Chapter III · Chapter 3

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading If I were an artist I would now place before you a picture of an ideal American home.

a native or inhabitant of the United States

From this reading If I were an artist I would now place before you a picture of an ideal American home.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading If I were an artist I would now place before you a picture of an ideal American home.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading I would make it a neat country home with garden of flowers, orchard of fruits, a barn lot with bubbling spring and laughing brook.

subject to appointment

From this reading Approaching the door a commission appointed by Congress on political economy lift their hats as the spokesman says: "Madam, are you mistress of this mansion?"

the event of one object coming closer to another

From this reading Approaching the door a commission appointed by Congress on political economy lift their hats as the spokesman says: "Madam, are you mistress of this mansion?"

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Approaching the door a commission appointed by Congress on political economy lift their hats as the spokesman says: "Madam, are you mistress of this mansion?"

weapons considered collectively

From this reading In the door of this home I would place an American mother with the youngest of four children in her arms; the oldest son driving his tired team to the barn, the second one the cows to the cupping, the daughter spreading the cloth for tea, and the head of the house sinking the iron-bound bucket in the well for a draught of cold water when day's work for loved ones is o'er.

a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination

From this reading If I were an artist I would now place before you a picture of an ideal American home.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Approaching the door a commission appointed by Congress on political economy lift their hats as the spokesman says: "Madam, are you mistress of this mansion?"

a line of approach

From this reading I would not make it the fine mansion on the avenue, nor would I make it "the old log cabin in the lane."

an outlying farm building for storing grain or animal feed and housing farm animals

From this reading I would make it a neat country home with garden of flowers, orchard of fruits, a barn lot with bubbling spring and laughing brook.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading If I were an artist I would now place before you a picture of an ideal American home.

a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)

From this reading I would make it a neat country home with garden of flowers, orchard of fruits, a barn lot with bubbling spring and laughing brook.

emitting or filled with bubbles as from carbonation or fermentation

From this reading I would make it a neat country home with garden of flowers, orchard of fruits, a barn lot with bubbling spring and laughing brook.

a roughly cylindrical vessel that is open at the top

From this reading In the door of this home I would place an American mother with the youngest of four children in her arms; the oldest son driving his tired team to the barn, the second one the cows to the cupping, the daughter spreading the cloth for tea, and the head of the house sinking the iron-bound bucket in the well for a draught of cold water when day's work for loved ones is o'er.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Approaching the door a commission appointed by Congress on political economy lift their hats as the spokesman says: "Madam, are you mistress of this mansion?"

small room on a ship or boat where people sleep

From this reading I would not make it the fine mansion on the avenue, nor would I make it "the old log cabin in the lane."

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading In the door of this home I would place an American mother with the youngest of four children in her arms; the oldest son driving his tired team to the barn, the second one the cows to the cupping, the daughter spreading the cloth for tea, and the head of the house sinking the iron-bound bucket in the well for a draught of cold water when day's work for loved ones is o'er.

artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers

From this reading In the door of this home I would place an American mother with the youngest of four children in her arms; the oldest son driving his tired team to the barn, the second one the cows to the cupping, the daughter spreading the cloth for tea, and the head of the house sinking the iron-bound bucket in the well for a draught of cold water when day's work for loved ones is o'er.

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 In the door of this home I would place an American mother with the youngest of four children in her arms; the oldest son driving his tired team to the barn, the second one the cows to the cupping, the daughter spreading the cloth for tea, and the head of the house sinking the iron-bound bucket in the well for a draught of cold water when day's work for loved ones is o'er.

a special group delegated to consider some matter

From this reading Approaching the door a commission appointed by Congress on political economy lift their hats as the spokesman says: "Madam, are you mistress of this mansion?"

the legislature of the United States government

From this reading Approaching the door a commission appointed by Congress on political economy lift their hats as the spokesman says: "Madam, are you mistress of this mansion?"

