used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The home-coming of the boys had always been the great event in their family life, but it was a far more wonderful thing this time; it had something of the flavour of heroes returning from the war.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Christina and Jimmie met them at the road gate under the moaning poplars, where the wind whipped her skirts about her and blew her hair into her eyes.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading John drove down to Silver Creek Crossing to meet them, for the roads to town were almost impassable.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading "LAST LEAVE" The Lindsay boys did not get home on leave until the Easter vacation, for they were taking their military training along with their university work.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading The home-coming of the boys had always been the great event in their family life, but it was a far more wonderful thing this time; it had something of the flavour of heroes returning from the war.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Christina and Jimmie met them at the road gate under the moaning poplars, where the wind whipped her skirts about her and blew her hair into her eyes.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Christina and Jimmie met them at the road gate under the moaning poplars, where the wind whipped her skirts about her and blew her hair into her eyes.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The home-coming of the boys had always been the great event in their family life, but it was a far more wonderful thing this time; it had something of the flavour of heroes returning from the war.
inflected form of “blow” — exhale hard
From this reading Christina and Jimmie met them at the road gate under the moaning poplars, where the wind whipped her skirts about her and blew her hair into her eyes.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading "LAST LEAVE" The Lindsay boys did not get home on leave until the Easter vacation, for they were taking their military training along with their university work.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The home-coming of the boys had always been the great event in their family life, but it was a far more wonderful thing this time; it had something of the flavour of heroes returning from the war.
Christina
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Christina and Jimmie met them at the road gate under the moaning poplars, where the wind whipped her skirts about her and blew her hair into her eyes.
CreeknounUS /kriːk/
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading John drove down to Silver Creek Crossing to meet them, for the roads to town were almost impassable.
traveling across
From this reading John drove down to Silver Creek Crossing to meet them, for the roads to town were almost impassable.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "LAST LEAVE" The Lindsay boys did not get home on leave until the Easter vacation, for they were taking their military training along with their university work.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading John drove down to Silver Creek Crossing to meet them, for the roads to town were almost impassable.
a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together
From this reading John drove down to Silver Creek Crossing to meet them, for the roads to town were almost impassable.
EasternounUS /ˈiːstər/
a Christian celebration of the Resurrection of Christ; celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox
From this reading "LAST LEAVE" The Lindsay boys did not get home on leave until the Easter vacation, for they were taking their military training along with their university work.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading Their mother and Uncle Neil were half way down the lane, and even Grandpa had hobbled to the edge of the garden to meet the soldier boys home on their first leave.
divisible by two
From this reading Their mother and Uncle Neil were half way down the lane, and even Grandpa had hobbled to the edge of the garden to meet the soldier boys home on their first leave.
something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading The home-coming of the boys had always been the great event in their family life, but it was a far more wonderful thing this time; it had something of the flavour of heroes returning from the war.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Christina and Jimmie met them at the road gate under the moaning poplars, where the wind whipped her skirts about her and blew her hair into her eyes.
a social unit living together
From this reading The home-coming of the boys had always been the great event in their family life, but it was a far more wonderful thing this time; it had something of the flavour of heroes returning from the war.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading The home-coming of the boys had always been the great event in their family life, but it was a far more wonderful thing this time; it had something of the flavour of heroes returning from the war.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Their mother and Uncle Neil were half way down the lane, and even Grandpa had hobbled to the edge of the garden to meet the soldier boys home on their first leave.
flavournoun
the general atmosphere of a place or situation and the effect that it has on people
From this reading The home-coming of the boys had always been the great event in their family life, but it was a far more wonderful thing this time; it had something of the flavour of heroes returning from the war.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "LAST LEAVE" The Lindsay boys did not get home on leave until the Easter vacation, for they were taking their military training along with their university work.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The home-coming of the boys had always been the great event in their family life, but it was a far more wonderful thing this time; it had something of the flavour of heroes returning from the war.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading Their mother and Uncle Neil were half way down the lane, and even Grandpa had hobbled to the edge of the garden to meet the soldier boys home on their first leave.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading Christina and Jimmie met them at the road gate under the moaning poplars, where the wind whipped her skirts about her and blew her hair into her eyes.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "LAST LEAVE" The Lindsay boys did not get home on leave until the Easter vacation, for they were taking their military training along with their university work.
