used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Four months in the county jail, was the sentence passed upon Sam Hapley, Jessie’s oldest brother, for a robbery which he committed in a neighboring town.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Those were four very long and weary months to the boy-prisoner, but he could scarcely realize the change they had brought about in his once happy home.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Since the key first turned upon him in his little cell, his youngest brother, the flower and pet of the household, had been carried to his long home, and was soon followed by his father, who met with an awful fate one winter’s night, while he was stupefied with liquor.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Sam entered upon his imprisonment during the last week of the year, and his sentence had now expired.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading The rest of the family had been scattered, strangers gathered around the fireside where they used to meet, and not one of them could now claim a home.
awfuladjectiveUS /ˈɑːfəl/
exceptionally bad or displeasing
From this reading Since the key first turned upon him in his little cell, his youngest brother, the flower and pet of the household, had been carried to his long home, and was soon followed by his father, who met with an awful fate one winter’s night, while he was stupefied with liquor.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Since the key first turned upon him in his little cell, his youngest brother, the flower and pet of the household, had been carried to his long home, and was soon followed by his father, who met with an awful fate one winter’s night, while he was stupefied with liquor.
boy-prisoner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Those were four very long and weary months to the boy-prisoner, but he could scarcely realize the change they had brought about in his once happy home.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading Four months in the county jail, was the sentence passed upon Sam Hapley, Jessie’s oldest brother, for a robbery which he committed in a neighboring town.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading Those were four very long and weary months to the boy-prisoner, but he could scarcely realize the change they had brought about in his once happy home.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Those were four very long and weary months to the boy-prisoner, but he could scarcely realize the change they had brought about in his once happy home.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Since the key first turned upon him in his little cell, his youngest brother, the flower and pet of the household, had been carried to his long home, and was soon followed by his father, who met with an awful fate one winter’s night, while he was stupefied with liquor.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Since the key first turned upon him in his little cell, his youngest brother, the flower and pet of the household, had been carried to his long home, and was soon followed by his father, who met with an awful fate one winter’s night, while he was stupefied with liquor.
cellnounUS /sel/
A small stone room in a prison where an inmate is locked behind iron bars.
From this reading Since the key first turned upon him in his little cell, his youngest brother, the flower and pet of the household, had been carried to his long home, and was soon followed by his father, who met with an awful fate one winter’s night, while he was stupefied with liquor.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading Those were four very long and weary months to the boy-prisoner, but he could scarcely realize the change they had brought about in his once happy home.
an assertion of a right (as to money or property)
From this reading The rest of the family had been scattered, strangers gathered around the fireside where they used to meet, and not one of them could now claim a home.
bound or obligated, as under a pledge to a particular cause, action, or attitude
From this reading Four months in the county jail, was the sentence passed upon Sam Hapley, Jessie’s oldest brother, for a robbery which he committed in a neighboring town.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Those were four very long and weary months to the boy-prisoner, but he could scarcely realize the change they had brought about in his once happy home.
(United Kingdom) a region created by territorial division for the purpose of local government
From this reading Four months in the county jail, was the sentence passed upon Sam Hapley, Jessie’s oldest brother, for a robbery which he committed in a neighboring town.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading Sam entered upon his imprisonment during the last week of the year, and his sentence had now expired.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading Sam entered upon his imprisonment during the last week of the year, and his sentence had now expired.
expiredadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspaɪrd/
having come to an end or become void after passage of a period of time
From this reading Sam entered upon his imprisonment during the last week of the year, and his sentence had now expired.
a social unit living together
From this reading The rest of the family had been scattered, strangers gathered around the fireside where they used to meet, and not one of them could now claim a home.
