used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE OUTLAWS It was a half-holiday and William was in his bedroom making careful preparations for the afternoon.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It was much patronised by the band of Outlaws to which William belonged and which met secretly every half-holiday in a disused barn about a quarter of a mile from William's house.
activitiesnounUS /ækˈtɪvətiz/
plural of “activity” — any specific behavior
From this reading So far the Outlaws had limited their activities to wrestling matches, adventure seeking, and culinary operations.
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
From this reading So far the Outlaws had limited their activities to wrestling matches, adventure seeking, and culinary operations.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading THE OUTLAWS It was a half-holiday and William was in his bedroom making careful preparations for the afternoon.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE OUTLAWS It was a half-holiday and William was in his bedroom making careful preparations for the afternoon.
an unofficial association of people or groups
From this reading It was much patronised by the band of Outlaws to which William belonged and which met secretly every half-holiday in a disused barn about a quarter of a mile from William's house.
barnnounUS /bɑːrn/
an outlying farm building for storing grain or animal feed and housing farm animals
From this reading It was much patronised by the band of Outlaws to which William belonged and which met secretly every half-holiday in a disused barn about a quarter of a mile from William's house.
a room used primarily for sleeping
From this reading THE OUTLAWS It was a half-holiday and William was in his bedroom making careful preparations for the afternoon.
past form of “belong” — be owned by; be in the possession of
From this reading It was much patronised by the band of Outlaws to which William belonged and which met secretly every half-holiday in a disused barn about a quarter of a mile from William's house.
beveragenounUS /ˈbevərɪdʒ/
any liquid suitable for drinking
From this reading This beverage was made by shaking up a piece of licorice in water.
a glass or plastic vessel used for storing drinks or other liquids; typically cylindrical without handles and with a narrow neck that can be plugged or capped
From this reading On the mantel-piece stood in readiness half a cake (the result of a successful raid on the larder) and a bottle of licorice water.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading This beverage was made by shaking up a piece of licorice in water.
cakenounUS /keɪk/
a block of solid substance (such as soap or wax)
From this reading On the mantel-piece stood in readiness half a cake (the result of a successful raid on the larder) and a bottle of licorice water.
exercising caution or showing care or attention
From this reading THE OUTLAWS It was a half-holiday and William was in his bedroom making careful preparations for the afternoon.
culinaryadjectiveUS /ˈkjuːlɪneri/
of or relating to or used in cooking
From this reading So far the Outlaws had limited their activities to wrestling matches, adventure seeking, and culinary operations.
disusedadjective
no longer in use
From this reading It was much patronised by the band of Outlaws to which William belonged and which met secretly every half-holiday in a disused barn about a quarter of a mile from William's house.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading It was much patronised by the band of Outlaws to which William belonged and which met secretly every half-holiday in a disused barn about a quarter of a mile from William's house.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading So far the Outlaws had limited their activities to wrestling matches, adventure seeking, and culinary operations.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE OUTLAWS It was a half-holiday and William was in his bedroom making careful preparations for the afternoon.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was much patronised by the band of Outlaws to which William belonged and which met secretly every half-holiday in a disused barn about a quarter of a mile from William's house.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading So far the Outlaws had limited their activities to wrestling matches, adventure seeking, and culinary operations.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading On the mantel-piece stood in readiness half a cake (the result of a successful raid on the larder) and a bottle of licorice water.
half-holidaynoun
a day on which half is free from work or duty
From this reading THE OUTLAWS It was a half-holiday and William was in his bedroom making careful preparations for the afternoon.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE OUTLAWS It was a half-holiday and William was in his bedroom making careful preparations for the afternoon.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading It was much patronised by the band of Outlaws to which William belonged and which met secretly every half-holiday in a disused barn about a quarter of a mile from William's house.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE OUTLAWS It was a half-holiday and William was in his bedroom making careful preparations for the afternoon.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE OUTLAWS It was a half-holiday and William was in his bedroom making careful preparations for the afternoon.
lardernounUS /ˈlɑːrdər/
a supply of food especially for a household
From this reading On the mantel-piece stood in readiness half a cake (the result of a successful raid on the larder) and a bottle of licorice water.
licoricenounUS /ˈlɪkərɪʃ/
deep-rooted coarse-textured plant native to the Mediterranean region having blue flowers and pinnately compound leaves; widely cultivated in Europe for its long thick sweet roots
From this reading On the mantel-piece stood in readiness half a cake (the result of a successful raid on the larder) and a bottle of licorice water.
limitedadjectiveUS /ˈlɪmətəd/
small in range or scope
From this reading So far the Outlaws had limited their activities to wrestling matches, adventure seeking, and culinary operations.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading This beverage was made by shaking up a piece of licorice in water.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading THE OUTLAWS It was a half-holiday and William was in his bedroom making careful preparations for the afternoon.
