used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading We knew Mr. Downing took a lot of interest in the scouts, and we weren’t worrying, because we thought he would fix things for us.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Now I’m going to tell you all about what happened that night.
(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 Now I’m going to tell you all about what happened that night.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The way we talked to Mr. Slausen is the only way you can talk to a man like that, because he’s an old grouch.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We weren’t thinking about the car, because we had decided that we’d go and see Mr. Downing the next morning; that would be Sunday.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading We weren’t thinking about the car, because we had decided that we’d go and see Mr. Downing the next morning; that would be Sunday.
for the reason that
From this reading Before dark Westy rode up to my house on his bicycle, because I had told him that I’d help him clean it up.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before dark Westy rode up to my house on his bicycle, because I had told him that I’d help him clean it up.
bicyclenounUS /ˈbaɪsɪkəl/
a wheeled vehicle that has two wheels and is moved by foot pedals
From this reading Before dark Westy rode up to my house on his bicycle, because I had told him that I’d help him clean it up.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading The way we talked to Mr. Slausen is the only way you can talk to a man like that, because he’s an old grouch.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading We weren’t thinking about the car, because we had decided that we’d go and see Mr. Downing the next morning; that would be Sunday.
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading Before dark Westy rode up to my house on his bicycle, because I had told him that I’d help him clean it up.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Before dark Westy rode up to my house on his bicycle, because I had told him that I’d help him clean it up.
recognizable; marked
From this reading We weren’t thinking about the car, because we had decided that we’d go and see Mr. Downing the next morning; that would be Sunday.
DowningnounUS /ˈdaʊnɪŋ/
United States landscape architect who designed the grounds of the White House and the Capitol Building (1815-1852)
From this reading We weren’t thinking about the car, because we had decided that we’d go and see Mr. Downing the next morning; that would be Sunday.
restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken
From this reading We knew Mr. Downing took a lot of interest in the scouts, and we weren’t worrying, because we thought he would fix things for us.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading We knew Mr. Downing took a lot of interest in the scouts, and we weren’t worrying, because we thought he would fix things for us.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading We weren’t thinking about the car, because we had decided that we’d go and see Mr. Downing the next morning; that would be Sunday.
the act of departing
From this reading Now I’m going to tell you all about what happened that night.
grouchnounUS /ɡraʊtʃ/
a bad-tempered person
From this reading The way we talked to Mr. Slausen is the only way you can talk to a man like that, because he’s an old grouch.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Before dark Westy rode up to my house on his bicycle, because I had told him that I’d help him clean it up.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading Now I’m going to tell you all about what happened that night.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading We knew Mr. Downing took a lot of interest in the scouts, and we weren’t worrying, because we thought he would fix things for us.
he's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The way we talked to Mr. Slausen is the only way you can talk to a man like that, because he’s an old grouch.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading Before dark Westy rode up to my house on his bicycle, because I had told him that I’d help him clean it up.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Before dark Westy rode up to my house on his bicycle, because I had told him that I’d help him clean it up.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Before dark Westy rode up to my house on his bicycle, because I had told him that I’d help him clean it up.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Before dark Westy rode up to my house on his bicycle, because I had told him that I’d help him clean it up.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Before dark Westy rode up to my house on his bicycle, because I had told him that I’d help him clean it up.
I'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before dark Westy rode up to my house on his bicycle, because I had told him that I’d help him clean it up.
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now I’m going to tell you all about what happened that night.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We knew Mr. Downing took a lot of interest in the scouts, and we weren’t worrying, because we thought he would fix things for us.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading We knew Mr. Downing took a lot of interest in the scouts, and we weren’t worrying, because we thought he would fix things for us.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The way we talked to Mr. Slausen is the only way you can talk to a man like that, because he’s an old grouch.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Before dark Westy rode up to my house on his bicycle, because I had told him that I’d help him clean it up.
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 We knew Mr. Downing took a lot of interest in the scouts, and we weren’t worrying, because we thought he would fix things for us.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The way we talked to Mr. Slausen is the only way you can talk to a man like that, because he’s an old grouch.
