used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A heavy mist hung over the village, at sunrise, but it soon melted away, and the weather was all that could have been desired.
(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 A heavy mist hung over the village, at sunrise, but it soon melted away, and the weather was all that could have been desired.
allowancenounUS /əˈlaʊəns/
an amount allowed or granted (as during a given period)
From this reading Fanny, who was to carry the family to the picnic, was furnished with an extra allowance of oats; the pigs and poultry also received rations sufficient to last them till night; and the oxen and cows were turned into the pasture, to shift for themselves.
in addition
From this reading Fanny, who was to carry the family to the picnic, was furnished with an extra allowance of oats; the pigs and poultry also received rations sufficient to last them till night; and the oxen and cows were turned into the pasture, to shift for themselves.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading At Mr. Davenport’s the whole family were stirring before daylight had fairly appeared; for there was much to be done, and it was necessary to start for the scene of festivities at an early hour.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At Mr. Davenport’s the whole family were stirring before daylight had fairly appeared; for there was much to be done, and it was necessary to start for the scene of festivities at an early hour.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading At Mr. Davenport’s the whole family were stirring before daylight had fairly appeared; for there was much to be done, and it was necessary to start for the scene of festivities at an early hour.
subject to appointment
From this reading THE long looked for twenty-fourth of August, the day appointed for the picnic, at length arrived.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading THE long looked for twenty-fourth of August, the day appointed for the picnic, at length arrived.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE long looked for twenty-fourth of August, the day appointed for the picnic, at length arrived.
the month following July and preceding September
From this reading THE long looked for twenty-fourth of August, the day appointed for the picnic, at length arrived.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading A heavy mist hung over the village, at sunrise, but it soon melted away, and the weather was all that could have been desired.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading At Mr. Davenport’s the whole family were stirring before daylight had fairly appeared; for there was much to be done, and it was necessary to start for the scene of festivities at an early hour.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A heavy mist hung over the village, at sunrise, but it soon melted away, and the weather was all that could have been desired.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading At Mr. Davenport’s the whole family were stirring before daylight had fairly appeared; for there was much to be done, and it was necessary to start for the scene of festivities at an early hour.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A heavy mist hung over the village, at sunrise, but it soon melted away, and the weather was all that could have been desired.
move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Fanny, who was to carry the family to the picnic, was furnished with an extra allowance of oats; the pigs and poultry also received rations sufficient to last them till night; and the oxen and cows were turned into the pasture, to shift for themselves.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading A heavy mist hung over the village, at sunrise, but it soon melted away, and the weather was all that could have been desired.
cowsnounUS /kaʊz/
domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age
From this reading Fanny, who was to carry the family to the picnic, was furnished with an extra allowance of oats; the pigs and poultry also received rations sufficient to last them till night; and the oxen and cows were turned into the pasture, to shift for themselves.
Davenport'snounUS /ˈdævənpɔːrts/
possessive form of “davenport” — a city in eastern Iowa on the Mississippi River across from Moline and Rock Island
From this reading At Mr. Davenport’s the whole family were stirring before daylight had fairly appeared; for there was much to be done, and it was necessary to start for the scene of festivities at an early hour.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading THE long looked for twenty-fourth of August, the day appointed for the picnic, at length arrived.
the time after sunrise and before sunset while it is light outside
From this reading At Mr. Davenport’s the whole family were stirring before daylight had fairly appeared; for there was much to be done, and it was necessary to start for the scene of festivities at an early hour.
wanted intensely
From this reading A heavy mist hung over the village, at sunrise, but it soon melted away, and the weather was all that could have been desired.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading At Mr. Davenport’s the whole family were stirring before daylight had fairly appeared; for there was much to be done, and it was necessary to start for the scene of festivities at an early hour.
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 At Mr. Davenport’s the whole family were stirring before daylight had fairly appeared; for there was much to be done, and it was necessary to start for the scene of festivities at an early hour.
extraadjectiveUS /ˈekstrə/
more than is needed, desired, or required
From this reading Fanny, who was to carry the family to the picnic, was furnished with an extra allowance of oats; the pigs and poultry also received rations sufficient to last them till night; and the oxen and cows were turned into the pasture, to shift for themselves.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading At Mr. Davenport’s the whole family were stirring before daylight had fairly appeared; for there was much to be done, and it was necessary to start for the scene of festivities at an early hour.
a social unit living together
From this reading At Mr. Davenport’s the whole family were stirring before daylight had fairly appeared; for there was much to be done, and it was necessary to start for the scene of festivities at an early hour.
