used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The two-storied house of Aaron McGivins stood on a hill-side overlooking a stretch of cleared acreage.
AaronnounUS /ˈerən/
United States professional baseball player who hit more home runs than Babe Ruth (born in 1934)
From this reading The two-storied house of Aaron McGivins stood on a hill-side overlooking a stretch of cleared acreage.
acreagenounUS /ˈeɪkərɪdʒ/
an area of ground used for some particular purpose (such as building or farming)
From this reading The two-storied house of Aaron McGivins stood on a hill-side overlooking a stretch of cleared acreage.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Aaron McGivins had just cause for troubled meditation as he stretched there under the faded coverlet and under the impending threat of death, as well.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Aaron McGivins had just cause for troubled meditation as he stretched there under the faded coverlet and under the impending threat of death, as well.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Just now in a room whose hearth was wide, upon a four-poster bed, lay the master of the place gazing upwards at the rafters with eyes harassed, yet uncomplaining.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading Just now in a room whose hearth was wide, upon a four-poster bed, lay the master of the place gazing upwards at the rafters with eyes harassed, yet uncomplaining.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading His life had been one of scant ease and of unmitigated warfare with the hostile forces of Nature.
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading Aaron McGivins had just cause for troubled meditation as he stretched there under the faded coverlet and under the impending threat of death, as well.
rid of objects or obstructions such as e.g. trees and brush
From this reading The two-storied house of Aaron McGivins stood on a hill-side overlooking a stretch of cleared acreage.
coverletnoun
a decorative bedspread (usually quilted)
From this reading Aaron McGivins had just cause for troubled meditation as he stretched there under the faded coverlet and under the impending threat of death, as well.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading Aaron McGivins had just cause for troubled meditation as he stretched there under the faded coverlet and under the impending threat of death, as well.
Do-without
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a dwelling place of unusual pretentiousness for that land of "Do-without," where inexorable meagerness is the rule of life.
dwellingnounUS /ˈdwelɪŋ/
housing that someone is living in
From this reading It was a dwelling place of unusual pretentiousness for that land of "Do-without," where inexorable meagerness is the rule of life.
move gently or carefully
From this reading His life had been one of scant ease and of unmitigated warfare with the hostile forces of Nature.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Just now in a room whose hearth was wide, upon a four-poster bed, lay the master of the place gazing upwards at the rafters with eyes harassed, yet uncomplaining.
fadedadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪdəd/
having lost freshness or brilliance of color
From this reading Aaron McGivins had just cause for troubled meditation as he stretched there under the faded coverlet and under the impending threat of death, as well.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was a dwelling place of unusual pretentiousness for that land of "Do-without," where inexorable meagerness is the rule of life.
plural of “force” — a powerful effect or influence
From this reading His life had been one of scant ease and of unmitigated warfare with the hostile forces of Nature.
four-posternoun
a bed with posts at the four corners that can be used to support a canopy or curtains
From this reading Just now in a room whose hearth was wide, upon a four-poster bed, lay the master of the place gazing upwards at the rafters with eyes harassed, yet uncomplaining.
-ing form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Just now in a room whose hearth was wide, upon a four-poster bed, lay the master of the place gazing upwards at the rafters with eyes harassed, yet uncomplaining.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Aaron McGivins had just cause for troubled meditation as he stretched there under the faded coverlet and under the impending threat of death, as well.
harassedadjectiveUS /hərˈæst/
troubled persistently especially with petty annoyances
From this reading Just now in a room whose hearth was wide, upon a four-poster bed, lay the master of the place gazing upwards at the rafters with eyes harassed, yet uncomplaining.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Aaron McGivins had just cause for troubled meditation as he stretched there under the faded coverlet and under the impending threat of death, as well.
hearthnounUS /hɑːrθ/
an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built
From this reading Just now in a room whose hearth was wide, upon a four-poster bed, lay the master of the place gazing upwards at the rafters with eyes harassed, yet uncomplaining.