GrandpanounUS /ˈɡrændpɑː/
the father of your father or mother
From this reading Their mother and Uncle Neil were half way down the lane, and even Grandpa had hobbled to the edge of the garden to meet the soldier boys home on their first leave.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The home-coming of the boys had always been the great event in their family life, but it was a far more wonderful thing this time; it had something of the flavour of heroes returning from the war.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The home-coming of the boys had always been the great event in their family life, but it was a far more wonderful thing this time; it had something of the flavour of heroes returning from the war.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading Christina and Jimmie met them at the road gate under the moaning poplars, where the wind whipped her skirts about her and blew her hair into her eyes.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Their mother and Uncle Neil were half way down the lane, and even Grandpa had hobbled to the edge of the garden to meet the soldier boys home on their first leave.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Christina and Jimmie met them at the road gate under the moaning poplars, where the wind whipped her skirts about her and blew her hair into her eyes.
heroesnounUS /ˈhɪroʊz/
plural of “hero” — a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength
From this reading The home-coming of the boys had always been the great event in their family life, but it was a far more wonderful thing this time; it had something of the flavour of heroes returning from the war.
hobbledverbUS /ˈhɑːbəld/
past form of “hobble” — walk impeded by some physical limitation or injury
From this reading Their mother and Uncle Neil were half way down the lane, and even Grandpa had hobbled to the edge of the garden to meet the soldier boys home on their first leave.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading "LAST LEAVE" The Lindsay boys did not get home on leave until the Easter vacation, for they were taking their military training along with their university work.
home-coming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The home-coming of the boys had always been the great event in their family life, but it was a far more wonderful thing this time; it had something of the flavour of heroes returning from the war.
impassableadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpæsəbəl/
incapable of being passed
From this reading John drove down to Silver Creek Crossing to meet them, for the roads to town were almost impassable.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The home-coming of the boys had always been the great event in their family life, but it was a far more wonderful thing this time; it had something of the flavour of heroes returning from the war.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Christina and Jimmie met them at the road gate under the moaning poplars, where the wind whipped her skirts about her and blew her hair into her eyes.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The home-coming of the boys had always been the great event in their family life, but it was a far more wonderful thing this time; it had something of the flavour of heroes returning from the war.
Jimmie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Christina and Jimmie met them at the road gate under the moaning poplars, where the wind whipped her skirts about her and blew her hair into her eyes.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading John drove down to Silver Creek Crossing to meet them, for the roads to town were almost impassable.
a narrow way or road
From this reading Their mother and Uncle Neil were half way down the lane, and even Grandpa had hobbled to the edge of the garden to meet the soldier boys home on their first leave.
immediately past
From this reading "LAST LEAVE" The Lindsay boys did not get home on leave until the Easter vacation, for they were taking their military training along with their university work.
go away from a place
From this reading "LAST LEAVE" The Lindsay boys did not get home on leave until the Easter vacation, for they were taking their military training along with their university work.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The home-coming of the boys had always been the great event in their family life, but it was a far more wonderful thing this time; it had something of the flavour of heroes returning from the war.
LindsaynounUS /ˈlɪndzi/
United States playwright who collaborated with Russel Crouse on several musicals (1889-1931)
From this reading "LAST LEAVE" The Lindsay boys did not get home on leave until the Easter vacation, for they were taking their military training along with their university work.
come together
From this reading John drove down to Silver Creek Crossing to meet them, for the roads to town were almost impassable.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading Christina and Jimmie met them at the road gate under the moaning poplars, where the wind whipped her skirts about her and blew her hair into her eyes.
of or relating to the study of the principles of warfare
From this reading "LAST LEAVE" The Lindsay boys did not get home on leave until the Easter vacation, for they were taking their military training along with their university work.
moaningverbUS /ˈmoʊnɪŋ/
-ing form of “moan” — indicate pain, discomfort, or displeasure
From this reading Christina and Jimmie met them at the road gate under the moaning poplars, where the wind whipped her skirts about her and blew her hair into her eyes.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The home-coming of the boys had always been the great event in their family life, but it was a far more wonderful thing this time; it had something of the flavour of heroes returning from the war.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Their mother and Uncle Neil were half way down the lane, and even Grandpa had hobbled to the edge of the garden to meet the soldier boys home on their first leave.
Neil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their mother and Uncle Neil were half way down the lane, and even Grandpa had hobbled to the edge of the garden to meet the soldier boys home on their first leave.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "LAST LEAVE" The Lindsay boys did not get home on leave until the Easter vacation, for they were taking their military training along with their university work.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The home-coming of the boys had always been the great event in their family life, but it was a far more wonderful thing this time; it had something of the flavour of heroes returning from the war.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "LAST LEAVE" The Lindsay boys did not get home on leave until the Easter vacation, for they were taking their military training along with their university work.
poplars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Christina and Jimmie met them at the road gate under the moaning poplars, where the wind whipped her skirts about her and blew her hair into her eyes.
tending to return to an earlier state
From this reading The home-coming of the boys had always been the great event in their family life, but it was a far more wonderful thing this time; it had something of the flavour of heroes returning from the war.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading Christina and Jimmie met them at the road gate under the moaning poplars, where the wind whipped her skirts about her and blew her hair into her eyes.
roadsnounUS /roʊdz/
a partly sheltered anchorage
From this reading John drove down to Silver Creek Crossing to meet them, for the roads to town were almost impassable.
