used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A gun stood behind the kitchen door, in readiness to shoot Mr. Green’s dog for having barked at his horse.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading When he returned home, he made no remarks about his visit; for he could not, as yet, summon sufficient greatness of soul to tell his wife that he had confessed himself in the wrong.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading He now fired the contents into the air, and put the gun away in the barn.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They went into the orchard together, and friendly chat soon put Reuben at his ease.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading From that day, henceforth, he never sought for any pretext to quarrel with either the dog or his master.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading When he returned home, he made no remarks about his visit; for he could not, as yet, summon sufficient greatness of soul to tell his wife that he had confessed himself in the wrong.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They went into the orchard together, and friendly chat soon put Reuben at his ease.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He now fired the contents into the air, and put the gun away in the barn.
barkedverbUS /bɑːrkt/
past form of “bark” — speak in an unfriendly tone
From this reading A gun stood behind the kitchen door, in readiness to shoot Mr. Green’s dog for having barked at his horse.
barnnounUS /bɑːrn/
an outlying farm building for storing grain or animal feed and housing farm animals
From this reading He now fired the contents into the air, and put the gun away in the barn.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading A gun stood behind the kitchen door, in readiness to shoot Mr. Green’s dog for having barked at his horse.
chatverbUS /tʃæt/
talk socially without exchanging too much information
From this reading They went into the orchard together, and friendly chat soon put Reuben at his ease.
confessedverbUS /kənˈfest/
past form of “confess” — confess to a punishable or reprehensible deed, usually under pressure
From this reading When he returned home, he made no remarks about his visit; for he could not, as yet, summon sufficient greatness of soul to tell his wife that he had confessed himself in the wrong.
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading He now fired the contents into the air, and put the gun away in the barn.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading When he returned home, he made no remarks about his visit; for he could not, as yet, summon sufficient greatness of soul to tell his wife that he had confessed himself in the wrong.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading From that day, henceforth, he never sought for any pretext to quarrel with either the dog or his master.
a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading A gun stood behind the kitchen door, in readiness to shoot Mr. Green’s dog for having barked at his horse.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading A gun stood behind the kitchen door, in readiness to shoot Mr. Green’s dog for having barked at his horse.
move gently or carefully
From this reading They went into the orchard together, and friendly chat soon put Reuben at his ease.
one or the other of two
From this reading From that day, henceforth, he never sought for any pretext to quarrel with either the dog or his master.
firedadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪərd/
having lost your job
From this reading He now fired the contents into the air, and put the gun away in the barn.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When he returned home, he made no remarks about his visit; for he could not, as yet, summon sufficient greatness of soul to tell his wife that he had confessed himself in the wrong.
characteristic of or befitting a friend
From this reading They went into the orchard together, and friendly chat soon put Reuben at his ease.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From that day, henceforth, he never sought for any pretext to quarrel with either the dog or his master.
greatnessnounUS /ˈɡreɪtnəs/
the property possessed by something or someone of outstanding importance or eminence
From this reading When he returned home, he made no remarks about his visit; for he could not, as yet, summon sufficient greatness of soul to tell his wife that he had confessed himself in the wrong.
Green'snounUS /ɡriːnz/
possessive form of “green” — green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading A gun stood behind the kitchen door, in readiness to shoot Mr. Green’s dog for having barked at his horse.
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading A gun stood behind the kitchen door, in readiness to shoot Mr. Green’s dog for having barked at his horse.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When he returned home, he made no remarks about his visit; for he could not, as yet, summon sufficient greatness of soul to tell his wife that he had confessed himself in the wrong.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading A gun stood behind the kitchen door, in readiness to shoot Mr. Green’s dog for having barked at his horse.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When he returned home, he made no remarks about his visit; for he could not, as yet, summon sufficient greatness of soul to tell his wife that he had confessed himself in the wrong.
henceforthadverbUS /ˈhenˈsfɔːrθ/
from this time forth; from now on
From this reading From that day, henceforth, he never sought for any pretext to quarrel with either the dog or his master.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading When he returned home, he made no remarks about his visit; for he could not, as yet, summon sufficient greatness of soul to tell his wife that he had confessed himself in the wrong.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading They went into the orchard together, and friendly chat soon put Reuben at his ease.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading When he returned home, he made no remarks about his visit; for he could not, as yet, summon sufficient greatness of soul to tell his wife that he had confessed himself in the wrong.
