used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The streets were singularly bare for a Saturday afternoon.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading The streets were singularly bare for a Saturday afternoon.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Departing in haste, with ears purposely dulled against possible parental voices, the boys headed for the mine by the shortest possible route.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Here and there a woman talked anxiously to another over a fence-rail, or there was a glimpse of children playing in a back yard.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Here and there a woman talked anxiously to another over a fence-rail, or there was a glimpse of children playing in a back yard.
with anxiety or apprehension
From this reading Here and there a woman talked anxiously to another over a fence-rail, or there was a glimpse of children playing in a back yard.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading But there were scarcely any men to be seen.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Here and there a woman talked anxiously to another over a fence-rail, or there was a glimpse of children playing in a back yard.
completely unclothed
From this reading The streets were singularly bare for a Saturday afternoon.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But there were scarcely any men to be seen.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading Departing in haste, with ears purposely dulled against possible parental voices, the boys headed for the mine by the shortest possible route.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But there were scarcely any men to be seen.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Departing in haste, with ears purposely dulled against possible parental voices, the boys headed for the mine by the shortest possible route.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading Here and there a woman talked anxiously to another over a fence-rail, or there was a glimpse of children playing in a back yard.
DepartingverbUS /dɪˈpɑːrtɪŋ/
-ing form of “depart” — move away from a place into another direction
From this reading Departing in haste, with ears purposely dulled against possible parental voices, the boys headed for the mine by the shortest possible route.
dulledadjectiveUS /dʌld/
having lost or been caused to lose interest because of overexposure
From this reading Departing in haste, with ears purposely dulled against possible parental voices, the boys headed for the mine by the shortest possible route.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading Departing in haste, with ears purposely dulled against possible parental voices, the boys headed for the mine by the shortest possible route.
fence-rail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there a woman talked anxiously to another over a fence-rail, or there was a glimpse of children playing in a back yard.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Departing in haste, with ears purposely dulled against possible parental voices, the boys headed for the mine by the shortest possible route.
GeenounUS /dʒiː/
a unit of force equal to the force exerted by gravity; used to indicate the force to which a body is subjected when it is accelerated
From this reading “Gee!
a quick look
From this reading Here and there a woman talked anxiously to another over a fence-rail, or there was a glimpse of children playing in a back yard.
overly eager speed (and possible carelessness)
From this reading Departing in haste, with ears purposely dulled against possible parental voices, the boys headed for the mine by the shortest possible route.
headedadjectiveUS /ˈhedəd/
having a heading or course in a certain direction
From this reading Departing in haste, with ears purposely dulled against possible parental voices, the boys headed for the mine by the shortest possible route.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here and there a woman talked anxiously to another over a fence-rail, or there was a glimpse of children playing in a back yard.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Departing in haste, with ears purposely dulled against possible parental voices, the boys headed for the mine by the shortest possible route.
the force of workers available
From this reading But there were scarcely any men to be seen.
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Departing in haste, with ears purposely dulled against possible parental voices, the boys headed for the mine by the shortest possible route.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Here and there a woman talked anxiously to another over a fence-rail, or there was a glimpse of children playing in a back yard.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Here and there a woman talked anxiously to another over a fence-rail, or there was a glimpse of children playing in a back yard.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Here and there a woman talked anxiously to another over a fence-rail, or there was a glimpse of children playing in a back yard.
parentaladjectiveUS /pərˈentəl/
designating the generation of organisms from which hybrid offspring are produced
From this reading Departing in haste, with ears purposely dulled against possible parental voices, the boys headed for the mine by the shortest possible route.
the act of playing a musical instrument
From this reading Here and there a woman talked anxiously to another over a fence-rail, or there was a glimpse of children playing in a back yard.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading Departing in haste, with ears purposely dulled against possible parental voices, the boys headed for the mine by the shortest possible route.
purposelyadverbUS /ˈpɜːrpəsli/
with intention; in an intentional manner
From this reading Departing in haste, with ears purposely dulled against possible parental voices, the boys headed for the mine by the shortest possible route.
routenounUS /ruːt/
an established line of travel or access
From this reading Departing in haste, with ears purposely dulled against possible parental voices, the boys headed for the mine by the shortest possible route.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading The streets were singularly bare for a Saturday afternoon.
only a very short time before
From this reading But there were scarcely any men to be seen.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading But there were scarcely any men to be seen.
shortestadjectiveUS /ˈʃɔːrtɪst/
superlative of “short” — primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading Departing in haste, with ears purposely dulled against possible parental voices, the boys headed for the mine by the shortest possible route.
singularlyadverbUS /ˈsɪŋɡjələrli/
in a singular manner or to a singular degree
From this reading The streets were singularly bare for a Saturday afternoon.
plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading The streets were singularly bare for a Saturday afternoon.
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading Here and there a woman talked anxiously to another over a fence-rail, or there was a glimpse of children playing in a back yard.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Departing in haste, with ears purposely dulled against possible parental voices, the boys headed for the mine by the shortest possible route.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Here and there a woman talked anxiously to another over a fence-rail, or there was a glimpse of children playing in a back yard.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Here and there a woman talked anxiously to another over a fence-rail, or there was a glimpse of children playing in a back yard.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Departing in haste, with ears purposely dulled against possible parental voices, the boys headed for the mine by the shortest possible route.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Here and there a woman talked anxiously to another over a fence-rail, or there was a glimpse of children playing in a back yard.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The streets were singularly bare for a Saturday afternoon.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Departing in haste, with ears purposely dulled against possible parental voices, the boys headed for the mine by the shortest possible route.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Here and there a woman talked anxiously to another over a fence-rail, or there was a glimpse of children playing in a back yard.
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 Here and there a woman talked anxiously to another over a fence-rail, or there was a glimpse of children playing in a back yard.
