used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading OLD JARRED Two miles farther up that same road a little log cabin stood back from the road about fifty feet behind its weather-beaten picket fence.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading OLD JARRED Two miles farther up that same road a little log cabin stood back from the road about fifty feet behind its weather-beaten picket fence.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The little yard, like most of the yards in that section of the country, was perfectly bare, and at first glance it seemed to be deserted.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The little yard, like most of the yards in that section of the country, was perfectly bare, and at first glance it seemed to be deserted.
(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
From this reading But if a member of the Wait settlement had tried to enter the yard, he would instantly have been aware of a very real presence.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading OLD JARRED Two miles farther up that same road a little log cabin stood back from the road about fifty feet behind its weather-beaten picket fence.
completely unclothed
From this reading The little yard, like most of the yards in that section of the country, was perfectly bare, and at first glance it seemed to be deserted.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The little yard, like most of the yards in that section of the country, was perfectly bare, and at first glance it seemed to be deserted.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading But if a member of the Wait settlement had tried to enter the yard, he would instantly have been aware of a very real presence.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading OLD JARRED Two miles farther up that same road a little log cabin stood back from the road about fifty feet behind its weather-beaten picket fence.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Seated on the doorstep of the cabin, and so motionless that he might have been a part of it, was a man clad in a black sateen shirt and homespun trousers tucked into heavy Congress boots.
plural of “boot” — footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg
From this reading Seated on the doorstep of the cabin, and so motionless that he might have been a part of it, was a man clad in a black sateen shirt and homespun trousers tucked into heavy Congress boots.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But if a member of the Wait settlement had tried to enter the yard, he would instantly have been aware of a very real presence.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading OLD JARRED Two miles farther up that same road a little log cabin stood back from the road about fifty feet behind its weather-beaten picket fence.
cladadjectiveUS /klæd/
wearing or provided with clothing; sometimes used in combination
From this reading Seated on the doorstep of the cabin, and so motionless that he might have been a part of it, was a man clad in a black sateen shirt and homespun trousers tucked into heavy Congress boots.
CongressnounUS /ˈkɑːŋɡrəs/
the legislature of the United States government
From this reading Seated on the doorstep of the cabin, and so motionless that he might have been a part of it, was a man clad in a black sateen shirt and homespun trousers tucked into heavy Congress boots.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading The little yard, like most of the yards in that section of the country, was perfectly bare, and at first glance it seemed to be deserted.
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading The little yard, like most of the yards in that section of the country, was perfectly bare, and at first glance it seemed to be deserted.
doorstepnounUS /ˈdɔːrstep/
the sill of a door; a horizontal piece of wood or stone that forms the bottom of a doorway and offers support when passing through a doorway
From this reading Seated on the doorstep of the cabin, and so motionless that he might have been a part of it, was a man clad in a black sateen shirt and homespun trousers tucked into heavy Congress boots.
eighty-fiveadjective
being five more than eighty
From this reading Judging from the silvery whiteness of his hair he might have been eighty-five, but from the strong, stern lines of his thin, smooth-shaven face he might have been forty-five.
to come or go into
From this reading But if a member of the Wait settlement had tried to enter the yard, he would instantly have been aware of a very real presence.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Judging from the silvery whiteness of his hair he might have been eighty-five, but from the strong, stern lines of his thin, smooth-shaven face he might have been forty-five.
more distant in especially space or time
From this reading OLD JARRED Two miles farther up that same road a little log cabin stood back from the road about fifty feet behind its weather-beaten picket fence.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading OLD JARRED Two miles farther up that same road a little log cabin stood back from the road about fifty feet behind its weather-beaten picket fence.
enclose with a fence
From this reading OLD JARRED Two miles farther up that same road a little log cabin stood back from the road about fifty feet behind its weather-beaten picket fence.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and five
From this reading OLD JARRED Two miles farther up that same road a little log cabin stood back from the road about fifty feet behind its weather-beaten picket fence.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The little yard, like most of the yards in that section of the country, was perfectly bare, and at first glance it seemed to be deserted.
forty-fivenounUS /ˈfɔːrtifaɪv/
a .45-caliber pistol
From this reading Judging from the silvery whiteness of his hair he might have been eighty-five, but from the strong, stern lines of his thin, smooth-shaven face he might have been forty-five.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading OLD JARRED Two miles farther up that same road a little log cabin stood back from the road about fifty feet behind its weather-beaten picket fence.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading The little yard, like most of the yards in that section of the country, was perfectly bare, and at first glance it seemed to be deserted.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But if a member of the Wait settlement had tried to enter the yard, he would instantly have been aware of a very real presence.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading Judging from the silvery whiteness of his hair he might have been eighty-five, but from the strong, stern lines of his thin, smooth-shaven face he might have been forty-five.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But if a member of the Wait settlement had tried to enter the yard, he would instantly have been aware of a very real presence.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But if a member of the Wait settlement had tried to enter the yard, he would instantly have been aware of a very real presence.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading Seated on the doorstep of the cabin, and so motionless that he might have been a part of it, was a man clad in a black sateen shirt and homespun trousers tucked into heavy Congress boots.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Judging from the silvery whiteness of his hair he might have been eighty-five, but from the strong, stern lines of his thin, smooth-shaven face he might have been forty-five.
homespunadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊmspʌn/
of textiles; having a rough surface
From this reading Seated on the doorstep of the cabin, and so motionless that he might have been a part of it, was a man clad in a black sateen shirt and homespun trousers tucked into heavy Congress boots.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading But if a member of the Wait settlement had tried to enter the yard, he would instantly have been aware of a very real presence.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The little yard, like most of the yards in that section of the country, was perfectly bare, and at first glance it seemed to be deserted.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading But if a member of the Wait settlement had tried to enter the yard, he would instantly have been aware of a very real presence.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Seated on the doorstep of the cabin, and so motionless that he might have been a part of it, was a man clad in a black sateen shirt and homespun trousers tucked into heavy Congress boots.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The little yard, like most of the yards in that section of the country, was perfectly bare, and at first glance it seemed to be deserted.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading OLD JARRED Two miles farther up that same road a little log cabin stood back from the road about fifty feet behind its weather-beaten picket fence.
JARREDverbUS /dʒɑːrd/
inflected form of “jar” — be incompatible; be or come into conflict
From this reading OLD JARRED Two miles farther up that same road a little log cabin stood back from the road about fifty feet behind its weather-beaten picket fence.
JudgingnounUS /ˈdʒʌdʒɪŋ/
the cognitive process of reaching a decision or drawing conclusions
From this reading Judging from the silvery whiteness of his hair he might have been eighty-five, but from the strong, stern lines of his thin, smooth-shaven face he might have been forty-five.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The little yard, like most of the yards in that section of the country, was perfectly bare, and at first glance it seemed to be deserted.
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading Judging from the silvery whiteness of his hair he might have been eighty-five, but from the strong, stern lines of his thin, smooth-shaven face he might have been forty-five.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading OLD JARRED Two miles farther up that same road a little log cabin stood back from the road about fifty feet behind its weather-beaten picket fence.
logverbUS /lɔːɡ/
enter into a log, as on ships and planes
From this reading OLD JARRED Two miles farther up that same road a little log cabin stood back from the road about fifty feet behind its weather-beaten picket fence.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Seated on the doorstep of the cabin, and so motionless that he might have been a part of it, was a man clad in a black sateen shirt and homespun trousers tucked into heavy Congress boots.
one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)
From this reading But if a member of the Wait settlement had tried to enter the yard, he would instantly have been aware of a very real presence.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Seated on the doorstep of the cabin, and so motionless that he might have been a part of it, was a man clad in a black sateen shirt and homespun trousers tucked into heavy Congress boots.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading OLD JARRED Two miles farther up that same road a little log cabin stood back from the road about fifty feet behind its weather-beaten picket fence.
used to form the superlative
From this reading The little yard, like most of the yards in that section of the country, was perfectly bare, and at first glance it seemed to be deserted.
not in physical motion
From this reading Seated on the doorstep of the cabin, and so motionless that he might have been a part of it, was a man clad in a black sateen shirt and homespun trousers tucked into heavy Congress boots.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The little yard, like most of the yards in that section of the country, was perfectly bare, and at first glance it seemed to be deserted.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading OLD JARRED Two miles farther up that same road a little log cabin stood back from the road about fifty feet behind its weather-beaten picket fence.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Seated on the doorstep of the cabin, and so motionless that he might have been a part of it, was a man clad in a black sateen shirt and homespun trousers tucked into heavy Congress boots.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Seated on the doorstep of the cabin, and so motionless that he might have been a part of it, was a man clad in a black sateen shirt and homespun trousers tucked into heavy Congress boots.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading The little yard, like most of the yards in that section of the country, was perfectly bare, and at first glance it seemed to be deserted.
picketnounUS /ˈpɪkɪt/
a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading OLD JARRED Two miles farther up that same road a little log cabin stood back from the road about fifty feet behind its weather-beaten picket fence.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading But if a member of the Wait settlement had tried to enter the yard, he would instantly have been aware of a very real presence.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading But if a member of the Wait settlement had tried to enter the yard, he would instantly have been aware of a very real presence.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading OLD JARRED Two miles farther up that same road a little log cabin stood back from the road about fifty feet behind its weather-beaten picket fence.
Identical; not different.