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading Since the key first turned upon him in his little cell, his youngest brother, the flower and pet of the household, had been carried to his long home, and was soon followed by his father, who met with an awful fate one winter’s night, while he was stupefied with liquor.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Since the key first turned upon him in his little cell, his youngest brother, the flower and pet of the household, had been carried to his long home, and was soon followed by his father, who met with an awful fate one winter’s night, while he was stupefied with liquor.
firesidenounUS /ˈfaɪərsaɪd/
an area near a fireplace (usually paved and extending out into a room)
From this reading The rest of the family had been scattered, strangers gathered around the fireside where they used to meet, and not one of them could now claim a home.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Since the key first turned upon him in his little cell, his youngest brother, the flower and pet of the household, had been carried to his long home, and was soon followed by his father, who met with an awful fate one winter’s night, while he was stupefied with liquor.
a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading Since the key first turned upon him in his little cell, his youngest brother, the flower and pet of the household, had been carried to his long home, and was soon followed by his father, who met with an awful fate one winter’s night, while he was stupefied with liquor.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Since the key first turned upon him in his little cell, his youngest brother, the flower and pet of the household, had been carried to his long home, and was soon followed by his father, who met with an awful fate one winter’s night, while he was stupefied with liquor.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Four months in the county jail, was the sentence passed upon Sam Hapley, Jessie’s oldest brother, for a robbery which he committed in a neighboring town.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading Four months in the county jail, was the sentence passed upon Sam Hapley, Jessie’s oldest brother, for a robbery which he committed in a neighboring town.
brought together in one place
From this reading The rest of the family had been scattered, strangers gathered around the fireside where they used to meet, and not one of them could now claim a home.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Sam entered upon his imprisonment during the last week of the year, and his sentence had now expired.
Hapley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Four months in the county jail, was the sentence passed upon Sam Hapley, Jessie’s oldest brother, for a robbery which he committed in a neighboring town.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading Those were four very long and weary months to the boy-prisoner, but he could scarcely realize the change they had brought about in his once happy home.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Four months in the county jail, was the sentence passed upon Sam Hapley, Jessie’s oldest brother, for a robbery which he committed in a neighboring town.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Since the key first turned upon him in his little cell, his youngest brother, the flower and pet of the household, had been carried to his long home, and was soon followed by his father, who met with an awful fate one winter’s night, while he was stupefied with liquor.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Sam entered upon his imprisonment during the last week of the year, and his sentence had now expired.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Those were four very long and weary months to the boy-prisoner, but he could scarcely realize the change they had brought about in his once happy home.
a social unit living together
From this reading Since the key first turned upon him in his little cell, his youngest brother, the flower and pet of the household, had been carried to his long home, and was soon followed by his father, who met with an awful fate one winter’s night, while he was stupefied with liquor.
imprisonmentnounUS /ˌɪmˈprɪzənmənt/
putting someone in prison or in jail as lawful punishment
From this reading Sam entered upon his imprisonment during the last week of the year, and his sentence had now expired.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Four months in the county jail, was the sentence passed upon Sam Hapley, Jessie’s oldest brother, for a robbery which he committed in a neighboring town.
jailnounUS /dʒeɪl/
a correctional institution used to detain persons who are in the lawful custody of the government (either accused persons awaiting trial or convicted persons serving a sentence)
From this reading Four months in the county jail, was the sentence passed upon Sam Hapley, Jessie’s oldest brother, for a robbery which he committed in a neighboring town.
Jessie's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Four months in the county jail, was the sentence passed upon Sam Hapley, Jessie’s oldest brother, for a robbery which he committed in a neighboring town.
metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated
From this reading Since the key first turned upon him in his little cell, his youngest brother, the flower and pet of the household, had been carried to his long home, and was soon followed by his father, who met with an awful fate one winter’s night, while he was stupefied with liquor.
immediately past
From this reading Sam entered upon his imprisonment during the last week of the year, and his sentence had now expired.
liquornounUS /ˈlɪkər/
an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented
From this reading Since the key first turned upon him in his little cell, his youngest brother, the flower and pet of the household, had been carried to his long home, and was soon followed by his father, who met with an awful fate one winter’s night, while he was stupefied with liquor.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Since the key first turned upon him in his little cell, his youngest brother, the flower and pet of the household, had been carried to his long home, and was soon followed by his father, who met with an awful fate one winter’s night, while he was stupefied with liquor.
