used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The imitation grass, not quite concealing the rug beneath, the painted background, the theatrical (slightly patched) rocks against which the cowboy leans gazing dreamily across an imaginary prairie, the pose of the hunter with rifle ready and finger on the trigger, grimly facing dangerous game which is not there--all reveal a boyish delight in play-acting.
abeyancenounUS /əˈbeɪəns/
temporary cessation or suspension
From this reading For once his sense of humor was in abeyance, but posterity is the richer for this glimpse of the solemn boy in the heart of a powerful man.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading The imitation grass, not quite concealing the rug beneath, the painted background, the theatrical (slightly patched) rocks against which the cowboy leans gazing dreamily across an imaginary prairie, the pose of the hunter with rifle ready and finger on the trigger, grimly facing dangerous game which is not there--all reveal a boyish delight in play-acting.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The imitation grass, not quite concealing the rug beneath, the painted background, the theatrical (slightly patched) rocks against which the cowboy leans gazing dreamily across an imaginary prairie, the pose of the hunter with rifle ready and finger on the trigger, grimly facing dangerous game which is not there--all reveal a boyish delight in play-acting.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading The imitation grass, not quite concealing the rug beneath, the painted background, the theatrical (slightly patched) rocks against which the cowboy leans gazing dreamily across an imaginary prairie, the pose of the hunter with rifle ready and finger on the trigger, grimly facing dangerous game which is not there--all reveal a boyish delight in play-acting.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The imitation grass, not quite concealing the rug beneath, the painted background, the theatrical (slightly patched) rocks against which the cowboy leans gazing dreamily across an imaginary prairie, the pose of the hunter with rifle ready and finger on the trigger, grimly facing dangerous game which is not there--all reveal a boyish delight in play-acting.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The imitation grass, not quite concealing the rug beneath, the painted background, the theatrical (slightly patched) rocks against which the cowboy leans gazing dreamily across an imaginary prairie, the pose of the hunter with rifle ready and finger on the trigger, grimly facing dangerous game which is not there--all reveal a boyish delight in play-acting.
ArcticnounUS /ˈɑːrktɪk/
the regions to the north of the Arctic Circle centered on the North Pole
From this reading Winter closed over the Bad Lands, bringing Arctic hardships.
backgroundnounUS /ˈbækɡraʊnd/
a person's social heritage: previous experience or training
From this reading The imitation grass, not quite concealing the rug beneath, the painted background, the theatrical (slightly patched) rocks against which the cowboy leans gazing dreamily across an imaginary prairie, the pose of the hunter with rifle ready and finger on the trigger, grimly facing dangerous game which is not there--all reveal a boyish delight in play-acting.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading Winter closed over the Bad Lands, bringing Arctic hardships.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Even Bill Sewall, who had been born and bred in the Maine woods, declared that he had never known such cold.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading The imitation grass, not quite concealing the rug beneath, the painted background, the theatrical (slightly patched) rocks against which the cowboy leans gazing dreamily across an imaginary prairie, the pose of the hunter with rifle ready and finger on the trigger, grimly facing dangerous game which is not there--all reveal a boyish delight in play-acting.
a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading Even Bill Sewall, who had been born and bred in the Maine woods, declared that he had never known such cold.
brought into existence
From this reading Even Bill Sewall, who had been born and bred in the Maine woods, declared that he had never known such cold.
a youthful male person
From this reading For once his sense of humor was in abeyance, but posterity is the richer for this glimpse of the solemn boy in the heart of a powerful man.
boyishadjectiveUS /ˈbɔɪɪʃ/
befitting or characteristic of a young boy
From this reading The imitation grass, not quite concealing the rug beneath, the painted background, the theatrical (slightly patched) rocks against which the cowboy leans gazing dreamily across an imaginary prairie, the pose of the hunter with rifle ready and finger on the trigger, grimly facing dangerous game which is not there--all reveal a boyish delight in play-acting.
bredverbUS /bred/
inflected form of “breed” — call forth
From this reading Even Bill Sewall, who had been born and bred in the Maine woods, declared that he had never known such cold.
