used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I commanded Pierre to build a larger fire than usual, and keep it piled high till I returned.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading They had returned early, empty-handed, and were in an ill humor because the Englishman was away, and there was nothing done.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They had returned early, empty-handed, and were in an ill humor because the Englishman was away, and there was nothing done.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading They had returned early, empty-handed, and were in an ill humor because the Englishman was away, and there was nothing done.
for the reason that
From this reading They had returned early, empty-handed, and were in an ill humor because the Englishman was away, and there was nothing done.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading When I returned to the camp, I found the men before me.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Then I began a search for footprints.
make by combining materials and parts
From this reading I commanded Pierre to build a larger fire than usual, and keep it piled high till I returned.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading MARY STARLING I do not know how long I walked, nor where, but the sun dropped some space.
temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
From this reading When I returned to the camp, I found the men before me.
past form of “command” — be in command of
From this reading I commanded Pierre to build a larger fire than usual, and keep it piled high till I returned.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading MARY STARLING I do not know how long I walked, nor where, but the sun dropped some space.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading They had returned early, empty-handed, and were in an ill humor because the Englishman was away, and there was nothing done.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading MARY STARLING I do not know how long I walked, nor where, but the sun dropped some space.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading They had returned early, empty-handed, and were in an ill humor because the Englishman was away, and there was nothing done.
empty-handedadjectiveUS /ˈemptiˈhændɪd/
having acquired or gained nothing
From this reading They had returned early, empty-handed, and were in an ill humor because the Englishman was away, and there was nothing done.
a man who is a native or inhabitant of England
From this reading They had returned early, empty-handed, and were in an ill humor because the Englishman was away, and there was nothing done.
start firing a weapon
From this reading I commanded Pierre to build a larger fire than usual, and keep it piled high till I returned.
footprintsnounUS /ˈfʊtprɪnts/
plural of “footprint” — a mark of a foot or shoe on a surface
From this reading Then I began a search for footprints.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Then I began a search for footprints.
set up or found
From this reading When I returned to the camp, I found the men before me.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had returned early, empty-handed, and were in an ill humor because the Englishman was away, and there was nothing done.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading I commanded Pierre to build a larger fire than usual, and keep it piled high till I returned.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MARY STARLING I do not know how long I walked, nor where, but the sun dropped some space.
humornounUS /ˈhjuːmər/
a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter
From this reading They had returned early, empty-handed, and were in an ill humor because the Englishman was away, and there was nothing done.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading MARY STARLING I do not know how long I walked, nor where, but the sun dropped some space.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading They had returned early, empty-handed, and were in an ill humor because the Englishman was away, and there was nothing done.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They had returned early, empty-handed, and were in an ill humor because the Englishman was away, and there was nothing done.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I commanded Pierre to build a larger fire than usual, and keep it piled high till I returned.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading I commanded Pierre to build a larger fire than usual, and keep it piled high till I returned.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading MARY STARLING I do not know how long I walked, nor where, but the sun dropped some space.
large or big relative to something else
From this reading I commanded Pierre to build a larger fire than usual, and keep it piled high till I returned.
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 MARY STARLING I do not know how long I walked, nor where, but the sun dropped some space.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading MARY STARLING I do not know how long I walked, nor where, but the sun dropped some space.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When I returned to the camp, I found the men before me.
the force of workers available
From this reading When I returned to the camp, I found the men before me.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading MARY STARLING I do not know how long I walked, nor where, but the sun dropped some space.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading MARY STARLING I do not know how long I walked, nor where, but the sun dropped some space.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading They had returned early, empty-handed, and were in an ill humor because the Englishman was away, and there was nothing done.
capital of the state of South Dakota; located in central South Dakota on the Missouri river
From this reading I commanded Pierre to build a larger fire than usual, and keep it piled high till I returned.
piledverbUS /paɪld/
past form of “pile” — arrange in stacks
From this reading I commanded Pierre to build a larger fire than usual, and keep it piled high till I returned.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading When I returned to the camp, I found the men before me.
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading Then I began a search for footprints.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading MARY STARLING I do not know how long I walked, nor where, but the sun dropped some space.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading MARY STARLING I do not know how long I walked, nor where, but the sun dropped some space.
STARLINGnounUS /ˈstɑːrlɪŋ/
gregarious birds native to the Old World
From this reading MARY STARLING I do not know how long I walked, nor where, but the sun dropped some space.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading MARY STARLING I do not know how long I walked, nor where, but the sun dropped some space.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading I commanded Pierre to build a larger fire than usual, and keep it piled high till I returned.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading MARY STARLING I do not know how long I walked, nor where, but the sun dropped some space.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then I began a search for footprints.
in or at that place or location
From this reading They had returned early, empty-handed, and were in an ill humor because the Englishman was away, and there was nothing done.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had returned early, empty-handed, and were in an ill humor because the Englishman was away, and there was nothing done.
up to a particular time
From this reading I commanded Pierre to build a larger fire than usual, and keep it piled high till I returned.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When I returned to the camp, I found the men before me.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading I commanded Pierre to build a larger fire than usual, and keep it piled high till I returned.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading MARY STARLING I do not know how long I walked, nor where, but the sun dropped some space.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They had returned early, empty-handed, and were in an ill humor because the Englishman was away, and there was nothing done.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They had returned early, empty-handed, and were in an ill humor because the Englishman was away, and there was nothing done.
at the time that
From this reading When I returned to the camp, I found the men before me.
in or at the place that
From this reading MARY STARLING I do not know how long I walked, nor where, but the sun dropped some space.
