used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There seemed unusual disturbance in the town; I distinguished a distant hum of many voices, and all at once a shrill cry that made me shudder, followed by the passionate wailing of children, and the incessant barking of dogs.
(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 There seemed unusual disturbance in the town; I distinguished a distant hum of many voices, and all at once a shrill cry that made me shudder, followed by the passionate wailing of children, and the incessant barking of dogs.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There seemed unusual disturbance in the town; I distinguished a distant hum of many voices, and all at once a shrill cry that made me shudder, followed by the passionate wailing of children, and the incessant barking of dogs.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There seemed unusual disturbance in the town; I distinguished a distant hum of many voices, and all at once a shrill cry that made me shudder, followed by the passionate wailing of children, and the incessant barking of dogs.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Day was far spent before I got back, my horse having gone lame.
barkingverbUS /ˈbɑːrkɪŋ/
-ing form of “bark” — speak in an unfriendly tone
From this reading There seemed unusual disturbance in the town; I distinguished a distant hum of many voices, and all at once a shrill cry that made me shudder, followed by the passionate wailing of children, and the incessant barking of dogs.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Day was far spent before I got back, my horse having gone lame.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading I sprang from my cart and hurried into the house, on the threshold of which my little brother Charles met me all in tears, and cried, "Oh, they're burning mamma!"
the act of burning something
From this reading I sprang from my cart and hurried into the house, on the threshold of which my little brother Charles met me all in tears, and cried, "Oh, they're burning mamma!"
showing who or what does the action
From this reading TRIAL BY FIRE.
cartnounUS /kɑːrt/
a heavy open wagon usually having two wheels and drawn by an animal
From this reading I sprang from my cart and hurried into the house, on the threshold of which my little brother Charles met me all in tears, and cried, "Oh, they're burning mamma!"
cavalrynounUS /ˈkævəlri/
troops trained to fight on horseback
From this reading I took the back way to our house, where lay our stable, and entering the little yard, saw to my dismay six or eight cavalry horses standing in it.
King of France from 1560 to 1574 whose reign was dominated by his mother Catherine de Medicis (1550-1574)
From this reading I sprang from my cart and hurried into the house, on the threshold of which my little brother Charles met me all in tears, and cried, "Oh, they're burning mamma!"
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading There seemed unusual disturbance in the town; I distinguished a distant hum of many voices, and all at once a shrill cry that made me shudder, followed by the passionate wailing of children, and the incessant barking of dogs.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading I sprang from my cart and hurried into the house, on the threshold of which my little brother Charles met me all in tears, and cried, "Oh, they're burning mamma!"
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading There seemed unusual disturbance in the town; I distinguished a distant hum of many voices, and all at once a shrill cry that made me shudder, followed by the passionate wailing of children, and the incessant barking of dogs.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Day was far spent before I got back, my horse having gone lame.
dismaynounUS /dɪˈsmeɪ/
the feeling of despair in the face of obstacles
From this reading I took the back way to our house, where lay our stable, and entering the little yard, saw to my dismay six or eight cavalry horses standing in it.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading There seemed unusual disturbance in the town; I distinguished a distant hum of many voices, and all at once a shrill cry that made me shudder, followed by the passionate wailing of children, and the incessant barking of dogs.
(used of persons) standing above others in character or attainment or reputation
From this reading There seemed unusual disturbance in the town; I distinguished a distant hum of many voices, and all at once a shrill cry that made me shudder, followed by the passionate wailing of children, and the incessant barking of dogs.
disturbancenounUS /dɪˈstɜːrbəns/
activity that is a malfunction, intrusion, or interruption
From this reading There seemed unusual disturbance in the town; I distinguished a distant hum of many voices, and all at once a shrill cry that made me shudder, followed by the passionate wailing of children, and the incessant barking of dogs.
plural of “dog” — a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading There seemed unusual disturbance in the town; I distinguished a distant hum of many voices, and all at once a shrill cry that made me shudder, followed by the passionate wailing of children, and the incessant barking of dogs.
being one more than seven
From this reading I took the back way to our house, where lay our stable, and entering the little yard, saw to my dismay six or eight cavalry horses standing in it.
a movement into or inward
From this reading I took the back way to our house, where lay our stable, and entering the little yard, saw to my dismay six or eight cavalry horses standing in it.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Day was far spent before I got back, my horse having gone lame.
start firing a weapon
From this reading TRIAL BY FIRE.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading There seemed unusual disturbance in the town; I distinguished a distant hum of many voices, and all at once a shrill cry that made me shudder, followed by the passionate wailing of children, and the incessant barking of dogs.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I sprang from my cart and hurried into the house, on the threshold of which my little brother Charles met me all in tears, and cried, "Oh, they're burning mamma!"
destroyed or killed
From this reading Day was far spent before I got back, my horse having gone lame.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Day was far spent before I got back, my horse having gone lame.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Day was far spent before I got back, my horse having gone lame.
