used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading _A Keepsake._ Caleb stood and thought about it.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading _A Keepsake._ Caleb stood and thought about it.
be able to spare or give up
From this reading He could not afford to wait until night came.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading _A Keepsake._ Caleb stood and thought about it.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He could not go to the fence corner where the old man was while Nat was in plain sight, and he must think up some way of getting him away from there.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading It is true that he might have waited until darkness came to conceal his movements, but Caleb was a boy who did not believe in doing business that way.
a youthful male person
From this reading It is true that he might have waited until darkness came to conceal his movements, but Caleb was a boy who did not believe in doing business that way.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading It is true that he might have waited until darkness came to conceal his movements, but Caleb was a boy who did not believe in doing business that way.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It is true that he might have waited until darkness came to conceal his movements, but Caleb was a boy who did not believe in doing business that way.
Caleb
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A Keepsake._ Caleb stood and thought about it.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading It is true that he might have waited until darkness came to conceal his movements, but Caleb was a boy who did not believe in doing business that way.
prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading It is true that he might have waited until darkness came to conceal his movements, but Caleb was a boy who did not believe in doing business that way.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading He could not go to the fence corner where the old man was while Nat was in plain sight, and he must think up some way of getting him away from there.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could not go to the fence corner where the old man was while Nat was in plain sight, and he must think up some way of getting him away from there.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading It is true that he might have waited until darkness came to conceal his movements, but Caleb was a boy who did not believe in doing business that way.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It is true that he might have waited until darkness came to conceal his movements, but Caleb was a boy who did not believe in doing business that way.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading It is true that he might have waited until darkness came to conceal his movements, but Caleb was a boy who did not believe in doing business that way.
enclose with a fence
From this reading He could not go to the fence corner where the old man was while Nat was in plain sight, and he must think up some way of getting him away from there.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading He wanted to find out what was in that fence corner, and he must find it out now.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He could not go to the fence corner where the old man was while Nat was in plain sight, and he must think up some way of getting him away from there.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading He could not go to the fence corner where the old man was while Nat was in plain sight, and he must think up some way of getting him away from there.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He could not go to the fence corner where the old man was while Nat was in plain sight, and he must think up some way of getting him away from there.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It is true that he might have waited until darkness came to conceal his movements, but Caleb was a boy who did not believe in doing business that way.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He could not go to the fence corner where the old man was while Nat was in plain sight, and he must think up some way of getting him away from there.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He could not go to the fence corner where the old man was while Nat was in plain sight, and he must think up some way of getting him away from there.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It is true that he might have waited until darkness came to conceal his movements, but Caleb was a boy who did not believe in doing business that way.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He could not go to the fence corner where the old man was while Nat was in plain sight, and he must think up some way of getting him away from there.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is true that he might have waited until darkness came to conceal his movements, but Caleb was a boy who did not believe in doing business that way.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading _A Keepsake._ Caleb stood and thought about it.
KeepsakenounUS /ˈkiːpseɪk/
something of sentimental value
From this reading _A Keepsake._ Caleb stood and thought about it.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He could not go to the fence corner where the old man was while Nat was in plain sight, and he must think up some way of getting him away from there.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading It is true that he might have waited until darkness came to conceal his movements, but Caleb was a boy who did not believe in doing business that way.
plural of “movement” — a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading It is true that he might have waited until darkness came to conceal his movements, but Caleb was a boy who did not believe in doing business that way.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading He could not go to the fence corner where the old man was while Nat was in plain sight, and he must think up some way of getting him away from there.
Nat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not go to the fence corner where the old man was while Nat was in plain sight, and he must think up some way of getting him away from there.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading He could not afford to wait until night came.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He could not go to the fence corner where the old man was while Nat was in plain sight, and he must think up some way of getting him away from there.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He wanted to find out what was in that fence corner, and he must find it out now.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He could not go to the fence corner where the old man was while Nat was in plain sight, and he must think up some way of getting him away from there.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading He could not go to the fence corner where the old man was while Nat was in plain sight, and he must think up some way of getting him away from there.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He wanted to find out what was in that fence corner, and he must find it out now.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading He could not go to the fence corner where the old man was while Nat was in plain sight, and he must think up some way of getting him away from there.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading He could not go to the fence corner where the old man was while Nat was in plain sight, and he must think up some way of getting him away from there.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He could not go to the fence corner where the old man was while Nat was in plain sight, and he must think up some way of getting him away from there.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading _A Keepsake._ Caleb stood and thought about it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It is true that he might have waited until darkness came to conceal his movements, but Caleb was a boy who did not believe in doing business that way.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He could not go to the fence corner where the old man was while Nat was in plain sight, and he must think up some way of getting him away from there.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He could not go to the fence corner where the old man was while Nat was in plain sight, and he must think up some way of getting him away from there.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading He could not go to the fence corner where the old man was while Nat was in plain sight, and he must think up some way of getting him away from there.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading _A Keepsake._ Caleb stood and thought about it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He could not go to the fence corner where the old man was while Nat was in plain sight, and he must think up some way of getting him away from there.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading It is true that he might have waited until darkness came to conceal his movements, but Caleb was a boy who did not believe in doing business that way.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading It is true that he might have waited until darkness came to conceal his movements, but Caleb was a boy who did not believe in doing business that way.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He could not go to the fence corner where the old man was while Nat was in plain sight, and he must think up some way of getting him away from there.
stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading He could not afford to wait until night came.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading It is true that he might have waited until darkness came to conceal his movements, but Caleb was a boy who did not believe in doing business that way.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading He wanted to find out what was in that fence corner, and he must find it out now.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He could not go to the fence corner where the old man was while Nat was in plain sight, and he must think up some way of getting him away from there.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He could not go to the fence corner where the old man was while Nat was in plain sight, and he must think up some way of getting him away from there.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He wanted to find out what was in that fence corner, and he must find it out now.
in or at the place that
From this reading He could not go to the fence corner where the old man was while Nat was in plain sight, and he must think up some way of getting him away from there.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading He could not go to the fence corner where the old man was while Nat was in plain sight, and he must think up some way of getting him away from there.
which person or people
From this reading It is true that he might have waited until darkness came to conceal his movements, but Caleb was a boy who did not believe in doing business that way.