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading I would make it a neat country home with garden of flowers, orchard of fruits, a barn lot with bubbling spring and laughing brook.

domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age

From this reading In the door of this home I would place an American mother with the youngest of four children in her arms; the oldest son driving his tired team to the barn, the second one the cows to the cupping, the daughter spreading the cloth for tea, and the head of the house sinking the iron-bound bucket in the well for a draught of cold water when day's work for loved ones is o'er.

a treatment in which evacuated cups are applied to the skin to draw blood through the surface

From this reading In the door of this home I would place an American mother with the youngest of four children in her arms; the oldest son driving his tired team to the barn, the second one the cows to the cupping, the daughter spreading the cloth for tea, and the head of the house sinking the iron-bound bucket in the well for a draught of cold water when day's work for loved ones is o'er.

a female human offspring

From this reading In the door of this home I would place an American mother with the youngest of four children in her arms; the oldest son driving his tired team to the barn, the second one the cows to the cupping, the daughter spreading the cloth for tea, and the head of the house sinking the iron-bound bucket in the well for a draught of cold water when day's work for loved ones is o'er.

possessive form of “day” — time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading In the door of this home I would place an American mother with the youngest of four children in her arms; the oldest son driving his tired team to the barn, the second one the cows to the cupping, the daughter spreading the cloth for tea, and the head of the house sinking the iron-bound bucket in the well for a draught of cold water when day's work for loved ones is o'er.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading In the door of this home I would place an American mother with the youngest of four children in her arms; the oldest son driving his tired team to the barn, the second one the cows to the cupping, the daughter spreading the cloth for tea, and the head of the house sinking the iron-bound bucket in the well for a draught of cold water when day's work for loved ones is o'er.

a serving of drink (usually alcoholic) drawn from a keg

From this reading In the door of this home I would place an American mother with the youngest of four children in her arms; the oldest son driving his tired team to the barn, the second one the cows to the cupping, the daughter spreading the cloth for tea, and the head of the house sinking the iron-bound bucket in the well for a draught of cold water when day's work for loved ones is o'er.

having the power of driving or impelling

From this reading In the door of this home I would place an American mother with the youngest of four children in her arms; the oldest son driving his tired team to the barn, the second one the cows to the cupping, the daughter spreading the cloth for tea, and the head of the house sinking the iron-bound bucket in the well for a draught of cold water when day's work for loved ones is o'er.

the system of production and distribution and consumption

From this reading Approaching the door a commission appointed by Congress on political economy lift their hats as the spokesman says: "Madam, are you mistress of this mansion?"

being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition

From this reading I would not make it the fine mansion on the avenue, nor would I make it "the old log cabin in the lane."

plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms

From this reading I would make it a neat country home with garden of flowers, orchard of fruits, a barn lot with bubbling spring and laughing brook.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading In the door of this home I would place an American mother with the youngest of four children in her arms; the oldest son driving his tired team to the barn, the second one the cows to the cupping, the daughter spreading the cloth for tea, and the head of the house sinking the iron-bound bucket in the well for a draught of cold water when day's work for loved ones is o'er.

the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

From this reading In the door of this home I would place an American mother with the youngest of four children in her arms; the oldest son driving his tired team to the barn, the second one the cows to the cupping, the daughter spreading the cloth for tea, and the head of the house sinking the iron-bound bucket in the well for a draught of cold water when day's work for loved ones is o'er.

plural of “fruit” — the ripened reproductive body of a seed plant

From this reading I would make it a neat country home with garden of flowers, orchard of fruits, a barn lot with bubbling spring and laughing brook.

a plot of ground where plants are cultivated

From this reading I would make it a neat country home with garden of flowers, orchard of fruits, a barn lot with bubbling spring and laughing brook.

plural of “hat” — headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim

From this reading Approaching the door a commission appointed by Congress on political economy lift their hats as the spokesman says: "Madam, are you mistress of this mansion?"

