in the grate, and put some matches near it, ready for Pepper to strike when he chose to rise.
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 Early the next morning, long before Pepper was awake, Tom got up, washed his face and hands in the old cracked hand-basin in one corner of the room, laid a small fire in the grate, and put some matches near it, ready for Pepper to strike when he chose to rise.
matchesnounUS /ˈmætʃəz/
plural of “match” — lighter consisting of a thin piece of wood or cardboard tipped with combustible chemical; ignites with friction
From this reading Early the next morning, long before Pepper was awake, Tom got up, washed his face and hands in the old cracked hand-basin in one corner of the room, laid a small fire in the grate, and put some matches near it, ready for Pepper to strike when he chose to rise.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Early the next morning, long before Pepper was awake, Tom got up, washed his face and hands in the old cracked hand-basin in one corner of the room, laid a small fire in the grate, and put some matches near it, ready for Pepper to strike when he chose to rise.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading The pence he laid on the three-legged stool, by the side of the matches, the halfpenny he put for safety into his mouth.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Early the next morning, long before Pepper was awake, Tom got up, washed his face and hands in the old cracked hand-basin in one corner of the room, laid a small fire in the grate, and put some matches near it, ready for Pepper to strike when he chose to rise.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Early the next morning, long before Pepper was awake, Tom got up, washed his face and hands in the old cracked hand-basin in one corner of the room, laid a small fire in the grate, and put some matches near it, ready for Pepper to strike when he chose to rise.
nodverbUS /nɑːd/
express or signify by nodding
From this reading Then, with a nod of farewell at the sleeping Pepper, and a pat of Trusty's head, he shouldered his broom and ran downstairs.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Early the next morning, long before Pepper was awake, Tom got up, washed his face and hands in the old cracked hand-basin in one corner of the room, laid a small fire in the grate, and put some matches near it, ready for Pepper to strike when he chose to rise.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Early the next morning, long before Pepper was awake, Tom got up, washed his face and hands in the old cracked hand-basin in one corner of the room, laid a small fire in the grate, and put some matches near it, ready for Pepper to strike when he chose to rise.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The pence he laid on the three-legged stool, by the side of the matches, the halfpenny he put for safety into his mouth.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Early the next morning, long before Pepper was awake, Tom got up, washed his face and hands in the old cracked hand-basin in one corner of the room, laid a small fire in the grate, and put some matches near it, ready for Pepper to strike when he chose to rise.
patverbUS /pæt/
pat or squeeze fondly or playfully, especially under the chin
From this reading Then, with a nod of farewell at the sleeping Pepper, and a pat of Trusty's head, he shouldered his broom and ran downstairs.
pencenounUS /pens/
plural of “penny” — a fractional monetary unit of Ireland and the United Kingdom; equal to one hundredth of a pound
From this reading The pence he laid on the three-legged stool, by the side of the matches, the halfpenny he put for safety into his mouth.
PepperverbUS /ˈpepər/
add pepper to
From this reading Early the next morning, long before Pepper was awake, Tom got up, washed his face and hands in the old cracked hand-basin in one corner of the room, laid a small fire in the grate, and put some matches near it, ready for Pepper to strike when he chose to rise.
a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles
From this reading These preparations concluded, he thrust his hands into his ragged trousers pocket and pulled from thence twopence and a halfpenny.
preparationsnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “preparation” — the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
From this reading These preparations concluded, he thrust his hands into his ragged trousers pocket and pulled from thence twopence and a halfpenny.
past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling
From this reading These preparations concluded, he thrust his hands into his ragged trousers pocket and pulled from thence twopence and a halfpenny.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Early the next morning, long before Pepper was awake, Tom got up, washed his face and hands in the old cracked hand-basin in one corner of the room, laid a small fire in the grate, and put some matches near it, ready for Pepper to strike when he chose to rise.
raggedadjectiveUS /ˈræɡəd/
being or dressed in clothes that are worn or torn
From this reading These preparations concluded, he thrust his hands into his ragged trousers pocket and pulled from thence twopence and a halfpenny.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading Then, with a nod of farewell at the sleeping Pepper, and a pat of Trusty's head, he shouldered his broom and ran downstairs.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading Early the next morning, long before Pepper was awake, Tom got up, washed his face and hands in the old cracked hand-basin in one corner of the room, laid a small fire in the grate, and put some matches near it, ready for Pepper to strike when he chose to rise.
move upward
From this reading Early the next morning, long before Pepper was awake, Tom got up, washed his face and hands in the old cracked hand-basin in one corner of the room, laid a small fire in the grate, and put some matches near it, ready for Pepper to strike when he chose to rise.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Early the next morning, long before Pepper was awake, Tom got up, washed his face and hands in the old cracked hand-basin in one corner of the room, laid a small fire in the grate, and put some matches near it, ready for Pepper to strike when he chose to rise.
