used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Fires were kept briskly burning, and some of the wagoners feeling in a musical humor, shouted songs or hummed melancholy tunes which sounded like a droning accompaniment to the rain.
accompanimentnounUS /əˈkʌmpnɪmənt/
an event or situation that happens at the same time as or in connection with another
From this reading Fires were kept briskly burning, and some of the wagoners feeling in a musical humor, shouted songs or hummed melancholy tunes which sounded like a droning accompaniment to the rain.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Fires were kept briskly burning, and some of the wagoners feeling in a musical humor, shouted songs or hummed melancholy tunes which sounded like a droning accompaniment to the rain.
apronnounUS /ˈeɪprən/
a garment of cloth or leather or plastic that is tied about the waist and worn to protect your clothing
From this reading Robert Day crept out of the carriage, having with him the oil-cloth apron and a plan.
in a state of sleep
From this reading But the camp was too exciting to let the children fall asleep early.
barksnounUS /bɑːrks/
plural of “bark” — tough protective covering of the woody stems and roots of trees and other woody plants
From this reading It was no beating, boisterous, drenching tempest, but a lullaby rain, bringing out the smell of barks, of pennyroyal and May-apple and wild sweet-williams from the deep woods.
the act of overcoming or outdoing
From this reading It was no beating, boisterous, drenching tempest, but a lullaby rain, bringing out the smell of barks, of pennyroyal and May-apple and wild sweet-williams from the deep woods.
boisterousadjectiveUS /ˈbɔɪstərəs/
noisy and lacking in restraint or discipline
From this reading It was no beating, boisterous, drenching tempest, but a lullaby rain, bringing out the smell of barks, of pennyroyal and May-apple and wild sweet-williams from the deep woods.
the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail)
From this reading It was no beating, boisterous, drenching tempest, but a lullaby rain, bringing out the smell of barks, of pennyroyal and May-apple and wild sweet-williams from the deep woods.
brisklyadverbUS /ˈbrɪskli/
in a brisk manner
From this reading Fires were kept briskly burning, and some of the wagoners feeling in a musical humor, shouted songs or hummed melancholy tunes which sounded like a droning accompaniment to the rain.
the act of burning something
From this reading Fires were kept briskly burning, and some of the wagoners feeling in a musical humor, shouted songs or hummed melancholy tunes which sounded like a droning accompaniment to the rain.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the camp was too exciting to let the children fall asleep early.
temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
From this reading But the camp was too exciting to let the children fall asleep early.
a railcar where passengers ride
From this reading Robert Day crept out of the carriage, having with him the oil-cloth apron and a plan.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading But the camp was too exciting to let the children fall asleep early.
continuousadjectiveUS /kənˈtɪnjuːəs/
continuing in time or space without interruption
From this reading The rain fell with a continuous murmur, and evidently in slender threads, for it scarcely pattered on the tent.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading Robert Day crept out of the carriage, having with him the oil-cloth apron and a plan.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Robert Day crept out of the carriage, having with him the oil-cloth apron and a plan.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading It was no beating, boisterous, drenching tempest, but a lullaby rain, bringing out the smell of barks, of pennyroyal and May-apple and wild sweet-williams from the deep woods.
drenchingnounUS /ˈdrentʃɪŋ/
the act of making something completely wet
From this reading It was no beating, boisterous, drenching tempest, but a lullaby rain, bringing out the smell of barks, of pennyroyal and May-apple and wild sweet-williams from the deep woods.
droningnounUS /ˈdroʊnɪŋ/
an unchanging intonation
From this reading Fires were kept briskly burning, and some of the wagoners feeling in a musical humor, shouted songs or hummed melancholy tunes which sounded like a droning accompaniment to the rain.
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 But the camp was too exciting to let the children fall asleep early.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading The rain fell with a continuous murmur, and evidently in slender threads, for it scarcely pattered on the tent.
excitingadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsaɪtɪŋ/
creating or arousing excitement
From this reading But the camp was too exciting to let the children fall asleep early.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading But the camp was too exciting to let the children fall asleep early.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading Fires were kept briskly burning, and some of the wagoners feeling in a musical humor, shouted songs or hummed melancholy tunes which sounded like a droning accompaniment to the rain.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading The rain fell with a continuous murmur, and evidently in slender threads, for it scarcely pattered on the tent.
