used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A PERFECTLY GORGEOUS IDEA Ned and Bob were watching Thomas, the man-of-all-work, rolling the cinder surface of the new tennis-court.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A PERFECTLY GORGEOUS IDEA Ned and Bob were watching Thomas, the man-of-all-work, rolling the cinder surface of the new tennis-court.
arrestedverbUS /ərˈestɪd/
past form of “arrest” — take into custody
From this reading “Thought maybe they’d had you arrested.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “What happened to you?” asked Ned.
bailingverbUS /ˈbeɪlɪŋ/
-ing form of “bail” — release after a security has been paid
From this reading Bob and I were just talking of pooling our resources and bailing you out.”
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Theirs was a pleasant occupation for such a morning, and Laurie joined them where they sat on a pile of posts and boards that had once been a grape-arbor and that had been removed to make way for the court.
boardsnounUS /bɔːrdz/
(used in the plural) the stage of a theater
From this reading Theirs was a pleasant occupation for such a morning, and Laurie joined them where they sat on a pile of posts and boards that had once been a grape-arbor and that had been removed to make way for the court.
move up and down repeatedly
From this reading A PERFECTLY GORGEOUS IDEA Ned and Bob were watching Thomas, the man-of-all-work, rolling the cinder surface of the new tennis-court.
cindernounUS /ˈsɪndər/
a fragment of incombustible matter left after a wood or coal or charcoal fire
From this reading A PERFECTLY GORGEOUS IDEA Ned and Bob were watching Thomas, the man-of-all-work, rolling the cinder surface of the new tennis-court.
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
From this reading Theirs was a pleasant occupation for such a morning, and Laurie joined them where they sat on a pile of posts and boards that had once been a grape-arbor and that had been removed to make way for the court.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Theirs was a pleasant occupation for such a morning, and Laurie joined them where they sat on a pile of posts and boards that had once been a grape-arbor and that had been removed to make way for the court.
GORGEOUSadjectiveUS /ˈɡɔːrdʒəs/
dazzlingly beautiful
From this reading A PERFECTLY GORGEOUS IDEA Ned and Bob were watching Thomas, the man-of-all-work, rolling the cinder surface of the new tennis-court.
grape-arbor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Theirs was a pleasant occupation for such a morning, and Laurie joined them where they sat on a pile of posts and boards that had once been a grape-arbor and that had been removed to make way for the court.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Theirs was a pleasant occupation for such a morning, and Laurie joined them where they sat on a pile of posts and boards that had once been a grape-arbor and that had been removed to make way for the court.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading “What happened to you?” asked Ned.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Bob and I were just talking of pooling our resources and bailing you out.”
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading A PERFECTLY GORGEOUS IDEA Ned and Bob were watching Thomas, the man-of-all-work, rolling the cinder surface of the new tennis-court.
of or relating to two people who are married to each other
From this reading Theirs was a pleasant occupation for such a morning, and Laurie joined them where they sat on a pile of posts and boards that had once been a grape-arbor and that had been removed to make way for the court.
and nothing more
From this reading Bob and I were just talking of pooling our resources and bailing you out.”
Laurie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Theirs was a pleasant occupation for such a morning, and Laurie joined them where they sat on a pile of posts and boards that had once been a grape-arbor and that had been removed to make way for the court.
engage in
From this reading Theirs was a pleasant occupation for such a morning, and Laurie joined them where they sat on a pile of posts and boards that had once been a grape-arbor and that had been removed to make way for the court.
man-of-all-work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A PERFECTLY GORGEOUS IDEA Ned and Bob were watching Thomas, the man-of-all-work, rolling the cinder surface of the new tennis-court.
by chance
From this reading “Thought maybe they’d had you arrested.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Theirs was a pleasant occupation for such a morning, and Laurie joined them where they sat on a pile of posts and boards that had once been a grape-arbor and that had been removed to make way for the court.
Ned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A PERFECTLY GORGEOUS IDEA Ned and Bob were watching Thomas, the man-of-all-work, rolling the cinder surface of the new tennis-court.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading A PERFECTLY GORGEOUS IDEA Ned and Bob were watching Thomas, the man-of-all-work, rolling the cinder surface of the new tennis-court.
occupationnounUS /ˌɑːkjəˈpeɪʃən/
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading Theirs was a pleasant occupation for such a morning, and Laurie joined them where they sat on a pile of posts and boards that had once been a grape-arbor and that had been removed to make way for the court.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A PERFECTLY GORGEOUS IDEA Ned and Bob were watching Thomas, the man-of-all-work, rolling the cinder surface of the new tennis-court.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Theirs was a pleasant occupation for such a morning, and Laurie joined them where they sat on a pile of posts and boards that had once been a grape-arbor and that had been removed to make way for the court.
on one occasion
From this reading Theirs was a pleasant occupation for such a morning, and Laurie joined them where they sat on a pile of posts and boards that had once been a grape-arbor and that had been removed to make way for the court.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Bob and I were just talking of pooling our resources and bailing you out.”