hill-side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The two-storied house of Aaron McGivins stood on a hill-side overlooking a stretch of cleared acreage.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His life had been one of scant ease and of unmitigated warfare with the hostile forces of Nature.
hostileadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːstəl/
characterized by enmity or ill will
From this reading His life had been one of scant ease and of unmitigated warfare with the hostile forces of Nature.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The two-storied house of Aaron McGivins stood on a hill-side overlooking a stretch of cleared acreage.
impendingadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpendɪŋ/
close in time; about to occur
From this reading Aaron McGivins had just cause for troubled meditation as he stretched there under the faded coverlet and under the impending threat of death, as well.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Just now in a room whose hearth was wide, upon a four-poster bed, lay the master of the place gazing upwards at the rafters with eyes harassed, yet uncomplaining.
inexorableadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈneksərəbəl/
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading It was a dwelling place of unusual pretentiousness for that land of "Do-without," where inexorable meagerness is the rule of life.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a dwelling place of unusual pretentiousness for that land of "Do-without," where inexorable meagerness is the rule of life.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a dwelling place of unusual pretentiousness for that land of "Do-without," where inexorable meagerness is the rule of life.
and nothing more
From this reading Just now in a room whose hearth was wide, upon a four-poster bed, lay the master of the place gazing upwards at the rafters with eyes harassed, yet uncomplaining.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading It was a dwelling place of unusual pretentiousness for that land of "Do-without," where inexorable meagerness is the rule of life.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Just now in a room whose hearth was wide, upon a four-poster bed, lay the master of the place gazing upwards at the rafters with eyes harassed, yet uncomplaining.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading It was a dwelling place of unusual pretentiousness for that land of "Do-without," where inexorable meagerness is the rule of life.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading Just now in a room whose hearth was wide, upon a four-poster bed, lay the master of the place gazing upwards at the rafters with eyes harassed, yet uncomplaining.
McGivins
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The two-storied house of Aaron McGivins stood on a hill-side overlooking a stretch of cleared acreage.
meagernessnoun
the quality of being meager
From this reading It was a dwelling place of unusual pretentiousness for that land of "Do-without," where inexorable meagerness is the rule of life.
meditationnounUS /ˌmedəˈteɪʃən/
continuous and profound contemplation or musing on a subject or series of subjects of a deep or abstruse nature
From this reading Aaron McGivins had just cause for troubled meditation as he stretched there under the faded coverlet and under the impending threat of death, as well.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading His life had been one of scant ease and of unmitigated warfare with the hostile forces of Nature.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Just now in a room whose hearth was wide, upon a four-poster bed, lay the master of the place gazing upwards at the rafters with eyes harassed, yet uncomplaining.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The two-storied house of Aaron McGivins stood on a hill-side overlooking a stretch of cleared acreage.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The two-storied house of Aaron McGivins stood on a hill-side overlooking a stretch of cleared acreage.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading His life had been one of scant ease and of unmitigated warfare with the hostile forces of Nature.
overlookingadjectiveUS /ˈoʊvərlʊkɪŋ/
used of a height or viewpoint
From this reading The two-storied house of Aaron McGivins stood on a hill-side overlooking a stretch of cleared acreage.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading It was a dwelling place of unusual pretentiousness for that land of "Do-without," where inexorable meagerness is the rule of life.
pretentiousnessnoun
lack of elegance as a consequence of being pompous and puffed up with vanity
From this reading It was a dwelling place of unusual pretentiousness for that land of "Do-without," where inexorable meagerness is the rule of life.
raftersnounUS /ˈræftərz/
plural of “rafter” — one of several parallel sloping beams that support a roof
From this reading Just now in a room whose hearth was wide, upon a four-poster bed, lay the master of the place gazing upwards at the rafters with eyes harassed, yet uncomplaining.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Just now in a room whose hearth was wide, upon a four-poster bed, lay the master of the place gazing upwards at the rafters with eyes harassed, yet uncomplaining.