the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail)
From this reading Winter closed over the Bad Lands, bringing Arctic hardships.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading For once his sense of humor was in abeyance, but posterity is the richer for this glimpse of the solemn boy in the heart of a powerful man.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading Winter closed over the Bad Lands, bringing Arctic hardships.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading Even Bill Sewall, who had been born and bred in the Maine woods, declared that he had never known such cold.
concealingnounUS /kənˈsiːlɪŋ/
the activity of keeping something secret
From this reading The imitation grass, not quite concealing the rug beneath, the painted background, the theatrical (slightly patched) rocks against which the cowboy leans gazing dreamily across an imaginary prairie, the pose of the hunter with rifle ready and finger on the trigger, grimly facing dangerous game which is not there--all reveal a boyish delight in play-acting.
cowboynounUS /ˈkaʊbɔɪ/
a hired hand who tends cattle and performs other duties on horseback
From this reading The imitation grass, not quite concealing the rug beneath, the painted background, the theatrical (slightly patched) rocks against which the cowboy leans gazing dreamily across an imaginary prairie, the pose of the hunter with rifle ready and finger on the trigger, grimly facing dangerous game which is not there--all reveal a boyish delight in play-acting.
involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm
From this reading The imitation grass, not quite concealing the rug beneath, the painted background, the theatrical (slightly patched) rocks against which the cowboy leans gazing dreamily across an imaginary prairie, the pose of the hunter with rifle ready and finger on the trigger, grimly facing dangerous game which is not there--all reveal a boyish delight in play-acting.
made known or openly avowed
From this reading Even Bill Sewall, who had been born and bred in the Maine woods, declared that he had never known such cold.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading The imitation grass, not quite concealing the rug beneath, the painted background, the theatrical (slightly patched) rocks against which the cowboy leans gazing dreamily across an imaginary prairie, the pose of the hunter with rifle ready and finger on the trigger, grimly facing dangerous game which is not there--all reveal a boyish delight in play-acting.
dreamilyadverb
in a dreamy manner
From this reading The imitation grass, not quite concealing the rug beneath, the painted background, the theatrical (slightly patched) rocks against which the cowboy leans gazing dreamily across an imaginary prairie, the pose of the hunter with rifle ready and finger on the trigger, grimly facing dangerous game which is not there--all reveal a boyish delight in play-acting.
divisible by two
From this reading Even Bill Sewall, who had been born and bred in the Maine woods, declared that he had never known such cold.
facingnounUS /ˈfeɪsɪŋ/
a lining applied to the edge of a garment for ornamentation or strengthening
From this reading The imitation grass, not quite concealing the rug beneath, the painted background, the theatrical (slightly patched) rocks against which the cowboy leans gazing dreamily across an imaginary prairie, the pose of the hunter with rifle ready and finger on the trigger, grimly facing dangerous game which is not there--all reveal a boyish delight in play-acting.
feel or handle with the fingers
From this reading The imitation grass, not quite concealing the rug beneath, the painted background, the theatrical (slightly patched) rocks against which the cowboy leans gazing dreamily across an imaginary prairie, the pose of the hunter with rifle ready and finger on the trigger, grimly facing dangerous game which is not there--all reveal a boyish delight in play-acting.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For once his sense of humor was in abeyance, but posterity is the richer for this glimpse of the solemn boy in the heart of a powerful man.
arousing or provoking laughter
From this reading There is something hilariously funny in the visible records of that performance.
a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading The imitation grass, not quite concealing the rug beneath, the painted background, the theatrical (slightly patched) rocks against which the cowboy leans gazing dreamily across an imaginary prairie, the pose of the hunter with rifle ready and finger on the trigger, grimly facing dangerous game which is not there--all reveal a boyish delight in play-acting.