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading In the door of this home I would place an American mother with the youngest of four children in her arms; the oldest son driving his tired team to the barn, the second one the cows to the cupping, the daughter spreading the cloth for tea, and the head of the house sinking the iron-bound bucket in the well for a draught of cold water when day's work for loved ones is o'er.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading In the door of this home I would place an American mother with the youngest of four children in her arms; the oldest son driving his tired team to the barn, the second one the cows to the cupping, the daughter spreading the cloth for tea, and the head of the house sinking the iron-bound bucket in the well for a draught of cold water when day's work for loved ones is o'er.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading In the door of this home I would place an American mother with the youngest of four children in her arms; the oldest son driving his tired team to the barn, the second one the cows to the cupping, the daughter spreading the cloth for tea, and the head of the house sinking the iron-bound bucket in the well for a draught of cold water when day's work for loved ones is o'er.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading If I were an artist I would now place before you a picture of an ideal American home.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading In the door of this home I would place an American mother with the youngest of four children in her arms; the oldest son driving his tired team to the barn, the second one the cows to the cupping, the daughter spreading the cloth for tea, and the head of the house sinking the iron-bound bucket in the well for a draught of cold water when day's work for loved ones is o'er.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading If I were an artist I would now place before you a picture of an ideal American home.

conforming to an ultimate standard of perfection or excellence; embodying an ideal

From this reading If I were an artist I would now place before you a picture of an ideal American home.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If I were an artist I would now place before you a picture of an ideal American home.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading I would not make it the fine mansion on the avenue, nor would I make it "the old log cabin in the lane."

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the door of this home I would place an American mother with the youngest of four children in her arms; the oldest son driving his tired team to the barn, the second one the cows to the cupping, the daughter spreading the cloth for tea, and the head of the house sinking the iron-bound bucket in the well for a draught of cold water when day's work for loved ones is o'er.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading In the door of this home I would place an American mother with the youngest of four children in her arms; the oldest son driving his tired team to the barn, the second one the cows to the cupping, the daughter spreading the cloth for tea, and the head of the house sinking the iron-bound bucket in the well for a draught of cold water when day's work for loved ones is o'er.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I would not make it the fine mansion on the avenue, nor would I make it "the old log cabin in the lane."

a narrow way or road

From this reading I would not make it the fine mansion on the avenue, nor would I make it "the old log cabin in the lane."

showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness

From this reading I would make it a neat country home with garden of flowers, orchard of fruits, a barn lot with bubbling spring and laughing brook.

raise from a lower to a higher position

From this reading Approaching the door a commission appointed by Congress on political economy lift their hats as the spokesman says: "Madam, are you mistress of this mansion?"

enter into a log, as on ships and planes

From this reading I would not make it the fine mansion on the avenue, nor would I make it "the old log cabin in the lane."

(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent

From this reading I would make it a neat country home with garden of flowers, orchard of fruits, a barn lot with bubbling spring and laughing brook.

held dear

From this reading In the door of this home I would place an American mother with the youngest of four children in her arms; the oldest son driving his tired team to the barn, the second one the cows to the cupping, the daughter spreading the cloth for tea, and the head of the house sinking the iron-bound bucket in the well for a draught of cold water when day's work for loved ones is o'er.

a woman of refinement

From this reading Approaching the door a commission appointed by Congress on political economy lift their hats as the spokesman says: "Madam, are you mistress of this mansion?"

engage in

From this reading I would not make it the fine mansion on the avenue, nor would I make it "the old log cabin in the lane."

(astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided

From this reading I would not make it the fine mansion on the avenue, nor would I make it "the old log cabin in the lane."

an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man

From this reading Approaching the door a commission appointed by Congress on political economy lift their hats as the spokesman says: "Madam, are you mistress of this mansion?"

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading In the door of this home I would place an American mother with the youngest of four children in her arms; the oldest son driving his tired team to the barn, the second one the cows to the cupping, the daughter spreading the cloth for tea, and the head of the house sinking the iron-bound bucket in the well for a draught of cold water when day's work for loved ones is o'er.

clean or organized

From this reading I would make it a neat country home with garden of flowers, orchard of fruits, a barn lot with bubbling spring and laughing brook.

