used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The boys had a frugal breakfast off the cold food McGlory and Lorry had brought from the cabin, and immediately after they emerged from the cave upon the narrow shelf that ran in front of it.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The boys had a frugal breakfast off the cold food McGlory and Lorry had brought from the cabin, and immediately after they emerged from the cave upon the narrow shelf that ran in front of it.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "This is a bad morning to be on Fourth Lake," said George, casting an anxious eye upward.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The boys were astir early, it being their intention to reach Madison and the Lorry home before Mr. Lorry could get away to cross the lake--providing that proved to be his intention.
eagerly desirous
From this reading "This is a bad morning to be on Fourth Lake," said George, casting an anxious eye upward.
astiradjective
out of bed
From this reading The boys were astir early, it being their intention to reach Madison and the Lorry home before Mr. Lorry could get away to cross the lake--providing that proved to be his intention.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The boys were astir early, it being their intention to reach Madison and the Lorry home before Mr. Lorry could get away to cross the lake--providing that proved to be his intention.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading "This is a bad morning to be on Fourth Lake," said George, casting an anxious eye upward.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The boys were astir early, it being their intention to reach Madison and the Lorry home before Mr. Lorry could get away to cross the lake--providing that proved to be his intention.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The boys were astir early, it being their intention to reach Madison and the Lorry home before Mr. Lorry could get away to cross the lake--providing that proved to be his intention.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The boys were astir early, it being their intention to reach Madison and the Lorry home before Mr. Lorry could get away to cross the lake--providing that proved to be his intention.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading THE POWER BOAT--MINUS THE POWER.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The boys were astir early, it being their intention to reach Madison and the Lorry home before Mr. Lorry could get away to cross the lake--providing that proved to be his intention.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading The boys had a frugal breakfast off the cold food McGlory and Lorry had brought from the cabin, and immediately after they emerged from the cave upon the narrow shelf that ran in front of it.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading The boys had a frugal breakfast off the cold food McGlory and Lorry had brought from the cabin, and immediately after they emerged from the cave upon the narrow shelf that ran in front of it.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The rain seemed to be over, and the leaden clouds were being scattered by a fierce wind from the west.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading The boys had a frugal breakfast off the cold food McGlory and Lorry had brought from the cabin, and immediately after they emerged from the cave upon the narrow shelf that ran in front of it.
castingnounUS /ˈkæstɪŋ/
object formed by a mold
From this reading "This is a bad morning to be on Fourth Lake," said George, casting an anxious eye upward.
a geological formation consisting of an underground enclosure with access from the surface of the ground or from the sea
From this reading The boys had a frugal breakfast off the cold food McGlory and Lorry had brought from the cabin, and immediately after they emerged from the cave upon the narrow shelf that ran in front of it.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading The rain seemed to be over, and the leaden clouds were being scattered by a fierce wind from the west.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading The boys had a frugal breakfast off the cold food McGlory and Lorry had brought from the cabin, and immediately after they emerged from the cave upon the narrow shelf that ran in front of it.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The boys were astir early, it being their intention to reach Madison and the Lorry home before Mr. Lorry could get away to cross the lake--providing that proved to be his intention.
travel across or pass over
From this reading The boys were astir early, it being their intention to reach Madison and the Lorry home before Mr. Lorry could get away to cross the lake--providing that proved to be his intention.
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 The boys were astir early, it being their intention to reach Madison and the Lorry home before Mr. Lorry could get away to cross the lake--providing that proved to be his intention.
emergedverbUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒd/
past form of “emerge” — come out into view, as from concealment
From this reading The boys had a frugal breakfast off the cold food McGlory and Lorry had brought from the cabin, and immediately after they emerged from the cave upon the narrow shelf that ran in front of it.
the organ of sight
From this reading "This is a bad morning to be on Fourth Lake," said George, casting an anxious eye upward.
marked by extreme and violent energy
From this reading The rain seemed to be over, and the leaden clouds were being scattered by a fierce wind from the west.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading The boys had a frugal breakfast off the cold food McGlory and Lorry had brought from the cabin, and immediately after they emerged from the cave upon the narrow shelf that ran in front of it.
following the third position; number four in a countable series
From this reading "This is a bad morning to be on Fourth Lake," said George, casting an anxious eye upward.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The boys had a frugal breakfast off the cold food McGlory and Lorry had brought from the cabin, and immediately after they emerged from the cave upon the narrow shelf that ran in front of it.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading The boys had a frugal breakfast off the cold food McGlory and Lorry had brought from the cabin, and immediately after they emerged from the cave upon the narrow shelf that ran in front of it.
frugaladjectiveUS /ˈfruːɡəl/
avoiding waste
From this reading The boys had a frugal breakfast off the cold food McGlory and Lorry had brought from the cabin, and immediately after they emerged from the cave upon the narrow shelf that ran in front of it.
Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading "This is a bad morning to be on Fourth Lake," said George, casting an anxious eye upward.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading The boys were astir early, it being their intention to reach Madison and the Lorry home before Mr. Lorry could get away to cross the lake--providing that proved to be his intention.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The boys had a frugal breakfast off the cold food McGlory and Lorry had brought from the cabin, and immediately after they emerged from the cave upon the narrow shelf that ran in front of it.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The boys were astir early, it being their intention to reach Madison and the Lorry home before Mr. Lorry could get away to cross the lake--providing that proved to be his intention.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading The boys were astir early, it being their intention to reach Madison and the Lorry home before Mr. Lorry could get away to cross the lake--providing that proved to be his intention.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading The boys had a frugal breakfast off the cold food McGlory and Lorry had brought from the cabin, and immediately after they emerged from the cave upon the narrow shelf that ran in front of it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The boys had a frugal breakfast off the cold food McGlory and Lorry had brought from the cabin, and immediately after they emerged from the cave upon the narrow shelf that ran in front of it.
