used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Ruth got a jar of clear white honey out of the closet, put it under her shawl, and was off.
accomplishverbUS /əˈkɑːmplɪʃ/
put in effect
From this reading It was a mile to the Wigginses', and it took Ruth over an hour to accomplish her errand and return.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was a mile to the Wigginses', and it took Ruth over an hour to accomplish her errand and return.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Whitmans kept bees, and their honey was the celebrated luxury of the neighborhood.
beesnounUS /biːz/
plural of “bee” — any of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species
From this reading The Whitmans kept bees, and their honey was the celebrated luxury of the neighborhood.
celebratedadjectiveUS /ˈseləbreɪtɪd/
widely known and esteemed
From this reading The Whitmans kept bees, and their honey was the celebrated luxury of the neighborhood.
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading First, though, she instructed Serena to go out in the garden and dig a good supply of parsnips and clean them for the next day's dinner.
rid of obstructions
From this reading Ruth got a jar of clear white honey out of the closet, put it under her shawl, and was off.
closetnounUS /ˈklɑːzət/
a small room (or recess) or cabinet used for storage space
From this reading Ruth got a jar of clear white honey out of the closet, put it under her shawl, and was off.
day'snounUS /deɪz/
possessive form of “day” — time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading First, though, she instructed Serena to go out in the garden and dig a good supply of parsnips and clean them for the next day's dinner.
digverbUS /dɪɡ/
turn up, loosen, or remove earth
From this reading First, though, she instructed Serena to go out in the garden and dig a good supply of parsnips and clean them for the next day's dinner.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading First, though, she instructed Serena to go out in the garden and dig a good supply of parsnips and clean them for the next day's dinner.
errandnounUS /ˈerənd/
a short trip that is taken in the performance of a necessary task or mission
From this reading It was a mile to the Wigginses', and it took Ruth over an hour to accomplish her errand and return.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading When she got home she found Serena getting supper, and her father was washing his hands out in the shed; her mother had not returned.
FirstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading First, though, she instructed Serena to go out in the garden and dig a good supply of parsnips and clean them for the next day's dinner.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading First, though, she instructed Serena to go out in the garden and dig a good supply of parsnips and clean them for the next day's dinner.
set up or found
From this reading When she got home she found Serena getting supper, and her father was washing his hands out in the shed; her mother had not returned.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading First, though, she instructed Serena to go out in the garden and dig a good supply of parsnips and clean them for the next day's dinner.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading When she got home she found Serena getting supper, and her father was washing his hands out in the shed; her mother had not returned.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading First, though, she instructed Serena to go out in the garden and dig a good supply of parsnips and clean them for the next day's dinner.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading First, though, she instructed Serena to go out in the garden and dig a good supply of parsnips and clean them for the next day's dinner.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Ruth got a jar of clear white honey out of the closet, put it under her shawl, and was off.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When she got home she found Serena getting supper, and her father was washing his hands out in the shed; her mother had not returned.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading When she got home she found Serena getting supper, and her father was washing his hands out in the shed; her mother had not returned.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Ruth got a jar of clear white honey out of the closet, put it under her shawl, and was off.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When she got home she found Serena getting supper, and her father was washing his hands out in the shed; her mother had not returned.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading When she got home she found Serena getting supper, and her father was washing his hands out in the shed; her mother had not returned.
honeynounUS /ˈhʌni/
a sweet yellow liquid produced by bees
From this reading The Whitmans kept bees, and their honey was the celebrated luxury of the neighborhood.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading It was a mile to the Wigginses', and it took Ruth over an hour to accomplish her errand and return.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading First, though, she instructed Serena to go out in the garden and dig a good supply of parsnips and clean them for the next day's dinner.
instructedverbUS /ˌɪnˈstrʌktəd/
past form of “instruct” — impart skills or knowledge to
From this reading First, though, she instructed Serena to go out in the garden and dig a good supply of parsnips and clean them for the next day's dinner.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Ruth got a jar of clear white honey out of the closet, put it under her shawl, and was off.
