used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Merton and Scott, who had scoured the country to the northward in search of eggs and butter reported a supply sufficient for the first half of the summer at least.
(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 All the next day the boys were busy as badgers making garden, sawing wood for the cookshack, fixing up the tennis court and putting the camp in shape generally.
in addition
From this reading They also brought back with them two cows which they had purchased through correspondence with the foreman.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading All the next day the boys were busy as badgers making garden, sawing wood for the cookshack, fixing up the tennis court and putting the camp in shape generally.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading All the next day the boys were busy as badgers making garden, sawing wood for the cookshack, fixing up the tennis court and putting the camp in shape generally.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Merton and Scott, who had scoured the country to the northward in search of eggs and butter reported a supply sufficient for the first half of the summer at least.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading They also brought back with them two cows which they had purchased through correspondence with the foreman.
badgersnounUS /ˈbædʒərz/
plural of “badger” — a native or resident of Wisconsin
From this reading All the next day the boys were busy as badgers making garden, sawing wood for the cookshack, fixing up the tennis court and putting the camp in shape generally.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading All the next day the boys were busy as badgers making garden, sawing wood for the cookshack, fixing up the tennis court and putting the camp in shape generally.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading They also brought back with them two cows which they had purchased through correspondence with the foreman.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading All the next day the boys were busy as badgers making garden, sawing wood for the cookshack, fixing up the tennis court and putting the camp in shape generally.
butternounUS /ˈbʌtər/
an edible emulsion of fat globules made by churning milk or cream; for cooking and table use
From this reading Merton and Scott, who had scoured the country to the northward in search of eggs and butter reported a supply sufficient for the first half of the summer at least.
temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
From this reading All the next day the boys were busy as badgers making garden, sawing wood for the cookshack, fixing up the tennis court and putting the camp in shape generally.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading Night found them feeling very much at home, with much of the preliminary work completed.
cookshack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the next day the boys were busy as badgers making garden, sawing wood for the cookshack, fixing up the tennis court and putting the camp in shape generally.
correspondencenounUS /ˌkɔːrəˈspɑːndəns/
communication by the exchange of letters
From this reading They also brought back with them two cows which they had purchased through correspondence with the foreman.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading Merton and Scott, who had scoured the country to the northward in search of eggs and butter reported a supply sufficient for the first half of the summer at least.
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
From this reading All the next day the boys were busy as badgers making garden, sawing wood for the cookshack, fixing up the tennis court and putting the camp in shape generally.
cowsnounUS /kaʊz/
domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age
From this reading They also brought back with them two cows which they had purchased through correspondence with the foreman.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading All the next day the boys were busy as badgers making garden, sawing wood for the cookshack, fixing up the tennis court and putting the camp in shape generally.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The gangs were well organized for so early in the season and did their work quickly.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading The gangs were well organized for so early in the season and did their work quickly.
oval reproductive body of a fowl (especially a hen) used as food
From this reading Merton and Scott, who had scoured the country to the northward in search of eggs and butter reported a supply sufficient for the first half of the summer at least.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading Night found them feeling very much at home, with much of the preliminary work completed.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Merton and Scott, who had scoured the country to the northward in search of eggs and butter reported a supply sufficient for the first half of the summer at least.
fixingnounUS /ˈfɪksɪŋ/
the act of putting something in working order again
From this reading All the next day the boys were busy as badgers making garden, sawing wood for the cookshack, fixing up the tennis court and putting the camp in shape generally.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading All the next day the boys were busy as badgers making garden, sawing wood for the cookshack, fixing up the tennis court and putting the camp in shape generally.
foremannounUS /ˈfɔːrmən/
a person who exercises control over workers
From this reading They also brought back with them two cows which they had purchased through correspondence with the foreman.
set up or found
From this reading Night found them feeling very much at home, with much of the preliminary work completed.
gangsnounUS /ɡæŋz/
plural of “gang” — an association of criminals
From this reading The gangs were well organized for so early in the season and did their work quickly.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading All the next day the boys were busy as badgers making garden, sawing wood for the cookshack, fixing up the tennis court and putting the camp in shape generally.
usually; as a rule
From this reading All the next day the boys were busy as badgers making garden, sawing wood for the cookshack, fixing up the tennis court and putting the camp in shape generally.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Merton and Scott, who had scoured the country to the northward in search of eggs and butter reported a supply sufficient for the first half of the summer at least.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Merton and Scott, who had scoured the country to the northward in search of eggs and butter reported a supply sufficient for the first half of the summer at least.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Night found them feeling very much at home, with much of the preliminary work completed.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading All the next day the boys were busy as badgers making garden, sawing wood for the cookshack, fixing up the tennis court and putting the camp in shape generally.
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 Merton and Scott, who had scoured the country to the northward in search of eggs and butter reported a supply sufficient for the first half of the summer at least.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading All the next day the boys were busy as badgers making garden, sawing wood for the cookshack, fixing up the tennis court and putting the camp in shape generally.
