used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For an hour they sat on the sofa with their arms around each other, talking and planning; and then when they became silent, the pictures they saw in the glowing coals partook of a log house, a dreary sagebrush plain, and the building of canals and reservoirs.
Ames
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They could, perhaps, have retained a part of Ames farm, but they decided to give up everything, pay their debts, and face the world honorably.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading For an hour they sat on the sofa with their arms around each other, talking and planning; and then when they became silent, the pictures they saw in the glowing coals partook of a log house, a dreary sagebrush plain, and the building of canals and reservoirs.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For an hour they sat on the sofa with their arms around each other, talking and planning; and then when they became silent, the pictures they saw in the glowing coals partook of a log house, a dreary sagebrush plain, and the building of canals and reservoirs.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading For an hour they sat on the sofa with their arms around each other, talking and planning; and then when they became silent, the pictures they saw in the glowing coals partook of a log house, a dreary sagebrush plain, and the building of canals and reservoirs.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading For an hour they sat on the sofa with their arms around each other, talking and planning; and then when they became silent, the pictures they saw in the glowing coals partook of a log house, a dreary sagebrush plain, and the building of canals and reservoirs.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading For an hour they sat on the sofa with their arms around each other, talking and planning; and then when they became silent, the pictures they saw in the glowing coals partook of a log house, a dreary sagebrush plain, and the building of canals and reservoirs.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading So, before Christmas, everything had been cleared up, and Widow Ames was installed in a neat three-roomed house nearer town, for which they paid a monthly rental.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading So, before Christmas, everything had been cleared up, and Widow Ames was installed in a neat three-roomed house nearer town, for which they paid a monthly rental.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading For an hour they sat on the sofa with their arms around each other, talking and planning; and then when they became silent, the pictures they saw in the glowing coals partook of a log house, a dreary sagebrush plain, and the building of canals and reservoirs.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They could, perhaps, have retained a part of Ames farm, but they decided to give up everything, pay their debts, and face the world honorably.
canalsnounUS /kəˈnælz/
plural of “canal” — (astronomy) an indistinct surface feature of Mars once thought to be a system of channels; they are now believed to be an optical illusion
From this reading For an hour they sat on the sofa with their arms around each other, talking and planning; and then when they became silent, the pictures they saw in the glowing coals partook of a log house, a dreary sagebrush plain, and the building of canals and reservoirs.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading So, before Christmas, everything had been cleared up, and Widow Ames was installed in a neat three-roomed house nearer town, for which they paid a monthly rental.
rid of objects or obstructions such as e.g. trees and brush
From this reading So, before Christmas, everything had been cleared up, and Widow Ames was installed in a neat three-roomed house nearer town, for which they paid a monthly rental.
coalsnounUS /koʊlz/
plural of “coal” — fossil fuel consisting of carbonized vegetable matter deposited in the Carboniferous period
From this reading For an hour they sat on the sofa with their arms around each other, talking and planning; and then when they became silent, the pictures they saw in the glowing coals partook of a log house, a dreary sagebrush plain, and the building of canals and reservoirs.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The worst did come.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading They could, perhaps, have retained a part of Ames farm, but they decided to give up everything, pay their debts, and face the world honorably.
debtsnounUS /dets/
plural of “debt” — the state of owing something (especially money)
From this reading They could, perhaps, have retained a part of Ames farm, but they decided to give up everything, pay their debts, and face the world honorably.
recognizable; marked
From this reading They could, perhaps, have retained a part of Ames farm, but they decided to give up everything, pay their debts, and face the world honorably.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The worst did come.
drearyadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪri/
lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise
From this reading For an hour they sat on the sofa with their arms around each other, talking and planning; and then when they became silent, the pictures they saw in the glowing coals partook of a log house, a dreary sagebrush plain, and the building of canals and reservoirs.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading For an hour they sat on the sofa with their arms around each other, talking and planning; and then when they became silent, the pictures they saw in the glowing coals partook of a log house, a dreary sagebrush plain, and the building of canals and reservoirs.
the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees
From this reading Miss Virginia Wilton was on a visit to her "folks in the East."
all things; all of a situation
From this reading They could, perhaps, have retained a part of Ames farm, but they decided to give up everything, pay their debts, and face the world honorably.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading They could, perhaps, have retained a part of Ames farm, but they decided to give up everything, pay their debts, and face the world honorably.
be a farmer; work as a farmer
From this reading They could, perhaps, have retained a part of Ames farm, but they decided to give up everything, pay their debts, and face the world honorably.
your parents
From this reading Miss Virginia Wilton was on a visit to her "folks in the East."
