used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Now, standing on his neat porch, the man looked about him, over his well-kept farm and its trim buildings; with a little throb of pride as he contrasted it with the way the home had looked on his return from prison three years earlier.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Now, standing on his neat porch, the man looked about him, over his well-kept farm and its trim buildings; with a little throb of pride as he contrasted it with the way the home had looked on his return from prison three years earlier.
speak to
From this reading During his mumbled address to the wistfully listening dog he had been moving homeward.
(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 The world, all at once, seemed to him a wonderful place to live in, and life seemed unbelievably sweet.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Now, standing on his neat porch, the man looked about him, over his well-kept farm and its trim buildings; with a little throb of pride as he contrasted it with the way the home had looked on his return from prison three years earlier.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Now, standing on his neat porch, the man looked about him, over his well-kept farm and its trim buildings; with a little throb of pride as he contrasted it with the way the home had looked on his return from prison three years earlier.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The world, all at once, seemed to him a wonderful place to live in, and life seemed unbelievably sweet.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading During his mumbled address to the wistfully listening dog he had been moving homeward.
BoonenounUS /buːn/
an American pioneer and guide and explorer (1734-1820)
From this reading Early the following morning Michael Trent set off down the same yellow road toward Boone Lake for the monthly market day.
Brander
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His glance strayed down the long, yellow road toward the old Brander place, and his lean face softened with a glow that transfigured it.
plural of “building” — a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading Now, standing on his neat porch, the man looked about him, over his well-kept farm and its trim buildings; with a little throb of pride as he contrasted it with the way the home had looked on his return from prison three years earlier.
contrastedverbUS /kənˈtræstəd/
past form of “contrast” — put in opposition to show or emphasize differences
From this reading Now, standing on his neat porch, the man looked about him, over his well-kept farm and its trim buildings; with a little throb of pride as he contrasted it with the way the home had looked on his return from prison three years earlier.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Early the following morning Michael Trent set off down the same yellow road toward Boone Lake for the monthly market day.
a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading During his mumbled address to the wistfully listening dog he had been moving homeward.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading His glance strayed down the long, yellow road toward the old Brander place, and his lean face softened with a glow that transfigured it.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading During his mumbled address to the wistfully listening dog he had been moving homeward.
earlier in time; previously
From this reading Now, standing on his neat porch, the man looked about him, over his well-kept farm and its trim buildings; with a little throb of pride as he contrasted it with the way the home had looked on his return from prison three years earlier.
EarlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading Early the following morning Michael Trent set off down the same yellow road toward Boone Lake for the monthly market day.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading His glance strayed down the long, yellow road toward the old Brander place, and his lean face softened with a glow that transfigured it.
be a farmer; work as a farmer
From this reading Now, standing on his neat porch, the man looked about him, over his well-kept farm and its trim buildings; with a little throb of pride as he contrasted it with the way the home had looked on his return from prison three years earlier.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading Early the following morning Michael Trent set off down the same yellow road toward Boone Lake for the monthly market day.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Early the following morning Michael Trent set off down the same yellow road toward Boone Lake for the monthly market day.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Now, standing on his neat porch, the man looked about him, over his well-kept farm and its trim buildings; with a little throb of pride as he contrasted it with the way the home had looked on his return from prison three years earlier.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading His glance strayed down the long, yellow road toward the old Brander place, and his lean face softened with a glow that transfigured it.
an alert and refreshed state
From this reading His glance strayed down the long, yellow road toward the old Brander place, and his lean face softened with a glow that transfigured it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading During his mumbled address to the wistfully listening dog he had been moving homeward.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading During his mumbled address to the wistfully listening dog he had been moving homeward.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Now, standing on his neat porch, the man looked about him, over his well-kept farm and its trim buildings; with a little throb of pride as he contrasted it with the way the home had looked on his return from prison three years earlier.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading During his mumbled address to the wistfully listening dog he had been moving homeward.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Now, standing on his neat porch, the man looked about him, over his well-kept farm and its trim buildings; with a little throb of pride as he contrasted it with the way the home had looked on his return from prison three years earlier.
