used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The advance guard, consisting of a few stragglers, set off on the trail around the lake, bent on mischief.
move forward, also in the metaphorical sense
From this reading The advance guard, consisting of a few stragglers, set off on the trail around the lake, bent on mischief.
amuseverbUS /əˈmjuːz/
occupy in an agreeable, entertaining or pleasant fashion
From this reading They intended to amuse themselves with jollying Pee-wee and making fun of whatever childish claptrap he had contrived.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They intended to amuse themselves with jollying Pee-wee and making fun of whatever childish claptrap he had contrived.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading His famous observation tower near Storehouse Cabin had blown down before he had the chance to take any observations from it.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading The advance guard, consisting of a few stragglers, set off on the trail around the lake, bent on mischief.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading His patented springboard had sprung into the lake and floated away.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading His famous observation tower near Storehouse Cabin had blown down before he had the chance to take any observations from it.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading The advance guard, consisting of a few stragglers, set off on the trail around the lake, bent on mischief.
blownadjectiveUS /bloʊn/
being moved or acted upon by moving air or vapor
From this reading His famous observation tower near Storehouse Cabin had blown down before he had the chance to take any observations from it.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading His famous observation tower near Storehouse Cabin had blown down before he had the chance to take any observations from it.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading His famous observation tower near Storehouse Cabin had blown down before he had the chance to take any observations from it.
childishadjectiveUS /ˈtʃaɪldɪʃ/
indicating a lack of maturity
From this reading They intended to amuse themselves with jollying Pee-wee and making fun of whatever childish claptrap he had contrived.
claptrapnoun
pompous or pretentious talk or writing
From this reading They intended to amuse themselves with jollying Pee-wee and making fun of whatever childish claptrap he had contrived.
consistingverbUS /kənˈsɪstɪŋ/
-ing form of “consist” — originate
From this reading The advance guard, consisting of a few stragglers, set off on the trail around the lake, bent on mischief.
contrivedadjectiveUS /kənˈtraɪvd/
showing effects of planning or manipulation
From this reading They intended to amuse themselves with jollying Pee-wee and making fun of whatever childish claptrap he had contrived.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading His famous observation tower near Storehouse Cabin had blown down before he had the chance to take any observations from it.
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 The expeditionary forces were early in starting.
expeditionaryadjectiveUS /ˌekspəˈdɪʃəneri/
(used of military forces) designed for military operations abroad
From this reading The expeditionary forces were early in starting.
widely known and esteemed
From this reading His famous observation tower near Storehouse Cabin had blown down before he had the chance to take any observations from it.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The advance guard, consisting of a few stragglers, set off on the trail around the lake, bent on mischief.
floatedverbUS /ˈfloʊtəd/
past form of “float” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading His patented springboard had sprung into the lake and floated away.
plural of “force” — a powerful effect or influence
From this reading The expeditionary forces were early in starting.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading His famous observation tower near Storehouse Cabin had blown down before he had the chance to take any observations from it.
activities that are enjoyable or amusing
From this reading They intended to amuse themselves with jollying Pee-wee and making fun of whatever childish claptrap he had contrived.
a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading The advance guard, consisting of a few stragglers, set off on the trail around the lake, bent on mischief.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They intended to amuse themselves with jollying Pee-wee and making fun of whatever childish claptrap he had contrived.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They intended to amuse themselves with jollying Pee-wee and making fun of whatever childish claptrap he had contrived.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His famous observation tower near Storehouse Cabin had blown down before he had the chance to take any observations from it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The expeditionary forces were early in starting.
resulting from one's intentions
From this reading They intended to amuse themselves with jollying Pee-wee and making fun of whatever childish claptrap he had contrived.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading His patented springboard had sprung into the lake and floated away.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading His famous observation tower near Storehouse Cabin had blown down before he had the chance to take any observations from it.
jollyingverbUS /ˈdʒɑːliɪŋ/
-ing form of “jolly” — be silly or tease one another
From this reading They intended to amuse themselves with jollying Pee-wee and making fun of whatever childish claptrap he had contrived.
a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
From this reading The advance guard, consisting of a few stragglers, set off on the trail around the lake, bent on mischief.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading They intended to amuse themselves with jollying Pee-wee and making fun of whatever childish claptrap he had contrived.
reckless or malicious behavior that causes discomfort or annoyance in others
From this reading The advance guard, consisting of a few stragglers, set off on the trail around the lake, bent on mischief.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading His famous observation tower near Storehouse Cabin had blown down before he had the chance to take any observations from it.
the act of making and recording a measurement
From this reading His famous observation tower near Storehouse Cabin had blown down before he had the chance to take any observations from it.
observationsnounUS /ˌɑːbzərˈveɪʃənz/
plural of “observation” — the act of making and recording a measurement
From this reading His famous observation tower near Storehouse Cabin had blown down before he had the chance to take any observations from it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The advance guard, consisting of a few stragglers, set off on the trail around the lake, bent on mischief.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The advance guard, consisting of a few stragglers, set off on the trail around the lake, bent on mischief.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The advance guard, consisting of a few stragglers, set off on the trail around the lake, bent on mischief.
patentedadjectiveUS /ˈpætəntɪd/
(of devices and processes) protected by patent
From this reading His patented springboard had sprung into the lake and floated away.
Pee-wee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They intended to amuse themselves with jollying Pee-wee and making fun of whatever childish claptrap he had contrived.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The advance guard, consisting of a few stragglers, set off on the trail around the lake, bent on mischief.
springboardnounUS /ˈsprɪŋbɔːrd/
a flexible board for jumping upward
From this reading His patented springboard had sprung into the lake and floated away.
sprungverbUS /sprʌŋ/
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading His patented springboard had sprung into the lake and floated away.
(especially of eyes) bulging or protruding as with fear
From this reading The expeditionary forces were early in starting.
StorehousenounUS /ˈstɔːrhaʊs/
a depository for goods
From this reading His famous observation tower near Storehouse Cabin had blown down before he had the chance to take any observations from it.
stragglersnounUS /ˈstræɡlərz/
plural of “straggler” — someone who strays or falls behind
From this reading The advance guard, consisting of a few stragglers, set off on the trail around the lake, bent on mischief.
carry out
From this reading His famous observation tower near Storehouse Cabin had blown down before he had the chance to take any observations from it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The expeditionary forces were early in starting.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading They intended to amuse themselves with jollying Pee-wee and making fun of whatever childish claptrap he had contrived.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They intended to amuse themselves with jollying Pee-wee and making fun of whatever childish claptrap he had contrived.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They intended to amuse themselves with jollying Pee-wee and making fun of whatever childish claptrap he had contrived.
a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
From this reading His famous observation tower near Storehouse Cabin had blown down before he had the chance to take any observations from it.
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading The advance guard, consisting of a few stragglers, set off on the trail around the lake, bent on mischief.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The expeditionary forces were early in starting.
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading They intended to amuse themselves with jollying Pee-wee and making fun of whatever childish claptrap he had contrived.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They intended to amuse themselves with jollying Pee-wee and making fun of whatever childish claptrap he had contrived.
