used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For a few days the old man had his hands full.
the performance of a part or role in a drama
From this reading Young Pete, used to thinking and acting for himself, possessed that most valuable but often dangerous asset, initiative.
afootadverbUS /əˈfʊt/
on foot; walking
From this reading The hen, a slate-colored and maternal-appearing biddy, seemed to realize that something unusual was afoot.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The very evening that he arrived at the homestead, while Annersley was milking the one tame cow out in the corral, Young Pete decided that he would help matters along by catching the hen which Annersley had pointed out to him when he drove into the yard.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Young Pete, used to thinking and acting for himself, possessed that most valuable but often dangerous asset, initiative.
Annersley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The very evening that he arrived at the homestead, while Annersley was milking the one tame cow out in the corral, Young Pete decided that he would help matters along by catching the hen which Annersley had pointed out to him when he drove into the yard.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading The very evening that he arrived at the homestead, while Annersley was milking the one tame cow out in the corral, Young Pete decided that he would help matters along by catching the hen which Annersley had pointed out to him when he drove into the yard.
assetnounUS /ˈæset/
a useful or valuable quality
From this reading Young Pete, used to thinking and acting for himself, possessed that most valuable but often dangerous asset, initiative.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The very evening that he arrived at the homestead, while Annersley was milking the one tame cow out in the corral, Young Pete decided that he would help matters along by catching the hen which Annersley had pointed out to him when he drove into the yard.
biddynounUS /ˈbɪdi/
adult female chicken
From this reading The hen, a slate-colored and maternal-appearing biddy, seemed to realize that something unusual was afoot.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Young Pete, used to thinking and acting for himself, possessed that most valuable but often dangerous asset, initiative.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The very evening that he arrived at the homestead, while Annersley was milking the one tame cow out in the corral, Young Pete decided that he would help matters along by catching the hen which Annersley had pointed out to him when he drove into the yard.
catchingnounUS /ˈkætʃɪŋ/
(baseball) playing the position of catcher on a baseball team
From this reading The very evening that he arrived at the homestead, while Annersley was milking the one tame cow out in the corral, Young Pete decided that he would help matters along by catching the hen which Annersley had pointed out to him when he drove into the yard.
chasingverbUS /ˈtʃeɪsɪŋ/
-ing form of “chase” — go after with the intent to catch
From this reading Milking did not interest Young Pete; but chasing chickens did.
chickensnounUS /ˈtʃɪkənz/
plural of “chicken” — the flesh of a chicken used for food
From this reading Milking did not interest Young Pete; but chasing chickens did.
corralverbUS /kərˈæl/
enclose in a corral
From this reading The very evening that he arrived at the homestead, while Annersley was milking the one tame cow out in the corral, Young Pete decided that he would help matters along by catching the hen which Annersley had pointed out to him when he drove into the yard.
cownounUS /kaʊ/
female of domestic cattle: "“moo-cow” is a child's term"
From this reading The very evening that he arrived at the homestead, while Annersley was milking the one tame cow out in the corral, Young Pete decided that he would help matters along by catching the hen which Annersley had pointed out to him when he drove into the yard.
involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm
From this reading Young Pete, used to thinking and acting for himself, possessed that most valuable but often dangerous asset, initiative.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading For a few days the old man had his hands full.
recognizable; marked
From this reading The very evening that he arrived at the homestead, while Annersley was milking the one tame cow out in the corral, Young Pete decided that he would help matters along by catching the hen which Annersley had pointed out to him when he drove into the yard.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Milking did not interest Young Pete; but chasing chickens did.
a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together
From this reading The very evening that he arrived at the homestead, while Annersley was milking the one tame cow out in the corral, Young Pete decided that he would help matters along by catching the hen which Annersley had pointed out to him when he drove into the yard.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading The very evening that he arrived at the homestead, while Annersley was milking the one tame cow out in the corral, Young Pete decided that he would help matters along by catching the hen which Annersley had pointed out to him when he drove into the yard.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading For a few days the old man had his hands full.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a few days the old man had his hands full.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading For a few days the old man had his hands full.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For a few days the old man had his hands full.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading For a few days the old man had his hands full.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The very evening that he arrived at the homestead, while Annersley was milking the one tame cow out in the corral, Young Pete decided that he would help matters along by catching the hen which Annersley had pointed out to him when he drove into the yard.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading The very evening that he arrived at the homestead, while Annersley was milking the one tame cow out in the corral, Young Pete decided that he would help matters along by catching the hen which Annersley had pointed out to him when he drove into the yard.
hennounUS /hen/
adult female chicken
From this reading The very evening that he arrived at the homestead, while Annersley was milking the one tame cow out in the corral, Young Pete decided that he would help matters along by catching the hen which Annersley had pointed out to him when he drove into the yard.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The very evening that he arrived at the homestead, while Annersley was milking the one tame cow out in the corral, Young Pete decided that he would help matters along by catching the hen which Annersley had pointed out to him when he drove into the yard.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Young Pete, used to thinking and acting for himself, possessed that most valuable but often dangerous asset, initiative.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading For a few days the old man had his hands full.
homesteadnounUS /ˈhoʊmsted/
the home and adjacent grounds occupied by a family
From this reading The very evening that he arrived at the homestead, while Annersley was milking the one tame cow out in the corral, Young Pete decided that he would help matters along by catching the hen which Annersley had pointed out to him when he drove into the yard.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The very evening that he arrived at the homestead, while Annersley was milking the one tame cow out in the corral, Young Pete decided that he would help matters along by catching the hen which Annersley had pointed out to him when he drove into the yard.
initiativenounUS /ˌɪˈnɪʃətɪv/
readiness to embark on bold new ventures
From this reading Young Pete, used to thinking and acting for himself, possessed that most valuable but often dangerous asset, initiative.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading Milking did not interest Young Pete; but chasing chickens did.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The very evening that he arrived at the homestead, while Annersley was milking the one tame cow out in the corral, Young Pete decided that he would help matters along by catching the hen which Annersley had pointed out to him when he drove into the yard.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading For a few days the old man had his hands full.
maternal-appearing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hen, a slate-colored and maternal-appearing biddy, seemed to realize that something unusual was afoot.
