used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I was welcomed at Brandon as rapturously as if I had come out of a long exile, and delightful it was to see the dear faces after even a short absence.
the state of being absent
From this reading I was welcomed at Brandon as rapturously as if I had come out of a long exile, and delightful it was to see the dear faces after even a short absence.
farther along in physical or mental development
From this reading It seemed to me as if I had been ages away, and I was rather surprised that the ducklings which had come out just before I left appeared much the same black-eyed balls of yellow fluff, and that the year had advanced so little during my memorable eight days of absence.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading I was welcomed at Brandon as rapturously as if I had come out of a long exile, and delightful it was to see the dear faces after even a short absence.
plural of “age” — how long something has existed
From this reading It seemed to me as if I had been ages away, and I was rather surprised that the ducklings which had come out just before I left appeared much the same black-eyed balls of yellow fluff, and that the year had advanced so little during my memorable eight days of absence.
(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 I had so much to tell them that though I had travelled all night I did not feel inclined to go to bed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I was welcomed at Brandon as rapturously as if I had come out of a long exile, and delightful it was to see the dear faces after even a short absence.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seemed to me as if I had been ages away, and I was rather surprised that the ducklings which had come out just before I left appeared much the same black-eyed balls of yellow fluff, and that the year had advanced so little during my memorable eight days of absence.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I was welcomed at Brandon as rapturously as if I had come out of a long exile, and delightful it was to see the dear faces after even a short absence.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I was welcomed at Brandon as rapturously as if I had come out of a long exile, and delightful it was to see the dear faces after even a short absence.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading It seemed to me as if I had been ages away, and I was rather surprised that the ducklings which had come out just before I left appeared much the same black-eyed balls of yellow fluff, and that the year had advanced so little during my memorable eight days of absence.
ballsnounUS /bɔːlz/
plural of “ball” — round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games
From this reading It seemed to me as if I had been ages away, and I was rather surprised that the ducklings which had come out just before I left appeared much the same black-eyed balls of yellow fluff, and that the year had advanced so little during my memorable eight days of absence.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading I had so much to tell them that though I had travelled all night I did not feel inclined to go to bed.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It seemed to me as if I had been ages away, and I was rather surprised that the ducklings which had come out just before I left appeared much the same black-eyed balls of yellow fluff, and that the year had advanced so little during my memorable eight days of absence.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It seemed to me as if I had been ages away, and I was rather surprised that the ducklings which had come out just before I left appeared much the same black-eyed balls of yellow fluff, and that the year had advanced so little during my memorable eight days of absence.
black-eyed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed to me as if I had been ages away, and I was rather surprised that the ducklings which had come out just before I left appeared much the same black-eyed balls of yellow fluff, and that the year had advanced so little during my memorable eight days of absence.
Brandon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was welcomed at Brandon as rapturously as if I had come out of a long exile, and delightful it was to see the dear faces after even a short absence.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading I spent the morning over my unpacking and distributing the little gifts I had brought for each one.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading I was welcomed at Brandon as rapturously as if I had come out of a long exile, and delightful it was to see the dear faces after even a short absence.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading It seemed to me as if I had been ages away, and I was rather surprised that the ducklings which had come out just before I left appeared much the same black-eyed balls of yellow fluff, and that the year had advanced so little during my memorable eight days of absence.
dearly loved
From this reading I was welcomed at Brandon as rapturously as if I had come out of a long exile, and delightful it was to see the dear faces after even a short absence.
greatly pleasing or entertaining
From this reading I was welcomed at Brandon as rapturously as if I had come out of a long exile, and delightful it was to see the dear faces after even a short absence.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading I had so much to tell them that though I had travelled all night I did not feel inclined to go to bed.
distributingverbUS /dɪˈstrɪbjuːtɪŋ/
-ing form of “distribute” — administer or bestow, as in small portions
From this reading I spent the morning over my unpacking and distributing the little gifts I had brought for each one.
ducklingsnounUS /ˈdʌklɪŋz/
plural of “duckling” — flesh of a young domestic duck
From this reading It seemed to me as if I had been ages away, and I was rather surprised that the ducklings which had come out just before I left appeared much the same black-eyed balls of yellow fluff, and that the year had advanced so little during my memorable eight days of absence.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading It seemed to me as if I had been ages away, and I was rather surprised that the ducklings which had come out just before I left appeared much the same black-eyed balls of yellow fluff, and that the year had advanced so little during my memorable eight days of absence.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading I spent the morning over my unpacking and distributing the little gifts I had brought for each one.
being one more than seven
From this reading It seemed to me as if I had been ages away, and I was rather surprised that the ducklings which had come out just before I left appeared much the same black-eyed balls of yellow fluff, and that the year had advanced so little during my memorable eight days of absence.
