used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading FIRST IMPRESSIONS There was a long, well-shaded yard behind the house, bordered on the upper hand by the palings of the garden fence.
AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading About half of this good-sized patch was given over to the "'tater" crop; the remainder of the garden seemed--to the casual glance--merely a wilderness of weeds.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Had this fence not been so overgrown by vines, wandering hens could have gone in and out of the garden at pleasure.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Had this fence not been so overgrown by vines, wandering hens could have gone in and out of the garden at pleasure.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Had this fence not been so overgrown by vines, wandering hens could have gone in and out of the garden at pleasure.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading FIRST IMPRESSIONS There was a long, well-shaded yard behind the house, bordered on the upper hand by the palings of the garden fence.
borderedadjectiveUS /ˈbɔːrdərd/
having a border especially of a specified kind; sometimes used as a combining term
From this reading FIRST IMPRESSIONS There was a long, well-shaded yard behind the house, bordered on the upper hand by the palings of the garden fence.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading FIRST IMPRESSIONS There was a long, well-shaded yard behind the house, bordered on the upper hand by the palings of the garden fence.
casualadjectiveUS /ˈkæʒəwəl/
marked by blithe unconcern
From this reading About half of this good-sized patch was given over to the "'tater" crop; the remainder of the garden seemed--to the casual glance--merely a wilderness of weeds.
cherrynounUS /ˈtʃeri/
wood of any of various cherry trees especially the black cherry
From this reading Robins were whisking in and out of the tops of the trees, quarreling over the first of the cherry crop.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Had this fence not been so overgrown by vines, wandering hens could have gone in and out of the garden at pleasure.
cropnounUS /krɑːp/
the yield from plants in a single growing season
From this reading Robins were whisking in and out of the tops of the trees, quarreling over the first of the cherry crop.
enclose with a fence
From this reading FIRST IMPRESSIONS There was a long, well-shaded yard behind the house, bordered on the upper hand by the palings of the garden fence.
FIRSTadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading FIRST IMPRESSIONS There was a long, well-shaded yard behind the house, bordered on the upper hand by the palings of the garden fence.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading FIRST IMPRESSIONS There was a long, well-shaded yard behind the house, bordered on the upper hand by the palings of the garden fence.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading Janice heard Marty's hoe and she opened the garden gate.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading About half of this good-sized patch was given over to the "'tater" crop; the remainder of the garden seemed--to the casual glance--merely a wilderness of weeds.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading About half of this good-sized patch was given over to the "'tater" crop; the remainder of the garden seemed--to the casual glance--merely a wilderness of weeds.
destroyed or killed
From this reading Had this fence not been so overgrown by vines, wandering hens could have gone in and out of the garden at pleasure.
good-sized
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading About half of this good-sized patch was given over to the "'tater" crop; the remainder of the garden seemed--to the casual glance--merely a wilderness of weeds.
Hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Had this fence not been so overgrown by vines, wandering hens could have gone in and out of the garden at pleasure.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading About half of this good-sized patch was given over to the "'tater" crop; the remainder of the garden seemed--to the casual glance--merely a wilderness of weeds.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading FIRST IMPRESSIONS There was a long, well-shaded yard behind the house, bordered on the upper hand by the palings of the garden fence.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Had this fence not been so overgrown by vines, wandering hens could have gone in and out of the garden at pleasure.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Janice heard Marty's hoe and she opened the garden gate.
hensnounUS /henz/
plural of “hen” — adult female chicken
From this reading Had this fence not been so overgrown by vines, wandering hens could have gone in and out of the garden at pleasure.
hoenounUS /hoʊ/
a tool with a flat blade attached at right angles to a long handle
From this reading Janice heard Marty's hoe and she opened the garden gate.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading FIRST IMPRESSIONS There was a long, well-shaded yard behind the house, bordered on the upper hand by the palings of the garden fence.
IMPRESSIONSnounUS /ˌɪmˈpreʃənz/
plural of “impression” — a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading FIRST IMPRESSIONS There was a long, well-shaded yard behind the house, bordered on the upper hand by the palings of the garden fence.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Had this fence not been so overgrown by vines, wandering hens could have gone in and out of the garden at pleasure.
Janice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Janice heard Marty's hoe and she opened the garden gate.
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 FIRST IMPRESSIONS There was a long, well-shaded yard behind the house, bordered on the upper hand by the palings of the garden fence.
