used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The two ladies paused at a safe distance,--there seemed to be nothing but boys astir--boys and nuts; and these last not dropping from the tree, but thrown from hand to hand (hand to head would be more correct) of the busy throng.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading And four boys out of five, cracking and eating--whatever else they were about.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The two ladies paused at a safe distance,--there seemed to be nothing but boys astir--boys and nuts; and these last not dropping from the tree, but thrown from hand to hand (hand to head would be more correct) of the busy throng.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading From the side of one old tree a family of grey squirrels looked out, to see the besiegers lay waste the surrounding country; in the top of another--a tall hickory, full clad with golden leaves, Mr. Linden sat--to view the same country himself; well knowing that he had given the boys full occupation for at least fifteen minutes.
astiradjective
out of bed
From this reading The two ladies paused at a safe distance,--there seemed to be nothing but boys astir--boys and nuts; and these last not dropping from the tree, but thrown from hand to hand (hand to head would be more correct) of the busy throng.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The two ladies paused at a safe distance,--there seemed to be nothing but boys astir--boys and nuts; and these last not dropping from the tree, but thrown from hand to hand (hand to head would be more correct) of the busy throng.
basketsnounUS /ˈbæskəts/
plural of “basket” — a container that is usually woven and has handles
From this reading Some picking up, some throwing stones to bring down, others at some flat stone 'shucking,' others still filling their baskets.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The two ladies paused at a safe distance,--there seemed to be nothing but boys astir--boys and nuts; and these last not dropping from the tree, but thrown from hand to hand (hand to head would be more correct) of the busy throng.
besiegers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the side of one old tree a family of grey squirrels looked out, to see the besiegers lay waste the surrounding country; in the top of another--a tall hickory, full clad with golden leaves, Mr. Linden sat--to view the same country himself; well knowing that he had given the boys full occupation for at least fifteen minutes.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The two ladies paused at a safe distance,--there seemed to be nothing but boys astir--boys and nuts; and these last not dropping from the tree, but thrown from hand to hand (hand to head would be more correct) of the busy throng.
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading Some picking up, some throwing stones to bring down, others at some flat stone 'shucking,' others still filling their baskets.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading The two ladies paused at a safe distance,--there seemed to be nothing but boys astir--boys and nuts; and these last not dropping from the tree, but thrown from hand to hand (hand to head would be more correct) of the busy throng.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The two ladies paused at a safe distance,--there seemed to be nothing but boys astir--boys and nuts; and these last not dropping from the tree, but thrown from hand to hand (hand to head would be more correct) of the busy throng.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The grass, trodden down by the many feet, lay in prostrate shadow at the foot of the great tree; and the shadows of other trees fell and met in soft wavy outline.
cladadjectiveUS /klæd/
wearing or provided with clothing; sometimes used in combination
From this reading From the side of one old tree a family of grey squirrels looked out, to see the besiegers lay waste the surrounding country; in the top of another--a tall hickory, full clad with golden leaves, Mr. Linden sat--to view the same country himself; well knowing that he had given the boys full occupation for at least fifteen minutes.
make right or correct
From this reading The two ladies paused at a safe distance,--there seemed to be nothing but boys astir--boys and nuts; and these last not dropping from the tree, but thrown from hand to hand (hand to head would be more correct) of the busy throng.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading From the side of one old tree a family of grey squirrels looked out, to see the besiegers lay waste the surrounding country; in the top of another--a tall hickory, full clad with golden leaves, Mr. Linden sat--to view the same country himself; well knowing that he had given the boys full occupation for at least fifteen minutes.
crackingnounUS /ˈkrækɪŋ/
a sudden sharp noise
From this reading And four boys out of five, cracking and eating--whatever else they were about.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading The two ladies paused at a safe distance,--there seemed to be nothing but boys astir--boys and nuts; and these last not dropping from the tree, but thrown from hand to hand (hand to head would be more correct) of the busy throng.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Some picking up, some throwing stones to bring down, others at some flat stone 'shucking,' others still filling their baskets.