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading We knew Mr. Downing took a lot of interest in the scouts, and we weren’t worrying, because we thought he would fix things for us.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The way we talked to Mr. Slausen is the only way you can talk to a man like that, because he’s an old grouch.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading We weren’t thinking about the car, because we had decided that we’d go and see Mr. Downing the next morning; that would be Sunday.
a form of address for a man
From this reading We weren’t thinking about the car, because we had decided that we’d go and see Mr. Downing the next morning; that would be Sunday.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Before dark Westy rode up to my house on his bicycle, because I had told him that I’d help him clean it up.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading We weren’t thinking about the car, because we had decided that we’d go and see Mr. Downing the next morning; that would be Sunday.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Now I’m going to tell you all about what happened that night.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now I’m going to tell you all about what happened that night.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading We knew Mr. Downing took a lot of interest in the scouts, and we weren’t worrying, because we thought he would fix things for us.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The way we talked to Mr. Slausen is the only way you can talk to a man like that, because he’s an old grouch.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Before dark Westy rode up to my house on his bicycle, because I had told him that I’d help him clean it up.
and nothing more
From this reading The way we talked to Mr. Slausen is the only way you can talk to a man like that, because he’s an old grouch.
inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading Before dark Westy rode up to my house on his bicycle, because I had told him that I’d help him clean it up.
scoutsnounUS /skaʊts/
plural of “scout” — a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading We knew Mr. Downing took a lot of interest in the scouts, and we weren’t worrying, because we thought he would fix things for us.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading We weren’t thinking about the car, because we had decided that we’d go and see Mr. Downing the next morning; that would be Sunday.
Slausen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The way we talked to Mr. Slausen is the only way you can talk to a man like that, because he’s an old grouch.
first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians
From this reading We weren’t thinking about the car, because we had decided that we’d go and see Mr. Downing the next morning; that would be Sunday.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading The way we talked to Mr. Slausen is the only way you can talk to a man like that, because he’s an old grouch.
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading The way we talked to Mr. Slausen is the only way you can talk to a man like that, because he’s an old grouch.
express in words
From this reading Now I’m going to tell you all about what happened that night.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Now I’m going to tell you all about what happened that night.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading We weren’t thinking about the car, because we had decided that we’d go and see Mr. Downing the next morning; that would be Sunday.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading We knew Mr. Downing took a lot of interest in the scouts, and we weren’t worrying, because we thought he would fix things for us.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading We weren’t thinking about the car, because we had decided that we’d go and see Mr. Downing the next morning; that would be Sunday.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading We knew Mr. Downing took a lot of interest in the scouts, and we weren’t worrying, because we thought he would fix things for us.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Now I’m going to tell you all about what happened that night.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Before dark Westy rode up to my house on his bicycle, because I had told him that I’d help him clean it up.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading We knew Mr. Downing took a lot of interest in the scouts, and we weren’t worrying, because we thought he would fix things for us.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Before dark Westy rode up to my house on his bicycle, because I had told him that I’d help him clean it up.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading We knew Mr. Downing took a lot of interest in the scouts, and we weren’t worrying, because we thought he would fix things for us.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The way we talked to Mr. Slausen is the only way you can talk to a man like that, because he’s an old grouch.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We weren’t thinking about the car, because we had decided that we’d go and see Mr. Downing the next morning; that would be Sunday.
we'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We weren’t thinking about the car, because we had decided that we’d go and see Mr. Downing the next morning; that would be Sunday.
weren't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We weren’t thinking about the car, because we had decided that we’d go and see Mr. Downing the next morning; that would be Sunday.
Westy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before dark Westy rode up to my house on his bicycle, because I had told him that I’d help him clean it up.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Now I’m going to tell you all about what happened that night.
worryingnounUS /ˈwɜːriɪŋ/
the act of harassing someone
From this reading We knew Mr. Downing took a lot of interest in the scouts, and we weren’t worrying, because we thought he would fix things for us.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading We weren’t thinking about the car, because we had decided that we’d go and see Mr. Downing the next morning; that would be Sunday.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Now I’m going to tell you all about what happened that night.