FiresnounUS /ˈfaɪərz/
plural of “fire” — the event of something burning (often destructive)
From this reading Fires were kept briskly burning, and some of the wagoners feeling in a musical humor, shouted songs or hummed melancholy tunes which sounded like a droning accompaniment to the rain.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The rain fell with a continuous murmur, and evidently in slender threads, for it scarcely pattered on the tent.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was no beating, boisterous, drenching tempest, but a lullaby rain, bringing out the smell of barks, of pennyroyal and May-apple and wild sweet-williams from the deep woods.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Robert Day crept out of the carriage, having with him the oil-cloth apron and a plan.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Robert Day crept out of the carriage, having with him the oil-cloth apron and a plan.
hummed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fires were kept briskly burning, and some of the wagoners feeling in a musical humor, shouted songs or hummed melancholy tunes which sounded like a droning accompaniment to the rain.
humornounUS /ˈhjuːmər/
a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter
From this reading Fires were kept briskly burning, and some of the wagoners feeling in a musical humor, shouted songs or hummed melancholy tunes which sounded like a droning accompaniment to the rain.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Fires were kept briskly burning, and some of the wagoners feeling in a musical humor, shouted songs or hummed melancholy tunes which sounded like a droning accompaniment to the rain.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The rain fell with a continuous murmur, and evidently in slender threads, for it scarcely pattered on the tent.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading Fires were kept briskly burning, and some of the wagoners feeling in a musical humor, shouted songs or hummed melancholy tunes which sounded like a droning accompaniment to the rain.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading But the camp was too exciting to let the children fall asleep early.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Fires were kept briskly burning, and some of the wagoners feeling in a musical humor, shouted songs or hummed melancholy tunes which sounded like a droning accompaniment to the rain.
lullabynounUS /ˈlʌləbaɪ/
a quiet song intended to lull a child to sleep
From this reading It was no beating, boisterous, drenching tempest, but a lullaby rain, bringing out the smell of barks, of pennyroyal and May-apple and wild sweet-williams from the deep woods.
May-apple
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was no beating, boisterous, drenching tempest, but a lullaby rain, bringing out the smell of barks, of pennyroyal and May-apple and wild sweet-williams from the deep woods.
a feeling of thoughtful sadness
From this reading Fires were kept briskly burning, and some of the wagoners feeling in a musical humor, shouted songs or hummed melancholy tunes which sounded like a droning accompaniment to the rain.
a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech
From this reading The rain fell with a continuous murmur, and evidently in slender threads, for it scarcely pattered on the tent.
musicaladjectiveUS /ˈmjuːzɪkəl/
characterized by or capable of producing music
From this reading Fires were kept briskly burning, and some of the wagoners feeling in a musical humor, shouted songs or hummed melancholy tunes which sounded like a droning accompaniment to the rain.
not any; not one
From this reading It was no beating, boisterous, drenching tempest, but a lullaby rain, bringing out the smell of barks, of pennyroyal and May-apple and wild sweet-williams from the deep woods.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Fires were kept briskly burning, and some of the wagoners feeling in a musical humor, shouted songs or hummed melancholy tunes which sounded like a droning accompaniment to the rain.
oil-cloth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Robert Day crept out of the carriage, having with him the oil-cloth apron and a plan.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The rain fell with a continuous murmur, and evidently in slender threads, for it scarcely pattered on the tent.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Fires were kept briskly burning, and some of the wagoners feeling in a musical humor, shouted songs or hummed melancholy tunes which sounded like a droning accompaniment to the rain.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It was no beating, boisterous, drenching tempest, but a lullaby rain, bringing out the smell of barks, of pennyroyal and May-apple and wild sweet-williams from the deep woods.
patteredverbUS /ˈpætərd/
past form of “patter” — rain gently
From this reading The rain fell with a continuous murmur, and evidently in slender threads, for it scarcely pattered on the tent.
