used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading WHEN THE CLAN GATHERED “I suppose that Christmas Eve is really the time for Christmas trees,” said Cathalina, as she straightened a candle on the tree and hung another silver ball where it would show to the best advantage.
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading The family dinner was to be early on account of the smaller fry.
the quality of having a superior or more favorable position
From this reading WHEN THE CLAN GATHERED “I suppose that Christmas Eve is really the time for Christmas trees,” said Cathalina, as she straightened a candle on the tree and hung another silver ball where it would show to the best advantage.
aglowadjectiveUS /əˈɡloʊ/
softly bright or radiant
From this reading At five o’clock darkness had fallen, the Van Buskirk home was aglow from every window and the family waiting.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading WHEN THE CLAN GATHERED “I suppose that Christmas Eve is really the time for Christmas trees,” said Cathalina, as she straightened a candle on the tree and hung another silver ball where it would show to the best advantage.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading WHEN THE CLAN GATHERED “I suppose that Christmas Eve is really the time for Christmas trees,” said Cathalina, as she straightened a candle on the tree and hung another silver ball where it would show to the best advantage.
used to indicate that a statement explains or supports a previous statement
From this reading “But everybody wants to be in his own home then, and anyway Cousin John couldn’t get in until late last night and Uncle Mart was to get in this noon.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading WHEN THE CLAN GATHERED “I suppose that Christmas Eve is really the time for Christmas trees,” said Cathalina, as she straightened a candle on the tree and hung another silver ball where it would show to the best advantage.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At five o’clock darkness had fallen, the Van Buskirk home was aglow from every window and the family waiting.
round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games
From this reading WHEN THE CLAN GATHERED “I suppose that Christmas Eve is really the time for Christmas trees,” said Cathalina, as she straightened a candle on the tree and hung another silver ball where it would show to the best advantage.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “But everybody wants to be in his own home then, and anyway Cousin John couldn’t get in until late last night and Uncle Mart was to get in this noon.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He’s been South on business.”
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading WHEN THE CLAN GATHERED “I suppose that Christmas Eve is really the time for Christmas trees,” said Cathalina, as she straightened a candle on the tree and hung another silver ball where it would show to the best advantage.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading He’s been South on business.”
Buskirk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At five o’clock darkness had fallen, the Van Buskirk home was aglow from every window and the family waiting.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “But everybody wants to be in his own home then, and anyway Cousin John couldn’t get in until late last night and Uncle Mart was to get in this noon.
stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading WHEN THE CLAN GATHERED “I suppose that Christmas Eve is really the time for Christmas trees,” said Cathalina, as she straightened a candle on the tree and hung another silver ball where it would show to the best advantage.
Cathalina
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN THE CLAN GATHERED “I suppose that Christmas Eve is really the time for Christmas trees,” said Cathalina, as she straightened a candle on the tree and hung another silver ball where it would show to the best advantage.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading WHEN THE CLAN GATHERED “I suppose that Christmas Eve is really the time for Christmas trees,” said Cathalina, as she straightened a candle on the tree and hung another silver ball where it would show to the best advantage.
CLANnounUS /klæn/
group of people related by blood or marriage
From this reading WHEN THE CLAN GATHERED “I suppose that Christmas Eve is really the time for Christmas trees,” said Cathalina, as she straightened a candle on the tree and hung another silver ball where it would show to the best advantage.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But everybody wants to be in his own home then, and anyway Cousin John couldn’t get in until late last night and Uncle Mart was to get in this noon.
the child of your aunt or uncle
From this reading “But everybody wants to be in his own home then, and anyway Cousin John couldn’t get in until late last night and Uncle Mart was to get in this noon.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading At five o’clock darkness had fallen, the Van Buskirk home was aglow from every window and the family waiting.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading The family dinner was to be early on account of the smaller fry.
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 The family dinner was to be early on account of the smaller fry.