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading Day was far spent before I got back, my horse having gone lame.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading I took the back way to our house, where lay our stable, and entering the little yard, saw to my dismay six or eight cavalry horses standing in it.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading I took the back way to our house, where lay our stable, and entering the little yard, saw to my dismay six or eight cavalry horses standing in it.
humverbUS /hʌm/
sing with closed lips
From this reading There seemed unusual disturbance in the town; I distinguished a distant hum of many voices, and all at once a shrill cry that made me shudder, followed by the passionate wailing of children, and the incessant barking of dogs.
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading I sprang from my cart and hurried into the house, on the threshold of which my little brother Charles met me all in tears, and cried, "Oh, they're burning mamma!"
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Day was far spent before I got back, my horse having gone lame.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There seemed unusual disturbance in the town; I distinguished a distant hum of many voices, and all at once a shrill cry that made me shudder, followed by the passionate wailing of children, and the incessant barking of dogs.
incessantadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈsesənt/
uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing
From this reading There seemed unusual disturbance in the town; I distinguished a distant hum of many voices, and all at once a shrill cry that made me shudder, followed by the passionate wailing of children, and the incessant barking of dogs.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading I sprang from my cart and hurried into the house, on the threshold of which my little brother Charles met me all in tears, and cried, "Oh, they're burning mamma!"
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I took the back way to our house, where lay our stable, and entering the little yard, saw to my dismay six or eight cavalry horses standing in it.
lamenounUS /leɪm/
someone who doesn't understand what is going on
From this reading Day was far spent before I got back, my horse having gone lame.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading I took the back way to our house, where lay our stable, and entering the little yard, saw to my dismay six or eight cavalry horses standing in it.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading I took the back way to our house, where lay our stable, and entering the little yard, saw to my dismay six or eight cavalry horses standing in it.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading There seemed unusual disturbance in the town; I distinguished a distant hum of many voices, and all at once a shrill cry that made me shudder, followed by the passionate wailing of children, and the incessant barking of dogs.
informal terms for a mother
From this reading I sprang from my cart and hurried into the house, on the threshold of which my little brother Charles met me all in tears, and cried, "Oh, they're burning mamma!"
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading There seemed unusual disturbance in the town; I distinguished a distant hum of many voices, and all at once a shrill cry that made me shudder, followed by the passionate wailing of children, and the incessant barking of dogs.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading There seemed unusual disturbance in the town; I distinguished a distant hum of many voices, and all at once a shrill cry that made me shudder, followed by the passionate wailing of children, and the incessant barking of dogs.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading I sprang from my cart and hurried into the house, on the threshold of which my little brother Charles met me all in tears, and cried, "Oh, they're burning mamma!"
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Day was far spent before I got back, my horse having gone lame.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There seemed unusual disturbance in the town; I distinguished a distant hum of many voices, and all at once a shrill cry that made me shudder, followed by the passionate wailing of children, and the incessant barking of dogs.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading I sprang from my cart and hurried into the house, on the threshold of which my little brother Charles met me all in tears, and cried, "Oh, they're burning mamma!"
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I sprang from my cart and hurried into the house, on the threshold of which my little brother Charles met me all in tears, and cried, "Oh, they're burning mamma!"
on one occasion
From this reading There seemed unusual disturbance in the town; I distinguished a distant hum of many voices, and all at once a shrill cry that made me shudder, followed by the passionate wailing of children, and the incessant barking of dogs.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading I took the back way to our house, where lay our stable, and entering the little yard, saw to my dismay six or eight cavalry horses standing in it.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading I took the back way to our house, where lay our stable, and entering the little yard, saw to my dismay six or eight cavalry horses standing in it.
having or expressing strong emotions
From this reading There seemed unusual disturbance in the town; I distinguished a distant hum of many voices, and all at once a shrill cry that made me shudder, followed by the passionate wailing of children, and the incessant barking of dogs.
