used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A half dozen or so fresh air enthusiasts lay upon their couches of balsam under a big elm, through the high branches of which the stars looked down upon the weary toilers, dead to the world.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading A half dozen or so fresh air enthusiasts lay upon their couches of balsam under a big elm, through the high branches of which the stars looked down upon the weary toilers, dead to the world.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They had not decided what they should do, but they knew they could not conceal a criminal and take money from him and count him their companion.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading For a precious interval at least they would feel no disappointment.
balsamnounUS /ˈbɔːlsəm/
any seed plant yielding balsam
From this reading A half dozen or so fresh air enthusiasts lay upon their couches of balsam under a big elm, through the high branches of which the stars looked down upon the weary toilers, dead to the world.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading THE VOICE The camp-fire had died, the last embers had been trodden out, the scouts had turned in for the night.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A half dozen or so fresh air enthusiasts lay upon their couches of balsam under a big elm, through the high branches of which the stars looked down upon the weary toilers, dead to the world.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading A half dozen or so fresh air enthusiasts lay upon their couches of balsam under a big elm, through the high branches of which the stars looked down upon the weary toilers, dead to the world.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They had not decided what they should do, but they knew they could not conceal a criminal and take money from him and count him their companion.
camp-fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE VOICE The camp-fire had died, the last embers had been trodden out, the scouts had turned in for the night.
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading They had not decided what they should do, but they knew they could not conceal a criminal and take money from him and count him their companion.
prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading They had not decided what they should do, but they knew they could not conceal a criminal and take money from him and count him their companion.
couchesnounUS /ˈkaʊtʃɪz/
plural of “couch” — an upholstered seat for more than one person
From this reading A half dozen or so fresh air enthusiasts lay upon their couches of balsam under a big elm, through the high branches of which the stars looked down upon the weary toilers, dead to the world.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading They had not decided what they should do, but they knew they could not conceal a criminal and take money from him and count him their companion.
determine the number or amount of
From this reading They had not decided what they should do, but they knew they could not conceal a criminal and take money from him and count him their companion.
bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure
From this reading They had not decided what they should do, but they knew they could not conceal a criminal and take money from him and count him their companion.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading A half dozen or so fresh air enthusiasts lay upon their couches of balsam under a big elm, through the high branches of which the stars looked down upon the weary toilers, dead to the world.
recognizable; marked
From this reading They had not decided what they should do, but they knew they could not conceal a criminal and take money from him and count him their companion.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading THE VOICE The camp-fire had died, the last embers had been trodden out, the scouts had turned in for the night.
a feeling of dissatisfaction that results when your expectations are not realized
From this reading For a precious interval at least they would feel no disappointment.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading They had not decided what they should do, but they knew they could not conceal a criminal and take money from him and count him their companion.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading A half dozen or so fresh air enthusiasts lay upon their couches of balsam under a big elm, through the high branches of which the stars looked down upon the weary toilers, dead to the world.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading A half dozen or so fresh air enthusiasts lay upon their couches of balsam under a big elm, through the high branches of which the stars looked down upon the weary toilers, dead to the world.
elmnounUS /elm/
any of various trees of the genus Ulmus: important timber or shade trees
From this reading A half dozen or so fresh air enthusiasts lay upon their couches of balsam under a big elm, through the high branches of which the stars looked down upon the weary toilers, dead to the world.
embersnounUS /ˈembərz/
plural of “ember” — a hot fragment of wood or coal that is left from a fire and is glowing or smoldering
From this reading THE VOICE The camp-fire had died, the last embers had been trodden out, the scouts had turned in for the night.
enthusiastsnounUS /enˈθuːziæsts/
plural of “enthusiast” — an ardent and enthusiastic supporter of some person or activity
From this reading A half dozen or so fresh air enthusiasts lay upon their couches of balsam under a big elm, through the high branches of which the stars looked down upon the weary toilers, dead to the world.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading For a precious interval at least they would feel no disappointment.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE VOICE The camp-fire had died, the last embers had been trodden out, the scouts had turned in for the night.
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading A half dozen or so fresh air enthusiasts lay upon their couches of balsam under a big elm, through the high branches of which the stars looked down upon the weary toilers, dead to the world.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading They had not decided what they should do, but they knew they could not conceal a criminal and take money from him and count him their companion.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE VOICE The camp-fire had died, the last embers had been trodden out, the scouts had turned in for the night.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading A half dozen or so fresh air enthusiasts lay upon their couches of balsam under a big elm, through the high branches of which the stars looked down upon the weary toilers, dead to the world.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading A half dozen or so fresh air enthusiasts lay upon their couches of balsam under a big elm, through the high branches of which the stars looked down upon the weary toilers, dead to the world.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading They had not decided what they should do, but they knew they could not conceal a criminal and take money from him and count him their companion.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE VOICE The camp-fire had died, the last embers had been trodden out, the scouts had turned in for the night.
