used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In fact, the boys passed a constant series of surprised villages and frightened farms.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading While they were passing above one hillside farm, in fact, they were received with a demonstration of more than surprise.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In fact, the boys passed a constant series of surprised villages and frightened farms.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A man in blue jeans came running out into his barnyard with a shot-gun, and fired the contents of both barrels upward at the young navigators.
barnyardnounUS /ˈbɑːrnjɑːrd/
a yard adjoining a barn
From this reading A man in blue jeans came running out into his barnyard with a shot-gun, and fired the contents of both barrels upward at the young navigators.
barrelsnounUS /ˈbærəlz/
the amount that many barrels might hold
From this reading A man in blue jeans came running out into his barnyard with a shot-gun, and fired the contents of both barrels upward at the young navigators.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The country now began to be more thickly settled.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The country now began to be more thickly settled.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading A man in blue jeans came running out into his barnyard with a shot-gun, and fired the contents of both barrels upward at the young navigators.
the two together, not just one
From this reading A man in blue jeans came running out into his barnyard with a shot-gun, and fired the contents of both barrels upward at the young navigators.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading In fact, the boys passed a constant series of surprised villages and frightened farms.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading A man in blue jeans came running out into his barnyard with a shot-gun, and fired the contents of both barrels upward at the young navigators.
unvarying in nature
From this reading In fact, the boys passed a constant series of surprised villages and frightened farms.
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading A man in blue jeans came running out into his barnyard with a shot-gun, and fired the contents of both barrels upward at the young navigators.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading The country now began to be more thickly settled.
demonstrationnounUS /ˌdemənˈstreɪʃən/
a show or display; the act of presenting something to sight or view
From this reading While they were passing above one hillside farm, in fact, they were received with a demonstration of more than surprise.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading In fact, the boys passed a constant series of surprised villages and frightened farms.
be a farmer; work as a farmer
From this reading While they were passing above one hillside farm, in fact, they were received with a demonstration of more than surprise.
farmsnounUS /fɑːrmz/
plural of “farm” — workplace consisting of farm buildings and cultivated land as a unit
From this reading In fact, the boys passed a constant series of surprised villages and frightened farms.
firedadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪərd/
having lost your job
From this reading A man in blue jeans came running out into his barnyard with a shot-gun, and fired the contents of both barrels upward at the young navigators.
FIRSTadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading THE FIRST LEG.
made afraid
From this reading In fact, the boys passed a constant series of surprised villages and frightened farms.
hillsidenounUS /ˈhɪlsaɪd/
the side or slope of a hill
From this reading While they were passing above one hillside farm, in fact, they were received with a demonstration of more than surprise.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A man in blue jeans came running out into his barnyard with a shot-gun, and fired the contents of both barrels upward at the young navigators.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In fact, the boys passed a constant series of surprised villages and frightened farms.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A man in blue jeans came running out into his barnyard with a shot-gun, and fired the contents of both barrels upward at the young navigators.
jeansnounUS /dʒiːnz/
(used in the plural) close-fitting trousers of heavy denim for manual work or casual wear
From this reading A man in blue jeans came running out into his barnyard with a shot-gun, and fired the contents of both barrels upward at the young navigators.
a human limb; commonly used to refer to a whole limb but technically only the part of the limb between the knee and ankle
From this reading THE FIRST LEG.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A man in blue jeans came running out into his barnyard with a shot-gun, and fired the contents of both barrels upward at the young navigators.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The country now began to be more thickly settled.
navigatorsnounUS /ˈnævəɡeɪtərz/
plural of “navigator” — the ship's officer in charge of navigation
From this reading A man in blue jeans came running out into his barnyard with a shot-gun, and fired the contents of both barrels upward at the young navigators.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The country now began to be more thickly settled.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In fact, the boys passed a constant series of surprised villages and frightened farms.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading While they were passing above one hillside farm, in fact, they were received with a demonstration of more than surprise.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading A man in blue jeans came running out into his barnyard with a shot-gun, and fired the contents of both barrels upward at the young navigators.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading In fact, the boys passed a constant series of surprised villages and frightened farms.
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
From this reading While they were passing above one hillside farm, in fact, they were received with a demonstration of more than surprise.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading While they were passing above one hillside farm, in fact, they were received with a demonstration of more than surprise.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading A man in blue jeans came running out into his barnyard with a shot-gun, and fired the contents of both barrels upward at the young navigators.
similar things placed in order or happening one after another
From this reading In fact, the boys passed a constant series of surprised villages and frightened farms.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading The country now began to be more thickly settled.
shot-gun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A man in blue jeans came running out into his barnyard with a shot-gun, and fired the contents of both barrels upward at the young navigators.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading While they were passing above one hillside farm, in fact, they were received with a demonstration of more than surprise.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading In fact, the boys passed a constant series of surprised villages and frightened farms.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading While they were passing above one hillside farm, in fact, they were received with a demonstration of more than surprise.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FIRST LEG.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading While they were passing above one hillside farm, in fact, they were received with a demonstration of more than surprise.
thicklyadverbUS /ˈθɪkli/
spoken with poor articulation as if with a thick tongue
From this reading The country now began to be more thickly settled.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The country now began to be more thickly settled.
directed up
From this reading A man in blue jeans came running out into his barnyard with a shot-gun, and fired the contents of both barrels upward at the young navigators.
villagesnounUS /ˈvɪlədʒəz/
plural of “village” — a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading In fact, the boys passed a constant series of surprised villages and frightened farms.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading While they were passing above one hillside farm, in fact, they were received with a demonstration of more than surprise.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While they were passing above one hillside farm, in fact, they were received with a demonstration of more than surprise.
in the company of; together with
From this reading While they were passing above one hillside farm, in fact, they were received with a demonstration of more than surprise.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading A man in blue jeans came running out into his barnyard with a shot-gun, and fired the contents of both barrels upward at the young navigators.
