used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As Dick went up the hill, he saw on the porch a spot of blue with an expanse of white beside it,--Mrs. Osborne in blue gingham, with a dozen hospital shirts that she was basting, ready for machine work.
alighted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had alighted in a tall locust tree, ready to pounce on some defenseless creature.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Suddenly there was a commotion, a frightened fluttering and squawking among the fowls in the side yard.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading As Dick went up the hill, he saw on the porch a spot of blue with an expanse of white beside it,--Mrs. Osborne in blue gingham, with a dozen hospital shirts that she was basting, ready for machine work.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Suddenly there was a commotion, a frightened fluttering and squawking among the fowls in the side yard.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As Dick went up the hill, he saw on the porch a spot of blue with an expanse of white beside it,--Mrs. Osborne in blue gingham, with a dozen hospital shirts that she was basting, ready for machine work.
bastingnounUS /ˈbeɪstɪŋ/
a loose temporary sewing stitch to hold layers of fabric together
From this reading As Dick went up the hill, he saw on the porch a spot of blue with an expanse of white beside it,--Mrs. Osborne in blue gingham, with a dozen hospital shirts that she was basting, ready for machine work.
next to; at the side of
From this reading As Dick went up the hill, he saw on the porch a spot of blue with an expanse of white beside it,--Mrs. Osborne in blue gingham, with a dozen hospital shirts that she was basting, ready for machine work.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading As Dick went up the hill, he saw on the porch a spot of blue with an expanse of white beside it,--Mrs. Osborne in blue gingham, with a dozen hospital shirts that she was basting, ready for machine work.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Mrs. Osborne rose quickly, but unhurriedly, went into the house, and reappeared in the door with an old shotgun.
chickennounUS /ˈtʃɪkən/
the flesh of a chicken used for food
From this reading Mother hens were warning their young that a chicken hawk was near.
commotionnounUS /kəˈmoʊʃən/
a disorderly outburst or tumult
From this reading Suddenly there was a commotion, a frightened fluttering and squawking among the fowls in the side yard.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading It had alighted in a tall locust tree, ready to pounce on some defenseless creature.
defenselessadjectiveUS /dɪˈfensləs/
lacking protection or support
From this reading It had alighted in a tall locust tree, ready to pounce on some defenseless creature.
someone who is a detective
From this reading As Dick went up the hill, he saw on the porch a spot of blue with an expanse of white beside it,--Mrs. Osborne in blue gingham, with a dozen hospital shirts that she was basting, ready for machine work.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Mrs. Osborne rose quickly, but unhurriedly, went into the house, and reappeared in the door with an old shotgun.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading As Dick went up the hill, he saw on the porch a spot of blue with an expanse of white beside it,--Mrs. Osborne in blue gingham, with a dozen hospital shirts that she was basting, ready for machine work.
expansenounUS /ɪkˈspæns/
a wide scope
From this reading As Dick went up the hill, he saw on the porch a spot of blue with an expanse of white beside it,--Mrs. Osborne in blue gingham, with a dozen hospital shirts that she was basting, ready for machine work.
flutteringnounUS /ˈflʌtərɪŋ/
the motion made by flapping up and down
From this reading Suddenly there was a commotion, a frightened fluttering and squawking among the fowls in the side yard.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading As Dick went up the hill, he saw on the porch a spot of blue with an expanse of white beside it,--Mrs. Osborne in blue gingham, with a dozen hospital shirts that she was basting, ready for machine work.
fowls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly there was a commotion, a frightened fluttering and squawking among the fowls in the side yard.
made afraid
From this reading Suddenly there was a commotion, a frightened fluttering and squawking among the fowls in the side yard.
ginghamnounUS /ˈɡɪŋəm/
a clothing fabric in a plaid weave
From this reading As Dick went up the hill, he saw on the porch a spot of blue with an expanse of white beside it,--Mrs. Osborne in blue gingham, with a dozen hospital shirts that she was basting, ready for machine work.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It had alighted in a tall locust tree, ready to pounce on some defenseless creature.
