used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But to be penned down in a potato patch was almost more than he could endure.
Abner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading *BEATING THE MOVIES* The next morning Abner worked at his potatoes.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading He preferred boating or lumbering, with all the excitement and uncertainty attached to each.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading But to be penned down in a potato patch was almost more than he could endure.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was not fond of this job, as the weeds were very thick and his temper was none the best.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading It was hard, anyway, for him to settle down for any length of time to one task.
used to indicate that a statement explains or supports a previous statement
From this reading It was hard, anyway, for him to settle down for any length of time to one task.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He was not fond of this job, as the weeds were very thick and his temper was none the best.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading *BEATING THE MOVIES* The next morning Abner worked at his potatoes.
being joined in close association
From this reading He preferred boating or lumbering, with all the excitement and uncertainty attached to each.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But to be penned down in a potato patch was almost more than he could endure.
the act of overcoming or outdoing
From this reading *BEATING THE MOVIES* The next morning Abner worked at his potatoes.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading He was not fond of this job, as the weeds were very thick and his temper was none the best.
boatingnounUS /ˈboʊtɪŋ/
water travel for pleasure
From this reading He preferred boating or lumbering, with all the excitement and uncertainty attached to each.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But to be penned down in a potato patch was almost more than he could endure.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But to be penned down in a potato patch was almost more than he could endure.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading It was hard, anyway, for him to settle down for any length of time to one task.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading He preferred boating or lumbering, with all the excitement and uncertainty attached to each.
put up with something or somebody unpleasant
From this reading But to be penned down in a potato patch was almost more than he could endure.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading He preferred boating or lumbering, with all the excitement and uncertainty attached to each.
having or displaying warmth or affection
From this reading He was not fond of this job, as the weeds were very thick and his temper was none the best.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was hard, anyway, for him to settle down for any length of time to one task.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading It was hard, anyway, for him to settle down for any length of time to one task.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was not fond of this job, as the weeds were very thick and his temper was none the best.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was hard, anyway, for him to settle down for any length of time to one task.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading *BEATING THE MOVIES* The next morning Abner worked at his potatoes.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But to be penned down in a potato patch was almost more than he could endure.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was hard, anyway, for him to settle down for any length of time to one task.
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading He was not fond of this job, as the weeds were very thick and his temper was none the best.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading It was hard, anyway, for him to settle down for any length of time to one task.
lumberingnounUS /ˈlʌmbərɪŋ/
the trade of cutting or preparing or selling timber
From this reading He preferred boating or lumbering, with all the excitement and uncertainty attached to each.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading But to be penned down in a potato patch was almost more than he could endure.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading *BEATING THE MOVIES* The next morning Abner worked at his potatoes.
MOVIESnounUS /ˈmuːviz/
plural of “movie” — a form of entertainment that enacts a story by sound and a sequence of images giving the illusion of continuous movement
From this reading *BEATING THE MOVIES* The next morning Abner worked at his potatoes.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading *BEATING THE MOVIES* The next morning Abner worked at his potatoes.
not one, and not any
From this reading He was not fond of this job, as the weeds were very thick and his temper was none the best.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He was not fond of this job, as the weeds were very thick and his temper was none the best.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was not fond of this job, as the weeds were very thick and his temper was none the best.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was hard, anyway, for him to settle down for any length of time to one task.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He preferred boating or lumbering, with all the excitement and uncertainty attached to each.
patchnounUS /pætʃ/
a small contrasting part of something
From this reading But to be penned down in a potato patch was almost more than he could endure.
pennedverbUS /pend/
inflected form of “pen” — produce a literary work
From this reading But to be penned down in a potato patch was almost more than he could endure.
potatonounUS /pəˈteɪtoʊ/
an edible tuber native to South America; a staple food of Ireland
From this reading But to be penned down in a potato patch was almost more than he could endure.
potatoesnounUS /pəˈteɪtoʊz/
plural of “potato” — an edible tuber native to South America; a staple food of Ireland
From this reading *BEATING THE MOVIES* The next morning Abner worked at his potatoes.
preferredadjectiveUS /prəˈfɜːrd/
more desirable than another
From this reading He preferred boating or lumbering, with all the excitement and uncertainty attached to each.
settle into a position, usually on a surface or ground
From this reading It was hard, anyway, for him to settle down for any length of time to one task.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading It was hard, anyway, for him to settle down for any length of time to one task.
a sudden outburst of anger
From this reading He was not fond of this job, as the weeds were very thick and his temper was none the best.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But to be penned down in a potato patch was almost more than he could endure.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading *BEATING THE MOVIES* The next morning Abner worked at his potatoes.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading He was not fond of this job, as the weeds were very thick and his temper was none the best.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He was not fond of this job, as the weeds were very thick and his temper was none the best.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It was hard, anyway, for him to settle down for any length of time to one task.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was hard, anyway, for him to settle down for any length of time to one task.
uncertaintynounUS /ənˈsɜːrtənti/
being unsettled or in doubt or dependent on chance
From this reading He preferred boating or lumbering, with all the excitement and uncertainty attached to each.
precisely as stated
From this reading He was not fond of this job, as the weeds were very thick and his temper was none the best.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was not fond of this job, as the weeds were very thick and his temper was none the best.
weedsnounUS /wiːdz/
a black garment (dress) worn by a widow as a sign of mourning
From this reading He was not fond of this job, as the weeds were very thick and his temper was none the best.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He was not fond of this job, as the weeds were very thick and his temper was none the best.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He preferred boating or lumbering, with all the excitement and uncertainty attached to each.
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading *BEATING THE MOVIES* The next morning Abner worked at his potatoes.