mantel-piece
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the mantel-piece stood in readiness half a cake (the result of a successful raid on the larder) and a bottle of licorice water.
matchesnounUS /ˈmætʃəz/
plural of “match” — lighter consisting of a thin piece of wood or cardboard tipped with combustible chemical; ignites with friction
From this reading So far the Outlaws had limited their activities to wrestling matches, adventure seeking, and culinary operations.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading It was much patronised by the band of Outlaws to which William belonged and which met secretly every half-holiday in a disused barn about a quarter of a mile from William's house.
a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading It was much patronised by the band of Outlaws to which William belonged and which met secretly every half-holiday in a disused barn about a quarter of a mile from William's house.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading It was much patronised by the band of Outlaws to which William belonged and which met secretly every half-holiday in a disused barn about a quarter of a mile from William's house.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On the mantel-piece stood in readiness half a cake (the result of a successful raid on the larder) and a bottle of licorice water.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the mantel-piece stood in readiness half a cake (the result of a successful raid on the larder) and a bottle of licorice water.
operationsnounUS /ˌɑːpərˈeɪʃənz/
financial transactions at a brokerage; having to do with the execution of trades and keeping customer records
From this reading So far the Outlaws had limited their activities to wrestling matches, adventure seeking, and culinary operations.
OUTLAWSnounUS /ˈaʊtlɔːz/
plural of “outlaw” — someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime
From this reading THE OUTLAWS It was a half-holiday and William was in his bedroom making careful preparations for the afternoon.
patronisedadjective
having patronage or clients
From this reading It was much patronised by the band of Outlaws to which William belonged and which met secretly every half-holiday in a disused barn about a quarter of a mile from William's house.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading This beverage was made by shaking up a piece of licorice in water.
preparationsnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “preparation” — the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
From this reading THE OUTLAWS It was a half-holiday and William was in his bedroom making careful preparations for the afternoon.
one of four equal parts
From this reading It was much patronised by the band of Outlaws to which William belonged and which met secretly every half-holiday in a disused barn about a quarter of a mile from William's house.
raidverbUS /reɪd/
search without warning, make a sudden surprise attack on
From this reading On the mantel-piece stood in readiness half a cake (the result of a successful raid on the larder) and a bottle of licorice water.
readinessnounUS /ˈredinəs/
the state of having been made ready or prepared for use or action (especially military action)
From this reading On the mantel-piece stood in readiness half a cake (the result of a successful raid on the larder) and a bottle of licorice water.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading On the mantel-piece stood in readiness half a cake (the result of a successful raid on the larder) and a bottle of licorice water.
secretlyadverbUS /ˈsiːkrɪtli/
in secrecy; not openly
From this reading It was much patronised by the band of Outlaws to which William belonged and which met secretly every half-holiday in a disused barn about a quarter of a mile from William's house.
the act of searching for something
From this reading So far the Outlaws had limited their activities to wrestling matches, adventure seeking, and culinary operations.
the act of causing something to move up and down (or back and forth) with quick movements
From this reading This beverage was made by shaking up a piece of licorice in water.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So far the Outlaws had limited their activities to wrestling matches, adventure seeking, and culinary operations.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading On the mantel-piece stood in readiness half a cake (the result of a successful raid on the larder) and a bottle of licorice water.
having succeeded or being marked by a favorable outcome
From this reading On the mantel-piece stood in readiness half a cake (the result of a successful raid on the larder) and a bottle of licorice water.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE OUTLAWS It was a half-holiday and William was in his bedroom making careful preparations for the afternoon.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading So far the Outlaws had limited their activities to wrestling matches, adventure seeking, and culinary operations.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This beverage was made by shaking up a piece of licorice in water.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was much patronised by the band of Outlaws to which William belonged and which met secretly every half-holiday in a disused barn about a quarter of a mile from William's house.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading This beverage was made by shaking up a piece of licorice in water.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE OUTLAWS It was a half-holiday and William was in his bedroom making careful preparations for the afternoon.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading On the mantel-piece stood in readiness half a cake (the result of a successful raid on the larder) and a bottle of licorice water.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was much patronised by the band of Outlaws to which William belonged and which met secretly every half-holiday in a disused barn about a quarter of a mile from William's house.
William
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE OUTLAWS It was a half-holiday and William was in his bedroom making careful preparations for the afternoon.
William'snounUS /ˈwɪljəmz/
possessive form of “williams” — United States country singer and songwriter (1923-1953)
From this reading It was much patronised by the band of Outlaws to which William belonged and which met secretly every half-holiday in a disused barn about a quarter of a mile from William's house.
wrestlingnounUS /ˈreslɪŋ/
the act of engaging in close hand-to-hand combat
From this reading So far the Outlaws had limited their activities to wrestling matches, adventure seeking, and culinary operations.