ESTHERnounUS /ˈestər/
(Old Testament) a beautiful Jewess chosen by the king of Persia to be his queen; she stopped a plot to massacre all the Jews in Persia (an event celebrated by Jews as the feast of Purim)
From this reading ESTHER.
divisible by two
From this reading I was welcomed at Brandon as rapturously as if I had come out of a long exile, and delightful it was to see the dear faces after even a short absence.
exileverbUS /ˈeɡzaɪl/
expel from a country
From this reading I was welcomed at Brandon as rapturously as if I had come out of a long exile, and delightful it was to see the dear faces after even a short absence.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading I was welcomed at Brandon as rapturously as if I had come out of a long exile, and delightful it was to see the dear faces after even a short absence.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading I had so much to tell them that though I had travelled all night I did not feel inclined to go to bed.
fluffnounUS /flʌf/
any light downy material
From this reading It seemed to me as if I had been ages away, and I was rather surprised that the ducklings which had come out just before I left appeared much the same black-eyed balls of yellow fluff, and that the year had advanced so little during my memorable eight days of absence.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I spent the morning over my unpacking and distributing the little gifts I had brought for each one.
giftsnounUS /ɡɪfts/
plural of “gift” — something acquired without compensation
From this reading I spent the morning over my unpacking and distributing the little gifts I had brought for each one.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading I had so much to tell them that though I had travelled all night I did not feel inclined to go to bed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I was welcomed at Brandon as rapturously as if I had come out of a long exile, and delightful it was to see the dear faces after even a short absence.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I was welcomed at Brandon as rapturously as if I had come out of a long exile, and delightful it was to see the dear faces after even a short absence.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading I was welcomed at Brandon as rapturously as if I had come out of a long exile, and delightful it was to see the dear faces after even a short absence.
(often followed by “to”) having a preference, disposition, or tendency
From this reading I had so much to tell them that though I had travelled all night I did not feel inclined to go to bed.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I was welcomed at Brandon as rapturously as if I had come out of a long exile, and delightful it was to see the dear faces after even a short absence.
and nothing more
From this reading It seemed to me as if I had been ages away, and I was rather surprised that the ducklings which had come out just before I left appeared much the same black-eyed balls of yellow fluff, and that the year had advanced so little during my memorable eight days of absence.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading It seemed to me as if I had been ages away, and I was rather surprised that the ducklings which had come out just before I left appeared much the same black-eyed balls of yellow fluff, and that the year had advanced so little during my memorable eight days of absence.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It seemed to me as if I had been ages away, and I was rather surprised that the ducklings which had come out just before I left appeared much the same black-eyed balls of yellow fluff, and that the year had advanced so little during my memorable eight days of absence.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading I was welcomed at Brandon as rapturously as if I had come out of a long exile, and delightful it was to see the dear faces after even a short absence.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It seemed to me as if I had been ages away, and I was rather surprised that the ducklings which had come out just before I left appeared much the same black-eyed balls of yellow fluff, and that the year had advanced so little during my memorable eight days of absence.
memorableadjectiveUS /ˈmemərəbəl/
worth remembering
From this reading It seemed to me as if I had been ages away, and I was rather surprised that the ducklings which had come out just before I left appeared much the same black-eyed balls of yellow fluff, and that the year had advanced so little during my memorable eight days of absence.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading I spent the morning over my unpacking and distributing the little gifts I had brought for each one.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading It seemed to me as if I had been ages away, and I was rather surprised that the ducklings which had come out just before I left appeared much the same black-eyed balls of yellow fluff, and that the year had advanced so little during my memorable eight days of absence.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading It seemed to me as if I had been ages away, and I was rather surprised that the ducklings which had come out just before I left appeared much the same black-eyed balls of yellow fluff, and that the year had advanced so little during my memorable eight days of absence.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading I had so much to tell them that though I had travelled all night I did not feel inclined to go to bed.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I had so much to tell them that though I had travelled all night I did not feel inclined to go to bed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I was welcomed at Brandon as rapturously as if I had come out of a long exile, and delightful it was to see the dear faces after even a short absence.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I spent the morning over my unpacking and distributing the little gifts I had brought for each one.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading I was welcomed at Brandon as rapturously as if I had come out of a long exile, and delightful it was to see the dear faces after even a short absence.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading I spent the morning over my unpacking and distributing the little gifts I had brought for each one.
