used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They were gathered about a shabby old trunk, and beside this trunk a man was kneeling.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading They were gathered about a shabby old trunk, and beside this trunk a man was kneeling.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading In the rather dim light of the gloomy old room the boys and girls looked queer--almost ghostly.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading JANET D. WHEELER Author of "Billie Bradley and Her Inheritance," "Billie Bradley on Lighthouse Island," Etc.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As Billie Bradley spoke, the man, who was her father, rose to his feet and thoughtfully brushed the dust from his clothes.
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading JANET D. WHEELER Author of "Billie Bradley and Her Inheritance," "Billie Bradley on Lighthouse Island," Etc.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading "Oh, Dad, I can't believe it's true!"
next to; at the side of
From this reading They were gathered about a shabby old trunk, and beside this trunk a man was kneeling.
Billie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JANET D. WHEELER Author of "Billie Bradley and Her Inheritance," "Billie Bradley on Lighthouse Island," Etc.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading In the rather dim light of the gloomy old room the boys and girls looked queer--almost ghostly.
BradleynounUS /ˈbrædli/
United States politician who was elected the first black mayor of Los Angeles (1917-1998)
From this reading JANET D. WHEELER Author of "Billie Bradley and Her Inheritance," "Billie Bradley on Lighthouse Island," Etc.
brushedadjectiveUS /brʌʃt/
touched lightly in passing; grazed against
From this reading As Billie Bradley spoke, the man, who was her father, rose to his feet and thoughtfully brushed the dust from his clothes.
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Oh, Dad, I can't believe it's true!"
clothing in general
From this reading As Billie Bradley spoke, the man, who was her father, rose to his feet and thoughtfully brushed the dust from his clothes.
a fat-soluble vitamin that prevents rickets
From this reading JANET D. WHEELER Author of "Billie Bradley and Her Inheritance," "Billie Bradley on Lighthouse Island," Etc.
DadnounUS /dæd/
an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
From this reading "Oh, Dad, I can't believe it's true!"
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading In the rather dim light of the gloomy old room the boys and girls looked queer--almost ghostly.
remove the dust from
From this reading As Billie Bradley spoke, the man, who was her father, rose to his feet and thoughtfully brushed the dust from his clothes.
Etc
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JANET D. WHEELER Author of "Billie Bradley and Her Inheritance," "Billie Bradley on Lighthouse Island," Etc.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading As Billie Bradley spoke, the man, who was her father, rose to his feet and thoughtfully brushed the dust from his clothes.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading As Billie Bradley spoke, the man, who was her father, rose to his feet and thoughtfully brushed the dust from his clothes.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading As Billie Bradley spoke, the man, who was her father, rose to his feet and thoughtfully brushed the dust from his clothes.
brought together in one place
From this reading They were gathered about a shabby old trunk, and beside this trunk a man was kneeling.
ghostlyadjectiveUS /ˈɡoʊstli/
resembling or characteristic of a phantom
From this reading In the rather dim light of the gloomy old room the boys and girls looked queer--almost ghostly.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading In the rather dim light of the gloomy old room the boys and girls looked queer--almost ghostly.
depressingly dark
From this reading In the rather dim light of the gloomy old room the boys and girls looked queer--almost ghostly.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading JANET D. WHEELER Author of "Billie Bradley and Her Inheritance," "Billie Bradley on Lighthouse Island," Etc.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading As Billie Bradley spoke, the man, who was her father, rose to his feet and thoughtfully brushed the dust from his clothes.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Oh, Dad, I can't believe it's true!"
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the rather dim light of the gloomy old room the boys and girls looked queer--almost ghostly.
InheritancenounUS /ˌɪnˈherətəns/
hereditary succession to a title or an office or property
From this reading JANET D. WHEELER Author of "Billie Bradley and Her Inheritance," "Billie Bradley on Lighthouse Island," Etc.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading JANET D. WHEELER Author of "Billie Bradley and Her Inheritance," "Billie Bradley on Lighthouse Island," Etc.
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Oh, Dad, I can't believe it's true!"
JANET
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JANET D. WHEELER Author of "Billie Bradley and Her Inheritance," "Billie Bradley on Lighthouse Island," Etc.
kneelingnounUS /ˈniːlɪŋ/
supporting yourself on your knees
From this reading They were gathered about a shabby old trunk, and beside this trunk a man was kneeling.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading In the rather dim light of the gloomy old room the boys and girls looked queer--almost ghostly.
LighthousenounUS /ˈlaɪthaʊs/
a tower with a light that gives warning of shoals to passing ships
From this reading JANET D. WHEELER Author of "Billie Bradley and Her Inheritance," "Billie Bradley on Lighthouse Island," Etc.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading In the rather dim light of the gloomy old room the boys and girls looked queer--almost ghostly.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading They were gathered about a shabby old trunk, and beside this trunk a man was kneeling.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading JANET D. WHEELER Author of "Billie Bradley and Her Inheritance," "Billie Bradley on Lighthouse Island," Etc.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading "Oh, Dad, I can't believe it's true!"
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading In the rather dim light of the gloomy old room the boys and girls looked queer--almost ghostly.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading JANET D. WHEELER Author of "Billie Bradley and Her Inheritance," "Billie Bradley on Lighthouse Island," Etc.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading In the rather dim light of the gloomy old room the boys and girls looked queer--almost ghostly.
on the contrary
From this reading In the rather dim light of the gloomy old room the boys and girls looked queer--almost ghostly.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading In the rather dim light of the gloomy old room the boys and girls looked queer--almost ghostly.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading As Billie Bradley spoke, the man, who was her father, rose to his feet and thoughtfully brushed the dust from his clothes.
shabbyadjectiveUS /ˈʃæbi/
showing signs of wear and tear
From this reading They were gathered about a shabby old trunk, and beside this trunk a man was kneeling.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading As Billie Bradley spoke, the man, who was her father, rose to his feet and thoughtfully brushed the dust from his clothes.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the rather dim light of the gloomy old room the boys and girls looked queer--almost ghostly.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were gathered about a shabby old trunk, and beside this trunk a man was kneeling.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading They were gathered about a shabby old trunk, and beside this trunk a man was kneeling.
thoughtfullyadverbUS /ˈθɔːtfəli/
in a thoughtful manner
From this reading As Billie Bradley spoke, the man, who was her father, rose to his feet and thoughtfully brushed the dust from his clothes.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As Billie Bradley spoke, the man, who was her father, rose to his feet and thoughtfully brushed the dust from his clothes.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading "Oh, Dad, I can't believe it's true!"
the main stem of a tree; usually covered with bark; the bole is usually the part that is commercially useful for lumber
From this reading They were gathered about a shabby old trunk, and beside this trunk a man was kneeling.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They were gathered about a shabby old trunk, and beside this trunk a man was kneeling.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were gathered about a shabby old trunk, and beside this trunk a man was kneeling.
WHEELERnounUS /ˈwiːlər/
Scottish archaeologist (1890-1976)
From this reading JANET D. WHEELER Author of "Billie Bradley and Her Inheritance," "Billie Bradley on Lighthouse Island," Etc.
which person or people
From this reading As Billie Bradley spoke, the man, who was her father, rose to his feet and thoughtfully brushed the dust from his clothes.
