used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A tall, slovenly dressed woman answered his ring.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Meantime, Uncle John and big Runyon were bowling along the north road, the lights gleaming from the powerful lanterns of the car and illuminating every object on either side of the way.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She carried an oil lamp in her hand and eyed her late visitor severely.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Meantime, Uncle John and big Runyon were bowling along the north road, the lights gleaming from the powerful lanterns of the car and illuminating every object on either side of the way.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading A tall, slovenly dressed woman answered his ring.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The road seemed deserted and it was fully twenty minutes before they came to the first ranch house beyond that owned by Runyon himself.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading The road seemed deserted and it was fully twenty minutes before they came to the first ranch house beyond that owned by Runyon himself.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Meantime, Uncle John and big Runyon were bowling along the north road, the lights gleaming from the powerful lanterns of the car and illuminating every object on either side of the way.
bowlingnounUS /ˈboʊlɪŋ/
a game in which balls are rolled at an object or group of objects with the aim of knocking them over or moving them
From this reading Meantime, Uncle John and big Runyon were bowling along the north road, the lights gleaming from the powerful lanterns of the car and illuminating every object on either side of the way.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The road seemed deserted and it was fully twenty minutes before they came to the first ranch house beyond that owned by Runyon himself.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The road seemed deserted and it was fully twenty minutes before they came to the first ranch house beyond that owned by Runyon himself.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading Meantime, Uncle John and big Runyon were bowling along the north road, the lights gleaming from the powerful lanterns of the car and illuminating every object on either side of the way.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading She carried an oil lamp in her hand and eyed her late visitor severely.
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading The road seemed deserted and it was fully twenty minutes before they came to the first ranch house beyond that owned by Runyon himself.
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading A tall, slovenly dressed woman answered his ring.
one or the other of two
From this reading Meantime, Uncle John and big Runyon were bowling along the north road, the lights gleaming from the powerful lanterns of the car and illuminating every object on either side of the way.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Meantime, Uncle John and big Runyon were bowling along the north road, the lights gleaming from the powerful lanterns of the car and illuminating every object on either side of the way.
eyedadjectiveUS /aɪd/
having an eye or eyes or eyelike feature especially as specified; often used in combination
From this reading She carried an oil lamp in her hand and eyed her late visitor severely.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The road seemed deserted and it was fully twenty minutes before they came to the first ranch house beyond that owned by Runyon himself.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Meantime, Uncle John and big Runyon were bowling along the north road, the lights gleaming from the powerful lanterns of the car and illuminating every object on either side of the way.
to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)
From this reading The road seemed deserted and it was fully twenty minutes before they came to the first ranch house beyond that owned by Runyon himself.
gleamingnounUS /ˈɡliːmɪŋ/
a flash of light (especially reflected light)
From this reading Meantime, Uncle John and big Runyon were bowling along the north road, the lights gleaming from the powerful lanterns of the car and illuminating every object on either side of the way.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Here Mr. Merrick got out to make inquiries.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading She carried an oil lamp in her hand and eyed her late visitor severely.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She carried an oil lamp in her hand and eyed her late visitor severely.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here Mr. Merrick got out to make inquiries.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The road seemed deserted and it was fully twenty minutes before they came to the first ranch house beyond that owned by Runyon himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A tall, slovenly dressed woman answered his ring.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The road seemed deserted and it was fully twenty minutes before they came to the first ranch house beyond that owned by Runyon himself.
illuminatingadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈluːməneɪtɪŋ/
tending to increase knowledge or dissipate ignorance
From this reading Meantime, Uncle John and big Runyon were bowling along the north road, the lights gleaming from the powerful lanterns of the car and illuminating every object on either side of the way.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She carried an oil lamp in her hand and eyed her late visitor severely.
inquiriesnounUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪəriz/
plural of “inquiry” — a search for knowledge
From this reading Here Mr. Merrick got out to make inquiries.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The road seemed deserted and it was fully twenty minutes before they came to the first ranch house beyond that owned by Runyon himself.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading Meantime, Uncle John and big Runyon were bowling along the north road, the lights gleaming from the powerful lanterns of the car and illuminating every object on either side of the way.
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading She carried an oil lamp in her hand and eyed her late visitor severely.
lanternsnounUS /ˈlæntərnz/
plural of “lantern” — light in a transparent protective case
From this reading Meantime, Uncle John and big Runyon were bowling along the north road, the lights gleaming from the powerful lanterns of the car and illuminating every object on either side of the way.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading She carried an oil lamp in her hand and eyed her late visitor severely.
plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
From this reading Meantime, Uncle John and big Runyon were bowling along the north road, the lights gleaming from the powerful lanterns of the car and illuminating every object on either side of the way.
engage in
From this reading Here Mr. Merrick got out to make inquiries.
the time between one event, process, or period and another
From this reading Meantime, Uncle John and big Runyon were bowling along the north road, the lights gleaming from the powerful lanterns of the car and illuminating every object on either side of the way.
