used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The rattle of a miner's cart broke in upon them; it stopped at the gate.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Messengers at this hour were usually bearers of bad news, and he did not choose that his wife should know all the troubles of the mines.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mr. Thorne half rose and looked out; a man was hurrying up the walk.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The rattle of a miner's cart broke in upon them; it stopped at the gate.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading Messengers at this hour were usually bearers of bad news, and he did not choose that his wife should know all the troubles of the mines.
bearersnounUS /ˈberərz/
plural of “bearer” — someone whose employment involves carrying something
From this reading Messengers at this hour were usually bearers of bad news, and he did not choose that his wife should know all the troubles of the mines.
lacking funds
From this reading The rattle of a miner's cart broke in upon them; it stopped at the gate.
canenounUS /keɪn/
a stick that people can lean on to help them walk
From this reading He waved with his cane for him to stop where he was.
cartnounUS /kɑːrt/
a heavy open wagon usually having two wheels and drawn by an animal
From this reading The rattle of a miner's cart broke in upon them; it stopped at the gate.
pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading Messengers at this hour were usually bearers of bad news, and he did not choose that his wife should know all the troubles of the mines.
conversedverbUS /kənˈvɜːrst/
past form of “converse” — carry on a conversation
From this reading The two men conversed together at the gate; then Mr. Thorne returned to explain.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Messengers at this hour were usually bearers of bad news, and he did not choose that his wife should know all the troubles of the mines.
make plain and comprehensible
From this reading The two men conversed together at the gate; then Mr. Thorne returned to explain.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He waved with his cane for him to stop where he was.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading The rattle of a miner's cart broke in upon them; it stopped at the gate.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Mr. Thorne half rose and looked out; a man was hurrying up the walk.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He waved with his cane for him to stop where he was.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He waved with his cane for him to stop where he was.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He waved with his cane for him to stop where he was.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading Messengers at this hour were usually bearers of bad news, and he did not choose that his wife should know all the troubles of the mines.
hurryingadjectiveUS /ˈhɜːriɪŋ/
moving with great haste
From this reading Mr. Thorne half rose and looked out; a man was hurrying up the walk.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The rattle of a miner's cart broke in upon them; it stopped at the gate.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The rattle of a miner's cart broke in upon them; it stopped at the gate.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Messengers at this hour were usually bearers of bad news, and he did not choose that his wife should know all the troubles of the mines.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Mr. Thorne half rose and looked out; a man was hurrying up the walk.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Mr. Thorne half rose and looked out; a man was hurrying up the walk.
the force of workers available
From this reading The two men conversed together at the gate; then Mr. Thorne returned to explain.
MessengersnounUS /ˈmesəndʒərz/
plural of “messenger” — a person who carries a message
From this reading Messengers at this hour were usually bearers of bad news, and he did not choose that his wife should know all the troubles of the mines.
miner'snounUS /ˈmaɪnərz/
possessive form of “miner” — laborer who works in a mine
From this reading The rattle of a miner's cart broke in upon them; it stopped at the gate.
minesnounUS /maɪnz/
plural of “mine” — excavation in the earth from which ores and minerals are extracted
From this reading Messengers at this hour were usually bearers of bad news, and he did not choose that his wife should know all the troubles of the mines.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Thorne half rose and looked out; a man was hurrying up the walk.
information about recent and important events
From this reading Messengers at this hour were usually bearers of bad news, and he did not choose that his wife should know all the troubles of the mines.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Messengers at this hour were usually bearers of bad news, and he did not choose that his wife should know all the troubles of the mines.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The rattle of a miner's cart broke in upon them; it stopped at the gate.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Mr. Thorne half rose and looked out; a man was hurrying up the walk.
rattleverbUS /ˈrætəl/
make short successive sounds
From this reading The rattle of a miner's cart broke in upon them; it stopped at the gate.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading The two men conversed together at the gate; then Mr. Thorne returned to explain.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Mr. Thorne half rose and looked out; a man was hurrying up the walk.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Messengers at this hour were usually bearers of bad news, and he did not choose that his wife should know all the troubles of the mines.
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading He waved with his cane for him to stop where he was.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading The rattle of a miner's cart broke in upon them; it stopped at the gate.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Messengers at this hour were usually bearers of bad news, and he did not choose that his wife should know all the troubles of the mines.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The rattle of a miner's cart broke in upon them; it stopped at the gate.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The rattle of a miner's cart broke in upon them; it stopped at the gate.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The two men conversed together at the gate; then Mr. Thorne returned to explain.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Messengers at this hour were usually bearers of bad news, and he did not choose that his wife should know all the troubles of the mines.
Thorne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Thorne half rose and looked out; a man was hurrying up the walk.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He waved with his cane for him to stop where he was.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading The two men conversed together at the gate; then Mr. Thorne returned to explain.
plural of “trouble” — a source of difficulty
From this reading Messengers at this hour were usually bearers of bad news, and he did not choose that his wife should know all the troubles of the mines.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The two men conversed together at the gate; then Mr. Thorne returned to explain.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Mr. Thorne half rose and looked out; a man was hurrying up the walk.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The rattle of a miner's cart broke in upon them; it stopped at the gate.
under normal conditions
From this reading Messengers at this hour were usually bearers of bad news, and he did not choose that his wife should know all the troubles of the mines.
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading Mr. Thorne half rose and looked out; a man was hurrying up the walk.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mr. Thorne half rose and looked out; a man was hurrying up the walk.
past form of “wave” — signal with the hands or nod
From this reading He waved with his cane for him to stop where he was.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Messengers at this hour were usually bearers of bad news, and he did not choose that his wife should know all the troubles of the mines.
in or at the place that
From this reading He waved with his cane for him to stop where he was.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading Messengers at this hour were usually bearers of bad news, and he did not choose that his wife should know all the troubles of the mines.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He waved with his cane for him to stop where he was.
