used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading AN HISTORIC OCCASION The experienced ear of Major Stephen Douglas Prouty told him that he was getting a hot axle.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Immediately after breakfast there had been a certain look in his hostess's eye which had warned him that if he lingered he would be asked to assist with the churning.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN HISTORIC OCCASION The experienced ear of Major Stephen Douglas Prouty told him that he was getting a hot axle.
past form of “approach” — move towards
From this reading Upon observing it he had started for the barn to harness with a celerity that approached a trot.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Immediately after breakfast there had been a certain look in his hostess's eye which had warned him that if he lingered he would be asked to assist with the churning.
assistverbUS /əˈsɪst/
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading Immediately after breakfast there had been a certain look in his hostess's eye which had warned him that if he lingered he would be asked to assist with the churning.
axlenounUS /ˈæksəl/
a shaft on which a wheel rotates
From this reading AN HISTORIC OCCASION The experienced ear of Major Stephen Douglas Prouty told him that he was getting a hot axle.
barnnounUS /bɑːrn/
an outlying farm building for storing grain or animal feed and housing farm animals
From this reading Upon observing it he had started for the barn to harness with a celerity that approached a trot.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Immediately after breakfast there had been a certain look in his hostess's eye which had warned him that if he lingered he would be asked to assist with the churning.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Immediately after breakfast there had been a certain look in his hostess's eye which had warned him that if he lingered he would be asked to assist with the churning.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading This would seem an inexcusable oversight in a man who expected to make forty miles before sunset, but in this instance there was an extenuating circumstance.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading Immediately after breakfast there had been a certain look in his hostess's eye which had warned him that if he lingered he would be asked to assist with the churning.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The hard dry squeak from the rear wheel of the "democrat" had but one meaning--he had forgotten to grease it.
celeritynounUS /səˈlerəti/
a rate that is rapid
From this reading Upon observing it he had started for the barn to harness with a celerity that approached a trot.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading Immediately after breakfast there had been a certain look in his hostess's eye which had warned him that if he lingered he would be asked to assist with the churning.
churningadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɜːrnɪŋ/
moving with or producing or produced by vigorous agitation
From this reading Immediately after breakfast there had been a certain look in his hostess's eye which had warned him that if he lingered he would be asked to assist with the churning.
a condition that accompanies or influences some event or activity
From this reading This would seem an inexcusable oversight in a man who expected to make forty miles before sunset, but in this instance there was an extenuating circumstance.
democratnounUS /ˈdeməkræt/
a member of the Democratic Party
From this reading The hard dry squeak from the rear wheel of the "democrat" had but one meaning--he had forgotten to grease it.
DouglasnounUS /ˈdʌɡləs/
United States politician who proposed that individual territories be allowed to decide whether they would have slavery; he engaged in a famous series of debates with Abraham Lincoln (1813-1861)
From this reading AN HISTORIC OCCASION The experienced ear of Major Stephen Douglas Prouty told him that he was getting a hot axle.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading The hard dry squeak from the rear wheel of the "democrat" had but one meaning--he had forgotten to grease it.
the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading AN HISTORIC OCCASION The experienced ear of Major Stephen Douglas Prouty told him that he was getting a hot axle.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading This would seem an inexcusable oversight in a man who expected to make forty miles before sunset, but in this instance there was an extenuating circumstance.
having experience; having knowledge or skill from observation or participation
From this reading AN HISTORIC OCCASION The experienced ear of Major Stephen Douglas Prouty told him that he was getting a hot axle.
extenuatingadjectiveUS /ɪkˈstenjuːeɪtɪŋ/
partially excusing or justifying
From this reading This would seem an inexcusable oversight in a man who expected to make forty miles before sunset, but in this instance there was an extenuating circumstance.
the organ of sight
From this reading Immediately after breakfast there had been a certain look in his hostess's eye which had warned him that if he lingered he would be asked to assist with the churning.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Upon observing it he had started for the barn to harness with a celerity that approached a trot.
