used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading FOR A BIT OF RIBBON Lad had never been in a city or in a crowd.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was an ideal home for such a dog as Lad, even as Lad was an ideal dog for such a home.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading To him the universe was bounded by the soft green mountains that hemmed in the valley and the lake.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was an ideal home for such a dog as Lad, even as Lad was an ideal dog for such a home.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The Place stood on the lake's edge, its meadows running back to the forest.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading FOR A BIT OF RIBBON Lad had never been in a city or in a crowd.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading FOR A BIT OF RIBBON Lad had never been in a city or in a crowd.
boundedadjectiveUS /ˈbaʊndəd/
having the limits or boundaries established
From this reading To him the universe was bounded by the soft green mountains that hemmed in the valley and the lake.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading To him the universe was bounded by the soft green mountains that hemmed in the valley and the lake.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading FOR A BIT OF RIBBON Lad had never been in a city or in a crowd.
cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading FOR A BIT OF RIBBON Lad had never been in a city or in a crowd.
a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading It was an ideal home for such a dog as Lad, even as Lad was an ideal dog for such a home.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading The Place stood on the lake's edge, its meadows running back to the forest.
divisible by two
From this reading It was an ideal home for such a dog as Lad, even as Lad was an ideal dog for such a home.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading There were few houses nearer than the mile-distant village.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading FOR A BIT OF RIBBON Lad had never been in a city or in a crowd.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading The Place stood on the lake's edge, its meadows running back to the forest.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading To him the universe was bounded by the soft green mountains that hemmed in the valley and the lake.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading FOR A BIT OF RIBBON Lad had never been in a city or in a crowd.
hemmedverbUS /hemd/
inflected form of “hem” — fold over and sew together to provide with a hem
From this reading To him the universe was bounded by the soft green mountains that hemmed in the valley and the lake.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading To him the universe was bounded by the soft green mountains that hemmed in the valley and the lake.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading It was an ideal home for such a dog as Lad, even as Lad was an ideal dog for such a home.
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading There were few houses nearer than the mile-distant village.
idealadjectiveUS /aɪˈdiːl/
conforming to an ultimate standard of perfection or excellence; embodying an ideal
From this reading It was an ideal home for such a dog as Lad, even as Lad was an ideal dog for such a home.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading FOR A BIT OF RIBBON Lad had never been in a city or in a crowd.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was an ideal home for such a dog as Lad, even as Lad was an ideal dog for such a home.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The Place stood on the lake's edge, its meadows running back to the forest.
a boy or man
From this reading FOR A BIT OF RIBBON Lad had never been in a city or in a crowd.
a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
From this reading To him the universe was bounded by the soft green mountains that hemmed in the valley and the lake.
lake'snounUS /leɪks/
possessive form of “lake” — a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
From this reading The Place stood on the lake's edge, its meadows running back to the forest.
meadowsnounUS /ˈmedoʊz/
plural of “meadow” — a field where grass or alfalfa are grown to be made into hay
From this reading The Place stood on the lake's edge, its meadows running back to the forest.
mile-distant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were few houses nearer than the mile-distant village.
plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading To him the universe was bounded by the soft green mountains that hemmed in the valley and the lake.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading There were few houses nearer than the mile-distant village.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading FOR A BIT OF RIBBON Lad had never been in a city or in a crowd.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading FOR A BIT OF RIBBON Lad had never been in a city or in a crowd.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The Place stood on the lake's edge, its meadows running back to the forest.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading FOR A BIT OF RIBBON Lad had never been in a city or in a crowd.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The Place stood on the lake's edge, its meadows running back to the forest.
RIBBONnounUS /ˈrɪbən/
any long object resembling a thin line
From this reading FOR A BIT OF RIBBON Lad had never been in a city or in a crowd.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading The Place stood on the lake's edge, its meadows running back to the forest.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading To him the universe was bounded by the soft green mountains that hemmed in the valley and the lake.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The Place stood on the lake's edge, its meadows running back to the forest.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading It was an ideal home for such a dog as Lad, even as Lad was an ideal dog for such a home.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading There were few houses nearer than the mile-distant village.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading To him the universe was bounded by the soft green mountains that hemmed in the valley and the lake.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading To him the universe was bounded by the soft green mountains that hemmed in the valley and the lake.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were few houses nearer than the mile-distant village.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To him the universe was bounded by the soft green mountains that hemmed in the valley and the lake.
universenounUS /ˈjuːnəvɜːrs/
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading To him the universe was bounded by the soft green mountains that hemmed in the valley and the lake.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading To him the universe was bounded by the soft green mountains that hemmed in the valley and the lake.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading There were few houses nearer than the mile-distant village.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading To him the universe was bounded by the soft green mountains that hemmed in the valley and the lake.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were few houses nearer than the mile-distant village.