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading I would not make it the fine mansion on the avenue, nor would I make it "the old log cabin in the lane."

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading I would not make it the fine mansion on the avenue, nor would I make it "the old log cabin in the lane."

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading If I were an artist I would now place before you a picture of an ideal American home.

throughout a period of time

From this reading In the door of this home I would place an American mother with the youngest of four children in her arms; the oldest son driving his tired team to the barn, the second one the cows to the cupping, the daughter spreading the cloth for tea, and the head of the house sinking the iron-bound bucket in the well for a draught of cold water when day's work for loved ones is o'er.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading If I were an artist I would now place before you a picture of an ideal American home.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading I would not make it the fine mansion on the avenue, nor would I make it "the old log cabin in the lane."

superlative of “old” — (used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading In the door of this home I would place an American mother with the youngest of four children in her arms; the oldest son driving his tired team to the barn, the second one the cows to the cupping, the daughter spreading the cloth for tea, and the head of the house sinking the iron-bound bucket in the well for a draught of cold water when day's work for loved ones is o'er.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading I would not make it the fine mansion on the avenue, nor would I make it "the old log cabin in the lane."

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading In the door of this home I would place an American mother with the youngest of four children in her arms; the oldest son driving his tired team to the barn, the second one the cows to the cupping, the daughter spreading the cloth for tea, and the head of the house sinking the iron-bound bucket in the well for a draught of cold water when day's work for loved ones is o'er.

plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number

From this reading In the door of this home I would place an American mother with the youngest of four children in her arms; the oldest son driving his tired team to the barn, the second one the cows to the cupping, the daughter spreading the cloth for tea, and the head of the house sinking the iron-bound bucket in the well for a draught of cold water when day's work for loved ones is o'er.

garden consisting of a small cultivated wood without undergrowth

From this reading I would make it a neat country home with garden of flowers, orchard of fruits, a barn lot with bubbling spring and laughing brook.

a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface

From this reading If I were an artist I would now place before you a picture of an ideal American home.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading If I were an artist I would now place before you a picture of an ideal American home.

involving or characteristic of politics or parties or politicians

From this reading Approaching the door a commission appointed by Congress on political economy lift their hats as the spokesman says: "Madam, are you mistress of this mansion?"

plural of “say” — the chance to speak

From this reading Approaching the door a commission appointed by Congress on political economy lift their hats as the spokesman says: "Madam, are you mistress of this mansion?"

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading In the door of this home I would place an American mother with the youngest of four children in her arms; the oldest son driving his tired team to the barn, the second one the cows to the cupping, the daughter spreading the cloth for tea, and the head of the house sinking the iron-bound bucket in the well for a draught of cold water when day's work for loved ones is o'er.

a descent as through liquid (especially through water)

From this reading In the door of this home I would place an American mother with the youngest of four children in her arms; the oldest son driving his tired team to the barn, the second one the cows to the cupping, the daughter spreading the cloth for tea, and the head of the house sinking the iron-bound bucket in the well for a draught of cold water when day's work for loved ones is o'er.

a male human offspring

From this reading In the door of this home I would place an American mother with the youngest of four children in her arms; the oldest son driving his tired team to the barn, the second one the cows to the cupping, the daughter spreading the cloth for tea, and the head of the house sinking the iron-bound bucket in the well for a draught of cold water when day's work for loved ones is o'er.

a male spokesperson

From this reading Approaching the door a commission appointed by Congress on political economy lift their hats as the spokesman says: "Madam, are you mistress of this mansion?"

process or result of distributing or extending over a wide expanse of space

From this reading In the door of this home I would place an American mother with the youngest of four children in her arms; the oldest son driving his tired team to the barn, the second one the cows to the cupping, the daughter spreading the cloth for tea, and the head of the house sinking the iron-bound bucket in the well for a draught of cold water when day's work for loved ones is o'er.