Merrick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here Mr. Merrick got out to make inquiries.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading The road seemed deserted and it was fully twenty minutes before they came to the first ranch house beyond that owned by Runyon himself.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Here Mr. Merrick got out to make inquiries.
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading Meantime, Uncle John and big Runyon were bowling along the north road, the lights gleaming from the powerful lanterns of the car and illuminating every object on either side of the way.
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading Meantime, Uncle John and big Runyon were bowling along the north road, the lights gleaming from the powerful lanterns of the car and illuminating every object on either side of the way.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Meantime, Uncle John and big Runyon were bowling along the north road, the lights gleaming from the powerful lanterns of the car and illuminating every object on either side of the way.
A viscous liquid derived from petroleum or plants, stored in large earthen jars.
From this reading She carried an oil lamp in her hand and eyed her late visitor severely.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Meantime, Uncle John and big Runyon were bowling along the north road, the lights gleaming from the powerful lanterns of the car and illuminating every object on either side of the way.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Here Mr. Merrick got out to make inquiries.
ownedadjectiveUS /oʊnd/
having an owner; often used in combination
From this reading The road seemed deserted and it was fully twenty minutes before they came to the first ranch house beyond that owned by Runyon himself.
having great power or force or potency or effect
From this reading Meantime, Uncle John and big Runyon were bowling along the north road, the lights gleaming from the powerful lanterns of the car and illuminating every object on either side of the way.
ranchnounUS /ræntʃ/
farm consisting of a large tract of land along with facilities needed to raise livestock (especially cattle)
From this reading The road seemed deserted and it was fully twenty minutes before they came to the first ranch house beyond that owned by Runyon himself.
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading A tall, slovenly dressed woman answered his ring.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading Meantime, Uncle John and big Runyon were bowling along the north road, the lights gleaming from the powerful lanterns of the car and illuminating every object on either side of the way.
RunyonnounUS /ˈrʌnjən/
United States writer of humorous stylized stories about Broadway and the New York underground (1884-1946)
From this reading Meantime, Uncle John and big Runyon were bowling along the north road, the lights gleaming from the powerful lanterns of the car and illuminating every object on either side of the way.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The road seemed deserted and it was fully twenty minutes before they came to the first ranch house beyond that owned by Runyon himself.
severelyadverbUS /səˈvɪrli/
to a severe or serious degree
From this reading She carried an oil lamp in her hand and eyed her late visitor severely.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She carried an oil lamp in her hand and eyed her late visitor severely.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Meantime, Uncle John and big Runyon were bowling along the north road, the lights gleaming from the powerful lanterns of the car and illuminating every object on either side of the way.
slovenlyadjectiveUS /ˈslʌvənli/
negligent of neatness especially in dress and person; habitually dirty and unkempt
From this reading A tall, slovenly dressed woman answered his ring.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading A tall, slovenly dressed woman answered his ring.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The road seemed deserted and it was fully twenty minutes before they came to the first ranch house beyond that owned by Runyon himself.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Meantime, Uncle John and big Runyon were bowling along the north road, the lights gleaming from the powerful lanterns of the car and illuminating every object on either side of the way.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The road seemed deserted and it was fully twenty minutes before they came to the first ranch house beyond that owned by Runyon himself.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The road seemed deserted and it was fully twenty minutes before they came to the first ranch house beyond that owned by Runyon himself.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading The road seemed deserted and it was fully twenty minutes before they came to the first ranch house beyond that owned by Runyon himself.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading Meantime, Uncle John and big Runyon were bowling along the north road, the lights gleaming from the powerful lanterns of the car and illuminating every object on either side of the way.
someone who visits
From this reading She carried an oil lamp in her hand and eyed her late visitor severely.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The road seemed deserted and it was fully twenty minutes before they came to the first ranch house beyond that owned by Runyon himself.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Meantime, Uncle John and big Runyon were bowling along the north road, the lights gleaming from the powerful lanterns of the car and illuminating every object on either side of the way.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Meantime, Uncle John and big Runyon were bowling along the north road, the lights gleaming from the powerful lanterns of the car and illuminating every object on either side of the way.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading A tall, slovenly dressed woman answered his ring.
