used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The funeral of Jane McPherson was a trying affair for her son.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading The funeral of Jane McPherson was a trying affair for her son.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading He thought that his sister Kate, with the babe in her arms, had become coarsened--she looked frumpish and, while they were in the house, had an air of having quarrelled with her husband when they came out of their bedroom in the morning.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He thought that his sister Kate, with the babe in her arms, had become coarsened--she looked frumpish and, while they were in the house, had an air of having quarrelled with her husband when they came out of their bedroom in the morning.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He thought that his sister Kate, with the babe in her arms, had become coarsened--she looked frumpish and, while they were in the house, had an air of having quarrelled with her husband when they came out of their bedroom in the morning.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading He thought that his sister Kate, with the babe in her arms, had become coarsened--she looked frumpish and, while they were in the house, had an air of having quarrelled with her husband when they came out of their bedroom in the morning.
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading During the funeral service Sam sat in the parlour, astonished and irritated by the endless number of women that crowded into the house.
babenounUS /beɪb/
a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
From this reading He thought that his sister Kate, with the babe in her arms, had become coarsened--she looked frumpish and, while they were in the house, had an air of having quarrelled with her husband when they came out of their bedroom in the morning.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading They were everywhere, in the kitchen, the sleeping room back of the parlour; and in the parlour, where the dead woman lay in her coffin, they were massed.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading He thought that his sister Kate, with the babe in her arms, had become coarsened--she looked frumpish and, while they were in the house, had an air of having quarrelled with her husband when they came out of their bedroom in the morning.
a room used primarily for sleeping
From this reading He thought that his sister Kate, with the babe in her arms, had become coarsened--she looked frumpish and, while they were in the house, had an air of having quarrelled with her husband when they came out of their bedroom in the morning.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading When the thin-lipped minister, holding a book in his hand, held forth upon the virtues of the dead woman, they wept.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading During the funeral service Sam sat in the parlour, astonished and irritated by the endless number of women that crowded into the house.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He thought that his sister Kate, with the babe in her arms, had become coarsened--she looked frumpish and, while they were in the house, had an air of having quarrelled with her husband when they came out of their bedroom in the morning.
coarsenedadjective
made coarse or crude by lack of skill
From this reading He thought that his sister Kate, with the babe in her arms, had become coarsened--she looked frumpish and, while they were in the house, had an air of having quarrelled with her husband when they came out of their bedroom in the morning.
coffinnounUS /ˈkɔːfɪn/
box in which a corpse is buried or cremated
From this reading They were everywhere, in the kitchen, the sleeping room back of the parlour; and in the parlour, where the dead woman lay in her coffin, they were massed.
overfilled or compacted or concentrated
From this reading During the funeral service Sam sat in the parlour, astonished and irritated by the endless number of women that crowded into the house.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading They were everywhere, in the kitchen, the sleeping room back of the parlour; and in the parlour, where the dead woman lay in her coffin, they were massed.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading During the funeral service Sam sat in the parlour, astonished and irritated by the endless number of women that crowded into the house.
endlessadjectiveUS /ˈendləs/
tiresomely long; seemingly without end
From this reading During the funeral service Sam sat in the parlour, astonished and irritated by the endless number of women that crowded into the house.
to or in any or all places
From this reading They were everywhere, in the kitchen, the sleeping room back of the parlour; and in the parlour, where the dead woman lay in her coffin, they were massed.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The funeral of Jane McPherson was a trying affair for her son.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading When the thin-lipped minister, holding a book in his hand, held forth upon the virtues of the dead woman, they wept.
frumpishadjective
primly out of date
From this reading He thought that his sister Kate, with the babe in her arms, had become coarsened--she looked frumpish and, while they were in the house, had an air of having quarrelled with her husband when they came out of their bedroom in the morning.
