Chapter I

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading By Ernest Haycox Author of “A Burnt Creek Yuletide,” etc. Old man Bud sat on the porch of his Burnt Creek store, watching the shimmering heat waves that rose out of the jack-pine forest and trailed across the small sand-floored clearing.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading By Ernest Haycox Author of “A Burnt Creek Yuletide,” etc. Old man Bud sat on the porch of his Burnt Creek store, watching the shimmering heat waves that rose out of the jack-pine forest and trailed across the small sand-floored clearing.

perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)

From this reading Every act in a man’s life, he reflected now, was affected by every other act.

acted upon; influenced

From this reading Every act in a man’s life, he reflected now, was affected by every other act.

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading A lazy drone pervaded the air, broken by the snapping of myriad insects and the impalpable, shutterlike beat of the blazing atmosphere.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading By Ernest Haycox Author of “A Burnt Creek Yuletide,” etc. Old man Bud sat on the porch of his Burnt Creek store, watching the shimmering heat waves that rose out of the jack-pine forest and trailed across the small sand-floored clearing.

a particular environment or surrounding influence

From this reading A lazy drone pervaded the air, broken by the snapping of myriad insects and the impalpable, shutterlike beat of the blazing atmosphere.

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading By Ernest Haycox Author of “A Burnt Creek Yuletide,” etc. Old man Bud sat on the porch of his Burnt Creek store, watching the shimmering heat waves that rose out of the jack-pine forest and trailed across the small sand-floored clearing.

come out better in a competition, race, or conflict

From this reading A lazy drone pervaded the air, broken by the snapping of myriad insects and the impalpable, shutterlike beat of the blazing atmosphere.

the event consisting of the start of something

From this reading There was no beginning and no end.

shining intensely

From this reading A lazy drone pervaded the air, broken by the snapping of myriad insects and the impalpable, shutterlike beat of the blazing atmosphere.

physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split

From this reading A lazy drone pervaded the air, broken by the snapping of myriad insects and the impalpable, shutterlike beat of the blazing atmosphere.

a partially opened flower

From this reading By Ernest Haycox Author of “A Burnt Creek Yuletide,” etc. Old man Bud sat on the porch of his Burnt Creek store, watching the shimmering heat waves that rose out of the jack-pine forest and trailed across the small sand-floored clearing.

ruined by overcooking

From this reading By Ernest Haycox Author of “A Burnt Creek Yuletide,” etc. Old man Bud sat on the porch of his Burnt Creek store, watching the shimmering heat waves that rose out of the jack-pine forest and trailed across the small sand-floored clearing.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading By Ernest Haycox Author of “A Burnt Creek Yuletide,” etc. Old man Bud sat on the porch of his Burnt Creek store, watching the shimmering heat waves that rose out of the jack-pine forest and trailed across the small sand-floored clearing.

a tract of land with few or no trees in the middle of a wooded area

From this reading By Ernest Haycox Author of “A Burnt Creek Yuletide,” etc. Old man Bud sat on the porch of his Burnt Creek store, watching the shimmering heat waves that rose out of the jack-pine forest and trailed across the small sand-floored clearing.

a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)

From this reading By Ernest Haycox Author of “A Burnt Creek Yuletide,” etc. Old man Bud sat on the porch of his Burnt Creek store, watching the shimmering heat waves that rose out of the jack-pine forest and trailed across the small sand-floored clearing.

stingless male bee in a colony of social bees (especially honeybees) whose sole function is to mate with the queen

From this reading A lazy drone pervaded the air, broken by the snapping of myriad insects and the impalpable, shutterlike beat of the blazing atmosphere.

