used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a bright fall day when Amos and he stepped out the kitchen door.
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
From this reading Each boy had been given meat and bread, some cakes and apples, for their midday meal, and Chris stood looking up and down the street for a moment before starting, savoring the promise of new sights and new adventure.
AmosnounUS /ˈeɪməs/
a Hebrew shepherd and minor prophet
From this reading It was a bright fall day when Amos and he stepped out the kitchen door.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was a bright fall day when Amos and he stepped out the kitchen door.
applesnounUS /ˈæpəlz/
plural of “apple” — fruit with red or yellow or green skin and sweet to tart crisp whitish flesh
From this reading Each boy had been given meat and bread, some cakes and apples, for their midday meal, and Chris stood looking up and down the street for a moment before starting, savoring the promise of new sights and new adventure.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Becky Boozer's huge frame blocked it behind them as she stood in the sun to see them off.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The only drawback was that Amos would not, and must not, know why Chris might be surprised at certain places.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The only drawback was that Amos would not, and must not, know why Chris might be surprised at certain places.
Becky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Becky Boozer's huge frame blocked it behind them as she stood in the sun to see them off.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Each boy had been given meat and bread, some cakes and apples, for their midday meal, and Chris stood looking up and down the street for a moment before starting, savoring the promise of new sights and new adventure.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Each boy had been given meat and bread, some cakes and apples, for their midday meal, and Chris stood looking up and down the street for a moment before starting, savoring the promise of new sights and new adventure.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Becky Boozer's huge frame blocked it behind them as she stood in the sun to see them off.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading The time had come when Chris could go out beyond the confines of Mr. Wicker's gardens.
blockedadjectiveUS /blɑːkt/
closed to traffic
From this reading Becky Boozer's huge frame blocked it behind them as she stood in the sun to see them off.
Boozer's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Becky Boozer's huge frame blocked it behind them as she stood in the sun to see them off.
a youthful male person
From this reading Each boy had been given meat and bread, some cakes and apples, for their midday meal, and Chris stood looking up and down the street for a moment before starting, savoring the promise of new sights and new adventure.
food made from dough of flour or meal and usually raised with yeast or baking powder and then baked
From this reading Each boy had been given meat and bread, some cakes and apples, for their midday meal, and Chris stood looking up and down the street for a moment before starting, savoring the promise of new sights and new adventure.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading It was a bright fall day when Amos and he stepped out the kitchen door.
cakesnounUS /keɪks/
plural of “cake” — a block of solid substance (such as soap or wax)
From this reading Each boy had been given meat and bread, some cakes and apples, for their midday meal, and Chris stood looking up and down the street for a moment before starting, savoring the promise of new sights and new adventure.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading The only drawback was that Amos would not, and must not, know why Chris might be surprised at certain places.
Chris
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The time had come when Chris could go out beyond the confines of Mr. Wicker's gardens.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The time had come when Chris could go out beyond the confines of Mr. Wicker's gardens.
confinesnounUS /ˈkɑːnfaɪnz/
a bounded scope
From this reading The time had come when Chris could go out beyond the confines of Mr. Wicker's gardens.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The time had come when Chris could go out beyond the confines of Mr. Wicker's gardens.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading It was a bright fall day when Amos and he stepped out the kitchen door.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading It was a bright fall day when Amos and he stepped out the kitchen door.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Each boy had been given meat and bread, some cakes and apples, for their midday meal, and Chris stood looking up and down the street for a moment before starting, savoring the promise of new sights and new adventure.
drawbacknounUS /ˈdrɔːbæk/
the quality of being a hindrance
From this reading The only drawback was that Amos would not, and must not, know why Chris might be surprised at certain places.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Each boy had been given meat and bread, some cakes and apples, for their midday meal, and Chris stood looking up and down the street for a moment before starting, savoring the promise of new sights and new adventure.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading It was a bright fall day when Amos and he stepped out the kitchen door.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Each boy had been given meat and bread, some cakes and apples, for their midday meal, and Chris stood looking up and down the street for a moment before starting, savoring the promise of new sights and new adventure.
enclose in or as if in a frame
From this reading Becky Boozer's huge frame blocked it behind them as she stood in the sun to see them off.
plural of “garden” — a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading The time had come when Chris could go out beyond the confines of Mr. Wicker's gardens.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading Each boy had been given meat and bread, some cakes and apples, for their midday meal, and Chris stood looking up and down the street for a moment before starting, savoring the promise of new sights and new adventure.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The time had come when Chris could go out beyond the confines of Mr. Wicker's gardens.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The time had come when Chris could go out beyond the confines of Mr. Wicker's gardens.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was a bright fall day when Amos and he stepped out the kitchen door.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading Becky Boozer's huge frame blocked it behind them as she stood in the sun to see them off.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Becky Boozer's huge frame blocked it behind them as she stood in the sun to see them off.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a bright fall day when Amos and he stepped out the kitchen door.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading It was a bright fall day when Amos and he stepped out the kitchen door.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading The only drawback was that Amos would not, and must not, know why Chris might be surprised at certain places.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Each boy had been given meat and bread, some cakes and apples, for their midday meal, and Chris stood looking up and down the street for a moment before starting, savoring the promise of new sights and new adventure.