funeralnounUS /ˈfjuːnərəl/
a ceremony at which a dead person is buried or cremated
From this reading The funeral of Jane McPherson was a trying affair for her son.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He thought that his sister Kate, with the babe in her arms, had become coarsened--she looked frumpish and, while they were in the house, had an air of having quarrelled with her husband when they came out of their bedroom in the morning.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading When the thin-lipped minister, holding a book in his hand, held forth upon the virtues of the dead woman, they wept.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading He thought that his sister Kate, with the babe in her arms, had become coarsened--she looked frumpish and, while they were in the house, had an air of having quarrelled with her husband when they came out of their bedroom in the morning.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He thought that his sister Kate, with the babe in her arms, had become coarsened--she looked frumpish and, while they were in the house, had an air of having quarrelled with her husband when they came out of their bedroom in the morning.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading When the thin-lipped minister, holding a book in his hand, held forth upon the virtues of the dead woman, they wept.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The funeral of Jane McPherson was a trying affair for her son.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He thought that his sister Kate, with the babe in her arms, had become coarsened--she looked frumpish and, while they were in the house, had an air of having quarrelled with her husband when they came out of their bedroom in the morning.
the act of retaining something
From this reading When the thin-lipped minister, holding a book in his hand, held forth upon the virtues of the dead woman, they wept.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading He thought that his sister Kate, with the babe in her arms, had become coarsened--she looked frumpish and, while they were in the house, had an air of having quarrelled with her husband when they came out of their bedroom in the morning.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading He thought that his sister Kate, with the babe in her arms, had become coarsened--she looked frumpish and, while they were in the house, had an air of having quarrelled with her husband when they came out of their bedroom in the morning.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He thought that his sister Kate, with the babe in her arms, had become coarsened--she looked frumpish and, while they were in the house, had an air of having quarrelled with her husband when they came out of their bedroom in the morning.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading During the funeral service Sam sat in the parlour, astonished and irritated by the endless number of women that crowded into the house.
irritatedadjectiveUS /ˈɪrəteɪtəd/
aroused to impatience or anger
From this reading During the funeral service Sam sat in the parlour, astonished and irritated by the endless number of women that crowded into the house.
Jane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The funeral of Jane McPherson was a trying affair for her son.
Kate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought that his sister Kate, with the babe in her arms, had become coarsened--she looked frumpish and, while they were in the house, had an air of having quarrelled with her husband when they came out of their bedroom in the morning.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading They were everywhere, in the kitchen, the sleeping room back of the parlour; and in the parlour, where the dead woman lay in her coffin, they were massed.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading They were everywhere, in the kitchen, the sleeping room back of the parlour; and in the parlour, where the dead woman lay in her coffin, they were massed.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He thought that his sister Kate, with the babe in her arms, had become coarsened--she looked frumpish and, while they were in the house, had an air of having quarrelled with her husband when they came out of their bedroom in the morning.
massedverbUS /mæst/
past form of “mass” — join together into a mass or collect or form a mass
From this reading They were everywhere, in the kitchen, the sleeping room back of the parlour; and in the parlour, where the dead woman lay in her coffin, they were massed.
McPhersonnounUS /məkˈfɜːrsən/
United States evangelist (born in Canada) noted for her extravagant religious services (1890-1944)
From this reading The funeral of Jane McPherson was a trying affair for her son.
a person authorized to conduct religious worship
From this reading When the thin-lipped minister, holding a book in his hand, held forth upon the virtues of the dead woman, they wept.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading He thought that his sister Kate, with the babe in her arms, had become coarsened--she looked frumpish and, while they were in the house, had an air of having quarrelled with her husband when they came out of their bedroom in the morning.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading During the funeral service Sam sat in the parlour, astonished and irritated by the endless number of women that crowded into the house.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The funeral of Jane McPherson was a trying affair for her son.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He thought that his sister Kate, with the babe in her arms, had become coarsened--she looked frumpish and, while they were in the house, had an air of having quarrelled with her husband when they came out of their bedroom in the morning.
parlournounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received
From this reading During the funeral service Sam sat in the parlour, astonished and irritated by the endless number of women that crowded into the house.
