used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Hodge flung himself down on a chair, looking sullen and sour, upon which Frank laughed the harder.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Bart followed Merry to his room, and Ephraim trailed along behind.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Bart followed Merry to his room, and Ephraim trailed along behind.
BartnounUS /bɑːrt/
a member of the British order of honor; ranks below a baron but above a knight
From this reading Bart followed Merry to his room, and Ephraim trailed along behind.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Ephraim sat on the edge of the bed and grinned, but seemed to be in doubt whether he had better laugh or not.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading Ephraim sat on the edge of the bed and grinned, but seemed to be in doubt whether he had better laugh or not.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Bart followed Merry to his room, and Ephraim trailed along behind.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading Ephraim sat on the edge of the bed and grinned, but seemed to be in doubt whether he had better laugh or not.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Ephraim sat on the edge of the bed and grinned, but seemed to be in doubt whether he had better laugh or not.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Hodge flung himself down on a chair, looking sullen and sour, upon which Frank laughed the harder.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading “Come, come, Hodge!” cried Merry.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading “Come, come, Hodge!” cried Merry.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading Ephraim sat on the edge of the bed and grinned, but seemed to be in doubt whether he had better laugh or not.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Hodge flung himself down on a chair, looking sullen and sour, upon which Frank laughed the harder.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading Ephraim sat on the edge of the bed and grinned, but seemed to be in doubt whether he had better laugh or not.
Ephraim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bart followed Merry to his room, and Ephraim trailed along behind.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading When they were in the room, Merry fell to laughing.
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading Hodge flung himself down on a chair, looking sullen and sour, upon which Frank laughed the harder.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Bart followed Merry to his room, and Ephraim trailed along behind.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading Hodge flung himself down on a chair, looking sullen and sour, upon which Frank laughed the harder.
grinnedverbUS /ɡrɪnd/
inflected form of “grin” — to draw back the lips and reveal the teeth, in a smile, grimace, or snarl
From this reading Ephraim sat on the edge of the bed and grinned, but seemed to be in doubt whether he had better laugh or not.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Ephraim sat on the edge of the bed and grinned, but seemed to be in doubt whether he had better laugh or not.
harderadverbUS /ˈhɑːrdər/
comparative of “hard” — with effort or force or vigor
From this reading Hodge flung himself down on a chair, looking sullen and sour, upon which Frank laughed the harder.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Ephraim sat on the edge of the bed and grinned, but seemed to be in doubt whether he had better laugh or not.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Hodge flung himself down on a chair, looking sullen and sour, upon which Frank laughed the harder.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Bart followed Merry to his room, and Ephraim trailed along behind.
Hodge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hodge flung himself down on a chair, looking sullen and sour, upon which Frank laughed the harder.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When they were in the room, Merry fell to laughing.
the sound of laughing
From this reading Ephraim sat on the edge of the bed and grinned, but seemed to be in doubt whether he had better laugh or not.
past form of “laugh” — produce laughter
From this reading Hodge flung himself down on a chair, looking sullen and sour, upon which Frank laughed the harder.
showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness
From this reading When they were in the room, Merry fell to laughing.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Hodge flung himself down on a chair, looking sullen and sour, upon which Frank laughed the harder.
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading Bart followed Merry to his room, and Ephraim trailed along behind.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Ephraim sat on the edge of the bed and grinned, but seemed to be in doubt whether he had better laugh or not.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Ephraim sat on the edge of the bed and grinned, but seemed to be in doubt whether he had better laugh or not.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Hodge flung himself down on a chair, looking sullen and sour, upon which Frank laughed the harder.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Ephraim sat on the edge of the bed and grinned, but seemed to be in doubt whether he had better laugh or not.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Bart followed Merry to his room, and Ephraim trailed along behind.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Ephraim sat on the edge of the bed and grinned, but seemed to be in doubt whether he had better laugh or not.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Ephraim sat on the edge of the bed and grinned, but seemed to be in doubt whether he had better laugh or not.
sourverbUS /ˈsaʊər/
go sour or spoil
From this reading Hodge flung himself down on a chair, looking sullen and sour, upon which Frank laughed the harder.
sullenadjectiveUS /ˈsʌlən/
showing a brooding ill humor
From this reading Hodge flung himself down on a chair, looking sullen and sour, upon which Frank laughed the harder.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When they were in the room, Merry fell to laughing.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When they were in the room, Merry fell to laughing.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Bart followed Merry to his room, and Ephraim trailed along behind.
trailedverbUS /treɪld/
past form of “trail” — to lag or linger behind
From this reading Bart followed Merry to his room, and Ephraim trailed along behind.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Hodge flung himself down on a chair, looking sullen and sour, upon which Frank laughed the harder.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading When they were in the room, Merry fell to laughing.
at the time that
From this reading When they were in the room, Merry fell to laughing.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Ephraim sat on the edge of the bed and grinned, but seemed to be in doubt whether he had better laugh or not.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Hodge flung himself down on a chair, looking sullen and sour, upon which Frank laughed the harder.