hawknounUS /hɔːk/
diurnal bird of prey typically having short rounded wings and a long tail
From this reading Mother hens were warning their young that a chicken hawk was near.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As Dick went up the hill, he saw on the porch a spot of blue with an expanse of white beside it,--Mrs. Osborne in blue gingham, with a dozen hospital shirts that she was basting, ready for machine work.
hensnounUS /henz/
plural of “hen” — adult female chicken
From this reading Mother hens were warning their young that a chicken hawk was near.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading As Dick went up the hill, he saw on the porch a spot of blue with an expanse of white beside it,--Mrs. Osborne in blue gingham, with a dozen hospital shirts that she was basting, ready for machine work.
a health facility where patients receive treatment
From this reading As Dick went up the hill, he saw on the porch a spot of blue with an expanse of white beside it,--Mrs. Osborne in blue gingham, with a dozen hospital shirts that she was basting, ready for machine work.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Mrs. Osborne rose quickly, but unhurriedly, went into the house, and reappeared in the door with an old shotgun.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As Dick went up the hill, he saw on the porch a spot of blue with an expanse of white beside it,--Mrs. Osborne in blue gingham, with a dozen hospital shirts that she was basting, ready for machine work.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Mrs. Osborne rose quickly, but unhurriedly, went into the house, and reappeared in the door with an old shotgun.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading As Dick went up the hill, he saw on the porch a spot of blue with an expanse of white beside it,--Mrs. Osborne in blue gingham, with a dozen hospital shirts that she was basting, ready for machine work.
locustnounUS /ˈloʊkəst/
migratory grasshoppers of warm regions having short antennae
From this reading It had alighted in a tall locust tree, ready to pounce on some defenseless creature.
any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
From this reading As Dick went up the hill, he saw on the porch a spot of blue with an expanse of white beside it,--Mrs. Osborne in blue gingham, with a dozen hospital shirts that she was basting, ready for machine work.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Mother hens were warning their young that a chicken hawk was near.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading As Dick went up the hill, he saw on the porch a spot of blue with an expanse of white beside it,--Mrs. Osborne in blue gingham, with a dozen hospital shirts that she was basting, ready for machine work.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Mother hens were warning their young that a chicken hawk was near.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As Dick went up the hill, he saw on the porch a spot of blue with an expanse of white beside it,--Mrs. Osborne in blue gingham, with a dozen hospital shirts that she was basting, ready for machine work.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Mrs. Osborne rose quickly, but unhurriedly, went into the house, and reappeared in the door with an old shotgun.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading As Dick went up the hill, he saw on the porch a spot of blue with an expanse of white beside it,--Mrs. Osborne in blue gingham, with a dozen hospital shirts that she was basting, ready for machine work.
OsbornenounUS /ˈɔːzbɔːrn/
English playwright (1929-1994)
From this reading As Dick went up the hill, he saw on the porch a spot of blue with an expanse of white beside it,--Mrs. Osborne in blue gingham, with a dozen hospital shirts that she was basting, ready for machine work.
a structure attached to the exterior of a building often forming a covered entrance
From this reading As Dick went up the hill, he saw on the porch a spot of blue with an expanse of white beside it,--Mrs. Osborne in blue gingham, with a dozen hospital shirts that she was basting, ready for machine work.
pounceverbUS /paʊns/
move down on as if in an attack
From this reading It had alighted in a tall locust tree, ready to pounce on some defenseless creature.
with speed
From this reading Mrs. Osborne rose quickly, but unhurriedly, went into the house, and reappeared in the door with an old shotgun.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading As Dick went up the hill, he saw on the porch a spot of blue with an expanse of white beside it,--Mrs. Osborne in blue gingham, with a dozen hospital shirts that she was basting, ready for machine work.
reappearedverbUS /ˌriːəˈpɪrd/
past form of “reappear” — appear again
From this reading Mrs. Osborne rose quickly, but unhurriedly, went into the house, and reappeared in the door with an old shotgun.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Mrs. Osborne rose quickly, but unhurriedly, went into the house, and reappeared in the door with an old shotgun.
