used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Joe came across odd jobs, gathered stores of hickory-nuts and chestnuts; and now and then of an evening they had what he called a rousing good boil; and certainly chestnuts never tasted better.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Joe came across odd jobs, gathered stores of hickory-nuts and chestnuts; and now and then of an evening they had what he called a rousing good boil; and certainly chestnuts never tasted better.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Joe came across odd jobs, gathered stores of hickory-nuts and chestnuts; and now and then of an evening they had what he called a rousing good boil; and certainly chestnuts never tasted better.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Joe came across odd jobs, gathered stores of hickory-nuts and chestnuts; and now and then of an evening they had what he called a rousing good boil; and certainly chestnuts never tasted better.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They sat round the fire, and told riddles or stories, and laughed as only healthy, happy children can.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading Joe came across odd jobs, gathered stores of hickory-nuts and chestnuts; and now and then of an evening they had what he called a rousing good boil; and certainly chestnuts never tasted better.
boilverbUS /bɔɪl/
come to the boiling point and change from a liquid to vapor
From this reading Joe came across odd jobs, gathered stores of hickory-nuts and chestnuts; and now and then of an evening they had what he called a rousing good boil; and certainly chestnuts never tasted better.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Joe came across odd jobs, gathered stores of hickory-nuts and chestnuts; and now and then of an evening they had what he called a rousing good boil; and certainly chestnuts never tasted better.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Joe came across odd jobs, gathered stores of hickory-nuts and chestnuts; and now and then of an evening they had what he called a rousing good boil; and certainly chestnuts never tasted better.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading They sat round the fire, and told riddles or stories, and laughed as only healthy, happy children can.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading Joe came across odd jobs, gathered stores of hickory-nuts and chestnuts; and now and then of an evening they had what he called a rousing good boil; and certainly chestnuts never tasted better.
chestnutsnounUS /ˈtʃesnəts/
plural of “chestnut” — wood of any of various chestnut trees of the genus Castanea
From this reading Joe came across odd jobs, gathered stores of hickory-nuts and chestnuts; and now and then of an evening they had what he called a rousing good boil; and certainly chestnuts never tasted better.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading They sat round the fire, and told riddles or stories, and laughed as only healthy, happy children can.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading They did pretty well through the fall.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Joe came across odd jobs, gathered stores of hickory-nuts and chestnuts; and now and then of an evening they had what he called a rousing good boil; and certainly chestnuts never tasted better.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading They did pretty well through the fall.
start firing a weapon
From this reading They sat round the fire, and told riddles or stories, and laughed as only healthy, happy children can.
brought together in one place
From this reading Joe came across odd jobs, gathered stores of hickory-nuts and chestnuts; and now and then of an evening they had what he called a rousing good boil; and certainly chestnuts never tasted better.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Joe came across odd jobs, gathered stores of hickory-nuts and chestnuts; and now and then of an evening they had what he called a rousing good boil; and certainly chestnuts never tasted better.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Joe came across odd jobs, gathered stores of hickory-nuts and chestnuts; and now and then of an evening they had what he called a rousing good boil; and certainly chestnuts never tasted better.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading They sat round the fire, and told riddles or stories, and laughed as only healthy, happy children can.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Joe came across odd jobs, gathered stores of hickory-nuts and chestnuts; and now and then of an evening they had what he called a rousing good boil; and certainly chestnuts never tasted better.
healthyadjectiveUS /ˈhelθi/
having or indicating good health in body or mind; free from infirmity or disease
From this reading They sat round the fire, and told riddles or stories, and laughed as only healthy, happy children can.
hickory-nuts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Joe came across odd jobs, gathered stores of hickory-nuts and chestnuts; and now and then of an evening they had what he called a rousing good boil; and certainly chestnuts never tasted better.
IDENTICALadjectiveUS /aɪˈdentɪkəl/
exactly alike; incapable of being perceived as different
From this reading THE IDENTICAL SHOE.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading What if they were poor, and had to live in a little tumble-down shanty!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading What if they were poor, and had to live in a little tumble-down shanty!
jobsnounUS /dʒɑːbz/
plural of “job” — the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading Joe came across odd jobs, gathered stores of hickory-nuts and chestnuts; and now and then of an evening they had what he called a rousing good boil; and certainly chestnuts never tasted better.
