used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Just beyond the trees and undergrowth that surrounds Oak's Pond, a stretch of sand hills offered the youngsters an ideal playground.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading THE CAVE-IN There was no time to think of wet garments as Nancy raced after Ted toward the sand dunes.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Just beyond the trees and undergrowth that surrounds Oak's Pond, a stretch of sand hills offered the youngsters an ideal playground.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "They're the little fellows, Billy and Jack, and they must be under the sand."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE CAVE-IN There was no time to think of wet garments as Nancy raced after Ted toward the sand dunes.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A few scrubby pines managed to draw from the dry soil enough vitality for a very much impoverished growth, and it was from the direction of the trees that the feeble call was now heard, at protracted intervals.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "They're the little fellows, Billy and Jack, and they must be under the sand."
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Just beyond the trees and undergrowth that surrounds Oak's Pond, a stretch of sand hills offered the youngsters an ideal playground.
a short stout club used primarily by policemen
From this reading "They're the little fellows, Billy and Jack, and they must be under the sand."
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading A few scrubby pines managed to draw from the dry soil enough vitality for a very much impoverished growth, and it was from the direction of the trees that the feeble call was now heard, at protracted intervals.
CAVE-IN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CAVE-IN There was no time to think of wet garments as Nancy raced after Ted toward the sand dunes.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading A few scrubby pines managed to draw from the dry soil enough vitality for a very much impoverished growth, and it was from the direction of the trees that the feeble call was now heard, at protracted intervals.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading A few scrubby pines managed to draw from the dry soil enough vitality for a very much impoverished growth, and it was from the direction of the trees that the feeble call was now heard, at protracted intervals.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading A few scrubby pines managed to draw from the dry soil enough vitality for a very much impoverished growth, and it was from the direction of the trees that the feeble call was now heard, at protracted intervals.
dunesnounUS /duːnz/
plural of “dune” — a ridge of sand created by the wind; found in deserts or near lakes and oceans
From this reading THE CAVE-IN There was no time to think of wet garments as Nancy raced after Ted toward the sand dunes.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading A few scrubby pines managed to draw from the dry soil enough vitality for a very much impoverished growth, and it was from the direction of the trees that the feeble call was now heard, at protracted intervals.
feebleadjectiveUS /ˈfiːbəl/
pathetically lacking in force or effectiveness
From this reading A few scrubby pines managed to draw from the dry soil enough vitality for a very much impoverished growth, and it was from the direction of the trees that the feeble call was now heard, at protracted intervals.
plural of “fellow” — a boy or man
From this reading "They're the little fellows, Billy and Jack, and they must be under the sand."
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A few scrubby pines managed to draw from the dry soil enough vitality for a very much impoverished growth, and it was from the direction of the trees that the feeble call was now heard, at protracted intervals.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A few scrubby pines managed to draw from the dry soil enough vitality for a very much impoverished growth, and it was from the direction of the trees that the feeble call was now heard, at protracted intervals.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A few scrubby pines managed to draw from the dry soil enough vitality for a very much impoverished growth, and it was from the direction of the trees that the feeble call was now heard, at protracted intervals.
garmentsnounUS /ˈɡɑːrmənts/
plural of “garment” — an article of clothing
From this reading THE CAVE-IN There was no time to think of wet garments as Nancy raced after Ted toward the sand dunes.
growthnounUS /ɡroʊθ/
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading A few scrubby pines managed to draw from the dry soil enough vitality for a very much impoverished growth, and it was from the direction of the trees that the feeble call was now heard, at protracted intervals.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Quick," he urged.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading A few scrubby pines managed to draw from the dry soil enough vitality for a very much impoverished growth, and it was from the direction of the trees that the feeble call was now heard, at protracted intervals.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading Just beyond the trees and undergrowth that surrounds Oak's Pond, a stretch of sand hills offered the youngsters an ideal playground.
idealadjectiveUS /aɪˈdiːl/
conforming to an ultimate standard of perfection or excellence; embodying an ideal
From this reading Just beyond the trees and undergrowth that surrounds Oak's Pond, a stretch of sand hills offered the youngsters an ideal playground.
impoverishedadjectiveUS /ɪmˈpɒv.ər.ɪʃt/
Reduced to poverty; having very little money or resources.
From this reading A few scrubby pines managed to draw from the dry soil enough vitality for a very much impoverished growth, and it was from the direction of the trees that the feeble call was now heard, at protracted intervals.
intervalsnounUS /ˈɪntərvəlz/
plural of “interval” — a definite length of time marked off by two instants
From this reading A few scrubby pines managed to draw from the dry soil enough vitality for a very much impoverished growth, and it was from the direction of the trees that the feeble call was now heard, at protracted intervals.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A few scrubby pines managed to draw from the dry soil enough vitality for a very much impoverished growth, and it was from the direction of the trees that the feeble call was now heard, at protracted intervals.
a small worthless amount
From this reading "They're the little fellows, Billy and Jack, and they must be under the sand."
and nothing more
From this reading Just beyond the trees and undergrowth that surrounds Oak's Pond, a stretch of sand hills offered the youngsters an ideal playground.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "They're the little fellows, Billy and Jack, and they must be under the sand."
past form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal
From this reading A few scrubby pines managed to draw from the dry soil enough vitality for a very much impoverished growth, and it was from the direction of the trees that the feeble call was now heard, at protracted intervals.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading A few scrubby pines managed to draw from the dry soil enough vitality for a very much impoverished growth, and it was from the direction of the trees that the feeble call was now heard, at protracted intervals.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "They're the little fellows, Billy and Jack, and they must be under the sand."
