used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Guardy Lud" was the first visitor, just for a night and a day.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading When they gathered about the piano for a sing, he joined in with a good old tenor, surprising them all by knowing a lot of the songs they sang.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading He sat on the terrace in the moonlight with them afterwards, joking, telling them stories, and eating chocolates with the rest.
(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 When they gathered about the piano for a sing, he joined in with a good old tenor, surprising them all by knowing a lot of the songs they sang.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Guardy Lud" was the first visitor, just for a night and a day.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He had come East for a flying business trip, and could not pass by his beloved wards without at least a glimpse.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He dropped down into their midst quite unexpectedly the night before college closed, and found them with a bevy of young people at the supper-table, who opened their ranks right heartily, and took him in.
dearly loved
From this reading He had come East for a flying business trip, and could not pass by his beloved wards without at least a glimpse.
bevynounUS /ˈbevi/
a large gathering of people of a particular type
From this reading He dropped down into their midst quite unexpectedly the night before college closed, and found them with a bevy of young people at the supper-table, who opened their ranks right heartily, and took him in.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading He had come East for a flying business trip, and could not pass by his beloved wards without at least a glimpse.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He had come East for a flying business trip, and could not pass by his beloved wards without at least a glimpse.
chocolatesnounUS /ˈtʃɔːkləts/
plural of “chocolate” — a beverage made from cocoa powder and milk and sugar; usually drunk hot
From this reading He sat on the terrace in the moonlight with them afterwards, joking, telling them stories, and eating chocolates with the rest.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading He dropped down into their midst quite unexpectedly the night before college closed, and found them with a bevy of young people at the supper-table, who opened their ranks right heartily, and took him in.
the body of faculty and students of a college
From this reading He dropped down into their midst quite unexpectedly the night before college closed, and found them with a bevy of young people at the supper-table, who opened their ranks right heartily, and took him in.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He had come East for a flying business trip, and could not pass by his beloved wards without at least a glimpse.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He had come East for a flying business trip, and could not pass by his beloved wards without at least a glimpse.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading "Guardy Lud" was the first visitor, just for a night and a day.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He dropped down into their midst quite unexpectedly the night before college closed, and found them with a bevy of young people at the supper-table, who opened their ranks right heartily, and took him in.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading He dropped down into their midst quite unexpectedly the night before college closed, and found them with a bevy of young people at the supper-table, who opened their ranks right heartily, and took him in.
the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees
From this reading He had come East for a flying business trip, and could not pass by his beloved wards without at least a glimpse.
the act of consuming food
From this reading He sat on the terrace in the moonlight with them afterwards, joking, telling them stories, and eating chocolates with the rest.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading "Guardy Lud" was the first visitor, just for a night and a day.
moving swiftly
From this reading He had come East for a flying business trip, and could not pass by his beloved wards without at least a glimpse.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Guardy Lud" was the first visitor, just for a night and a day.
set up or found
From this reading He dropped down into their midst quite unexpectedly the night before college closed, and found them with a bevy of young people at the supper-table, who opened their ranks right heartily, and took him in.
brought together in one place
From this reading When they gathered about the piano for a sing, he joined in with a good old tenor, surprising them all by knowing a lot of the songs they sang.
a quick look
From this reading He had come East for a flying business trip, and could not pass by his beloved wards without at least a glimpse.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading When they gathered about the piano for a sing, he joined in with a good old tenor, surprising them all by knowing a lot of the songs they sang.
Guardy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Guardy Lud" was the first visitor, just for a night and a day.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had come East for a flying business trip, and could not pass by his beloved wards without at least a glimpse.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had come East for a flying business trip, and could not pass by his beloved wards without at least a glimpse.
with gusto and without reservation
From this reading He dropped down into their midst quite unexpectedly the night before college closed, and found them with a bevy of young people at the supper-table, who opened their ranks right heartily, and took him in.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He dropped down into their midst quite unexpectedly the night before college closed, and found them with a bevy of young people at the supper-table, who opened their ranks right heartily, and took him in.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had come East for a flying business trip, and could not pass by his beloved wards without at least a glimpse.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He dropped down into their midst quite unexpectedly the night before college closed, and found them with a bevy of young people at the supper-table, who opened their ranks right heartily, and took him in.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He dropped down into their midst quite unexpectedly the night before college closed, and found them with a bevy of young people at the supper-table, who opened their ranks right heartily, and took him in.
of or relating to two people who are married to each other
From this reading When they gathered about the piano for a sing, he joined in with a good old tenor, surprising them all by knowing a lot of the songs they sang.
jokingadjectiveUS /ˈdʒoʊkɪŋ/
characterized by jokes and good humor
From this reading He sat on the terrace in the moonlight with them afterwards, joking, telling them stories, and eating chocolates with the rest.
and nothing more
From this reading "Guardy Lud" was the first visitor, just for a night and a day.
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading When they gathered about the piano for a sing, he joined in with a good old tenor, surprising them all by knowing a lot of the songs they sang.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading He had come East for a flying business trip, and could not pass by his beloved wards without at least a glimpse.
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading When they gathered about the piano for a sing, he joined in with a good old tenor, surprising them all by knowing a lot of the songs they sang.
