used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There came a day when there seemed to be nothing left to do for Patty.
anew
From this reading Maggie was well, and at play again in the tiny yard.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Maggie was well, and at play again in the tiny yard.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Maggie was well, and at play again in the tiny yard.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There came a day when there seemed to be nothing left to do for Patty.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Within, before a cheery fire, Patty sewed industriously on garments which Miss Kendall no wise needed, but for which Miss Kendall would pay much money.
bitsnounUS /bɪts/
plural of “bit” — a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading The yard itself was no longer strewn with tin cans and bits of paper, nor did the gate hang half-hinged in slovenly decrepitude.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Within, before a cheery fire, Patty sewed industriously on garments which Miss Kendall no wise needed, but for which Miss Kendall would pay much money.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading There came a day when there seemed to be nothing left to do for Patty.
cansnounUS /kænz/
plural of “can” — airtight sealed metal container for food or drink or paint etc.
From this reading The yard itself was no longer strewn with tin cans and bits of paper, nor did the gate hang half-hinged in slovenly decrepitude.
cheeryadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɪri/
bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
From this reading Within, before a cheery fire, Patty sewed industriously on garments which Miss Kendall no wise needed, but for which Miss Kendall would pay much money.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading There came a day when there seemed to be nothing left to do for Patty.
decrepitudenoun
a state of deterioration due to old age or long use
From this reading The yard itself was no longer strewn with tin cans and bits of paper, nor did the gate hang half-hinged in slovenly decrepitude.
defyverbUS /dɪˈfaɪ/
resist or confront with resistance
From this reading The house rejoiced in new paper, paint, and window-glass, and the roof showed a spotted surface that would defy the heaviest shower.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The yard itself was no longer strewn with tin cans and bits of paper, nor did the gate hang half-hinged in slovenly decrepitude.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading There came a day when there seemed to be nothing left to do for Patty.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Within, before a cheery fire, Patty sewed industriously on garments which Miss Kendall no wise needed, but for which Miss Kendall would pay much money.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There came a day when there seemed to be nothing left to do for Patty.
garmentsnounUS /ˈɡɑːrmənts/
plural of “garment” — an article of clothing
From this reading Within, before a cheery fire, Patty sewed industriously on garments which Miss Kendall no wise needed, but for which Miss Kendall would pay much money.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading The yard itself was no longer strewn with tin cans and bits of paper, nor did the gate hang half-hinged in slovenly decrepitude.
half-hinged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The yard itself was no longer strewn with tin cans and bits of paper, nor did the gate hang half-hinged in slovenly decrepitude.
be suspended or hanging
From this reading The yard itself was no longer strewn with tin cans and bits of paper, nor did the gate hang half-hinged in slovenly decrepitude.
heaviestadjectiveUS /ˈheviəst/
superlative of “heavy” — of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading The house rejoiced in new paper, paint, and window-glass, and the roof showed a spotted surface that would defy the heaviest shower.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The house rejoiced in new paper, paint, and window-glass, and the roof showed a spotted surface that would defy the heaviest shower.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Maggie was well, and at play again in the tiny yard.
industriouslyadverb
in an industrious manner
From this reading Within, before a cheery fire, Patty sewed industriously on garments which Miss Kendall no wise needed, but for which Miss Kendall would pay much money.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading The yard itself was no longer strewn with tin cans and bits of paper, nor did the gate hang half-hinged in slovenly decrepitude.
KendallnounUS /ˈkendəl/
United States biochemist who discovered cortisone (1886-1972)
From this reading Within, before a cheery fire, Patty sewed industriously on garments which Miss Kendall no wise needed, but for which Miss Kendall would pay much money.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading There came a day when there seemed to be nothing left to do for Patty.
for more time
From this reading The yard itself was no longer strewn with tin cans and bits of paper, nor did the gate hang half-hinged in slovenly decrepitude.
Maggie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Maggie was well, and at play again in the tiny yard.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Within, before a cheery fire, Patty sewed industriously on garments which Miss Kendall no wise needed, but for which Miss Kendall would pay much money.
