used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A STRANGER AT THE GATE Rain overtook Isom as he was driving home from town that evening, and rain was becoming one of the few things in this world from which he would flee.
aggravatedadjectiveUS /ˈæɡrəveɪtɪd/
made more severe or intense especially in law
From this reading It aggravated the rheumatism in his knotted toes and stabbed his knee-joints with awl-piercing pains.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading So he was in no sweet humor as he drew near his own barn-yard gate with the early autumn downpour already finding its way through his coat.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A STRANGER AT THE GATE Rain overtook Isom as he was driving home from town that evening, and rain was becoming one of the few things in this world from which he would flee.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A STRANGER AT THE GATE Rain overtook Isom as he was driving home from town that evening, and rain was becoming one of the few things in this world from which he would flee.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A STRANGER AT THE GATE Rain overtook Isom as he was driving home from town that evening, and rain was becoming one of the few things in this world from which he would flee.
the season when the leaves fall from the trees
From this reading So he was in no sweet humor as he drew near his own barn-yard gate with the early autumn downpour already finding its way through his coat.
awl-piercing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It aggravated the rheumatism in his knotted toes and stabbed his knee-joints with awl-piercing pains.
barn-yard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So he was in no sweet humor as he drew near his own barn-yard gate with the early autumn downpour already finding its way through his coat.
according with custom or propriety
From this reading A STRANGER AT THE GATE Rain overtook Isom as he was driving home from town that evening, and rain was becoming one of the few things in this world from which he would flee.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For upward of forty-five years Isom had been taking the rains as they came wherever they might find him.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading For upward of forty-five years Isom had been taking the rains as they came wherever they might find him.
an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading So he was in no sweet humor as he drew near his own barn-yard gate with the early autumn downpour already finding its way through his coat.
downpournounUS /ˈdaʊnpɔːr/
a heavy rain
From this reading So he was in no sweet humor as he drew near his own barn-yard gate with the early autumn downpour already finding its way through his coat.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading So he was in no sweet humor as he drew near his own barn-yard gate with the early autumn downpour already finding its way through his coat.
having the power of driving or impelling
From this reading A STRANGER AT THE GATE Rain overtook Isom as he was driving home from town that evening, and rain was becoming one of the few things in this world from which he would flee.
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 So he was in no sweet humor as he drew near his own barn-yard gate with the early autumn downpour already finding its way through his coat.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading A STRANGER AT THE GATE Rain overtook Isom as he was driving home from town that evening, and rain was becoming one of the few things in this world from which he would flee.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading It made him growl to turn tail to them now, and trot to shelter from every shower like a hen.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A STRANGER AT THE GATE Rain overtook Isom as he was driving home from town that evening, and rain was becoming one of the few things in this world from which he would flee.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading For upward of forty-five years Isom had been taking the rains as they came wherever they might find him.
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading So he was in no sweet humor as he drew near his own barn-yard gate with the early autumn downpour already finding its way through his coat.
fleeverbUS /fliː/
run away quickly
From this reading A STRANGER AT THE GATE Rain overtook Isom as he was driving home from town that evening, and rain was becoming one of the few things in this world from which he would flee.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For upward of forty-five years Isom had been taking the rains as they came wherever they might find him.
forty-fivenounUS /ˈfɔːrtifaɪv/
a .45-caliber pistol
From this reading For upward of forty-five years Isom had been taking the rains as they came wherever they might find him.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A STRANGER AT THE GATE Rain overtook Isom as he was driving home from town that evening, and rain was becoming one of the few things in this world from which he would flee.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading A STRANGER AT THE GATE Rain overtook Isom as he was driving home from town that evening, and rain was becoming one of the few things in this world from which he would flee.
growlnounUS /ɡraʊl/
the sound of growling (as made by animals)
From this reading It made him growl to turn tail to them now, and trot to shelter from every shower like a hen.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For upward of forty-five years Isom had been taking the rains as they came wherever they might find him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A STRANGER AT THE GATE Rain overtook Isom as he was driving home from town that evening, and rain was becoming one of the few things in this world from which he would flee.
hennounUS /hen/
adult female chicken
From this reading It made him growl to turn tail to them now, and trot to shelter from every shower like a hen.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading For upward of forty-five years Isom had been taking the rains as they came wherever they might find him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It aggravated the rheumatism in his knotted toes and stabbed his knee-joints with awl-piercing pains.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading A STRANGER AT THE GATE Rain overtook Isom as he was driving home from town that evening, and rain was becoming one of the few things in this world from which he would flee.
humornounUS /ˈhjuːmər/
a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter
From this reading So he was in no sweet humor as he drew near his own barn-yard gate with the early autumn downpour already finding its way through his coat.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A STRANGER AT THE GATE Rain overtook Isom as he was driving home from town that evening, and rain was becoming one of the few things in this world from which he would flee.