homewardadverbUS /ˈhoʊmwərd/
toward home
From this reading During his mumbled address to the wistfully listening dog he had been moving homeward.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The world, all at once, seemed to him a wonderful place to live in, and life seemed unbelievably sweet.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Now, standing on his neat porch, the man looked about him, over his well-kept farm and its trim buildings; with a little throb of pride as he contrasted it with the way the home had looked on his return from prison three years earlier.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Now, standing on his neat porch, the man looked about him, over his well-kept farm and its trim buildings; with a little throb of pride as he contrasted it with the way the home had looked on his return from prison three years earlier.
a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
From this reading Early the following morning Michael Trent set off down the same yellow road toward Boone Lake for the monthly market day.
leanverbUS /liːn/
to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading His glance strayed down the long, yellow road toward the old Brander place, and his lean face softened with a glow that transfigured it.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The world, all at once, seemed to him a wonderful place to live in, and life seemed unbelievably sweet.
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading During his mumbled address to the wistfully listening dog he had been moving homeward.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Now, standing on his neat porch, the man looked about him, over his well-kept farm and its trim buildings; with a little throb of pride as he contrasted it with the way the home had looked on his return from prison three years earlier.
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading The world, all at once, seemed to him a wonderful place to live in, and life seemed unbelievably sweet.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading His glance strayed down the long, yellow road toward the old Brander place, and his lean face softened with a glow that transfigured it.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Now, standing on his neat porch, the man looked about him, over his well-kept farm and its trim buildings; with a little throb of pride as he contrasted it with the way the home had looked on his return from prison three years earlier.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Now, standing on his neat porch, the man looked about him, over his well-kept farm and its trim buildings; with a little throb of pride as he contrasted it with the way the home had looked on his return from prison three years earlier.
the world of commercial activity where goods and services are bought and sold
From this reading Early the following morning Michael Trent set off down the same yellow road toward Boone Lake for the monthly market day.
(Old Testament) the guardian archangel of the Jews
From this reading Early the following morning Michael Trent set off down the same yellow road toward Boone Lake for the monthly market day.
monthlynounUS /ˈmʌnθli/
a periodical that is published every month (or 12 issues per year)
From this reading Early the following morning Michael Trent set off down the same yellow road toward Boone Lake for the monthly market day.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Early the following morning Michael Trent set off down the same yellow road toward Boone Lake for the monthly market day.
in motion
From this reading During his mumbled address to the wistfully listening dog he had been moving homeward.
mumbledverbUS /ˈmʌmbəld/
past form of “mumble” — talk indistinctly; usually in a low voice
From this reading During his mumbled address to the wistfully listening dog he had been moving homeward.
neatadjectiveUS /niːt/
clean or organized
From this reading Now, standing on his neat porch, the man looked about him, over his well-kept farm and its trim buildings; with a little throb of pride as he contrasted it with the way the home had looked on his return from prison three years earlier.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now, standing on his neat porch, the man looked about him, over his well-kept farm and its trim buildings; with a little throb of pride as he contrasted it with the way the home had looked on his return from prison three years earlier.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Now, standing on his neat porch, the man looked about him, over his well-kept farm and its trim buildings; with a little throb of pride as he contrasted it with the way the home had looked on his return from prison three years earlier.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Early the following morning Michael Trent set off down the same yellow road toward Boone Lake for the monthly market day.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading His glance strayed down the long, yellow road toward the old Brander place, and his lean face softened with a glow that transfigured it.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Now, standing on his neat porch, the man looked about him, over his well-kept farm and its trim buildings; with a little throb of pride as he contrasted it with the way the home had looked on his return from prison three years earlier.
on one occasion
From this reading The world, all at once, seemed to him a wonderful place to live in, and life seemed unbelievably sweet.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Now, standing on his neat porch, the man looked about him, over his well-kept farm and its trim buildings; with a little throb of pride as he contrasted it with the way the home had looked on his return from prison three years earlier.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The world, all at once, seemed to him a wonderful place to live in, and life seemed unbelievably sweet.
a structure attached to the exterior of a building often forming a covered entrance
From this reading Now, standing on his neat porch, the man looked about him, over his well-kept farm and its trim buildings; with a little throb of pride as he contrasted it with the way the home had looked on his return from prison three years earlier.
a feeling of self-respect and personal worth
From this reading Now, standing on his neat porch, the man looked about him, over his well-kept farm and its trim buildings; with a little throb of pride as he contrasted it with the way the home had looked on his return from prison three years earlier.
a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment
From this reading Now, standing on his neat porch, the man looked about him, over his well-kept farm and its trim buildings; with a little throb of pride as he contrasted it with the way the home had looked on his return from prison three years earlier.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Now, standing on his neat porch, the man looked about him, over his well-kept farm and its trim buildings; with a little throb of pride as he contrasted it with the way the home had looked on his return from prison three years earlier.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading His glance strayed down the long, yellow road toward the old Brander place, and his lean face softened with a glow that transfigured it.