cut with a saw
From this reading As Dick went up the hill, he saw on the porch a spot of blue with an expanse of white beside it,--Mrs. Osborne in blue gingham, with a dozen hospital shirts that she was basting, ready for machine work.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As Dick went up the hill, he saw on the porch a spot of blue with an expanse of white beside it,--Mrs. Osborne in blue gingham, with a dozen hospital shirts that she was basting, ready for machine work.
shirtsnounUS /ʃɜːrts/
plural of “shirt” — a garment worn on the upper half of the body
From this reading As Dick went up the hill, he saw on the porch a spot of blue with an expanse of white beside it,--Mrs. Osborne in blue gingham, with a dozen hospital shirts that she was basting, ready for machine work.
shotgunnounUS /ˈʃɑːtɡʌn/
firearm that is a double-barreled smoothbore shoulder weapon for firing shot at short ranges
From this reading Mrs. Osborne rose quickly, but unhurriedly, went into the house, and reappeared in the door with an old shotgun.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Suddenly there was a commotion, a frightened fluttering and squawking among the fowls in the side yard.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading It had alighted in a tall locust tree, ready to pounce on some defenseless creature.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading As Dick went up the hill, he saw on the porch a spot of blue with an expanse of white beside it,--Mrs. Osborne in blue gingham, with a dozen hospital shirts that she was basting, ready for machine work.
squawkingverbUS /ˈskwɔːkɪŋ/
-ing form of “squawk” — utter a harsh abrupt scream
From this reading Suddenly there was a commotion, a frightened fluttering and squawking among the fowls in the side yard.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Suddenly there was a commotion, a frightened fluttering and squawking among the fowls in the side yard.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading It had alighted in a tall locust tree, ready to pounce on some defenseless creature.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading As Dick went up the hill, he saw on the porch a spot of blue with an expanse of white beside it,--Mrs. Osborne in blue gingham, with a dozen hospital shirts that she was basting, ready for machine work.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As Dick went up the hill, he saw on the porch a spot of blue with an expanse of white beside it,--Mrs. Osborne in blue gingham, with a dozen hospital shirts that she was basting, ready for machine work.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Mother hens were warning their young that a chicken hawk was near.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Suddenly there was a commotion, a frightened fluttering and squawking among the fowls in the side yard.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It had alighted in a tall locust tree, ready to pounce on some defenseless creature.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading It had alighted in a tall locust tree, ready to pounce on some defenseless creature.
unhurriedlyadverb
without haste
From this reading Mrs. Osborne rose quickly, but unhurriedly, went into the house, and reappeared in the door with an old shotgun.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading As Dick went up the hill, he saw on the porch a spot of blue with an expanse of white beside it,--Mrs. Osborne in blue gingham, with a dozen hospital shirts that she was basting, ready for machine work.
a message informing of danger
From this reading Mother hens were warning their young that a chicken hawk was near.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As Dick went up the hill, he saw on the porch a spot of blue with an expanse of white beside it,--Mrs. Osborne in blue gingham, with a dozen hospital shirts that she was basting, ready for machine work.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading As Dick went up the hill, he saw on the porch a spot of blue with an expanse of white beside it,--Mrs. Osborne in blue gingham, with a dozen hospital shirts that she was basting, ready for machine work.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Mother hens were warning their young that a chicken hawk was near.
a Caucasian
From this reading As Dick went up the hill, he saw on the porch a spot of blue with an expanse of white beside it,--Mrs. Osborne in blue gingham, with a dozen hospital shirts that she was basting, ready for machine work.
in the company of; together with
From this reading As Dick went up the hill, he saw on the porch a spot of blue with an expanse of white beside it,--Mrs. Osborne in blue gingham, with a dozen hospital shirts that she was basting, ready for machine work.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading As Dick went up the hill, he saw on the porch a spot of blue with an expanse of white beside it,--Mrs. Osborne in blue gingham, with a dozen hospital shirts that she was basting, ready for machine work.
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading Suddenly there was a commotion, a frightened fluttering and squawking among the fowls in the side yard.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Mother hens were warning their young that a chicken hawk was near.
