used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was Tom's excellent habit to observe things closely, even when there was no apparent occasion to observe them at all, and he had observed that one of the trees between which the wood had been ranked up had a peculiar knot on it about thirty feet from the ground, caused by some injury received while yet it was young.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Climbing to the top of the snowdrift and standing, hips deep in the soft snow, he studied the trees round about, or so much of them as protruded above the snow.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Climbing to the top of the snowdrift and standing, hips deep in the soft snow, he studied the trees round about, or so much of them as protruded above the snow.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading _In Perilous Plight_ After breakfast the boys began again the snow digging for their wood pile.
anew
From this reading _In Perilous Plight_ After breakfast the boys began again the snow digging for their wood pile.
alertadjectiveUS /əˈlɜːrt/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading Nor could they easily correct their reckoning until little Tom came to the rescue with his keen eyes and his alert intelligence.
(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 It was Tom's excellent habit to observe things closely, even when there was no apparent occasion to observe them at all, and he had observed that one of the trees between which the wood had been ranked up had a peculiar knot on it about thirty feet from the ground, caused by some injury received while yet it was young.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They had somewhat miscalculated its locality, and so when they reached the ground with their descending path, the wood pile was not there.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading It was Tom's excellent habit to observe things closely, even when there was no apparent occasion to observe them at all, and he had observed that one of the trees between which the wood had been ranked up had a peculiar knot on it about thirty feet from the ground, caused by some injury received while yet it was young.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Climbing to the top of the snowdrift and standing, hips deep in the soft snow, he studied the trees round about, or so much of them as protruded above the snow.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was Tom's excellent habit to observe things closely, even when there was no apparent occasion to observe them at all, and he had observed that one of the trees between which the wood had been ranked up had a peculiar knot on it about thirty feet from the ground, caused by some injury received while yet it was young.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was Tom's excellent habit to observe things closely, even when there was no apparent occasion to observe them at all, and he had observed that one of the trees between which the wood had been ranked up had a peculiar knot on it about thirty feet from the ground, caused by some injury received while yet it was young.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading _In Perilous Plight_ After breakfast the boys began again the snow digging for their wood pile.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading It was Tom's excellent habit to observe things closely, even when there was no apparent occasion to observe them at all, and he had observed that one of the trees between which the wood had been ranked up had a peculiar knot on it about thirty feet from the ground, caused by some injury received while yet it was young.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading _In Perilous Plight_ After breakfast the boys began again the snow digging for their wood pile.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading _In Perilous Plight_ After breakfast the boys began again the snow digging for their wood pile.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was Tom's excellent habit to observe things closely, even when there was no apparent occasion to observe them at all, and he had observed that one of the trees between which the wood had been ranked up had a peculiar knot on it about thirty feet from the ground, caused by some injury received while yet it was young.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Nor could they easily correct their reckoning until little Tom came to the rescue with his keen eyes and his alert intelligence.
past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
From this reading It was Tom's excellent habit to observe things closely, even when there was no apparent occasion to observe them at all, and he had observed that one of the trees between which the wood had been ranked up had a peculiar knot on it about thirty feet from the ground, caused by some injury received while yet it was young.
ClimbingnounUS /ˈklaɪmɪŋ/
an event that involves rising to a higher point (as in altitude or temperature or intensity etc.)
From this reading Climbing to the top of the snowdrift and standing, hips deep in the soft snow, he studied the trees round about, or so much of them as protruded above the snow.
in a close relation or position in time or space
From this reading It was Tom's excellent habit to observe things closely, even when there was no apparent occasion to observe them at all, and he had observed that one of the trees between which the wood had been ranked up had a peculiar knot on it about thirty feet from the ground, caused by some injury received while yet it was young.
make right or correct
From this reading Nor could they easily correct their reckoning until little Tom came to the rescue with his keen eyes and his alert intelligence.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Nor could they easily correct their reckoning until little Tom came to the rescue with his keen eyes and his alert intelligence.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading Climbing to the top of the snowdrift and standing, hips deep in the soft snow, he studied the trees round about, or so much of them as protruded above the snow.
descendingadjectiveUS /dɪˈsendɪŋ/
coming down or downward
From this reading They had somewhat miscalculated its locality, and so when they reached the ground with their descending path, the wood pile was not there.
diggingnounUS /ˈdɪɡɪŋ/
the act of digging
From this reading _In Perilous Plight_ After breakfast the boys began again the snow digging for their wood pile.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading Nor could they easily correct their reckoning until little Tom came to the rescue with his keen eyes and his alert intelligence.
