used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A stranger passing Abel Edwards's house the day after his return might have gotten the impression that one of the functions of village life--a wedding or a funeral--was going on there.
AbelnounUS /ˈeɪbəl/
Norwegian mathematician (1802-1829)
From this reading A stranger passing Abel Edwards's house the day after his return might have gotten the impression that one of the functions of village life--a wedding or a funeral--was going on there.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading A stranger passing Abel Edwards's house the day after his return might have gotten the impression that one of the functions of village life--a wedding or a funeral--was going on there.
akimboadjectiveUS /əˈkɪmboʊ/
(used of arms and legs) bent outward with the joint away from the body
From this reading From morning until late at night the people came down the road, wading through the snow, the men with trousers tucked into boots, the women with yarn-stockings over their shoes, their arms akimbo, pinning their kilted petticoats to their hips.
(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 All the relatives who had come fourteen years before to Abel Edwards's funeral came now to his resurrection.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading From morning until late at night the people came down the road, wading through the snow, the men with trousers tucked into boots, the women with yarn-stockings over their shoes, their arms akimbo, pinning their kilted petticoats to their hips.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading From morning until late at night the people came down the road, wading through the snow, the men with trousers tucked into boots, the women with yarn-stockings over their shoes, their arms akimbo, pinning their kilted petticoats to their hips.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading All the relatives who had come fourteen years before to Abel Edwards's funeral came now to his resurrection.
plural of “boot” — footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg
From this reading From morning until late at night the people came down the road, wading through the snow, the men with trousers tucked into boots, the women with yarn-stockings over their shoes, their arms akimbo, pinning their kilted petticoats to their hips.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading From morning until late at night the people came down the road, wading through the snow, the men with trousers tucked into boots, the women with yarn-stockings over their shoes, their arms akimbo, pinning their kilted petticoats to their hips.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading All the relatives who had come fourteen years before to Abel Edwards's funeral came now to his resurrection.
overfilled or compacted or concentrated
From this reading The Edwards's door-yard was crowded with teams.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading A stranger passing Abel Edwards's house the day after his return might have gotten the impression that one of the functions of village life--a wedding or a funeral--was going on there.
door-yard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Edwards's door-yard was crowded with teams.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading From morning until late at night the people came down the road, wading through the snow, the men with trousers tucked into boots, the women with yarn-stockings over their shoes, their arms akimbo, pinning their kilted petticoats to their hips.
driftsnounUS /drɪfts/
plural of “drift” — a force that moves something along
From this reading Many drove there in sleighs, tilting to the drifts.
a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together
From this reading Many drove there in sleighs, tilting to the drifts.
Edwards'snounUS /ˈedwərdzɪz/
possessive form of “edwards” — American theologian whose sermons and writings stimulated a period of renewed interest in religion in America (1703-1758)
From this reading A stranger passing Abel Edwards's house the day after his return might have gotten the impression that one of the functions of village life--a wedding or a funeral--was going on there.
fourteennounUS /ˈfɔːrˈtiːn/
the cardinal number that is the sum of thirteen and one
From this reading All the relatives who had come fourteen years before to Abel Edwards's funeral came now to his resurrection.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From morning until late at night the people came down the road, wading through the snow, the men with trousers tucked into boots, the women with yarn-stockings over their shoes, their arms akimbo, pinning their kilted petticoats to their hips.
functionsnounUS /ˈfʌŋkʃənz/
plural of “function” — (mathematics) a mathematical relation such that each element of a given set (the domain of the function) is associated with an element of another set (the range of the function)
From this reading A stranger passing Abel Edwards's house the day after his return might have gotten the impression that one of the functions of village life--a wedding or a funeral--was going on there.
funeralnounUS /ˈfjuːnərəl/
a ceremony at which a dead person is buried or cremated
From this reading A stranger passing Abel Edwards's house the day after his return might have gotten the impression that one of the functions of village life--a wedding or a funeral--was going on there.
the act of departing
From this reading A stranger passing Abel Edwards's house the day after his return might have gotten the impression that one of the functions of village life--a wedding or a funeral--was going on there.
gottenverbUS /ˈɡɑːtən/
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading A stranger passing Abel Edwards's house the day after his return might have gotten the impression that one of the functions of village life--a wedding or a funeral--was going on there.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading All the relatives who had come fourteen years before to Abel Edwards's funeral came now to his resurrection.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A stranger passing Abel Edwards's house the day after his return might have gotten the impression that one of the functions of village life--a wedding or a funeral--was going on there.
hipsnounUS /hɪps/
plural of “hip” — either side of the body below the waist and above the thigh
From this reading From morning until late at night the people came down the road, wading through the snow, the men with trousers tucked into boots, the women with yarn-stockings over their shoes, their arms akimbo, pinning their kilted petticoats to their hips.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A stranger passing Abel Edwards's house the day after his return might have gotten the impression that one of the functions of village life--a wedding or a funeral--was going on there.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading A stranger passing Abel Edwards's house the day after his return might have gotten the impression that one of the functions of village life--a wedding or a funeral--was going on there.
