used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading LITERATURE AND LIFE IN THE HOMELAND INTRODUCTION It is a hard thing to picture to ourselves our Homeland.
airplanenounUS /ˈerpleɪn/
an aircraft that has a fixed wing and is powered by propellers or jets
From this reading Is America just a lot of cities and towns and farms, or a collection of so many thousands of square miles of prairies and mountains, the sort of thing one would see from an airplane if one could get up high enough and had good enough eyes?
North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776
From this reading Is America just a lot of cities and towns and farms, or a collection of so many thousands of square miles of prairies and mountains, the sort of thing one would see from an airplane if one could get up high enough and had good enough eyes?
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Is America just a lot of cities and towns and farms, or a collection of so many thousands of square miles of prairies and mountains, the sort of thing one would see from an airplane if one could get up high enough and had good enough eyes?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading LITERATURE AND LIFE IN THE HOMELAND _“One flag, one land, one heart, one hand,_ _One Nation evermore!”_ —Oliver Wendell Holmes.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There are people who try to find America in some motto or symbol.
boundarynounUS /ˈbaʊn.də.ri/
A line that marks the limits of an area.
From this reading Or is it a collection of states with queer boundary lines that look plainer on a map than they do when we cross them in the train?
citiesnounUS /ˈsɪtiz/
plural of “city” — a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading Is America just a lot of cities and towns and farms, or a collection of so many thousands of square miles of prairies and mountains, the sort of thing one would see from an airplane if one could get up high enough and had good enough eyes?
collectionnounUS /kəˈlekʃən/
several things grouped together or considered as a whole
From this reading Is America just a lot of cities and towns and farms, or a collection of so many thousands of square miles of prairies and mountains, the sort of thing one would see from an airplane if one could get up high enough and had good enough eyes?
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Is America just a lot of cities and towns and farms, or a collection of so many thousands of square miles of prairies and mountains, the sort of thing one would see from an airplane if one could get up high enough and had good enough eyes?
travel across or pass over
From this reading Or is it a collection of states with queer boundary lines that look plainer on a map than they do when we cross them in the train?
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Or is it a collection of states with queer boundary lines that look plainer on a map than they do when we cross them in the train?
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Is America just a lot of cities and towns and farms, or a collection of so many thousands of square miles of prairies and mountains, the sort of thing one would see from an airplane if one could get up high enough and had good enough eyes?
evermoreadverbUS /ˈevərmɔːr/
at any future time; in the future
From this reading LITERATURE AND LIFE IN THE HOMELAND _“One flag, one land, one heart, one hand,_ _One Nation evermore!”_ —Oliver Wendell Holmes.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Is America just a lot of cities and towns and farms, or a collection of so many thousands of square miles of prairies and mountains, the sort of thing one would see from an airplane if one could get up high enough and had good enough eyes?
farmsnounUS /fɑːrmz/
plural of “farm” — workplace consisting of farm buildings and cultivated land as a unit
From this reading Is America just a lot of cities and towns and farms, or a collection of so many thousands of square miles of prairies and mountains, the sort of thing one would see from an airplane if one could get up high enough and had good enough eyes?
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading There are people who try to find America in some motto or symbol.
emblem usually consisting of a rectangular piece of cloth of distinctive design
From this reading LITERATURE AND LIFE IN THE HOMELAND _“One flag, one land, one heart, one hand,_ _One Nation evermore!”_ —Oliver Wendell Holmes.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Is America just a lot of cities and towns and farms, or a collection of so many thousands of square miles of prairies and mountains, the sort of thing one would see from an airplane if one could get up high enough and had good enough eyes?
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Is America just a lot of cities and towns and farms, or a collection of so many thousands of square miles of prairies and mountains, the sort of thing one would see from an airplane if one could get up high enough and had good enough eyes?
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Is America just a lot of cities and towns and farms, or a collection of so many thousands of square miles of prairies and mountains, the sort of thing one would see from an airplane if one could get up high enough and had good enough eyes?
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Is America just a lot of cities and towns and farms, or a collection of so many thousands of square miles of prairies and mountains, the sort of thing one would see from an airplane if one could get up high enough and had good enough eyes?
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading LITERATURE AND LIFE IN THE HOMELAND _“One flag, one land, one heart, one hand,_ _One Nation evermore!”_ —Oliver Wendell Holmes.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading LITERATURE AND LIFE IN THE HOMELAND INTRODUCTION It is a hard thing to picture to ourselves our Homeland.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading LITERATURE AND LIFE IN THE HOMELAND _“One flag, one land, one heart, one hand,_ _One Nation evermore!”_ —Oliver Wendell Holmes.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Is America just a lot of cities and towns and farms, or a collection of so many thousands of square miles of prairies and mountains, the sort of thing one would see from an airplane if one could get up high enough and had good enough eyes?