intervalnounUS /ˈɪntərvəl/
a definite length of time marked off by two instants
From this reading For a precious interval at least they would feel no disappointment.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was well that they were tired that night.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading They had not decided what they should do, but they knew they could not conceal a criminal and take money from him and count him their companion.
immediately past
From this reading THE VOICE The camp-fire had died, the last embers had been trodden out, the scouts had turned in for the night.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading A half dozen or so fresh air enthusiasts lay upon their couches of balsam under a big elm, through the high branches of which the stars looked down upon the weary toilers, dead to the world.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading For a precious interval at least they would feel no disappointment.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading A half dozen or so fresh air enthusiasts lay upon their couches of balsam under a big elm, through the high branches of which the stars looked down upon the weary toilers, dead to the world.
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading They had not decided what they should do, but they knew they could not conceal a criminal and take money from him and count him their companion.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading THE VOICE The camp-fire had died, the last embers had been trodden out, the scouts had turned in for the night.
not any; not one
From this reading For a precious interval at least they would feel no disappointment.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They had not decided what they should do, but they knew they could not conceal a criminal and take money from him and count him their companion.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A half dozen or so fresh air enthusiasts lay upon their couches of balsam under a big elm, through the high branches of which the stars looked down upon the weary toilers, dead to the world.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading A half dozen or so fresh air enthusiasts lay upon their couches of balsam under a big elm, through the high branches of which the stars looked down upon the weary toilers, dead to the world.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading THE VOICE The camp-fire had died, the last embers had been trodden out, the scouts had turned in for the night.
characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for
From this reading For a precious interval at least they would feel no disappointment.
scoutsnounUS /skaʊts/
plural of “scout” — a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading THE VOICE The camp-fire had died, the last embers had been trodden out, the scouts had turned in for the night.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading They had not decided what they should do, but they knew they could not conceal a criminal and take money from him and count him their companion.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading A half dozen or so fresh air enthusiasts lay upon their couches of balsam under a big elm, through the high branches of which the stars looked down upon the weary toilers, dead to the world.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading A half dozen or so fresh air enthusiasts lay upon their couches of balsam under a big elm, through the high branches of which the stars looked down upon the weary toilers, dead to the world.
carry out
From this reading They had not decided what they should do, but they knew they could not conceal a criminal and take money from him and count him their companion.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was well that they were tired that night.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE VOICE The camp-fire had died, the last embers had been trodden out, the scouts had turned in for the night.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading A half dozen or so fresh air enthusiasts lay upon their couches of balsam under a big elm, through the high branches of which the stars looked down upon the weary toilers, dead to the world.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For a precious interval at least they would feel no disappointment.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading A half dozen or so fresh air enthusiasts lay upon their couches of balsam under a big elm, through the high branches of which the stars looked down upon the weary toilers, dead to the world.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading It was well that they were tired that night.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A half dozen or so fresh air enthusiasts lay upon their couches of balsam under a big elm, through the high branches of which the stars looked down upon the weary toilers, dead to the world.
toilers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A half dozen or so fresh air enthusiasts lay upon their couches of balsam under a big elm, through the high branches of which the stars looked down upon the weary toilers, dead to the world.
troddenverbUS /ˈtrɑːdən/
inflected form of “tread” — put down or press the foot, place the foot
From this reading THE VOICE The camp-fire had died, the last embers had been trodden out, the scouts had turned in for the night.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading THE VOICE The camp-fire had died, the last embers had been trodden out, the scouts had turned in for the night.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading A half dozen or so fresh air enthusiasts lay upon their couches of balsam under a big elm, through the high branches of which the stars looked down upon the weary toilers, dead to the world.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading A half dozen or so fresh air enthusiasts lay upon their couches of balsam under a big elm, through the high branches of which the stars looked down upon the weary toilers, dead to the world.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading THE VOICE The camp-fire had died, the last embers had been trodden out, the scouts had turned in for the night.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was well that they were tired that night.
exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress
From this reading A half dozen or so fresh air enthusiasts lay upon their couches of balsam under a big elm, through the high branches of which the stars looked down upon the weary toilers, dead to the world.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading It was well that they were tired that night.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was well that they were tired that night.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading They had not decided what they should do, but they knew they could not conceal a criminal and take money from him and count him their companion.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A half dozen or so fresh air enthusiasts lay upon their couches of balsam under a big elm, through the high branches of which the stars looked down upon the weary toilers, dead to the world.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading A half dozen or so fresh air enthusiasts lay upon their couches of balsam under a big elm, through the high branches of which the stars looked down upon the weary toilers, dead to the world.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading For a precious interval at least they would feel no disappointment.