droppingadjectiveUS /ˈdrɑːpɪŋ/
coming down freely under the influence of gravity
From this reading The two ladies paused at a safe distance,--there seemed to be nothing but boys astir--boys and nuts; and these last not dropping from the tree, but thrown from hand to hand (hand to head would be more correct) of the busy throng.
the act of consuming food
From this reading And four boys out of five, cracking and eating--whatever else they were about.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And four boys out of five, cracking and eating--whatever else they were about.
a social unit living together
From this reading From the side of one old tree a family of grey squirrels looked out, to see the besiegers lay waste the surrounding country; in the top of another--a tall hickory, full clad with golden leaves, Mr. Linden sat--to view the same country himself; well knowing that he had given the boys full occupation for at least fifteen minutes.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The grass, trodden down by the many feet, lay in prostrate shadow at the foot of the great tree; and the shadows of other trees fell and met in soft wavy outline.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading The grass, trodden down by the many feet, lay in prostrate shadow at the foot of the great tree; and the shadows of other trees fell and met in soft wavy outline.
the cardinal number that is the sum of fourteen and one
From this reading From the side of one old tree a family of grey squirrels looked out, to see the besiegers lay waste the surrounding country; in the top of another--a tall hickory, full clad with golden leaves, Mr. Linden sat--to view the same country himself; well knowing that he had given the boys full occupation for at least fifteen minutes.
fillingnounUS /ˈfɪlɪŋ/
any material that fills a space or container
From this reading Some picking up, some throwing stones to bring down, others at some flat stone 'shucking,' others still filling their baskets.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading And four boys out of five, cracking and eating--whatever else they were about.
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading Some picking up, some throwing stones to bring down, others at some flat stone 'shucking,' others still filling their baskets.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The grass, trodden down by the many feet, lay in prostrate shadow at the foot of the great tree; and the shadows of other trees fell and met in soft wavy outline.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading From the side of one old tree a family of grey squirrels looked out, to see the besiegers lay waste the surrounding country; in the top of another--a tall hickory, full clad with golden leaves, Mr. Linden sat--to view the same country himself; well knowing that he had given the boys full occupation for at least fifteen minutes.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading And four boys out of five, cracking and eating--whatever else they were about.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The two ladies paused at a safe distance,--there seemed to be nothing but boys astir--boys and nuts; and these last not dropping from the tree, but thrown from hand to hand (hand to head would be more correct) of the busy throng.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading From the side of one old tree a family of grey squirrels looked out, to see the besiegers lay waste the surrounding country; in the top of another--a tall hickory, full clad with golden leaves, Mr. Linden sat--to view the same country himself; well knowing that he had given the boys full occupation for at least fifteen minutes.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading From the side of one old tree a family of grey squirrels looked out, to see the besiegers lay waste the surrounding country; in the top of another--a tall hickory, full clad with golden leaves, Mr. Linden sat--to view the same country himself; well knowing that he had given the boys full occupation for at least fifteen minutes.
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading From the side of one old tree a family of grey squirrels looked out, to see the besiegers lay waste the surrounding country; in the top of another--a tall hickory, full clad with golden leaves, Mr. Linden sat--to view the same country himself; well knowing that he had given the boys full occupation for at least fifteen minutes.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading The grass, trodden down by the many feet, lay in prostrate shadow at the foot of the great tree; and the shadows of other trees fell and met in soft wavy outline.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The grass, trodden down by the many feet, lay in prostrate shadow at the foot of the great tree; and the shadows of other trees fell and met in soft wavy outline.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading From the side of one old tree a family of grey squirrels looked out, to see the besiegers lay waste the surrounding country; in the top of another--a tall hickory, full clad with golden leaves, Mr. Linden sat--to view the same country himself; well knowing that he had given the boys full occupation for at least fifteen minutes.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading From the side of one old tree a family of grey squirrels looked out, to see the besiegers lay waste the surrounding country; in the top of another--a tall hickory, full clad with golden leaves, Mr. Linden sat--to view the same country himself; well knowing that he had given the boys full occupation for at least fifteen minutes.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading The two ladies paused at a safe distance,--there seemed to be nothing but boys astir--boys and nuts; and these last not dropping from the tree, but thrown from hand to hand (hand to head would be more correct) of the busy throng.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading From the side of one old tree a family of grey squirrels looked out, to see the besiegers lay waste the surrounding country; in the top of another--a tall hickory, full clad with golden leaves, Mr. Linden sat--to view the same country himself; well knowing that he had given the boys full occupation for at least fifteen minutes.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading The two ladies paused at a safe distance,--there seemed to be nothing but boys astir--boys and nuts; and these last not dropping from the tree, but thrown from hand to hand (hand to head would be more correct) of the busy throng.