NancynounUS /ˈnænsi/
a city in northeastern France in Lorraine
From this reading THE CAVE-IN There was no time to think of wet garments as Nancy raced after Ted toward the sand dunes.
not any; not one
From this reading THE CAVE-IN There was no time to think of wet garments as Nancy raced after Ted toward the sand dunes.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading A few scrubby pines managed to draw from the dry soil enough vitality for a very much impoverished growth, and it was from the direction of the trees that the feeble call was now heard, at protracted intervals.
Oak'snounUS /oʊks/
possessive form of “oak” — the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring
From this reading Just beyond the trees and undergrowth that surrounds Oak's Pond, a stretch of sand hills offered the youngsters an ideal playground.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE CAVE-IN There was no time to think of wet garments as Nancy raced after Ted toward the sand dunes.
past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading Just beyond the trees and undergrowth that surrounds Oak's Pond, a stretch of sand hills offered the youngsters an ideal playground.
pinesnounUS /paɪnz/
plural of “pine” — a coniferous tree
From this reading A few scrubby pines managed to draw from the dry soil enough vitality for a very much impoverished growth, and it was from the direction of the trees that the feeble call was now heard, at protracted intervals.
playgroundnounUS /ˈpleɪɡraʊnd/
an area where many people go for recreation
From this reading Just beyond the trees and undergrowth that surrounds Oak's Pond, a stretch of sand hills offered the youngsters an ideal playground.
PondnounUS /pɑːnd/
a small lake
From this reading Just beyond the trees and undergrowth that surrounds Oak's Pond, a stretch of sand hills offered the youngsters an ideal playground.
protractedadjectiveUS /proʊˈtræktɪd/
relatively long in duration; tediously protracted
From this reading A few scrubby pines managed to draw from the dry soil enough vitality for a very much impoverished growth, and it was from the direction of the trees that the feeble call was now heard, at protracted intervals.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading "Quick," he urged.
racedverbUS /reɪst/
past form of “race” — move hurridly
From this reading THE CAVE-IN There was no time to think of wet garments as Nancy raced after Ted toward the sand dunes.
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading THE CAVE-IN There was no time to think of wet garments as Nancy raced after Ted toward the sand dunes.
scrubbyadjectiveUS /ˈskrʌbi/
sparsely covered with stunted trees or vegetation and underbrush
From this reading A few scrubby pines managed to draw from the dry soil enough vitality for a very much impoverished growth, and it was from the direction of the trees that the feeble call was now heard, at protracted intervals.
the state of being covered with unclean things
From this reading A few scrubby pines managed to draw from the dry soil enough vitality for a very much impoverished growth, and it was from the direction of the trees that the feeble call was now heard, at protracted intervals.
stretchverbUS /stretʃ/
occupy a large, elongated area
From this reading Just beyond the trees and undergrowth that surrounds Oak's Pond, a stretch of sand hills offered the youngsters an ideal playground.
surroundsnounUS /sərˈaʊndz/
plural of “surround” — the area in which something exists or lives
From this reading Just beyond the trees and undergrowth that surrounds Oak's Pond, a stretch of sand hills offered the youngsters an ideal playground.
TednounUS /ted/
a tough youth of 1950's and 1960's wearing Edwardian style clothes
From this reading THE CAVE-IN There was no time to think of wet garments as Nancy raced after Ted toward the sand dunes.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Just beyond the trees and undergrowth that surrounds Oak's Pond, a stretch of sand hills offered the youngsters an ideal playground.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CAVE-IN There was no time to think of wet garments as Nancy raced after Ted toward the sand dunes.
in or at that place or location
From this reading THE CAVE-IN There was no time to think of wet garments as Nancy raced after Ted toward the sand dunes.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "They're the little fellows, Billy and Jack, and they must be under the sand."
They're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "They're the little fellows, Billy and Jack, and they must be under the sand."
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading THE CAVE-IN There was no time to think of wet garments as Nancy raced after Ted toward the sand dunes.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading THE CAVE-IN There was no time to think of wet garments as Nancy raced after Ted toward the sand dunes.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE CAVE-IN There was no time to think of wet garments as Nancy raced after Ted toward the sand dunes.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading THE CAVE-IN There was no time to think of wet garments as Nancy raced after Ted toward the sand dunes.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading Just beyond the trees and undergrowth that surrounds Oak's Pond, a stretch of sand hills offered the youngsters an ideal playground.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading "They're the little fellows, Billy and Jack, and they must be under the sand."
undergrowthnounUS /ˈʌndərɡroʊθ/
the brush (small trees and bushes and ferns etc.) growing beneath taller trees in a wood or forest
From this reading Just beyond the trees and undergrowth that surrounds Oak's Pond, a stretch of sand hills offered the youngsters an ideal playground.
past form of “urge” — force or impel in an indicated direction
From this reading "Quick," he urged.
precisely as stated
From this reading A few scrubby pines managed to draw from the dry soil enough vitality for a very much impoverished growth, and it was from the direction of the trees that the feeble call was now heard, at protracted intervals.
vitalitynounUS /vaɪˈtæləti/
an energetic style
From this reading A few scrubby pines managed to draw from the dry soil enough vitality for a very much impoverished growth, and it was from the direction of the trees that the feeble call was now heard, at protracted intervals.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE CAVE-IN There was no time to think of wet garments as Nancy raced after Ted toward the sand dunes.
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading THE CAVE-IN There was no time to think of wet garments as Nancy raced after Ted toward the sand dunes.
youngstersnounUS /ˈjʌŋstərz/
plural of “youngster” — a young person of either sex
From this reading Just beyond the trees and undergrowth that surrounds Oak's Pond, a stretch of sand hills offered the youngsters an ideal playground.
