used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They had a talent for trading and soon began buying eggs and butter from the farmers, which they sold to the workers at the sugar refinery.
past form of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading Osa and Mats were allowed to keep the room on condition that they would tend the geese, as it was always hard to find children willing to do that work.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading Osa and Mats were allowed to keep the room on condition that they would tend the geese, as it was always hard to find children willing to do that work.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Osa and Mats were allowed to keep the room on condition that they would tend the geese, as it was always hard to find children willing to do that work.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Osa and Mats were allowed to keep the room on condition that they would tend the geese, as it was always hard to find children willing to do that work.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The girl made candy, and the boy carved wooden toys, which they sold at the farm houses.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading They had a talent for trading and soon began buying eggs and butter from the farmers, which they sold to the workers at the sugar refinery.
a youthful male person
From this reading The girl made candy, and the boy carved wooden toys, which they sold at the farm houses.
butternounUS /ˈbʌtər/
an edible emulsion of fat globules made by churning milk or cream; for cooking and table use
From this reading They had a talent for trading and soon began buying eggs and butter from the farmers, which they sold to the workers at the sugar refinery.
buyingnounUS /ˈbaɪɪŋ/
the act of buying
From this reading They had a talent for trading and soon began buying eggs and butter from the farmers, which they sold to the workers at the sugar refinery.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Osa was the older, and, by the time she was thirteen, she was as responsible as a grown woman.
candynounUS /ˈkændi/
a rich sweet made of flavored sugar and often combined with fruit or nuts
From this reading The girl made candy, and the boy carved wooden toys, which they sold at the farm houses.
carvedadjectiveUS /kɑːrvd/
made for or formed by carving (“carven” is archaic or literary)
From this reading The girl made candy, and the boy carved wooden toys, which they sold at the farm houses.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading Osa and Mats were allowed to keep the room on condition that they would tend the geese, as it was always hard to find children willing to do that work.
a state at a particular time
From this reading Osa and Mats were allowed to keep the room on condition that they would tend the geese, as it was always hard to find children willing to do that work.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It turned out as the mother expected: they did maintain themselves.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Osa and Mats were allowed to keep the room on condition that they would tend the geese, as it was always hard to find children willing to do that work.
eggsnounUS /eɡz/
oval reproductive body of a fowl (especially a hen) used as food
From this reading They had a talent for trading and soon began buying eggs and butter from the farmers, which they sold to the workers at the sugar refinery.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading It turned out as the mother expected: they did maintain themselves.
be a farmer; work as a farmer
From this reading The girl made candy, and the boy carved wooden toys, which they sold at the farm houses.
farmersnounUS /ˈfɑːrmərz/
plural of “farmer” — a person who operates a farm
From this reading They had a talent for trading and soon began buying eggs and butter from the farmers, which they sold to the workers at the sugar refinery.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading Osa and Mats were allowed to keep the room on condition that they would tend the geese, as it was always hard to find children willing to do that work.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They had a talent for trading and soon began buying eggs and butter from the farmers, which they sold to the workers at the sugar refinery.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading They had a talent for trading and soon began buying eggs and butter from the farmers, which they sold to the workers at the sugar refinery.
geesenounUS /ɡiːs/
plural of “goose” — web-footed long-necked typically gregarious migratory aquatic birds usually larger and less aquatic than ducks
From this reading Osa and Mats were allowed to keep the room on condition that they would tend the geese, as it was always hard to find children willing to do that work.
a young female
From this reading The girl made candy, and the boy carved wooden toys, which they sold at the farm houses.
(of animals) fully developed
From this reading Osa was the older, and, by the time she was thirteen, she was as responsible as a grown woman.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had a talent for trading and soon began buying eggs and butter from the farmers, which they sold to the workers at the sugar refinery.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Osa and Mats were allowed to keep the room on condition that they would tend the geese, as it was always hard to find children willing to do that work.
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The girl made candy, and the boy carved wooden toys, which they sold at the farm houses.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Osa and Mats were allowed to keep the room on condition that they would tend the geese, as it was always hard to find children willing to do that work.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Osa and Mats were allowed to keep the room on condition that they would tend the geese, as it was always hard to find children willing to do that work.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The girl made candy, and the boy carved wooden toys, which they sold at the farm houses.
maintainverbUS /meɪnˈteɪn/
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading It turned out as the mother expected: they did maintain themselves.