the state of being certain that adverse effects will not be caused by some agent under defined conditions
From this reading The pence he laid on the three-legged stool, by the side of the matches, the halfpenny he put for safety into his mouth.
shoulderedadjectiveUS /ˈʃoʊldərd/
having shoulders or shoulders as specified; usually used as a combining form
From this reading Then, with a nod of farewell at the sleeping Pepper, and a pat of Trusty's head, he shouldered his broom and ran downstairs.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The pence he laid on the three-legged stool, by the side of the matches, the halfpenny he put for safety into his mouth.
the state of being asleep
From this reading Then, with a nod of farewell at the sleeping Pepper, and a pat of Trusty's head, he shouldered his broom and ran downstairs.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Early the next morning, long before Pepper was awake, Tom got up, washed his face and hands in the old cracked hand-basin in one corner of the room, laid a small fire in the grate, and put some matches near it, ready for Pepper to strike when he chose to rise.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Early the next morning, long before Pepper was awake, Tom got up, washed his face and hands in the old cracked hand-basin in one corner of the room, laid a small fire in the grate, and put some matches near it, ready for Pepper to strike when he chose to rise.
stoolnounUS /stuːl/
a simple seat without a back or arms
From this reading The pence he laid on the three-legged stool, by the side of the matches, the halfpenny he put for safety into his mouth.
deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon
From this reading Early the next morning, long before Pepper was awake, Tom got up, washed his face and hands in the old cracked hand-basin in one corner of the room, laid a small fire in the grate, and put some matches near it, ready for Pepper to strike when he chose to rise.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Early the next morning, long before Pepper was awake, Tom got up, washed his face and hands in the old cracked hand-basin in one corner of the room, laid a small fire in the grate, and put some matches near it, ready for Pepper to strike when he chose to rise.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then, with a nod of farewell at the sleeping Pepper, and a pat of Trusty's head, he shouldered his broom and ran downstairs.
thenceadverbUS /ðens/
from that place or that time
From this reading These preparations concluded, he thrust his hands into his ragged trousers pocket and pulled from thence twopence and a halfpenny.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These preparations concluded, he thrust his hands into his ragged trousers pocket and pulled from thence twopence and a halfpenny.
three-leggedadjective
having or as if having three legs
From this reading The pence he laid on the three-legged stool, by the side of the matches, the halfpenny he put for safety into his mouth.
push forcefully
From this reading These preparations concluded, he thrust his hands into his ragged trousers pocket and pulled from thence twopence and a halfpenny.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Early the next morning, long before Pepper was awake, Tom got up, washed his face and hands in the old cracked hand-basin in one corner of the room, laid a small fire in the grate, and put some matches near it, ready for Pepper to strike when he chose to rise.
male cat
From this reading TOM AT WORK.
trousersnounUS /ˈtraʊzərz/
(usually in the plural) a garment extending from the waist to the knee or ankle, covering each leg separately
From this reading These preparations concluded, he thrust his hands into his ragged trousers pocket and pulled from thence twopence and a halfpenny.
Trusty's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, with a nod of farewell at the sleeping Pepper, and a pat of Trusty's head, he shouldered his broom and ran downstairs.
twopencenoun
a former United Kingdom silver coin; United Kingdom bronze decimal coin worth two pennies
From this reading These preparations concluded, he thrust his hands into his ragged trousers pocket and pulled from thence twopence and a halfpenny.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Early the next morning, long before Pepper was awake, Tom got up, washed his face and hands in the old cracked hand-basin in one corner of the room, laid a small fire in the grate, and put some matches near it, ready for Pepper to strike when he chose to rise.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Early the next morning, long before Pepper was awake, Tom got up, washed his face and hands in the old cracked hand-basin in one corner of the room, laid a small fire in the grate, and put some matches near it, ready for Pepper to strike when he chose to rise.
clean by virtue of having been washed in water
From this reading Early the next morning, long before Pepper was awake, Tom got up, washed his face and hands in the old cracked hand-basin in one corner of the room, laid a small fire in the grate, and put some matches near it, ready for Pepper to strike when he chose to rise.
at the time that
From this reading Early the next morning, long before Pepper was awake, Tom got up, washed his face and hands in the old cracked hand-basin in one corner of the room, laid a small fire in the grate, and put some matches near it, ready for Pepper to strike when he chose to rise.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Then, with a nod of farewell at the sleeping Pepper, and a pat of Trusty's head, he shouldered his broom and ran downstairs.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading TOM AT WORK.