Isom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A STRANGER AT THE GATE Rain overtook Isom as he was driving home from town that evening, and rain was becoming one of the few things in this world from which he would flee.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It aggravated the rheumatism in his knotted toes and stabbed his knee-joints with awl-piercing pains.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading So he was in no sweet humor as he drew near his own barn-yard gate with the early autumn downpour already finding its way through his coat.
knee-joints
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It aggravated the rheumatism in his knotted toes and stabbed his knee-joints with awl-piercing pains.
knottedadjectiveUS /ˈnɑːtɪd/
tied with a knot
From this reading It aggravated the rheumatism in his knotted toes and stabbed his knee-joints with awl-piercing pains.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading It made him growl to turn tail to them now, and trot to shelter from every shower like a hen.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading It made him growl to turn tail to them now, and trot to shelter from every shower like a hen.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading For upward of forty-five years Isom had been taking the rains as they came wherever they might find him.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading So he was in no sweet humor as he drew near his own barn-yard gate with the early autumn downpour already finding its way through his coat.
not any; not one
From this reading So he was in no sweet humor as he drew near his own barn-yard gate with the early autumn downpour already finding its way through his coat.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It made him growl to turn tail to them now, and trot to shelter from every shower like a hen.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A STRANGER AT THE GATE Rain overtook Isom as he was driving home from town that evening, and rain was becoming one of the few things in this world from which he would flee.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A STRANGER AT THE GATE Rain overtook Isom as he was driving home from town that evening, and rain was becoming one of the few things in this world from which he would flee.
overtookverbUS /ˌoʊvərˈtʊk/
inflected form of “overtake” — catch up with and possibly overtake
From this reading A STRANGER AT THE GATE Rain overtook Isom as he was driving home from town that evening, and rain was becoming one of the few things in this world from which he would flee.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading So he was in no sweet humor as he drew near his own barn-yard gate with the early autumn downpour already finding its way through his coat.
painsnounUS /peɪnz/
an effortful attempt to attain a goal
From this reading It aggravated the rheumatism in his knotted toes and stabbed his knee-joints with awl-piercing pains.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading A STRANGER AT THE GATE Rain overtook Isom as he was driving home from town that evening, and rain was becoming one of the few things in this world from which he would flee.
rainsnounUS /reɪnz/
plural of “rain” — water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading For upward of forty-five years Isom had been taking the rains as they came wherever they might find him.
rheumatismnounUS /ˈruːmətɪzəm/
any painful disorder of the joints or muscles or connective tissues
From this reading It aggravated the rheumatism in his knotted toes and stabbed his knee-joints with awl-piercing pains.
a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger
From this reading It made him growl to turn tail to them now, and trot to shelter from every shower like a hen.
showernounUS /ˈʃaʊər/
a plumbing fixture that sprays water over you
From this reading It made him growl to turn tail to them now, and trot to shelter from every shower like a hen.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So he was in no sweet humor as he drew near his own barn-yard gate with the early autumn downpour already finding its way through his coat.
stabbedverbUS /stæbd/
inflected form of “stab” — use a knife on
From this reading It aggravated the rheumatism in his knotted toes and stabbed his knee-joints with awl-piercing pains.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading A STRANGER AT THE GATE Rain overtook Isom as he was driving home from town that evening, and rain was becoming one of the few things in this world from which he would flee.
having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar
From this reading So he was in no sweet humor as he drew near his own barn-yard gate with the early autumn downpour already finding its way through his coat.
the posterior part of the body of a vertebrate especially when elongated and extending beyond the trunk or main part of the body
From this reading It made him growl to turn tail to them now, and trot to shelter from every shower like a hen.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading For upward of forty-five years Isom had been taking the rains as they came wherever they might find him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A STRANGER AT THE GATE Rain overtook Isom as he was driving home from town that evening, and rain was becoming one of the few things in this world from which he would flee.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A STRANGER AT THE GATE Rain overtook Isom as he was driving home from town that evening, and rain was becoming one of the few things in this world from which he would flee.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading It made him growl to turn tail to them now, and trot to shelter from every shower like a hen.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For upward of forty-five years Isom had been taking the rains as they came wherever they might find him.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading A STRANGER AT THE GATE Rain overtook Isom as he was driving home from town that evening, and rain was becoming one of the few things in this world from which he would flee.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading A STRANGER AT THE GATE Rain overtook Isom as he was driving home from town that evening, and rain was becoming one of the few things in this world from which he would flee.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading So he was in no sweet humor as he drew near his own barn-yard gate with the early autumn downpour already finding its way through his coat.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It made him growl to turn tail to them now, and trot to shelter from every shower like a hen.
toesnounUS /toʊz/
plural of “toe” — one of the digits of the foot
From this reading It aggravated the rheumatism in his knotted toes and stabbed his knee-joints with awl-piercing pains.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading A STRANGER AT THE GATE Rain overtook Isom as he was driving home from town that evening, and rain was becoming one of the few things in this world from which he would flee.
trotverbUS /trɑːt/
run at a moderately swift pace
From this reading It made him growl to turn tail to them now, and trot to shelter from every shower like a hen.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading It made him growl to turn tail to them now, and trot to shelter from every shower like a hen.
directed up
From this reading For upward of forty-five years Isom had been taking the rains as they came wherever they might find him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A STRANGER AT THE GATE Rain overtook Isom as he was driving home from town that evening, and rain was becoming one of the few things in this world from which he would flee.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading So he was in no sweet humor as he drew near his own barn-yard gate with the early autumn downpour already finding its way through his coat.
in or to any place at all
From this reading For upward of forty-five years Isom had been taking the rains as they came wherever they might find him.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A STRANGER AT THE GATE Rain overtook Isom as he was driving home from town that evening, and rain was becoming one of the few things in this world from which he would flee.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It aggravated the rheumatism in his knotted toes and stabbed his knee-joints with awl-piercing pains.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading A STRANGER AT THE GATE Rain overtook Isom as he was driving home from town that evening, and rain was becoming one of the few things in this world from which he would flee.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading A STRANGER AT THE GATE Rain overtook Isom as he was driving home from town that evening, and rain was becoming one of the few things in this world from which he would flee.
a late time of life
From this reading For upward of forty-five years Isom had been taking the rains as they came wherever they might find him.