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading The boys were astir early, it being their intention to reach Madison and the Lorry home before Mr. Lorry could get away to cross the lake--providing that proved to be his intention.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "This is a bad morning to be on Fourth Lake," said George, casting an anxious eye upward.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The boys were astir early, it being their intention to reach Madison and the Lorry home before Mr. Lorry could get away to cross the lake--providing that proved to be his intention.
a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
From this reading The boys were astir early, it being their intention to reach Madison and the Lorry home before Mr. Lorry could get away to cross the lake--providing that proved to be his intention.
leadenadjectiveUS /ˈledən/
darkened with overcast
From this reading The rain seemed to be over, and the leaden clouds were being scattered by a fierce wind from the west.
LorrynounUS /ˈlɔːri/
a large low horse-drawn wagon without sides
From this reading The boys were astir early, it being their intention to reach Madison and the Lorry home before Mr. Lorry could get away to cross the lake--providing that proved to be his intention.
MadisonnounUS /ˈmædəsən/
4th President of the United States; member of the Continental Congress and rapporteur at the Constitutional Convention in 1776; helped frame the Bill of Rights (1751-1836)
From this reading The boys were astir early, it being their intention to reach Madison and the Lorry home before Mr. Lorry could get away to cross the lake--providing that proved to be his intention.
McGlory
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boys had a frugal breakfast off the cold food McGlory and Lorry had brought from the cabin, and immediately after they emerged from the cave upon the narrow shelf that ran in front of it.
MINUSadjectiveUS /ˈmaɪnəs/
on the negative side or lower end of a scale
From this reading THE POWER BOAT--MINUS THE POWER.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading "This is a bad morning to be on Fourth Lake," said George, casting an anxious eye upward.
a form of address for a man
From this reading The boys were astir early, it being their intention to reach Madison and the Lorry home before Mr. Lorry could get away to cross the lake--providing that proved to be his intention.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading The boys had a frugal breakfast off the cold food McGlory and Lorry had brought from the cabin, and immediately after they emerged from the cave upon the narrow shelf that ran in front of it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The boys had a frugal breakfast off the cold food McGlory and Lorry had brought from the cabin, and immediately after they emerged from the cave upon the narrow shelf that ran in front of it.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The boys had a frugal breakfast off the cold food McGlory and Lorry had brought from the cabin, and immediately after they emerged from the cave upon the narrow shelf that ran in front of it.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "This is a bad morning to be on Fourth Lake," said George, casting an anxious eye upward.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The rain seemed to be over, and the leaden clouds were being scattered by a fierce wind from the west.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading THE POWER BOAT--MINUS THE POWER.
established beyond doubt
From this reading The boys were astir early, it being their intention to reach Madison and the Lorry home before Mr. Lorry could get away to cross the lake--providing that proved to be his intention.
providingverbUS /prəˈvaɪdɪŋ/
-ing form of “provide” — give something useful or necessary to
From this reading The boys were astir early, it being their intention to reach Madison and the Lorry home before Mr. Lorry could get away to cross the lake--providing that proved to be his intention.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading The rain seemed to be over, and the leaden clouds were being scattered by a fierce wind from the west.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading The boys had a frugal breakfast off the cold food McGlory and Lorry had brought from the cabin, and immediately after they emerged from the cave upon the narrow shelf that ran in front of it.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading The boys were astir early, it being their intention to reach Madison and the Lorry home before Mr. Lorry could get away to cross the lake--providing that proved to be his intention.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "This is a bad morning to be on Fourth Lake," said George, casting an anxious eye upward.
occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space
From this reading The rain seemed to be over, and the leaden clouds were being scattered by a fierce wind from the west.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The rain seemed to be over, and the leaden clouds were being scattered by a fierce wind from the west.
shelfnounUS /ʃelf/
A flat horizontal plane used to hold books or scrolls in a library.
From this reading The boys had a frugal breakfast off the cold food McGlory and Lorry had brought from the cabin, and immediately after they emerged from the cave upon the narrow shelf that ran in front of it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The boys were astir early, it being their intention to reach Madison and the Lorry home before Mr. Lorry could get away to cross the lake--providing that proved to be his intention.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE POWER BOAT--MINUS THE POWER.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The boys were astir early, it being their intention to reach Madison and the Lorry home before Mr. Lorry could get away to cross the lake--providing that proved to be his intention.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The boys had a frugal breakfast off the cold food McGlory and Lorry had brought from the cabin, and immediately after they emerged from the cave upon the narrow shelf that ran in front of it.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "This is a bad morning to be on Fourth Lake," said George, casting an anxious eye upward.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The boys were astir early, it being their intention to reach Madison and the Lorry home before Mr. Lorry could get away to cross the lake--providing that proved to be his intention.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The boys had a frugal breakfast off the cold food McGlory and Lorry had brought from the cabin, and immediately after they emerged from the cave upon the narrow shelf that ran in front of it.
directed up
From this reading "This is a bad morning to be on Fourth Lake," said George, casting an anxious eye upward.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The boys were astir early, it being their intention to reach Madison and the Lorry home before Mr. Lorry could get away to cross the lake--providing that proved to be his intention.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading The rain seemed to be over, and the leaden clouds were being scattered by a fierce wind from the west.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The rain seemed to be over, and the leaden clouds were being scattered by a fierce wind from the west.