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading A gun stood behind the kitchen door, in readiness to shoot Mr. Green’s dog for having barked at his horse.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When he returned home, he made no remarks about his visit; for he could not, as yet, summon sufficient greatness of soul to tell his wife that he had confessed himself in the wrong.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading They went into the orchard together, and friendly chat soon put Reuben at his ease.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading A gun stood behind the kitchen door, in readiness to shoot Mr. Green’s dog for having barked at his horse.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading When he returned home, he made no remarks about his visit; for he could not, as yet, summon sufficient greatness of soul to tell his wife that he had confessed himself in the wrong.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading From that day, henceforth, he never sought for any pretext to quarrel with either the dog or his master.
a form of address for a man
From this reading A gun stood behind the kitchen door, in readiness to shoot Mr. Green’s dog for having barked at his horse.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading From that day, henceforth, he never sought for any pretext to quarrel with either the dog or his master.
not any; not one
From this reading When he returned home, he made no remarks about his visit; for he could not, as yet, summon sufficient greatness of soul to tell his wife that he had confessed himself in the wrong.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading When he returned home, he made no remarks about his visit; for he could not, as yet, summon sufficient greatness of soul to tell his wife that he had confessed himself in the wrong.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He now fired the contents into the air, and put the gun away in the barn.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When he returned home, he made no remarks about his visit; for he could not, as yet, summon sufficient greatness of soul to tell his wife that he had confessed himself in the wrong.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading From that day, henceforth, he never sought for any pretext to quarrel with either the dog or his master.
orchardnounUS /ˈɔːrtʃərd/
garden consisting of a small cultivated wood without undergrowth
From this reading They went into the orchard together, and friendly chat soon put Reuben at his ease.
pretextnounUS /ˈpriːtekst/
something serving to conceal plans; a fictitious reason that is concocted in order to conceal the real reason
From this reading From that day, henceforth, he never sought for any pretext to quarrel with either the dog or his master.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading They went into the orchard together, and friendly chat soon put Reuben at his ease.
an angry dispute
From this reading From that day, henceforth, he never sought for any pretext to quarrel with either the dog or his master.
readinessnounUS /ˈredinəs/
the state of having been made ready or prepared for use or action (especially military action)
From this reading A gun stood behind the kitchen door, in readiness to shoot Mr. Green’s dog for having barked at his horse.
plural of “remark” — a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information
From this reading When he returned home, he made no remarks about his visit; for he could not, as yet, summon sufficient greatness of soul to tell his wife that he had confessed himself in the wrong.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading When he returned home, he made no remarks about his visit; for he could not, as yet, summon sufficient greatness of soul to tell his wife that he had confessed himself in the wrong.
ReubennounUS /ˈruːbən/
(Old Testment) a son of Jacob and forefather of one of the tribes of Israel
From this reading They went into the orchard together, and friendly chat soon put Reuben at his ease.
hit with a missile from a weapon
From this reading A gun stood behind the kitchen door, in readiness to shoot Mr. Green’s dog for having barked at his horse.
in the near future
From this reading They went into the orchard together, and friendly chat soon put Reuben at his ease.
that is looked for
From this reading From that day, henceforth, he never sought for any pretext to quarrel with either the dog or his master.
the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading When he returned home, he made no remarks about his visit; for he could not, as yet, summon sufficient greatness of soul to tell his wife that he had confessed himself in the wrong.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading A gun stood behind the kitchen door, in readiness to shoot Mr. Green’s dog for having barked at his horse.
of a quantity that can fulfill a need or requirement but without being abundant
From this reading When he returned home, he made no remarks about his visit; for he could not, as yet, summon sufficient greatness of soul to tell his wife that he had confessed himself in the wrong.
summonverbUS /ˈsʌmən/
call in an official matter, such as to attend court
From this reading When he returned home, he made no remarks about his visit; for he could not, as yet, summon sufficient greatness of soul to tell his wife that he had confessed himself in the wrong.
express in words
From this reading When he returned home, he made no remarks about his visit; for he could not, as yet, summon sufficient greatness of soul to tell his wife that he had confessed himself in the wrong.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When he returned home, he made no remarks about his visit; for he could not, as yet, summon sufficient greatness of soul to tell his wife that he had confessed himself in the wrong.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They went into the orchard together, and friendly chat soon put Reuben at his ease.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They went into the orchard together, and friendly chat soon put Reuben at his ease.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When he returned home, he made no remarks about his visit; for he could not, as yet, summon sufficient greatness of soul to tell his wife that he had confessed himself in the wrong.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading They went into the orchard together, and friendly chat soon put Reuben at his ease.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading When he returned home, he made no remarks about his visit; for he could not, as yet, summon sufficient greatness of soul to tell his wife that he had confessed himself in the wrong.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading They went into the orchard together, and friendly chat soon put Reuben at his ease.
at the time that
From this reading When he returned home, he made no remarks about his visit; for he could not, as yet, summon sufficient greatness of soul to tell his wife that he had confessed himself in the wrong.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading When he returned home, he made no remarks about his visit; for he could not, as yet, summon sufficient greatness of soul to tell his wife that he had confessed himself in the wrong.
in the company of; together with
From this reading From that day, henceforth, he never sought for any pretext to quarrel with either the dog or his master.
not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
From this reading When he returned home, he made no remarks about his visit; for he could not, as yet, summon sufficient greatness of soul to tell his wife that he had confessed himself in the wrong.
but in spite of that
From this reading When he returned home, he made no remarks about his visit; for he could not, as yet, summon sufficient greatness of soul to tell his wife that he had confessed himself in the wrong.