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Bob and I were just talking of pooling our resources and bailing you out.”
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading A PERFECTLY GORGEOUS IDEA Ned and Bob were watching Thomas, the man-of-all-work, rolling the cinder surface of the new tennis-court.
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading Theirs was a pleasant occupation for such a morning, and Laurie joined them where they sat on a pile of posts and boards that had once been a grape-arbor and that had been removed to make way for the court.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading Theirs was a pleasant occupation for such a morning, and Laurie joined them where they sat on a pile of posts and boards that had once been a grape-arbor and that had been removed to make way for the court.
poolingverbUS /ˈpuːlɪŋ/
-ing form of “pool” — combine into a common fund
From this reading Bob and I were just talking of pooling our resources and bailing you out.”
postsnounUS /poʊsts/
plural of “post” — the position where someone (as a guard or sentry) stands or is assigned to stand
From this reading Theirs was a pleasant occupation for such a morning, and Laurie joined them where they sat on a pile of posts and boards that had once been a grape-arbor and that had been removed to make way for the court.
separated in relationship by a given degree of descent
From this reading Theirs was a pleasant occupation for such a morning, and Laurie joined them where they sat on a pile of posts and boards that had once been a grape-arbor and that had been removed to make way for the court.
resourcesnounUS /ˈriːsɔːrsɪz/
plural of “resource” — available source of wealth; a new or reserve supply that can be drawn upon when needed
From this reading Bob and I were just talking of pooling our resources and bailing you out.”
uttered with a trill
From this reading A PERFECTLY GORGEOUS IDEA Ned and Bob were watching Thomas, the man-of-all-work, rolling the cinder surface of the new tennis-court.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Theirs was a pleasant occupation for such a morning, and Laurie joined them where they sat on a pile of posts and boards that had once been a grape-arbor and that had been removed to make way for the court.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Theirs was a pleasant occupation for such a morning, and Laurie joined them where they sat on a pile of posts and boards that had once been a grape-arbor and that had been removed to make way for the court.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading A PERFECTLY GORGEOUS IDEA Ned and Bob were watching Thomas, the man-of-all-work, rolling the cinder surface of the new tennis-court.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading Bob and I were just talking of pooling our resources and bailing you out.”
tennis-court
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A PERFECTLY GORGEOUS IDEA Ned and Bob were watching Thomas, the man-of-all-work, rolling the cinder surface of the new tennis-court.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Theirs was a pleasant occupation for such a morning, and Laurie joined them where they sat on a pile of posts and boards that had once been a grape-arbor and that had been removed to make way for the court.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A PERFECTLY GORGEOUS IDEA Ned and Bob were watching Thomas, the man-of-all-work, rolling the cinder surface of the new tennis-court.
TheirspronounUS /ðerz/
the one or ones belonging to them
From this reading Theirs was a pleasant occupation for such a morning, and Laurie joined them where they sat on a pile of posts and boards that had once been a grape-arbor and that had been removed to make way for the court.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Theirs was a pleasant occupation for such a morning, and Laurie joined them where they sat on a pile of posts and boards that had once been a grape-arbor and that had been removed to make way for the court.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Theirs was a pleasant occupation for such a morning, and Laurie joined them where they sat on a pile of posts and boards that had once been a grape-arbor and that had been removed to make way for the court.
they'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Thought maybe they’d had you arrested.
United States clockmaker who introduced mass production (1785-1859)
From this reading A PERFECTLY GORGEOUS IDEA Ned and Bob were watching Thomas, the man-of-all-work, rolling the cinder surface of the new tennis-court.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading “Thought maybe they’d had you arrested.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Theirs was a pleasant occupation for such a morning, and Laurie joined them where they sat on a pile of posts and boards that had once been a grape-arbor and that had been removed to make way for the court.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Theirs was a pleasant occupation for such a morning, and Laurie joined them where they sat on a pile of posts and boards that had once been a grape-arbor and that had been removed to make way for the court.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading A PERFECTLY GORGEOUS IDEA Ned and Bob were watching Thomas, the man-of-all-work, rolling the cinder surface of the new tennis-court.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Theirs was a pleasant occupation for such a morning, and Laurie joined them where they sat on a pile of posts and boards that had once been a grape-arbor and that had been removed to make way for the court.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A PERFECTLY GORGEOUS IDEA Ned and Bob were watching Thomas, the man-of-all-work, rolling the cinder surface of the new tennis-court.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “What happened to you?” asked Ned.
in or at the place that
From this reading Theirs was a pleasant occupation for such a morning, and Laurie joined them where they sat on a pile of posts and boards that had once been a grape-arbor and that had been removed to make way for the court.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “What happened to you?” asked Ned.