divisible by two
From this reading It was Tom's excellent habit to observe things closely, even when there was no apparent occasion to observe them at all, and he had observed that one of the trees between which the wood had been ranked up had a peculiar knot on it about thirty feet from the ground, caused by some injury received while yet it was young.
very good; of the highest quality
From this reading It was Tom's excellent habit to observe things closely, even when there was no apparent occasion to observe them at all, and he had observed that one of the trees between which the wood had been ranked up had a peculiar knot on it about thirty feet from the ground, caused by some injury received while yet it was young.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Nor could they easily correct their reckoning until little Tom came to the rescue with his keen eyes and his alert intelligence.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading It was Tom's excellent habit to observe things closely, even when there was no apparent occasion to observe them at all, and he had observed that one of the trees between which the wood had been ranked up had a peculiar knot on it about thirty feet from the ground, caused by some injury received while yet it was young.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading _In Perilous Plight_ After breakfast the boys began again the snow digging for their wood pile.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was Tom's excellent habit to observe things closely, even when there was no apparent occasion to observe them at all, and he had observed that one of the trees between which the wood had been ranked up had a peculiar knot on it about thirty feet from the ground, caused by some injury received while yet it was young.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading They had somewhat miscalculated its locality, and so when they reached the ground with their descending path, the wood pile was not there.
an established custom
From this reading It was Tom's excellent habit to observe things closely, even when there was no apparent occasion to observe them at all, and he had observed that one of the trees between which the wood had been ranked up had a peculiar knot on it about thirty feet from the ground, caused by some injury received while yet it was young.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had somewhat miscalculated its locality, and so when they reached the ground with their descending path, the wood pile was not there.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Climbing to the top of the snowdrift and standing, hips deep in the soft snow, he studied the trees round about, or so much of them as protruded above the snow.
hipsnounUS /hɪps/
plural of “hip” — either side of the body below the waist and above the thigh
From this reading Climbing to the top of the snowdrift and standing, hips deep in the soft snow, he studied the trees round about, or so much of them as protruded above the snow.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Nor could they easily correct their reckoning until little Tom came to the rescue with his keen eyes and his alert intelligence.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading _In Perilous Plight_ After breakfast the boys began again the snow digging for their wood pile.
injurynounUS /ˈɪndʒəri/
any physical damage to the body caused by violence or accident or fracture etc.
From this reading It was Tom's excellent habit to observe things closely, even when there was no apparent occasion to observe them at all, and he had observed that one of the trees between which the wood had been ranked up had a peculiar knot on it about thirty feet from the ground, caused by some injury received while yet it was young.
the ability to comprehend; to understand and profit from experience
From this reading Nor could they easily correct their reckoning until little Tom came to the rescue with his keen eyes and his alert intelligence.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was Tom's excellent habit to observe things closely, even when there was no apparent occasion to observe them at all, and he had observed that one of the trees between which the wood had been ranked up had a peculiar knot on it about thirty feet from the ground, caused by some injury received while yet it was young.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading They had somewhat miscalculated its locality, and so when they reached the ground with their descending path, the wood pile was not there.
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading Nor could they easily correct their reckoning until little Tom came to the rescue with his keen eyes and his alert intelligence.
knotnounUS /nɑːt/
a tight cluster of people or things
From this reading It was Tom's excellent habit to observe things closely, even when there was no apparent occasion to observe them at all, and he had observed that one of the trees between which the wood had been ranked up had a peculiar knot on it about thirty feet from the ground, caused by some injury received while yet it was young.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Nor could they easily correct their reckoning until little Tom came to the rescue with his keen eyes and his alert intelligence.
localitynounUS /loʊˈkæləti/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading They had somewhat miscalculated its locality, and so when they reached the ground with their descending path, the wood pile was not there.
miscalculatedverbUS /mɪˈskælkjəleɪtɪd/
past form of “miscalculate” — judge incorrectly
From this reading They had somewhat miscalculated its locality, and so when they reached the ground with their descending path, the wood pile was not there.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Climbing to the top of the snowdrift and standing, hips deep in the soft snow, he studied the trees round about, or so much of them as protruded above the snow.
not any; not one
From this reading It was Tom's excellent habit to observe things closely, even when there was no apparent occasion to observe them at all, and he had observed that one of the trees between which the wood had been ranked up had a peculiar knot on it about thirty feet from the ground, caused by some injury received while yet it was young.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Nor could they easily correct their reckoning until little Tom came to the rescue with his keen eyes and his alert intelligence.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They had somewhat miscalculated its locality, and so when they reached the ground with their descending path, the wood pile was not there.
discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading It was Tom's excellent habit to observe things closely, even when there was no apparent occasion to observe them at all, and he had observed that one of the trees between which the wood had been ranked up had a peculiar knot on it about thirty feet from the ground, caused by some injury received while yet it was young.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading It was Tom's excellent habit to observe things closely, even when there was no apparent occasion to observe them at all, and he had observed that one of the trees between which the wood had been ranked up had a peculiar knot on it about thirty feet from the ground, caused by some injury received while yet it was young.
an event that occurs at a critical time
From this reading It was Tom's excellent habit to observe things closely, even when there was no apparent occasion to observe them at all, and he had observed that one of the trees between which the wood had been ranked up had a peculiar knot on it about thirty feet from the ground, caused by some injury received while yet it was young.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Climbing to the top of the snowdrift and standing, hips deep in the soft snow, he studied the trees round about, or so much of them as protruded above the snow.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was Tom's excellent habit to observe things closely, even when there was no apparent occasion to observe them at all, and he had observed that one of the trees between which the wood had been ranked up had a peculiar knot on it about thirty feet from the ground, caused by some injury received while yet it was young.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was Tom's excellent habit to observe things closely, even when there was no apparent occasion to observe them at all, and he had observed that one of the trees between which the wood had been ranked up had a peculiar knot on it about thirty feet from the ground, caused by some injury received while yet it was young.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Climbing to the top of the snowdrift and standing, hips deep in the soft snow, he studied the trees round about, or so much of them as protruded above the snow.
a course of conduct
From this reading They had somewhat miscalculated its locality, and so when they reached the ground with their descending path, the wood pile was not there.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading It was Tom's excellent habit to observe things closely, even when there was no apparent occasion to observe them at all, and he had observed that one of the trees between which the wood had been ranked up had a peculiar knot on it about thirty feet from the ground, caused by some injury received while yet it was young.
PerilousadjectiveUS /ˈperələs/
fraught with danger
From this reading _In Perilous Plight_ After breakfast the boys began again the snow digging for their wood pile.
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading _In Perilous Plight_ After breakfast the boys began again the snow digging for their wood pile.
PlightnounUS /plaɪt/
a situation from which extrication is difficult especially an unpleasant or trying one
From this reading _In Perilous Plight_ After breakfast the boys began again the snow digging for their wood pile.
protruded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Climbing to the top of the snowdrift and standing, hips deep in the soft snow, he studied the trees round about, or so much of them as protruded above the snow.
rankedadjectiveUS /ræŋkt/
arranged in a sequence of grades or ranks
From this reading It was Tom's excellent habit to observe things closely, even when there was no apparent occasion to observe them at all, and he had observed that one of the trees between which the wood had been ranked up had a peculiar knot on it about thirty feet from the ground, caused by some injury received while yet it was young.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading They had somewhat miscalculated its locality, and so when they reached the ground with their descending path, the wood pile was not there.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading It was Tom's excellent habit to observe things closely, even when there was no apparent occasion to observe them at all, and he had observed that one of the trees between which the wood had been ranked up had a peculiar knot on it about thirty feet from the ground, caused by some injury received while yet it was young.
reckoningnounUS /ˈrekənɪŋ/
problem solving that involves numbers or quantities
From this reading Nor could they easily correct their reckoning until little Tom came to the rescue with his keen eyes and his alert intelligence.
free from harm or evil
From this reading Nor could they easily correct their reckoning until little Tom came to the rescue with his keen eyes and his alert intelligence.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Climbing to the top of the snowdrift and standing, hips deep in the soft snow, he studied the trees round about, or so much of them as protruded above the snow.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading _In Perilous Plight_ After breakfast the boys began again the snow digging for their wood pile.
snowdriftnoun
a mass of snow heaped up by the wind
From this reading Climbing to the top of the snowdrift and standing, hips deep in the soft snow, he studied the trees round about, or so much of them as protruded above the snow.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading They had somewhat miscalculated its locality, and so when they reached the ground with their descending path, the wood pile was not there.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading Climbing to the top of the snowdrift and standing, hips deep in the soft snow, he studied the trees round about, or so much of them as protruded above the snow.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading It was Tom's excellent habit to observe things closely, even when there was no apparent occasion to observe them at all, and he had observed that one of the trees between which the wood had been ranked up had a peculiar knot on it about thirty feet from the ground, caused by some injury received while yet it was young.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading They had somewhat miscalculated its locality, and so when they reached the ground with their descending path, the wood pile was not there.