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For an hour they sat on the sofa with their arms around each other, talking and planning; and then when they became silent, the pictures they saw in the glowing coals partook of a log house, a dreary sagebrush plain, and the building of canals and reservoirs.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading They could, perhaps, have retained a part of Ames farm, but they decided to give up everything, pay their debts, and face the world honorably.
glowingadjectiveUS /ˈɡloʊɪŋ/
highly enthusiastic
From this reading For an hour they sat on the sofa with their arms around each other, talking and planning; and then when they became silent, the pictures they saw in the glowing coals partook of a log house, a dreary sagebrush plain, and the building of canals and reservoirs.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading So, before Christmas, everything had been cleared up, and Widow Ames was installed in a neat three-roomed house nearer town, for which they paid a monthly rental.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading They could, perhaps, have retained a part of Ames farm, but they decided to give up everything, pay their debts, and face the world honorably.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Miss Virginia Wilton was on a visit to her "folks in the East."
honorablyadverbUS /ˈɑːnərəbli/
in an honorable manner
From this reading They could, perhaps, have retained a part of Ames farm, but they decided to give up everything, pay their debts, and face the world honorably.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading For an hour they sat on the sofa with their arms around each other, talking and planning; and then when they became silent, the pictures they saw in the glowing coals partook of a log house, a dreary sagebrush plain, and the building of canals and reservoirs.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading For an hour they sat on the sofa with their arms around each other, talking and planning; and then when they became silent, the pictures they saw in the glowing coals partook of a log house, a dreary sagebrush plain, and the building of canals and reservoirs.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For an hour they sat on the sofa with their arms around each other, talking and planning; and then when they became silent, the pictures they saw in the glowing coals partook of a log house, a dreary sagebrush plain, and the building of canals and reservoirs.
installedverbUS /ˌɪnˈstɔːld/
inflected form of “instal” — set up for use
From this reading So, before Christmas, everything had been cleared up, and Widow Ames was installed in a neat three-roomed house nearer town, for which they paid a monthly rental.
logverbUS /lɔːɡ/
enter into a log, as on ships and planes
From this reading For an hour they sat on the sofa with their arms around each other, talking and planning; and then when they became silent, the pictures they saw in the glowing coals partook of a log house, a dreary sagebrush plain, and the building of canals and reservoirs.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Miss Virginia Wilton was on a visit to her "folks in the East."
monthlynounUS /ˈmʌnθli/
a periodical that is published every month (or 12 issues per year)
From this reading So, before Christmas, everything had been cleared up, and Widow Ames was installed in a neat three-roomed house nearer town, for which they paid a monthly rental.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading So, before Christmas, everything had been cleared up, and Widow Ames was installed in a neat three-roomed house nearer town, for which they paid a monthly rental.
neatadjectiveUS /niːt/
clean or organized
From this reading So, before Christmas, everything had been cleared up, and Widow Ames was installed in a neat three-roomed house nearer town, for which they paid a monthly rental.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For an hour they sat on the sofa with their arms around each other, talking and planning; and then when they became silent, the pictures they saw in the glowing coals partook of a log house, a dreary sagebrush plain, and the building of canals and reservoirs.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading For an hour they sat on the sofa with their arms around each other, talking and planning; and then when they became silent, the pictures they saw in the glowing coals partook of a log house, a dreary sagebrush plain, and the building of canals and reservoirs.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading For an hour they sat on the sofa with their arms around each other, talking and planning; and then when they became silent, the pictures they saw in the glowing coals partook of a log house, a dreary sagebrush plain, and the building of canals and reservoirs.
marked by the reception of pay
From this reading So, before Christmas, everything had been cleared up, and Widow Ames was installed in a neat three-roomed house nearer town, for which they paid a monthly rental.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading They could, perhaps, have retained a part of Ames farm, but they decided to give up everything, pay their debts, and face the world honorably.
partook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For an hour they sat on the sofa with their arms around each other, talking and planning; and then when they became silent, the pictures they saw in the glowing coals partook of a log house, a dreary sagebrush plain, and the building of canals and reservoirs.
give money, usually in exchange for goods or services
From this reading They could, perhaps, have retained a part of Ames farm, but they decided to give up everything, pay their debts, and face the world honorably.
by chance
From this reading They could, perhaps, have retained a part of Ames farm, but they decided to give up everything, pay their debts, and face the world honorably.
plural of “picture” — a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading For an hour they sat on the sofa with their arms around each other, talking and planning; and then when they became silent, the pictures they saw in the glowing coals partook of a log house, a dreary sagebrush plain, and the building of canals and reservoirs.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading For an hour they sat on the sofa with their arms around each other, talking and planning; and then when they became silent, the pictures they saw in the glowing coals partook of a log house, a dreary sagebrush plain, and the building of canals and reservoirs.
planningnounUS /ˈplænɪŋ/
an act of formulating a program for a definite course of action
From this reading For an hour they sat on the sofa with their arms around each other, talking and planning; and then when they became silent, the pictures they saw in the glowing coals partook of a log house, a dreary sagebrush plain, and the building of canals and reservoirs.
rentalnounUS /ˈrentəl/
property that is leased or rented out or let
From this reading So, before Christmas, everything had been cleared up, and Widow Ames was installed in a neat three-roomed house nearer town, for which they paid a monthly rental.