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading Each boy had been given meat and bread, some cakes and apples, for their midday meal, and Chris stood looking up and down the street for a moment before starting, savoring the promise of new sights and new adventure.
the flesh of animals (including fishes and birds and snails) used as food
From this reading Each boy had been given meat and bread, some cakes and apples, for their midday meal, and Chris stood looking up and down the street for a moment before starting, savoring the promise of new sights and new adventure.
middaynounUS /ˈmɪddeɪ/
the middle of the day
From this reading Each boy had been given meat and bread, some cakes and apples, for their midday meal, and Chris stood looking up and down the street for a moment before starting, savoring the promise of new sights and new adventure.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The only drawback was that Amos would not, and must not, know why Chris might be surprised at certain places.
a particular point in time
From this reading Each boy had been given meat and bread, some cakes and apples, for their midday meal, and Chris stood looking up and down the street for a moment before starting, savoring the promise of new sights and new adventure.
a form of address for a man
From this reading The time had come when Chris could go out beyond the confines of Mr. Wicker's gardens.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading The only drawback was that Amos would not, and must not, know why Chris might be surprised at certain places.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Each boy had been given meat and bread, some cakes and apples, for their midday meal, and Chris stood looking up and down the street for a moment before starting, savoring the promise of new sights and new adventure.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The only drawback was that Amos would not, and must not, know why Chris might be surprised at certain places.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The time had come when Chris could go out beyond the confines of Mr. Wicker's gardens.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Becky Boozer's huge frame blocked it behind them as she stood in the sun to see them off.
and nothing more
From this reading The only drawback was that Amos would not, and must not, know why Chris might be surprised at certain places.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The time had come when Chris could go out beyond the confines of Mr. Wicker's gardens.
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The only drawback was that Amos would not, and must not, know why Chris might be surprised at certain places.
make a promise or commitment
From this reading Each boy had been given meat and bread, some cakes and apples, for their midday meal, and Chris stood looking up and down the street for a moment before starting, savoring the promise of new sights and new adventure.
savoringnounUS /ˈseɪvərɪŋ/
taking a small amount into the mouth to test its quality
From this reading Each boy had been given meat and bread, some cakes and apples, for their midday meal, and Chris stood looking up and down the street for a moment before starting, savoring the promise of new sights and new adventure.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Becky Boozer's huge frame blocked it behind them as she stood in the sun to see them off.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Becky Boozer's huge frame blocked it behind them as she stood in the sun to see them off.
sightsnounUS /saɪts/
an optical instrument for aiding the eye in aiming, as on a firearm or surveying instrument
From this reading Each boy had been given meat and bread, some cakes and apples, for their midday meal, and Chris stood looking up and down the street for a moment before starting, savoring the promise of new sights and new adventure.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Each boy had been given meat and bread, some cakes and apples, for their midday meal, and Chris stood looking up and down the street for a moment before starting, savoring the promise of new sights and new adventure.
(especially of eyes) bulging or protruding as with fear
From this reading Each boy had been given meat and bread, some cakes and apples, for their midday meal, and Chris stood looking up and down the street for a moment before starting, savoring the promise of new sights and new adventure.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading It was a bright fall day when Amos and he stepped out the kitchen door.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Becky Boozer's huge frame blocked it behind them as she stood in the sun to see them off.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading Each boy had been given meat and bread, some cakes and apples, for their midday meal, and Chris stood looking up and down the street for a moment before starting, savoring the promise of new sights and new adventure.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading Becky Boozer's huge frame blocked it behind them as she stood in the sun to see them off.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading The only drawback was that Amos would not, and must not, know why Chris might be surprised at certain places.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The only drawback was that Amos would not, and must not, know why Chris might be surprised at certain places.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The time had come when Chris could go out beyond the confines of Mr. Wicker's gardens.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Each boy had been given meat and bread, some cakes and apples, for their midday meal, and Chris stood looking up and down the street for a moment before starting, savoring the promise of new sights and new adventure.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Becky Boozer's huge frame blocked it behind them as she stood in the sun to see them off.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The time had come when Chris could go out beyond the confines of Mr. Wicker's gardens.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Becky Boozer's huge frame blocked it behind them as she stood in the sun to see them off.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Each boy had been given meat and bread, some cakes and apples, for their midday meal, and Chris stood looking up and down the street for a moment before starting, savoring the promise of new sights and new adventure.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a bright fall day when Amos and he stepped out the kitchen door.
at the time that
From this reading The time had come when Chris could go out beyond the confines of Mr. Wicker's gardens.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading The only drawback was that Amos would not, and must not, know why Chris might be surprised at certain places.
Wicker'snounUS /ˈwɪkərz/
possessive form of “wicker” — slender flexible branches or twigs (especially of willow or some canes); used for wickerwork
From this reading The time had come when Chris could go out beyond the confines of Mr. Wicker's gardens.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The only drawback was that Amos would not, and must not, know why Chris might be surprised at certain places.
