used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A LOVER OF THE WILDERNESS The weather was splendid, the sky cloudless, the air scented with the resinous fragrance of cedar, fir, and pine.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading A LOVER OF THE WILDERNESS The weather was splendid, the sky cloudless, the air scented with the resinous fragrance of cedar, fir, and pine.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading In a clearing in an almost impenetrable forest they paused, built a fire, and prepared to camp.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In a clearing in an almost impenetrable forest they paused, built a fire, and prepared to camp.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A LOVER OF THE WILDERNESS The weather was splendid, the sky cloudless, the air scented with the resinous fragrance of cedar, fir, and pine.
appetizingadjectiveUS /ˈæpɪtaɪzɪŋ/
appealing to or stimulating the appetite especially in appearance or aroma
From this reading One of the men had shot some squirrels, and their broiling over the coals was appetizing.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Savignon drew some young saplings together and filled up the interstices with boughs, ordering smaller ones inside that a sort of bed should be raised off the ground.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading Savignon drew some young saplings together and filled up the interstices with boughs, ordering smaller ones inside that a sort of bed should be raised off the ground.
boughsnounUS /baʊz/
plural of “bough” — any of the larger branches of a tree
From this reading Savignon drew some young saplings together and filled up the interstices with boughs, ordering smaller ones inside that a sort of bed should be raised off the ground.
broilingnounUS /ˈbrɔɪlɪŋ/
cooking by direct exposure to radiant heat (as over a fire or under a grill)
From this reading One of the men had shot some squirrels, and their broiling over the coals was appetizing.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading In a clearing in an almost impenetrable forest they paused, built a fire, and prepared to camp.
temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
From this reading In a clearing in an almost impenetrable forest they paused, built a fire, and prepared to camp.
cedarnounUS /ˈsiːdər/
any of numerous trees of the family Cupressaceae that resemble cedars
From this reading A LOVER OF THE WILDERNESS The weather was splendid, the sky cloudless, the air scented with the resinous fragrance of cedar, fir, and pine.
clearingnounUS /ˈklɪrɪŋ/
a tract of land with few or no trees in the middle of a wooded area
From this reading In a clearing in an almost impenetrable forest they paused, built a fire, and prepared to camp.
cloudlessadjectiveUS /ˈklaʊdləs/
free from clouds
From this reading A LOVER OF THE WILDERNESS The weather was splendid, the sky cloudless, the air scented with the resinous fragrance of cedar, fir, and pine.
coalsnounUS /koʊlz/
plural of “coal” — fossil fuel consisting of carbonized vegetable matter deposited in the Carboniferous period
From this reading One of the men had shot some squirrels, and their broiling over the coals was appetizing.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading They paused for a midday lunch and then kept on until dark.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading Savignon drew some young saplings together and filled up the interstices with boughs, ordering smaller ones inside that a sort of bed should be raised off the ground.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading Savignon drew some young saplings together and filled up the interstices with boughs, ordering smaller ones inside that a sort of bed should be raised off the ground.
firnounUS /fɜːr/
nonresinous wood of a fir tree
From this reading A LOVER OF THE WILDERNESS The weather was splendid, the sky cloudless, the air scented with the resinous fragrance of cedar, fir, and pine.
start firing a weapon
From this reading In a clearing in an almost impenetrable forest they paused, built a fire, and prepared to camp.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They paused for a midday lunch and then kept on until dark.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading In a clearing in an almost impenetrable forest they paused, built a fire, and prepared to camp.
fragrancenounUS /ˈfreɪɡrəns/
a distinctive odor that is pleasant
From this reading A LOVER OF THE WILDERNESS The weather was splendid, the sky cloudless, the air scented with the resinous fragrance of cedar, fir, and pine.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading Savignon drew some young saplings together and filled up the interstices with boughs, ordering smaller ones inside that a sort of bed should be raised off the ground.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading One of the men had shot some squirrels, and their broiling over the coals was appetizing.
impenetrableadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpenətrəbəl/
not admitting of penetration or passage into or through
From this reading In a clearing in an almost impenetrable forest they paused, built a fire, and prepared to camp.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In a clearing in an almost impenetrable forest they paused, built a fire, and prepared to camp.
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading Savignon drew some young saplings together and filled up the interstices with boughs, ordering smaller ones inside that a sort of bed should be raised off the ground.
interstices
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Savignon drew some young saplings together and filled up the interstices with boughs, ordering smaller ones inside that a sort of bed should be raised off the ground.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading They paused for a midday lunch and then kept on until dark.
a person who loves someone or is loved by someone
From this reading A LOVER OF THE WILDERNESS The weather was splendid, the sky cloudless, the air scented with the resinous fragrance of cedar, fir, and pine.
take the midday meal
From this reading They paused for a midday lunch and then kept on until dark.
the force of workers available
From this reading One of the men had shot some squirrels, and their broiling over the coals was appetizing.
