used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A NEW ACQUAINTANCE.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading While Ernest's clothes were drying the Indian woman was bustling about the stove.
personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading A NEW ACQUAINTANCE.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was the first time he had ever been a guest in an Indian family, and he hesitated, but saw that his refusal to partake might hurt the feelings of his new friends.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The boy did not suspect her object till she placed on the table a plate of Indian cakes hot from the oven, and he was invited to partake.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He seated himself at the table and found the cakes really very good.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was the first time he had ever been a guest in an Indian family, and he hesitated, but saw that his refusal to partake might hurt the feelings of his new friends.
a youthful male person
From this reading The boy did not suspect her object till she placed on the table a plate of Indian cakes hot from the oven, and he was invited to partake.
bustlingadjectiveUS /ˈbʌsəlɪŋ/
full of energetic and noisy activity
From this reading While Ernest's clothes were drying the Indian woman was bustling about the stove.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was the first time he had ever been a guest in an Indian family, and he hesitated, but saw that his refusal to partake might hurt the feelings of his new friends.
cakesnounUS /keɪks/
plural of “cake” — a block of solid substance (such as soap or wax)
From this reading The boy did not suspect her object till she placed on the table a plate of Indian cakes hot from the oven, and he was invited to partake.
clothing in general
From this reading While Ernest's clothes were drying the Indian woman was bustling about the stove.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The boy did not suspect her object till she placed on the table a plate of Indian cakes hot from the oven, and he was invited to partake.
dryingverbUS /ˈdraɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “dry” — remove the moisture from and make dry
From this reading While Ernest's clothes were drying the Indian woman was bustling about the stove.
Ernest's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While Ernest's clothes were drying the Indian woman was bustling about the stove.
at any time
From this reading It was the first time he had ever been a guest in an Indian family, and he hesitated, but saw that his refusal to partake might hurt the feelings of his new friends.
a social unit living together
From this reading It was the first time he had ever been a guest in an Indian family, and he hesitated, but saw that his refusal to partake might hurt the feelings of his new friends.
emotional or moral sensitivity (especially in relation to personal principles or dignity)
From this reading It was the first time he had ever been a guest in an Indian family, and he hesitated, but saw that his refusal to partake might hurt the feelings of his new friends.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading It was the first time he had ever been a guest in an Indian family, and he hesitated, but saw that his refusal to partake might hurt the feelings of his new friends.
set up or found
From this reading He seated himself at the table and found the cakes really very good.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading It was the first time he had ever been a guest in an Indian family, and he hesitated, but saw that his refusal to partake might hurt the feelings of his new friends.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The boy did not suspect her object till she placed on the table a plate of Indian cakes hot from the oven, and he was invited to partake.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading He seated himself at the table and found the cakes really very good.
a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading It was the first time he had ever been a guest in an Indian family, and he hesitated, but saw that his refusal to partake might hurt the feelings of his new friends.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was the first time he had ever been a guest in an Indian family, and he hesitated, but saw that his refusal to partake might hurt the feelings of his new friends.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The boy did not suspect her object till she placed on the table a plate of Indian cakes hot from the oven, and he was invited to partake.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The boy did not suspect her object till she placed on the table a plate of Indian cakes hot from the oven, and he was invited to partake.
past form of “hesitate” — pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
From this reading It was the first time he had ever been a guest in an Indian family, and he hesitated, but saw that his refusal to partake might hurt the feelings of his new friends.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He seated himself at the table and found the cakes really very good.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was the first time he had ever been a guest in an Indian family, and he hesitated, but saw that his refusal to partake might hurt the feelings of his new friends.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading The boy did not suspect her object till she placed on the table a plate of Indian cakes hot from the oven, and he was invited to partake.
be the source of pain
From this reading It was the first time he had ever been a guest in an Indian family, and he hesitated, but saw that his refusal to partake might hurt the feelings of his new friends.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was the first time he had ever been a guest in an Indian family, and he hesitated, but saw that his refusal to partake might hurt the feelings of his new friends.
of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures
From this reading While Ernest's clothes were drying the Indian woman was bustling about the stove.
past form of “invite” — increase the likelihood of
From this reading The boy did not suspect her object till she placed on the table a plate of Indian cakes hot from the oven, and he was invited to partake.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the first time he had ever been a guest in an Indian family, and he hesitated, but saw that his refusal to partake might hurt the feelings of his new friends.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading It was the first time he had ever been a guest in an Indian family, and he hesitated, but saw that his refusal to partake might hurt the feelings of his new friends.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading A NEW ACQUAINTANCE.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The boy did not suspect her object till she placed on the table a plate of Indian cakes hot from the oven, and he was invited to partake.
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading The boy did not suspect her object till she placed on the table a plate of Indian cakes hot from the oven, and he was invited to partake.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The boy did not suspect her object till she placed on the table a plate of Indian cakes hot from the oven, and he was invited to partake.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The boy did not suspect her object till she placed on the table a plate of Indian cakes hot from the oven, and he was invited to partake.
ovennounUS /ˈʌvən/
kitchen appliance used for baking or roasting
From this reading The boy did not suspect her object till she placed on the table a plate of Indian cakes hot from the oven, and he was invited to partake.
partakeverbUS /pɑːrˈteɪk/
have some of the qualities or attributes of something
From this reading The boy did not suspect her object till she placed on the table a plate of Indian cakes hot from the oven, and he was invited to partake.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading The boy did not suspect her object till she placed on the table a plate of Indian cakes hot from the oven, and he was invited to partake.
(baseball) base consisting of a rubber slab where the batter stands; it must be touched by a base runner in order to score
From this reading The boy did not suspect her object till she placed on the table a plate of Indian cakes hot from the oven, and he was invited to partake.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading He seated himself at the table and found the cakes really very good.
refusalnounUS /rəˈfjuːzəl/
the act of refusing
From this reading It was the first time he had ever been a guest in an Indian family, and he hesitated, but saw that his refusal to partake might hurt the feelings of his new friends.
cut with a saw
From this reading It was the first time he had ever been a guest in an Indian family, and he hesitated, but saw that his refusal to partake might hurt the feelings of his new friends.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading He seated himself at the table and found the cakes really very good.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The boy did not suspect her object till she placed on the table a plate of Indian cakes hot from the oven, and he was invited to partake.
stovenounUS /stoʊv/
a kitchen appliance used for cooking food
From this reading While Ernest's clothes were drying the Indian woman was bustling about the stove.
imagine to be the case or true or probable
From this reading The boy did not suspect her object till she placed on the table a plate of Indian cakes hot from the oven, and he was invited to partake.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading The boy did not suspect her object till she placed on the table a plate of Indian cakes hot from the oven, and he was invited to partake.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was the first time he had ever been a guest in an Indian family, and he hesitated, but saw that his refusal to partake might hurt the feelings of his new friends.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading While Ernest's clothes were drying the Indian woman was bustling about the stove.
up to a particular time
From this reading The boy did not suspect her object till she placed on the table a plate of Indian cakes hot from the oven, and he was invited to partake.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It was the first time he had ever been a guest in an Indian family, and he hesitated, but saw that his refusal to partake might hurt the feelings of his new friends.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The boy did not suspect her object till she placed on the table a plate of Indian cakes hot from the oven, and he was invited to partake.
precisely as stated
From this reading He seated himself at the table and found the cakes really very good.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading While Ernest's clothes were drying the Indian woman was bustling about the stove.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading While Ernest's clothes were drying the Indian woman was bustling about the stove.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While Ernest's clothes were drying the Indian woman was bustling about the stove.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading While Ernest's clothes were drying the Indian woman was bustling about the stove.
