used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She went over to the store on an errand and tarried a few moments, as she always did when an excuse offered, to talk with the tall, good-natured clerk.
Abe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Sis Rutledge who broke the news to Abe Lincoln that Ann said he was afraid of women.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading "WHO'S AFRAID?"
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading She went over to the store on an errand and tarried a few moments, as she always did when an excuse offered, to talk with the tall, good-natured clerk.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She went over to the store on an errand and tarried a few moments, as she always did when an excuse offered, to talk with the tall, good-natured clerk.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She went over to the store on an errand and tarried a few moments, as she always did when an excuse offered, to talk with the tall, good-natured clerk.
Ann
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Sis Rutledge who broke the news to Abe Lincoln that Ann said he was afraid of women.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Goin' to Mis' Green's quiltin'-bee, are you?"
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She went over to the store on an errand and tarried a few moments, as she always did when an excuse offered, to talk with the tall, good-natured clerk.
beenounUS /biː/
any of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species
From this reading "Goin' to Mis' Green's quiltin'-bee, are you?"
lacking funds
From this reading It was Sis Rutledge who broke the news to Abe Lincoln that Ann said he was afraid of women.
an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading She went over to the store on an errand and tarried a few moments, as she always did when an excuse offered, to talk with the tall, good-natured clerk.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading She went over to the store on an errand and tarried a few moments, as she always did when an excuse offered, to talk with the tall, good-natured clerk.
errandnounUS /ˈerənd/
a short trip that is taken in the performance of a necessary task or mission
From this reading She went over to the store on an errand and tarried a few moments, as she always did when an excuse offered, to talk with the tall, good-natured clerk.
accept an excuse for
From this reading She went over to the store on an errand and tarried a few moments, as she always did when an excuse offered, to talk with the tall, good-natured clerk.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading She went over to the store on an errand and tarried a few moments, as she always did when an excuse offered, to talk with the tall, good-natured clerk.
Goin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Goin' to Mis' Green's quiltin'-bee, are you?"
good-naturedadjective
having an easygoing and cheerful disposition
From this reading She went over to the store on an errand and tarried a few moments, as she always did when an excuse offered, to talk with the tall, good-natured clerk.
Green'snounUS /ɡriːnz/
possessive form of “green” — green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading This time Mrs. Green's quilting-bee offered an excuse.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was Sis Rutledge who broke the news to Abe Lincoln that Ann said he was afraid of women.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was Sis Rutledge who broke the news to Abe Lincoln that Ann said he was afraid of women.
LincolnnounUS /ˈlɪŋkən/
16th President of the United States; saved the Union during the American Civil War and emancipated the slaves; was assassinated by Booth (1809-1865)
From this reading It was Sis Rutledge who broke the news to Abe Lincoln that Ann said he was afraid of women.
MisnounUS /mɪs/
plural of “mi” — destruction of heart tissue resulting from obstruction of the blood supply to the heart muscle
From this reading "Goin' to Mis' Green's quiltin'-bee, are you?"
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading She went over to the store on an errand and tarried a few moments, as she always did when an excuse offered, to talk with the tall, good-natured clerk.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading This time Mrs. Green's quilting-bee offered an excuse.
information about recent and important events
From this reading It was Sis Rutledge who broke the news to Abe Lincoln that Ann said he was afraid of women.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was Sis Rutledge who broke the news to Abe Lincoln that Ann said he was afraid of women.
past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading She went over to the store on an errand and tarried a few moments, as she always did when an excuse offered, to talk with the tall, good-natured clerk.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She went over to the store on an errand and tarried a few moments, as she always did when an excuse offered, to talk with the tall, good-natured clerk.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading She went over to the store on an errand and tarried a few moments, as she always did when an excuse offered, to talk with the tall, good-natured clerk.
quiltin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Goin' to Mis' Green's quiltin'-bee, are you?"
quilting-bee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This time Mrs. Green's quilting-bee offered an excuse.
RutledgenounUS /ˈrʌtlɪdʒ/
United States jurist and second chief justice of the United States Supreme Court; he was appointed by George Washington and briefly served as chief justice but was ultimately rejected by the United States Senate (1739-1800)
From this reading It was Sis Rutledge who broke the news to Abe Lincoln that Ann said he was afraid of women.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading It was Sis Rutledge who broke the news to Abe Lincoln that Ann said he was afraid of women.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She went over to the store on an errand and tarried a few moments, as she always did when an excuse offered, to talk with the tall, good-natured clerk.
SisnounUS /sɪs/
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading It was Sis Rutledge who broke the news to Abe Lincoln that Ann said he was afraid of women.
a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
From this reading She went over to the store on an errand and tarried a few moments, as she always did when an excuse offered, to talk with the tall, good-natured clerk.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading She went over to the store on an errand and tarried a few moments, as she always did when an excuse offered, to talk with the tall, good-natured clerk.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading She went over to the store on an errand and tarried a few moments, as she always did when an excuse offered, to talk with the tall, good-natured clerk.
tarried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She went over to the store on an errand and tarried a few moments, as she always did when an excuse offered, to talk with the tall, good-natured clerk.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was Sis Rutledge who broke the news to Abe Lincoln that Ann said he was afraid of women.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was Sis Rutledge who broke the news to Abe Lincoln that Ann said he was afraid of women.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This time Mrs. Green's quilting-bee offered an excuse.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading This time Mrs. Green's quilting-bee offered an excuse.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was Sis Rutledge who broke the news to Abe Lincoln that Ann said he was afraid of women.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was Sis Rutledge who broke the news to Abe Lincoln that Ann said he was afraid of women.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading She went over to the store on an errand and tarried a few moments, as she always did when an excuse offered, to talk with the tall, good-natured clerk.
at the time that
From this reading She went over to the store on an errand and tarried a few moments, as she always did when an excuse offered, to talk with the tall, good-natured clerk.
which person or people
From this reading It was Sis Rutledge who broke the news to Abe Lincoln that Ann said he was afraid of women.
WHO'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "WHO'S AFRAID?"
in the company of; together with
From this reading She went over to the store on an errand and tarried a few moments, as she always did when an excuse offered, to talk with the tall, good-natured clerk.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading It was Sis Rutledge who broke the news to Abe Lincoln that Ann said he was afraid of women.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Goin' to Mis' Green's quiltin'-bee, are you?"
