used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Now I'll wager me dinner that she's hidin' under a cabbage-leaf, or in some burrd's nest."
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading But if so, Ladybird made no sign, and old Matthew tramped up and down the orchard, peering anxiously about while the shadows deepened.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading At last, as he stood beneath an old gnarled apple-tree, he heard what seemed to be a far-away crooning sort of song.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But if so, Ladybird made no sign, and old Matthew tramped up and down the orchard, peering anxiously about while the shadows deepened.
with anxiety or apprehension
From this reading But if so, Ladybird made no sign, and old Matthew tramped up and down the orchard, peering anxiously about while the shadows deepened.
apple-tree
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, as he stood beneath an old gnarled apple-tree, he heard what seemed to be a far-away crooning sort of song.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading At last, as he stood beneath an old gnarled apple-tree, he heard what seemed to be a far-away crooning sort of song.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At last, as he stood beneath an old gnarled apple-tree, he heard what seemed to be a far-away crooning sort of song.
auntsnounUS /ænts/
plural of “aunt” — the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading While the aunts were deciding upon Ladybird's future, old Matthew was wandering down the garden path toward the orchard.
batesverbUS /beɪts/
third-person singular of “bate” — moderate or restrain; lessen the force of
From this reading "She bates the Dutch, that child," he said to himself.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading At last, as he stood beneath an old gnarled apple-tree, he heard what seemed to be a far-away crooning sort of song.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading At last, as he stood beneath an old gnarled apple-tree, he heard what seemed to be a far-away crooning sort of song.
burrd's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Now I'll wager me dinner that she's hidin' under a cabbage-leaf, or in some burrd's nest."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But if so, Ladybird made no sign, and old Matthew tramped up and down the orchard, peering anxiously about while the shadows deepened.
cabbage-leaf
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Now I'll wager me dinner that she's hidin' under a cabbage-leaf, or in some burrd's nest."
a young person of either sex
From this reading "She bates the Dutch, that child," he said to himself.
crooningnounUS /ˈkruːnɪŋ/
singing in a soft low tone
From this reading At last, as he stood beneath an old gnarled apple-tree, he heard what seemed to be a far-away crooning sort of song.
decidingnounUS /ˌdɪˈsaɪdɪŋ/
the cognitive process of reaching a decision
From this reading While the aunts were deciding upon Ladybird's future, old Matthew was wandering down the garden path toward the orchard.
deepenedverbUS /ˈdiːpənd/
past form of “deepen” — make more intense, stronger, or more marked
From this reading But if so, Ladybird made no sign, and old Matthew tramped up and down the orchard, peering anxiously about while the shadows deepened.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading "Now I'll wager me dinner that she's hidin' under a cabbage-leaf, or in some burrd's nest."
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading While the aunts were deciding upon Ladybird's future, old Matthew was wandering down the garden path toward the orchard.
DutchadjectiveUS /dʌtʃ/
of or relating to the Netherlands or its people or culture
From this reading "She bates the Dutch, that child," he said to himself.
far-away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, as he stood beneath an old gnarled apple-tree, he heard what seemed to be a far-away crooning sort of song.
yet to be or coming
From this reading While the aunts were deciding upon Ladybird's future, old Matthew was wandering down the garden path toward the orchard.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading While the aunts were deciding upon Ladybird's future, old Matthew was wandering down the garden path toward the orchard.
gnarledadjectiveUS /nɑːrld/
used of old persons or old trees; covered with knobs or knots
From this reading At last, as he stood beneath an old gnarled apple-tree, he heard what seemed to be a far-away crooning sort of song.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "She bates the Dutch, that child," he said to himself.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading At last, as he stood beneath an old gnarled apple-tree, he heard what seemed to be a far-away crooning sort of song.
hidin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Now I'll wager me dinner that she's hidin' under a cabbage-leaf, or in some burrd's nest."
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading "She bates the Dutch, that child," he said to himself.
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Now I'll wager me dinner that she's hidin' under a cabbage-leaf, or in some burrd's nest."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading But if so, Ladybird made no sign, and old Matthew tramped up and down the orchard, peering anxiously about while the shadows deepened.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Now I'll wager me dinner that she's hidin' under a cabbage-leaf, or in some burrd's nest."
LadybirdnounUS /ˈleɪdibɜːrd/
small round bright-colored and spotted beetle that usually feeds on aphids and other insect pests
From this reading But if so, Ladybird made no sign, and old Matthew tramped up and down the orchard, peering anxiously about while the shadows deepened.
