used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His oaths would often hiss and hang fire a little, but they were in the end as brief and emphatic as the crack of a rifle.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His oaths would often hiss and hang fire a little, but they were in the end as brief and emphatic as the crack of a rifle.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading His oaths would often hiss and hang fire a little, but they were in the end as brief and emphatic as the crack of a rifle.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Silas Strong had filled his great pack at the store and was nearing his winter home--a rude log-house in the little forest hamlet.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He let the basket down from his broad back to the doorstep.
a container that is usually woven and has handles
From this reading He let the basket down from his broad back to the doorstep.
black-eyed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His sister Cynthia, small, slim, sternfaced, black-eyed, heart and fancy free, stood looking down at him.
brevitynounUS /ˈbrevəti/
the use of brief expressions
From this reading This trait of brevity was due, in some degree, to the fact that he stammered slightly, especially in moments of excitement, but more to his life in the silence of the deep woods.
of short duration or distance
From this reading His oaths would often hiss and hang fire a little, but they were in the end as brief and emphatic as the crack of a rifle.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading He let the basket down from his broad back to the doorstep.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading His oaths would often hiss and hang fire a little, but they were in the end as brief and emphatic as the crack of a rifle.
crackverbUS /kræk/
become fractured; break or crack on the surface only
From this reading His oaths would often hiss and hang fire a little, but they were in the end as brief and emphatic as the crack of a rifle.
CynthianounUS /ˈsɪnθiə/
(Greek mythology) the virgin goddess of the hunt and the Moon; daughter of Leto and twin sister of Apollo; identified with Roman Diana
From this reading His sister Cynthia, small, slim, sternfaced, black-eyed, heart and fancy free, stood looking down at him.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading This trait of brevity was due, in some degree, to the fact that he stammered slightly, especially in moments of excitement, but more to his life in the silence of the deep woods.
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading This trait of brevity was due, in some degree, to the fact that he stammered slightly, especially in moments of excitement, but more to his life in the silence of the deep woods.
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 He let the basket down from his broad back to the doorstep.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He let the basket down from his broad back to the doorstep.
owed and payable immediately or on demand
From this reading This trait of brevity was due, in some degree, to the fact that he stammered slightly, especially in moments of excitement, but more to his life in the silence of the deep woods.
emphaticadjectiveUS /emˈfætɪk/
spoken with emphasis
From this reading His oaths would often hiss and hang fire a little, but they were in the end as brief and emphatic as the crack of a rifle.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading His oaths would often hiss and hang fire a little, but they were in the end as brief and emphatic as the crack of a rifle.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading This trait of brevity was due, in some degree, to the fact that he stammered slightly, especially in moments of excitement, but more to his life in the silence of the deep woods.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading This trait of brevity was due, in some degree, to the fact that he stammered slightly, especially in moments of excitement, but more to his life in the silence of the deep woods.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading This trait of brevity was due, in some degree, to the fact that he stammered slightly, especially in moments of excitement, but more to his life in the silence of the deep woods.
something many people believe that is false
From this reading His sister Cynthia, small, slim, sternfaced, black-eyed, heart and fancy free, stood looking down at him.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading Silas Strong had filled his great pack at the store and was nearing his winter home--a rude log-house in the little forest hamlet.
start firing a weapon
From this reading His oaths would often hiss and hang fire a little, but they were in the end as brief and emphatic as the crack of a rifle.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading Silas Strong had filled his great pack at the store and was nearing his winter home--a rude log-house in the little forest hamlet.
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading His sister Cynthia, small, slim, sternfaced, black-eyed, heart and fancy free, stood looking down at him.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He let the basket down from his broad back to the doorstep.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Silas Strong had filled his great pack at the store and was nearing his winter home--a rude log-house in the little forest hamlet.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Silas Strong had filled his great pack at the store and was nearing his winter home--a rude log-house in the little forest hamlet.
hamletnounUS /ˈhæmlət/
a community of people smaller than a village
From this reading Silas Strong had filled his great pack at the store and was nearing his winter home--a rude log-house in the little forest hamlet.
be suspended or hanging
From this reading His oaths would often hiss and hang fire a little, but they were in the end as brief and emphatic as the crack of a rifle.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading This trait of brevity was due, in some degree, to the fact that he stammered slightly, especially in moments of excitement, but more to his life in the silence of the deep woods.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading His sister Cynthia, small, slim, sternfaced, black-eyed, heart and fancy free, stood looking down at him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His sister Cynthia, small, slim, sternfaced, black-eyed, heart and fancy free, stood looking down at him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His oaths would often hiss and hang fire a little, but they were in the end as brief and emphatic as the crack of a rifle.
