used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A band of gypsies seated on the grass about a mile from the city limits, were lazily washing their breakfast dishes.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading A band of gypsies seated on the grass about a mile from the city limits, were lazily washing their breakfast dishes.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Farther away was an old woman, wrinkled, and with a sour look on her face, working at a beaded cushion.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Two or three young girls were laughing and chatting merrily as they sat in the shade together.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Her black uncombed hair hung down her back and around a face ugly in the extreme.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Two or three young girls were laughing and chatting merrily as they sat in the shade together.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Farther away was an old woman, wrinkled, and with a sour look on her face, working at a beaded cushion.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Farther away was an old woman, wrinkled, and with a sour look on her face, working at a beaded cushion.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Her black uncombed hair hung down her back and around a face ugly in the extreme.
an unofficial association of people or groups
From this reading A band of gypsies seated on the grass about a mile from the city limits, were lazily washing their breakfast dishes.
beadedadjectiveUS /ˈbiːdɪd/
covered with beads of liquid
From this reading Farther away was an old woman, wrinkled, and with a sour look on her face, working at a beaded cushion.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Her black uncombed hair hung down her back and around a face ugly in the extreme.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading A band of gypsies seated on the grass about a mile from the city limits, were lazily washing their breakfast dishes.
CHASTISEMENTnoun
verbal punishment
From this reading THE CHASTISEMENT.
chattingverbUS /ˈtʃætɪŋ/
inflected form of “chat” — talk socially without exchanging too much information
From this reading Two or three young girls were laughing and chatting merrily as they sat in the shade together.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading A band of gypsies seated on the grass about a mile from the city limits, were lazily washing their breakfast dishes.
cushionnounUS /ˈkʊʃən/
a mechanical damper; absorbs energy of sudden impulses
From this reading Farther away was an old woman, wrinkled, and with a sour look on her face, working at a beaded cushion.
dishesnounUS /ˈdɪʃəz/
plural of “dish” — a piece of dishware normally used as a container for holding or serving food
From this reading A band of gypsies seated on the grass about a mile from the city limits, were lazily washing their breakfast dishes.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Her black uncombed hair hung down her back and around a face ugly in the extreme.
of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity
From this reading Her black uncombed hair hung down her back and around a face ugly in the extreme.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Farther away was an old woman, wrinkled, and with a sour look on her face, working at a beaded cushion.
more distant in especially space or time
From this reading Farther away was an old woman, wrinkled, and with a sour look on her face, working at a beaded cushion.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A band of gypsies seated on the grass about a mile from the city limits, were lazily washing their breakfast dishes.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading Two or three young girls were laughing and chatting merrily as they sat in the shade together.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading A band of gypsies seated on the grass about a mile from the city limits, were lazily washing their breakfast dishes.
gypsiesnounUS /ˈdʒɪpsiz/
plural of “gypsy” — a laborer who moves from place to place as demanded by employment
From this reading A band of gypsies seated on the grass about a mile from the city limits, were lazily washing their breakfast dishes.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading Her black uncombed hair hung down her back and around a face ugly in the extreme.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Farther away was an old woman, wrinkled, and with a sour look on her face, working at a beaded cushion.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading Her black uncombed hair hung down her back and around a face ugly in the extreme.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Two or three young girls were laughing and chatting merrily as they sat in the shade together.
showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness
From this reading Two or three young girls were laughing and chatting merrily as they sat in the shade together.
lazilyadverbUS /ˈlæzəli/
in a slow and lazy manner
From this reading A band of gypsies seated on the grass about a mile from the city limits, were lazily washing their breakfast dishes.
limitsnounUS /ˈlɪməts/
plural of “limit” — the greatest possible degree of something
From this reading A band of gypsies seated on the grass about a mile from the city limits, were lazily washing their breakfast dishes.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Farther away was an old woman, wrinkled, and with a sour look on her face, working at a beaded cushion.
merrilyadverbUS /ˈmerəli/
in a joyous manner
From this reading Two or three young girls were laughing and chatting merrily as they sat in the shade together.
a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading A band of gypsies seated on the grass about a mile from the city limits, were lazily washing their breakfast dishes.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A band of gypsies seated on the grass about a mile from the city limits, were lazily washing their breakfast dishes.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Farther away was an old woman, wrinkled, and with a sour look on her face, working at a beaded cushion.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A band of gypsies seated on the grass about a mile from the city limits, were lazily washing their breakfast dishes.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Two or three young girls were laughing and chatting merrily as they sat in the shade together.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Two or three young girls were laughing and chatting merrily as they sat in the shade together.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading A band of gypsies seated on the grass about a mile from the city limits, were lazily washing their breakfast dishes.
relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body
From this reading Two or three young girls were laughing and chatting merrily as they sat in the shade together.
sourverbUS /ˈsaʊər/
go sour or spoil
From this reading Farther away was an old woman, wrinkled, and with a sour look on her face, working at a beaded cushion.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CHASTISEMENT.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading A band of gypsies seated on the grass about a mile from the city limits, were lazily washing their breakfast dishes.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Two or three young girls were laughing and chatting merrily as they sat in the shade together.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Two or three young girls were laughing and chatting merrily as they sat in the shade together.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading Two or three young girls were laughing and chatting merrily as they sat in the shade together.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two or three young girls were laughing and chatting merrily as they sat in the shade together.
displeasing to the senses
From this reading Her black uncombed hair hung down her back and around a face ugly in the extreme.
uncombedadjective
(of hair) not combed
From this reading Her black uncombed hair hung down her back and around a face ugly in the extreme.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Farther away was an old woman, wrinkled, and with a sour look on her face, working at a beaded cushion.
washingnounUS /ˈwɑːʃɪŋ/
the work of cleansing (usually with soap and water)
From this reading A band of gypsies seated on the grass about a mile from the city limits, were lazily washing their breakfast dishes.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A band of gypsies seated on the grass about a mile from the city limits, were lazily washing their breakfast dishes.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Farther away was an old woman, wrinkled, and with a sour look on her face, working at a beaded cushion.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Farther away was an old woman, wrinkled, and with a sour look on her face, working at a beaded cushion.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading Farther away was an old woman, wrinkled, and with a sour look on her face, working at a beaded cushion.
wrinkledadjectiveUS /ˈrɪŋkəld/
marked by wrinkles
From this reading Farther away was an old woman, wrinkled, and with a sour look on her face, working at a beaded cushion.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Two or three young girls were laughing and chatting merrily as they sat in the shade together.
