used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A dense belt of dark-leaved bananas separated the villa from the highway, along which they had been riding.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading A dense belt of dark-leaved bananas separated the villa from the highway, along which they had been riding.
amazedadjectiveUS /əˈmeɪzd/
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading The sight which met their eyes within the casement was one which did not make Ned’s amazed exclamation seem out of place.
AmericansnounUS /əˈmerəkənz/
plural of “american” — a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading Without bothering to find a pathway, the Americans swung their horses into the plantation and rode forward at a rattling gait among the bananas.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Without bothering to find a pathway, the Americans swung their horses into the plantation and rode forward at a rattling gait among the bananas.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Without bothering to find a pathway, the Americans swung their horses into the plantation and rode forward at a rattling gait among the bananas.
move towards
From this reading Owing probably to the softness of the ground, the sound of their approach was not audible within, and the cries increased as they drew nearer.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Owing probably to the softness of the ground, the sound of their approach was not audible within, and the cries increased as they drew nearer.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Without bothering to find a pathway, the Americans swung their horses into the plantation and rode forward at a rattling gait among the bananas.
audibleadjectiveUS /ˈɑːdəbəl/
heard or perceptible by the ear
From this reading Owing probably to the softness of the ground, the sound of their approach was not audible within, and the cries increased as they drew nearer.
bananasnounUS /bəˈnænəz/
plural of “banana” — any of several tropical and subtropical treelike herbs of the genus Musa having a terminal crown of large entire leaves and usually bearing hanging clusters of elongated fruits
From this reading A dense belt of dark-leaved bananas separated the villa from the highway, along which they had been riding.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A dense belt of dark-leaved bananas separated the villa from the highway, along which they had been riding.
beltnounUS /belt/
endless loop of flexible material between two rotating shafts or pulleys
From this reading A dense belt of dark-leaved bananas separated the villa from the highway, along which they had been riding.
botheringverbUS /ˈbɑːðərɪŋ/
-ing form of “bother” — take the trouble to do something; concern oneself
From this reading Without bothering to find a pathway, the Americans swung their horses into the plantation and rode forward at a rattling gait among the bananas.
casementnoun
a window sash that is hinged (usually on one side)
From this reading The sight which met their eyes within the casement was one which did not make Ned’s amazed exclamation seem out of place.
plural of “cry” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading Owing probably to the softness of the ground, the sound of their approach was not audible within, and the cries increased as they drew nearer.
dark-leaved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A dense belt of dark-leaved bananas separated the villa from the highway, along which they had been riding.
denseadjectiveUS /dens/
permitting little if any light to pass through because of denseness of matter
From this reading A dense belt of dark-leaved bananas separated the villa from the highway, along which they had been riding.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The sight which met their eyes within the casement was one which did not make Ned’s amazed exclamation seem out of place.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading Owing probably to the softness of the ground, the sound of their approach was not audible within, and the cries increased as they drew nearer.
exclamationnounUS /ˌekskləˈmeɪʃən/
an abrupt excited utterance
From this reading The sight which met their eyes within the casement was one which did not make Ned’s amazed exclamation seem out of place.
opinion or judgment
From this reading The sight which met their eyes within the casement was one which did not make Ned’s amazed exclamation seem out of place.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Flinging their reins to the guide, whom nothing would have induced to join them, the Americans swung off their horses within a few yards of a lighted window, and ran forward.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading Without bothering to find a pathway, the Americans swung their horses into the plantation and rode forward at a rattling gait among the bananas.
FlingingverbUS /ˈflɪŋɪŋ/
-ing form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading Flinging their reins to the guide, whom nothing would have induced to join them, the Americans swung off their horses within a few yards of a lighted window, and ran forward.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Without bothering to find a pathway, the Americans swung their horses into the plantation and rode forward at a rattling gait among the bananas.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A dense belt of dark-leaved bananas separated the villa from the highway, along which they had been riding.
gaitnounUS /ɡeɪt/
the rate of moving (especially walking or running)
From this reading Without bothering to find a pathway, the Americans swung their horses into the plantation and rode forward at a rattling gait among the bananas.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading Owing probably to the softness of the ground, the sound of their approach was not audible within, and the cries increased as they drew nearer.
someone employed to conduct others
From this reading Flinging their reins to the guide, whom nothing would have induced to join them, the Americans swung off their horses within a few yards of a lighted window, and ran forward.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A dense belt of dark-leaved bananas separated the villa from the highway, along which they had been riding.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Flinging their reins to the guide, whom nothing would have induced to join them, the Americans swung off their horses within a few yards of a lighted window, and ran forward.
highwaynounUS /ˈhaɪweɪ/
a major road for any form of motor transport
From this reading A dense belt of dark-leaved bananas separated the villa from the highway, along which they had been riding.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading Without bothering to find a pathway, the Americans swung their horses into the plantation and rode forward at a rattling gait among the bananas.
made greater in size or amount or degree
From this reading Owing probably to the softness of the ground, the sound of their approach was not audible within, and the cries increased as they drew nearer.
inducedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈduːst/
brought about or caused; not spontaneous
From this reading Flinging their reins to the guide, whom nothing would have induced to join them, the Americans swung off their horses within a few yards of a lighted window, and ran forward.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Without bothering to find a pathway, the Americans swung their horses into the plantation and rode forward at a rattling gait among the bananas.
become part of; become a member of a group or organization
From this reading Flinging their reins to the guide, whom nothing would have induced to join them, the Americans swung off their horses within a few yards of a lighted window, and ran forward.
set afire or burning
From this reading Flinging their reins to the guide, whom nothing would have induced to join them, the Americans swung off their horses within a few yards of a lighted window, and ran forward.
engage in
From this reading The sight which met their eyes within the casement was one which did not make Ned’s amazed exclamation seem out of place.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading The sight which met their eyes within the casement was one which did not make Ned’s amazed exclamation seem out of place.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading Owing probably to the softness of the ground, the sound of their approach was not audible within, and the cries increased as they drew nearer.