Joe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Joe came across odd jobs, gathered stores of hickory-nuts and chestnuts; and now and then of an evening they had what he called a rousing good boil; and certainly chestnuts never tasted better.
past form of “laugh” — produce laughter
From this reading They sat round the fire, and told riddles or stories, and laughed as only healthy, happy children can.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading What if they were poor, and had to live in a little tumble-down shanty!
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading What if they were poor, and had to live in a little tumble-down shanty!
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Joe came across odd jobs, gathered stores of hickory-nuts and chestnuts; and now and then of an evening they had what he called a rousing good boil; and certainly chestnuts never tasted better.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Joe came across odd jobs, gathered stores of hickory-nuts and chestnuts; and now and then of an evening they had what he called a rousing good boil; and certainly chestnuts never tasted better.
not divisible by two
From this reading Joe came across odd jobs, gathered stores of hickory-nuts and chestnuts; and now and then of an evening they had what he called a rousing good boil; and certainly chestnuts never tasted better.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Joe came across odd jobs, gathered stores of hickory-nuts and chestnuts; and now and then of an evening they had what he called a rousing good boil; and certainly chestnuts never tasted better.
and nothing more
From this reading They sat round the fire, and told riddles or stories, and laughed as only healthy, happy children can.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading They sat round the fire, and told riddles or stories, and laughed as only healthy, happy children can.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading What if they were poor, and had to live in a little tumble-down shanty!
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading They did pretty well through the fall.
riddlesnounUS /ˈrɪdəlz/
plural of “riddle” — a difficult problem
From this reading They sat round the fire, and told riddles or stories, and laughed as only healthy, happy children can.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading They sat round the fire, and told riddles or stories, and laughed as only healthy, happy children can.
rousingadjectiveUS /ˈraʊzɪŋ/
capable of arousing enthusiasm or excitement
From this reading Joe came across odd jobs, gathered stores of hickory-nuts and chestnuts; and now and then of an evening they had what he called a rousing good boil; and certainly chestnuts never tasted better.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading They sat round the fire, and told riddles or stories, and laughed as only healthy, happy children can.
shantynounUS /ˈʃænti/
small crude shelter used as a dwelling
From this reading What if they were poor, and had to live in a little tumble-down shanty!
SHOEnounUS /ʃuː/
footwear shaped to fit the foot (below the ankle) with a flexible upper of leather or plastic and a sole and heel of heavier material
From this reading THE IDENTICAL SHOE.
storesnounUS /stɔːrz/
plural of “store” — a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
From this reading Joe came across odd jobs, gathered stores of hickory-nuts and chestnuts; and now and then of an evening they had what he called a rousing good boil; and certainly chestnuts never tasted better.
plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading They sat round the fire, and told riddles or stories, and laughed as only healthy, happy children can.
tastedverbUS /ˈteɪstɪd/
past form of “taste” — have flavor; taste of something
From this reading Joe came across odd jobs, gathered stores of hickory-nuts and chestnuts; and now and then of an evening they had what he called a rousing good boil; and certainly chestnuts never tasted better.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE IDENTICAL SHOE.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Joe came across odd jobs, gathered stores of hickory-nuts and chestnuts; and now and then of an evening they had what he called a rousing good boil; and certainly chestnuts never tasted better.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They did pretty well through the fall.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading They did pretty well through the fall.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading What if they were poor, and had to live in a little tumble-down shanty!
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading They sat round the fire, and told riddles or stories, and laughed as only healthy, happy children can.
tumble-downadjective
in deplorable condition
From this reading What if they were poor, and had to live in a little tumble-down shanty!
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading They did pretty well through the fall.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading What if they were poor, and had to live in a little tumble-down shanty!
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Joe came across odd jobs, gathered stores of hickory-nuts and chestnuts; and now and then of an evening they had what he called a rousing good boil; and certainly chestnuts never tasted better.