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading A stranger passing Abel Edwards's house the day after his return might have gotten the impression that one of the functions of village life--a wedding or a funeral--was going on there.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Many drove there in sleighs, tilting to the drifts.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading From morning until late at night the people came down the road, wading through the snow, the men with trousers tucked into boots, the women with yarn-stockings over their shoes, their arms akimbo, pinning their kilted petticoats to their hips.
kilted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From morning until late at night the people came down the road, wading through the snow, the men with trousers tucked into boots, the women with yarn-stockings over their shoes, their arms akimbo, pinning their kilted petticoats to their hips.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading From morning until late at night the people came down the road, wading through the snow, the men with trousers tucked into boots, the women with yarn-stockings over their shoes, their arms akimbo, pinning their kilted petticoats to their hips.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading A stranger passing Abel Edwards's house the day after his return might have gotten the impression that one of the functions of village life--a wedding or a funeral--was going on there.
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 Many drove there in sleighs, tilting to the drifts.
the force of workers available
From this reading From morning until late at night the people came down the road, wading through the snow, the men with trousers tucked into boots, the women with yarn-stockings over their shoes, their arms akimbo, pinning their kilted petticoats to their hips.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading A stranger passing Abel Edwards's house the day after his return might have gotten the impression that one of the functions of village life--a wedding or a funeral--was going on there.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading From morning until late at night the people came down the road, wading through the snow, the men with trousers tucked into boots, the women with yarn-stockings over their shoes, their arms akimbo, pinning their kilted petticoats to their hips.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading From morning until late at night the people came down the road, wading through the snow, the men with trousers tucked into boots, the women with yarn-stockings over their shoes, their arms akimbo, pinning their kilted petticoats to their hips.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading All the relatives who had come fourteen years before to Abel Edwards's funeral came now to his resurrection.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A stranger passing Abel Edwards's house the day after his return might have gotten the impression that one of the functions of village life--a wedding or a funeral--was going on there.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A stranger passing Abel Edwards's house the day after his return might have gotten the impression that one of the functions of village life--a wedding or a funeral--was going on there.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A stranger passing Abel Edwards's house the day after his return might have gotten the impression that one of the functions of village life--a wedding or a funeral--was going on there.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading A stranger passing Abel Edwards's house the day after his return might have gotten the impression that one of the functions of village life--a wedding or a funeral--was going on there.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading From morning until late at night the people came down the road, wading through the snow, the men with trousers tucked into boots, the women with yarn-stockings over their shoes, their arms akimbo, pinning their kilted petticoats to their hips.
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
From this reading A stranger passing Abel Edwards's house the day after his return might have gotten the impression that one of the functions of village life--a wedding or a funeral--was going on there.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading From morning until late at night the people came down the road, wading through the snow, the men with trousers tucked into boots, the women with yarn-stockings over their shoes, their arms akimbo, pinning their kilted petticoats to their hips.
petticoatsnounUS /ˈpetikoʊts/
plural of “petticoat” — undergarment worn under a skirt
From this reading From morning until late at night the people came down the road, wading through the snow, the men with trousers tucked into boots, the women with yarn-stockings over their shoes, their arms akimbo, pinning their kilted petticoats to their hips.
pinningnounUS /ˈpɪnɪŋ/
a mutual promise of a couple not to date anyone else; on college campuses it was once signaled by the giving of a fraternity pin
From this reading From morning until late at night the people came down the road, wading through the snow, the men with trousers tucked into boots, the women with yarn-stockings over their shoes, their arms akimbo, pinning their kilted petticoats to their hips.
relativesnounUS /ˈrelətɪvz/
plural of “relative” — a person related by blood or marriage
From this reading All the relatives who had come fourteen years before to Abel Edwards's funeral came now to his resurrection.
resurrectionnounUS /ˌrezərˈekʃən/
(New Testament) the rising of Christ on the third day after the Crucifixion
From this reading All the relatives who had come fourteen years before to Abel Edwards's funeral came now to his resurrection.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading A stranger passing Abel Edwards's house the day after his return might have gotten the impression that one of the functions of village life--a wedding or a funeral--was going on there.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading From morning until late at night the people came down the road, wading through the snow, the men with trousers tucked into boots, the women with yarn-stockings over their shoes, their arms akimbo, pinning their kilted petticoats to their hips.
