used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “We made up our minds we’d have a ride even if the roads were bad.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “I took the leading straps of the horses the ladies were riding, and we made a rush for it together,” Mr. Carson explained.
angelsnounUS /ˈeɪndʒəlz/
plural of “angel” — spiritual being attendant upon God
From this reading “We might be eagles—or angels,” murmured Mrs. Carson, sinking into her seat.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading “We couldn’t stand it in the house any longer,” Carin explained.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading “We made up our minds we’d have a ride even if the roads were bad.”
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “We might be eagles—or angels,” murmured Mrs. Carson, sinking into her seat.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “The ford must have been pretty deep,” remarked Pa McBirney.
Carin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We couldn’t stand it in the house any longer,” Carin explained.
CarsonnounUS /ˈkɑːrsən/
United States biologist remembered for her opposition to the use of pesticides that were hazardous to wildlife (1907-1964)
From this reading “We might be eagles—or angels,” murmured Mrs. Carson, sinking into her seat.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We couldn’t stand it in the house any longer,” Carin explained.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading “The ford must have been pretty deep,” remarked Pa McBirney.
eaglesnounUS /ˈiːɡəlz/
plural of “eagle” — any of various large keen-sighted diurnal birds of prey noted for their broad wings and strong soaring flight
From this reading “We might be eagles—or angels,” murmured Mrs. Carson, sinking into her seat.
divisible by two
From this reading “We made up our minds we’d have a ride even if the roads were bad.”
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading “We couldn’t stand it in the house any longer,” Carin explained.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “I took the leading straps of the horses the ladies were riding, and we made a rush for it together,” Mr. Carson explained.
fordnounUS /fɔːrd/
United States film maker (1896-1973)
From this reading “The ford must have been pretty deep,” remarked Pa McBirney.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “We made up our minds we’d have a ride even if the roads were bad.”
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “We might be eagles—or angels,” murmured Mrs. Carson, sinking into her seat.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading “I took the leading straps of the horses the ladies were riding, and we made a rush for it together,” Mr. Carson explained.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading “We couldn’t stand it in the house any longer,” Carin explained.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I took the leading straps of the horses the ladies were riding, and we made a rush for it together,” Mr. Carson explained.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “We made up our minds we’d have a ride even if the roads were bad.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “We couldn’t stand it in the house any longer,” Carin explained.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading “We might be eagles—or angels,” murmured Mrs. Carson, sinking into her seat.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “We couldn’t stand it in the house any longer,” Carin explained.
plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading “I took the leading straps of the horses the ladies were riding, and we made a rush for it together,” Mr. Carson explained.
indicating the most important performer or role
From this reading “I took the leading straps of the horses the ladies were riding, and we made a rush for it together,” Mr. Carson explained.
for more time
From this reading “We couldn’t stand it in the house any longer,” Carin explained.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading “We made up our minds we’d have a ride even if the roads were bad.”
McBirney
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The ford must have been pretty deep,” remarked Pa McBirney.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading “We might be eagles—or angels,” murmured Mrs. Carson, sinking into her seat.
plural of “mind” — that which is responsible for one's thoughts, feelings, and conscious brain functions; the seat of the faculty of reason
From this reading “We made up our minds we’d have a ride even if the roads were bad.”
a form of address for a man
From this reading “I took the leading straps of the horses the ladies were riding, and we made a rush for it together,” Mr. Carson explained.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading “We might be eagles—or angels,” murmured Mrs. Carson, sinking into her seat.
past form of “murmur” — speak softly or indistinctly
From this reading “We might be eagles—or angels,” murmured Mrs. Carson, sinking into her seat.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading “The ford must have been pretty deep,” remarked Pa McBirney.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “I took the leading straps of the horses the ladies were riding, and we made a rush for it together,” Mr. Carson explained.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading “We might be eagles—or angels,” murmured Mrs. Carson, sinking into her seat.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading “We made up our minds we’d have a ride even if the roads were bad.”
PanounUS /pɑː/
an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
From this reading “The ford must have been pretty deep,” remarked Pa McBirney.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading “The ford must have been pretty deep,” remarked Pa McBirney.
past form of “remark” — make mention of
From this reading “The ford must have been pretty deep,” remarked Pa McBirney.
sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading “We made up our minds we’d have a ride even if the roads were bad.”
the sport of sitting on the back of a horse while controlling its movements
From this reading “I took the leading straps of the horses the ladies were riding, and we made a rush for it together,” Mr. Carson explained.
roadsnounUS /roʊdz/
a partly sheltered anchorage
From this reading “We made up our minds we’d have a ride even if the roads were bad.”
move hurridly
From this reading “I took the leading straps of the horses the ladies were riding, and we made a rush for it together,” Mr. Carson explained.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading “We might be eagles—or angels,” murmured Mrs. Carson, sinking into her seat.
sinkingnounUS /ˈsɪŋkɪŋ/
a descent as through liquid (especially through water)
From this reading “We might be eagles—or angels,” murmured Mrs. Carson, sinking into her seat.
be standing; be upright
From this reading “We couldn’t stand it in the house any longer,” Carin explained.
strapsnounUS /stræps/
plural of “strap” — an elongated leather strip (or a strip of similar material) for binding things together or holding something in position
From this reading “I took the leading straps of the horses the ladies were riding, and we made a rush for it together,” Mr. Carson explained.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “We couldn’t stand it in the house any longer,” Carin explained.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading “I took the leading straps of the horses the ladies were riding, and we made a rush for it together,” Mr. Carson explained.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading “I took the leading straps of the horses the ladies were riding, and we made a rush for it together,” Mr. Carson explained.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading “We made up our minds we’d have a ride even if the roads were bad.”
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “We might be eagles—or angels,” murmured Mrs. Carson, sinking into her seat.
we'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We made up our minds we’d have a ride even if the roads were bad.”
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “We made up our minds we’d have a ride even if the roads were bad.”
