used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I thought for a while I was at Bracken.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An odor will carry more suggestion than any sight; and sound comes next, I believe.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It must have been the lavender in the sheets and the mocking-bird, who was singing like Caruso just outside of my window.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading MISS ARABELLA No ghosts came to disturb my slumbers in the great four-poster, but the early morning sun awoke me long before Tweedles gave any indication of coming to life.
ARABELLA
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MISS ARABELLA No ghosts came to disturb my slumbers in the great four-poster, but the early morning sun awoke me long before Tweedles gave any indication of coming to life.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I thought for a while I was at Bracken.
inflected form of “awake” — stop sleeping
From this reading MISS ARABELLA No ghosts came to disturb my slumbers in the great four-poster, but the early morning sun awoke me long before Tweedles gave any indication of coming to life.
bath-water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lay there wondering how long it would be before Mammy Susan would come bringing my bath-water, devoutly praying she would not "het" it up, but let me have it stinging cold from the well.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I lay there wondering how long it would be before Mammy Susan would come bringing my bath-water, devoutly praying she would not "het" it up, but let me have it stinging cold from the well.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It must have been the lavender in the sheets and the mocking-bird, who was singing like Caruso just outside of my window.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading MISS ARABELLA No ghosts came to disturb my slumbers in the great four-poster, but the early morning sun awoke me long before Tweedles gave any indication of coming to life.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading An odor will carry more suggestion than any sight; and sound comes next, I believe.
BrackennounUS /ˈbrækən/
fern of southeastern Asia; not hardy in cold temperate regions
From this reading I thought for a while I was at Bracken.
the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail)
From this reading I lay there wondering how long it would be before Mammy Susan would come bringing my bath-water, devoutly praying she would not "het" it up, but let me have it stinging cold from the well.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading MISS ARABELLA No ghosts came to disturb my slumbers in the great four-poster, but the early morning sun awoke me long before Tweedles gave any indication of coming to life.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading MISS ARABELLA No ghosts came to disturb my slumbers in the great four-poster, but the early morning sun awoke me long before Tweedles gave any indication of coming to life.
move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading An odor will carry more suggestion than any sight; and sound comes next, I believe.
CarusonounUS /kərˈuːsoʊ/
outstanding Italian operatic tenor (1873-1921)
From this reading It must have been the lavender in the sheets and the mocking-bird, who was singing like Caruso just outside of my window.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading I lay there wondering how long it would be before Mammy Susan would come bringing my bath-water, devoutly praying she would not "het" it up, but let me have it stinging cold from the well.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading I lay there wondering how long it would be before Mammy Susan would come bringing my bath-water, devoutly praying she would not "het" it up, but let me have it stinging cold from the well.
plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract
From this reading An odor will carry more suggestion than any sight; and sound comes next, I believe.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading MISS ARABELLA No ghosts came to disturb my slumbers in the great four-poster, but the early morning sun awoke me long before Tweedles gave any indication of coming to life.
devoutlyadverbUS /dɪˈvaʊtli/
in a devout and pious manner
From this reading I lay there wondering how long it would be before Mammy Susan would come bringing my bath-water, devoutly praying she would not "het" it up, but let me have it stinging cold from the well.
disturbverbUS /dɪˈstɜːrb/
move deeply
From this reading MISS ARABELLA No ghosts came to disturb my slumbers in the great four-poster, but the early morning sun awoke me long before Tweedles gave any indication of coming to life.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading MISS ARABELLA No ghosts came to disturb my slumbers in the great four-poster, but the early morning sun awoke me long before Tweedles gave any indication of coming to life.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I thought for a while I was at Bracken.
four-posternoun
a bed with posts at the four corners that can be used to support a canopy or curtains
From this reading MISS ARABELLA No ghosts came to disturb my slumbers in the great four-poster, but the early morning sun awoke me long before Tweedles gave any indication of coming to life.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I lay there wondering how long it would be before Mammy Susan would come bringing my bath-water, devoutly praying she would not "het" it up, but let me have it stinging cold from the well.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading MISS ARABELLA No ghosts came to disturb my slumbers in the great four-poster, but the early morning sun awoke me long before Tweedles gave any indication of coming to life.