a particular situation
From this reading From morning until late at night the people came down the road, wading through the snow, the men with trousers tucked into boots, the women with yarn-stockings over their shoes, their arms akimbo, pinning their kilted petticoats to their hips.
sleighs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many drove there in sleighs, tilting to the drifts.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading From morning until late at night the people came down the road, wading through the snow, the men with trousers tucked into boots, the women with yarn-stockings over their shoes, their arms akimbo, pinning their kilted petticoats to their hips.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading A stranger passing Abel Edwards's house the day after his return might have gotten the impression that one of the functions of village life--a wedding or a funeral--was going on there.
teamsnounUS /tiːmz/
plural of “team” — a cooperative unit (especially in sports)
From this reading The Edwards's door-yard was crowded with teams.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A stranger passing Abel Edwards's house the day after his return might have gotten the impression that one of the functions of village life--a wedding or a funeral--was going on there.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A stranger passing Abel Edwards's house the day after his return might have gotten the impression that one of the functions of village life--a wedding or a funeral--was going on there.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading From morning until late at night the people came down the road, wading through the snow, the men with trousers tucked into boots, the women with yarn-stockings over their shoes, their arms akimbo, pinning their kilted petticoats to their hips.
in or at that place or location
From this reading A stranger passing Abel Edwards's house the day after his return might have gotten the impression that one of the functions of village life--a wedding or a funeral--was going on there.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading From morning until late at night the people came down the road, wading through the snow, the men with trousers tucked into boots, the women with yarn-stockings over their shoes, their arms akimbo, pinning their kilted petticoats to their hips.
tiltingverbUS /ˈtɪltɪŋ/
-ing form of “tilt” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading Many drove there in sleighs, tilting to the drifts.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading From morning until late at night the people came down the road, wading through the snow, the men with trousers tucked into boots, the women with yarn-stockings over their shoes, their arms akimbo, pinning their kilted petticoats to their hips.
trousersnounUS /ˈtraʊzərz/
(usually in the plural) a garment extending from the waist to the knee or ankle, covering each leg separately
From this reading From morning until late at night the people came down the road, wading through the snow, the men with trousers tucked into boots, the women with yarn-stockings over their shoes, their arms akimbo, pinning their kilted petticoats to their hips.
tuckedadjectiveUS /tʌkt/
having tucked or being tucked
From this reading From morning until late at night the people came down the road, wading through the snow, the men with trousers tucked into boots, the women with yarn-stockings over their shoes, their arms akimbo, pinning their kilted petticoats to their hips.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading From morning until late at night the people came down the road, wading through the snow, the men with trousers tucked into boots, the women with yarn-stockings over their shoes, their arms akimbo, pinning their kilted petticoats to their hips.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading A stranger passing Abel Edwards's house the day after his return might have gotten the impression that one of the functions of village life--a wedding or a funeral--was going on there.
wadingnounUS /ˈweɪdɪŋ/
walking with your feet in shallow water
From this reading From morning until late at night the people came down the road, wading through the snow, the men with trousers tucked into boots, the women with yarn-stockings over their shoes, their arms akimbo, pinning their kilted petticoats to their hips.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A stranger passing Abel Edwards's house the day after his return might have gotten the impression that one of the functions of village life--a wedding or a funeral--was going on there.
the social event at which the ceremony of marriage is performed
From this reading A stranger passing Abel Edwards's house the day after his return might have gotten the impression that one of the functions of village life--a wedding or a funeral--was going on there.
which person or people
From this reading All the relatives who had come fourteen years before to Abel Edwards's funeral came now to his resurrection.
in the company of; together with
From this reading From morning until late at night the people came down the road, wading through the snow, the men with trousers tucked into boots, the women with yarn-stockings over their shoes, their arms akimbo, pinning their kilted petticoats to their hips.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading From morning until late at night the people came down the road, wading through the snow, the men with trousers tucked into boots, the women with yarn-stockings over their shoes, their arms akimbo, pinning their kilted petticoats to their hips.
yarn-stockings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From morning until late at night the people came down the road, wading through the snow, the men with trousers tucked into boots, the women with yarn-stockings over their shoes, their arms akimbo, pinning their kilted petticoats to their hips.
a late time of life
From this reading All the relatives who had come fourteen years before to Abel Edwards's funeral came now to his resurrection.
