used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She felt very grand indeed, up there,--the mistress of a house in the air, and the mother of so precious a child as her black-eyed, black-haired Jessie.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading She felt very grand indeed, up there,--the mistress of a house in the air, and the mother of so precious a child as her black-eyed, black-haired Jessie.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She had brought an armful of hay from the barn and spread it upon the floor of her little oblong room, and had put the three-legged milking-stool in one corner, and there she sat nursing her great rag-baby.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She had brought an armful of hay from the barn and spread it upon the floor of her little oblong room, and had put the three-legged milking-stool in one corner, and there she sat nursing her great rag-baby.
armfulnoun
the quantity that can be contained in the arms
From this reading She had brought an armful of hay from the barn and spread it upon the floor of her little oblong room, and had put the three-legged milking-stool in one corner, and there she sat nursing her great rag-baby.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She felt very grand indeed, up there,--the mistress of a house in the air, and the mother of so precious a child as her black-eyed, black-haired Jessie.
baby-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were wedges behind the wheels to keep the cart from rolling back, for it was little Sally Reed’s baby-house just now.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading There were wedges behind the wheels to keep the cart from rolling back, for it was little Sally Reed’s baby-house just now.
barnnounUS /bɑːrn/
an outlying farm building for storing grain or animal feed and housing farm animals
From this reading She had brought an armful of hay from the barn and spread it upon the floor of her little oblong room, and had put the three-legged milking-stool in one corner, and there she sat nursing her great rag-baby.
barn-yard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading |IT stood with its thills upon the low stone wall that separated the barn-yard from the house-yard.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading How she loved that little bundle of rags, which seemed to her warm heart a living thing and beautiful! and how she loved the old cart, and enjoyed the hours when it was resting!
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading There were wedges behind the wheels to keep the cart from rolling back, for it was little Sally Reed’s baby-house just now.
black-eyed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She felt very grand indeed, up there,--the mistress of a house in the air, and the mother of so precious a child as her black-eyed, black-haired Jessie.
black-hairedadjective
having hair of a dark color
From this reading She felt very grand indeed, up there,--the mistress of a house in the air, and the mother of so precious a child as her black-eyed, black-haired Jessie.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading She had brought an armful of hay from the barn and spread it upon the floor of her little oblong room, and had put the three-legged milking-stool in one corner, and there she sat nursing her great rag-baby.
bundlenounUS /ˈbʌndəl/
a collection of things wrapped or boxed together
From this reading How she loved that little bundle of rags, which seemed to her warm heart a living thing and beautiful! and how she loved the old cart, and enjoyed the hours when it was resting!
cartnounUS /kɑːrt/
a heavy open wagon usually having two wheels and drawn by an animal
From this reading There were wedges behind the wheels to keep the cart from rolling back, for it was little Sally Reed’s baby-house just now.
a young person of either sex
From this reading She felt very grand indeed, up there,--the mistress of a house in the air, and the mother of so precious a child as her black-eyed, black-haired Jessie.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading She had brought an armful of hay from the barn and spread it upon the floor of her little oblong room, and had put the three-legged milking-stool in one corner, and there she sat nursing her great rag-baby.
past form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
From this reading How she loved that little bundle of rags, which seemed to her warm heart a living thing and beautiful! and how she loved the old cart, and enjoyed the hours when it was resting!
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading She felt very grand indeed, up there,--the mistress of a house in the air, and the mother of so precious a child as her black-eyed, black-haired Jessie.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading She had brought an armful of hay from the barn and spread it upon the floor of her little oblong room, and had put the three-legged milking-stool in one corner, and there she sat nursing her great rag-baby.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There were wedges behind the wheels to keep the cart from rolling back, for it was little Sally Reed’s baby-house just now.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading |IT stood with its thills upon the low stone wall that separated the barn-yard from the house-yard.
of behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope
From this reading She felt very grand indeed, up there,--the mistress of a house in the air, and the mother of so precious a child as her black-eyed, black-haired Jessie.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading She had brought an armful of hay from the barn and spread it upon the floor of her little oblong room, and had put the three-legged milking-stool in one corner, and there she sat nursing her great rag-baby.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had brought an armful of hay from the barn and spread it upon the floor of her little oblong room, and had put the three-legged milking-stool in one corner, and there she sat nursing her great rag-baby.
haynounUS /heɪ/
grass mowed and cured for use as fodder
From this reading She had brought an armful of hay from the barn and spread it upon the floor of her little oblong room, and had put the three-legged milking-stool in one corner, and there she sat nursing her great rag-baby.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading How she loved that little bundle of rags, which seemed to her warm heart a living thing and beautiful! and how she loved the old cart, and enjoyed the hours when it was resting!