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading There was no beginning and no end.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading By Ernest Haycox Author of “A Burnt Creek Yuletide,” etc. Old man Bud sat on the porch of his Burnt Creek store, watching the shimmering heat waves that rose out of the jack-pine forest and trailed across the small sand-floored clearing.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading By Ernest Haycox Author of “A Burnt Creek Yuletide,” etc. Old man Bud sat on the porch of his Burnt Creek store, watching the shimmering heat waves that rose out of the jack-pine forest and trailed across the small sand-floored clearing.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Every act in a man’s life, he reflected now, was affected by every other act.

the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading By Ernest Haycox Author of “A Burnt Creek Yuletide,” etc. Old man Bud sat on the porch of his Burnt Creek store, watching the shimmering heat waves that rose out of the jack-pine forest and trailed across the small sand-floored clearing.

an established custom

From this reading He had a habit of reflecting on life.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading He had a habit of reflecting on life.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading By Ernest Haycox Author of “A Burnt Creek Yuletide,” etc. Old man Bud sat on the porch of his Burnt Creek store, watching the shimmering heat waves that rose out of the jack-pine forest and trailed across the small sand-floored clearing.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He had a habit of reflecting on life.

a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature

From this reading By Ernest Haycox Author of “A Burnt Creek Yuletide,” etc. Old man Bud sat on the porch of his Burnt Creek store, watching the shimmering heat waves that rose out of the jack-pine forest and trailed across the small sand-floored clearing.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading By Ernest Haycox Author of “A Burnt Creek Yuletide,” etc. Old man Bud sat on the porch of his Burnt Creek store, watching the shimmering heat waves that rose out of the jack-pine forest and trailed across the small sand-floored clearing.

incapable of being perceived by the senses especially the sense of touch

From this reading A lazy drone pervaded the air, broken by the snapping of myriad insects and the impalpable, shutterlike beat of the blazing atmosphere.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Every act in a man’s life, he reflected now, was affected by every other act.

plural of “insect” — small air-breathing arthropod

From this reading A lazy drone pervaded the air, broken by the snapping of myriad insects and the impalpable, shutterlike beat of the blazing atmosphere.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading By Ernest Haycox Author of “A Burnt Creek Yuletide,” etc. Old man Bud sat on the porch of his Burnt Creek store, watching the shimmering heat waves that rose out of the jack-pine forest and trailed across the small sand-floored clearing.

moving slowly and gently

From this reading A lazy drone pervaded the air, broken by the snapping of myriad insects and the impalpable, shutterlike beat of the blazing atmosphere.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading He had a habit of reflecting on life.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading By Ernest Haycox Author of “A Burnt Creek Yuletide,” etc. Old man Bud sat on the porch of his Burnt Creek store, watching the shimmering heat waves that rose out of the jack-pine forest and trailed across the small sand-floored clearing.

possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading Every act in a man’s life, he reflected now, was affected by every other act.

a large indefinite number

From this reading A lazy drone pervaded the air, broken by the snapping of myriad insects and the impalpable, shutterlike beat of the blazing atmosphere.

not any; not one

From this reading There was no beginning and no end.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Every act in a man’s life, he reflected now, was affected by every other act.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading By Ernest Haycox Author of “A Burnt Creek Yuletide,” etc. Old man Bud sat on the porch of his Burnt Creek store, watching the shimmering heat waves that rose out of the jack-pine forest and trailed across the small sand-floored clearing.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading By Ernest Haycox Author of “A Burnt Creek Yuletide,” etc. Old man Bud sat on the porch of his Burnt Creek store, watching the shimmering heat waves that rose out of the jack-pine forest and trailed across the small sand-floored clearing.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading By Ernest Haycox Author of “A Burnt Creek Yuletide,” etc. Old man Bud sat on the porch of his Burnt Creek store, watching the shimmering heat waves that rose out of the jack-pine forest and trailed across the small sand-floored clearing.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Every act in a man’s life, he reflected now, was affected by every other act.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading By Ernest Haycox Author of “A Burnt Creek Yuletide,” etc. Old man Bud sat on the porch of his Burnt Creek store, watching the shimmering heat waves that rose out of the jack-pine forest and trailed across the small sand-floored clearing.

past form of “pervade” — spread or diffuse through

From this reading A lazy drone pervaded the air, broken by the snapping of myriad insects and the impalpable, shutterlike beat of the blazing atmosphere.

a structure attached to the exterior of a building often forming a covered entrance

From this reading By Ernest Haycox Author of “A Burnt Creek Yuletide,” etc. Old man Bud sat on the porch of his Burnt Creek store, watching the shimmering heat waves that rose out of the jack-pine forest and trailed across the small sand-floored clearing.

