used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She was just about to enter, when she saw a little fluttering in the work basket.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading She was just about to enter, when she saw a little fluttering in the work basket.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading That is the way things looked as Mary Frances peeped in the door to see what the Thimble People might be doing.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Mary Frances’ work basket was at one end.
a container that is usually woven and has handles
From this reading Mary Frances’ work basket was at one end.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading That is the way things looked as Mary Frances peeped in the door to see what the Thimble People might be doing.
warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading Sewing Bird was sitting on her perch on the sewing table.
brightlyadverbUS /ˈbraɪtli/
with brightness
From this reading MA CHINE THE sun shone brightly into the sewing-room; everything was neatly in place.
CHINEnoun
cut of meat or fish including at least part of the backbone
From this reading MA CHINE THE sun shone brightly into the sewing-room; everything was neatly in place.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading That is the way things looked as Mary Frances peeped in the door to see what the Thimble People might be doing.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading That is the way things looked as Mary Frances peeped in the door to see what the Thimble People might be doing.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Mary Frances’ work basket was at one end.
to come or go into
From this reading She was just about to enter, when she saw a little fluttering in the work basket.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading MA CHINE THE sun shone brightly into the sewing-room; everything was neatly in place.
flutteringnounUS /ˈflʌtərɪŋ/
the motion made by flapping up and down
From this reading She was just about to enter, when she saw a little fluttering in the work basket.
FrancesnounUS /ˈfrænsɪs/
plural of “france” — a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe
From this reading Mary Frances’ work basket was at one end.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Sewing Bird was sitting on her perch on the sewing table.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading MA CHINE THE sun shone brightly into the sewing-room; everything was neatly in place.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading MA CHINE THE sun shone brightly into the sewing-room; everything was neatly in place.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That is the way things looked as Mary Frances peeped in the door to see what the Thimble People might be doing.
and nothing more
From this reading She was just about to enter, when she saw a little fluttering in the work basket.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She was just about to enter, when she saw a little fluttering in the work basket.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading That is the way things looked as Mary Frances peeped in the door to see what the Thimble People might be doing.
MAnounUS /mɑː/
informal terms for a mother
From this reading MA CHINE THE sun shone brightly into the sewing-room; everything was neatly in place.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading Mary Frances’ work basket was at one end.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading That is the way things looked as Mary Frances peeped in the door to see what the Thimble People might be doing.
neatlyadverbUS /ˈniːtli/
with neatness
From this reading MA CHINE THE sun shone brightly into the sewing-room; everything was neatly in place.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Sewing Bird was sitting on her perch on the sewing table.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Mary Frances’ work basket was at one end.
peepedverbUS /piːpt/
past form of “peep” — look furtively
From this reading That is the way things looked as Mary Frances peeped in the door to see what the Thimble People might be doing.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading That is the way things looked as Mary Frances peeped in the door to see what the Thimble People might be doing.
perchnounUS /pɜːrtʃ/
support consisting of a branch or rod that serves as a resting place (especially for a bird)
From this reading Sewing Bird was sitting on her perch on the sewing table.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading MA CHINE THE sun shone brightly into the sewing-room; everything was neatly in place.
cut with a saw
From this reading She was just about to enter, when she saw a little fluttering in the work basket.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading That is the way things looked as Mary Frances peeped in the door to see what the Thimble People might be doing.
SewingnounUS /ˈsoʊɪŋ/
joining or attaching by stitches
From this reading Sewing Bird was sitting on her perch on the sewing table.
sewing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MA CHINE THE sun shone brightly into the sewing-room; everything was neatly in place.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was just about to enter, when she saw a little fluttering in the work basket.
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading MA CHINE THE sun shone brightly into the sewing-room; everything was neatly in place.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading Sewing Bird was sitting on her perch on the sewing table.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading MA CHINE THE sun shone brightly into the sewing-room; everything was neatly in place.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Sewing Bird was sitting on her perch on the sewing table.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That is the way things looked as Mary Frances peeped in the door to see what the Thimble People might be doing.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading MA CHINE THE sun shone brightly into the sewing-room; everything was neatly in place.
ThimblenounUS /ˈθɪmbəl/
as much as a thimble will hold
From this reading That is the way things looked as Mary Frances peeped in the door to see what the Thimble People might be doing.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading That is the way things looked as Mary Frances peeped in the door to see what the Thimble People might be doing.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading That is the way things looked as Mary Frances peeped in the door to see what the Thimble People might be doing.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading MA CHINE THE sun shone brightly into the sewing-room; everything was neatly in place.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading That is the way things looked as Mary Frances peeped in the door to see what the Thimble People might be doing.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading That is the way things looked as Mary Frances peeped in the door to see what the Thimble People might be doing.
at the time that
From this reading She was just about to enter, when she saw a little fluttering in the work basket.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Mary Frances’ work basket was at one end.
