used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She had a hard, harsh voice always, and the tune was a battle-cry.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading She had a hard, harsh voice always, and the tune was a battle-cry.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading One day in September Mrs. Woods was at work in her cabin, and Gretchen was at school.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading One day in September Mrs. Woods was at work in her cabin, and Gretchen was at school.
battle-cry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a hard, harsh voice always, and the tune was a battle-cry.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading One day in September Mrs. Woods was at work in her cabin, and Gretchen was at school.
ColumbianounUS /kəˈlʌmbiə/
a North American river; rises in southwestern Canada and flows southward across Washington to form the border between Washington and Oregon before emptying into the Pacific; known for its salmon runs in the spring
From this reading The hymn on which she was exercising her limited gifts was not one of the happy tunes of Methodism, which early settlers on the Columbia loved to sing.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading One day in September Mrs. Woods was at work in her cabin, and Gretchen was at school.
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 The hymn on which she was exercising her limited gifts was not one of the happy tunes of Methodism, which early settlers on the Columbia loved to sing.
exercisingnounUS /ˈeksərsaɪzɪŋ/
the activity of exerting your muscles in various ways to keep fit
From this reading The hymn on which she was exercising her limited gifts was not one of the happy tunes of Methodism, which early settlers on the Columbia loved to sing.
plural of “gift” — something acquired without compensation
From this reading The hymn on which she was exercising her limited gifts was not one of the happy tunes of Methodism, which early settlers on the Columbia loved to sing.
Gretchen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One day in September Mrs. Woods was at work in her cabin, and Gretchen was at school.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had a hard, harsh voice always, and the tune was a battle-cry.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading The hymn on which she was exercising her limited gifts was not one of the happy tunes of Methodism, which early settlers on the Columbia loved to sing.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading She had a hard, harsh voice always, and the tune was a battle-cry.
harshadjectiveUS /hɑːrʃ/
unpleasantly stern
From this reading She had a hard, harsh voice always, and the tune was a battle-cry.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading One day in September Mrs. Woods was at work in her cabin, and Gretchen was at school.
hymnnounUS /hɪm/
a song of praise (to God or to a saint or to a nation)
From this reading The hymn on which she was exercising her limited gifts was not one of the happy tunes of Methodism, which early settlers on the Columbia loved to sing.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading One day in September Mrs. Woods was at work in her cabin, and Gretchen was at school.
limitedadjectiveUS /ˈlɪmətəd/
small in range or scope
From this reading The hymn on which she was exercising her limited gifts was not one of the happy tunes of Methodism, which early settlers on the Columbia loved to sing.
held dear
From this reading The hymn on which she was exercising her limited gifts was not one of the happy tunes of Methodism, which early settlers on the Columbia loved to sing.
MethodismnounUS /ˈmeθədɪzəm/
the religious beliefs and practices of Methodists characterized by concern with social welfare and public morals
From this reading The hymn on which she was exercising her limited gifts was not one of the happy tunes of Methodism, which early settlers on the Columbia loved to sing.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading One day in September Mrs. Woods was at work in her cabin, and Gretchen was at school.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The hymn on which she was exercising her limited gifts was not one of the happy tunes of Methodism, which early settlers on the Columbia loved to sing.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The hymn on which she was exercising her limited gifts was not one of the happy tunes of Methodism, which early settlers on the Columbia loved to sing.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The hymn on which she was exercising her limited gifts was not one of the happy tunes of Methodism, which early settlers on the Columbia loved to sing.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One day in September Mrs. Woods was at work in her cabin, and Gretchen was at school.
an educational institution
From this reading One day in September Mrs. Woods was at work in her cabin, and Gretchen was at school.
SeptembernounUS /sepˈtembər/
the month following August and preceding October
From this reading One day in September Mrs. Woods was at work in her cabin, and Gretchen was at school.
settlersnounUS /ˈsetlərz/
plural of “settler” — a person who settles in a new colony or moves into new country
From this reading The hymn on which she was exercising her limited gifts was not one of the happy tunes of Methodism, which early settlers on the Columbia loved to sing.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had a hard, harsh voice always, and the tune was a battle-cry.
deliver by singing
From this reading Mrs. Woods was trying to sing.
SMOKE-TALK
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SMOKE-TALK.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SMOKE-TALK.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mrs. Woods was trying to sing.
hard to endure
From this reading Mrs. Woods was trying to sing.
tunenounUS /tuːn/
a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence
From this reading She had a hard, harsh voice always, and the tune was a battle-cry.
tunesnounUS /tuːnz/
plural of “tune” — a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence
From this reading The hymn on which she was exercising her limited gifts was not one of the happy tunes of Methodism, which early settlers on the Columbia loved to sing.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading She had a hard, harsh voice always, and the tune was a battle-cry.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading One day in September Mrs. Woods was at work in her cabin, and Gretchen was at school.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The hymn on which she was exercising her limited gifts was not one of the happy tunes of Methodism, which early settlers on the Columbia loved to sing.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading One day in September Mrs. Woods was at work in her cabin, and Gretchen was at school.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading One day in September Mrs. Woods was at work in her cabin, and Gretchen was at school.