reservoirsnounUS /ˈrezərvwɑːrz/
plural of “reservoir” — a large or extra supply of something
From this reading For an hour they sat on the sofa with their arms around each other, talking and planning; and then when they became silent, the pictures they saw in the glowing coals partook of a log house, a dreary sagebrush plain, and the building of canals and reservoirs.
retainedadjectiveUS /rɪˈteɪnd/
continued in your keeping or use or memory
From this reading They could, perhaps, have retained a part of Ames farm, but they decided to give up everything, pay their debts, and face the world honorably.
sagebrushnounUS /ˈseɪdʒbrʌʃ/
any of several North American composite subshrubs of the genera Artemis or Seriphidium
From this reading For an hour they sat on the sofa with their arms around each other, talking and planning; and then when they became silent, the pictures they saw in the glowing coals partook of a log house, a dreary sagebrush plain, and the building of canals and reservoirs.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading For an hour they sat on the sofa with their arms around each other, talking and planning; and then when they became silent, the pictures they saw in the glowing coals partook of a log house, a dreary sagebrush plain, and the building of canals and reservoirs.
cut with a saw
From this reading For an hour they sat on the sofa with their arms around each other, talking and planning; and then when they became silent, the pictures they saw in the glowing coals partook of a log house, a dreary sagebrush plain, and the building of canals and reservoirs.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading For an hour they sat on the sofa with their arms around each other, talking and planning; and then when they became silent, the pictures they saw in the glowing coals partook of a log house, a dreary sagebrush plain, and the building of canals and reservoirs.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So, before Christmas, everything had been cleared up, and Widow Ames was installed in a neat three-roomed house nearer town, for which they paid a monthly rental.
an upholstered seat for more than one person
From this reading For an hour they sat on the sofa with their arms around each other, talking and planning; and then when they became silent, the pictures they saw in the glowing coals partook of a log house, a dreary sagebrush plain, and the building of canals and reservoirs.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading For an hour they sat on the sofa with their arms around each other, talking and planning; and then when they became silent, the pictures they saw in the glowing coals partook of a log house, a dreary sagebrush plain, and the building of canals and reservoirs.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For an hour they sat on the sofa with their arms around each other, talking and planning; and then when they became silent, the pictures they saw in the glowing coals partook of a log house, a dreary sagebrush plain, and the building of canals and reservoirs.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading For an hour they sat on the sofa with their arms around each other, talking and planning; and then when they became silent, the pictures they saw in the glowing coals partook of a log house, a dreary sagebrush plain, and the building of canals and reservoirs.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading For an hour they sat on the sofa with their arms around each other, talking and planning; and then when they became silent, the pictures they saw in the glowing coals partook of a log house, a dreary sagebrush plain, and the building of canals and reservoirs.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For an hour they sat on the sofa with their arms around each other, talking and planning; and then when they became silent, the pictures they saw in the glowing coals partook of a log house, a dreary sagebrush plain, and the building of canals and reservoirs.
three-roomed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So, before Christmas, everything had been cleared up, and Widow Ames was installed in a neat three-roomed house nearer town, for which they paid a monthly rental.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They could, perhaps, have retained a part of Ames farm, but they decided to give up everything, pay their debts, and face the world honorably.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading So, before Christmas, everything had been cleared up, and Widow Ames was installed in a neat three-roomed house nearer town, for which they paid a monthly rental.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading They could, perhaps, have retained a part of Ames farm, but they decided to give up everything, pay their debts, and face the world honorably.
VirginianounUS /vərˈdʒɪnjə/
a state in the eastern United States; one of the original 13 colonies; one of the Confederate States in the American Civil War
From this reading Miss Virginia Wilton was on a visit to her "folks in the East."
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading Miss Virginia Wilton was on a visit to her "folks in the East."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading So, before Christmas, everything had been cleared up, and Widow Ames was installed in a neat three-roomed house nearer town, for which they paid a monthly rental.
at the time that
From this reading For an hour they sat on the sofa with their arms around each other, talking and planning; and then when they became silent, the pictures they saw in the glowing coals partook of a log house, a dreary sagebrush plain, and the building of canals and reservoirs.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading So, before Christmas, everything had been cleared up, and Widow Ames was installed in a neat three-roomed house nearer town, for which they paid a monthly rental.
a woman whose husband is dead especially one who has not remarried
From this reading So, before Christmas, everything had been cleared up, and Widow Ames was installed in a neat three-roomed house nearer town, for which they paid a monthly rental.
WiltonnounUS /ˈwɪltən/
a carpet woven on a Jacquard loom with loops like a Brussels carpet but having the loops cut to form a close velvety pile
From this reading Miss Virginia Wilton was on a visit to her "folks in the East."
in the company of; together with
From this reading For an hour they sat on the sofa with their arms around each other, talking and planning; and then when they became silent, the pictures they saw in the glowing coals partook of a log house, a dreary sagebrush plain, and the building of canals and reservoirs.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading They could, perhaps, have retained a part of Ames farm, but they decided to give up everything, pay their debts, and face the world honorably.
the least favorable outcome
From this reading The worst did come.