ghostsnounUS /ɡoʊsts/
plural of “ghost” — a mental representation of some haunting experience
From this reading MISS ARABELLA No ghosts came to disturb my slumbers in the great four-poster, but the early morning sun awoke me long before Tweedles gave any indication of coming to life.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading MISS ARABELLA No ghosts came to disturb my slumbers in the great four-poster, but the early morning sun awoke me long before Tweedles gave any indication of coming to life.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It must have been the lavender in the sheets and the mocking-bird, who was singing like Caruso just outside of my window.
hetadjective
made warm or hot (“het” is a dialectal variant of “heated”)
From this reading I lay there wondering how long it would be before Mammy Susan would come bringing my bath-water, devoutly praying she would not "het" it up, but let me have it stinging cold from the well.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lay there wondering how long it would be before Mammy Susan would come bringing my bath-water, devoutly praying she would not "het" it up, but let me have it stinging cold from the well.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I thought for a while I was at Bracken.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading MISS ARABELLA No ghosts came to disturb my slumbers in the great four-poster, but the early morning sun awoke me long before Tweedles gave any indication of coming to life.
indicationnounUS /ˌɪndəˈkeɪʃən/
something that serves to indicate or suggest
From this reading MISS ARABELLA No ghosts came to disturb my slumbers in the great four-poster, but the early morning sun awoke me long before Tweedles gave any indication of coming to life.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It must have been the lavender in the sheets and the mocking-bird, who was singing like Caruso just outside of my window.
and nothing more
From this reading It must have been the lavender in the sheets and the mocking-bird, who was singing like Caruso just outside of my window.
lavenderadjectiveUS /ˈlævəndər/
of a pale purple color
From this reading It must have been the lavender in the sheets and the mocking-bird, who was singing like Caruso just outside of my window.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading I lay there wondering how long it would be before Mammy Susan would come bringing my bath-water, devoutly praying she would not "het" it up, but let me have it stinging cold from the well.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading I lay there wondering how long it would be before Mammy Susan would come bringing my bath-water, devoutly praying she would not "het" it up, but let me have it stinging cold from the well.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading MISS ARABELLA No ghosts came to disturb my slumbers in the great four-poster, but the early morning sun awoke me long before Tweedles gave any indication of coming to life.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading It must have been the lavender in the sheets and the mocking-bird, who was singing like Caruso just outside of my window.
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 MISS ARABELLA No ghosts came to disturb my slumbers in the great four-poster, but the early morning sun awoke me long before Tweedles gave any indication of coming to life.
Mammynoun
an offensive term for a Black nursemaid in the southern U.S.
From this reading I lay there wondering how long it would be before Mammy Susan would come bringing my bath-water, devoutly praying she would not "het" it up, but let me have it stinging cold from the well.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading MISS ARABELLA No ghosts came to disturb my slumbers in the great four-poster, but the early morning sun awoke me long before Tweedles gave any indication of coming to life.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading MISS ARABELLA No ghosts came to disturb my slumbers in the great four-poster, but the early morning sun awoke me long before Tweedles gave any indication of coming to life.
mocking-bird
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must have been the lavender in the sheets and the mocking-bird, who was singing like Caruso just outside of my window.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading An odor will carry more suggestion than any sight; and sound comes next, I believe.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading MISS ARABELLA No ghosts came to disturb my slumbers in the great four-poster, but the early morning sun awoke me long before Tweedles gave any indication of coming to life.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading It must have been the lavender in the sheets and the mocking-bird, who was singing like Caruso just outside of my window.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading MISS ARABELLA No ghosts came to disturb my slumbers in the great four-poster, but the early morning sun awoke me long before Tweedles gave any indication of coming to life.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading An odor will carry more suggestion than any sight; and sound comes next, I believe.
not any; not one
From this reading MISS ARABELLA No ghosts came to disturb my slumbers in the great four-poster, but the early morning sun awoke me long before Tweedles gave any indication of coming to life.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I lay there wondering how long it would be before Mammy Susan would come bringing my bath-water, devoutly praying she would not "het" it up, but let me have it stinging cold from the well.
