used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A CHARGE OF BIRD SHOT.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Dick and several of his friends were enjoying a brief holiday after the football season.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading It was late afternoon.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Here and there a white birch gleamed with startling distinctness against a dark background of spruce or pine.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Dick and several of his friends were enjoying a brief holiday after the football season.
backgroundnounUS /ˈbækɡraʊnd/
a person's social heritage: previous experience or training
From this reading Here and there a white birch gleamed with startling distinctness against a dark background of spruce or pine.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading The sun had dropped below the line of forest trees, but its golden rays slanted through the naked ranks of oak and chestnut and hickory, casting long, grotesque shadows on the mottled blanket of dead leaves which covered the earth.
birchnounUS /bɜːrtʃ/
hard close-grained wood of any of various birch trees; used especially in furniture and interior finishes and plywood
From this reading Here and there a white birch gleamed with startling distinctness against a dark background of spruce or pine.
warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading A CHARGE OF BIRD SHOT.
blanketnounUS /ˈblæŋkət/
bedding that keeps a person warm in bed
From this reading The sun had dropped below the line of forest trees, but its golden rays slanted through the naked ranks of oak and chestnut and hickory, casting long, grotesque shadows on the mottled blanket of dead leaves which covered the earth.
of short duration or distance
From this reading Dick and several of his friends were enjoying a brief holiday after the football season.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The sun had dropped below the line of forest trees, but its golden rays slanted through the naked ranks of oak and chestnut and hickory, casting long, grotesque shadows on the mottled blanket of dead leaves which covered the earth.
castingnounUS /ˈkæstɪŋ/
object formed by a mold
From this reading The sun had dropped below the line of forest trees, but its golden rays slanted through the naked ranks of oak and chestnut and hickory, casting long, grotesque shadows on the mottled blanket of dead leaves which covered the earth.
to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle
From this reading A CHARGE OF BIRD SHOT.
chestnutadjectiveUS /ˈtʃesnʌt/
(of hair or feathers) of a golden brown to reddish brown color
From this reading The sun had dropped below the line of forest trees, but its golden rays slanted through the naked ranks of oak and chestnut and hickory, casting long, grotesque shadows on the mottled blanket of dead leaves which covered the earth.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading The sun had dropped below the line of forest trees, but its golden rays slanted through the naked ranks of oak and chestnut and hickory, casting long, grotesque shadows on the mottled blanket of dead leaves which covered the earth.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Here and there a white birch gleamed with startling distinctness against a dark background of spruce or pine.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading The sun had dropped below the line of forest trees, but its golden rays slanted through the naked ranks of oak and chestnut and hickory, casting long, grotesque shadows on the mottled blanket of dead leaves which covered the earth.
someone who is a detective
From this reading Dick and several of his friends were enjoying a brief holiday after the football season.
distinctnessnoun
the quality of being sharp and clear
From this reading Here and there a white birch gleamed with startling distinctness against a dark background of spruce or pine.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading The sun had dropped below the line of forest trees, but its golden rays slanted through the naked ranks of oak and chestnut and hickory, casting long, grotesque shadows on the mottled blanket of dead leaves which covered the earth.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading The sun had dropped below the line of forest trees, but its golden rays slanted through the naked ranks of oak and chestnut and hickory, casting long, grotesque shadows on the mottled blanket of dead leaves which covered the earth.
enjoyingverbUS /ˌenˈdʒɔɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
From this reading Dick and several of his friends were enjoying a brief holiday after the football season.
footballnounUS /ˈfʊtbɔːl/
any of various games played with a ball (round or oval) in which two teams try to kick or carry or propel the ball into each other's goal
From this reading Dick and several of his friends were enjoying a brief holiday after the football season.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading The sun had dropped below the line of forest trees, but its golden rays slanted through the naked ranks of oak and chestnut and hickory, casting long, grotesque shadows on the mottled blanket of dead leaves which covered the earth.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Dick and several of his friends were enjoying a brief holiday after the football season.
gleamedverbUS /ɡliːmd/
past form of “gleam” — be shiny, as if wet
From this reading Here and there a white birch gleamed with startling distinctness against a dark background of spruce or pine.
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading The sun had dropped below the line of forest trees, but its golden rays slanted through the naked ranks of oak and chestnut and hickory, casting long, grotesque shadows on the mottled blanket of dead leaves which covered the earth.
grotesqueadjectiveUS /ɡroʊˈtesk/
distorted and unnatural in shape or size; abnormal and hideous
From this reading The sun had dropped below the line of forest trees, but its golden rays slanted through the naked ranks of oak and chestnut and hickory, casting long, grotesque shadows on the mottled blanket of dead leaves which covered the earth.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The sun had dropped below the line of forest trees, but its golden rays slanted through the naked ranks of oak and chestnut and hickory, casting long, grotesque shadows on the mottled blanket of dead leaves which covered the earth.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here and there a white birch gleamed with startling distinctness against a dark background of spruce or pine.
hickorynounUS /ˈhɪkəri/
valuable tough heavy hardwood from various hickory trees
From this reading The sun had dropped below the line of forest trees, but its golden rays slanted through the naked ranks of oak and chestnut and hickory, casting long, grotesque shadows on the mottled blanket of dead leaves which covered the earth.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Dick and several of his friends were enjoying a brief holiday after the football season.
holidaynounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪ/
leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading Dick and several of his friends were enjoying a brief holiday after the football season.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was late afternoon.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The sun had dropped below the line of forest trees, but its golden rays slanted through the naked ranks of oak and chestnut and hickory, casting long, grotesque shadows on the mottled blanket of dead leaves which covered the earth.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading It was late afternoon.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading The sun had dropped below the line of forest trees, but its golden rays slanted through the naked ranks of oak and chestnut and hickory, casting long, grotesque shadows on the mottled blanket of dead leaves which covered the earth.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading The sun had dropped below the line of forest trees, but its golden rays slanted through the naked ranks of oak and chestnut and hickory, casting long, grotesque shadows on the mottled blanket of dead leaves which covered the earth.
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 The sun had dropped below the line of forest trees, but its golden rays slanted through the naked ranks of oak and chestnut and hickory, casting long, grotesque shadows on the mottled blanket of dead leaves which covered the earth.
mottledadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːtəld/
having spots or patches of color
From this reading The sun had dropped below the line of forest trees, but its golden rays slanted through the naked ranks of oak and chestnut and hickory, casting long, grotesque shadows on the mottled blanket of dead leaves which covered the earth.
nakedadjectiveUS /ˈneɪkəd/
completely unclothed
From this reading The sun had dropped below the line of forest trees, but its golden rays slanted through the naked ranks of oak and chestnut and hickory, casting long, grotesque shadows on the mottled blanket of dead leaves which covered the earth.
the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring
From this reading The sun had dropped below the line of forest trees, but its golden rays slanted through the naked ranks of oak and chestnut and hickory, casting long, grotesque shadows on the mottled blanket of dead leaves which covered the earth.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A CHARGE OF BIRD SHOT.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The sun had dropped below the line of forest trees, but its golden rays slanted through the naked ranks of oak and chestnut and hickory, casting long, grotesque shadows on the mottled blanket of dead leaves which covered the earth.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Here and there a white birch gleamed with startling distinctness against a dark background of spruce or pine.
pinenounUS /paɪn/
a coniferous tree
From this reading Here and there a white birch gleamed with startling distinctness against a dark background of spruce or pine.
ranksnounUS /ræŋks/
plural of “rank” — a row or line of people (especially soldiers or police) standing abreast of one another
From this reading The sun had dropped below the line of forest trees, but its golden rays slanted through the naked ranks of oak and chestnut and hickory, casting long, grotesque shadows on the mottled blanket of dead leaves which covered the earth.
raysnounUS /reɪz/
plural of “ray” — a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading The sun had dropped below the line of forest trees, but its golden rays slanted through the naked ranks of oak and chestnut and hickory, casting long, grotesque shadows on the mottled blanket of dead leaves which covered the earth.
a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field
From this reading Dick and several of his friends were enjoying a brief holiday after the football season.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading Dick and several of his friends were enjoying a brief holiday after the football season.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading The sun had dropped below the line of forest trees, but its golden rays slanted through the naked ranks of oak and chestnut and hickory, casting long, grotesque shadows on the mottled blanket of dead leaves which covered the earth.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading A CHARGE OF BIRD SHOT.
slantedadjectiveUS /ˈslæntɪd/
having an oblique or slanted direction
From this reading The sun had dropped below the line of forest trees, but its golden rays slanted through the naked ranks of oak and chestnut and hickory, casting long, grotesque shadows on the mottled blanket of dead leaves which covered the earth.
sprucenounUS /spruːs/
light soft moderately strong wood of spruce trees; used especially for timbers and millwork
From this reading Here and there a white birch gleamed with startling distinctness against a dark background of spruce or pine.
startlingadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading Here and there a white birch gleamed with startling distinctness against a dark background of spruce or pine.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The sun had dropped below the line of forest trees, but its golden rays slanted through the naked ranks of oak and chestnut and hickory, casting long, grotesque shadows on the mottled blanket of dead leaves which covered the earth.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Dick and several of his friends were enjoying a brief holiday after the football season.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Here and there a white birch gleamed with startling distinctness against a dark background of spruce or pine.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The sun had dropped below the line of forest trees, but its golden rays slanted through the naked ranks of oak and chestnut and hickory, casting long, grotesque shadows on the mottled blanket of dead leaves which covered the earth.
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 The sun had dropped below the line of forest trees, but its golden rays slanted through the naked ranks of oak and chestnut and hickory, casting long, grotesque shadows on the mottled blanket of dead leaves which covered the earth.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was late afternoon.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Dick and several of his friends were enjoying a brief holiday after the football season.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The sun had dropped below the line of forest trees, but its golden rays slanted through the naked ranks of oak and chestnut and hickory, casting long, grotesque shadows on the mottled blanket of dead leaves which covered the earth.
a Caucasian
From this reading Here and there a white birch gleamed with startling distinctness against a dark background of spruce or pine.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Here and there a white birch gleamed with startling distinctness against a dark background of spruce or pine.