Ned's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sight which met their eyes within the casement was one which did not make Ned’s amazed exclamation seem out of place.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Owing probably to the softness of the ground, the sound of their approach was not audible within, and the cries increased as they drew nearer.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Flinging their reins to the guide, whom nothing would have induced to join them, the Americans swung off their horses within a few yards of a lighted window, and ran forward.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A dense belt of dark-leaved bananas separated the villa from the highway, along which they had been riding.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Flinging their reins to the guide, whom nothing would have induced to join them, the Americans swung off their horses within a few yards of a lighted window, and ran forward.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The sight which met their eyes within the casement was one which did not make Ned’s amazed exclamation seem out of place.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The sight which met their eyes within the casement was one which did not make Ned’s amazed exclamation seem out of place.
OwingadjectiveUS /ˈoʊɪŋ/
owed as a debt
From this reading Owing probably to the softness of the ground, the sound of their approach was not audible within, and the cries increased as they drew nearer.
pathwaynounUS /ˈpæθweɪ/
a bundle of myelinated nerve fibers following a path through the brain
From this reading Without bothering to find a pathway, the Americans swung their horses into the plantation and rode forward at a rattling gait among the bananas.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The sight which met their eyes within the casement was one which did not make Ned’s amazed exclamation seem out of place.
plantationnounUS /ˌplænˈteɪʃən/
an estate where cash crops are grown on a large scale (especially in tropical areas)
From this reading Without bothering to find a pathway, the Americans swung their horses into the plantation and rode forward at a rattling gait among the bananas.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading Owing probably to the softness of the ground, the sound of their approach was not audible within, and the cries increased as they drew nearer.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading Flinging their reins to the guide, whom nothing would have induced to join them, the Americans swung off their horses within a few yards of a lighted window, and ran forward.
rattlingnounUS /ˈrætlɪŋ/
a rapid series of short loud sounds (as might be heard with a stethoscope in some types of respiratory disorders)
From this reading Without bothering to find a pathway, the Americans swung their horses into the plantation and rode forward at a rattling gait among the bananas.
reinsnounUS /reɪnz/
plural of “rein” — one of a pair of long straps (usually connected to the bit or the headpiece) used to control a horse
From this reading Flinging their reins to the guide, whom nothing would have induced to join them, the Americans swung off their horses within a few yards of a lighted window, and ran forward.
the sport of sitting on the back of a horse while controlling its movements
From this reading A dense belt of dark-leaved bananas separated the villa from the highway, along which they had been riding.
inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading Without bothering to find a pathway, the Americans swung their horses into the plantation and rode forward at a rattling gait among the bananas.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The sight which met their eyes within the casement was one which did not make Ned’s amazed exclamation seem out of place.
being or feeling set or kept apart from others
From this reading A dense belt of dark-leaved bananas separated the villa from the highway, along which they had been riding.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading The sight which met their eyes within the casement was one which did not make Ned’s amazed exclamation seem out of place.
softnessnounUS /ˈsɔːftnəs/
the property of giving little resistance to pressure and being easily cut or molded
From this reading Owing probably to the softness of the ground, the sound of their approach was not audible within, and the cries increased as they drew nearer.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Owing probably to the softness of the ground, the sound of their approach was not audible within, and the cries increased as they drew nearer.
inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading Without bothering to find a pathway, the Americans swung their horses into the plantation and rode forward at a rattling gait among the bananas.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A dense belt of dark-leaved bananas separated the villa from the highway, along which they had been riding.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Without bothering to find a pathway, the Americans swung their horses into the plantation and rode forward at a rattling gait among the bananas.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Flinging their reins to the guide, whom nothing would have induced to join them, the Americans swung off their horses within a few yards of a lighted window, and ran forward.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A dense belt of dark-leaved bananas separated the villa from the highway, along which they had been riding.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Without bothering to find a pathway, the Americans swung their horses into the plantation and rode forward at a rattling gait among the bananas.
villanounUS /ˈvɪlə/
Mexican revolutionary leader (1877-1923)
From this reading A dense belt of dark-leaved bananas separated the villa from the highway, along which they had been riding.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Owing probably to the softness of the ground, the sound of their approach was not audible within, and the cries increased as they drew nearer.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A dense belt of dark-leaved bananas separated the villa from the highway, along which they had been riding.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Flinging their reins to the guide, whom nothing would have induced to join them, the Americans swung off their horses within a few yards of a lighted window, and ran forward.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading Flinging their reins to the guide, whom nothing would have induced to join them, the Americans swung off their horses within a few yards of a lighted window, and ran forward.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Owing probably to the softness of the ground, the sound of their approach was not audible within, and the cries increased as they drew nearer.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Without bothering to find a pathway, the Americans swung their horses into the plantation and rode forward at a rattling gait among the bananas.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Flinging their reins to the guide, whom nothing would have induced to join them, the Americans swung off their horses within a few yards of a lighted window, and ran forward.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading Flinging their reins to the guide, whom nothing would have induced to join them, the Americans swung off their horses within a few yards of a lighted window, and ran forward.
