used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A TRIP TO CONCORD The next day was Sunday, a bleak, damp day that most of the good people of Boston were content to spend indoors.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Snow was falling in large wet flakes that melted almost as soon as they struck the sidewalks.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading The great elms on the Common tossed their gaunt black branches in the wind; and on the water-front the flakes of snow whirled downward among the spars of the idle shipping and vanished into the black water.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The great elms on the Common tossed their gaunt black branches in the wind; and on the water-front the flakes of snow whirled downward among the spars of the idle shipping and vanished into the black water.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Snow was falling in large wet flakes that melted almost as soon as they struck the sidewalks.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “Now who can that be?” asked Don’s aunt.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In Pudding Lane, Aunt Martha and the two men had finished dinner, and Don was munching his fourth doughnut, when a knock sounded at the door.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading In Pudding Lane, Aunt Martha and the two men had finished dinner, and Don was munching his fourth doughnut, when a knock sounded at the door.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “Now who can that be?” asked Don’s aunt.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading The great elms on the Common tossed their gaunt black branches in the wind; and on the water-front the flakes of snow whirled downward among the spars of the idle shipping and vanished into the black water.
bleakadjectiveUS /bliːk/
offering little or no hope
From this reading A TRIP TO CONCORD The next day was Sunday, a bleak, damp day that most of the good people of Boston were content to spend indoors.
state capital and largest city of Massachusetts; a major center for banking and financial services
From this reading A TRIP TO CONCORD The next day was Sunday, a bleak, damp day that most of the good people of Boston were content to spend indoors.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading The great elms on the Common tossed their gaunt black branches in the wind; and on the water-front the flakes of snow whirled downward among the spars of the idle shipping and vanished into the black water.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading “Now who can that be?” asked Don’s aunt.
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading The great elms on the Common tossed their gaunt black branches in the wind; and on the water-front the flakes of snow whirled downward among the spars of the idle shipping and vanished into the black water.
CONCORDnounUS /ˈkɑːnkɔːrd/
capital of the state of New Hampshire; located in south central New Hampshire on the Merrimack river
From this reading A TRIP TO CONCORD The next day was Sunday, a bleak, damp day that most of the good people of Boston were content to spend indoors.
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading A TRIP TO CONCORD The next day was Sunday, a bleak, damp day that most of the good people of Boston were content to spend indoors.
dampadjectiveUS /dæmp/
slightly wet
From this reading A TRIP TO CONCORD The next day was Sunday, a bleak, damp day that most of the good people of Boston were content to spend indoors.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading A TRIP TO CONCORD The next day was Sunday, a bleak, damp day that most of the good people of Boston were content to spend indoors.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading In Pudding Lane, Aunt Martha and the two men had finished dinner, and Don was munching his fourth doughnut, when a knock sounded at the door.
a Spanish gentleman or nobleman
From this reading In Pudding Lane, Aunt Martha and the two men had finished dinner, and Don was munching his fourth doughnut, when a knock sounded at the door.
Don'snounUS /dɑːnz/
possessive form of “don” — a Spanish gentleman or nobleman
From this reading “Now who can that be?” asked Don’s aunt.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading In Pudding Lane, Aunt Martha and the two men had finished dinner, and Don was munching his fourth doughnut, when a knock sounded at the door.
doughnutnounUS /ˈdoʊnʌt/
a toroidal shape
From this reading In Pudding Lane, Aunt Martha and the two men had finished dinner, and Don was munching his fourth doughnut, when a knock sounded at the door.
downwardadjectiveUS /ˈdaʊnwərd/
extending or moving from a higher to a lower place
From this reading The great elms on the Common tossed their gaunt black branches in the wind; and on the water-front the flakes of snow whirled downward among the spars of the idle shipping and vanished into the black water.
elmsnounUS /elmz/
plural of “elm” — any of various trees of the genus Ulmus: important timber or shade trees
From this reading The great elms on the Common tossed their gaunt black branches in the wind; and on the water-front the flakes of snow whirled downward among the spars of the idle shipping and vanished into the black water.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading Snow was falling in large wet flakes that melted almost as soon as they struck the sidewalks.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading In Pudding Lane, Aunt Martha and the two men had finished dinner, and Don was munching his fourth doughnut, when a knock sounded at the door.