MertonnounUS /ˈmɜːrtən/
United States religious and writer (1915-1968)
From this reading Merton and Scott, who had scoured the country to the northward in search of eggs and butter reported a supply sufficient for the first half of the summer at least.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Night found them feeling very much at home, with much of the preliminary work completed.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading All the next day the boys were busy as badgers making garden, sawing wood for the cookshack, fixing up the tennis court and putting the camp in shape generally.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Night found them feeling very much at home, with much of the preliminary work completed.
northwardadverbUS /ˈnɔːrθwərd/
in a northern direction
From this reading Merton and Scott, who had scoured the country to the northward in search of eggs and butter reported a supply sufficient for the first half of the summer at least.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Merton and Scott, who had scoured the country to the northward in search of eggs and butter reported a supply sufficient for the first half of the summer at least.
organizedadjectiveUS /ˈɔːrɡənaɪzd/
formed into a structured or coherent whole, particularly on a large scale
From this reading The gangs were well organized for so early in the season and did their work quickly.
preliminaryadjectiveUS /prɪˈlɪməneri/
denoting an action or event preceding or in preparation for something more important
From this reading Night found them feeling very much at home, with much of the preliminary work completed.
purchasedverbUS /ˈpɜːrtʃəst/
past form of “purchase” — obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction
From this reading They also brought back with them two cows which they had purchased through correspondence with the foreman.
hitting a golf ball that is on the green using a putter
From this reading All the next day the boys were busy as badgers making garden, sawing wood for the cookshack, fixing up the tennis court and putting the camp in shape generally.
with speed
From this reading The gangs were well organized for so early in the season and did their work quickly.
made known or told about; especially presented in a formal account
From this reading Merton and Scott, who had scoured the country to the northward in search of eggs and butter reported a supply sufficient for the first half of the summer at least.
sawingverbUS /ˈsɔːɪŋ/
-ing form of “saw” — cut with a saw
From this reading All the next day the boys were busy as badgers making garden, sawing wood for the cookshack, fixing up the tennis court and putting the camp in shape generally.
ScottnounUS /skɑːt/
award-winning United States film actor (1928-1999)
From this reading Merton and Scott, who had scoured the country to the northward in search of eggs and butter reported a supply sufficient for the first half of the summer at least.
scouredadjectiveUS /ˈskaʊərd/
worn away as by water or ice or wind
From this reading Merton and Scott, who had scoured the country to the northward in search of eggs and butter reported a supply sufficient for the first half of the summer at least.
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading Merton and Scott, who had scoured the country to the northward in search of eggs and butter reported a supply sufficient for the first half of the summer at least.
a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field
From this reading The gangs were well organized for so early in the season and did their work quickly.
any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)
From this reading All the next day the boys were busy as badgers making garden, sawing wood for the cookshack, fixing up the tennis court and putting the camp in shape generally.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The gangs were well organized for so early in the season and did their work quickly.
of a quantity that can fulfill a need or requirement but without being abundant
From this reading Merton and Scott, who had scoured the country to the northward in search of eggs and butter reported a supply sufficient for the first half of the summer at least.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading Merton and Scott, who had scoured the country to the northward in search of eggs and butter reported a supply sufficient for the first half of the summer at least.
give something useful or necessary to
From this reading Merton and Scott, who had scoured the country to the northward in search of eggs and butter reported a supply sufficient for the first half of the summer at least.
tennisnounUS /ˈtenəs/
a game played with rackets by two or four players who hit a ball back and forth over a net that divides the court
From this reading All the next day the boys were busy as badgers making garden, sawing wood for the cookshack, fixing up the tennis court and putting the camp in shape generally.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading All the next day the boys were busy as badgers making garden, sawing wood for the cookshack, fixing up the tennis court and putting the camp in shape generally.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The gangs were well organized for so early in the season and did their work quickly.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They also brought back with them two cows which they had purchased through correspondence with the foreman.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They also brought back with them two cows which they had purchased through correspondence with the foreman.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading They also brought back with them two cows which they had purchased through correspondence with the foreman.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Merton and Scott, who had scoured the country to the northward in search of eggs and butter reported a supply sufficient for the first half of the summer at least.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading They also brought back with them two cows which they had purchased through correspondence with the foreman.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading All the next day the boys were busy as badgers making garden, sawing wood for the cookshack, fixing up the tennis court and putting the camp in shape generally.
precisely as stated
From this reading Night found them feeling very much at home, with much of the preliminary work completed.
(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 The gangs were well organized for so early in the season and did their work quickly.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading All the next day the boys were busy as badgers making garden, sawing wood for the cookshack, fixing up the tennis court and putting the camp in shape generally.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They also brought back with them two cows which they had purchased through correspondence with the foreman.
which person or people
From this reading Merton and Scott, who had scoured the country to the northward in search of eggs and butter reported a supply sufficient for the first half of the summer at least.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They also brought back with them two cows which they had purchased through correspondence with the foreman.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading All the next day the boys were busy as badgers making garden, sawing wood for the cookshack, fixing up the tennis court and putting the camp in shape generally.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading The gangs were well organized for so early in the season and did their work quickly.
