adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE GAME OF JACKSTRAWS There was a roar of laughter at the old man's boast, but in a moment all was activity.
activitynounUS /ækˈtɪvəti/
any specific behavior
From this reading THE GAME OF JACKSTRAWS There was a roar of laughter at the old man's boast, but in a moment all was activity.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 GAME OF JACKSTRAWS There was a roar of laughter at the old man's boast, but in a moment all was activity.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The men ran hither and thither like ants, gathering their tools.
antsnounUS /ænts/
plural of “ant” — social insect living in organized colonies; characteristically the males and fertile queen have wings during breeding season; wingless sterile females are the workers
From this reading The men ran hither and thither like ants, gathering their tools.
anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading There were some old-fashioned pick-poles, straight, heavy levers without any "dog," and there were modern pick-poles and peaveys, for every river has its favorite equipment in these things.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE GAME OF JACKSTRAWS There was a roar of laughter at the old man's boast, but in a moment all was activity.
boastverbUS /boʊst/
show off
From this reading THE GAME OF JACKSTRAWS There was a roar of laughter at the old man's boast, but in a moment all was activity.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THE GAME OF JACKSTRAWS There was a roar of laughter at the old man's boast, but in a moment all was activity.
daysnounUS /deɪz/
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading There was no dynamite in those days to make the stubborn jams yield, and the dog-warp was in general use.
dognounUS /dɔːɡ/
a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading There were some old-fashioned pick-poles, straight, heavy levers without any "dog," and there were modern pick-poles and peaveys, for every river has its favorite equipment in these things.
dog-warp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no dynamite in those days to make the stubborn jams yield, and the dog-warp was in general use.
dynamitenounUS /ˈdaɪnəmaɪt/
an explosive containing nitrate sensitized with nitroglycerin absorbed on wood pulp
From this reading There was no dynamite in those days to make the stubborn jams yield, and the dog-warp was in general use.
equipmentnounUS /ɪˈkwɪpmənt/
an instrumentality needed for an undertaking or to perform a service
From this reading There were some old-fashioned pick-poles, straight, heavy levers without any "dog," and there were modern pick-poles and peaveys, for every river has its favorite equipment in these things.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading There were some old-fashioned pick-poles, straight, heavy levers without any "dog," and there were modern pick-poles and peaveys, for every river has its favorite equipment in these things.
favoritenounUS /ˈfeɪvərɪt/
something regarded with special favor or liking
From this reading There were some old-fashioned pick-poles, straight, heavy levers without any "dog," and there were modern pick-poles and peaveys, for every river has its favorite equipment in these things.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There were some old-fashioned pick-poles, straight, heavy levers without any "dog," and there were modern pick-poles and peaveys, for every river has its favorite equipment in these things.
GAMEnounUS /ɡeɪm/
a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading THE GAME OF JACKSTRAWS There was a roar of laughter at the old man's boast, but in a moment all was activity.
gatheringnounUS /ˈɡæðərɪŋ/
a group of persons together in one place
From this reading The men ran hither and thither like ants, gathering their tools.
generaladjectiveUS /ˈdʒenərəl/
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading There was no dynamite in those days to make the stubborn jams yield, and the dog-warp was in general use.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There were some old-fashioned pick-poles, straight, heavy levers without any "dog," and there were modern pick-poles and peaveys, for every river has its favorite equipment in these things.
heavyadjectiveUS /ˈhevi/
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading There were some old-fashioned pick-poles, straight, heavy levers without any "dog," and there were modern pick-poles and peaveys, for every river has its favorite equipment in these things.
hitheradverbUS /ˈhɪðər/
an old word meaning “to this place”
From this reading The men ran hither and thither like ants, gathering their tools.
HorsesnounUS /ˈhɔːrsəz/
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading Horses or oxen, sometimes a line of men, stood on the river-bank.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE GAME OF JACKSTRAWS There was a roar of laughter at the old man's boast, but in a moment all was activity.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading There were some old-fashioned pick-poles, straight, heavy levers without any "dog," and there were modern pick-poles and peaveys, for every river has its favorite equipment in these things.
JACKSTRAWSnoun
a game in which players try to pick each jackstraw (or spillikin) off of a pile without moving any of the others
From this reading THE GAME OF JACKSTRAWS There was a roar of laughter at the old man's boast, but in a moment all was activity.
jamsnounUS /dʒæmz/
plural of “jam” — preserve of crushed fruit
From this reading There was no dynamite in those days to make the stubborn jams yield, and the dog-warp was in general use.
laughternounUS /ˈlæftər/
the sound of laughing
From this reading THE GAME OF JACKSTRAWS There was a roar of laughter at the old man's boast, but in a moment all was activity.
leversnounUS /ˈlevərz/
plural of “lever” — a rigid bar pivoted about a fulcrum
From this reading There were some old-fashioned pick-poles, straight, heavy levers without any "dog," and there were modern pick-poles and peaveys, for every river has its favorite equipment in these things.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The men ran hither and thither like ants, gathering their tools.
linenounUS /laɪn/
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading Horses or oxen, sometimes a line of men, stood on the river-bank.
makeverbUS /meɪk/
engage in
From this reading There was no dynamite in those days to make the stubborn jams yield, and the dog-warp was in general use.
