used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Merchants were sprinkling the brick pavements in front of their stores, and on the public square was a bon-fire of trash swept from the court-house.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading The sun was an hour above the tree-tops when I rode up to the livery-stable, and the town was lazily astir.
admissionnounUS /ædˈmɪʃən/
the act of admitting someone to enter
From this reading I hastened to the jail, and for the first time the jailer hesitated when I applied for admission.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The sun was an hour above the tree-tops when I rode up to the livery-stable, and the town was lazily astir.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The sun was an hour above the tree-tops when I rode up to the livery-stable, and the town was lazily astir.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading My eagerness, apparent to every one, appeared to be mistrusted by him, and he shook his head.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading My eagerness, apparent to every one, appeared to be mistrusted by him, and he shook his head.
appliedadjectiveUS /əˈplaɪd/
concerned with concrete problems or data rather than with fundamental principles
From this reading I hastened to the jail, and for the first time the jailer hesitated when I applied for admission.
astiradjective
out of bed
From this reading The sun was an hour above the tree-tops when I rode up to the livery-stable, and the town was lazily astir.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading My eagerness, apparent to every one, appeared to be mistrusted by him, and he shook his head.
bon-fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Merchants were sprinkling the brick pavements in front of their stores, and on the public square was a bon-fire of trash swept from the court-house.
bricknounUS /brɪk/
rectangular block of clay baked by the sun or in a kiln; used as a building or paving material
From this reading Merchants were sprinkling the brick pavements in front of their stores, and on the public square was a bon-fire of trash swept from the court-house.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading My eagerness, apparent to every one, appeared to be mistrusted by him, and he shook his head.
court-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Merchants were sprinkling the brick pavements in front of their stores, and on the public square was a bon-fire of trash swept from the court-house.
deliververbUS /dɪˈlɪvər/
deliver (a speech, oration, or idea)
From this reading I told him that he might go in with me, that my mission was simply to deliver a message.
eagernessnounUS /ˈiːɡərnəs/
a positive feeling of wanting to push ahead with something
From this reading My eagerness, apparent to every one, appeared to be mistrusted by him, and he shook his head.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading My eagerness, apparent to every one, appeared to be mistrusted by him, and he shook his head.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading I hastened to the jail, and for the first time the jailer hesitated when I applied for admission.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I hastened to the jail, and for the first time the jailer hesitated when I applied for admission.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Merchants were sprinkling the brick pavements in front of their stores, and on the public square was a bon-fire of trash swept from the court-house.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading Merchants were sprinkling the brick pavements in front of their stores, and on the public square was a bon-fire of trash swept from the court-house.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading I told him that he might go in with me, that my mission was simply to deliver a message.
past form of “hasten” — act or move at high speed
From this reading I hastened to the jail, and for the first time the jailer hesitated when I applied for admission.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading My eagerness, apparent to every one, appeared to be mistrusted by him, and he shook his head.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading My eagerness, apparent to every one, appeared to be mistrusted by him, and he shook his head.
past form of “hesitate” — pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
From this reading I hastened to the jail, and for the first time the jailer hesitated when I applied for admission.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading My eagerness, apparent to every one, appeared to be mistrusted by him, and he shook his head.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading My eagerness, apparent to every one, appeared to be mistrusted by him, and he shook his head.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading The sun was an hour above the tree-tops when I rode up to the livery-stable, and the town was lazily astir.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The sun was an hour above the tree-tops when I rode up to the livery-stable, and the town was lazily astir.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Merchants were sprinkling the brick pavements in front of their stores, and on the public square was a bon-fire of trash swept from the court-house.
jailnounUS /dʒeɪl/
a correctional institution used to detain persons who are in the lawful custody of the government (either accused persons awaiting trial or convicted persons serving a sentence)
From this reading I hastened to the jail, and for the first time the jailer hesitated when I applied for admission.
jailernounUS /ˈdʒeɪlər/
someone who guards prisoners
From this reading I hastened to the jail, and for the first time the jailer hesitated when I applied for admission.
lazilyadverbUS /ˈlæzəli/
in a slow and lazy manner
From this reading The sun was an hour above the tree-tops when I rode up to the livery-stable, and the town was lazily astir.
livery-stable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was an hour above the tree-tops when I rode up to the livery-stable, and the town was lazily astir.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I told him that he might go in with me, that my mission was simply to deliver a message.