hickorynounUS /ˈhɪkəri/
valuable tough heavy hardwood from various hickory trees
From this reading From the side of one old tree a family of grey squirrels looked out, to see the besiegers lay waste the surrounding country; in the top of another--a tall hickory, full clad with golden leaves, Mr. Linden sat--to view the same country himself; well knowing that he had given the boys full occupation for at least fifteen minutes.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading From the side of one old tree a family of grey squirrels looked out, to see the besiegers lay waste the surrounding country; in the top of another--a tall hickory, full clad with golden leaves, Mr. Linden sat--to view the same country himself; well knowing that he had given the boys full occupation for at least fifteen minutes.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The grass, trodden down by the many feet, lay in prostrate shadow at the foot of the great tree; and the shadows of other trees fell and met in soft wavy outline.
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading From the side of one old tree a family of grey squirrels looked out, to see the besiegers lay waste the surrounding country; in the top of another--a tall hickory, full clad with golden leaves, Mr. Linden sat--to view the same country himself; well knowing that he had given the boys full occupation for at least fifteen minutes.
plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading The two ladies paused at a safe distance,--there seemed to be nothing but boys astir--boys and nuts; and these last not dropping from the tree, but thrown from hand to hand (hand to head would be more correct) of the busy throng.
immediately past
From this reading The two ladies paused at a safe distance,--there seemed to be nothing but boys astir--boys and nuts; and these last not dropping from the tree, but thrown from hand to hand (hand to head would be more correct) of the busy throng.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The grass, trodden down by the many feet, lay in prostrate shadow at the foot of the great tree; and the shadows of other trees fell and met in soft wavy outline.
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 From the side of one old tree a family of grey squirrels looked out, to see the besiegers lay waste the surrounding country; in the top of another--a tall hickory, full clad with golden leaves, Mr. Linden sat--to view the same country himself; well knowing that he had given the boys full occupation for at least fifteen minutes.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading From the side of one old tree a family of grey squirrels looked out, to see the besiegers lay waste the surrounding country; in the top of another--a tall hickory, full clad with golden leaves, Mr. Linden sat--to view the same country himself; well knowing that he had given the boys full occupation for at least fifteen minutes.
LindennounUS /ˈlɪndən/
soft light-colored wood of any of various linden trees; used in making crates and boxes and in carving and millwork
From this reading From the side of one old tree a family of grey squirrels looked out, to see the besiegers lay waste the surrounding country; in the top of another--a tall hickory, full clad with golden leaves, Mr. Linden sat--to view the same country himself; well knowing that he had given the boys full occupation for at least fifteen minutes.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading From the side of one old tree a family of grey squirrels looked out, to see the besiegers lay waste the surrounding country; in the top of another--a tall hickory, full clad with golden leaves, Mr. Linden sat--to view the same country himself; well knowing that he had given the boys full occupation for at least fifteen minutes.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading The grass, trodden down by the many feet, lay in prostrate shadow at the foot of the great tree; and the shadows of other trees fell and met in soft wavy outline.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading The grass, trodden down by the many feet, lay in prostrate shadow at the foot of the great tree; and the shadows of other trees fell and met in soft wavy outline.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading From the side of one old tree a family of grey squirrels looked out, to see the besiegers lay waste the surrounding country; in the top of another--a tall hickory, full clad with golden leaves, Mr. Linden sat--to view the same country himself; well knowing that he had given the boys full occupation for at least fifteen minutes.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The two ladies paused at a safe distance,--there seemed to be nothing but boys astir--boys and nuts; and these last not dropping from the tree, but thrown from hand to hand (hand to head would be more correct) of the busy throng.