jarverbUS /dʒɑːr/
be incompatible; be or come into conflict
From this reading Ruth got a jar of clear white honey out of the closet, put it under her shawl, and was off.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading The Whitmans kept bees, and their honey was the celebrated luxury of the neighborhood.
luxurynounUS /ˈlʌɡʒəri/
something that is an indulgence rather than a necessity
From this reading The Whitmans kept bees, and their honey was the celebrated luxury of the neighborhood.
a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading It was a mile to the Wigginses', and it took Ruth over an hour to accomplish her errand and return.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading When she got home she found Serena getting supper, and her father was washing his hands out in the shed; her mother had not returned.
neighborhoodnounUS /ˈneɪbərhʊd/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading The Whitmans kept bees, and their honey was the celebrated luxury of the neighborhood.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading First, though, she instructed Serena to go out in the garden and dig a good supply of parsnips and clean them for the next day's dinner.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading When she got home she found Serena getting supper, and her father was washing his hands out in the shed; her mother had not returned.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Whitmans kept bees, and their honey was the celebrated luxury of the neighborhood.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Ruth got a jar of clear white honey out of the closet, put it under her shawl, and was off.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Ruth got a jar of clear white honey out of the closet, put it under her shawl, and was off.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading It was a mile to the Wigginses', and it took Ruth over an hour to accomplish her errand and return.
parsnips
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading First, though, she instructed Serena to go out in the garden and dig a good supply of parsnips and clean them for the next day's dinner.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Ruth got a jar of clear white honey out of the closet, put it under her shawl, and was off.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading It was a mile to the Wigginses', and it took Ruth over an hour to accomplish her errand and return.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading When she got home she found Serena getting supper, and her father was washing his hands out in the shed; her mother had not returned.
United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading Ruth got a jar of clear white honey out of the closet, put it under her shawl, and was off.
Serena
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading First, though, she instructed Serena to go out in the garden and dig a good supply of parsnips and clean them for the next day's dinner.
shawlnounUS /ʃɔːl/
cloak consisting of an oblong piece of cloth used to cover the head and shoulders
From this reading Ruth got a jar of clear white honey out of the closet, put it under her shawl, and was off.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading First, though, she instructed Serena to go out in the garden and dig a good supply of parsnips and clean them for the next day's dinner.
get rid of
From this reading When she got home she found Serena getting supper, and her father was washing his hands out in the shed; her mother had not returned.
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading When she got home she found Serena getting supper, and her father was washing his hands out in the shed; her mother had not returned.
give something useful or necessary to
From this reading First, though, she instructed Serena to go out in the garden and dig a good supply of parsnips and clean them for the next day's dinner.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Whitmans kept bees, and their honey was the celebrated luxury of the neighborhood.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The Whitmans kept bees, and their honey was the celebrated luxury of the neighborhood.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading First, though, she instructed Serena to go out in the garden and dig a good supply of parsnips and clean them for the next day's dinner.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading First, though, she instructed Serena to go out in the garden and dig a good supply of parsnips and clean them for the next day's dinner.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading First, though, she instructed Serena to go out in the garden and dig a good supply of parsnips and clean them for the next day's dinner.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading It was a mile to the Wigginses', and it took Ruth over an hour to accomplish her errand and return.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Ruth got a jar of clear white honey out of the closet, put it under her shawl, and was off.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Whitmans kept bees, and their honey was the celebrated luxury of the neighborhood.
washingnounUS /ˈwɑːʃɪŋ/
the work of cleansing (usually with soap and water)
From this reading When she got home she found Serena getting supper, and her father was washing his hands out in the shed; her mother had not returned.
at the time that
From this reading When she got home she found Serena getting supper, and her father was washing his hands out in the shed; her mother had not returned.
a Caucasian
From this reading Ruth got a jar of clear white honey out of the closet, put it under her shawl, and was off.
Whitmans
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Whitmans kept bees, and their honey was the celebrated luxury of the neighborhood.
Wigginses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a mile to the Wigginses', and it took Ruth over an hour to accomplish her errand and return.