(especially of incident sound or light) bent or sent back

From this reading Every act in a man’s life, he reflected now, was affected by every other act.

causing reflection or having a device that reflects

From this reading He had a habit of reflecting on life.

any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses

From this reading By Ernest Haycox Author of “A Burnt Creek Yuletide,” etc. Old man Bud sat on the porch of his Burnt Creek store, watching the shimmering heat waves that rose out of the jack-pine forest and trailed across the small sand-floored clearing.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading By Ernest Haycox Author of “A Burnt Creek Yuletide,” etc. Old man Bud sat on the porch of his Burnt Creek store, watching the shimmering heat waves that rose out of the jack-pine forest and trailed across the small sand-floored clearing.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading By Ernest Haycox Author of “A Burnt Creek Yuletide,” etc. Old man Bud sat on the porch of his Burnt Creek store, watching the shimmering heat waves that rose out of the jack-pine forest and trailed across the small sand-floored clearing.

-ing form of “shimmer” — shine with a weak or fitful light

From this reading By Ernest Haycox Author of “A Burnt Creek Yuletide,” etc. Old man Bud sat on the porch of his Burnt Creek store, watching the shimmering heat waves that rose out of the jack-pine forest and trailed across the small sand-floored clearing.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A lazy drone pervaded the air, broken by the snapping of myriad insects and the impalpable, shutterlike beat of the blazing atmosphere.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading By Ernest Haycox Author of “A Burnt Creek Yuletide,” etc. Old man Bud sat on the porch of his Burnt Creek store, watching the shimmering heat waves that rose out of the jack-pine forest and trailed across the small sand-floored clearing.

inflected form of “snap” — utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone

From this reading A lazy drone pervaded the air, broken by the snapping of myriad insects and the impalpable, shutterlike beat of the blazing atmosphere.

a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services

From this reading By Ernest Haycox Author of “A Burnt Creek Yuletide,” etc. Old man Bud sat on the porch of his Burnt Creek store, watching the shimmering heat waves that rose out of the jack-pine forest and trailed across the small sand-floored clearing.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading By Ernest Haycox Author of “A Burnt Creek Yuletide,” etc. Old man Bud sat on the porch of his Burnt Creek store, watching the shimmering heat waves that rose out of the jack-pine forest and trailed across the small sand-floored clearing.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading By Ernest Haycox Author of “A Burnt Creek Yuletide,” etc. Old man Bud sat on the porch of his Burnt Creek store, watching the shimmering heat waves that rose out of the jack-pine forest and trailed across the small sand-floored clearing.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There was no beginning and no end.

past form of “trail” — to lag or linger behind

From this reading By Ernest Haycox Author of “A Burnt Creek Yuletide,” etc. Old man Bud sat on the porch of his Burnt Creek store, watching the shimmering heat waves that rose out of the jack-pine forest and trailed across the small sand-floored clearing.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Every act in a man’s life, he reflected now, was affected by every other act.

the act of observing; taking a patient look

From this reading By Ernest Haycox Author of “A Burnt Creek Yuletide,” etc. Old man Bud sat on the porch of his Burnt Creek store, watching the shimmering heat waves that rose out of the jack-pine forest and trailed across the small sand-floored clearing.

plural of “wave” — one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)

From this reading By Ernest Haycox Author of “A Burnt Creek Yuletide,” etc. Old man Bud sat on the porch of his Burnt Creek store, watching the shimmering heat waves that rose out of the jack-pine forest and trailed across the small sand-floored clearing.

period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6

From this reading By Ernest Haycox Author of “A Burnt Creek Yuletide,” etc. Old man Bud sat on the porch of his Burnt Creek store, watching the shimmering heat waves that rose out of the jack-pine forest and trailed across the small sand-floored clearing.