used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A pillar of creamish-blue smoke rose like a sacrificial column from section Two; rose until it thinned and flattened out against the still, warm, summer heaven.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The day after Spoof's visit I was plowing with the oxen, followed by an Indian file of expectant blackbirds trailing along in my fresh-turned furrow, when I suddenly became aware of Jack running toward me.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading A pillar of creamish-blue smoke rose like a sacrificial column from section Two; rose until it thinned and flattened out against the still, warm, summer heaven.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The day after Spoof's visit I was plowing with the oxen, followed by an Indian file of expectant blackbirds trailing along in my fresh-turned furrow, when I suddenly became aware of Jack running toward me.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The day after Spoof's visit I was plowing with the oxen, followed by an Indian file of expectant blackbirds trailing along in my fresh-turned furrow, when I suddenly became aware of Jack running toward me.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He pointed in the direction of Spoof's homestead, and I turned my face to the south.
(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
From this reading The day after Spoof's visit I was plowing with the oxen, followed by an Indian file of expectant blackbirds trailing along in my fresh-turned furrow, when I suddenly became aware of Jack running toward me.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading The day after Spoof's visit I was plowing with the oxen, followed by an Indian file of expectant blackbirds trailing along in my fresh-turned furrow, when I suddenly became aware of Jack running toward me.
blackbirdsnounUS /ˈblækbərdz/
plural of “blackbird” — any bird of the family Icteridae whose male is black or predominantly black
From this reading The day after Spoof's visit I was plowing with the oxen, followed by an Indian file of expectant blackbirds trailing along in my fresh-turned furrow, when I suddenly became aware of Jack running toward me.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The day after Spoof's visit I was plowing with the oxen, followed by an Indian file of expectant blackbirds trailing along in my fresh-turned furrow, when I suddenly became aware of Jack running toward me.
columnnounUS /ˈkɑːləm/
a line of units following one after another
From this reading A pillar of creamish-blue smoke rose like a sacrificial column from section Two; rose until it thinned and flattened out against the still, warm, summer heaven.
creamish-blue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A pillar of creamish-blue smoke rose like a sacrificial column from section Two; rose until it thinned and flattened out against the still, warm, summer heaven.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The day after Spoof's visit I was plowing with the oxen, followed by an Indian file of expectant blackbirds trailing along in my fresh-turned furrow, when I suddenly became aware of Jack running toward me.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading He pointed in the direction of Spoof's homestead, and I turned my face to the south.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "What do you make of it?" said Jack, wiping the perspiration from his forehead with the sleeve of his shirt.
expectantadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspektənt/
marked by eager anticipation
From this reading The day after Spoof's visit I was plowing with the oxen, followed by an Indian file of expectant blackbirds trailing along in my fresh-turned furrow, when I suddenly became aware of Jack running toward me.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading He pointed in the direction of Spoof's homestead, and I turned my face to the south.
far-fetchedadjective
(of an idea or story) so exaggerated or ludicrous as to be improbable
From this reading I was seized with a sudden and far-fetched sense of humor.
fileverbUS /faɪl/
record in a public office or in a court of law
From this reading The day after Spoof's visit I was plowing with the oxen, followed by an Indian file of expectant blackbirds trailing along in my fresh-turned furrow, when I suddenly became aware of Jack running toward me.
flattenedadjectiveUS /ˈflætənd/
having been flattened
From this reading A pillar of creamish-blue smoke rose like a sacrificial column from section Two; rose until it thinned and flattened out against the still, warm, summer heaven.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading The day after Spoof's visit I was plowing with the oxen, followed by an Indian file of expectant blackbirds trailing along in my fresh-turned furrow, when I suddenly became aware of Jack running toward me.
the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading "What do you make of it?" said Jack, wiping the perspiration from his forehead with the sleeve of his shirt.
fresh-turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The day after Spoof's visit I was plowing with the oxen, followed by an Indian file of expectant blackbirds trailing along in my fresh-turned furrow, when I suddenly became aware of Jack running toward me.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A pillar of creamish-blue smoke rose like a sacrificial column from section Two; rose until it thinned and flattened out against the still, warm, summer heaven.
furrowverbUS /ˈfɜːroʊ/
hollow out in the form of a furrow or groove
From this reading The day after Spoof's visit I was plowing with the oxen, followed by an Indian file of expectant blackbirds trailing along in my fresh-turned furrow, when I suddenly became aware of Jack running toward me.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He pointed in the direction of Spoof's homestead, and I turned my face to the south.