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading THE GAME OF JACKSTRAWS There was a roar of laughter at the old man's boast, but in a moment all was activity.
mennounUS /men/
the force of workers available
From this reading The men ran hither and thither like ants, gathering their tools.
modernadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːdərn/
belonging to the modern era; since the Middle Ages
From this reading There were some old-fashioned pick-poles, straight, heavy levers without any "dog," and there were modern pick-poles and peaveys, for every river has its favorite equipment in these things.
momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/
a particular point in time
From this reading THE GAME OF JACKSTRAWS There was a roar of laughter at the old man's boast, but in a moment all was activity.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading There was no dynamite in those days to make the stubborn jams yield, and the dog-warp was in general use.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE GAME OF JACKSTRAWS There was a roar of laughter at the old man's boast, but in a moment all was activity.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading THE GAME OF JACKSTRAWS There was a roar of laughter at the old man's boast, but in a moment all was activity.
old-fashionedadjectiveUS /ˌoʊldˈfæʃənd/
out of fashion
From this reading There were some old-fashioned pick-poles, straight, heavy levers without any "dog," and there were modern pick-poles and peaveys, for every river has its favorite equipment in these things.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Horses or oxen, sometimes a line of men, stood on the river-bank.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Horses or oxen, sometimes a line of men, stood on the river-bank.
oxennounUS /ˈɑːksən/
domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age
From this reading Horses or oxen, sometimes a line of men, stood on the river-bank.
peaveys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were some old-fashioned pick-poles, straight, heavy levers without any "dog," and there were modern pick-poles and peaveys, for every river has its favorite equipment in these things.
pick-poles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were some old-fashioned pick-poles, straight, heavy levers without any "dog," and there were modern pick-poles and peaveys, for every river has its favorite equipment in these things.
ranverbUS /ræn/
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading The men ran hither and thither like ants, gathering their tools.
rivernounUS /ˈrɪvər/
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading There were some old-fashioned pick-poles, straight, heavy levers without any "dog," and there were modern pick-poles and peaveys, for every river has its favorite equipment in these things.
river-bank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Horses or oxen, sometimes a line of men, stood on the river-bank.
roarverbUS /rɔːr/
make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles
From this reading THE GAME OF JACKSTRAWS There was a roar of laughter at the old man's boast, but in a moment all was activity.
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading There were some old-fashioned pick-poles, straight, heavy levers without any "dog," and there were modern pick-poles and peaveys, for every river has its favorite equipment in these things.
sometimesadverbUS /səmˈtaɪmz/
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading Horses or oxen, sometimes a line of men, stood on the river-bank.
stoodverbUS /stʊd/
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Horses or oxen, sometimes a line of men, stood on the river-bank.
straightadjectiveUS /streɪt/
successive (without a break)
From this reading There were some old-fashioned pick-poles, straight, heavy levers without any "dog," and there were modern pick-poles and peaveys, for every river has its favorite equipment in these things.
stubbornadjectiveUS /ˈstʌbərn/
tenaciously unwilling or marked by tenacious unwillingness to yield
From this reading There was no dynamite in those days to make the stubborn jams yield, and the dog-warp was in general use.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE GAME OF JACKSTRAWS There was a roar of laughter at the old man's boast, but in a moment all was activity.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The men ran hither and thither like ants, gathering their tools.
ThereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading THE GAME OF JACKSTRAWS There was a roar of laughter at the old man's boast, but in a moment all was activity.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading There were some old-fashioned pick-poles, straight, heavy levers without any "dog," and there were modern pick-poles and peaveys, for every river has its favorite equipment in these things.
thingsnounUS /θɪŋz/
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading There were some old-fashioned pick-poles, straight, heavy levers without any "dog," and there were modern pick-poles and peaveys, for every river has its favorite equipment in these things.
thitheradverbUS /ˈðɪθɜːr/
an old word meaning “to that place”
From this reading The men ran hither and thither like ants, gathering their tools.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading There was no dynamite in those days to make the stubborn jams yield, and the dog-warp was in general use.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was no dynamite in those days to make the stubborn jams yield, and the dog-warp was in general use.
toolsnounUS /tuːlz/
plural of “tool” — an implement used in the practice of a vocation
From this reading The men ran hither and thither like ants, gathering their tools.
usenounUS /juːs/
the act of using
From this reading There was no dynamite in those days to make the stubborn jams yield, and the dog-warp was in general use.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE GAME OF JACKSTRAWS There was a roar of laughter at the old man's boast, but in a moment all was activity.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were some old-fashioned pick-poles, straight, heavy levers without any "dog," and there were modern pick-poles and peaveys, for every river has its favorite equipment in these things.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading There were some old-fashioned pick-poles, straight, heavy levers without any "dog," and there were modern pick-poles and peaveys, for every river has its favorite equipment in these things.
yieldverbUS /jiːld/
be the cause or source of
From this reading There was no dynamite in those days to make the stubborn jams yield, and the dog-warp was in general use.