(Old Testament) Adam's wife in Judeo-Christian mythology: the first woman and mother of the human race; God created Eve from Adam's rib and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden
From this reading WHEN THE CLAN GATHERED “I suppose that Christmas Eve is really the time for Christmas trees,” said Cathalina, as she straightened a candle on the tree and hung another silver ball where it would show to the best advantage.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading At five o’clock darkness had fallen, the Van Buskirk home was aglow from every window and the family waiting.
every person
From this reading “But everybody wants to be in his own home then, and anyway Cousin John couldn’t get in until late last night and Uncle Mart was to get in this noon.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading At five o’clock darkness had fallen, the Van Buskirk home was aglow from every window and the family waiting.
a social unit living together
From this reading The family dinner was to be early on account of the smaller fry.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading At five o’clock darkness had fallen, the Van Buskirk home was aglow from every window and the family waiting.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading WHEN THE CLAN GATHERED “I suppose that Christmas Eve is really the time for Christmas trees,” said Cathalina, as she straightened a candle on the tree and hung another silver ball where it would show to the best advantage.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading At five o’clock darkness had fallen, the Van Buskirk home was aglow from every window and the family waiting.
fryverbUS /fraɪ/
be excessively hot
From this reading The family dinner was to be early on account of the smaller fry.
brought together in one place
From this reading WHEN THE CLAN GATHERED “I suppose that Christmas Eve is really the time for Christmas trees,” said Cathalina, as she straightened a candle on the tree and hung another silver ball where it would show to the best advantage.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “But everybody wants to be in his own home then, and anyway Cousin John couldn’t get in until late last night and Uncle Mart was to get in this noon.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading At five o’clock darkness had fallen, the Van Buskirk home was aglow from every window and the family waiting.
He's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He’s been South on business.”
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “But everybody wants to be in his own home then, and anyway Cousin John couldn’t get in until late last night and Uncle Mart was to get in this noon.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading “But everybody wants to be in his own home then, and anyway Cousin John couldn’t get in until late last night and Uncle Mart was to get in this noon.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading WHEN THE CLAN GATHERED “I suppose that Christmas Eve is really the time for Christmas trees,” said Cathalina, as she straightened a candle on the tree and hung another silver ball where it would show to the best advantage.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading WHEN THE CLAN GATHERED “I suppose that Christmas Eve is really the time for Christmas trees,” said Cathalina, as she straightened a candle on the tree and hung another silver ball where it would show to the best advantage.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “But everybody wants to be in his own home then, and anyway Cousin John couldn’t get in until late last night and Uncle Mart was to get in this noon.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading WHEN THE CLAN GATHERED “I suppose that Christmas Eve is really the time for Christmas trees,” said Cathalina, as she straightened a candle on the tree and hung another silver ball where it would show to the best advantage.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading WHEN THE CLAN GATHERED “I suppose that Christmas Eve is really the time for Christmas trees,” said Cathalina, as she straightened a candle on the tree and hung another silver ball where it would show to the best advantage.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading “But everybody wants to be in his own home then, and anyway Cousin John couldn’t get in until late last night and Uncle Mart was to get in this noon.
immediately past
From this reading “But everybody wants to be in his own home then, and anyway Cousin John couldn’t get in until late last night and Uncle Mart was to get in this noon.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading “But everybody wants to be in his own home then, and anyway Cousin John couldn’t get in until late last night and Uncle Mart was to get in this noon.
MartnounUS /mɑːrt/
an area in a town where a public mercantile establishment is set up
From this reading “But everybody wants to be in his own home then, and anyway Cousin John couldn’t get in until late last night and Uncle Mart was to get in this noon.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading “But everybody wants to be in his own home then, and anyway Cousin John couldn’t get in until late last night and Uncle Mart was to get in this noon.
the middle of the day
From this reading “But everybody wants to be in his own home then, and anyway Cousin John couldn’t get in until late last night and Uncle Mart was to get in this noon.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading At five o’clock darkness had fallen, the Van Buskirk home was aglow from every window and the family waiting.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The family dinner was to be early on account of the smaller fry.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading WHEN THE CLAN GATHERED “I suppose that Christmas Eve is really the time for Christmas trees,” said Cathalina, as she straightened a candle on the tree and hung another silver ball where it would show to the best advantage.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading “But everybody wants to be in his own home then, and anyway Cousin John couldn’t get in until late last night and Uncle Mart was to get in this noon.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading WHEN THE CLAN GATHERED “I suppose that Christmas Eve is really the time for Christmas trees,” said Cathalina, as she straightened a candle on the tree and hung another silver ball where it would show to the best advantage.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading WHEN THE CLAN GATHERED “I suppose that Christmas Eve is really the time for Christmas trees,” said Cathalina, as she straightened a candle on the tree and hung another silver ball where it would show to the best advantage.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading WHEN THE CLAN GATHERED “I suppose that Christmas Eve is really the time for Christmas trees,” said Cathalina, as she straightened a candle on the tree and hung another silver ball where it would show to the best advantage.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading WHEN THE CLAN GATHERED “I suppose that Christmas Eve is really the time for Christmas trees,” said Cathalina, as she straightened a candle on the tree and hung another silver ball where it would show to the best advantage.
