used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In the meanwhile they went on with the drain they were cutting across a swampy strip of clearing, and one afternoon they stood in the bottom of the four-foot trench.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He said nothing about his visit to the settlement and several days passed before the boys heard anything further of the matter.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading In the meanwhile they went on with the drain they were cutting across a swampy strip of clearing, and one afternoon they stood in the bottom of the four-foot trench.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading In the meanwhile they went on with the drain they were cutting across a swampy strip of clearing, and one afternoon they stood in the bottom of the four-foot trench.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He said nothing about his visit to the settlement and several days passed before the boys heard anything further of the matter.
any thing at all
From this reading He said nothing about his visit to the settlement and several days passed before the boys heard anything further of the matter.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading AT THE HELM Mr. Oliver did not come back until nightfall.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading AT THE HELM Mr. Oliver did not come back until nightfall.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He said nothing about his visit to the settlement and several days passed before the boys heard anything further of the matter.
the lower side of anything
From this reading In the meanwhile they went on with the drain they were cutting across a swampy strip of clearing, and one afternoon they stood in the bottom of the four-foot trench.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading He said nothing about his visit to the settlement and several days passed before the boys heard anything further of the matter.
the act of breaking something
From this reading Harry was then busy with a grubhoe, cutting through the roots and breaking up the wet soil, which his companion flung out with a long-handled shovel.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading Harry was then busy with a grubhoe, cutting through the roots and breaking up the wet soil, which his companion flung out with a long-handled shovel.
clearingnounUS /ˈklɪrɪŋ/
a tract of land with few or no trees in the middle of a wooded area
From this reading In the meanwhile they went on with the drain they were cutting across a swampy strip of clearing, and one afternoon they stood in the bottom of the four-foot trench.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading AT THE HELM Mr. Oliver did not come back until nightfall.
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading Harry was then busy with a grubhoe, cutting through the roots and breaking up the wet soil, which his companion flung out with a long-handled shovel.
the activity of selecting the scenes to be shown and putting them together to create a film
From this reading In the meanwhile they went on with the drain they were cutting across a swampy strip of clearing, and one afternoon they stood in the bottom of the four-foot trench.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading He said nothing about his visit to the settlement and several days passed before the boys heard anything further of the matter.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading AT THE HELM Mr. Oliver did not come back until nightfall.
drainverbUS /dreɪn/
flow off gradually
From this reading In the meanwhile they went on with the drain they were cutting across a swampy strip of clearing, and one afternoon they stood in the bottom of the four-foot trench.
fliesnounUS /flaɪz/
(theater) the space over the stage (out of view of the audience) used to store scenery (drop curtains)
From this reading It was unpleasantly hot, and the flies were troublesome.
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading Harry was then busy with a grubhoe, cutting through the roots and breaking up the wet soil, which his companion flung out with a long-handled shovel.
four-foot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the meanwhile they went on with the drain they were cutting across a swampy strip of clearing, and one afternoon they stood in the bottom of the four-foot trench.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading He said nothing about his visit to the settlement and several days passed before the boys heard anything further of the matter.
grubhoe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Harry was then busy with a grubhoe, cutting through the roots and breaking up the wet soil, which his companion flung out with a long-handled shovel.
annoy continually or chronically
From this reading Harry was then busy with a grubhoe, cutting through the roots and breaking up the wet soil, which his companion flung out with a long-handled shovel.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He said nothing about his visit to the settlement and several days passed before the boys heard anything further of the matter.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading He said nothing about his visit to the settlement and several days passed before the boys heard anything further of the matter.
HELMnounUS /helm/
steering mechanism for a vessel; a mechanical device by which a vessel is steered
From this reading AT THE HELM Mr. Oliver did not come back until nightfall.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He said nothing about his visit to the settlement and several days passed before the boys heard anything further of the matter.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading It was unpleasantly hot, and the flies were troublesome.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the meanwhile they went on with the drain they were cutting across a swampy strip of clearing, and one afternoon they stood in the bottom of the four-foot trench.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was unpleasantly hot, and the flies were troublesome.
long-handledadjective
having a long handle
From this reading Harry was then busy with a grubhoe, cutting through the roots and breaking up the wet soil, which his companion flung out with a long-handled shovel.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading He said nothing about his visit to the settlement and several days passed before the boys heard anything further of the matter.
at the same time but in another place
From this reading In the meanwhile they went on with the drain they were cutting across a swampy strip of clearing, and one afternoon they stood in the bottom of the four-foot trench.
a form of address for a man
From this reading AT THE HELM Mr. Oliver did not come back until nightfall.
nightfallnounUS /ˈnaɪtfɔːl/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading AT THE HELM Mr. Oliver did not come back until nightfall.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading AT THE HELM Mr. Oliver did not come back until nightfall.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading He said nothing about his visit to the settlement and several days passed before the boys heard anything further of the matter.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He said nothing about his visit to the settlement and several days passed before the boys heard anything further of the matter.