Marty's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Janice heard Marty's hoe and she opened the garden gate.
and nothing more
From this reading About half of this good-sized patch was given over to the "'tater" crop; the remainder of the garden seemed--to the casual glance--merely a wilderness of weeds.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Had this fence not been so overgrown by vines, wandering hens could have gone in and out of the garden at pleasure.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading FIRST IMPRESSIONS There was a long, well-shaded yard behind the house, bordered on the upper hand by the palings of the garden fence.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading FIRST IMPRESSIONS There was a long, well-shaded yard behind the house, bordered on the upper hand by the palings of the garden fence.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading Janice heard Marty's hoe and she opened the garden gate.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Had this fence not been so overgrown by vines, wandering hens could have gone in and out of the garden at pleasure.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Robins were whisking in and out of the tops of the trees, quarreling over the first of the cherry crop.
overgrownadjectiveUS /ˌoʊvərˈɡroʊn/
covered with growing plants
From this reading Had this fence not been so overgrown by vines, wandering hens could have gone in and out of the garden at pleasure.
palings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FIRST IMPRESSIONS There was a long, well-shaded yard behind the house, bordered on the upper hand by the palings of the garden fence.
patchnounUS /pætʃ/
a small contrasting part of something
From this reading About half of this good-sized patch was given over to the "'tater" crop; the remainder of the garden seemed--to the casual glance--merely a wilderness of weeds.
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading Had this fence not been so overgrown by vines, wandering hens could have gone in and out of the garden at pleasure.
quarrelingverbUS /ˈkwɑːrəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “quarrel” — have a disagreement over something
From this reading Robins were whisking in and out of the tops of the trees, quarreling over the first of the cherry crop.
remaindernounUS /rɪˈmeɪndər/
something left after other parts have been taken away
From this reading About half of this good-sized patch was given over to the "'tater" crop; the remainder of the garden seemed--to the casual glance--merely a wilderness of weeds.
RobinsnounUS /ˈrɑːbənz/
plural of “robin” — small Old World songbird with a reddish breast
From this reading Robins were whisking in and out of the tops of the trees, quarreling over the first of the cherry crop.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading About half of this good-sized patch was given over to the "'tater" crop; the remainder of the garden seemed--to the casual glance--merely a wilderness of weeds.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Janice heard Marty's hoe and she opened the garden gate.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Had this fence not been so overgrown by vines, wandering hens could have gone in and out of the garden at pleasure.
taternounUS /ˈteɪtər/
an edible tuber native to South America; a staple food of Ireland
From this reading About half of this good-sized patch was given over to the "'tater" crop; the remainder of the garden seemed--to the casual glance--merely a wilderness of weeds.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading FIRST IMPRESSIONS There was a long, well-shaded yard behind the house, bordered on the upper hand by the palings of the garden fence.
in or at that place or location
From this reading FIRST IMPRESSIONS There was a long, well-shaded yard behind the house, bordered on the upper hand by the palings of the garden fence.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Had this fence not been so overgrown by vines, wandering hens could have gone in and out of the garden at pleasure.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading About half of this good-sized patch was given over to the "'tater" crop; the remainder of the garden seemed--to the casual glance--merely a wilderness of weeds.
topsadjectiveUS /tɑːps/
of the highest quality
From this reading Robins were whisking in and out of the tops of the trees, quarreling over the first of the cherry crop.
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 Robins were whisking in and out of the tops of the trees, quarreling over the first of the cherry crop.
the topmost one of two
From this reading FIRST IMPRESSIONS There was a long, well-shaded yard behind the house, bordered on the upper hand by the palings of the garden fence.
vinesnounUS /vaɪnz/
plural of “vine” — a plant with a weak stem that derives support from climbing, twining, or creeping along a surface
From this reading Had this fence not been so overgrown by vines, wandering hens could have gone in and out of the garden at pleasure.
migratory
From this reading Had this fence not been so overgrown by vines, wandering hens could have gone in and out of the garden at pleasure.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading FIRST IMPRESSIONS There was a long, well-shaded yard behind the house, bordered on the upper hand by the palings of the garden fence.
weedsnounUS /wiːdz/
a black garment (dress) worn by a widow as a sign of mourning
From this reading About half of this good-sized patch was given over to the "'tater" crop; the remainder of the garden seemed--to the casual glance--merely a wilderness of weeds.
well-shaded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FIRST IMPRESSIONS There was a long, well-shaded yard behind the house, bordered on the upper hand by the palings of the garden fence.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Robins were whisking in and out of the tops of the trees, quarreling over the first of the cherry crop.
whisking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Robins were whisking in and out of the tops of the trees, quarreling over the first of the cherry crop.
wildernessnounUS /ˈwɪldərnəs/
(politics) a state of disfavor
From this reading About half of this good-sized patch was given over to the "'tater" crop; the remainder of the garden seemed--to the casual glance--merely a wilderness of weeds.
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 FIRST IMPRESSIONS There was a long, well-shaded yard behind the house, bordered on the upper hand by the palings of the garden fence.