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading Within, before a cheery fire, Patty sewed industriously on garments which Miss Kendall no wise needed, but for which Miss Kendall would pay much money.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Within, before a cheery fire, Patty sewed industriously on garments which Miss Kendall no wise needed, but for which Miss Kendall would pay much money.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading Within, before a cheery fire, Patty sewed industriously on garments which Miss Kendall no wise needed, but for which Miss Kendall would pay much money.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading The house rejoiced in new paper, paint, and window-glass, and the roof showed a spotted surface that would defy the heaviest shower.
not any; not one
From this reading The yard itself was no longer strewn with tin cans and bits of paper, nor did the gate hang half-hinged in slovenly decrepitude.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading The yard itself was no longer strewn with tin cans and bits of paper, nor did the gate hang half-hinged in slovenly decrepitude.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading There came a day when there seemed to be nothing left to do for Patty.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The yard itself was no longer strewn with tin cans and bits of paper, nor did the gate hang half-hinged in slovenly decrepitude.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Within, before a cheery fire, Patty sewed industriously on garments which Miss Kendall no wise needed, but for which Miss Kendall would pay much money.
paintverbUS /peɪnt/
make a painting
From this reading The house rejoiced in new paper, paint, and window-glass, and the roof showed a spotted surface that would defy the heaviest shower.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading The yard itself was no longer strewn with tin cans and bits of paper, nor did the gate hang half-hinged in slovenly decrepitude.
PattynounUS /ˈpæti/
small flat mass of chopped food
From this reading There came a day when there seemed to be nothing left to do for Patty.
give money, usually in exchange for goods or services
From this reading Within, before a cheery fire, Patty sewed industriously on garments which Miss Kendall no wise needed, but for which Miss Kendall would pay much money.
participate in games or sport
From this reading Maggie was well, and at play again in the tiny yard.
rejoicedverbUS /rɪˈdʒɔɪst/
past form of “rejoice” — feel happiness or joy
From this reading The house rejoiced in new paper, paint, and window-glass, and the roof showed a spotted surface that would defy the heaviest shower.
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading The house rejoiced in new paper, paint, and window-glass, and the roof showed a spotted surface that would defy the heaviest shower.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading There came a day when there seemed to be nothing left to do for Patty.
sewedadjectiveUS /soʊd/
fastened with stitches
From this reading Within, before a cheery fire, Patty sewed industriously on garments which Miss Kendall no wise needed, but for which Miss Kendall would pay much money.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The house rejoiced in new paper, paint, and window-glass, and the roof showed a spotted surface that would defy the heaviest shower.
showernounUS /ˈʃaʊər/
a plumbing fixture that sprays water over you
From this reading The house rejoiced in new paper, paint, and window-glass, and the roof showed a spotted surface that would defy the heaviest shower.
slovenlyadjectiveUS /ˈslʌvənli/
negligent of neatness especially in dress and person; habitually dirty and unkempt
From this reading The yard itself was no longer strewn with tin cans and bits of paper, nor did the gate hang half-hinged in slovenly decrepitude.
spottedadjectiveUS /ˈspɑːtɪd/
having spots or patches (small areas of contrasting color or texture)
From this reading The house rejoiced in new paper, paint, and window-glass, and the roof showed a spotted surface that would defy the heaviest shower.
strewnverbUS /struːn/
inflected form of “strew” — spread by scattering ("straw" is archaic)
From this reading The yard itself was no longer strewn with tin cans and bits of paper, nor did the gate hang half-hinged in slovenly decrepitude.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading The house rejoiced in new paper, paint, and window-glass, and the roof showed a spotted surface that would defy the heaviest shower.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The house rejoiced in new paper, paint, and window-glass, and the roof showed a spotted surface that would defy the heaviest shower.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Maggie was well, and at play again in the tiny yard.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There came a day when there seemed to be nothing left to do for Patty.
tinnounUS /tɪn/
a silvery malleable metallic element that resists corrosion; used in many alloys and to coat other metals to prevent corrosion; obtained chiefly from cassiterite where it occurs as tin oxide
From this reading The yard itself was no longer strewn with tin cans and bits of paper, nor did the gate hang half-hinged in slovenly decrepitude.
very small
From this reading Maggie was well, and at play again in the tiny yard.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There came a day when there seemed to be nothing left to do for Patty.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Maggie was well, and at play again in the tiny yard.
(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 Maggie was well, and at play again in the tiny yard.
at the time that
From this reading There came a day when there seemed to be nothing left to do for Patty.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Within, before a cheery fire, Patty sewed industriously on garments which Miss Kendall no wise needed, but for which Miss Kendall would pay much money.
window-glass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house rejoiced in new paper, paint, and window-glass, and the roof showed a spotted surface that would defy the heaviest shower.
having or prompted by wisdom or discernment
From this reading Within, before a cheery fire, Patty sewed industriously on garments which Miss Kendall no wise needed, but for which Miss Kendall would pay much money.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The yard itself was no longer strewn with tin cans and bits of paper, nor did the gate hang half-hinged in slovenly decrepitude.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Within, before a cheery fire, Patty sewed industriously on garments which Miss Kendall no wise needed, but for which Miss Kendall would pay much money.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The house rejoiced in new paper, paint, and window-glass, and the roof showed a spotted surface that would defy the heaviest shower.
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 Maggie was well, and at play again in the tiny yard.