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 Those were four very long and weary months to the boy-prisoner, but he could scarcely realize the change they had brought about in his once happy home.
come together
From this reading The rest of the family had been scattered, strangers gathered around the fireside where they used to meet, and not one of them could now claim a home.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading Since the key first turned upon him in his little cell, his youngest brother, the flower and pet of the household, had been carried to his long home, and was soon followed by his father, who met with an awful fate one winter’s night, while he was stupefied with liquor.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading Four months in the county jail, was the sentence passed upon Sam Hapley, Jessie’s oldest brother, for a robbery which he committed in a neighboring town.
neighboringadjectiveUS /ˈneɪbərɪŋ/
having a common boundary or edge; abutting; touching
From this reading Four months in the county jail, was the sentence passed upon Sam Hapley, Jessie’s oldest brother, for a robbery which he committed in a neighboring town.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Since the key first turned upon him in his little cell, his youngest brother, the flower and pet of the household, had been carried to his long home, and was soon followed by his father, who met with an awful fate one winter’s night, while he was stupefied with liquor.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The rest of the family had been scattered, strangers gathered around the fireside where they used to meet, and not one of them could now claim a home.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Sam entered upon his imprisonment during the last week of the year, and his sentence had now expired.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Sam entered upon his imprisonment during the last week of the year, and his sentence had now expired.
oldestadjectiveUS /ˈoʊldəst/
superlative of “old” — (used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Four months in the county jail, was the sentence passed upon Sam Hapley, Jessie’s oldest brother, for a robbery which he committed in a neighboring town.
on one occasion
From this reading Those were four very long and weary months to the boy-prisoner, but he could scarcely realize the change they had brought about in his once happy home.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Since the key first turned upon him in his little cell, his youngest brother, the flower and pet of the household, had been carried to his long home, and was soon followed by his father, who met with an awful fate one winter’s night, while he was stupefied with liquor.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Four months in the county jail, was the sentence passed upon Sam Hapley, Jessie’s oldest brother, for a robbery which he committed in a neighboring town.
petnounUS /pet/
a domesticated animal kept for companionship or amusement
From this reading Since the key first turned upon him in his little cell, his youngest brother, the flower and pet of the household, had been carried to his long home, and was soon followed by his father, who met with an awful fate one winter’s night, while he was stupefied with liquor.
be fully aware or cognizant of
From this reading Those were four very long and weary months to the boy-prisoner, but he could scarcely realize the change they had brought about in his once happy home.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading The rest of the family had been scattered, strangers gathered around the fireside where they used to meet, and not one of them could now claim a home.
robberynounUS /ˈrɑːbəri/
larceny by threat of violence
From this reading Four months in the county jail, was the sentence passed upon Sam Hapley, Jessie’s oldest brother, for a robbery which he committed in a neighboring town.
a guided missile fired from land or shipboard against an airborne target
From this reading Four months in the county jail, was the sentence passed upon Sam Hapley, Jessie’s oldest brother, for a robbery which he committed in a neighboring town.
only a very short time before
From this reading Those were four very long and weary months to the boy-prisoner, but he could scarcely realize the change they had brought about in his once happy home.
occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space
From this reading The rest of the family had been scattered, strangers gathered around the fireside where they used to meet, and not one of them could now claim a home.
a string of words satisfying the grammatical rules of a language
From this reading Four months in the county jail, was the sentence passed upon Sam Hapley, Jessie’s oldest brother, for a robbery which he committed in a neighboring town.
SinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Since the key first turned upon him in his little cell, his youngest brother, the flower and pet of the household, had been carried to his long home, and was soon followed by his father, who met with an awful fate one winter’s night, while he was stupefied with liquor.
in the near future
From this reading Since the key first turned upon him in his little cell, his youngest brother, the flower and pet of the household, had been carried to his long home, and was soon followed by his father, who met with an awful fate one winter’s night, while he was stupefied with liquor.
plural of “stranger” — anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading The rest of the family had been scattered, strangers gathered around the fireside where they used to meet, and not one of them could now claim a home.
stupefiedadjective
as if struck dumb with astonishment and surprise
From this reading Since the key first turned upon him in his little cell, his youngest brother, the flower and pet of the household, had been carried to his long home, and was soon followed by his father, who met with an awful fate one winter’s night, while he was stupefied with liquor.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Four months in the county jail, was the sentence passed upon Sam Hapley, Jessie’s oldest brother, for a robbery which he committed in a neighboring town.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The rest of the family had been scattered, strangers gathered around the fireside where they used to meet, and not one of them could now claim a home.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Those were four very long and weary months to the boy-prisoner, but he could scarcely realize the change they had brought about in his once happy home.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Those were four very long and weary months to the boy-prisoner, but he could scarcely realize the change they had brought about in his once happy home.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Those were four very long and weary months to the boy-prisoner, but he could scarcely realize the change they had brought about in his once happy home.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading Four months in the county jail, was the sentence passed upon Sam Hapley, Jessie’s oldest brother, for a robbery which he committed in a neighboring town.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Since the key first turned upon him in his little cell, his youngest brother, the flower and pet of the household, had been carried to his long home, and was soon followed by his father, who met with an awful fate one winter’s night, while he was stupefied with liquor.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Four months in the county jail, was the sentence passed upon Sam Hapley, Jessie’s oldest brother, for a robbery which he committed in a neighboring town.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading The rest of the family had been scattered, strangers gathered around the fireside where they used to meet, and not one of them could now claim a home.
precisely as stated
From this reading Those were four very long and weary months to the boy-prisoner, but he could scarcely realize the change they had brought about in his once happy home.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Four months in the county jail, was the sentence passed upon Sam Hapley, Jessie’s oldest brother, for a robbery which he committed in a neighboring town.
exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress
From this reading Those were four very long and weary months to the boy-prisoner, but he could scarcely realize the change they had brought about in his once happy home.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading Sam entered upon his imprisonment during the last week of the year, and his sentence had now expired.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Those were four very long and weary months to the boy-prisoner, but he could scarcely realize the change they had brought about in his once happy home.
in or at the place that
From this reading The rest of the family had been scattered, strangers gathered around the fireside where they used to meet, and not one of them could now claim a home.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Four months in the county jail, was the sentence passed upon Sam Hapley, Jessie’s oldest brother, for a robbery which he committed in a neighboring town.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Since the key first turned upon him in his little cell, his youngest brother, the flower and pet of the household, had been carried to his long home, and was soon followed by his father, who met with an awful fate one winter’s night, while he was stupefied with liquor.
which person or people
From this reading Since the key first turned upon him in his little cell, his youngest brother, the flower and pet of the household, had been carried to his long home, and was soon followed by his father, who met with an awful fate one winter’s night, while he was stupefied with liquor.
winter'snounUS /ˈwɪntərz/
possessive form of “winter” — the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading Since the key first turned upon him in his little cell, his youngest brother, the flower and pet of the household, had been carried to his long home, and was soon followed by his father, who met with an awful fate one winter’s night, while he was stupefied with liquor.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Since the key first turned upon him in his little cell, his youngest brother, the flower and pet of the household, had been carried to his long home, and was soon followed by his father, who met with an awful fate one winter’s night, while he was stupefied with liquor.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading Sam entered upon his imprisonment during the last week of the year, and his sentence had now expired.
youngestadjectiveUS /ˈjʌŋɡəst/
superlative of “young” — (used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Since the key first turned upon him in his little cell, his youngest brother, the flower and pet of the household, had been carried to his long home, and was soon followed by his father, who met with an awful fate one winter’s night, while he was stupefied with liquor.