Identical; not different.
From this reading Early the following morning Michael Trent set off down the same yellow road toward Boone Lake for the monthly market day.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The world, all at once, seemed to him a wonderful place to live in, and life seemed unbelievably sweet.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Early the following morning Michael Trent set off down the same yellow road toward Boone Lake for the monthly market day.
softenedadjectiveUS /ˈsɔːfənd/
toned down
From this reading His glance strayed down the long, yellow road toward the old Brander place, and his lean face softened with a glow that transfigured it.
having a supporting base
From this reading Now, standing on his neat porch, the man looked about him, over his well-kept farm and its trim buildings; with a little throb of pride as he contrasted it with the way the home had looked on his return from prison three years earlier.
strayedverbUS /streɪd/
past form of “stray” — move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
From this reading His glance strayed down the long, yellow road toward the old Brander place, and his lean face softened with a glow that transfigured it.
having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar
From this reading The world, all at once, seemed to him a wonderful place to live in, and life seemed unbelievably sweet.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading His glance strayed down the long, yellow road toward the old Brander place, and his lean face softened with a glow that transfigured it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading During his mumbled address to the wistfully listening dog he had been moving homeward.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Now, standing on his neat porch, the man looked about him, over his well-kept farm and its trim buildings; with a little throb of pride as he contrasted it with the way the home had looked on his return from prison three years earlier.
throbverbUS /θrɑːb/
pulsate or pound with abnormal force
From this reading Now, standing on his neat porch, the man looked about him, over his well-kept farm and its trim buildings; with a little throb of pride as he contrasted it with the way the home had looked on his return from prison three years earlier.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading During his mumbled address to the wistfully listening dog he had been moving homeward.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading His glance strayed down the long, yellow road toward the old Brander place, and his lean face softened with a glow that transfigured it.
transfigured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His glance strayed down the long, yellow road toward the old Brander place, and his lean face softened with a glow that transfigured it.
TrentnounUS /trent/
a river in central England that flows generally northeastward to join with the Ouse River and form the Humber
From this reading Early the following morning Michael Trent set off down the same yellow road toward Boone Lake for the monthly market day.
trimverbUS /trɪm/
remove the edges from and cut down to the desired size
From this reading Now, standing on his neat porch, the man looked about him, over his well-kept farm and its trim buildings; with a little throb of pride as he contrasted it with the way the home had looked on his return from prison three years earlier.
unbelievablyadverbUS /ˌʌnbəˈliːvəbli/
not easy to believe
From this reading The world, all at once, seemed to him a wonderful place to live in, and life seemed unbelievably sweet.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Now, standing on his neat porch, the man looked about him, over his well-kept farm and its trim buildings; with a little throb of pride as he contrasted it with the way the home had looked on his return from prison three years earlier.
well-keptadjective
kept in good condition
From this reading Now, standing on his neat porch, the man looked about him, over his well-kept farm and its trim buildings; with a little throb of pride as he contrasted it with the way the home had looked on his return from prison three years earlier.
wistfullyadverbUS /ˈwɪstfəli/
in a wistful manner
From this reading During his mumbled address to the wistfully listening dog he had been moving homeward.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Now, standing on his neat porch, the man looked about him, over his well-kept farm and its trim buildings; with a little throb of pride as he contrasted it with the way the home had looked on his return from prison three years earlier.
extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
From this reading The world, all at once, seemed to him a wonderful place to live in, and life seemed unbelievably sweet.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading The world, all at once, seemed to him a wonderful place to live in, and life seemed unbelievably sweet.
a late time of life
From this reading Now, standing on his neat porch, the man looked about him, over his well-kept farm and its trim buildings; with a little throb of pride as he contrasted it with the way the home had looked on his return from prison three years earlier.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading His glance strayed down the long, yellow road toward the old Brander place, and his lean face softened with a glow that transfigured it.
