used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In the morning he found the front yard had a wild and tangled, and the garden a neglected look, and busied himself, with the boys, in improving their appearance.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading In the afternoon he overhauled a small desk, the contents of which soon lay about on the floor.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading In the afternoon he overhauled a small desk, the contents of which soon lay about on the floor.
(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 There were papers of all colors and sizes--scraps, single sheets, and collections of several pages--all covered with verses in many hands, from that of the young boy to elegant clerkly manuscript.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In the morning he found the front yard had a wild and tangled, and the garden a neglected look, and busied himself, with the boys, in improving their appearance.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading In the morning he found the front yard had a wild and tangled, and the garden a neglected look, and busied himself, with the boys, in improving their appearance.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading THE BLUE CHAMBER.
a youthful male person
From this reading There were papers of all colors and sizes--scraps, single sheets, and collections of several pages--all covered with verses in many hands, from that of the young boy to elegant clerkly manuscript.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading In the morning he found the front yard had a wild and tangled, and the garden a neglected look, and busied himself, with the boys, in improving their appearance.
busiedverbUS /ˈbɪzid/
inflected form of “busy” — keep busy with
From this reading In the morning he found the front yard had a wild and tangled, and the garden a neglected look, and busied himself, with the boys, in improving their appearance.
a natural or artificial enclosed space
From this reading THE BLUE CHAMBER.
clerkly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were papers of all colors and sizes--scraps, single sheets, and collections of several pages--all covered with verses in many hands, from that of the young boy to elegant clerkly manuscript.
collectionsnounUS /kəˈlekʃənz/
plural of “collection” — several things grouped together or considered as a whole
From this reading There were papers of all colors and sizes--scraps, single sheets, and collections of several pages--all covered with verses in many hands, from that of the young boy to elegant clerkly manuscript.
colorsnounUS /ˈkʌlərz/
a flag that shows its nationality
From this reading There were papers of all colors and sizes--scraps, single sheets, and collections of several pages--all covered with verses in many hands, from that of the young boy to elegant clerkly manuscript.
compositionnounUS /ˌkɑːmpəˈzɪʃən/
the spatial property resulting from the arrangement of parts in relation to each other and to the whole
From this reading They seemed to represent every style of poetic composition.
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading In the afternoon he overhauled a small desk, the contents of which soon lay about on the floor.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading There were papers of all colors and sizes--scraps, single sheets, and collections of several pages--all covered with verses in many hands, from that of the young boy to elegant clerkly manuscript.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading In the afternoon he overhauled a small desk, the contents of which soon lay about on the floor.
elegantadjectiveUS /ˈeləɡənt/
refined and tasteful in appearance or behavior or style
From this reading There were papers of all colors and sizes--scraps, single sheets, and collections of several pages--all covered with verses in many hands, from that of the young boy to elegant clerkly manuscript.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading They seemed to represent every style of poetic composition.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading In the afternoon he overhauled a small desk, the contents of which soon lay about on the floor.
set up or found
From this reading In the morning he found the front yard had a wild and tangled, and the garden a neglected look, and busied himself, with the boys, in improving their appearance.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading There were papers of all colors and sizes--scraps, single sheets, and collections of several pages--all covered with verses in many hands, from that of the young boy to elegant clerkly manuscript.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading In the morning he found the front yard had a wild and tangled, and the garden a neglected look, and busied himself, with the boys, in improving their appearance.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading In the morning he found the front yard had a wild and tangled, and the garden a neglected look, and busied himself, with the boys, in improving their appearance.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In the morning he found the front yard had a wild and tangled, and the garden a neglected look, and busied himself, with the boys, in improving their appearance.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading There were papers of all colors and sizes--scraps, single sheets, and collections of several pages--all covered with verses in many hands, from that of the young boy to elegant clerkly manuscript.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In the morning he found the front yard had a wild and tangled, and the garden a neglected look, and busied himself, with the boys, in improving their appearance.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading In the morning he found the front yard had a wild and tangled, and the garden a neglected look, and busied himself, with the boys, in improving their appearance.
improvingadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpruːvɪŋ/
getting higher or more vigorous
From this reading In the morning he found the front yard had a wild and tangled, and the garden a neglected look, and busied himself, with the boys, in improving their appearance.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the morning he found the front yard had a wild and tangled, and the garden a neglected look, and busied himself, with the boys, in improving their appearance.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading In the afternoon he overhauled a small desk, the contents of which soon lay about on the floor.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading In the morning he found the front yard had a wild and tangled, and the garden a neglected look, and busied himself, with the boys, in improving their appearance.
manuscriptnounUS /ˈmæn.jə.skrɪpt/
A book, document, or piece of music written by hand rather than typed or printed.
