used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE SHIFTLESS ONE The next day dawned as brilliant as the one that had gone before, a golden sun clothing the vast green forest in a luminous light.
farther along in physical or mental development
From this reading It seemed to Henry that each day, as the spring advanced, deepened the intense emerald glow of the leaves.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Further up the opposite slope, five or six hundred yards away, were gathered the Indians around a fire in an opening, eating breakfast.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Down in the valley he caught the sparkle of the brook, as it flowed swiftly away toward a creek, to be carried thence to the Ohio, and on through the Mississippi to the sea.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Further up the opposite slope, five or six hundred yards away, were gathered the Indians around a fire in an opening, eating breakfast.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE SHIFTLESS ONE The next day dawned as brilliant as the one that had gone before, a golden sun clothing the vast green forest in a luminous light.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Down in the valley he caught the sparkle of the brook, as it flowed swiftly away toward a creek, to be carried thence to the Ohio, and on through the Mississippi to the sea.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Down in the valley he caught the sparkle of the brook, as it flowed swiftly away toward a creek, to be carried thence to the Ohio, and on through the Mississippi to the sea.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading THE SHIFTLESS ONE The next day dawned as brilliant as the one that had gone before, a golden sun clothing the vast green forest in a luminous light.
Blackstaffe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Henry saw Wyatt and Blackstaffe with them, and he counted eighteen figures.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading Further up the opposite slope, five or six hundred yards away, were gathered the Indians around a fire in an opening, eating breakfast.
of surpassing excellence
From this reading THE SHIFTLESS ONE The next day dawned as brilliant as the one that had gone before, a golden sun clothing the vast green forest in a luminous light.
brooknounUS /brʊk/
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading Down in the valley he caught the sparkle of the brook, as it flowed swiftly away toward a creek, to be carried thence to the Ohio, and on through the Mississippi to the sea.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Down in the valley he caught the sparkle of the brook, as it flowed swiftly away toward a creek, to be carried thence to the Ohio, and on through the Mississippi to the sea.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Down in the valley he caught the sparkle of the brook, as it flowed swiftly away toward a creek, to be carried thence to the Ohio, and on through the Mississippi to the sea.
clothingnounUS /ˈkloʊðɪŋ/
a covering designed to be worn on a person's body
From this reading THE SHIFTLESS ONE The next day dawned as brilliant as the one that had gone before, a golden sun clothing the vast green forest in a luminous light.
countedverbUS /ˈkaʊntɪd/
past form of “count” — determine the number or amount of
From this reading Henry saw Wyatt and Blackstaffe with them, and he counted eighteen figures.
creeknounUS /kriːk/
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading Down in the valley he caught the sparkle of the brook, as it flowed swiftly away toward a creek, to be carried thence to the Ohio, and on through the Mississippi to the sea.
dawnedverbUS /dɔːnd/
past form of “dawn” — become clear or enter one's consciousness or emotions
From this reading THE SHIFTLESS ONE The next day dawned as brilliant as the one that had gone before, a golden sun clothing the vast green forest in a luminous light.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading THE SHIFTLESS ONE The next day dawned as brilliant as the one that had gone before, a golden sun clothing the vast green forest in a luminous light.
deepenedverbUS /ˈdiːpənd/
past form of “deepen” — make more intense, stronger, or more marked
From this reading It seemed to Henry that each day, as the spring advanced, deepened the intense emerald glow of the leaves.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Down in the valley he caught the sparkle of the brook, as it flowed swiftly away toward a creek, to be carried thence to the Ohio, and on through the Mississippi to the sea.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading It seemed to Henry that each day, as the spring advanced, deepened the intense emerald glow of the leaves.
the act of consuming food
From this reading Further up the opposite slope, five or six hundred yards away, were gathered the Indians around a fire in an opening, eating breakfast.
being one more than seventeen
From this reading Henry saw Wyatt and Blackstaffe with them, and he counted eighteen figures.
emeraldnounUS /ˈemrəld/
a green transparent form of beryl; highly valued as a gemstone
From this reading It seemed to Henry that each day, as the spring advanced, deepened the intense emerald glow of the leaves.