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She had brought an armful of hay from the barn and spread it upon the floor of her little oblong room, and had put the three-legged milking-stool in one corner, and there she sat nursing her great rag-baby.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading How she loved that little bundle of rags, which seemed to her warm heart a living thing and beautiful! and how she loved the old cart, and enjoyed the hours when it was resting!
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading She felt very grand indeed, up there,--the mistress of a house in the air, and the mother of so precious a child as her black-eyed, black-haired Jessie.
house-yard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading |IT stood with its thills upon the low stone wall that separated the barn-yard from the house-yard.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How she loved that little bundle of rags, which seemed to her warm heart a living thing and beautiful! and how she loved the old cart, and enjoyed the hours when it was resting!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She had brought an armful of hay from the barn and spread it upon the floor of her little oblong room, and had put the three-legged milking-stool in one corner, and there she sat nursing her great rag-baby.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading She felt very grand indeed, up there,--the mistress of a house in the air, and the mother of so precious a child as her black-eyed, black-haired Jessie.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading |IT stood with its thills upon the low stone wall that separated the barn-yard from the house-yard.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading |IT stood with its thills upon the low stone wall that separated the barn-yard from the house-yard.
Jessie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She felt very grand indeed, up there,--the mistress of a house in the air, and the mother of so precious a child as her black-eyed, black-haired Jessie.
and nothing more
From this reading There were wedges behind the wheels to keep the cart from rolling back, for it was little Sally Reed’s baby-house just now.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading There were wedges behind the wheels to keep the cart from rolling back, for it was little Sally Reed’s baby-house just now.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There were wedges behind the wheels to keep the cart from rolling back, for it was little Sally Reed’s baby-house just now.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading How she loved that little bundle of rags, which seemed to her warm heart a living thing and beautiful! and how she loved the old cart, and enjoyed the hours when it was resting!
held dear
From this reading How she loved that little bundle of rags, which seemed to her warm heart a living thing and beautiful! and how she loved the old cart, and enjoyed the hours when it was resting!
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading |IT stood with its thills upon the low stone wall that separated the barn-yard from the house-yard.
milking-stool
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had brought an armful of hay from the barn and spread it upon the floor of her little oblong room, and had put the three-legged milking-stool in one corner, and there she sat nursing her great rag-baby.
an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
From this reading She felt very grand indeed, up there,--the mistress of a house in the air, and the mother of so precious a child as her black-eyed, black-haired Jessie.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading She felt very grand indeed, up there,--the mistress of a house in the air, and the mother of so precious a child as her black-eyed, black-haired Jessie.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading There were wedges behind the wheels to keep the cart from rolling back, for it was little Sally Reed’s baby-house just now.
nursingnounUS /ˈnɜːrsɪŋ/
the work of caring for the sick or injured or infirm
From this reading She had brought an armful of hay from the barn and spread it upon the floor of her little oblong room, and had put the three-legged milking-stool in one corner, and there she sat nursing her great rag-baby.
oblongadjectiveUS /ˈɑːblɔːŋ/
(of a leaf shape) having a somewhat elongated form with approximately parallel sides
From this reading She had brought an armful of hay from the barn and spread it upon the floor of her little oblong room, and had put the three-legged milking-stool in one corner, and there she sat nursing her great rag-baby.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She had brought an armful of hay from the barn and spread it upon the floor of her little oblong room, and had put the three-legged milking-stool in one corner, and there she sat nursing her great rag-baby.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading How she loved that little bundle of rags, which seemed to her warm heart a living thing and beautiful! and how she loved the old cart, and enjoyed the hours when it was resting!
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She had brought an armful of hay from the barn and spread it upon the floor of her little oblong room, and had put the three-legged milking-stool in one corner, and there she sat nursing her great rag-baby.
characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for
From this reading She felt very grand indeed, up there,--the mistress of a house in the air, and the mother of so precious a child as her black-eyed, black-haired Jessie.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading She had brought an armful of hay from the barn and spread it upon the floor of her little oblong room, and had put the three-legged milking-stool in one corner, and there she sat nursing her great rag-baby.
rag-baby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had brought an armful of hay from the barn and spread it upon the floor of her little oblong room, and had put the three-legged milking-stool in one corner, and there she sat nursing her great rag-baby.
ragsnounUS /ræɡz/
plural of “rag” — a small piece of cloth or paper
From this reading How she loved that little bundle of rags, which seemed to her warm heart a living thing and beautiful! and how she loved the old cart, and enjoyed the hours when it was resting!