HolmesnounUS /hoʊmz/
a fictitious detective in stories by A. Conan Doyle
From this reading LITERATURE AND LIFE IN THE HOMELAND _“One flag, one land, one heart, one hand,_ _One Nation evermore!”_ —Oliver Wendell Holmes.
HOMELANDnounUS /ˈhoʊmlænd/
the country where you were born
From this reading LITERATURE AND LIFE IN THE HOMELAND _“One flag, one land, one heart, one hand,_ _One Nation evermore!”_ —Oliver Wendell Holmes.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Is America just a lot of cities and towns and farms, or a collection of so many thousands of square miles of prairies and mountains, the sort of thing one would see from an airplane if one could get up high enough and had good enough eyes?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading LITERATURE AND LIFE IN THE HOMELAND _“One flag, one land, one heart, one hand,_ _One Nation evermore!”_ —Oliver Wendell Holmes.
INTRODUCTIONnounUS /ˌɪntrəˈdʌkʃən/
the act of beginning something new
From this reading LITERATURE AND LIFE IN THE HOMELAND INTRODUCTION It is a hard thing to picture to ourselves our Homeland.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading LITERATURE AND LIFE IN THE HOMELAND INTRODUCTION It is a hard thing to picture to ourselves our Homeland.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading LITERATURE AND LIFE IN THE HOMELAND INTRODUCTION It is a hard thing to picture to ourselves our Homeland.
and nothing more
From this reading Is America just a lot of cities and towns and farms, or a collection of so many thousands of square miles of prairies and mountains, the sort of thing one would see from an airplane if one could get up high enough and had good enough eyes?
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading LITERATURE AND LIFE IN THE HOMELAND _“One flag, one land, one heart, one hand,_ _One Nation evermore!”_ —Oliver Wendell Holmes.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading LITERATURE AND LIFE IN THE HOMELAND _“One flag, one land, one heart, one hand,_ _One Nation evermore!”_ —Oliver Wendell Holmes.
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading Or is it a collection of states with queer boundary lines that look plainer on a map than they do when we cross them in the train?
creative writing of recognized artistic value
From this reading LITERATURE AND LIFE IN THE HOMELAND _“One flag, one land, one heart, one hand,_ _One Nation evermore!”_ —Oliver Wendell Holmes.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Or is it a collection of states with queer boundary lines that look plainer on a map than they do when we cross them in the train?
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading Is America just a lot of cities and towns and farms, or a collection of so many thousands of square miles of prairies and mountains, the sort of thing one would see from an airplane if one could get up high enough and had good enough eyes?
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 Is America just a lot of cities and towns and farms, or a collection of so many thousands of square miles of prairies and mountains, the sort of thing one would see from an airplane if one could get up high enough and had good enough eyes?
mapverbUS /mæp/
make a map of; show or establish the features of details of
From this reading Or is it a collection of states with queer boundary lines that look plainer on a map than they do when we cross them in the train?
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading Is America just a lot of cities and towns and farms, or a collection of so many thousands of square miles of prairies and mountains, the sort of thing one would see from an airplane if one could get up high enough and had good enough eyes?
mottonounUS /ˈmɑːtoʊ/
a favorite saying of a sect or political group
From this reading There are people who try to find America in some motto or symbol.
plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading Is America just a lot of cities and towns and farms, or a collection of so many thousands of square miles of prairies and mountains, the sort of thing one would see from an airplane if one could get up high enough and had good enough eyes?
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading LITERATURE AND LIFE IN THE HOMELAND _“One flag, one land, one heart, one hand,_ _One Nation evermore!”_ —Oliver Wendell Holmes.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Is America just a lot of cities and towns and farms, or a collection of so many thousands of square miles of prairies and mountains, the sort of thing one would see from an airplane if one could get up high enough and had good enough eyes?
OlivernounUS /ˈɑːləvər/
United States jazz musician who influenced the style of Louis Armstrong (1885-1938)
From this reading LITERATURE AND LIFE IN THE HOMELAND _“One flag, one land, one heart, one hand,_ _One Nation evermore!”_ —Oliver Wendell Holmes.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Or is it a collection of states with queer boundary lines that look plainer on a map than they do when we cross them in the train?
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading LITERATURE AND LIFE IN THE HOMELAND _“One flag, one land, one heart, one hand,_ _One Nation evermore!”_ —Oliver Wendell Holmes.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Is America just a lot of cities and towns and farms, or a collection of so many thousands of square miles of prairies and mountains, the sort of thing one would see from an airplane if one could get up high enough and had good enough eyes?