plural of “figure” — a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading Henry saw Wyatt and Blackstaffe with them, and he counted eighteen figures.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Further up the opposite slope, five or six hundred yards away, were gathered the Indians around a fire in an opening, eating breakfast.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading Further up the opposite slope, five or six hundred yards away, were gathered the Indians around a fire in an opening, eating breakfast.
flowedverbUS /floʊd/
past form of “flow” — move or progress freely as if in a stream
From this reading Down in the valley he caught the sparkle of the brook, as it flowed swiftly away toward a creek, to be carried thence to the Ohio, and on through the Mississippi to the sea.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading THE SHIFTLESS ONE The next day dawned as brilliant as the one that had gone before, a golden sun clothing the vast green forest in a luminous light.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading Further up the opposite slope, five or six hundred yards away, were gathered the Indians around a fire in an opening, eating breakfast.
brought together in one place
From this reading Further up the opposite slope, five or six hundred yards away, were gathered the Indians around a fire in an opening, eating breakfast.
an alert and refreshed state
From this reading It seemed to Henry that each day, as the spring advanced, deepened the intense emerald glow of the leaves.
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading THE SHIFTLESS ONE The next day dawned as brilliant as the one that had gone before, a golden sun clothing the vast green forest in a luminous light.
destroyed or killed
From this reading THE SHIFTLESS ONE The next day dawned as brilliant as the one that had gone before, a golden sun clothing the vast green forest in a luminous light.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading THE SHIFTLESS ONE The next day dawned as brilliant as the one that had gone before, a golden sun clothing the vast green forest in a luminous light.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE SHIFTLESS ONE The next day dawned as brilliant as the one that had gone before, a golden sun clothing the vast green forest in a luminous light.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Down in the valley he caught the sparkle of the brook, as it flowed swiftly away toward a creek, to be carried thence to the Ohio, and on through the Mississippi to the sea.
a unit of inductance in which an induced electromotive force of one volt is produced when the current is varied at the rate of one ampere per second
From this reading It seemed to Henry that each day, as the spring advanced, deepened the intense emerald glow of the leaves.
ten 10s
From this reading Further up the opposite slope, five or six hundred yards away, were gathered the Indians around a fire in an opening, eating breakfast.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE SHIFTLESS ONE The next day dawned as brilliant as the one that had gone before, a golden sun clothing the vast green forest in a luminous light.
plural of “indian” — a native or inhabitant of India
From this reading Further up the opposite slope, five or six hundred yards away, were gathered the Indians around a fire in an opening, eating breakfast.
possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
From this reading It seemed to Henry that each day, as the spring advanced, deepened the intense emerald glow of the leaves.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It seemed to Henry that each day, as the spring advanced, deepened the intense emerald glow of the leaves.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading It seemed to Henry that each day, as the spring advanced, deepened the intense emerald glow of the leaves.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading THE SHIFTLESS ONE The next day dawned as brilliant as the one that had gone before, a golden sun clothing the vast green forest in a luminous light.
luminousadjectiveUS /ˈluːmənəs/
softly bright or radiant
From this reading THE SHIFTLESS ONE The next day dawned as brilliant as the one that had gone before, a golden sun clothing the vast green forest in a luminous light.
MississippinounUS /ˌmɪsɪˈsɪpi/
a major North American river and the chief river of the United States; rises in northern Minnesota and flows southward into the Gulf of Mexico
From this reading Down in the valley he caught the sparkle of the brook, as it flowed swiftly away toward a creek, to be carried thence to the Ohio, and on through the Mississippi to the sea.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading THE SHIFTLESS ONE The next day dawned as brilliant as the one that had gone before, a golden sun clothing the vast green forest in a luminous light.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It seemed to Henry that each day, as the spring advanced, deepened the intense emerald glow of the leaves.