a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
From this reading It was a dwelling place of unusual pretentiousness for that land of "Do-without," where inexorable meagerness is the rule of life.
scantadjectiveUS /skænt/
less than the correct or legal or full amount often deliberately so
From this reading His life had been one of scant ease and of unmitigated warfare with the hostile forces of Nature.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The two-storied house of Aaron McGivins stood on a hill-side overlooking a stretch of cleared acreage.
stretchverbUS /stretʃ/
occupy a large, elongated area
From this reading The two-storied house of Aaron McGivins stood on a hill-side overlooking a stretch of cleared acreage.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading Aaron McGivins had just cause for troubled meditation as he stretched there under the faded coverlet and under the impending threat of death, as well.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was a dwelling place of unusual pretentiousness for that land of "Do-without," where inexorable meagerness is the rule of life.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The two-storied house of Aaron McGivins stood on a hill-side overlooking a stretch of cleared acreage.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Aaron McGivins had just cause for troubled meditation as he stretched there under the faded coverlet and under the impending threat of death, as well.
threatnounUS /θret/
something that is a source of danger
From this reading Aaron McGivins had just cause for troubled meditation as he stretched there under the faded coverlet and under the impending threat of death, as well.
characterized by or indicative of distress or affliction or danger or need
From this reading Aaron McGivins had just cause for troubled meditation as he stretched there under the faded coverlet and under the impending threat of death, as well.
two-storied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The two-storied house of Aaron McGivins stood on a hill-side overlooking a stretch of cleared acreage.
uncomplainingadjective
not complaining
From this reading Just now in a room whose hearth was wide, upon a four-poster bed, lay the master of the place gazing upwards at the rafters with eyes harassed, yet uncomplaining.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Aaron McGivins had just cause for troubled meditation as he stretched there under the faded coverlet and under the impending threat of death, as well.
unmitigatedadjectiveUS /ənˈmɪtəɡeɪtɪd/
not diminished or moderated in intensity or severity; sometimes used as an intensifier
From this reading His life had been one of scant ease and of unmitigated warfare with the hostile forces of Nature.
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading It was a dwelling place of unusual pretentiousness for that land of "Do-without," where inexorable meagerness is the rule of life.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Just now in a room whose hearth was wide, upon a four-poster bed, lay the master of the place gazing upwards at the rafters with eyes harassed, yet uncomplaining.
upwardsadverbUS /ˈʌpwərdz/
spatially or metaphorically from a lower to a higher position
From this reading Just now in a room whose hearth was wide, upon a four-poster bed, lay the master of the place gazing upwards at the rafters with eyes harassed, yet uncomplaining.
warfarenounUS /ˈwɔːrfer/
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading His life had been one of scant ease and of unmitigated warfare with the hostile forces of Nature.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a dwelling place of unusual pretentiousness for that land of "Do-without," where inexorable meagerness is the rule of life.
(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 Aaron McGivins had just cause for troubled meditation as he stretched there under the faded coverlet and under the impending threat of death, as well.
in or at the place that
From this reading It was a dwelling place of unusual pretentiousness for that land of "Do-without," where inexorable meagerness is the rule of life.
belonging to which person
From this reading Just now in a room whose hearth was wide, upon a four-poster bed, lay the master of the place gazing upwards at the rafters with eyes harassed, yet uncomplaining.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading Just now in a room whose hearth was wide, upon a four-poster bed, lay the master of the place gazing upwards at the rafters with eyes harassed, yet uncomplaining.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Just now in a room whose hearth was wide, upon a four-poster bed, lay the master of the place gazing upwards at the rafters with eyes harassed, yet uncomplaining.
but in spite of that
From this reading Just now in a room whose hearth was wide, upon a four-poster bed, lay the master of the place gazing upwards at the rafters with eyes harassed, yet uncomplaining.