OlivernounUS /ˈɑːləvər/
United States jazz musician who influenced the style of Louis Armstrong (1885-1938)
From this reading AT THE HELM Mr. Oliver did not come back until nightfall.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In the meanwhile they went on with the drain they were cutting across a swampy strip of clearing, and one afternoon they stood in the bottom of the four-foot trench.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading In the meanwhile they went on with the drain they were cutting across a swampy strip of clearing, and one afternoon they stood in the bottom of the four-foot trench.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Harry was then busy with a grubhoe, cutting through the roots and breaking up the wet soil, which his companion flung out with a long-handled shovel.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading He said nothing about his visit to the settlement and several days passed before the boys heard anything further of the matter.
rootsnounUS /ruːts/
the condition of belonging to a particular place or group by virtue of social or ethnic or cultural lineage
From this reading Harry was then busy with a grubhoe, cutting through the roots and breaking up the wet soil, which his companion flung out with a long-handled shovel.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading He said nothing about his visit to the settlement and several days passed before the boys heard anything further of the matter.
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 He said nothing about his visit to the settlement and several days passed before the boys heard anything further of the matter.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading He said nothing about his visit to the settlement and several days passed before the boys heard anything further of the matter.
shovelnounUS /ˈʃʌvəl/
a hand tool for lifting loose material; consists of a curved container or scoop and a handle
From this reading Harry was then busy with a grubhoe, cutting through the roots and breaking up the wet soil, which his companion flung out with a long-handled shovel.
the state of being covered with unclean things
From this reading Harry was then busy with a grubhoe, cutting through the roots and breaking up the wet soil, which his companion flung out with a long-handled shovel.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading In the meanwhile they went on with the drain they were cutting across a swampy strip of clearing, and one afternoon they stood in the bottom of the four-foot trench.
stripverbUS /strɪp/
take away possessions from someone
From this reading In the meanwhile they went on with the drain they were cutting across a swampy strip of clearing, and one afternoon they stood in the bottom of the four-foot trench.
swampyadjectiveUS /ˈswɑːmpi/
(of soil) soft and watery
From this reading In the meanwhile they went on with the drain they were cutting across a swampy strip of clearing, and one afternoon they stood in the bottom of the four-foot trench.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AT THE HELM Mr. Oliver did not come back until nightfall.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Harry was then busy with a grubhoe, cutting through the roots and breaking up the wet soil, which his companion flung out with a long-handled shovel.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In the meanwhile they went on with the drain they were cutting across a swampy strip of clearing, and one afternoon they stood in the bottom of the four-foot trench.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Harry was then busy with a grubhoe, cutting through the roots and breaking up the wet soil, which his companion flung out with a long-handled shovel.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He said nothing about his visit to the settlement and several days passed before the boys heard anything further of the matter.
trenchnounUS /trentʃ/
a ditch dug as a fortification having a parapet of the excavated earth
From this reading In the meanwhile they went on with the drain they were cutting across a swampy strip of clearing, and one afternoon they stood in the bottom of the four-foot trench.
troublesomeadjectiveUS /ˈtrʌbəlsəm/
causing difficulty or annoyance
From this reading It was unpleasantly hot, and the flies were troublesome.
unpleasantlyadverbUS /ənˈplezəntli/
in an unpleasant manner
From this reading It was unpleasantly hot, and the flies were troublesome.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading AT THE HELM Mr. Oliver did not come back until nightfall.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Harry was then busy with a grubhoe, cutting through the roots and breaking up the wet soil, which his companion flung out with a long-handled shovel.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading He said nothing about his visit to the settlement and several days passed before the boys heard anything further of the matter.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Harry was then busy with a grubhoe, cutting through the roots and breaking up the wet soil, which his companion flung out with a long-handled shovel.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading In the meanwhile they went on with the drain they were cutting across a swampy strip of clearing, and one afternoon they stood in the bottom of the four-foot trench.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In the meanwhile they went on with the drain they were cutting across a swampy strip of clearing, and one afternoon they stood in the bottom of the four-foot trench.
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading Harry was then busy with a grubhoe, cutting through the roots and breaking up the wet soil, which his companion flung out with a long-handled shovel.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Harry was then busy with a grubhoe, cutting through the roots and breaking up the wet soil, which his companion flung out with a long-handled shovel.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In the meanwhile they went on with the drain they were cutting across a swampy strip of clearing, and one afternoon they stood in the bottom of the four-foot trench.