From this reading There were papers of all colors and sizes--scraps, single sheets, and collections of several pages--all covered with verses in many hands, from that of the young boy to elegant clerkly manuscript.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading There were papers of all colors and sizes--scraps, single sheets, and collections of several pages--all covered with verses in many hands, from that of the young boy to elegant clerkly manuscript.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading In the morning he found the front yard had a wild and tangled, and the garden a neglected look, and busied himself, with the boys, in improving their appearance.
neglectedadjectiveUS /nəˈɡlektəd/
disregarded
From this reading In the morning he found the front yard had a wild and tangled, and the garden a neglected look, and busied himself, with the boys, in improving their appearance.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the afternoon he overhauled a small desk, the contents of which soon lay about on the floor.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In the afternoon he overhauled a small desk, the contents of which soon lay about on the floor.
overhauledverbUS /ˈoʊvərhɔːld/
past form of “overhaul” — travel past
From this reading In the afternoon he overhauled a small desk, the contents of which soon lay about on the floor.
plural of “page” — one side of one leaf (of a book or magazine or newspaper or letter etc.) or the written or pictorial matter it contains
From this reading There were papers of all colors and sizes--scraps, single sheets, and collections of several pages--all covered with verses in many hands, from that of the young boy to elegant clerkly manuscript.
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading There were papers of all colors and sizes--scraps, single sheets, and collections of several pages--all covered with verses in many hands, from that of the young boy to elegant clerkly manuscript.
poeticadjectiveUS /poʊˈetɪk/
of or relating to poetry
From this reading They seemed to represent every style of poetic composition.
representverbUS /ˌreprɪˈzent/
take the place of or be parallel or equivalent to
From this reading They seemed to represent every style of poetic composition.
scrapsnounUS /skræps/
food that is discarded (as from a kitchen)
From this reading There were papers of all colors and sizes--scraps, single sheets, and collections of several pages--all covered with verses in many hands, from that of the young boy to elegant clerkly manuscript.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading They seemed to represent every style of poetic composition.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading There were papers of all colors and sizes--scraps, single sheets, and collections of several pages--all covered with verses in many hands, from that of the young boy to elegant clerkly manuscript.
sheetsnounUS /ʃiːts/
plural of “sheet” — any broad thin expanse or surface
From this reading There were papers of all colors and sizes--scraps, single sheets, and collections of several pages--all covered with verses in many hands, from that of the young boy to elegant clerkly manuscript.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading There were papers of all colors and sizes--scraps, single sheets, and collections of several pages--all covered with verses in many hands, from that of the young boy to elegant clerkly manuscript.
sizesnounUS /ˈsaɪzəz/
plural of “size” — the physical magnitude of something (how big it is)
From this reading There were papers of all colors and sizes--scraps, single sheets, and collections of several pages--all covered with verses in many hands, from that of the young boy to elegant clerkly manuscript.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading In the afternoon he overhauled a small desk, the contents of which soon lay about on the floor.
in the near future
From this reading In the afternoon he overhauled a small desk, the contents of which soon lay about on the floor.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading They seemed to represent every style of poetic composition.
tangledadjectiveUS /ˈtæŋɡəld/
in a confused mass
From this reading In the morning he found the front yard had a wild and tangled, and the garden a neglected look, and busied himself, with the boys, in improving their appearance.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There were papers of all colors and sizes--scraps, single sheets, and collections of several pages--all covered with verses in many hands, from that of the young boy to elegant clerkly manuscript.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BLUE CHAMBER.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading In the morning he found the front yard had a wild and tangled, and the garden a neglected look, and busied himself, with the boys, in improving their appearance.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were papers of all colors and sizes--scraps, single sheets, and collections of several pages--all covered with verses in many hands, from that of the young boy to elegant clerkly manuscript.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They seemed to represent every style of poetic composition.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There were papers of all colors and sizes--scraps, single sheets, and collections of several pages--all covered with verses in many hands, from that of the young boy to elegant clerkly manuscript.
versesnounUS /ˈvɜːrsəz/
plural of “verse” — literature in metrical form
From this reading There were papers of all colors and sizes--scraps, single sheets, and collections of several pages--all covered with verses in many hands, from that of the young boy to elegant clerkly manuscript.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were papers of all colors and sizes--scraps, single sheets, and collections of several pages--all covered with verses in many hands, from that of the young boy to elegant clerkly manuscript.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading In the afternoon he overhauled a small desk, the contents of which soon lay about on the floor.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading In the morning he found the front yard had a wild and tangled, and the garden a neglected look, and busied himself, with the boys, in improving their appearance.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In the morning he found the front yard had a wild and tangled, and the garden a neglected look, and busied himself, with the boys, in improving their appearance.
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading In the morning he found the front yard had a wild and tangled, and the garden a neglected look, and busied himself, with the boys, in improving their appearance.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading There were papers of all colors and sizes--scraps, single sheets, and collections of several pages--all covered with verses in many hands, from that of the young boy to elegant clerkly manuscript.