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading The very evening that he arrived at the homestead, while Annersley was milking the one tame cow out in the corral, Young Pete decided that he would help matters along by catching the hen which Annersley had pointed out to him when he drove into the yard.
milkingverbUS /ˈmɪlkɪŋ/
-ing form of “milk” — take milk from female mammals
From this reading The very evening that he arrived at the homestead, while Annersley was milking the one tame cow out in the corral, Young Pete decided that he would help matters along by catching the hen which Annersley had pointed out to him when he drove into the yard.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Young Pete, used to thinking and acting for himself, possessed that most valuable but often dangerous asset, initiative.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Milking did not interest Young Pete; but chasing chickens did.
many times at short intervals
From this reading Young Pete, used to thinking and acting for himself, possessed that most valuable but often dangerous asset, initiative.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading For a few days the old man had his hands full.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The very evening that he arrived at the homestead, while Annersley was milking the one tame cow out in the corral, Young Pete decided that he would help matters along by catching the hen which Annersley had pointed out to him when he drove into the yard.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The very evening that he arrived at the homestead, while Annersley was milking the one tame cow out in the corral, Young Pete decided that he would help matters along by catching the hen which Annersley had pointed out to him when he drove into the yard.
Pete
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Young Pete, used to thinking and acting for himself, possessed that most valuable but often dangerous asset, initiative.
having a point
From this reading The very evening that he arrived at the homestead, while Annersley was milking the one tame cow out in the corral, Young Pete decided that he would help matters along by catching the hen which Annersley had pointed out to him when he drove into the yard.
influenced or controlled by a powerful force such as a strong emotion
From this reading Young Pete, used to thinking and acting for himself, possessed that most valuable but often dangerous asset, initiative.
be fully aware or cognizant of
From this reading The hen, a slate-colored and maternal-appearing biddy, seemed to realize that something unusual was afoot.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The hen, a slate-colored and maternal-appearing biddy, seemed to realize that something unusual was afoot.
slate-colored
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hen, a slate-colored and maternal-appearing biddy, seemed to realize that something unusual was afoot.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading The hen, a slate-colored and maternal-appearing biddy, seemed to realize that something unusual was afoot.
tameverbUS /teɪm/
correct by punishment or discipline
From this reading The very evening that he arrived at the homestead, while Annersley was milking the one tame cow out in the corral, Young Pete decided that he would help matters along by catching the hen which Annersley had pointed out to him when he drove into the yard.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Young Pete, used to thinking and acting for himself, possessed that most valuable but often dangerous asset, initiative.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For a few days the old man had his hands full.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading Young Pete, used to thinking and acting for himself, possessed that most valuable but often dangerous asset, initiative.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Young Pete, used to thinking and acting for himself, possessed that most valuable but often dangerous asset, initiative.
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading The hen, a slate-colored and maternal-appearing biddy, seemed to realize that something unusual was afoot.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading Young Pete, used to thinking and acting for himself, possessed that most valuable but often dangerous asset, initiative.
having great material or monetary value especially for use or exchange
From this reading Young Pete, used to thinking and acting for himself, possessed that most valuable but often dangerous asset, initiative.
precisely as stated
From this reading The very evening that he arrived at the homestead, while Annersley was milking the one tame cow out in the corral, Young Pete decided that he would help matters along by catching the hen which Annersley had pointed out to him when he drove into the yard.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The very evening that he arrived at the homestead, while Annersley was milking the one tame cow out in the corral, Young Pete decided that he would help matters along by catching the hen which Annersley had pointed out to him when he drove into the yard.
at the time that
From this reading The very evening that he arrived at the homestead, while Annersley was milking the one tame cow out in the corral, Young Pete decided that he would help matters along by catching the hen which Annersley had pointed out to him when he drove into the yard.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The very evening that he arrived at the homestead, while Annersley was milking the one tame cow out in the corral, Young Pete decided that he would help matters along by catching the hen which Annersley had pointed out to him when he drove into the yard.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The very evening that he arrived at the homestead, while Annersley was milking the one tame cow out in the corral, Young Pete decided that he would help matters along by catching the hen which Annersley had pointed out to him when he drove into the yard.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The very evening that he arrived at the homestead, while Annersley was milking the one tame cow out in the corral, Young Pete decided that he would help matters along by catching the hen which Annersley had pointed out to him when he drove into the yard.
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 The very evening that he arrived at the homestead, while Annersley was milking the one tame cow out in the corral, Young Pete decided that he would help matters along by catching the hen which Annersley had pointed out to him when he drove into the yard.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Young Pete, used to thinking and acting for himself, possessed that most valuable but often dangerous asset, initiative.
