used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading 'Phonse LeBrinn, child of Mackinaw, was throwing stones at the boat-house, a signal Billy well understood.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading When 'Phonse had a plan that promised more fun than usual, he always threw stones at the boat-house.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading 'Phonse LeBrinn, child of Mackinaw, was throwing stones at the boat-house, a signal Billy well understood.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading ENTERTAINING AUNT FLORENCE Billy was cross.
an area of sand sloping down to the water of a sea or lake
From this reading The twins from Grand Rapids who were living in the green cottage wanted him to play Indians on the beach.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The boy from Detroit, whose mother didn't know where he was half the time, had been teasing him to go swimming.
a short stout club used primarily by policemen
From this reading ENTERTAINING AUNT FLORENCE Billy was cross.
boat-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Phonse LeBrinn, child of Mackinaw, was throwing stones at the boat-house, a signal Billy well understood.
a youthful male person
From this reading The boy from Detroit, whose mother didn't know where he was half the time, had been teasing him to go swimming.
a young person of either sex
From this reading 'Phonse LeBrinn, child of Mackinaw, was throwing stones at the boat-house, a signal Billy well understood.
a small house with a single story
From this reading The twins from Grand Rapids who were living in the green cottage wanted him to play Indians on the beach.
travel across or pass over
From this reading ENTERTAINING AUNT FLORENCE Billy was cross.
DetroitnounUS /dɪˈtrɔɪt/
the largest city in Michigan and a major Great Lakes port; center of the United States automobile industry; located in southeastern Michigan on the Detroit river across from Windsor
From this reading The boy from Detroit, whose mother didn't know where he was half the time, had been teasing him to go swimming.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boy from Detroit, whose mother didn't know where he was half the time, had been teasing him to go swimming.
ENTERTAININGadjectiveUS /ˌentərˈteɪnɪŋ/
agreeably diverting
From this reading ENTERTAINING AUNT FLORENCE Billy was cross.
FLORENCEnounUS /ˈflɔːrəns/
a city in central Italy on the Arno; provincial capital of Tuscany; center of the Italian Renaissance from 14th to 16th centuries
From this reading ENTERTAINING AUNT FLORENCE Billy was cross.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The twins from Grand Rapids who were living in the green cottage wanted him to play Indians on the beach.
activities that are enjoyable or amusing
From this reading When 'Phonse had a plan that promised more fun than usual, he always threw stones at the boat-house.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The boy from Detroit, whose mother didn't know where he was half the time, had been teasing him to go swimming.
of behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope
From this reading The twins from Grand Rapids who were living in the green cottage wanted him to play Indians on the beach.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading The twins from Grand Rapids who were living in the green cottage wanted him to play Indians on the beach.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The boy from Detroit, whose mother didn't know where he was half the time, had been teasing him to go swimming.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading The boy from Detroit, whose mother didn't know where he was half the time, had been teasing him to go swimming.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The boy from Detroit, whose mother didn't know where he was half the time, had been teasing him to go swimming.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The twins from Grand Rapids who were living in the green cottage wanted him to play Indians on the beach.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The twins from Grand Rapids who were living in the green cottage wanted him to play Indians on the beach.
plural of “indian” — a native or inhabitant of India
From this reading The twins from Grand Rapids who were living in the green cottage wanted him to play Indians on the beach.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading The boy from Detroit, whose mother didn't know where he was half the time, had been teasing him to go swimming.
LeBrinn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Phonse LeBrinn, child of Mackinaw, was throwing stones at the boat-house, a signal Billy well understood.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading The twins from Grand Rapids who were living in the green cottage wanted him to play Indians on the beach.
MackinawnounUS /ˈmækənɔː/
a short plaid coat made of made of thick woolen material
From this reading 'Phonse LeBrinn, child of Mackinaw, was throwing stones at the boat-house, a signal Billy well understood.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading When 'Phonse had a plan that promised more fun than usual, he always threw stones at the boat-house.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading The boy from Detroit, whose mother didn't know where he was half the time, had been teasing him to go swimming.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading 'Phonse LeBrinn, child of Mackinaw, was throwing stones at the boat-house, a signal Billy well understood.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The twins from Grand Rapids who were living in the green cottage wanted him to play Indians on the beach.
Phonse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Phonse LeBrinn, child of Mackinaw, was throwing stones at the boat-house, a signal Billy well understood.
have the will and intention to carry out some action
From this reading When 'Phonse had a plan that promised more fun than usual, he always threw stones at the boat-house.
participate in games or sport
From this reading The twins from Grand Rapids who were living in the green cottage wanted him to play Indians on the beach.
past form of “promise” — make a promise or commitment
From this reading When 'Phonse had a plan that promised more fun than usual, he always threw stones at the boat-house.
RapidsnounUS /ˈræpədz/
plural of “rapid” — a part of a river where the current is very fast
From this reading The twins from Grand Rapids who were living in the green cottage wanted him to play Indians on the beach.
any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading 'Phonse LeBrinn, child of Mackinaw, was throwing stones at the boat-house, a signal Billy well understood.
plural of “stone” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading 'Phonse LeBrinn, child of Mackinaw, was throwing stones at the boat-house, a signal Billy well understood.
swimmingnounUS /ˈswɪmɪŋ/
the act of swimming
From this reading The boy from Detroit, whose mother didn't know where he was half the time, had been teasing him to go swimming.
teasingnounUS /ˈtiːzɪŋ/
the act of harassing someone playfully or maliciously (especially by ridicule); provoking someone with persistent annoyances
From this reading The boy from Detroit, whose mother didn't know where he was half the time, had been teasing him to go swimming.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading When 'Phonse had a plan that promised more fun than usual, he always threw stones at the boat-house.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When 'Phonse had a plan that promised more fun than usual, he always threw stones at the boat-house.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The twins from Grand Rapids who were living in the green cottage wanted him to play Indians on the beach.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading When 'Phonse had a plan that promised more fun than usual, he always threw stones at the boat-house.
-ing form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading 'Phonse LeBrinn, child of Mackinaw, was throwing stones at the boat-house, a signal Billy well understood.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The boy from Detroit, whose mother didn't know where he was half the time, had been teasing him to go swimming.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The twins from Grand Rapids who were living in the green cottage wanted him to play Indians on the beach.
twinsnounUS /twɪnz/
(mineralogy) two interwoven crystals that are mirror images on each other
From this reading The twins from Grand Rapids who were living in the green cottage wanted him to play Indians on the beach.
fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation
From this reading 'Phonse LeBrinn, child of Mackinaw, was throwing stones at the boat-house, a signal Billy well understood.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading When 'Phonse had a plan that promised more fun than usual, he always threw stones at the boat-house.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading The twins from Grand Rapids who were living in the green cottage wanted him to play Indians on the beach.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ENTERTAINING AUNT FLORENCE Billy was cross.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading 'Phonse LeBrinn, child of Mackinaw, was throwing stones at the boat-house, a signal Billy well understood.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The twins from Grand Rapids who were living in the green cottage wanted him to play Indians on the beach.
at the time that
From this reading When 'Phonse had a plan that promised more fun than usual, he always threw stones at the boat-house.
in or at the place that
From this reading The boy from Detroit, whose mother didn't know where he was half the time, had been teasing him to go swimming.
which person or people
From this reading The twins from Grand Rapids who were living in the green cottage wanted him to play Indians on the beach.
belonging to which person
From this reading The boy from Detroit, whose mother didn't know where he was half the time, had been teasing him to go swimming.
