used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They modestly and truthfully answered that they had had very little experience in shooting, but were willing to make a trial of their skill.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading It was pretty well along in the afternoon when the party reached the station on its return.
united by being of the same opinion
From this reading Our friends agreed that they had had an excellent day, and the sights they had witnessed were full of interest.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading It was pretty well along in the afternoon when the party reached the station on its return.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading HUNTING THE EMU AND OTHER BIRDS--AN AUSTRALIAN SHEEP RUN.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading HUNTING THE EMU AND OTHER BIRDS--AN AUSTRALIAN SHEEP RUN.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading They modestly and truthfully answered that they had had very little experience in shooting, but were willing to make a trial of their skill.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Mr. Syme asked the doctor and our young friends if they were good shots with the rifle or shot-gun.
AUSTRALIANnounUS /ɔːˈstreɪljən/
a native or inhabitant of Australia
From this reading HUNTING THE EMU AND OTHER BIRDS--AN AUSTRALIAN SHEEP RUN.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading HUNTING THE EMU AND OTHER BIRDS--AN AUSTRALIAN SHEEP RUN.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They modestly and truthfully answered that they had had very little experience in shooting, but were willing to make a trial of their skill.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Our friends agreed that they had had an excellent day, and the sights they had witnessed were full of interest.
a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading Mr. Syme asked the doctor and our young friends if they were good shots with the rifle or shot-gun.
EMUnounUS /ˈiːmjuː/
any of various systems of units for measuring electricity and magnetism
From this reading HUNTING THE EMU AND OTHER BIRDS--AN AUSTRALIAN SHEEP RUN.
very good; of the highest quality
From this reading Our friends agreed that they had had an excellent day, and the sights they had witnessed were full of interest.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading They modestly and truthfully answered that they had had very little experience in shooting, but were willing to make a trial of their skill.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Our friends agreed that they had had an excellent day, and the sights they had witnessed were full of interest.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading Our friends agreed that they had had an excellent day, and the sights they had witnessed were full of interest.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Mr. Syme asked the doctor and our young friends if they were good shots with the rifle or shot-gun.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Our friends agreed that they had had an excellent day, and the sights they had witnessed were full of interest.
the pursuit and killing or capture of wild animals regarded as a sport
From this reading HUNTING THE EMU AND OTHER BIRDS--AN AUSTRALIAN SHEEP RUN.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Mr. Syme asked the doctor and our young friends if they were good shots with the rifle or shot-gun.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was pretty well along in the afternoon when the party reached the station on its return.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading Our friends agreed that they had had an excellent day, and the sights they had witnessed were full of interest.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was pretty well along in the afternoon when the party reached the station on its return.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It was pretty well along in the afternoon when the party reached the station on its return.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading They modestly and truthfully answered that they had had very little experience in shooting, but were willing to make a trial of their skill.
engage in
From this reading They modestly and truthfully answered that they had had very little experience in shooting, but were willing to make a trial of their skill.
modestlyadverbUS /ˈmɑːdəstli/
with modesty; in a modest manner
From this reading They modestly and truthfully answered that they had had very little experience in shooting, but were willing to make a trial of their skill.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Syme asked the doctor and our young friends if they were good shots with the rifle or shot-gun.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Our friends agreed that they had had an excellent day, and the sights they had witnessed were full of interest.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was pretty well along in the afternoon when the party reached the station on its return.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Mr. Syme asked the doctor and our young friends if they were good shots with the rifle or shot-gun.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading HUNTING THE EMU AND OTHER BIRDS--AN AUSTRALIAN SHEEP RUN.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Our friends agreed that they had had an excellent day, and the sights they had witnessed were full of interest.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading It was pretty well along in the afternoon when the party reached the station on its return.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading It was pretty well along in the afternoon when the party reached the station on its return.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading It was pretty well along in the afternoon when the party reached the station on its return.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading It was pretty well along in the afternoon when the party reached the station on its return.
steal goods; take as spoils
From this reading Mr. Syme asked the doctor and our young friends if they were good shots with the rifle or shot-gun.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading HUNTING THE EMU AND OTHER BIRDS--AN AUSTRALIAN SHEEP RUN.
woolly usually horned ruminant mammal related to the goat
From this reading HUNTING THE EMU AND OTHER BIRDS--AN AUSTRALIAN SHEEP RUN.
shootingnounUS /ˈʃuːtɪŋ/
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading They modestly and truthfully answered that they had had very little experience in shooting, but were willing to make a trial of their skill.
shot-gun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Syme asked the doctor and our young friends if they were good shots with the rifle or shot-gun.
shotsnounUS /ʃɑːts/
plural of “shot” — the act of firing a projectile
From this reading Mr. Syme asked the doctor and our young friends if they were good shots with the rifle or shot-gun.
sightsnounUS /saɪts/
an optical instrument for aiding the eye in aiming, as on a firearm or surveying instrument
From this reading Our friends agreed that they had had an excellent day, and the sights they had witnessed were full of interest.
an ability that has been acquired by training
From this reading They modestly and truthfully answered that they had had very little experience in shooting, but were willing to make a trial of their skill.
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading It was pretty well along in the afternoon when the party reached the station on its return.
Syme
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Syme asked the doctor and our young friends if they were good shots with the rifle or shot-gun.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Our friends agreed that they had had an excellent day, and the sights they had witnessed were full of interest.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading HUNTING THE EMU AND OTHER BIRDS--AN AUSTRALIAN SHEEP RUN.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They modestly and truthfully answered that they had had very little experience in shooting, but were willing to make a trial of their skill.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Our friends agreed that they had had an excellent day, and the sights they had witnessed were full of interest.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They modestly and truthfully answered that they had had very little experience in shooting, but were willing to make a trial of their skill.
the act of testing something
From this reading They modestly and truthfully answered that they had had very little experience in shooting, but were willing to make a trial of their skill.
truthfullyadverbUS /ˈtruːθfəli/
with truth
From this reading They modestly and truthfully answered that they had had very little experience in shooting, but were willing to make a trial of their skill.
precisely as stated
From this reading They modestly and truthfully answered that they had had very little experience in shooting, but were willing to make a trial of their skill.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was pretty well along in the afternoon when the party reached the station on its return.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading It was pretty well along in the afternoon when the party reached the station on its return.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Our friends agreed that they had had an excellent day, and the sights they had witnessed were full of interest.
at the time that
From this reading It was pretty well along in the afternoon when the party reached the station on its return.
disposed or inclined toward
From this reading They modestly and truthfully answered that they had had very little experience in shooting, but were willing to make a trial of their skill.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Mr. Syme asked the doctor and our young friends if they were good shots with the rifle or shot-gun.
witnessedverbUS /ˈwɪtnəst/
past form of “witness” — be a witness to
From this reading Our friends agreed that they had had an excellent day, and the sights they had witnessed were full of interest.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Mr. Syme asked the doctor and our young friends if they were good shots with the rifle or shot-gun.