FannynounUS /ˈfæni/
the fleshy part of the human body that you sit on
From this reading Fanny, who was to carry the family to the picnic, was furnished with an extra allowance of oats; the pigs and poultry also received rations sufficient to last them till night; and the oxen and cows were turned into the pasture, to shift for themselves.
festivitiesnounUS /feˈstɪvətiz/
plural of “festivity” — any joyous diversion
From this reading At Mr. Davenport’s the whole family were stirring before daylight had fairly appeared; for there was much to be done, and it was necessary to start for the scene of festivities at an early hour.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE long looked for twenty-fourth of August, the day appointed for the picnic, at length arrived.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading THE FOREST PICNIC.
provided with whatever is necessary for a purpose (as furniture or equipment or authority)
From this reading Fanny, who was to carry the family to the picnic, was furnished with an extra allowance of oats; the pigs and poultry also received rations sufficient to last them till night; and the oxen and cows were turned into the pasture, to shift for themselves.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading At Mr. Davenport’s the whole family were stirring before daylight had fairly appeared; for there was much to be done, and it was necessary to start for the scene of festivities at an early hour.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A heavy mist hung over the village, at sunrise, but it soon melted away, and the weather was all that could have been desired.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading A heavy mist hung over the village, at sunrise, but it soon melted away, and the weather was all that could have been desired.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading At Mr. Davenport’s the whole family were stirring before daylight had fairly appeared; for there was much to be done, and it was necessary to start for the scene of festivities at an early hour.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading A heavy mist hung over the village, at sunrise, but it soon melted away, and the weather was all that could have been desired.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Fanny, who was to carry the family to the picnic, was furnished with an extra allowance of oats; the pigs and poultry also received rations sufficient to last them till night; and the oxen and cows were turned into the pasture, to shift for themselves.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading At Mr. Davenport’s the whole family were stirring before daylight had fairly appeared; for there was much to be done, and it was necessary to start for the scene of festivities at an early hour.
immediately past
From this reading Fanny, who was to carry the family to the picnic, was furnished with an extra allowance of oats; the pigs and poultry also received rations sufficient to last them till night; and the oxen and cows were turned into the pasture, to shift for themselves.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading THE long looked for twenty-fourth of August, the day appointed for the picnic, at length arrived.
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 THE long looked for twenty-fourth of August, the day appointed for the picnic, at length arrived.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading THE long looked for twenty-fourth of August, the day appointed for the picnic, at length arrived.
meltedadjectiveUS /ˈmeltəd/
changed from a solid to a liquid state
From this reading A heavy mist hung over the village, at sunrise, but it soon melted away, and the weather was all that could have been desired.
become covered with mist
From this reading A heavy mist hung over the village, at sunrise, but it soon melted away, and the weather was all that could have been desired.
a form of address for a man
From this reading At Mr. Davenport’s the whole family were stirring before daylight had fairly appeared; for there was much to be done, and it was necessary to start for the scene of festivities at an early hour.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading At Mr. Davenport’s the whole family were stirring before daylight had fairly appeared; for there was much to be done, and it was necessary to start for the scene of festivities at an early hour.
absolutely essential
From this reading At Mr. Davenport’s the whole family were stirring before daylight had fairly appeared; for there was much to be done, and it was necessary to start for the scene of festivities at an early hour.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Fanny, who was to carry the family to the picnic, was furnished with an extra allowance of oats; the pigs and poultry also received rations sufficient to last them till night; and the oxen and cows were turned into the pasture, to shift for themselves.
oatsnounUS /oʊts/
plural of “oat” — annual grass of Europe and North Africa; grains used as food and fodder (referred to primarily in the plural: “oats”)
From this reading Fanny, who was to carry the family to the picnic, was furnished with an extra allowance of oats; the pigs and poultry also received rations sufficient to last them till night; and the oxen and cows were turned into the pasture, to shift for themselves.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE long looked for twenty-fourth of August, the day appointed for the picnic, at length arrived.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading A heavy mist hung over the village, at sunrise, but it soon melted away, and the weather was all that could have been desired.
oxennounUS /ˈɑːksən/
domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age
From this reading Fanny, who was to carry the family to the picnic, was furnished with an extra allowance of oats; the pigs and poultry also received rations sufficient to last them till night; and the oxen and cows were turned into the pasture, to shift for themselves.
pasturenounUS /ˈpæstʃər/
a field covered with grass or herbage and suitable for grazing by livestock
From this reading Fanny, who was to carry the family to the picnic, was furnished with an extra allowance of oats; the pigs and poultry also received rations sufficient to last them till night; and the oxen and cows were turned into the pasture, to shift for themselves.