pennyroyalnoun
Eurasian perennial mint have small lilac-blue flowers and ovate leaves; yields an aromatic oil
From this reading It was no beating, boisterous, drenching tempest, but a lullaby rain, bringing out the smell of barks, of pennyroyal and May-apple and wild sweet-williams from the deep woods.
have the will and intention to carry out some action
From this reading Robert Day crept out of the carriage, having with him the oil-cloth apron and a plan.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading Fires were kept briskly burning, and some of the wagoners feeling in a musical humor, shouted songs or hummed melancholy tunes which sounded like a droning accompaniment to the rain.
United States parliamentary authority and author (in 1876) of Robert's Rules of Order (1837-1923)
From this reading Robert Day crept out of the carriage, having with him the oil-cloth apron and a plan.
only a very short time before
From this reading The rain fell with a continuous murmur, and evidently in slender threads, for it scarcely pattered on the tent.
in a vehement outcry
From this reading Fires were kept briskly burning, and some of the wagoners feeling in a musical humor, shouted songs or hummed melancholy tunes which sounded like a droning accompaniment to the rain.
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading The rain fell with a continuous murmur, and evidently in slender threads, for it scarcely pattered on the tent.
the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading It was no beating, boisterous, drenching tempest, but a lullaby rain, bringing out the smell of barks, of pennyroyal and May-apple and wild sweet-williams from the deep woods.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Fires were kept briskly burning, and some of the wagoners feeling in a musical humor, shouted songs or hummed melancholy tunes which sounded like a droning accompaniment to the rain.
plural of “song” — a short musical composition with words
From this reading Fires were kept briskly burning, and some of the wagoners feeling in a musical humor, shouted songs or hummed melancholy tunes which sounded like a droning accompaniment to the rain.
past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way
From this reading Fires were kept briskly burning, and some of the wagoners feeling in a musical humor, shouted songs or hummed melancholy tunes which sounded like a droning accompaniment to the rain.
sweet-williams
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was no beating, boisterous, drenching tempest, but a lullaby rain, bringing out the smell of barks, of pennyroyal and May-apple and wild sweet-williams from the deep woods.
tempestnounUS /ˈtempəst/
a violent commotion or disturbance
From this reading It was no beating, boisterous, drenching tempest, but a lullaby rain, bringing out the smell of barks, of pennyroyal and May-apple and wild sweet-williams from the deep woods.
a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading The rain fell with a continuous murmur, and evidently in slender threads, for it scarcely pattered on the tent.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But the camp was too exciting to let the children fall asleep early.
threadsnounUS /θredz/
informal terms for clothing
From this reading The rain fell with a continuous murmur, and evidently in slender threads, for it scarcely pattered on the tent.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But the camp was too exciting to let the children fall asleep early.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading But the camp was too exciting to let the children fall asleep early.
tunesnounUS /tuːnz/
plural of “tune” — a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence
From this reading Fires were kept briskly burning, and some of the wagoners feeling in a musical humor, shouted songs or hummed melancholy tunes which sounded like a droning accompaniment to the rain.
wagoners
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fires were kept briskly burning, and some of the wagoners feeling in a musical humor, shouted songs or hummed melancholy tunes which sounded like a droning accompaniment to the rain.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But the camp was too exciting to let the children fall asleep early.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Fires were kept briskly burning, and some of the wagoners feeling in a musical humor, shouted songs or hummed melancholy tunes which sounded like a droning accompaniment to the rain.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Fires were kept briskly burning, and some of the wagoners feeling in a musical humor, shouted songs or hummed melancholy tunes which sounded like a droning accompaniment to the rain.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading It was no beating, boisterous, drenching tempest, but a lullaby rain, bringing out the smell of barks, of pennyroyal and May-apple and wild sweet-williams from the deep woods.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The rain fell with a continuous murmur, and evidently in slender threads, for it scarcely pattered on the tent.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading It was no beating, boisterous, drenching tempest, but a lullaby rain, bringing out the smell of barks, of pennyroyal and May-apple and wild sweet-williams from the deep woods.