a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography
From this reading WHEN THE CLAN GATHERED “I suppose that Christmas Eve is really the time for Christmas trees,” said Cathalina, as she straightened a candle on the tree and hung another silver ball where it would show to the best advantage.
small or little relative to something else
From this reading The family dinner was to be early on account of the smaller fry.
the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading He’s been South on business.”
straightenedverbUS /ˈstreɪtənd/
past form of “straighten” — straighten up or out; make straight
From this reading WHEN THE CLAN GATHERED “I suppose that Christmas Eve is really the time for Christmas trees,” said Cathalina, as she straightened a candle on the tree and hung another silver ball where it would show to the best advantage.
express a supposition
From this reading WHEN THE CLAN GATHERED “I suppose that Christmas Eve is really the time for Christmas trees,” said Cathalina, as she straightened a candle on the tree and hung another silver ball where it would show to the best advantage.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading WHEN THE CLAN GATHERED “I suppose that Christmas Eve is really the time for Christmas trees,” said Cathalina, as she straightened a candle on the tree and hung another silver ball where it would show to the best advantage.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WHEN THE CLAN GATHERED “I suppose that Christmas Eve is really the time for Christmas trees,” said Cathalina, as she straightened a candle on the tree and hung another silver ball where it would show to the best advantage.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading “But everybody wants to be in his own home then, and anyway Cousin John couldn’t get in until late last night and Uncle Mart was to get in this noon.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “But everybody wants to be in his own home then, and anyway Cousin John couldn’t get in until late last night and Uncle Mart was to get in this noon.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading WHEN THE CLAN GATHERED “I suppose that Christmas Eve is really the time for Christmas trees,” said Cathalina, as she straightened a candle on the tree and hung another silver ball where it would show to the best advantage.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading WHEN THE CLAN GATHERED “I suppose that Christmas Eve is really the time for Christmas trees,” said Cathalina, as she straightened a candle on the tree and hung another silver ball where it would show to the best advantage.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading WHEN THE CLAN GATHERED “I suppose that Christmas Eve is really the time for Christmas trees,” said Cathalina, as she straightened a candle on the tree and hung another silver ball where it would show to the best advantage.
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 WHEN THE CLAN GATHERED “I suppose that Christmas Eve is really the time for Christmas trees,” said Cathalina, as she straightened a candle on the tree and hung another silver ball where it would show to the best advantage.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading “But everybody wants to be in his own home then, and anyway Cousin John couldn’t get in until late last night and Uncle Mart was to get in this noon.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading “But everybody wants to be in his own home then, and anyway Cousin John couldn’t get in until late last night and Uncle Mart was to get in this noon.
any creative group active in the innovation and application of new concepts and techniques in a given field (especially in the arts)
From this reading At five o’clock darkness had fallen, the Van Buskirk home was aglow from every window and the family waiting.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading At five o’clock darkness had fallen, the Van Buskirk home was aglow from every window and the family waiting.
plural of “want” — a state of extreme poverty
From this reading “But everybody wants to be in his own home then, and anyway Cousin John couldn’t get in until late last night and Uncle Mart was to get in this noon.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “But everybody wants to be in his own home then, and anyway Cousin John couldn’t get in until late last night and Uncle Mart was to get in this noon.
at the time that
From this reading WHEN THE CLAN GATHERED “I suppose that Christmas Eve is really the time for Christmas trees,” said Cathalina, as she straightened a candle on the tree and hung another silver ball where it would show to the best advantage.
in or at the place that
From this reading WHEN THE CLAN GATHERED “I suppose that Christmas Eve is really the time for Christmas trees,” said Cathalina, as she straightened a candle on the tree and hung another silver ball where it would show to the best advantage.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading At five o’clock darkness had fallen, the Van Buskirk home was aglow from every window and the family waiting.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading WHEN THE CLAN GATHERED “I suppose that Christmas Eve is really the time for Christmas trees,” said Cathalina, as she straightened a candle on the tree and hung another silver ball where it would show to the best advantage.