OhionounUS /oʊˈhaɪoʊ/
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading Down in the valley he caught the sparkle of the brook, as it flowed swiftly away toward a creek, to be carried thence to the Ohio, and on through the Mississippi to the sea.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Down in the valley he caught the sparkle of the brook, as it flowed swiftly away toward a creek, to be carried thence to the Ohio, and on through the Mississippi to the sea.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading THE SHIFTLESS ONE The next day dawned as brilliant as the one that had gone before, a golden sun clothing the vast green forest in a luminous light.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading Further up the opposite slope, five or six hundred yards away, were gathered the Indians around a fire in an opening, eating breakfast.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading Further up the opposite slope, five or six hundred yards away, were gathered the Indians around a fire in an opening, eating breakfast.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Further up the opposite slope, five or six hundred yards away, were gathered the Indians around a fire in an opening, eating breakfast.
cut with a saw
From this reading Henry saw Wyatt and Blackstaffe with them, and he counted eighteen figures.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading Down in the valley he caught the sparkle of the brook, as it flowed swiftly away toward a creek, to be carried thence to the Ohio, and on through the Mississippi to the sea.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seemed to Henry that each day, as the spring advanced, deepened the intense emerald glow of the leaves.
SHIFTLESSadjectiveUS /ˈʃɪftlɪs/
lacking or characterized by lack of ambition or initiative; lazy
From this reading THE SHIFTLESS ONE The next day dawned as brilliant as the one that had gone before, a golden sun clothing the vast green forest in a luminous light.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading Further up the opposite slope, five or six hundred yards away, were gathered the Indians around a fire in an opening, eating breakfast.
an elevated geological formation
From this reading Further up the opposite slope, five or six hundred yards away, were gathered the Indians around a fire in an opening, eating breakfast.
sparkleverbUS /ˈspɑːrkəl/
reflect brightly
From this reading Down in the valley he caught the sparkle of the brook, as it flowed swiftly away toward a creek, to be carried thence to the Ohio, and on through the Mississippi to the sea.
the season of growth
From this reading It seemed to Henry that each day, as the spring advanced, deepened the intense emerald glow of the leaves.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading THE SHIFTLESS ONE The next day dawned as brilliant as the one that had gone before, a golden sun clothing the vast green forest in a luminous light.
in a swift manner
From this reading Down in the valley he caught the sparkle of the brook, as it flowed swiftly away toward a creek, to be carried thence to the Ohio, and on through the Mississippi to the sea.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE SHIFTLESS ONE The next day dawned as brilliant as the one that had gone before, a golden sun clothing the vast green forest in a luminous light.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SHIFTLESS ONE The next day dawned as brilliant as the one that had gone before, a golden sun clothing the vast green forest in a luminous light.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Henry saw Wyatt and Blackstaffe with them, and he counted eighteen figures.
from that place or that time
From this reading Down in the valley he caught the sparkle of the brook, as it flowed swiftly away toward a creek, to be carried thence to the Ohio, and on through the Mississippi to the sea.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Down in the valley he caught the sparkle of the brook, as it flowed swiftly away toward a creek, to be carried thence to the Ohio, and on through the Mississippi to the sea.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It seemed to Henry that each day, as the spring advanced, deepened the intense emerald glow of the leaves.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Down in the valley he caught the sparkle of the brook, as it flowed swiftly away toward a creek, to be carried thence to the Ohio, and on through the Mississippi to the sea.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Further up the opposite slope, five or six hundred yards away, were gathered the Indians around a fire in an opening, eating breakfast.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading Down in the valley he caught the sparkle of the brook, as it flowed swiftly away toward a creek, to be carried thence to the Ohio, and on through the Mississippi to the sea.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading THE SHIFTLESS ONE The next day dawned as brilliant as the one that had gone before, a golden sun clothing the vast green forest in a luminous light.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Further up the opposite slope, five or six hundred yards away, were gathered the Indians around a fire in an opening, eating breakfast.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Henry saw Wyatt and Blackstaffe with them, and he counted eighteen figures.
WyattnounUS /ˈwaɪət/
English architect (1746-1813)
From this reading Henry saw Wyatt and Blackstaffe with them, and he counted eighteen figures.
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 Further up the opposite slope, five or six hundred yards away, were gathered the Indians around a fire in an opening, eating breakfast.