odornounUS /ˈoʊdər/
any property detected by the olfactory system
From this reading An odor will carry more suggestion than any sight; and sound comes next, I believe.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading MISS ARABELLA No ghosts came to disturb my slumbers in the great four-poster, but the early morning sun awoke me long before Tweedles gave any indication of coming to life.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading It must have been the lavender in the sheets and the mocking-bird, who was singing like Caruso just outside of my window.
prayingverbUS /ˈpreɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “pray” — address a deity, a prophet, a saint or an object of worship; say a prayer
From this reading I lay there wondering how long it would be before Mammy Susan would come bringing my bath-water, devoutly praying she would not "het" it up, but let me have it stinging cold from the well.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I lay there wondering how long it would be before Mammy Susan would come bringing my bath-water, devoutly praying she would not "het" it up, but let me have it stinging cold from the well.
sheetsnounUS /ʃiːts/
plural of “sheet” — any broad thin expanse or surface
From this reading It must have been the lavender in the sheets and the mocking-bird, who was singing like Caruso just outside of my window.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading An odor will carry more suggestion than any sight; and sound comes next, I believe.
the act of singing vocal music
From this reading It must have been the lavender in the sheets and the mocking-bird, who was singing like Caruso just outside of my window.
slumbers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MISS ARABELLA No ghosts came to disturb my slumbers in the great four-poster, but the early morning sun awoke me long before Tweedles gave any indication of coming to life.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading An odor will carry more suggestion than any sight; and sound comes next, I believe.
stingingnounUS /ˈstɪŋɪŋ/
a kind of pain; something as sudden and painful as being stung
From this reading I lay there wondering how long it would be before Mammy Susan would come bringing my bath-water, devoutly praying she would not "het" it up, but let me have it stinging cold from the well.
an idea that is suggested
From this reading An odor will carry more suggestion than any sight; and sound comes next, I believe.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading MISS ARABELLA No ghosts came to disturb my slumbers in the great four-poster, but the early morning sun awoke me long before Tweedles gave any indication of coming to life.
Susan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lay there wondering how long it would be before Mammy Susan would come bringing my bath-water, devoutly praying she would not "het" it up, but let me have it stinging cold from the well.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading An odor will carry more suggestion than any sight; and sound comes next, I believe.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading MISS ARABELLA No ghosts came to disturb my slumbers in the great four-poster, but the early morning sun awoke me long before Tweedles gave any indication of coming to life.
in or at that place or location
From this reading I lay there wondering how long it would be before Mammy Susan would come bringing my bath-water, devoutly praying she would not "het" it up, but let me have it stinging cold from the well.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading I thought for a while I was at Bracken.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading MISS ARABELLA No ghosts came to disturb my slumbers in the great four-poster, but the early morning sun awoke me long before Tweedles gave any indication of coming to life.
Tweedles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MISS ARABELLA No ghosts came to disturb my slumbers in the great four-poster, but the early morning sun awoke me long before Tweedles gave any indication of coming to life.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading I lay there wondering how long it would be before Mammy Susan would come bringing my bath-water, devoutly praying she would not "het" it up, but let me have it stinging cold from the well.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I thought for a while I was at Bracken.
(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 I lay there wondering how long it would be before Mammy Susan would come bringing my bath-water, devoutly praying she would not "het" it up, but let me have it stinging cold from the well.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading I thought for a while I was at Bracken.
which person or people
From this reading It must have been the lavender in the sheets and the mocking-bird, who was singing like Caruso just outside of my window.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading An odor will carry more suggestion than any sight; and sound comes next, I believe.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading It must have been the lavender in the sheets and the mocking-bird, who was singing like Caruso just outside of my window.
showing curiosity
From this reading I lay there wondering how long it would be before Mammy Susan would come bringing my bath-water, devoutly praying she would not "het" it up, but let me have it stinging cold from the well.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading I lay there wondering how long it would be before Mammy Susan would come bringing my bath-water, devoutly praying she would not "het" it up, but let me have it stinging cold from the well.