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading The hard dry squeak from the rear wheel of the "democrat" had but one meaning--he had forgotten to grease it.
fortyadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrti/
being ten more than thirty
From this reading This would seem an inexcusable oversight in a man who expected to make forty miles before sunset, but in this instance there was an extenuating circumstance.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The hard dry squeak from the rear wheel of the "democrat" had but one meaning--he had forgotten to grease it.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading AN HISTORIC OCCASION The experienced ear of Major Stephen Douglas Prouty told him that he was getting a hot axle.
greasenounUS /ɡriːs/
a thick fatty oil (especially one used to lubricate machinery)
From this reading The hard dry squeak from the rear wheel of the "democrat" had but one meaning--he had forgotten to grease it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The hard dry squeak from the rear wheel of the "democrat" had but one meaning--he had forgotten to grease it.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading The hard dry squeak from the rear wheel of the "democrat" had but one meaning--he had forgotten to grease it.
harnessverbUS /ˈhɑːrnəs/
put a harness
From this reading Upon observing it he had started for the barn to harness with a celerity that approached a trot.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading AN HISTORIC OCCASION The experienced ear of Major Stephen Douglas Prouty told him that he was getting a hot axle.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading AN HISTORIC OCCASION The experienced ear of Major Stephen Douglas Prouty told him that he was getting a hot axle.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Immediately after breakfast there had been a certain look in his hostess's eye which had warned him that if he lingered he would be asked to assist with the churning.
HISTORICadjectiveUS /hɪˈstɔːrɪk/
belonging to the past; of what is important or famous in the past
From this reading AN HISTORIC OCCASION The experienced ear of Major Stephen Douglas Prouty told him that he was getting a hot axle.
hostess's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Immediately after breakfast there had been a certain look in his hostess's eye which had warned him that if he lingered he would be asked to assist with the churning.
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 AN HISTORIC OCCASION The experienced ear of Major Stephen Douglas Prouty told him that he was getting a hot axle.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Immediately after breakfast there had been a certain look in his hostess's eye which had warned him that if he lingered he would be asked to assist with the churning.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading Immediately after breakfast there had been a certain look in his hostess's eye which had warned him that if he lingered he would be asked to assist with the churning.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading This would seem an inexcusable oversight in a man who expected to make forty miles before sunset, but in this instance there was an extenuating circumstance.
inexcusableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnɪksˈkjuːzəbəl/
without excuse or justification
From this reading This would seem an inexcusable oversight in a man who expected to make forty miles before sunset, but in this instance there was an extenuating circumstance.
an occurrence of something
From this reading This would seem an inexcusable oversight in a man who expected to make forty miles before sunset, but in this instance there was an extenuating circumstance.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The hard dry squeak from the rear wheel of the "democrat" had but one meaning--he had forgotten to grease it.
lingeredverbUS /ˈlɪŋɡərd/
past form of “linger” — remain present although waning or gradually dying
From this reading Immediately after breakfast there had been a certain look in his hostess's eye which had warned him that if he lingered he would be asked to assist with the churning.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Immediately after breakfast there had been a certain look in his hostess's eye which had warned him that if he lingered he would be asked to assist with the churning.
MajoradjectiveUS /ˈmeɪdʒər/
of greater importance or stature or rank
From this reading AN HISTORIC OCCASION The experienced ear of Major Stephen Douglas Prouty told him that he was getting a hot axle.
engage in
From this reading This would seem an inexcusable oversight in a man who expected to make forty miles before sunset, but in this instance there was an extenuating circumstance.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading This would seem an inexcusable oversight in a man who expected to make forty miles before sunset, but in this instance there was an extenuating circumstance.
the message that is intended or expressed or signified
From this reading The hard dry squeak from the rear wheel of the "democrat" had but one meaning--he had forgotten to grease it.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading This would seem an inexcusable oversight in a man who expected to make forty miles before sunset, but in this instance there was an extenuating circumstance.