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
From this reading A pillar of creamish-blue smoke rose like a sacrificial column from section Two; rose until it thinned and flattened out against the still, warm, summer heaven.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "What do you make of it?" said Jack, wiping the perspiration from his forehead with the sleeve of his shirt.
homesteadnounUS /ˈhoʊmsted/
the home and adjacent grounds occupied by a family
From this reading He pointed in the direction of Spoof's homestead, and I turned my face to the south.
humornounUS /ˈhjuːmər/
a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter
From this reading I was seized with a sudden and far-fetched sense of humor.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The day after Spoof's visit I was plowing with the oxen, followed by an Indian file of expectant blackbirds trailing along in my fresh-turned furrow, when I suddenly became aware of Jack running toward me.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The day after Spoof's visit I was plowing with the oxen, followed by an Indian file of expectant blackbirds trailing along in my fresh-turned furrow, when I suddenly became aware of Jack running toward me.
of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures
From this reading The day after Spoof's visit I was plowing with the oxen, followed by an Indian file of expectant blackbirds trailing along in my fresh-turned furrow, when I suddenly became aware of Jack running toward me.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A pillar of creamish-blue smoke rose like a sacrificial column from section Two; rose until it thinned and flattened out against the still, warm, summer heaven.
a small worthless amount
From this reading The day after Spoof's visit I was plowing with the oxen, followed by an Indian file of expectant blackbirds trailing along in my fresh-turned furrow, when I suddenly became aware of Jack running toward me.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading A pillar of creamish-blue smoke rose like a sacrificial column from section Two; rose until it thinned and flattened out against the still, warm, summer heaven.
engage in
From this reading "What do you make of it?" said Jack, wiping the perspiration from his forehead with the sleeve of his shirt.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The day after Spoof's visit I was plowing with the oxen, followed by an Indian file of expectant blackbirds trailing along in my fresh-turned furrow, when I suddenly became aware of Jack running toward me.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading The day after Spoof's visit I was plowing with the oxen, followed by an Indian file of expectant blackbirds trailing along in my fresh-turned furrow, when I suddenly became aware of Jack running toward me.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The day after Spoof's visit I was plowing with the oxen, followed by an Indian file of expectant blackbirds trailing along in my fresh-turned furrow, when I suddenly became aware of Jack running toward me.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading A pillar of creamish-blue smoke rose like a sacrificial column from section Two; rose until it thinned and flattened out against the still, warm, summer heaven.
oxennounUS /ˈɑːksən/
domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age
From this reading The day after Spoof's visit I was plowing with the oxen, followed by an Indian file of expectant blackbirds trailing along in my fresh-turned furrow, when I suddenly became aware of Jack running toward me.
perspirationnounUS /ˌpɜːrspərˈeɪʃən/
salty fluid secreted by sweat glands
From this reading "What do you make of it?" said Jack, wiping the perspiration from his forehead with the sleeve of his shirt.
pillarnounUS /ˈpɪlər/
a fundamental principle or practice
From this reading A pillar of creamish-blue smoke rose like a sacrificial column from section Two; rose until it thinned and flattened out against the still, warm, summer heaven.
plowingnounUS /ˈplaʊɪŋ/
tilling the land with a plow
From this reading The day after Spoof's visit I was plowing with the oxen, followed by an Indian file of expectant blackbirds trailing along in my fresh-turned furrow, when I suddenly became aware of Jack running toward me.
having a point
From this reading He pointed in the direction of Spoof's homestead, and I turned my face to the south.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading A pillar of creamish-blue smoke rose like a sacrificial column from section Two; rose until it thinned and flattened out against the still, warm, summer heaven.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading The day after Spoof's visit I was plowing with the oxen, followed by an Indian file of expectant blackbirds trailing along in my fresh-turned furrow, when I suddenly became aware of Jack running toward me.
sacrificialadjectiveUS /ˌsækrəˈfɪʃəl/
used in or connected with a sacrifice
From this reading A pillar of creamish-blue smoke rose like a sacrificial column from section Two; rose until it thinned and flattened out against the still, warm, summer heaven.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "What do you make of it?" said Jack, wiping the perspiration from his forehead with the sleeve of his shirt.
