used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They had found high piles of Christmas presents in front of their plates, on top of each was a gingerbread goat called a "yule buck."
(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 They had all had a happy time, unwrapping gifts and stripping the Christmas tree--that is, all except Erik.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION It was the day before Christmas, and Erik was dressing for the evening's celebration.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At noon, he had been to the big house for coffee with the other children from the estate.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading At noon, he had been to the big house for coffee with the other children from the estate.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION It was the day before Christmas, and Erik was dressing for the evening's celebration.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading At noon, he had been to the big house for coffee with the other children from the estate.
buckverbUS /bʌk/
to strive with determination
From this reading They had found high piles of Christmas presents in front of their plates, on top of each was a gingerbread goat called a "yule buck."
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading They had found high piles of Christmas presents in front of their plates, on top of each was a gingerbread goat called a "yule buck."
CELEBRATIONnounUS /ˌseləˈbreɪʃən/
a joyful occasion for special festivities to mark some happy event
From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION It was the day before Christmas, and Erik was dressing for the evening's celebration.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading At noon, he had been to the big house for coffee with the other children from the estate.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION It was the day before Christmas, and Erik was dressing for the evening's celebration.
a beverage consisting of an infusion of ground coffee beans
From this reading At noon, he had been to the big house for coffee with the other children from the estate.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION It was the day before Christmas, and Erik was dressing for the evening's celebration.
dressingnounUS /ˈdresɪŋ/
savory dressings for salads; basically of two kinds: either the thin French or vinaigrette type or the creamy mayonnaise type
From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION It was the day before Christmas, and Erik was dressing for the evening's celebration.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading They had found high piles of Christmas presents in front of their plates, on top of each was a gingerbread goat called a "yule buck."
past form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
From this reading For poor Erik had not enjoyed himself at all.
Erik
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION It was the day before Christmas, and Erik was dressing for the evening's celebration.
everything you own; all of your assets (whether real property or personal property) and liabilities
From this reading At noon, he had been to the big house for coffee with the other children from the estate.
evening'snounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋz/
possessive form of “evening” — the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION It was the day before Christmas, and Erik was dressing for the evening's celebration.
apart from; not including
From this reading They had all had a happy time, unwrapping gifts and stripping the Christmas tree--that is, all except Erik.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION It was the day before Christmas, and Erik was dressing for the evening's celebration.
set up or found
From this reading They had found high piles of Christmas presents in front of their plates, on top of each was a gingerbread goat called a "yule buck."
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading At noon, he had been to the big house for coffee with the other children from the estate.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading They had found high piles of Christmas presents in front of their plates, on top of each was a gingerbread goat called a "yule buck."
giftsnounUS /ɡɪfts/
plural of “gift” — something acquired without compensation
From this reading They had all had a happy time, unwrapping gifts and stripping the Christmas tree--that is, all except Erik.
gingerbreadnounUS /ˈdʒɪndʒərbred/
cake flavored with ginger
From this reading They had found high piles of Christmas presents in front of their plates, on top of each was a gingerbread goat called a "yule buck."
goatnounUS /ɡoʊt/
any of numerous agile ruminants related to sheep but having a beard and straight horns
From this reading They had found high piles of Christmas presents in front of their plates, on top of each was a gingerbread goat called a "yule buck."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading At noon, he had been to the big house for coffee with the other children from the estate.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading They had all had a happy time, unwrapping gifts and stripping the Christmas tree--that is, all except Erik.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At noon, he had been to the big house for coffee with the other children from the estate.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading They had found high piles of Christmas presents in front of their plates, on top of each was a gingerbread goat called a "yule buck."
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading For poor Erik had not enjoyed himself at all.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading At noon, he had been to the big house for coffee with the other children from the estate.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They had found high piles of Christmas presents in front of their plates, on top of each was a gingerbread goat called a "yule buck."
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They had all had a happy time, unwrapping gifts and stripping the Christmas tree--that is, all except Erik.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION It was the day before Christmas, and Erik was dressing for the evening's celebration.
the middle of the day
From this reading At noon, he had been to the big house for coffee with the other children from the estate.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading For poor Erik had not enjoyed himself at all.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They had found high piles of Christmas presents in front of their plates, on top of each was a gingerbread goat called a "yule buck."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They had found high piles of Christmas presents in front of their plates, on top of each was a gingerbread goat called a "yule buck."
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading At noon, he had been to the big house for coffee with the other children from the estate.
pilesnounUS /paɪlz/
venous swelling external or internal to the anal sphincter
From this reading They had found high piles of Christmas presents in front of their plates, on top of each was a gingerbread goat called a "yule buck."
platesnounUS /pleɪts/
plural of “plate” — (baseball) base consisting of a rubber slab where the batter stands; it must be touched by a base runner in order to score
From this reading They had found high piles of Christmas presents in front of their plates, on top of each was a gingerbread goat called a "yule buck."
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading For poor Erik had not enjoyed himself at all.
presentsnounUS /ˈprezənts/
plural of “present” — the period of time that is happening now; any continuous stretch of time including the moment of speech
From this reading They had found high piles of Christmas presents in front of their plates, on top of each was a gingerbread goat called a "yule buck."
strippingnounUS /ˈstrɪpɪŋ/
the removal of covering
From this reading They had all had a happy time, unwrapping gifts and stripping the Christmas tree--that is, all except Erik.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They had all had a happy time, unwrapping gifts and stripping the Christmas tree--that is, all except Erik.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION It was the day before Christmas, and Erik was dressing for the evening's celebration.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They had found high piles of Christmas presents in front of their plates, on top of each was a gingerbread goat called a "yule buck."
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had found high piles of Christmas presents in front of their plates, on top of each was a gingerbread goat called a "yule buck."
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading They had all had a happy time, unwrapping gifts and stripping the Christmas tree--that is, all except Erik.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At noon, he had been to the big house for coffee with the other children from the estate.
the upper part of anything
From this reading They had found high piles of Christmas presents in front of their plates, on top of each was a gingerbread goat called a "yule buck."
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading They had all had a happy time, unwrapping gifts and stripping the Christmas tree--that is, all except Erik.
unwrappingverbUS /ənˈræpɪŋ/
inflected form of “unwrap” — remove the outer cover or wrapping of
From this reading They had all had a happy time, unwrapping gifts and stripping the Christmas tree--that is, all except Erik.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION It was the day before Christmas, and Erik was dressing for the evening's celebration.
in the company of; together with
From this reading At noon, he had been to the big house for coffee with the other children from the estate.
yulenounUS /juːl/
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading They had found high piles of Christmas presents in front of their plates, on top of each was a gingerbread goat called a "yule buck."