MatsnounUS /mæts/
plural of “mat” — a thick flat pad used as a floor covering
From this reading Osa and Mats were allowed to keep the room on condition that they would tend the geese, as it was always hard to find children willing to do that work.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading It turned out as the mother expected: they did maintain themselves.
olderadjectiveUS /ˈoʊldər/
advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)
From this reading Osa was the older, and, by the time she was thirteen, she was as responsible as a grown woman.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Osa and Mats were allowed to keep the room on condition that they would tend the geese, as it was always hard to find children willing to do that work.
Osa
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Osa and Mats were allowed to keep the room on condition that they would tend the geese, as it was always hard to find children willing to do that work.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It turned out as the mother expected: they did maintain themselves.
refinerynounUS /rɪˈfaɪnəri/
an industrial plant for purifying a crude substance
From this reading They had a talent for trading and soon began buying eggs and butter from the farmers, which they sold to the workers at the sugar refinery.
responsibleadjectiveUS /riˈspɑːnsəbəl/
worthy of or requiring responsibility or trust; or held accountable
From this reading Osa was the older, and, by the time she was thirteen, she was as responsible as a grown woman.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Osa and Mats were allowed to keep the room on condition that they would tend the geese, as it was always hard to find children willing to do that work.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Osa was the older, and, by the time she was thirteen, she was as responsible as a grown woman.
disposed of to a purchaser
From this reading The girl made candy, and the boy carved wooden toys, which they sold at the farm houses.
in the near future
From this reading They had a talent for trading and soon began buying eggs and butter from the farmers, which they sold to the workers at the sugar refinery.
sugarnounUS /ˈʃʊɡər/
a white crystalline carbohydrate used as a sweetener and preservative
From this reading They had a talent for trading and soon began buying eggs and butter from the farmers, which they sold to the workers at the sugar refinery.
talentnounUS /ˈtælənt/
natural abilities or qualities
From this reading They had a talent for trading and soon began buying eggs and butter from the farmers, which they sold to the workers at the sugar refinery.
tendverbUS /tend/
have a tendency or disposition to do or be something; be inclined
From this reading Osa and Mats were allowed to keep the room on condition that they would tend the geese, as it was always hard to find children willing to do that work.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Osa and Mats were allowed to keep the room on condition that they would tend the geese, as it was always hard to find children willing to do that work.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Osa and Mats were allowed to keep the room on condition that they would tend the geese, as it was always hard to find children willing to do that work.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading It turned out as the mother expected: they did maintain themselves.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Osa and Mats were allowed to keep the room on condition that they would tend the geese, as it was always hard to find children willing to do that work.
thirteennounUS /ˈθɜːrˈtiːn/
the cardinal number that is the sum of twelve and one
From this reading Osa was the older, and, by the time she was thirteen, she was as responsible as a grown woman.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Osa was the older, and, by the time she was thirteen, she was as responsible as a grown woman.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Osa and Mats were allowed to keep the room on condition that they would tend the geese, as it was always hard to find children willing to do that work.
toysnounUS /tɔɪz/
plural of “toy” — an artifact designed to be played with
From this reading The girl made candy, and the boy carved wooden toys, which they sold at the farm houses.
tradingnounUS /ˈtreɪdɪŋ/
buying or selling securities or commodities
From this reading They had a talent for trading and soon began buying eggs and butter from the farmers, which they sold to the workers at the sugar refinery.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading It turned out as the mother expected: they did maintain themselves.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Osa and Mats were allowed to keep the room on condition that they would tend the geese, as it was always hard to find children willing to do that work.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Osa and Mats were allowed to keep the room on condition that they would tend the geese, as it was always hard to find children willing to do that work.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The girl made candy, and the boy carved wooden toys, which they sold at the farm houses.
disposed or inclined toward
From this reading Osa and Mats were allowed to keep the room on condition that they would tend the geese, as it was always hard to find children willing to do that work.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Osa was the older, and, by the time she was thirteen, she was as responsible as a grown woman.
made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood
From this reading The girl made candy, and the boy carved wooden toys, which they sold at the farm houses.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Osa and Mats were allowed to keep the room on condition that they would tend the geese, as it was always hard to find children willing to do that work.
workersnounUS /ˈwɜːrkərz/
plural of “worker” — a person who works at a specific occupation
From this reading They had a talent for trading and soon began buying eggs and butter from the farmers, which they sold to the workers at the sugar refinery.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Osa and Mats were allowed to keep the room on condition that they would tend the geese, as it was always hard to find children willing to do that work.