hissverbUS /hɪs/
make a sharp hissing sound, as if to show disapproval
From this reading His oaths would often hiss and hang fire a little, but they were in the end as brief and emphatic as the crack of a rifle.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Silas Strong had filled his great pack at the store and was nearing his winter home--a rude log-house in the little forest hamlet.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His oaths would often hiss and hang fire a little, but they were in the end as brief and emphatic as the crack of a rifle.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading He let the basket down from his broad back to the doorstep.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading This trait of brevity was due, in some degree, to the fact that he stammered slightly, especially in moments of excitement, but more to his life in the silence of the deep woods.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading His oaths would often hiss and hang fire a little, but they were in the end as brief and emphatic as the crack of a rifle.
log-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Silas Strong had filled his great pack at the store and was nearing his winter home--a rude log-house in the little forest hamlet.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading His sister Cynthia, small, slim, sternfaced, black-eyed, heart and fancy free, stood looking down at him.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading This trait of brevity was due, in some degree, to the fact that he stammered slightly, especially in moments of excitement, but more to his life in the silence of the deep woods.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading This trait of brevity was due, in some degree, to the fact that he stammered slightly, especially in moments of excitement, but more to his life in the silence of the deep woods.
nearingverbUS /ˈnɪrɪŋ/
-ing form of “near” — move towards
From this reading Silas Strong had filled his great pack at the store and was nearing his winter home--a rude log-house in the little forest hamlet.
oathsnounUS /oʊðz/
plural of “oath” — profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger
From this reading His oaths would often hiss and hang fire a little, but they were in the end as brief and emphatic as the crack of a rifle.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His oaths would often hiss and hang fire a little, but they were in the end as brief and emphatic as the crack of a rifle.
many times at short intervals
From this reading His oaths would often hiss and hang fire a little, but they were in the end as brief and emphatic as the crack of a rifle.
arrange in a container
From this reading Silas Strong had filled his great pack at the store and was nearing his winter home--a rude log-house in the little forest hamlet.
steal goods; take as spoils
From this reading His oaths would often hiss and hang fire a little, but they were in the end as brief and emphatic as the crack of a rifle.
socially incorrect in behavior
From this reading Silas Strong had filled his great pack at the store and was nearing his winter home--a rude log-house in the little forest hamlet.
Silas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Silas Strong had filled his great pack at the store and was nearing his winter home--a rude log-house in the little forest hamlet.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading This trait of brevity was due, in some degree, to the fact that he stammered slightly, especially in moments of excitement, but more to his life in the silence of the deep woods.
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading His sister Cynthia, small, slim, sternfaced, black-eyed, heart and fancy free, stood looking down at him.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading This trait of brevity was due, in some degree, to the fact that he stammered slightly, especially in moments of excitement, but more to his life in the silence of the deep woods.
slimadjectiveUS /slɪm/
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading His sister Cynthia, small, slim, sternfaced, black-eyed, heart and fancy free, stood looking down at him.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading His sister Cynthia, small, slim, sternfaced, black-eyed, heart and fancy free, stood looking down at him.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading This trait of brevity was due, in some degree, to the fact that he stammered slightly, especially in moments of excitement, but more to his life in the silence of the deep woods.
stammered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This trait of brevity was due, in some degree, to the fact that he stammered slightly, especially in moments of excitement, but more to his life in the silence of the deep woods.
sternfaced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His sister Cynthia, small, slim, sternfaced, black-eyed, heart and fancy free, stood looking down at him.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading His sister Cynthia, small, slim, sternfaced, black-eyed, heart and fancy free, stood looking down at him.
a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
From this reading Silas Strong had filled his great pack at the store and was nearing his winter home--a rude log-house in the little forest hamlet.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading Silas Strong had filled his great pack at the store and was nearing his winter home--a rude log-house in the little forest hamlet.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading This trait of brevity was due, in some degree, to the fact that he stammered slightly, especially in moments of excitement, but more to his life in the silence of the deep woods.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading His oaths would often hiss and hang fire a little, but they were in the end as brief and emphatic as the crack of a rifle.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His oaths would often hiss and hang fire a little, but they were in the end as brief and emphatic as the crack of a rifle.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This trait of brevity was due, in some degree, to the fact that he stammered slightly, especially in moments of excitement, but more to his life in the silence of the deep woods.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading This trait of brevity was due, in some degree, to the fact that he stammered slightly, especially in moments of excitement, but more to his life in the silence of the deep woods.
traitnounUS /treɪt/
a distinguishing feature of your personal nature
From this reading This trait of brevity was due, in some degree, to the fact that he stammered slightly, especially in moments of excitement, but more to his life in the silence of the deep woods.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This trait of brevity was due, in some degree, to the fact that he stammered slightly, especially in moments of excitement, but more to his life in the silence of the deep woods.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His oaths would often hiss and hang fire a little, but they were in the end as brief and emphatic as the crack of a rifle.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading Silas Strong had filled his great pack at the store and was nearing his winter home--a rude log-house in the little forest hamlet.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading This trait of brevity was due, in some degree, to the fact that he stammered slightly, especially in moments of excitement, but more to his life in the silence of the deep woods.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading His oaths would often hiss and hang fire a little, but they were in the end as brief and emphatic as the crack of a rifle.