a form of address for a man
From this reading From the side of one old tree a family of grey squirrels looked out, to see the besiegers lay waste the surrounding country; in the top of another--a tall hickory, full clad with golden leaves, Mr. Linden sat--to view the same country himself; well knowing that he had given the boys full occupation for at least fifteen minutes.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The two ladies paused at a safe distance,--there seemed to be nothing but boys astir--boys and nuts; and these last not dropping from the tree, but thrown from hand to hand (hand to head would be more correct) of the busy throng.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading The two ladies paused at a safe distance,--there seemed to be nothing but boys astir--boys and nuts; and these last not dropping from the tree, but thrown from hand to hand (hand to head would be more correct) of the busy throng.
nutsadjectiveUS /nʌts/
informal or slang terms for mentally irregular
From this reading The two ladies paused at a safe distance,--there seemed to be nothing but boys astir--boys and nuts; and these last not dropping from the tree, but thrown from hand to hand (hand to head would be more correct) of the busy throng.
occupationnounUS /ˌɑːkjəˈpeɪʃən/
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading From the side of one old tree a family of grey squirrels looked out, to see the besiegers lay waste the surrounding country; in the top of another--a tall hickory, full clad with golden leaves, Mr. Linden sat--to view the same country himself; well knowing that he had given the boys full occupation for at least fifteen minutes.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The two ladies paused at a safe distance,--there seemed to be nothing but boys astir--boys and nuts; and these last not dropping from the tree, but thrown from hand to hand (hand to head would be more correct) of the busy throng.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading From the side of one old tree a family of grey squirrels looked out, to see the besiegers lay waste the surrounding country; in the top of another--a tall hickory, full clad with golden leaves, Mr. Linden sat--to view the same country himself; well knowing that he had given the boys full occupation for at least fifteen minutes.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading From the side of one old tree a family of grey squirrels looked out, to see the besiegers lay waste the surrounding country; in the top of another--a tall hickory, full clad with golden leaves, Mr. Linden sat--to view the same country himself; well knowing that he had given the boys full occupation for at least fifteen minutes.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The grass, trodden down by the many feet, lay in prostrate shadow at the foot of the great tree; and the shadows of other trees fell and met in soft wavy outline.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some picking up, some throwing stones to bring down, others at some flat stone 'shucking,' others still filling their baskets.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading And four boys out of five, cracking and eating--whatever else they were about.
outlinenounUS /ˈaʊtlaɪn/
the line that appears to bound an object
From this reading The grass, trodden down by the many feet, lay in prostrate shadow at the foot of the great tree; and the shadows of other trees fell and met in soft wavy outline.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading The two ladies paused at a safe distance,--there seemed to be nothing but boys astir--boys and nuts; and these last not dropping from the tree, but thrown from hand to hand (hand to head would be more correct) of the busy throng.
pickingnounUS /ˈpɪkɪŋ/
the quantity of a crop that is harvested
From this reading Some picking up, some throwing stones to bring down, others at some flat stone 'shucking,' others still filling their baskets.
prostrateverbUS /ˈprɑːstreɪt/
get into a prostrate position, as in submission
From this reading The grass, trodden down by the many feet, lay in prostrate shadow at the foot of the great tree; and the shadows of other trees fell and met in soft wavy outline.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading The two ladies paused at a safe distance,--there seemed to be nothing but boys astir--boys and nuts; and these last not dropping from the tree, but thrown from hand to hand (hand to head would be more correct) of the busy throng.
Identical; not different.