the season of growth

From this reading I would make it a neat country home with garden of flowers, orchard of fruits, a barn lot with bubbling spring and laughing brook.

a beverage made by steeping tea leaves in water

From this reading In the door of this home I would place an American mother with the youngest of four children in her arms; the oldest son driving his tired team to the barn, the second one the cows to the cupping, the daughter spreading the cloth for tea, and the head of the house sinking the iron-bound bucket in the well for a draught of cold water when day's work for loved ones is o'er.

a cooperative unit (especially in sports)

From this reading In the door of this home I would place an American mother with the youngest of four children in her arms; the oldest son driving his tired team to the barn, the second one the cows to the cupping, the daughter spreading the cloth for tea, and the head of the house sinking the iron-bound bucket in the well for a draught of cold water when day's work for loved ones is o'er.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading I would not make it the fine mansion on the avenue, nor would I make it "the old log cabin in the lane."

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Approaching the door a commission appointed by Congress on political economy lift their hats as the spokesman says: "Madam, are you mistress of this mansion?"

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading In the door of this home I would place an American mother with the youngest of four children in her arms; the oldest son driving his tired team to the barn, the second one the cows to the cupping, the daughter spreading the cloth for tea, and the head of the house sinking the iron-bound bucket in the well for a draught of cold water when day's work for loved ones is o'er.

depleted of strength or energy

From this reading In the door of this home I would place an American mother with the youngest of four children in her arms; the oldest son driving his tired team to the barn, the second one the cows to the cupping, the daughter spreading the cloth for tea, and the head of the house sinking the iron-bound bucket in the well for a draught of cold water when day's work for loved ones is o'er.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading In the door of this home I would place an American mother with the youngest of four children in her arms; the oldest son driving his tired team to the barn, the second one the cows to the cupping, the daughter spreading the cloth for tea, and the head of the house sinking the iron-bound bucket in the well for a draught of cold water when day's work for loved ones is o'er.

binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent

From this reading In the door of this home I would place an American mother with the youngest of four children in her arms; the oldest son driving his tired team to the barn, the second one the cows to the cupping, the daughter spreading the cloth for tea, and the head of the house sinking the iron-bound bucket in the well for a draught of cold water when day's work for loved ones is o'er.

(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 In the door of this home I would place an American mother with the youngest of four children in her arms; the oldest son driving his tired team to the barn, the second one the cows to the cupping, the daughter spreading the cloth for tea, and the head of the house sinking the iron-bound bucket in the well for a draught of cold water when day's work for loved ones is o'er.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading If I were an artist I would now place before you a picture of an ideal American home.

at the time that

From this reading In the door of this home I would place an American mother with the youngest of four children in her arms; the oldest son driving his tired team to the barn, the second one the cows to the cupping, the daughter spreading the cloth for tea, and the head of the house sinking the iron-bound bucket in the well for a draught of cold water when day's work for loved ones is o'er.

in the company of; together with

From this reading I would make it a neat country home with garden of flowers, orchard of fruits, a barn lot with bubbling spring and laughing brook.

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading In the door of this home I would place an American mother with the youngest of four children in her arms; the oldest son driving his tired team to the barn, the second one the cows to the cupping, the daughter spreading the cloth for tea, and the head of the house sinking the iron-bound bucket in the well for a draught of cold water when day's work for loved ones is o'er.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading If I were an artist I would now place before you a picture of an ideal American home.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading If I were an artist I would now place before you a picture of an ideal American home.

superlative of “young” — (used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading In the door of this home I would place an American mother with the youngest of four children in her arms; the oldest son driving his tired team to the barn, the second one the cows to the cupping, the daughter spreading the cloth for tea, and the head of the house sinking the iron-bound bucket in the well for a draught of cold water when day's work for loved ones is o'er.