used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “There isn't a candle about the barn, an' you know it, Mike,” cried Carter, indignantly.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “There isn't a candle about the barn, an' you know it, Mike,” cried Carter, indignantly.
(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 See that, they're long, an' that means that they wasn't used for lightin' a pipe or a cigar--jes' fer touchin' off a candle, that's all.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “There isn't a candle about the barn, an' you know it, Mike,” cried Carter, indignantly.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Mike was prospecting the floor with another light.
barnnounUS /bɑːrn/
an outlying farm building for storing grain or animal feed and housing farm animals
From this reading “There isn't a candle about the barn, an' you know it, Mike,” cried Carter, indignantly.
burntadjectiveUS /bɜːrnt/
ruined by overcooking
From this reading “Here's two burnt matches,” he continued, picking them up.
stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading “There isn't a candle about the barn, an' you know it, Mike,” cried Carter, indignantly.
CarternounUS /ˈkɑːrtər/
Englishman and Egyptologist who in 1922 discovered and excavated the tomb of Tutankhamen (1873-1939)
From this reading “There isn't a candle about the barn, an' you know it, Mike,” cried Carter, indignantly.
cigarnounUS /sɪˈɡɑːr/
a roll of tobacco for smoking
From this reading See that, they're long, an' that means that they wasn't used for lightin' a pipe or a cigar--jes' fer touchin' off a candle, that's all.
without stop or interruption
From this reading “Here's two burnt matches,” he continued, picking them up.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading “There isn't a candle about the barn, an' you know it, Mike,” cried Carter, indignantly.
fer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading See that, they're long, an' that means that they wasn't used for lightin' a pipe or a cigar--jes' fer touchin' off a candle, that's all.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading Mike was prospecting the floor with another light.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading See that, they're long, an' that means that they wasn't used for lightin' a pipe or a cigar--jes' fer touchin' off a candle, that's all.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Here's two burnt matches,” he continued, picking them up.
Here's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Here's two burnt matches,” he continued, picking them up.
indignantlyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈdɪɡnəntliː/
in an indignant manner
From this reading “There isn't a candle about the barn, an' you know it, Mike,” cried Carter, indignantly.
isn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There isn't a candle about the barn, an' you know it, Mike,” cried Carter, indignantly.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “There isn't a candle about the barn, an' you know it, Mike,” cried Carter, indignantly.
jes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading See that, they're long, an' that means that they wasn't used for lightin' a pipe or a cigar--jes' fer touchin' off a candle, that's all.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading “There isn't a candle about the barn, an' you know it, Mike,” cried Carter, indignantly.
immediately past
From this reading “An' they were loighted last night, too.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Mike was prospecting the floor with another light.
lightin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading See that, they're long, an' that means that they wasn't used for lightin' a pipe or a cigar--jes' fer touchin' off a candle, that's all.
loighted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “An' they were loighted last night, too.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading See that, they're long, an' that means that they wasn't used for lightin' a pipe or a cigar--jes' fer touchin' off a candle, that's all.
matchesnounUS /ˈmætʃəz/
plural of “match” — lighter consisting of a thin piece of wood or cardboard tipped with combustible chemical; ignites with friction
From this reading “Here's two burnt matches,” he continued, picking them up.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading See that, they're long, an' that means that they wasn't used for lightin' a pipe or a cigar--jes' fer touchin' off a candle, that's all.
MikenounUS /maɪk/
device for converting sound waves into electrical energy
From this reading “There isn't a candle about the barn, an' you know it, Mike,” cried Carter, indignantly.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading “An' they were loighted last night, too.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading See that, they're long, an' that means that they wasn't used for lightin' a pipe or a cigar--jes' fer touchin' off a candle, that's all.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading See that, they're long, an' that means that they wasn't used for lightin' a pipe or a cigar--jes' fer touchin' off a candle, that's all.
pickingnounUS /ˈpɪkɪŋ/
the quantity of a crop that is harvested
From this reading “Here's two burnt matches,” he continued, picking them up.
a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco
From this reading See that, they're long, an' that means that they wasn't used for lightin' a pipe or a cigar--jes' fer touchin' off a candle, that's all.
prospectingverbUS /ˌprɔːˈspektɪŋ/
-ing form of “prospect” — search for something desirable
From this reading Mike was prospecting the floor with another light.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading See that, they're long, an' that means that they wasn't used for lightin' a pipe or a cigar--jes' fer touchin' off a candle, that's all.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading See that, they're long, an' that means that they wasn't used for lightin' a pipe or a cigar--jes' fer touchin' off a candle, that's all.
that's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading See that, they're long, an' that means that they wasn't used for lightin' a pipe or a cigar--jes' fer touchin' off a candle, that's all.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “There isn't a candle about the barn, an' you know it, Mike,” cried Carter, indignantly.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading “Here's two burnt matches,” he continued, picking them up.
in or at that place or location
From this reading “There isn't a candle about the barn, an' you know it, Mike,” cried Carter, indignantly.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “An' they were loighted last night, too.
they're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading See that, they're long, an' that means that they wasn't used for lightin' a pipe or a cigar--jes' fer touchin' off a candle, that's all.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading “An' they were loighted last night, too.
touchin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading See that, they're long, an' that means that they wasn't used for lightin' a pipe or a cigar--jes' fer touchin' off a candle, that's all.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading “Here's two burnt matches,” he continued, picking them up.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading “Here's two burnt matches,” he continued, picking them up.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading See that, they're long, an' that means that they wasn't used for lightin' a pipe or a cigar--jes' fer touchin' off a candle, that's all.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mike was prospecting the floor with another light.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading See that, they're long, an' that means that they wasn't used for lightin' a pipe or a cigar--jes' fer touchin' off a candle, that's all.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “An' they were loighted last night, too.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Mike was prospecting the floor with another light.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “There isn't a candle about the barn, an' you know it, Mike,” cried Carter, indignantly.