From this reading From the side of one old tree a family of grey squirrels looked out, to see the besiegers lay waste the surrounding country; in the top of another--a tall hickory, full clad with golden leaves, Mr. Linden sat--to view the same country himself; well knowing that he had given the boys full occupation for at least fifteen minutes.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading From the side of one old tree a family of grey squirrels looked out, to see the besiegers lay waste the surrounding country; in the top of another--a tall hickory, full clad with golden leaves, Mr. Linden sat--to view the same country himself; well knowing that he had given the boys full occupation for at least fifteen minutes.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading From the side of one old tree a family of grey squirrels looked out, to see the besiegers lay waste the surrounding country; in the top of another--a tall hickory, full clad with golden leaves, Mr. Linden sat--to view the same country himself; well knowing that he had given the boys full occupation for at least fifteen minutes.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The two ladies paused at a safe distance,--there seemed to be nothing but boys astir--boys and nuts; and these last not dropping from the tree, but thrown from hand to hand (hand to head would be more correct) of the busy throng.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading The grass, trodden down by the many feet, lay in prostrate shadow at the foot of the great tree; and the shadows of other trees fell and met in soft wavy outline.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading The grass, trodden down by the many feet, lay in prostrate shadow at the foot of the great tree; and the shadows of other trees fell and met in soft wavy outline.
shuckingverbUS /ˈʃʌkɪŋ/
-ing form of “shuck” — remove from the shell
From this reading Some picking up, some throwing stones to bring down, others at some flat stone 'shucking,' others still filling their baskets.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading From the side of one old tree a family of grey squirrels looked out, to see the besiegers lay waste the surrounding country; in the top of another--a tall hickory, full clad with golden leaves, Mr. Linden sat--to view the same country himself; well knowing that he had given the boys full occupation for at least fifteen minutes.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading The grass, trodden down by the many feet, lay in prostrate shadow at the foot of the great tree; and the shadows of other trees fell and met in soft wavy outline.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Some picking up, some throwing stones to bring down, others at some flat stone 'shucking,' others still filling their baskets.
squirrelsnounUS /ˈskwɜːrəlz/
plural of “squirrel” — a kind of arboreal rodent having a long bushy tail
From this reading From the side of one old tree a family of grey squirrels looked out, to see the besiegers lay waste the surrounding country; in the top of another--a tall hickory, full clad with golden leaves, Mr. Linden sat--to view the same country himself; well knowing that he had given the boys full occupation for at least fifteen minutes.
not in physical motion
From this reading Some picking up, some throwing stones to bring down, others at some flat stone 'shucking,' others still filling their baskets.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Some picking up, some throwing stones to bring down, others at some flat stone 'shucking,' others still filling their baskets.
plural of “stone” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Some picking up, some throwing stones to bring down, others at some flat stone 'shucking,' others still filling their baskets.
surroundingadjectiveUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋ/
closely encircling
From this reading From the side of one old tree a family of grey squirrels looked out, to see the besiegers lay waste the surrounding country; in the top of another--a tall hickory, full clad with golden leaves, Mr. Linden sat--to view the same country himself; well knowing that he had given the boys full occupation for at least fifteen minutes.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading From the side of one old tree a family of grey squirrels looked out, to see the besiegers lay waste the surrounding country; in the top of another--a tall hickory, full clad with golden leaves, Mr. Linden sat--to view the same country himself; well knowing that he had given the boys full occupation for at least fifteen minutes.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading From the side of one old tree a family of grey squirrels looked out, to see the besiegers lay waste the surrounding country; in the top of another--a tall hickory, full clad with golden leaves, Mr. Linden sat--to view the same country himself; well knowing that he had given the boys full occupation for at least fifteen minutes.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The two ladies paused at a safe distance,--there seemed to be nothing but boys astir--boys and nuts; and these last not dropping from the tree, but thrown from hand to hand (hand to head would be more correct) of the busy throng.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Some picking up, some throwing stones to bring down, others at some flat stone 'shucking,' others still filling their baskets.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The two ladies paused at a safe distance,--there seemed to be nothing but boys astir--boys and nuts; and these last not dropping from the tree, but thrown from hand to hand (hand to head would be more correct) of the busy throng.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading The two ladies paused at a safe distance,--there seemed to be nothing but boys astir--boys and nuts; and these last not dropping from the tree, but thrown from hand to hand (hand to head would be more correct) of the busy throng.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And four boys out of five, cracking and eating--whatever else they were about.
throngnounUS /θrɔːŋ/
a large gathering of people
From this reading The two ladies paused at a safe distance,--there seemed to be nothing but boys astir--boys and nuts; and these last not dropping from the tree, but thrown from hand to hand (hand to head would be more correct) of the busy throng.