PICNICnounUS /ˈpɪknɪk/
a day devoted to an outdoor social gathering
From this reading THE FOREST PICNIC.
pigsnounUS /pɪɡz/
plural of “pig” — domestic swine
From this reading Fanny, who was to carry the family to the picnic, was furnished with an extra allowance of oats; the pigs and poultry also received rations sufficient to last them till night; and the oxen and cows were turned into the pasture, to shift for themselves.
poultrynounUS /ˈpoʊltri/
a domesticated gallinaceous bird thought to be descended from the red jungle fowl
From this reading Fanny, who was to carry the family to the picnic, was furnished with an extra allowance of oats; the pigs and poultry also received rations sufficient to last them till night; and the oxen and cows were turned into the pasture, to shift for themselves.
rationsnounUS /ˈræʃənz/
plural of “ration” — the food allowance for one day (especially for service personnel)
From this reading Fanny, who was to carry the family to the picnic, was furnished with an extra allowance of oats; the pigs and poultry also received rations sufficient to last them till night; and the oxen and cows were turned into the pasture, to shift for themselves.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading Fanny, who was to carry the family to the picnic, was furnished with an extra allowance of oats; the pigs and poultry also received rations sufficient to last them till night; and the oxen and cows were turned into the pasture, to shift for themselves.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading At Mr. Davenport’s the whole family were stirring before daylight had fairly appeared; for there was much to be done, and it was necessary to start for the scene of festivities at an early hour.
shiftverbUS /ʃɪft/
make a shift in or exchange of
From this reading Fanny, who was to carry the family to the picnic, was furnished with an extra allowance of oats; the pigs and poultry also received rations sufficient to last them till night; and the oxen and cows were turned into the pasture, to shift for themselves.
in the near future
From this reading A heavy mist hung over the village, at sunrise, but it soon melted away, and the weather was all that could have been desired.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading At Mr. Davenport’s the whole family were stirring before daylight had fairly appeared; for there was much to be done, and it was necessary to start for the scene of festivities at an early hour.
stirringnounUS /ˈstɜːrɪŋ/
agitating a liquid with an implement
From this reading At Mr. Davenport’s the whole family were stirring before daylight had fairly appeared; for there was much to be done, and it was necessary to start for the scene of festivities at an early hour.
of a quantity that can fulfill a need or requirement but without being abundant
From this reading Fanny, who was to carry the family to the picnic, was furnished with an extra allowance of oats; the pigs and poultry also received rations sufficient to last them till night; and the oxen and cows were turned into the pasture, to shift for themselves.
sunrisenounUS /ˈsʌnraɪz/
the first light of day
From this reading A heavy mist hung over the village, at sunrise, but it soon melted away, and the weather was all that could have been desired.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A heavy mist hung over the village, at sunrise, but it soon melted away, and the weather was all that could have been desired.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FOREST PICNIC.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Fanny, who was to carry the family to the picnic, was furnished with an extra allowance of oats; the pigs and poultry also received rations sufficient to last them till night; and the oxen and cows were turned into the pasture, to shift for themselves.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Fanny, who was to carry the family to the picnic, was furnished with an extra allowance of oats; the pigs and poultry also received rations sufficient to last them till night; and the oxen and cows were turned into the pasture, to shift for themselves.
in or at that place or location
From this reading At Mr. Davenport’s the whole family were stirring before daylight had fairly appeared; for there was much to be done, and it was necessary to start for the scene of festivities at an early hour.
up to a particular time
From this reading Fanny, who was to carry the family to the picnic, was furnished with an extra allowance of oats; the pigs and poultry also received rations sufficient to last them till night; and the oxen and cows were turned into the pasture, to shift for themselves.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At Mr. Davenport’s the whole family were stirring before daylight had fairly appeared; for there was much to be done, and it was necessary to start for the scene of festivities at an early hour.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Fanny, who was to carry the family to the picnic, was furnished with an extra allowance of oats; the pigs and poultry also received rations sufficient to last them till night; and the oxen and cows were turned into the pasture, to shift for themselves.
twenty-fourthadjective
coming next after the twenty-third in position
From this reading THE long looked for twenty-fourth of August, the day appointed for the picnic, at length arrived.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading A heavy mist hung over the village, at sunrise, but it soon melted away, and the weather was all that could have been desired.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading At Mr. Davenport’s the whole family were stirring before daylight had fairly appeared; for there was much to be done, and it was necessary to start for the scene of festivities at an early hour.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading A heavy mist hung over the village, at sunrise, but it soon melted away, and the weather was all that could have been desired.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading At Mr. Davenport’s the whole family were stirring before daylight had fairly appeared; for there was much to be done, and it was necessary to start for the scene of festivities at an early hour.
which person or people
From this reading Fanny, who was to carry the family to the picnic, was furnished with an extra allowance of oats; the pigs and poultry also received rations sufficient to last them till night; and the oxen and cows were turned into the pasture, to shift for themselves.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading At Mr. Davenport’s the whole family were stirring before daylight had fairly appeared; for there was much to be done, and it was necessary to start for the scene of festivities at an early hour.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Fanny, who was to carry the family to the picnic, was furnished with an extra allowance of oats; the pigs and poultry also received rations sufficient to last them till night; and the oxen and cows were turned into the pasture, to shift for themselves.
