used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They beheld a sight that made Mrs. Soopendyke begin to cry out in real earnest.
experiencing a sudden sense of danger
From this reading Louder and louder came the shrieks and cries, and the party, all of them considerably alarmed, rushed around to the front of the house to perceive what this new uproar might mean.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Louder and louder came the shrieks and cries, and the party, all of them considerably alarmed, rushed around to the front of the house to perceive what this new uproar might mean.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN INVOLUNTARY HAY-RIDE.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Louder and louder came the shrieks and cries, and the party, all of them considerably alarmed, rushed around to the front of the house to perceive what this new uproar might mean.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Louder and louder came the shrieks and cries, and the party, all of them considerably alarmed, rushed around to the front of the house to perceive what this new uproar might mean.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As a natural result, it began to slide backward down the hill.
backwardadverbUS /ˈbækwərd/
at or to or toward the back or rear
From this reading As a natural result, it began to slide backward down the hill.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading As a natural result, it began to slide backward down the hill.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading They beheld a sight that made Mrs. Soopendyke begin to cry out in real earnest.
inflected form of “behold” — see with attention
From this reading They beheld a sight that made Mrs. Soopendyke begin to cry out in real earnest.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Louder and louder came the shrieks and cries, and the party, all of them considerably alarmed, rushed around to the front of the house to perceive what this new uproar might mean.
considerablyadverbUS /kənˈsɪdərəbli/
to a great extent or degree
From this reading Louder and louder came the shrieks and cries, and the party, all of them considerably alarmed, rushed around to the front of the house to perceive what this new uproar might mean.
plural of “cry” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading Louder and louder came the shrieks and cries, and the party, all of them considerably alarmed, rushed around to the front of the house to perceive what this new uproar might mean.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading They beheld a sight that made Mrs. Soopendyke begin to cry out in real earnest.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading As a natural result, it began to slide backward down the hill.
characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions
From this reading They beheld a sight that made Mrs. Soopendyke begin to cry out in real earnest.
a social unit living together
From this reading One of her family had, in a playful mood, removed the stones which held Hamish’s hay wagon stationary on the steep grade.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading Louder and louder came the shrieks and cries, and the party, all of them considerably alarmed, rushed around to the front of the house to perceive what this new uproar might mean.
gradenounUS /ɡreɪd/
a body of students who are taught together
From this reading One of her family had, in a playful mood, removed the stones which held Hamish’s hay wagon stationary on the steep grade.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading One of her family had, in a playful mood, removed the stones which held Hamish’s hay wagon stationary on the steep grade.
Hamish's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of her family had, in a playful mood, removed the stones which held Hamish’s hay wagon stationary on the steep grade.
haynounUS /heɪ/
grass mowed and cured for use as fodder
From this reading One of her family had, in a playful mood, removed the stones which held Hamish’s hay wagon stationary on the steep grade.
HAY-RIDE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN INVOLUNTARY HAY-RIDE.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading One of her family had, in a playful mood, removed the stones which held Hamish’s hay wagon stationary on the steep grade.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading One of her family had, in a playful mood, removed the stones which held Hamish’s hay wagon stationary on the steep grade.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading As a natural result, it began to slide backward down the hill.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Louder and louder came the shrieks and cries, and the party, all of them considerably alarmed, rushed around to the front of the house to perceive what this new uproar might mean.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They beheld a sight that made Mrs. Soopendyke begin to cry out in real earnest.
INVOLUNTARYadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvɑːlənteri/
not subject to the control of the will
From this reading AN INVOLUNTARY HAY-RIDE.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading As a natural result, it began to slide backward down the hill.
LouderadjectiveUS /ˈlaʊdər/
comparative of “loud” — characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity
From this reading Louder and louder came the shrieks and cries, and the party, all of them considerably alarmed, rushed around to the front of the house to perceive what this new uproar might mean.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading They beheld a sight that made Mrs. Soopendyke begin to cry out in real earnest.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading Louder and louder came the shrieks and cries, and the party, all of them considerably alarmed, rushed around to the front of the house to perceive what this new uproar might mean.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Louder and louder came the shrieks and cries, and the party, all of them considerably alarmed, rushed around to the front of the house to perceive what this new uproar might mean.