From this reading OLD JARRED Two miles farther up that same road a little log cabin stood back from the road about fifty feet behind its weather-beaten picket fence.
sateennoun
a cotton fabric with a satiny finish
From this reading Seated on the doorstep of the cabin, and so motionless that he might have been a part of it, was a man clad in a black sateen shirt and homespun trousers tucked into heavy Congress boots.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading Seated on the doorstep of the cabin, and so motionless that he might have been a part of it, was a man clad in a black sateen shirt and homespun trousers tucked into heavy Congress boots.
sectionnounUS /ˈsekʃən/
a self-contained part of a larger composition (written or musical)
From this reading The little yard, like most of the yards in that section of the country, was perfectly bare, and at first glance it seemed to be deserted.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The little yard, like most of the yards in that section of the country, was perfectly bare, and at first glance it seemed to be deserted.
settlementnounUS /ˈsetəlmənt/
a body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government
From this reading But if a member of the Wait settlement had tried to enter the yard, he would instantly have been aware of a very real presence.
shirtnounUS /ʃɜːrt/
a garment worn on the upper half of the body
From this reading Seated on the doorstep of the cabin, and so motionless that he might have been a part of it, was a man clad in a black sateen shirt and homespun trousers tucked into heavy Congress boots.
silveryadjectiveUS /ˈsɪlvəri/
resembling or reminiscent of silver
From this reading Judging from the silvery whiteness of his hair he might have been eighty-five, but from the strong, stern lines of his thin, smooth-shaven face he might have been forty-five.
smooth-shavenadjectiveUS /ˌsmuːθˈʃeɪvən/
closely shaved recently
From this reading Judging from the silvery whiteness of his hair he might have been eighty-five, but from the strong, stern lines of his thin, smooth-shaven face he might have been forty-five.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Seated on the doorstep of the cabin, and so motionless that he might have been a part of it, was a man clad in a black sateen shirt and homespun trousers tucked into heavy Congress boots.
sternadjectiveUS /stɜːrn/
of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect
From this reading Judging from the silvery whiteness of his hair he might have been eighty-five, but from the strong, stern lines of his thin, smooth-shaven face he might have been forty-five.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading OLD JARRED Two miles farther up that same road a little log cabin stood back from the road about fifty feet behind its weather-beaten picket fence.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading Judging from the silvery whiteness of his hair he might have been eighty-five, but from the strong, stern lines of his thin, smooth-shaven face he might have been forty-five.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading OLD JARRED Two miles farther up that same road a little log cabin stood back from the road about fifty feet behind its weather-beaten picket fence.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading OLD JARRED Two miles farther up that same road a little log cabin stood back from the road about fifty feet behind its weather-beaten picket fence.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading Judging from the silvery whiteness of his hair he might have been eighty-five, but from the strong, stern lines of his thin, smooth-shaven face he might have been forty-five.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The little yard, like most of the yards in that section of the country, was perfectly bare, and at first glance it seemed to be deserted.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading But if a member of the Wait settlement had tried to enter the yard, he would instantly have been aware of a very real presence.
trousersnounUS /ˈtraʊzərz/
(usually in the plural) a garment extending from the waist to the knee or ankle, covering each leg separately
From this reading Seated on the doorstep of the cabin, and so motionless that he might have been a part of it, was a man clad in a black sateen shirt and homespun trousers tucked into heavy Congress boots.
tuckedadjectiveUS /tʌkt/
having tucked or being tucked
From this reading Seated on the doorstep of the cabin, and so motionless that he might have been a part of it, was a man clad in a black sateen shirt and homespun trousers tucked into heavy Congress boots.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading OLD JARRED Two miles farther up that same road a little log cabin stood back from the road about fifty feet behind its weather-beaten picket fence.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading OLD JARRED Two miles farther up that same road a little log cabin stood back from the road about fifty feet behind its weather-beaten picket fence.
precisely as stated
From this reading But if a member of the Wait settlement had tried to enter the yard, he would instantly have been aware of a very real presence.
stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading But if a member of the Wait settlement had tried to enter the yard, he would instantly have been aware of a very real presence.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The little yard, like most of the yards in that section of the country, was perfectly bare, and at first glance it seemed to be deserted.
weather-beatenadjective
tanned and coarsened from being outdoors
From this reading OLD JARRED Two miles farther up that same road a little log cabin stood back from the road about fifty feet behind its weather-beaten picket fence.
whitenessnounUS /ˈwaɪtnəs/
the quality or state of the achromatic color of greatest lightness (bearing the least resemblance to black)
From this reading Judging from the silvery whiteness of his hair he might have been eighty-five, but from the strong, stern lines of his thin, smooth-shaven face he might have been forty-five.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But if a member of the Wait settlement had tried to enter the yard, he would instantly have been aware of a very real presence.
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading The little yard, like most of the yards in that section of the country, was perfectly bare, and at first glance it seemed to be deserted.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading The little yard, like most of the yards in that section of the country, was perfectly bare, and at first glance it seemed to be deserted.