quarrelled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought that his sister Kate, with the babe in her arms, had become coarsened--she looked frumpish and, while they were in the house, had an air of having quarrelled with her husband when they came out of their bedroom in the morning.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading They were everywhere, in the kitchen, the sleeping room back of the parlour; and in the parlour, where the dead woman lay in her coffin, they were massed.
a guided missile fired from land or shipboard against an airborne target
From this reading During the funeral service Sam sat in the parlour, astonished and irritated by the endless number of women that crowded into the house.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading During the funeral service Sam sat in the parlour, astonished and irritated by the endless number of women that crowded into the house.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading During the funeral service Sam sat in the parlour, astonished and irritated by the endless number of women that crowded into the house.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He thought that his sister Kate, with the babe in her arms, had become coarsened--she looked frumpish and, while they were in the house, had an air of having quarrelled with her husband when they came out of their bedroom in the morning.
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading He thought that his sister Kate, with the babe in her arms, had become coarsened--she looked frumpish and, while they were in the house, had an air of having quarrelled with her husband when they came out of their bedroom in the morning.
the state of being asleep
From this reading They were everywhere, in the kitchen, the sleeping room back of the parlour; and in the parlour, where the dead woman lay in her coffin, they were massed.
a male human offspring
From this reading The funeral of Jane McPherson was a trying affair for her son.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He thought that his sister Kate, with the babe in her arms, had become coarsened--she looked frumpish and, while they were in the house, had an air of having quarrelled with her husband when they came out of their bedroom in the morning.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The funeral of Jane McPherson was a trying affair for her son.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He thought that his sister Kate, with the babe in her arms, had become coarsened--she looked frumpish and, while they were in the house, had an air of having quarrelled with her husband when they came out of their bedroom in the morning.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He thought that his sister Kate, with the babe in her arms, had become coarsened--she looked frumpish and, while they were in the house, had an air of having quarrelled with her husband when they came out of their bedroom in the morning.
thin-lipped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the thin-lipped minister, holding a book in his hand, held forth upon the virtues of the dead woman, they wept.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He thought that his sister Kate, with the babe in her arms, had become coarsened--she looked frumpish and, while they were in the house, had an air of having quarrelled with her husband when they came out of their bedroom in the morning.
hard to endure
From this reading The funeral of Jane McPherson was a trying affair for her son.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading When the thin-lipped minister, holding a book in his hand, held forth upon the virtues of the dead woman, they wept.
virtuesnounUS /ˈvɜːrtʃuːz/
plural of “virtue” — the quality of doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong
From this reading When the thin-lipped minister, holding a book in his hand, held forth upon the virtues of the dead woman, they wept.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The funeral of Jane McPherson was a trying affair for her son.
inflected form of “weep” — shed tears because of sadness, rage, or pain
From this reading When the thin-lipped minister, holding a book in his hand, held forth upon the virtues of the dead woman, they wept.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He thought that his sister Kate, with the babe in her arms, had become coarsened--she looked frumpish and, while they were in the house, had an air of having quarrelled with her husband when they came out of their bedroom in the morning.
at the time that
From this reading He thought that his sister Kate, with the babe in her arms, had become coarsened--she looked frumpish and, while they were in the house, had an air of having quarrelled with her husband when they came out of their bedroom in the morning.
in or at the place that
From this reading They were everywhere, in the kitchen, the sleeping room back of the parlour; and in the parlour, where the dead woman lay in her coffin, they were massed.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading He thought that his sister Kate, with the babe in her arms, had become coarsened--she looked frumpish and, while they were in the house, had an air of having quarrelled with her husband when they came out of their bedroom in the morning.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He thought that his sister Kate, with the babe in her arms, had become coarsened--she looked frumpish and, while they were in the house, had an air of having quarrelled with her husband when they came out of their bedroom in the morning.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading They were everywhere, in the kitchen, the sleeping room back of the parlour; and in the parlour, where the dead woman lay in her coffin, they were massed.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading During the funeral service Sam sat in the parlour, astonished and irritated by the endless number of women that crowded into the house.