a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading One of her family had, in a playful mood, removed the stones which held Hamish’s hay wagon stationary on the steep grade.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading They beheld a sight that made Mrs. Soopendyke begin to cry out in real earnest.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading As a natural result, it began to slide backward down the hill.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Louder and louder came the shrieks and cries, and the party, all of them considerably alarmed, rushed around to the front of the house to perceive what this new uproar might mean.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Louder and louder came the shrieks and cries, and the party, all of them considerably alarmed, rushed around to the front of the house to perceive what this new uproar might mean.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading One of her family had, in a playful mood, removed the stones which held Hamish’s hay wagon stationary on the steep grade.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One of her family had, in a playful mood, removed the stones which held Hamish’s hay wagon stationary on the steep grade.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading They beheld a sight that made Mrs. Soopendyke begin to cry out in real earnest.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading Louder and louder came the shrieks and cries, and the party, all of them considerably alarmed, rushed around to the front of the house to perceive what this new uproar might mean.
perceiveverbUS /pərˈsiːv/
to become aware of through the senses
From this reading Louder and louder came the shrieks and cries, and the party, all of them considerably alarmed, rushed around to the front of the house to perceive what this new uproar might mean.
playfuladjectiveUS /ˈpleɪfəl/
full of fun and high spirits
From this reading One of her family had, in a playful mood, removed the stones which held Hamish’s hay wagon stationary on the steep grade.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading They beheld a sight that made Mrs. Soopendyke begin to cry out in real earnest.
separated in relationship by a given degree of descent
From this reading One of her family had, in a playful mood, removed the stones which held Hamish’s hay wagon stationary on the steep grade.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading As a natural result, it began to slide backward down the hill.
done under pressure
From this reading Louder and louder came the shrieks and cries, and the party, all of them considerably alarmed, rushed around to the front of the house to perceive what this new uproar might mean.
shrieksnounUS /ʃriːks/
plural of “shriek” — sharp piercing cry
From this reading Louder and louder came the shrieks and cries, and the party, all of them considerably alarmed, rushed around to the front of the house to perceive what this new uproar might mean.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading They beheld a sight that made Mrs. Soopendyke begin to cry out in real earnest.
slidenounUS /slaɪd/
a small flat rectangular piece of glass on which specimens can be mounted for microscopic study
From this reading As a natural result, it began to slide backward down the hill.
Soopendyke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They beheld a sight that made Mrs. Soopendyke begin to cry out in real earnest.
stationaryadjectiveUS /ˈsteɪʃəneri/
standing still
From this reading One of her family had, in a playful mood, removed the stones which held Hamish’s hay wagon stationary on the steep grade.
having a sharp inclination
From this reading One of her family had, in a playful mood, removed the stones which held Hamish’s hay wagon stationary on the steep grade.
plural of “stone” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading One of her family had, in a playful mood, removed the stones which held Hamish’s hay wagon stationary on the steep grade.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They beheld a sight that made Mrs. Soopendyke begin to cry out in real earnest.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Louder and louder came the shrieks and cries, and the party, all of them considerably alarmed, rushed around to the front of the house to perceive what this new uproar might mean.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Louder and louder came the shrieks and cries, and the party, all of them considerably alarmed, rushed around to the front of the house to perceive what this new uproar might mean.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They beheld a sight that made Mrs. Soopendyke begin to cry out in real earnest.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Louder and louder came the shrieks and cries, and the party, all of them considerably alarmed, rushed around to the front of the house to perceive what this new uproar might mean.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Louder and louder came the shrieks and cries, and the party, all of them considerably alarmed, rushed around to the front of the house to perceive what this new uproar might mean.
uproarnounUS /ˈʌprɔːr/
a state of commotion and noise and confusion
From this reading Louder and louder came the shrieks and cries, and the party, all of them considerably alarmed, rushed around to the front of the house to perceive what this new uproar might mean.
any of various kinds of wheeled vehicles drawn by an animal or a tractor
From this reading One of her family had, in a playful mood, removed the stones which held Hamish’s hay wagon stationary on the steep grade.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Louder and louder came the shrieks and cries, and the party, all of them considerably alarmed, rushed around to the front of the house to perceive what this new uproar might mean.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading One of her family had, in a playful mood, removed the stones which held Hamish’s hay wagon stationary on the steep grade.