having a supporting base
From this reading Climbing to the top of the snowdrift and standing, hips deep in the soft snow, he studied the trees round about, or so much of them as protruded above the snow.
produced or marked by conscious design or premeditation
From this reading Climbing to the top of the snowdrift and standing, hips deep in the soft snow, he studied the trees round about, or so much of them as protruded above the snow.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was Tom's excellent habit to observe things closely, even when there was no apparent occasion to observe them at all, and he had observed that one of the trees between which the wood had been ranked up had a peculiar knot on it about thirty feet from the ground, caused by some injury received while yet it was young.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _In Perilous Plight_ After breakfast the boys began again the snow digging for their wood pile.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading _In Perilous Plight_ After breakfast the boys began again the snow digging for their wood pile.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Climbing to the top of the snowdrift and standing, hips deep in the soft snow, he studied the trees round about, or so much of them as protruded above the snow.
in or at that place or location
From this reading They had somewhat miscalculated its locality, and so when they reached the ground with their descending path, the wood pile was not there.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had somewhat miscalculated its locality, and so when they reached the ground with their descending path, the wood pile was not there.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading It was Tom's excellent habit to observe things closely, even when there was no apparent occasion to observe them at all, and he had observed that one of the trees between which the wood had been ranked up had a peculiar knot on it about thirty feet from the ground, caused by some injury received while yet it was young.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three
From this reading It was Tom's excellent habit to observe things closely, even when there was no apparent occasion to observe them at all, and he had observed that one of the trees between which the wood had been ranked up had a peculiar knot on it about thirty feet from the ground, caused by some injury received while yet it was young.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Nor could they easily correct their reckoning until little Tom came to the rescue with his keen eyes and his alert intelligence.
male cat
From this reading Nor could they easily correct their reckoning until little Tom came to the rescue with his keen eyes and his alert intelligence.
Tom'snounUS /tɑːmz/
possessive form of “tom” — male cat
From this reading It was Tom's excellent habit to observe things closely, even when there was no apparent occasion to observe them at all, and he had observed that one of the trees between which the wood had been ranked up had a peculiar knot on it about thirty feet from the ground, caused by some injury received while yet it was young.
the upper part of anything
From this reading Climbing to the top of the snowdrift and standing, hips deep in the soft snow, he studied the trees round about, or so much of them as protruded above the snow.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading Climbing to the top of the snowdrift and standing, hips deep in the soft snow, he studied the trees round about, or so much of them as protruded above the snow.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Nor could they easily correct their reckoning until little Tom came to the rescue with his keen eyes and his alert intelligence.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading It was Tom's excellent habit to observe things closely, even when there was no apparent occasion to observe them at all, and he had observed that one of the trees between which the wood had been ranked up had a peculiar knot on it about thirty feet from the ground, caused by some injury received while yet it was young.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They had somewhat miscalculated its locality, and so when they reached the ground with their descending path, the wood pile was not there.
at the time that
From this reading They had somewhat miscalculated its locality, and so when they reached the ground with their descending path, the wood pile was not there.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was Tom's excellent habit to observe things closely, even when there was no apparent occasion to observe them at all, and he had observed that one of the trees between which the wood had been ranked up had a peculiar knot on it about thirty feet from the ground, caused by some injury received while yet it was young.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading It was Tom's excellent habit to observe things closely, even when there was no apparent occasion to observe them at all, and he had observed that one of the trees between which the wood had been ranked up had a peculiar knot on it about thirty feet from the ground, caused by some injury received while yet it was young.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They had somewhat miscalculated its locality, and so when they reached the ground with their descending path, the wood pile was not there.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading _In Perilous Plight_ After breakfast the boys began again the snow digging for their wood pile.
but in spite of that
From this reading It was Tom's excellent habit to observe things closely, even when there was no apparent occasion to observe them at all, and he had observed that one of the trees between which the wood had been ranked up had a peculiar knot on it about thirty feet from the ground, caused by some injury received while yet it was young.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading It was Tom's excellent habit to observe things closely, even when there was no apparent occasion to observe them at all, and he had observed that one of the trees between which the wood had been ranked up had a peculiar knot on it about thirty feet from the ground, caused by some injury received while yet it was young.