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 John drove down to Silver Creek Crossing to meet them, for the roads to town were almost impassable.
skirtsnounUS /skɜːrts/
plural of “skirt” — cloth covering that forms the part of a garment below the waist
From this reading Christina and Jimmie met them at the road gate under the moaning poplars, where the wind whipped her skirts about her and blew her hair into her eyes.
an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading Their mother and Uncle Neil were half way down the lane, and even Grandpa had hobbled to the edge of the garden to meet the soldier boys home on their first leave.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading The home-coming of the boys had always been the great event in their family life, but it was a far more wonderful thing this time; it had something of the flavour of heroes returning from the war.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading "LAST LEAVE" The Lindsay boys did not get home on leave until the Easter vacation, for they were taking their military training along with their university work.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "LAST LEAVE" The Lindsay boys did not get home on leave until the Easter vacation, for they were taking their military training along with their university work.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading "LAST LEAVE" The Lindsay boys did not get home on leave until the Easter vacation, for they were taking their military training along with their university work.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading John drove down to Silver Creek Crossing to meet them, for the roads to town were almost impassable.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "LAST LEAVE" The Lindsay boys did not get home on leave until the Easter vacation, for they were taking their military training along with their university work.
a special situation
From this reading The home-coming of the boys had always been the great event in their family life, but it was a far more wonderful thing this time; it had something of the flavour of heroes returning from the war.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The home-coming of the boys had always been the great event in their family life, but it was a far more wonderful thing this time; it had something of the flavour of heroes returning from the war.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The home-coming of the boys had always been the great event in their family life, but it was a far more wonderful thing this time; it had something of the flavour of heroes returning from the war.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading John drove down to Silver Creek Crossing to meet them, for the roads to town were almost impassable.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading John drove down to Silver Creek Crossing to meet them, for the roads to town were almost impassable.
trainingnounUS /ˈtreɪnɪŋ/
activity leading to skilled behavior
From this reading "LAST LEAVE" The Lindsay boys did not get home on leave until the Easter vacation, for they were taking their military training along with their university work.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading Their mother and Uncle Neil were half way down the lane, and even Grandpa had hobbled to the edge of the garden to meet the soldier boys home on their first leave.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Christina and Jimmie met them at the road gate under the moaning poplars, where the wind whipped her skirts about her and blew her hair into her eyes.
universitynounUS /ˌjuːnəˈvɜːrsəti/
the body of faculty and students at a university
From this reading "LAST LEAVE" The Lindsay boys did not get home on leave until the Easter vacation, for they were taking their military training along with their university work.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading "LAST LEAVE" The Lindsay boys did not get home on leave until the Easter vacation, for they were taking their military training along with their university work.
vacationnounUS /veɪˈkeɪʃən/
leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading "LAST LEAVE" The Lindsay boys did not get home on leave until the Easter vacation, for they were taking their military training along with their university work.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading The home-coming of the boys had always been the great event in their family life, but it was a far more wonderful thing this time; it had something of the flavour of heroes returning from the war.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The home-coming of the boys had always been the great event in their family life, but it was a far more wonderful thing this time; it had something of the flavour of heroes returning from the war.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Their mother and Uncle Neil were half way down the lane, and even Grandpa had hobbled to the edge of the garden to meet the soldier boys home on their first leave.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "LAST LEAVE" The Lindsay boys did not get home on leave until the Easter vacation, for they were taking their military training along with their university work.
in or at the place that
From this reading Christina and Jimmie met them at the road gate under the moaning poplars, where the wind whipped her skirts about her and blew her hair into her eyes.
whippedverbUS /wɪpt/
inflected form of “whip” — beat severely with a whip or rod
From this reading Christina and Jimmie met them at the road gate under the moaning poplars, where the wind whipped her skirts about her and blew her hair into her eyes.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading Christina and Jimmie met them at the road gate under the moaning poplars, where the wind whipped her skirts about her and blew her hair into her eyes.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "LAST LEAVE" The Lindsay boys did not get home on leave until the Easter vacation, for they were taking their military training along with their university work.
extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
From this reading The home-coming of the boys had always been the great event in their family life, but it was a far more wonderful thing this time; it had something of the flavour of heroes returning from the war.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading "LAST LEAVE" The Lindsay boys did not get home on leave until the Easter vacation, for they were taking their military training along with their university work.