rapturouslyadverb
in an ecstatic manner
From this reading I was welcomed at Brandon as rapturously as if I had come out of a long exile, and delightful it was to see the dear faces after even a short absence.
on the contrary
From this reading It seemed to me as if I had been ages away, and I was rather surprised that the ducklings which had come out just before I left appeared much the same black-eyed balls of yellow fluff, and that the year had advanced so little during my memorable eight days of absence.
Identical; not different.
From this reading It seemed to me as if I had been ages away, and I was rather surprised that the ducklings which had come out just before I left appeared much the same black-eyed balls of yellow fluff, and that the year had advanced so little during my memorable eight days of absence.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading I was welcomed at Brandon as rapturously as if I had come out of a long exile, and delightful it was to see the dear faces after even a short absence.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seemed to me as if I had been ages away, and I was rather surprised that the ducklings which had come out just before I left appeared much the same black-eyed balls of yellow fluff, and that the year had advanced so little during my memorable eight days of absence.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading I was welcomed at Brandon as rapturously as if I had come out of a long exile, and delightful it was to see the dear faces after even a short absence.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It seemed to me as if I had been ages away, and I was rather surprised that the ducklings which had come out just before I left appeared much the same black-eyed balls of yellow fluff, and that the year had advanced so little during my memorable eight days of absence.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading I spent the morning over my unpacking and distributing the little gifts I had brought for each one.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading It seemed to me as if I had been ages away, and I was rather surprised that the ducklings which had come out just before I left appeared much the same black-eyed balls of yellow fluff, and that the year had advanced so little during my memorable eight days of absence.
express in words
From this reading I had so much to tell them that though I had travelled all night I did not feel inclined to go to bed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It seemed to me as if I had been ages away, and I was rather surprised that the ducklings which had come out just before I left appeared much the same black-eyed balls of yellow fluff, and that the year had advanced so little during my memorable eight days of absence.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I was welcomed at Brandon as rapturously as if I had come out of a long exile, and delightful it was to see the dear faces after even a short absence.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading I had so much to tell them that though I had travelled all night I did not feel inclined to go to bed.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading I had so much to tell them that though I had travelled all night I did not feel inclined to go to bed.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I was welcomed at Brandon as rapturously as if I had come out of a long exile, and delightful it was to see the dear faces after even a short absence.
travelledadjectiveUS /ˈtrævəld/
familiar with many parts of the world
From this reading I had so much to tell them that though I had travelled all night I did not feel inclined to go to bed.
unpackingverbUS /ənˈpækɪŋ/
-ing form of “unpack” — remove from its packing
From this reading I spent the morning over my unpacking and distributing the little gifts I had brought for each one.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I was welcomed at Brandon as rapturously as if I had come out of a long exile, and delightful it was to see the dear faces after even a short absence.
welcomedverbUS /ˈwelkəmd/
past form of “welcome” — accept gladly
From this reading I was welcomed at Brandon as rapturously as if I had come out of a long exile, and delightful it was to see the dear faces after even a short absence.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It seemed to me as if I had been ages away, and I was rather surprised that the ducklings which had come out just before I left appeared much the same black-eyed balls of yellow fluff, and that the year had advanced so little during my memorable eight days of absence.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading It seemed to me as if I had been ages away, and I was rather surprised that the ducklings which had come out just before I left appeared much the same black-eyed balls of yellow fluff, and that the year had advanced so little during my memorable eight days of absence.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading It seemed to me as if I had been ages away, and I was rather surprised that the ducklings which had come out just before I left appeared much the same black-eyed balls of yellow fluff, and that the year had advanced so little during my memorable eight days of absence.