-ing form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading The imitation grass, not quite concealing the rug beneath, the painted background, the theatrical (slightly patched) rocks against which the cowboy leans gazing dreamily across an imaginary prairie, the pose of the hunter with rifle ready and finger on the trigger, grimly facing dangerous game which is not there--all reveal a boyish delight in play-acting.
a quick look
From this reading For once his sense of humor was in abeyance, but posterity is the richer for this glimpse of the solemn boy in the heart of a powerful man.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading The imitation grass, not quite concealing the rug beneath, the painted background, the theatrical (slightly patched) rocks against which the cowboy leans gazing dreamily across an imaginary prairie, the pose of the hunter with rifle ready and finger on the trigger, grimly facing dangerous game which is not there--all reveal a boyish delight in play-acting.
grimlyadverbUS /ˈɡrɪmli/
in a grim implacable manner
From this reading The imitation grass, not quite concealing the rug beneath, the painted background, the theatrical (slightly patched) rocks against which the cowboy leans gazing dreamily across an imaginary prairie, the pose of the hunter with rifle ready and finger on the trigger, grimly facing dangerous game which is not there--all reveal a boyish delight in play-acting.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Even Bill Sewall, who had been born and bred in the Maine woods, declared that he had never known such cold.
hardshipsnounUS /ˈhɑːrdʃɪps/
plural of “hardship” — a state of misfortune or affliction
From this reading Winter closed over the Bad Lands, bringing Arctic hardships.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Even Bill Sewall, who had been born and bred in the Maine woods, declared that he had never known such cold.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading For once his sense of humor was in abeyance, but posterity is the richer for this glimpse of the solemn boy in the heart of a powerful man.
hilariouslyadverbUS /hɪˈleriəsli/
in a hilarious manner
From this reading There is something hilariously funny in the visible records of that performance.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading For once his sense of humor was in abeyance, but posterity is the richer for this glimpse of the solemn boy in the heart of a powerful man.
humornounUS /ˈhjuːmər/
a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter
From this reading For once his sense of humor was in abeyance, but posterity is the richer for this glimpse of the solemn boy in the heart of a powerful man.
hunternounUS /ˈhʌntər/
someone who hunts game
From this reading The imitation grass, not quite concealing the rug beneath, the painted background, the theatrical (slightly patched) rocks against which the cowboy leans gazing dreamily across an imaginary prairie, the pose of the hunter with rifle ready and finger on the trigger, grimly facing dangerous game which is not there--all reveal a boyish delight in play-acting.
imaginaryadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈmædʒəneri/
not based on fact; existing only in the imagination
From this reading The imitation grass, not quite concealing the rug beneath, the painted background, the theatrical (slightly patched) rocks against which the cowboy leans gazing dreamily across an imaginary prairie, the pose of the hunter with rifle ready and finger on the trigger, grimly facing dangerous game which is not there--all reveal a boyish delight in play-acting.
imitationnounUS /ˌɪməˈteɪʃən/
the doctrine that representations of nature or human behavior should be accurate imitations
From this reading The imitation grass, not quite concealing the rug beneath, the painted background, the theatrical (slightly patched) rocks against which the cowboy leans gazing dreamily across an imaginary prairie, the pose of the hunter with rifle ready and finger on the trigger, grimly facing dangerous game which is not there--all reveal a boyish delight in play-acting.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There is something hilariously funny in the visible records of that performance.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There is something hilariously funny in the visible records of that performance.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading Even Bill Sewall, who had been born and bred in the Maine woods, declared that he had never known such cold.
plural of “land” — the land on which real estate is located
From this reading Winter closed over the Bad Lands, bringing Arctic hardships.
leansnounUS /liːnz/
plural of “lean” — the property possessed by a line or surface that departs from the vertical
From this reading The imitation grass, not quite concealing the rug beneath, the painted background, the theatrical (slightly patched) rocks against which the cowboy leans gazing dreamily across an imaginary prairie, the pose of the hunter with rifle ready and finger on the trigger, grimly facing dangerous game which is not there--all reveal a boyish delight in play-acting.
MainenounUS /meɪn/
a state in New England
From this reading Even Bill Sewall, who had been born and bred in the Maine woods, declared that he had never known such cold.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading For once his sense of humor was in abeyance, but posterity is the richer for this glimpse of the solemn boy in the heart of a powerful man.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Even Bill Sewall, who had been born and bred in the Maine woods, declared that he had never known such cold.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The imitation grass, not quite concealing the rug beneath, the painted background, the theatrical (slightly patched) rocks against which the cowboy leans gazing dreamily across an imaginary prairie, the pose of the hunter with rifle ready and finger on the trigger, grimly facing dangerous game which is not there--all reveal a boyish delight in play-acting.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There is something hilariously funny in the visible records of that performance.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The imitation grass, not quite concealing the rug beneath, the painted background, the theatrical (slightly patched) rocks against which the cowboy leans gazing dreamily across an imaginary prairie, the pose of the hunter with rifle ready and finger on the trigger, grimly facing dangerous game which is not there--all reveal a boyish delight in play-acting.