Reed'snounUS /riːdz/
possessive form of “reed” — tall woody perennial grasses with hollow slender stems especially of the genera Arundo and Phragmites
From this reading There were wedges behind the wheels to keep the cart from rolling back, for it was little Sally Reed’s baby-house just now.
-ing form of “rest” — not move; be in a resting position
From this reading How she loved that little bundle of rags, which seemed to her warm heart a living thing and beautiful! and how she loved the old cart, and enjoyed the hours when it was resting!
uttered with a trill
From this reading There were wedges behind the wheels to keep the cart from rolling back, for it was little Sally Reed’s baby-house just now.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading She had brought an armful of hay from the barn and spread it upon the floor of her little oblong room, and had put the three-legged milking-stool in one corner, and there she sat nursing her great rag-baby.
witty remark
From this reading There were wedges behind the wheels to keep the cart from rolling back, for it was little Sally Reed’s baby-house just now.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading She had brought an armful of hay from the barn and spread it upon the floor of her little oblong room, and had put the three-legged milking-stool in one corner, and there she sat nursing her great rag-baby.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading How she loved that little bundle of rags, which seemed to her warm heart a living thing and beautiful! and how she loved the old cart, and enjoyed the hours when it was resting!
being or feeling set or kept apart from others
From this reading |IT stood with its thills upon the low stone wall that separated the barn-yard from the house-yard.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had brought an armful of hay from the barn and spread it upon the floor of her little oblong room, and had put the three-legged milking-stool in one corner, and there she sat nursing her great rag-baby.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She felt very grand indeed, up there,--the mistress of a house in the air, and the mother of so precious a child as her black-eyed, black-haired Jessie.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading She had brought an armful of hay from the barn and spread it upon the floor of her little oblong room, and had put the three-legged milking-stool in one corner, and there she sat nursing her great rag-baby.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading |IT stood with its thills upon the low stone wall that separated the barn-yard from the house-yard.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading |IT stood with its thills upon the low stone wall that separated the barn-yard from the house-yard.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading |IT stood with its thills upon the low stone wall that separated the barn-yard from the house-yard.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading |IT stood with its thills upon the low stone wall that separated the barn-yard from the house-yard.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were wedges behind the wheels to keep the cart from rolling back, for it was little Sally Reed’s baby-house just now.
thills
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading |IT stood with its thills upon the low stone wall that separated the barn-yard from the house-yard.
a special situation
From this reading How she loved that little bundle of rags, which seemed to her warm heart a living thing and beautiful! and how she loved the old cart, and enjoyed the hours when it was resting!
three-leggedadjective
having or as if having three legs
From this reading She had brought an armful of hay from the barn and spread it upon the floor of her little oblong room, and had put the three-legged milking-stool in one corner, and there she sat nursing her great rag-baby.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There were wedges behind the wheels to keep the cart from rolling back, for it was little Sally Reed’s baby-house just now.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading She felt very grand indeed, up there,--the mistress of a house in the air, and the mother of so precious a child as her black-eyed, black-haired Jessie.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading |IT stood with its thills upon the low stone wall that separated the barn-yard from the house-yard.
precisely as stated
From this reading She felt very grand indeed, up there,--the mistress of a house in the air, and the mother of so precious a child as her black-eyed, black-haired Jessie.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading |IT stood with its thills upon the low stone wall that separated the barn-yard from the house-yard.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading How she loved that little bundle of rags, which seemed to her warm heart a living thing and beautiful! and how she loved the old cart, and enjoyed the hours when it was resting!
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There were wedges behind the wheels to keep the cart from rolling back, for it was little Sally Reed’s baby-house just now.
wedgesnounUS /ˈwedʒəz/
plural of “wedge” — any shape that is triangular in cross section
From this reading There were wedges behind the wheels to keep the cart from rolling back, for it was little Sally Reed’s baby-house just now.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were wedges behind the wheels to keep the cart from rolling back, for it was little Sally Reed’s baby-house just now.
wheelsnounUS /wiːlz/
plural of “wheel” — a simple machine consisting of a circular frame with spokes (or a solid disc) that can rotate on a shaft or axle (as in vehicles or other machines)
From this reading There were wedges behind the wheels to keep the cart from rolling back, for it was little Sally Reed’s baby-house just now.
at the time that
From this reading How she loved that little bundle of rags, which seemed to her warm heart a living thing and beautiful! and how she loved the old cart, and enjoyed the hours when it was resting!
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading How she loved that little bundle of rags, which seemed to her warm heart a living thing and beautiful! and how she loved the old cart, and enjoyed the hours when it was resting!
in the company of; together with
From this reading |IT stood with its thills upon the low stone wall that separated the barn-yard from the house-yard.