MerchantsnounUS /ˈmɜːrtʃənts/
plural of “merchant” — a businessperson engaged in retail trade
From this reading Merchants were sprinkling the brick pavements in front of their stores, and on the public square was a bon-fire of trash swept from the court-house.
a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading I told him that he might go in with me, that my mission was simply to deliver a message.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading I told him that he might go in with me, that my mission was simply to deliver a message.
an organization of missionaries in a foreign land sent to carry on religious work
From this reading I told him that he might go in with me, that my mission was simply to deliver a message.
mistrustedverbUS /mɪˈstrʌstɪd/
past form of “mistrust” — regard as untrustworthy; regard with suspicion; have no faith or confidence in
From this reading My eagerness, apparent to every one, appeared to be mistrusted by him, and he shook his head.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My eagerness, apparent to every one, appeared to be mistrusted by him, and he shook his head.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Merchants were sprinkling the brick pavements in front of their stores, and on the public square was a bon-fire of trash swept from the court-house.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Merchants were sprinkling the brick pavements in front of their stores, and on the public square was a bon-fire of trash swept from the court-house.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading My eagerness, apparent to every one, appeared to be mistrusted by him, and he shook his head.
pavementsnounUS /ˈpeɪvmənts/
plural of “pavement” — the paved surface of a thoroughfare
From this reading Merchants were sprinkling the brick pavements in front of their stores, and on the public square was a bon-fire of trash swept from the court-house.
people in general considered as a whole
From this reading Merchants were sprinkling the brick pavements in front of their stores, and on the public square was a bon-fire of trash swept from the court-house.
inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading The sun was an hour above the tree-tops when I rode up to the livery-stable, and the town was lazily astir.
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading My eagerness, apparent to every one, appeared to be mistrusted by him, and he shook his head.
and nothing more
From this reading I told him that he might go in with me, that my mission was simply to deliver a message.
sprinklingnounUS /ˈsprɪŋklɪŋ/
a small number (of something) dispersed haphazardly
From this reading Merchants were sprinkling the brick pavements in front of their stores, and on the public square was a bon-fire of trash swept from the court-house.
make square
From this reading Merchants were sprinkling the brick pavements in front of their stores, and on the public square was a bon-fire of trash swept from the court-house.
storesnounUS /stɔːrz/
plural of “store” — a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
From this reading Merchants were sprinkling the brick pavements in front of their stores, and on the public square was a bon-fire of trash swept from the court-house.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The sun was an hour above the tree-tops when I rode up to the livery-stable, and the town was lazily astir.
possessing sweep
From this reading Merchants were sprinkling the brick pavements in front of their stores, and on the public square was a bon-fire of trash swept from the court-house.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I told him that he might go in with me, that my mission was simply to deliver a message.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The sun was an hour above the tree-tops when I rode up to the livery-stable, and the town was lazily astir.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Merchants were sprinkling the brick pavements in front of their stores, and on the public square was a bon-fire of trash swept from the court-house.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading I hastened to the jail, and for the first time the jailer hesitated when I applied for admission.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The sun was an hour above the tree-tops when I rode up to the livery-stable, and the town was lazily astir.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading I told him that he might go in with me, that my mission was simply to deliver a message.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading The sun was an hour above the tree-tops when I rode up to the livery-stable, and the town was lazily astir.
trashnounUS /træʃ/
worthless material that is to be disposed of
From this reading Merchants were sprinkling the brick pavements in front of their stores, and on the public square was a bon-fire of trash swept from the court-house.
tree-tops
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was an hour above the tree-tops when I rode up to the livery-stable, and the town was lazily astir.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The sun was an hour above the tree-tops when I rode up to the livery-stable, and the town was lazily astir.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The sun was an hour above the tree-tops when I rode up to the livery-stable, and the town was lazily astir.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Merchants were sprinkling the brick pavements in front of their stores, and on the public square was a bon-fire of trash swept from the court-house.
at the time that
From this reading The sun was an hour above the tree-tops when I rode up to the livery-stable, and the town was lazily astir.
in the company of; together with
From this reading I told him that he might go in with me, that my mission was simply to deliver a message.