on one occasion
From this reading For once his sense of humor was in abeyance, but posterity is the richer for this glimpse of the solemn boy in the heart of a powerful man.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Winter closed over the Bad Lands, bringing Arctic hardships.
coated with paint
From this reading The imitation grass, not quite concealing the rug beneath, the painted background, the theatrical (slightly patched) rocks against which the cowboy leans gazing dreamily across an imaginary prairie, the pose of the hunter with rifle ready and finger on the trigger, grimly facing dangerous game which is not there--all reveal a boyish delight in play-acting.
patchedadjectiveUS /pætʃt/
mended usually clumsily by covering a hole with a patch
From this reading The imitation grass, not quite concealing the rug beneath, the painted background, the theatrical (slightly patched) rocks against which the cowboy leans gazing dreamily across an imaginary prairie, the pose of the hunter with rifle ready and finger on the trigger, grimly facing dangerous game which is not there--all reveal a boyish delight in play-acting.
performancenounUS /pərˈfɔːrməns/
a dramatic or musical entertainment
From this reading There is something hilariously funny in the visible records of that performance.
play-acting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The imitation grass, not quite concealing the rug beneath, the painted background, the theatrical (slightly patched) rocks against which the cowboy leans gazing dreamily across an imaginary prairie, the pose of the hunter with rifle ready and finger on the trigger, grimly facing dangerous game which is not there--all reveal a boyish delight in play-acting.
poseverbUS /poʊz/
introduce
From this reading The imitation grass, not quite concealing the rug beneath, the painted background, the theatrical (slightly patched) rocks against which the cowboy leans gazing dreamily across an imaginary prairie, the pose of the hunter with rifle ready and finger on the trigger, grimly facing dangerous game which is not there--all reveal a boyish delight in play-acting.
posteritynounUS /pɑːˈsterəti/
all of the offspring of a given progenitor
From this reading For once his sense of humor was in abeyance, but posterity is the richer for this glimpse of the solemn boy in the heart of a powerful man.
having great power or force or potency or effect
From this reading For once his sense of humor was in abeyance, but posterity is the richer for this glimpse of the solemn boy in the heart of a powerful man.
prairienounUS /ˈpreri/
a treeless grassy plain
From this reading The imitation grass, not quite concealing the rug beneath, the painted background, the theatrical (slightly patched) rocks against which the cowboy leans gazing dreamily across an imaginary prairie, the pose of the hunter with rifle ready and finger on the trigger, grimly facing dangerous game which is not there--all reveal a boyish delight in play-acting.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading The imitation grass, not quite concealing the rug beneath, the painted background, the theatrical (slightly patched) rocks against which the cowboy leans gazing dreamily across an imaginary prairie, the pose of the hunter with rifle ready and finger on the trigger, grimly facing dangerous game which is not there--all reveal a boyish delight in play-acting.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading The imitation grass, not quite concealing the rug beneath, the painted background, the theatrical (slightly patched) rocks against which the cowboy leans gazing dreamily across an imaginary prairie, the pose of the hunter with rifle ready and finger on the trigger, grimly facing dangerous game which is not there--all reveal a boyish delight in play-acting.
recordsnounUS /rəˈkɔːrdz/
plural of “record” — anything (such as a document or a phonograph record or a photograph) providing permanent evidence of or information about past events
From this reading There is something hilariously funny in the visible records of that performance.
revealverbUS /rɪˈviːl/
make visible
From this reading The imitation grass, not quite concealing the rug beneath, the painted background, the theatrical (slightly patched) rocks against which the cowboy leans gazing dreamily across an imaginary prairie, the pose of the hunter with rifle ready and finger on the trigger, grimly facing dangerous game which is not there--all reveal a boyish delight in play-acting.