Ladybird's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While the aunts were deciding upon Ladybird's future, old Matthew was wandering down the garden path toward the orchard.
immediately past
From this reading At last, as he stood beneath an old gnarled apple-tree, he heard what seemed to be a far-away crooning sort of song.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading But if so, Ladybird made no sign, and old Matthew tramped up and down the orchard, peering anxiously about while the shadows deepened.
MatthewnounUS /ˈmæθjuː/
(New Testament) disciple of Jesus; traditionally considered to be the author of the first Gospel
From this reading While the aunts were deciding upon Ladybird's future, old Matthew was wandering down the garden path toward the orchard.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Now I'll wager me dinner that she's hidin' under a cabbage-leaf, or in some burrd's nest."
a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young
From this reading "Now I'll wager me dinner that she's hidin' under a cabbage-leaf, or in some burrd's nest."
not any; not one
From this reading But if so, Ladybird made no sign, and old Matthew tramped up and down the orchard, peering anxiously about while the shadows deepened.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Now I'll wager me dinner that she's hidin' under a cabbage-leaf, or in some burrd's nest."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At last, as he stood beneath an old gnarled apple-tree, he heard what seemed to be a far-away crooning sort of song.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading While the aunts were deciding upon Ladybird's future, old Matthew was wandering down the garden path toward the orchard.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "Now I'll wager me dinner that she's hidin' under a cabbage-leaf, or in some burrd's nest."
orchardnounUS /ˈɔːrtʃərd/
garden consisting of a small cultivated wood without undergrowth
From this reading While the aunts were deciding upon Ladybird's future, old Matthew was wandering down the garden path toward the orchard.
a course of conduct
From this reading While the aunts were deciding upon Ladybird's future, old Matthew was wandering down the garden path toward the orchard.
peeringverbUS /ˈpiːrɪŋ/
-ing form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading But if so, Ladybird made no sign, and old Matthew tramped up and down the orchard, peering anxiously about while the shadows deepened.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "She bates the Dutch, that child," he said to himself.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading At last, as he stood beneath an old gnarled apple-tree, he heard what seemed to be a far-away crooning sort of song.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading But if so, Ladybird made no sign, and old Matthew tramped up and down the orchard, peering anxiously about while the shadows deepened.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "She bates the Dutch, that child," he said to himself.
she's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Now I'll wager me dinner that she's hidin' under a cabbage-leaf, or in some burrd's nest."
a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading But if so, Ladybird made no sign, and old Matthew tramped up and down the orchard, peering anxiously about while the shadows deepened.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But if so, Ladybird made no sign, and old Matthew tramped up and down the orchard, peering anxiously about while the shadows deepened.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading "Now I'll wager me dinner that she's hidin' under a cabbage-leaf, or in some burrd's nest."
a short musical composition with words
From this reading At last, as he stood beneath an old gnarled apple-tree, he heard what seemed to be a far-away crooning sort of song.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading At last, as he stood beneath an old gnarled apple-tree, he heard what seemed to be a far-away crooning sort of song.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading At last, as he stood beneath an old gnarled apple-tree, he heard what seemed to be a far-away crooning sort of song.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "She bates the Dutch, that child," he said to himself.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading While the aunts were deciding upon Ladybird's future, old Matthew was wandering down the garden path toward the orchard.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "She bates the Dutch, that child," he said to himself.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading While the aunts were deciding upon Ladybird's future, old Matthew was wandering down the garden path toward the orchard.
trampedverbUS /træmpt/
past form of “tramp” — travel on foot, especially on a walking expedition
From this reading But if so, Ladybird made no sign, and old Matthew tramped up and down the orchard, peering anxiously about while the shadows deepened.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading "Now I'll wager me dinner that she's hidin' under a cabbage-leaf, or in some burrd's nest."
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading But if so, Ladybird made no sign, and old Matthew tramped up and down the orchard, peering anxiously about while the shadows deepened.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading While the aunts were deciding upon Ladybird's future, old Matthew was wandering down the garden path toward the orchard.
wagernounUS /ˈweɪdʒər/
the act of gambling
From this reading "Now I'll wager me dinner that she's hidin' under a cabbage-leaf, or in some burrd's nest."
migratory
From this reading While the aunts were deciding upon Ladybird's future, old Matthew was wandering down the garden path toward the orchard.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading While the aunts were deciding upon Ladybird's future, old Matthew was wandering down the garden path toward the orchard.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading While the aunts were deciding upon Ladybird's future, old Matthew was wandering down the garden path toward the orchard.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading At last, as he stood beneath an old gnarled apple-tree, he heard what seemed to be a far-away crooning sort of song.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While the aunts were deciding upon Ladybird's future, old Matthew was wandering down the garden path toward the orchard.