flakesnounUS /fleɪks/
plural of “flake” — a crystal of snow
From this reading Snow was falling in large wet flakes that melted almost as soon as they struck the sidewalks.
following the third position; number four in a countable series
From this reading In Pudding Lane, Aunt Martha and the two men had finished dinner, and Don was munching his fourth doughnut, when a knock sounded at the door.
gauntadjectiveUS /ɡɔːnt/
very thin especially from disease or hunger or cold
From this reading The great elms on the Common tossed their gaunt black branches in the wind; and on the water-front the flakes of snow whirled downward among the spars of the idle shipping and vanished into the black water.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading A TRIP TO CONCORD The next day was Sunday, a bleak, damp day that most of the good people of Boston were content to spend indoors.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The great elms on the Common tossed their gaunt black branches in the wind; and on the water-front the flakes of snow whirled downward among the spars of the idle shipping and vanished into the black water.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In Pudding Lane, Aunt Martha and the two men had finished dinner, and Don was munching his fourth doughnut, when a knock sounded at the door.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In Pudding Lane, Aunt Martha and the two men had finished dinner, and Don was munching his fourth doughnut, when a knock sounded at the door.
not in action or at work
From this reading The great elms on the Common tossed their gaunt black branches in the wind; and on the water-front the flakes of snow whirled downward among the spars of the idle shipping and vanished into the black water.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Snow was falling in large wet flakes that melted almost as soon as they struck the sidewalks.
indoorsadverbUS /ˈɪndɔːrz/
within a building
From this reading A TRIP TO CONCORD The next day was Sunday, a bleak, damp day that most of the good people of Boston were content to spend indoors.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The great elms on the Common tossed their gaunt black branches in the wind; and on the water-front the flakes of snow whirled downward among the spars of the idle shipping and vanished into the black water.
deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading In Pudding Lane, Aunt Martha and the two men had finished dinner, and Don was munching his fourth doughnut, when a knock sounded at the door.
a narrow way or road
From this reading In Pudding Lane, Aunt Martha and the two men had finished dinner, and Don was munching his fourth doughnut, when a knock sounded at the door.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Snow was falling in large wet flakes that melted almost as soon as they struck the sidewalks.
Martha
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In Pudding Lane, Aunt Martha and the two men had finished dinner, and Don was munching his fourth doughnut, when a knock sounded at the door.
meltedadjectiveUS /ˈmeltəd/
changed from a solid to a liquid state
From this reading Snow was falling in large wet flakes that melted almost as soon as they struck the sidewalks.
the force of workers available
From this reading In Pudding Lane, Aunt Martha and the two men had finished dinner, and Don was munching his fourth doughnut, when a knock sounded at the door.
used to form the superlative
From this reading A TRIP TO CONCORD The next day was Sunday, a bleak, damp day that most of the good people of Boston were content to spend indoors.
munchingverbUS /ˈmʌntʃɪŋ/
-ing form of “munch” — chew noisily
From this reading In Pudding Lane, Aunt Martha and the two men had finished dinner, and Don was munching his fourth doughnut, when a knock sounded at the door.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading A TRIP TO CONCORD The next day was Sunday, a bleak, damp day that most of the good people of Boston were content to spend indoors.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “Now who can that be?” asked Don’s aunt.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A TRIP TO CONCORD The next day was Sunday, a bleak, damp day that most of the good people of Boston were content to spend indoors.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The great elms on the Common tossed their gaunt black branches in the wind; and on the water-front the flakes of snow whirled downward among the spars of the idle shipping and vanished into the black water.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading A TRIP TO CONCORD The next day was Sunday, a bleak, damp day that most of the good people of Boston were content to spend indoors.