richeradjectiveUS /ˈrɪtʃər/
comparative of “rich” — possessing material wealth
From this reading For once his sense of humor was in abeyance, but posterity is the richer for this glimpse of the solemn boy in the heart of a powerful man.
steal goods; take as spoils
From this reading The imitation grass, not quite concealing the rug beneath, the painted background, the theatrical (slightly patched) rocks against which the cowboy leans gazing dreamily across an imaginary prairie, the pose of the hunter with rifle ready and finger on the trigger, grimly facing dangerous game which is not there--all reveal a boyish delight in play-acting.
plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading The imitation grass, not quite concealing the rug beneath, the painted background, the theatrical (slightly patched) rocks against which the cowboy leans gazing dreamily across an imaginary prairie, the pose of the hunter with rifle ready and finger on the trigger, grimly facing dangerous game which is not there--all reveal a boyish delight in play-acting.
rugnounUS /rʌɡ/
floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
From this reading The imitation grass, not quite concealing the rug beneath, the painted background, the theatrical (slightly patched) rocks against which the cowboy leans gazing dreamily across an imaginary prairie, the pose of the hunter with rifle ready and finger on the trigger, grimly facing dangerous game which is not there--all reveal a boyish delight in play-acting.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading For once his sense of humor was in abeyance, but posterity is the richer for this glimpse of the solemn boy in the heart of a powerful man.
Sewall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even Bill Sewall, who had been born and bred in the Maine woods, declared that he had never known such cold.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading The imitation grass, not quite concealing the rug beneath, the painted background, the theatrical (slightly patched) rocks against which the cowboy leans gazing dreamily across an imaginary prairie, the pose of the hunter with rifle ready and finger on the trigger, grimly facing dangerous game which is not there--all reveal a boyish delight in play-acting.
dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises
From this reading For once his sense of humor was in abeyance, but posterity is the richer for this glimpse of the solemn boy in the heart of a powerful man.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading There is something hilariously funny in the visible records of that performance.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Even Bill Sewall, who had been born and bred in the Maine woods, declared that he had never known such cold.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There is something hilariously funny in the visible records of that performance.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There is something hilariously funny in the visible records of that performance.
theatricaladjectiveUS /θiˈætrɪkəl/
of or relating to the theater
From this reading The imitation grass, not quite concealing the rug beneath, the painted background, the theatrical (slightly patched) rocks against which the cowboy leans gazing dreamily across an imaginary prairie, the pose of the hunter with rifle ready and finger on the trigger, grimly facing dangerous game which is not there--all reveal a boyish delight in play-acting.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There is something hilariously funny in the visible records of that performance.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading For once his sense of humor was in abeyance, but posterity is the richer for this glimpse of the solemn boy in the heart of a powerful man.
triggerverbUS /ˈtrɪɡər/
put in motion or move to act
From this reading The imitation grass, not quite concealing the rug beneath, the painted background, the theatrical (slightly patched) rocks against which the cowboy leans gazing dreamily across an imaginary prairie, the pose of the hunter with rifle ready and finger on the trigger, grimly facing dangerous game which is not there--all reveal a boyish delight in play-acting.
capable of being seen; or open to easy view
From this reading There is something hilariously funny in the visible records of that performance.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For once his sense of humor was in abeyance, but posterity is the richer for this glimpse of the solemn boy in the heart of a powerful man.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The imitation grass, not quite concealing the rug beneath, the painted background, the theatrical (slightly patched) rocks against which the cowboy leans gazing dreamily across an imaginary prairie, the pose of the hunter with rifle ready and finger on the trigger, grimly facing dangerous game which is not there--all reveal a boyish delight in play-acting.
which person or people
From this reading Even Bill Sewall, who had been born and bred in the Maine woods, declared that he had never known such cold.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading Winter closed over the Bad Lands, bringing Arctic hardships.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The imitation grass, not quite concealing the rug beneath, the painted background, the theatrical (slightly patched) rocks against which the cowboy leans gazing dreamily across an imaginary prairie, the pose of the hunter with rifle ready and finger on the trigger, grimly facing dangerous game which is not there--all reveal a boyish delight in play-acting.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading Even Bill Sewall, who had been born and bred in the Maine woods, declared that he had never known such cold.
