used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
admittingverbUS /ædˈmɪtɪŋ/
inflected form of “admit” — declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading There were the same old piazza, the same old dog still asleep on the door-mat, the two porcelain jardinières, with the same straggling begonias that he had seen there spring after spring.
anew
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776
From this reading There, too, was the parrot that Overton had brought from South America.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
annoyingadjectiveUS /əˈnɔɪɪŋ/
causing irritation or annoyance
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
arousedadjectiveUS /ərˈaʊzd/
aroused to action
From this reading He went in, and was half-way up-stairs when a messenger-boy’s sudden arrival on the front porch aroused the dog and the parrot.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading He went in, and was half-way up-stairs when a messenger-boy’s sudden arrival on the front porch aroused the dog and the parrot.
in a state of sleep
From this reading There were the same old piazza, the same old dog still asleep on the door-mat, the two porcelain jardinières, with the same straggling begonias that he had seen there spring after spring.
begoniasnounUS /bɪˈɡoʊnjəz/
plural of “begonia” — any of numerous plants of the genus Begonia grown for their attractive glossy asymmetrical leaves and colorful flowers in usually terminal cymes or racemes
From this reading There were the same old piazza, the same old dog still asleep on the door-mat, the two porcelain jardinières, with the same straggling begonias that he had seen there spring after spring.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
a youthful male person
From this reading The boy had brought a telegram, and wanted fifteen cents for carrying it over from the station.
boyhoodnounUS /ˈbɔɪhʊd/
the childhood of a boy
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading There, too, was the parrot that Overton had brought from South America.
-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading The boy had brought a telegram, and wanted fifteen cents for carrying it over from the station.
centsnounUS /sents/
plural of “cent” — a fractional monetary unit of several countries
From this reading The boy had brought a telegram, and wanted fifteen cents for carrying it over from the station.
clungverbUS /klʌŋ/
inflected form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
commonplaceadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmənpleɪs/
completely ordinary and unremarkable
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading There were the same old piazza, the same old dog still asleep on the door-mat, the two porcelain jardinières, with the same straggling begonias that he had seen there spring after spring.
door-mat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were the same old piazza, the same old dog still asleep on the door-mat, the two porcelain jardinières, with the same straggling begonias that he had seen there spring after spring.
at any time
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
the state or fact of existing
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
the cardinal number that is the sum of fourteen and one
From this reading The boy had brought a telegram, and wanted fifteen cents for carrying it over from the station.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The boy had brought a telegram, and wanted fifteen cents for carrying it over from the station.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading There, too, was the parrot that Overton had brought from South America.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading He went in, and was half-way up-stairs when a messenger-boy’s sudden arrival on the front porch aroused the dog and the parrot.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
an established custom
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
half-way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He went in, and was half-way up-stairs when a messenger-boy’s sudden arrival on the front porch aroused the dog and the parrot.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
hingenounUS /hɪndʒ/
a joint that holds two parts together so that one can swing relative to the other
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He went in, and was half-way up-stairs when a messenger-boy’s sudden arrival on the front porch aroused the dog and the parrot.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
jardinières
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were the same old piazza, the same old dog still asleep on the door-mat, the two porcelain jardinières, with the same straggling begonias that he had seen there spring after spring.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
messenger-boy's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He went in, and was half-way up-stairs when a messenger-boy’s sudden arrival on the front porch aroused the dog and the parrot.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There were the same old piazza, the same old dog still asleep on the door-mat, the two porcelain jardinières, with the same straggling begonias that he had seen there spring after spring.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The boy had brought a telegram, and wanted fifteen cents for carrying it over from the station.
Overton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, too, was the parrot that Overton had brought from South America.
parrotnounUS /ˈperət/
usually brightly colored zygodactyl tropical birds with short hooked beaks and the ability to mimic sounds
From this reading There, too, was the parrot that Overton had brought from South America.
piazzanounUS /piˈæzə/
a public square with room for pedestrians
From this reading There were the same old piazza, the same old dog still asleep on the door-mat, the two porcelain jardinières, with the same straggling begonias that he had seen there spring after spring.
porcelainnounUS /ˈpɔːrsələn/
ceramic ware made of a more or less translucent ceramic
From this reading There were the same old piazza, the same old dog still asleep on the door-mat, the two porcelain jardinières, with the same straggling begonias that he had seen there spring after spring.
a structure attached to the exterior of a building often forming a covered entrance
From this reading He went in, and was half-way up-stairs when a messenger-boy’s sudden arrival on the front porch aroused the dog and the parrot.
reflectionsnounUS /rɪˈflekʃənz/
plural of “reflection” — a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
Identical; not different.
From this reading There were the same old piazza, the same old dog still asleep on the door-mat, the two porcelain jardinières, with the same straggling begonias that he had seen there spring after spring.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading There were the same old piazza, the same old dog still asleep on the door-mat, the two porcelain jardinières, with the same straggling begonias that he had seen there spring after spring.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading There, too, was the parrot that Overton had brought from South America.
the season of growth
From this reading There were the same old piazza, the same old dog still asleep on the door-mat, the two porcelain jardinières, with the same straggling begonias that he had seen there spring after spring.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
startlingadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading The boy had brought a telegram, and wanted fifteen cents for carrying it over from the station.
not in physical motion
From this reading There were the same old piazza, the same old dog still asleep on the door-mat, the two porcelain jardinières, with the same straggling begonias that he had seen there spring after spring.
stragglingadjective
spreading out in different directions or distributed irregularly
From this reading There were the same old piazza, the same old dog still asleep on the door-mat, the two porcelain jardinières, with the same straggling begonias that he had seen there spring after spring.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading He went in, and was half-way up-stairs when a messenger-boy’s sudden arrival on the front porch aroused the dog and the parrot.
telegramnounUS /ˈteləɡræm/
a message transmitted by telegraph
From this reading The boy had brought a telegram, and wanted fifteen cents for carrying it over from the station.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were the same old piazza, the same old dog still asleep on the door-mat, the two porcelain jardinières, with the same straggling begonias that he had seen there spring after spring.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading There, too, was the parrot that Overton had brought from South America.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading There were the same old piazza, the same old dog still asleep on the door-mat, the two porcelain jardinières, with the same straggling begonias that he had seen there spring after spring.
up-stairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He went in, and was half-way up-stairs when a messenger-boy’s sudden arrival on the front porch aroused the dog and the parrot.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading The boy had brought a telegram, and wanted fifteen cents for carrying it over from the station.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He went in, and was half-way up-stairs when a messenger-boy’s sudden arrival on the front porch aroused the dog and the parrot.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were the same old piazza, the same old dog still asleep on the door-mat, the two porcelain jardinières, with the same straggling begonias that he had seen there spring after spring.
at the time that
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was reflections like these that made it almost startling to open the old gate, which had an annoying habit of coming off one hinge--a habit that had clung to it ever since his boyhood--and to feel that it was admitting him again into the commonplace existence that he had left behind him when he started out.
in the company of; together with
From this reading There were the same old piazza, the same old dog still asleep on the door-mat, the two porcelain jardinières, with the same straggling begonias that he had seen there spring after spring.