sectionnounUS /ˈsekʃən/
a self-contained part of a larger composition (written or musical)
From this reading A pillar of creamish-blue smoke rose like a sacrificial column from section Two; rose until it thinned and flattened out against the still, warm, summer heaven.
past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab
From this reading I was seized with a sudden and far-fetched sense of humor.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading I was seized with a sudden and far-fetched sense of humor.
shirtnounUS /ʃɜːrt/
a garment worn on the upper half of the body
From this reading "What do you make of it?" said Jack, wiping the perspiration from his forehead with the sleeve of his shirt.
sleevenounUS /sliːv/
the part of a garment that is attached at the armhole and that provides a cloth covering for the arm
From this reading "What do you make of it?" said Jack, wiping the perspiration from his forehead with the sleeve of his shirt.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading A pillar of creamish-blue smoke rose like a sacrificial column from section Two; rose until it thinned and flattened out against the still, warm, summer heaven.
the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading He pointed in the direction of Spoof's homestead, and I turned my face to the south.
Spoof's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The day after Spoof's visit I was plowing with the oxen, followed by an Indian file of expectant blackbirds trailing along in my fresh-turned furrow, when I suddenly became aware of Jack running toward me.
not in physical motion
From this reading A pillar of creamish-blue smoke rose like a sacrificial column from section Two; rose until it thinned and flattened out against the still, warm, summer heaven.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading I was seized with a sudden and far-fetched sense of humor.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading The day after Spoof's visit I was plowing with the oxen, followed by an Indian file of expectant blackbirds trailing along in my fresh-turned furrow, when I suddenly became aware of Jack running toward me.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading A pillar of creamish-blue smoke rose like a sacrificial column from section Two; rose until it thinned and flattened out against the still, warm, summer heaven.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The day after Spoof's visit I was plowing with the oxen, followed by an Indian file of expectant blackbirds trailing along in my fresh-turned furrow, when I suddenly became aware of Jack running toward me.
thinnedadjectiveUS /θɪnd/
mixed with water
From this reading A pillar of creamish-blue smoke rose like a sacrificial column from section Two; rose until it thinned and flattened out against the still, warm, summer heaven.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He pointed in the direction of Spoof's homestead, and I turned my face to the south.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading The day after Spoof's visit I was plowing with the oxen, followed by an Indian file of expectant blackbirds trailing along in my fresh-turned furrow, when I suddenly became aware of Jack running toward me.
trailingnounUS /ˈtreɪlɪŋ/
the pursuit (of a person or animal) by following tracks or marks they left behind
From this reading The day after Spoof's visit I was plowing with the oxen, followed by an Indian file of expectant blackbirds trailing along in my fresh-turned furrow, when I suddenly became aware of Jack running toward me.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading He pointed in the direction of Spoof's homestead, and I turned my face to the south.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading A pillar of creamish-blue smoke rose like a sacrificial column from section Two; rose until it thinned and flattened out against the still, warm, summer heaven.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading A pillar of creamish-blue smoke rose like a sacrificial column from section Two; rose until it thinned and flattened out against the still, warm, summer heaven.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading The day after Spoof's visit I was plowing with the oxen, followed by an Indian file of expectant blackbirds trailing along in my fresh-turned furrow, when I suddenly became aware of Jack running toward me.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading A pillar of creamish-blue smoke rose like a sacrificial column from section Two; rose until it thinned and flattened out against the still, warm, summer heaven.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The day after Spoof's visit I was plowing with the oxen, followed by an Indian file of expectant blackbirds trailing along in my fresh-turned furrow, when I suddenly became aware of Jack running toward me.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What do you make of it?" said Jack, wiping the perspiration from his forehead with the sleeve of his shirt.
at the time that
From this reading The day after Spoof's visit I was plowing with the oxen, followed by an Indian file of expectant blackbirds trailing along in my fresh-turned furrow, when I suddenly became aware of Jack running toward me.
wipingverbUS /ˈwaɪpɪŋ/
-ing form of “wipe” — rub with a circular motion
From this reading "What do you make of it?" said Jack, wiping the perspiration from his forehead with the sleeve of his shirt.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The day after Spoof's visit I was plowing with the oxen, followed by an Indian file of expectant blackbirds trailing along in my fresh-turned furrow, when I suddenly became aware of Jack running toward me.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "What do you make of it?" said Jack, wiping the perspiration from his forehead with the sleeve of his shirt.