-ing form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading Some picking up, some throwing stones to bring down, others at some flat stone 'shucking,' others still filling their baskets.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading The two ladies paused at a safe distance,--there seemed to be nothing but boys astir--boys and nuts; and these last not dropping from the tree, but thrown from hand to hand (hand to head would be more correct) of the busy throng.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The two ladies paused at a safe distance,--there seemed to be nothing but boys astir--boys and nuts; and these last not dropping from the tree, but thrown from hand to hand (hand to head would be more correct) of the busy throng.
the upper part of anything
From this reading From the side of one old tree a family of grey squirrels looked out, to see the besiegers lay waste the surrounding country; in the top of another--a tall hickory, full clad with golden leaves, Mr. Linden sat--to view the same country himself; well knowing that he had given the boys full occupation for at least fifteen minutes.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading The two ladies paused at a safe distance,--there seemed to be nothing but boys astir--boys and nuts; and these last not dropping from the tree, but thrown from hand to hand (hand to head would be more correct) of the busy throng.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading The grass, trodden down by the many feet, lay in prostrate shadow at the foot of the great tree; and the shadows of other trees fell and met in soft wavy outline.
troddenverbUS /ˈtrɑːdən/
inflected form of “tread” — put down or press the foot, place the foot
From this reading The grass, trodden down by the many feet, lay in prostrate shadow at the foot of the great tree; and the shadows of other trees fell and met in soft wavy outline.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The two ladies paused at a safe distance,--there seemed to be nothing but boys astir--boys and nuts; and these last not dropping from the tree, but thrown from hand to hand (hand to head would be more correct) of the busy throng.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Some picking up, some throwing stones to bring down, others at some flat stone 'shucking,' others still filling their baskets.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading From the side of one old tree a family of grey squirrels looked out, to see the besiegers lay waste the surrounding country; in the top of another--a tall hickory, full clad with golden leaves, Mr. Linden sat--to view the same country himself; well knowing that he had given the boys full occupation for at least fifteen minutes.
any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted
From this reading From the side of one old tree a family of grey squirrels looked out, to see the besiegers lay waste the surrounding country; in the top of another--a tall hickory, full clad with golden leaves, Mr. Linden sat--to view the same country himself; well knowing that he had given the boys full occupation for at least fifteen minutes.
wavyadjectiveUS /ˈweɪvi/
(of hair) having waves
From this reading The grass, trodden down by the many feet, lay in prostrate shadow at the foot of the great tree; and the shadows of other trees fell and met in soft wavy outline.
(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 From the side of one old tree a family of grey squirrels looked out, to see the besiegers lay waste the surrounding country; in the top of another--a tall hickory, full clad with golden leaves, Mr. Linden sat--to view the same country himself; well knowing that he had given the boys full occupation for at least fifteen minutes.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading And four boys out of five, cracking and eating--whatever else they were about.
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading And four boys out of five, cracking and eating--whatever else they were about.
in the company of; together with
From this reading From the side of one old tree a family of grey squirrels looked out, to see the besiegers lay waste the surrounding country; in the top of another--a tall hickory, full clad with golden leaves, Mr. Linden sat--to view the same country himself; well knowing that he had given the boys full occupation for at least fifteen minutes.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The two ladies paused at a safe distance,--there seemed to be nothing but boys astir--boys and nuts; and these last not dropping from the tree, but thrown from hand to hand (hand to head would be more correct) of the busy throng.