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading LITERATURE AND LIFE IN THE HOMELAND INTRODUCTION It is a hard thing to picture to ourselves our Homeland.
used when we are both doing the action and receiving it
From this reading LITERATURE AND LIFE IN THE HOMELAND INTRODUCTION It is a hard thing to picture to ourselves our Homeland.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading There are people who try to find America in some motto or symbol.
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading LITERATURE AND LIFE IN THE HOMELAND INTRODUCTION It is a hard thing to picture to ourselves our Homeland.
plaineradjectiveUS /ˈpleɪnər/
comparative of “plain” — clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading Or is it a collection of states with queer boundary lines that look plainer on a map than they do when we cross them in the train?
prairiesnounUS /ˈpreɪriz/
plural of “prairie” — a treeless grassy plain
From this reading Is America just a lot of cities and towns and farms, or a collection of so many thousands of square miles of prairies and mountains, the sort of thing one would see from an airplane if one could get up high enough and had good enough eyes?
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading Or is it a collection of states with queer boundary lines that look plainer on a map than they do when we cross them in the train?
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Is America just a lot of cities and towns and farms, or a collection of so many thousands of square miles of prairies and mountains, the sort of thing one would see from an airplane if one could get up high enough and had good enough eyes?
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Is America just a lot of cities and towns and farms, or a collection of so many thousands of square miles of prairies and mountains, the sort of thing one would see from an airplane if one could get up high enough and had good enough eyes?
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading There are people who try to find America in some motto or symbol.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading Is America just a lot of cities and towns and farms, or a collection of so many thousands of square miles of prairies and mountains, the sort of thing one would see from an airplane if one could get up high enough and had good enough eyes?
make square
From this reading Is America just a lot of cities and towns and farms, or a collection of so many thousands of square miles of prairies and mountains, the sort of thing one would see from an airplane if one could get up high enough and had good enough eyes?
plural of “state” — the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading Or is it a collection of states with queer boundary lines that look plainer on a map than they do when we cross them in the train?
symbolnounUS /ˈsɪmbəl/
an arbitrary sign (written or printed) that has acquired a conventional significance
From this reading There are people who try to find America in some motto or symbol.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Or is it a collection of states with queer boundary lines that look plainer on a map than they do when we cross them in the train?
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Or is it a collection of states with queer boundary lines that look plainer on a map than they do when we cross them in the train?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading LITERATURE AND LIFE IN THE HOMELAND _“One flag, one land, one heart, one hand,_ _One Nation evermore!”_ —Oliver Wendell Holmes.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Or is it a collection of states with queer boundary lines that look plainer on a map than they do when we cross them in the train?
in or at that place or location
From this reading There are people who try to find America in some motto or symbol.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Or is it a collection of states with queer boundary lines that look plainer on a map than they do when we cross them in the train?
a special situation
From this reading LITERATURE AND LIFE IN THE HOMELAND INTRODUCTION It is a hard thing to picture to ourselves our Homeland.
plural of “thousand” — the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading Is America just a lot of cities and towns and farms, or a collection of so many thousands of square miles of prairies and mountains, the sort of thing one would see from an airplane if one could get up high enough and had good enough eyes?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading LITERATURE AND LIFE IN THE HOMELAND INTRODUCTION It is a hard thing to picture to ourselves our Homeland.
townsnounUS /taʊnz/
plural of “town” — an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading Is America just a lot of cities and towns and farms, or a collection of so many thousands of square miles of prairies and mountains, the sort of thing one would see from an airplane if one could get up high enough and had good enough eyes?
create by training and teaching
From this reading Or is it a collection of states with queer boundary lines that look plainer on a map than they do when we cross them in the train?
make an effort or attempt
From this reading There are people who try to find America in some motto or symbol.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Is America just a lot of cities and towns and farms, or a collection of so many thousands of square miles of prairies and mountains, the sort of thing one would see from an airplane if one could get up high enough and had good enough eyes?
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Or is it a collection of states with queer boundary lines that look plainer on a map than they do when we cross them in the train?
Wendell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LITERATURE AND LIFE IN THE HOMELAND _“One flag, one land, one heart, one hand,_ _One Nation evermore!”_ —Oliver Wendell Holmes.
at the time that
From this reading Or is it a collection of states with queer boundary lines that look plainer on a map than they do when we cross them in the train?
which person or people
From this reading There are people who try to find America in some motto or symbol.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Or is it a collection of states with queer boundary lines that look plainer on a map than they do when we cross them in the train?
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Is America just a lot of cities and towns and farms, or a collection of so many thousands of square miles of prairies and mountains, the sort of thing one would see from an airplane if one could get up high enough and had good enough eyes?