cut with a saw
From this reading I took the back way to our house, where lay our stable, and entering the little yard, saw to my dismay six or eight cavalry horses standing in it.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading There seemed unusual disturbance in the town; I distinguished a distant hum of many voices, and all at once a shrill cry that made me shudder, followed by the passionate wailing of children, and the incessant barking of dogs.
shrilladjectiveUS /ʃrɪl/
having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones
From this reading There seemed unusual disturbance in the town; I distinguished a distant hum of many voices, and all at once a shrill cry that made me shudder, followed by the passionate wailing of children, and the incessant barking of dogs.
shudderverbUS /ˈʃʌdər/
shake, as from cold
From this reading There seemed unusual disturbance in the town; I distinguished a distant hum of many voices, and all at once a shrill cry that made me shudder, followed by the passionate wailing of children, and the incessant barking of dogs.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading I took the back way to our house, where lay our stable, and entering the little yard, saw to my dismay six or eight cavalry horses standing in it.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading Day was far spent before I got back, my horse having gone lame.
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading I sprang from my cart and hurried into the house, on the threshold of which my little brother Charles met me all in tears, and cried, "Oh, they're burning mamma!"
stableadjectiveUS /ˈsteɪbəl/
resistant to change of position or condition
From this reading I took the back way to our house, where lay our stable, and entering the little yard, saw to my dismay six or eight cavalry horses standing in it.
having a supporting base
From this reading I took the back way to our house, where lay our stable, and entering the little yard, saw to my dismay six or eight cavalry horses standing in it.
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
From this reading I sprang from my cart and hurried into the house, on the threshold of which my little brother Charles met me all in tears, and cried, "Oh, they're burning mamma!"
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There seemed unusual disturbance in the town; I distinguished a distant hum of many voices, and all at once a shrill cry that made me shudder, followed by the passionate wailing of children, and the incessant barking of dogs.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There seemed unusual disturbance in the town; I distinguished a distant hum of many voices, and all at once a shrill cry that made me shudder, followed by the passionate wailing of children, and the incessant barking of dogs.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There seemed unusual disturbance in the town; I distinguished a distant hum of many voices, and all at once a shrill cry that made me shudder, followed by the passionate wailing of children, and the incessant barking of dogs.
they're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I sprang from my cart and hurried into the house, on the threshold of which my little brother Charles met me all in tears, and cried, "Oh, they're burning mamma!"
thresholdnounUS /ˈθreʃoʊld/
the starting point for a new state or experience
From this reading I sprang from my cart and hurried into the house, on the threshold of which my little brother Charles met me all in tears, and cried, "Oh, they're burning mamma!"
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I took the back way to our house, where lay our stable, and entering the little yard, saw to my dismay six or eight cavalry horses standing in it.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading I took the back way to our house, where lay our stable, and entering the little yard, saw to my dismay six or eight cavalry horses standing in it.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading There seemed unusual disturbance in the town; I distinguished a distant hum of many voices, and all at once a shrill cry that made me shudder, followed by the passionate wailing of children, and the incessant barking of dogs.
the act of testing something
From this reading TRIAL BY FIRE.
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading There seemed unusual disturbance in the town; I distinguished a distant hum of many voices, and all at once a shrill cry that made me shudder, followed by the passionate wailing of children, and the incessant barking of dogs.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading There seemed unusual disturbance in the town; I distinguished a distant hum of many voices, and all at once a shrill cry that made me shudder, followed by the passionate wailing of children, and the incessant barking of dogs.
wailingnounUS /ˈweɪlɪŋ/
loud cries made while weeping
From this reading There seemed unusual disturbance in the town; I distinguished a distant hum of many voices, and all at once a shrill cry that made me shudder, followed by the passionate wailing of children, and the incessant barking of dogs.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Day was far spent before I got back, my horse having gone lame.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading I took the back way to our house, where lay our stable, and entering the little yard, saw to my dismay six or eight cavalry horses standing in it.
in or at the place that
From this reading I took the back way to our house, where lay our stable, and entering the little yard, saw to my dismay six or eight cavalry horses standing in it.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I sprang from my cart and hurried into the house, on the threshold of which my little brother Charles met me all in tears, and cried, "Oh, they're burning mamma!"
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading I took the back way to our house, where lay our stable, and entering the little yard, saw to my dismay six or eight cavalry horses standing in it.