Lud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Guardy Lud" was the first visitor, just for a night and a day.
the location of something surrounded by other things
From this reading He dropped down into their midst quite unexpectedly the night before college closed, and found them with a bevy of young people at the supper-table, who opened their ranks right heartily, and took him in.
the light of the Moon
From this reading He sat on the terrace in the moonlight with them afterwards, joking, telling them stories, and eating chocolates with the rest.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading "Guardy Lud" was the first visitor, just for a night and a day.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He had come East for a flying business trip, and could not pass by his beloved wards without at least a glimpse.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He dropped down into their midst quite unexpectedly the night before college closed, and found them with a bevy of young people at the supper-table, who opened their ranks right heartily, and took him in.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading When they gathered about the piano for a sing, he joined in with a good old tenor, surprising them all by knowing a lot of the songs they sang.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He sat on the terrace in the moonlight with them afterwards, joking, telling them stories, and eating chocolates with the rest.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading He dropped down into their midst quite unexpectedly the night before college closed, and found them with a bevy of young people at the supper-table, who opened their ranks right heartily, and took him in.
go across or through
From this reading He had come East for a flying business trip, and could not pass by his beloved wards without at least a glimpse.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading He dropped down into their midst quite unexpectedly the night before college closed, and found them with a bevy of young people at the supper-table, who opened their ranks right heartily, and took him in.
pianonounUS /piˈænoʊ/
a keyboard instrument that is played by depressing keys that cause hammers to strike tuned strings and produce sounds
From this reading When they gathered about the piano for a sing, he joined in with a good old tenor, surprising them all by knowing a lot of the songs they sang.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading He dropped down into their midst quite unexpectedly the night before college closed, and found them with a bevy of young people at the supper-table, who opened their ranks right heartily, and took him in.
ranksnounUS /ræŋks/
plural of “rank” — a row or line of people (especially soldiers or police) standing abreast of one another
From this reading He dropped down into their midst quite unexpectedly the night before college closed, and found them with a bevy of young people at the supper-table, who opened their ranks right heartily, and took him in.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading He sat on the terrace in the moonlight with them afterwards, joking, telling them stories, and eating chocolates with the rest.
precisely, exactly
From this reading He dropped down into their midst quite unexpectedly the night before college closed, and found them with a bevy of young people at the supper-table, who opened their ranks right heartily, and took him in.
North American woodland herb similar to and used as substitute for the Chinese ginseng
From this reading When they gathered about the piano for a sing, he joined in with a good old tenor, surprising them all by knowing a lot of the songs they sang.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading He sat on the terrace in the moonlight with them afterwards, joking, telling them stories, and eating chocolates with the rest.
deliver by singing
From this reading When they gathered about the piano for a sing, he joined in with a good old tenor, surprising them all by knowing a lot of the songs they sang.
plural of “song” — a short musical composition with words
From this reading When they gathered about the piano for a sing, he joined in with a good old tenor, surprising them all by knowing a lot of the songs they sang.
plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading He sat on the terrace in the moonlight with them afterwards, joking, telling them stories, and eating chocolates with the rest.
supper-table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He dropped down into their midst quite unexpectedly the night before college closed, and found them with a bevy of young people at the supper-table, who opened their ranks right heartily, and took him in.
surprisingadjectiveUS /sərˈpraɪzɪŋ/
causing surprise or wonder or amazement
From this reading When they gathered about the piano for a sing, he joined in with a good old tenor, surprising them all by knowing a lot of the songs they sang.
disclosing unintentionally something concealed
From this reading He sat on the terrace in the moonlight with them afterwards, joking, telling them stories, and eating chocolates with the rest.
tenornounUS /ˈtenər/
the adult male singing voice above baritone
From this reading When they gathered about the piano for a sing, he joined in with a good old tenor, surprising them all by knowing a lot of the songs they sang.
terracenounUS /ˈterəs/
usually paved outdoor area adjoining a residence
From this reading He sat on the terrace in the moonlight with them afterwards, joking, telling them stories, and eating chocolates with the rest.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Guardy Lud" was the first visitor, just for a night and a day.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He dropped down into their midst quite unexpectedly the night before college closed, and found them with a bevy of young people at the supper-table, who opened their ranks right heartily, and took him in.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He dropped down into their midst quite unexpectedly the night before college closed, and found them with a bevy of young people at the supper-table, who opened their ranks right heartily, and took him in.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When they gathered about the piano for a sing, he joined in with a good old tenor, surprising them all by knowing a lot of the songs they sang.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading He dropped down into their midst quite unexpectedly the night before college closed, and found them with a bevy of young people at the supper-table, who opened their ranks right heartily, and took him in.
a journey for some purpose (usually including the return)
From this reading He had come East for a flying business trip, and could not pass by his beloved wards without at least a glimpse.
unexpectedlyadverbUS /ˌʌnɪkˈspektɪdli/
in a way that was not expected
From this reading He dropped down into their midst quite unexpectedly the night before college closed, and found them with a bevy of young people at the supper-table, who opened their ranks right heartily, and took him in.
someone who visits
From this reading "Guardy Lud" was the first visitor, just for a night and a day.
wardsnounUS /wɔːrdz/
plural of “ward” — a person who is under the protection or in the custody of another
From this reading He had come East for a flying business trip, and could not pass by his beloved wards without at least a glimpse.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Guardy Lud" was the first visitor, just for a night and a day.
at the time that
From this reading When they gathered about the piano for a sing, he joined in with a good old tenor, surprising them all by knowing a lot of the songs they sang.
which person or people
From this reading He dropped down into their midst quite unexpectedly the night before college closed, and found them with a bevy of young people at the supper-table, who opened their ranks right heartily, and took him in.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He dropped down into their midst quite unexpectedly the night before college closed, and found them with a bevy of young people at the supper-table, who opened their ranks right heartily, and took him in.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading He had come East for a flying business trip, and could not pass by his beloved wards without at least a glimpse.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading He dropped down into their midst quite unexpectedly the night before college closed, and found them with a bevy of young people at the supper-table, who opened their ranks right heartily, and took him in.