middaynounUS /ˈmɪddeɪ/
the middle of the day
From this reading They paused for a midday lunch and then kept on until dark.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A LOVER OF THE WILDERNESS The weather was splendid, the sky cloudless, the air scented with the resinous fragrance of cedar, fir, and pine.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Savignon drew some young saplings together and filled up the interstices with boughs, ordering smaller ones inside that a sort of bed should be raised off the ground.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They paused for a midday lunch and then kept on until dark.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One of the men had shot some squirrels, and their broiling over the coals was appetizing.
plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Savignon drew some young saplings together and filled up the interstices with boughs, ordering smaller ones inside that a sort of bed should be raised off the ground.
orderingnounUS /ˈɔːrdərɪŋ/
logical or comprehensible arrangement of separate elements
From this reading Savignon drew some young saplings together and filled up the interstices with boughs, ordering smaller ones inside that a sort of bed should be raised off the ground.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading One of the men had shot some squirrels, and their broiling over the coals was appetizing.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading They paused for a midday lunch and then kept on until dark.
pinenounUS /paɪn/
a coniferous tree
From this reading A LOVER OF THE WILDERNESS The weather was splendid, the sky cloudless, the air scented with the resinous fragrance of cedar, fir, and pine.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading In a clearing in an almost impenetrable forest they paused, built a fire, and prepared to camp.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading Savignon drew some young saplings together and filled up the interstices with boughs, ordering smaller ones inside that a sort of bed should be raised off the ground.
resinousadjective
having the characteristics of pitch or tar
From this reading A LOVER OF THE WILDERNESS The weather was splendid, the sky cloudless, the air scented with the resinous fragrance of cedar, fir, and pine.
saplingsnounUS /ˈsæplɪŋz/
plural of “sapling” — young tree
From this reading Savignon drew some young saplings together and filled up the interstices with boughs, ordering smaller ones inside that a sort of bed should be raised off the ground.
Savignon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Savignon drew some young saplings together and filled up the interstices with boughs, ordering smaller ones inside that a sort of bed should be raised off the ground.
scentedadjectiveUS /ˈsentɪd/
having the sense of smell
From this reading A LOVER OF THE WILDERNESS The weather was splendid, the sky cloudless, the air scented with the resinous fragrance of cedar, fir, and pine.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading One of the men had shot some squirrels, and their broiling over the coals was appetizing.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Savignon drew some young saplings together and filled up the interstices with boughs, ordering smaller ones inside that a sort of bed should be raised off the ground.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading A LOVER OF THE WILDERNESS The weather was splendid, the sky cloudless, the air scented with the resinous fragrance of cedar, fir, and pine.
smalleradjectiveUS /ˈsmɔːlər/
small or little relative to something else
From this reading Savignon drew some young saplings together and filled up the interstices with boughs, ordering smaller ones inside that a sort of bed should be raised off the ground.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Savignon drew some young saplings together and filled up the interstices with boughs, ordering smaller ones inside that a sort of bed should be raised off the ground.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading Savignon drew some young saplings together and filled up the interstices with boughs, ordering smaller ones inside that a sort of bed should be raised off the ground.
having great beauty and splendor
From this reading A LOVER OF THE WILDERNESS The weather was splendid, the sky cloudless, the air scented with the resinous fragrance of cedar, fir, and pine.
squirrelsnounUS /ˈskwɜːrəlz/
plural of “squirrel” — a kind of arboreal rodent having a long bushy tail
From this reading One of the men had shot some squirrels, and their broiling over the coals was appetizing.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Savignon drew some young saplings together and filled up the interstices with boughs, ordering smaller ones inside that a sort of bed should be raised off the ground.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A LOVER OF THE WILDERNESS The weather was splendid, the sky cloudless, the air scented with the resinous fragrance of cedar, fir, and pine.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading One of the men had shot some squirrels, and their broiling over the coals was appetizing.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading They paused for a midday lunch and then kept on until dark.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They paused for a midday lunch and then kept on until dark.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In a clearing in an almost impenetrable forest they paused, built a fire, and prepared to camp.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading Savignon drew some young saplings together and filled up the interstices with boughs, ordering smaller ones inside that a sort of bed should be raised off the ground.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading They paused for a midday lunch and then kept on until dark.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Savignon drew some young saplings together and filled up the interstices with boughs, ordering smaller ones inside that a sort of bed should be raised off the ground.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A LOVER OF THE WILDERNESS The weather was splendid, the sky cloudless, the air scented with the resinous fragrance of cedar, fir, and pine.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading A LOVER OF THE WILDERNESS The weather was splendid, the sky cloudless, the air scented with the resinous fragrance of cedar, fir, and pine.
WILDERNESSnounUS /ˈwɪldərnəs/
(politics) a state of disfavor
From this reading A LOVER OF THE WILDERNESS The weather was splendid, the sky cloudless, the air scented with the resinous fragrance of cedar, fir, and pine.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A LOVER OF THE WILDERNESS The weather was splendid, the sky cloudless, the air scented with the resinous fragrance of cedar, fir, and pine.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Savignon drew some young saplings together and filled up the interstices with boughs, ordering smaller ones inside that a sort of bed should be raised off the ground.