PuddingnounUS /ˈpʊdɪŋ/
any of various soft thick unsweetened baked dishes
From this reading In Pudding Lane, Aunt Martha and the two men had finished dinner, and Don was munching his fourth doughnut, when a knock sounded at the door.
shippingnounUS /ˈʃɪpɪŋ/
the commercial enterprise of moving goods and materials
From this reading The great elms on the Common tossed their gaunt black branches in the wind; and on the water-front the flakes of snow whirled downward among the spars of the idle shipping and vanished into the black water.
sidewalksnounUS /ˈsaɪdwɔːks/
plural of “sidewalk” — walk consisting of a paved area for pedestrians; usually beside a street or roadway
From this reading Snow was falling in large wet flakes that melted almost as soon as they struck the sidewalks.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading Snow was falling in large wet flakes that melted almost as soon as they struck the sidewalks.
in the near future
From this reading Snow was falling in large wet flakes that melted almost as soon as they struck the sidewalks.
past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way
From this reading In Pudding Lane, Aunt Martha and the two men had finished dinner, and Don was munching his fourth doughnut, when a knock sounded at the door.
spars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The great elms on the Common tossed their gaunt black branches in the wind; and on the water-front the flakes of snow whirled downward among the spars of the idle shipping and vanished into the black water.
use up a period of time in a specific way
From this reading A TRIP TO CONCORD The next day was Sunday, a bleak, damp day that most of the good people of Boston were content to spend indoors.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading Snow was falling in large wet flakes that melted almost as soon as they struck the sidewalks.
first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians
From this reading A TRIP TO CONCORD The next day was Sunday, a bleak, damp day that most of the good people of Boston were content to spend indoors.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A TRIP TO CONCORD The next day was Sunday, a bleak, damp day that most of the good people of Boston were content to spend indoors.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A TRIP TO CONCORD The next day was Sunday, a bleak, damp day that most of the good people of Boston were content to spend indoors.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The great elms on the Common tossed their gaunt black branches in the wind; and on the water-front the flakes of snow whirled downward among the spars of the idle shipping and vanished into the black water.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Snow was falling in large wet flakes that melted almost as soon as they struck the sidewalks.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A TRIP TO CONCORD The next day was Sunday, a bleak, damp day that most of the good people of Boston were content to spend indoors.
tossedverbUS /tɔːst/
past form of “toss” — throw or toss with a light motion
From this reading The great elms on the Common tossed their gaunt black branches in the wind; and on the water-front the flakes of snow whirled downward among the spars of the idle shipping and vanished into the black water.
a journey for some purpose (usually including the return)
From this reading A TRIP TO CONCORD The next day was Sunday, a bleak, damp day that most of the good people of Boston were content to spend indoors.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading In Pudding Lane, Aunt Martha and the two men had finished dinner, and Don was munching his fourth doughnut, when a knock sounded at the door.
having passed out of existence
From this reading The great elms on the Common tossed their gaunt black branches in the wind; and on the water-front the flakes of snow whirled downward among the spars of the idle shipping and vanished into the black water.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A TRIP TO CONCORD The next day was Sunday, a bleak, damp day that most of the good people of Boston were content to spend indoors.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading The great elms on the Common tossed their gaunt black branches in the wind; and on the water-front the flakes of snow whirled downward among the spars of the idle shipping and vanished into the black water.
water-front
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The great elms on the Common tossed their gaunt black branches in the wind; and on the water-front the flakes of snow whirled downward among the spars of the idle shipping and vanished into the black water.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A TRIP TO CONCORD The next day was Sunday, a bleak, damp day that most of the good people of Boston were content to spend indoors.
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading Snow was falling in large wet flakes that melted almost as soon as they struck the sidewalks.
at the time that
From this reading In Pudding Lane, Aunt Martha and the two men had finished dinner, and Don was munching his fourth doughnut, when a knock sounded at the door.
whirledverbUS /wɜːrld/
past form of “whirl” — turn in a twisting or spinning motion
From this reading The great elms on the Common tossed their gaunt black branches in the wind; and on the water-front the flakes of snow whirled downward among the spars of the idle shipping and vanished into the black water.
which person or people
From this reading “Now who can that be?” asked Don’s aunt.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The great elms on the Common tossed their gaunt black branches in the wind; and on the water-front the flakes of snow whirled downward among the spars of the idle shipping and vanished into the black water.