observingadjectiveUS /əbˈzɜːrvɪŋ/
quick to notice; showing quick and keen perception
From this reading Upon observing it he had started for the barn to harness with a celerity that approached a trot.
an event that occurs at a critical time
From this reading AN HISTORIC OCCASION The experienced ear of Major Stephen Douglas Prouty told him that he was getting a hot axle.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AN HISTORIC OCCASION The experienced ear of Major Stephen Douglas Prouty told him that he was getting a hot axle.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The hard dry squeak from the rear wheel of the "democrat" had but one meaning--he had forgotten to grease it.
oversightnounUS /ˈoʊvərsaɪt/
an unintentional omission resulting from failure to notice something
From this reading This would seem an inexcusable oversight in a man who expected to make forty miles before sunset, but in this instance there was an extenuating circumstance.
Prouty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN HISTORIC OCCASION The experienced ear of Major Stephen Douglas Prouty told him that he was getting a hot axle.
the back of a military formation or procession
From this reading The hard dry squeak from the rear wheel of the "democrat" had but one meaning--he had forgotten to grease it.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading This would seem an inexcusable oversight in a man who expected to make forty miles before sunset, but in this instance there was an extenuating circumstance.
squeaknounUS /skwiːk/
a short high-pitched noise
From this reading The hard dry squeak from the rear wheel of the "democrat" had but one meaning--he had forgotten to grease it.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Upon observing it he had started for the barn to harness with a celerity that approached a trot.
StephennounUS /ˈstiːvən/
English writer (1832-1904)
From this reading AN HISTORIC OCCASION The experienced ear of Major Stephen Douglas Prouty told him that he was getting a hot axle.
the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon
From this reading This would seem an inexcusable oversight in a man who expected to make forty miles before sunset, but in this instance there was an extenuating circumstance.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading AN HISTORIC OCCASION The experienced ear of Major Stephen Douglas Prouty told him that he was getting a hot axle.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AN HISTORIC OCCASION The experienced ear of Major Stephen Douglas Prouty told him that he was getting a hot axle.
in or at that place or location
From this reading This would seem an inexcusable oversight in a man who expected to make forty miles before sunset, but in this instance there was an extenuating circumstance.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This would seem an inexcusable oversight in a man who expected to make forty miles before sunset, but in this instance there was an extenuating circumstance.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The hard dry squeak from the rear wheel of the "democrat" had but one meaning--he had forgotten to grease it.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading AN HISTORIC OCCASION The experienced ear of Major Stephen Douglas Prouty told him that he was getting a hot axle.
trotverbUS /trɑːt/
run at a moderately swift pace
From this reading Upon observing it he had started for the barn to harness with a celerity that approached a trot.
UponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Upon observing it he had started for the barn to harness with a celerity that approached a trot.
past form of “warn” — notify of danger, potential harm, or risk
From this reading Immediately after breakfast there had been a certain look in his hostess's eye which had warned him that if he lingered he would be asked to assist with the churning.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading AN HISTORIC OCCASION The experienced ear of Major Stephen Douglas Prouty told him that he was getting a hot axle.
change directions as if revolving on a pivot
From this reading The hard dry squeak from the rear wheel of the "democrat" had but one meaning--he had forgotten to grease it.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Immediately after breakfast there had been a certain look in his hostess's eye which had warned him that if he lingered he would be asked to assist with the churning.
which person or people
From this reading This would seem an inexcusable oversight in a man who expected to make forty miles before sunset, but in this instance there was an extenuating circumstance.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Immediately after breakfast there had been a certain look in his hostess's eye which had warned him that if he lingered he would be asked to assist with the churning.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading This would seem an inexcusable oversight in a man who expected to make forty miles before sunset, but in this instance there was an extenuating circumstance.
