used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A TALK OF IMPORTANCE The cabin for which the little party was headed was one owned by a man named Upham Jeffer.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading This man was something of a hermit and scientist, and rarely showed himself in the settlements of that vicinity.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The boys had the way fairly well fixed in their heads, but walking was hard and treacherous.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But on two occasions Chet had done Professor Jeffer a good turn, and he was, therefore, hoping they would get a cordial reception.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A TALK OF IMPORTANCE The cabin for which the little party was headed was one owned by a man named Upham Jeffer.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading A TALK OF IMPORTANCE The cabin for which the little party was headed was one owned by a man named Upham Jeffer.
Chet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But on two occasions Chet had done Professor Jeffer a good turn, and he was, therefore, hoping they would get a cordial reception.
cordialadjectiveUS /ˈkɔːrdʒəl/
diffusing warmth and friendliness
From this reading But on two occasions Chet had done Professor Jeffer a good turn, and he was, therefore, hoping they would get a cordial reception.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But just now, the main question was, Could they reach the Jeffer place?
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading But on two occasions Chet had done Professor Jeffer a good turn, and he was, therefore, hoping they would get a cordial reception.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading The boys had the way fairly well fixed in their heads, but walking was hard and treacherous.
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading The boys had the way fairly well fixed in their heads, but walking was hard and treacherous.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A TALK OF IMPORTANCE The cabin for which the little party was headed was one owned by a man named Upham Jeffer.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading But on two occasions Chet had done Professor Jeffer a good turn, and he was, therefore, hoping they would get a cordial reception.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading But on two occasions Chet had done Professor Jeffer a good turn, and he was, therefore, hoping they would get a cordial reception.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But on two occasions Chet had done Professor Jeffer a good turn, and he was, therefore, hoping they would get a cordial reception.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading The boys had the way fairly well fixed in their heads, but walking was hard and treacherous.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But on two occasions Chet had done Professor Jeffer a good turn, and he was, therefore, hoping they would get a cordial reception.
headedadjectiveUS /ˈhedəd/
having a heading or course in a certain direction
From this reading A TALK OF IMPORTANCE The cabin for which the little party was headed was one owned by a man named Upham Jeffer.
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading The boys had the way fairly well fixed in their heads, but walking was hard and treacherous.
hermitnounUS /ˈhɜːrmət/
one retired from society for religious reasons
From this reading This man was something of a hermit and scientist, and rarely showed himself in the settlements of that vicinity.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading This man was something of a hermit and scientist, and rarely showed himself in the settlements of that vicinity.
-ing form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading But on two occasions Chet had done Professor Jeffer a good turn, and he was, therefore, hoping they would get a cordial reception.
the quality of being important and worthy of note
From this reading A TALK OF IMPORTANCE The cabin for which the little party was headed was one owned by a man named Upham Jeffer.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading This man was something of a hermit and scientist, and rarely showed himself in the settlements of that vicinity.
Jeffer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A TALK OF IMPORTANCE The cabin for which the little party was headed was one owned by a man named Upham Jeffer.
and nothing more
From this reading But just now, the main question was, Could they reach the Jeffer place?
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A TALK OF IMPORTANCE The cabin for which the little party was headed was one owned by a man named Upham Jeffer.
most important element
From this reading But just now, the main question was, Could they reach the Jeffer place?
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A TALK OF IMPORTANCE The cabin for which the little party was headed was one owned by a man named Upham Jeffer.
past form of “name” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading A TALK OF IMPORTANCE The cabin for which the little party was headed was one owned by a man named Upham Jeffer.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But just now, the main question was, Could they reach the Jeffer place?
something you have to do
From this reading But on two occasions Chet had done Professor Jeffer a good turn, and he was, therefore, hoping they would get a cordial reception.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A TALK OF IMPORTANCE The cabin for which the little party was headed was one owned by a man named Upham Jeffer.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But on two occasions Chet had done Professor Jeffer a good turn, and he was, therefore, hoping they would get a cordial reception.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A TALK OF IMPORTANCE The cabin for which the little party was headed was one owned by a man named Upham Jeffer.
ownedadjectiveUS /oʊnd/
having an owner; often used in combination
From this reading A TALK OF IMPORTANCE The cabin for which the little party was headed was one owned by a man named Upham Jeffer.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading A TALK OF IMPORTANCE The cabin for which the little party was headed was one owned by a man named Upham Jeffer.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading But just now, the main question was, Could they reach the Jeffer place?
someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university
From this reading But on two occasions Chet had done Professor Jeffer a good turn, and he was, therefore, hoping they would get a cordial reception.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading But just now, the main question was, Could they reach the Jeffer place?
rarelyadverbUS /ˈrerli/
not often
From this reading This man was something of a hermit and scientist, and rarely showed himself in the settlements of that vicinity.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading But just now, the main question was, Could they reach the Jeffer place?
receptionnounUS /rɪˈsepʃən/
the manner in which something is greeted
From this reading But on two occasions Chet had done Professor Jeffer a good turn, and he was, therefore, hoping they would get a cordial reception.
scientistnounUS /ˈsaɪəntɪst/
a person with advanced knowledge of one or more sciences
From this reading This man was something of a hermit and scientist, and rarely showed himself in the settlements of that vicinity.
settlementsnounUS /ˈsetəlmənts/
plural of “settlement” — a body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government
From this reading This man was something of a hermit and scientist, and rarely showed himself in the settlements of that vicinity.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading This man was something of a hermit and scientist, and rarely showed himself in the settlements of that vicinity.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading This man was something of a hermit and scientist, and rarely showed himself in the settlements of that vicinity.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading A TALK OF IMPORTANCE The cabin for which the little party was headed was one owned by a man named Upham Jeffer.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading This man was something of a hermit and scientist, and rarely showed himself in the settlements of that vicinity.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A TALK OF IMPORTANCE The cabin for which the little party was headed was one owned by a man named Upham Jeffer.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The boys had the way fairly well fixed in their heads, but walking was hard and treacherous.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading But on two occasions Chet had done Professor Jeffer a good turn, and he was, therefore, hoping they would get a cordial reception.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But on two occasions Chet had done Professor Jeffer a good turn, and he was, therefore, hoping they would get a cordial reception.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This man was something of a hermit and scientist, and rarely showed himself in the settlements of that vicinity.
treacherousadjectiveUS /ˈtretʃərəs/
dangerously unstable and unpredictable
From this reading The boys had the way fairly well fixed in their heads, but walking was hard and treacherous.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading But on two occasions Chet had done Professor Jeffer a good turn, and he was, therefore, hoping they would get a cordial reception.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading But on two occasions Chet had done Professor Jeffer a good turn, and he was, therefore, hoping they would get a cordial reception.
Upham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A TALK OF IMPORTANCE The cabin for which the little party was headed was one owned by a man named Upham Jeffer.
vicinitynounUS /vəˈsɪnəti/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading This man was something of a hermit and scientist, and rarely showed himself in the settlements of that vicinity.
close enough to be walked to
From this reading The boys had the way fairly well fixed in their heads, but walking was hard and treacherous.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A TALK OF IMPORTANCE The cabin for which the little party was headed was one owned by a man named Upham Jeffer.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The boys had the way fairly well fixed in their heads, but walking was hard and treacherous.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading The boys had the way fairly well fixed in their heads, but walking was hard and treacherous.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A TALK OF IMPORTANCE The cabin for which the little party was headed was one owned by a man named Upham Jeffer.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But on two occasions Chet had done Professor Jeffer a good turn, and he was, therefore, hoping they would get a cordial reception.
