used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A STURDY northeast wind was rattling the doors and windows of a deserted farmhouse in Western Michigan.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The windows, like lidless eyes, stared vacantly at the flat stubble fields and the few spindling trees, a dreary apology for an orchard.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A STURDY northeast wind was rattling the doors and windows of a deserted farmhouse in Western Michigan.
apologynounUS /əˈpɑːlədʒiː/
an expression of regret at having caused trouble for someone
From this reading The windows, like lidless eyes, stared vacantly at the flat stubble fields and the few spindling trees, a dreary apology for an orchard.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The building was not old, measured by years, but it had never been painted or repaired, and its wooden face, prematurely lined with weather stains, looked as if it had borne the wear and tear of centuries.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The windows, like lidless eyes, stared vacantly at the flat stubble fields and the few spindling trees, a dreary apology for an orchard.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The building was not old, measured by years, but it had never been painted or repaired, and its wooden face, prematurely lined with weather stains, looked as if it had borne the wear and tear of centuries.
inflected form of “bear” — have
From this reading The building was not old, measured by years, but it had never been painted or repaired, and its wooden face, prematurely lined with weather stains, looked as if it had borne the wear and tear of centuries.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading The building was not old, measured by years, but it had never been painted or repaired, and its wooden face, prematurely lined with weather stains, looked as if it had borne the wear and tear of centuries.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The building was not old, measured by years, but it had never been painted or repaired, and its wooden face, prematurely lined with weather stains, looked as if it had borne the wear and tear of centuries.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The building was not old, measured by years, but it had never been painted or repaired, and its wooden face, prematurely lined with weather stains, looked as if it had borne the wear and tear of centuries.
centuriesnounUS /ˈsentʃəriz/
plural of “century” — a period of 100 years
From this reading The building was not old, measured by years, but it had never been painted or repaired, and its wooden face, prematurely lined with weather stains, looked as if it had borne the wear and tear of centuries.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading THE MERSHON COMPANY PRESS, RAHWAY, N. J.
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading A STURDY northeast wind was rattling the doors and windows of a deserted farmhouse in Western Michigan.
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading A STURDY northeast wind was rattling the doors and windows of a deserted farmhouse in Western Michigan.
drearyadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪri/
lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise
From this reading The windows, like lidless eyes, stared vacantly at the flat stubble fields and the few spindling trees, a dreary apology for an orchard.
opinion or judgment
From this reading The windows, like lidless eyes, stared vacantly at the flat stubble fields and the few spindling trees, a dreary apology for an orchard.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The building was not old, measured by years, but it had never been painted or repaired, and its wooden face, prematurely lined with weather stains, looked as if it had borne the wear and tear of centuries.
farmhousenounUS /ˈfɑːrmhaʊs/
house for a farmer and family
From this reading A STURDY northeast wind was rattling the doors and windows of a deserted farmhouse in Western Michigan.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The windows, like lidless eyes, stared vacantly at the flat stubble fields and the few spindling trees, a dreary apology for an orchard.
United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)
From this reading The windows, like lidless eyes, stared vacantly at the flat stubble fields and the few spindling trees, a dreary apology for an orchard.
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading The windows, like lidless eyes, stared vacantly at the flat stubble fields and the few spindling trees, a dreary apology for an orchard.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The windows, like lidless eyes, stared vacantly at the flat stubble fields and the few spindling trees, a dreary apology for an orchard.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The building was not old, measured by years, but it had never been painted or repaired, and its wooden face, prematurely lined with weather stains, looked as if it had borne the wear and tear of centuries.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The building was not old, measured by years, but it had never been painted or repaired, and its wooden face, prematurely lined with weather stains, looked as if it had borne the wear and tear of centuries.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A STURDY northeast wind was rattling the doors and windows of a deserted farmhouse in Western Michigan.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The building was not old, measured by years, but it had never been painted or repaired, and its wooden face, prematurely lined with weather stains, looked as if it had borne the wear and tear of centuries.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The building was not old, measured by years, but it had never been painted or repaired, and its wooden face, prematurely lined with weather stains, looked as if it had borne the wear and tear of centuries.
JnounUS /dʒeɪ/
a unit of electrical energy equal to the work done when a current of one ampere passes through a resistance of one ohm for one second
From this reading THE MERSHON COMPANY PRESS, RAHWAY, N. J.
lidlessadjective
not having or covered with a lid or lids
From this reading The windows, like lidless eyes, stared vacantly at the flat stubble fields and the few spindling trees, a dreary apology for an orchard.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The windows, like lidless eyes, stared vacantly at the flat stubble fields and the few spindling trees, a dreary apology for an orchard.
linedadjectiveUS /laɪnd/
bordered by a line of things
From this reading The building was not old, measured by years, but it had never been painted or repaired, and its wooden face, prematurely lined with weather stains, looked as if it had borne the wear and tear of centuries.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The building was not old, measured by years, but it had never been painted or repaired, and its wooden face, prematurely lined with weather stains, looked as if it had borne the wear and tear of centuries.
measuredadjectiveUS /ˈmeʒərd/
having notes of fixed rhythmic value
From this reading The building was not old, measured by years, but it had never been painted or repaired, and its wooden face, prematurely lined with weather stains, looked as if it had borne the wear and tear of centuries.
MERSHON
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MERSHON COMPANY PRESS, RAHWAY, N. J.
MichigannounUS /ˈmɪʃɪɡən/
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading A STURDY northeast wind was rattling the doors and windows of a deserted farmhouse in Western Michigan.
a common nonmetallic element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless inert diatomic gas; constitutes 78 percent of the atmosphere by volume; a constituent of all living tissues
From this reading THE MERSHON COMPANY PRESS, RAHWAY, N. J.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading The building was not old, measured by years, but it had never been painted or repaired, and its wooden face, prematurely lined with weather stains, looked as if it had borne the wear and tear of centuries.
northeastnounUS /ˌnɔːrˈθiːst/
the compass point midway between north and east; at 45 degrees
From this reading A STURDY northeast wind was rattling the doors and windows of a deserted farmhouse in Western Michigan.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The building was not old, measured by years, but it had never been painted or repaired, and its wooden face, prematurely lined with weather stains, looked as if it had borne the wear and tear of centuries.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A STURDY northeast wind was rattling the doors and windows of a deserted farmhouse in Western Michigan.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The building was not old, measured by years, but it had never been painted or repaired, and its wooden face, prematurely lined with weather stains, looked as if it had borne the wear and tear of centuries.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The building was not old, measured by years, but it had never been painted or repaired, and its wooden face, prematurely lined with weather stains, looked as if it had borne the wear and tear of centuries.
orchardnounUS /ˈɔːrtʃərd/
garden consisting of a small cultivated wood without undergrowth
From this reading The windows, like lidless eyes, stared vacantly at the flat stubble fields and the few spindling trees, a dreary apology for an orchard.
coated with paint
From this reading The building was not old, measured by years, but it had never been painted or repaired, and its wooden face, prematurely lined with weather stains, looked as if it had borne the wear and tear of centuries.
prematurelyadverbUS /ˌpriːməˈtʃʊrli/
(of childbirth) before the end of the normal period of gestation
From this reading The building was not old, measured by years, but it had never been painted or repaired, and its wooden face, prematurely lined with weather stains, looked as if it had borne the wear and tear of centuries.
exert pressure or force to or upon
From this reading THE MERSHON COMPANY PRESS, RAHWAY, N. J.
PROLOGUEnounUS /ˈproʊlɑːɡ/
an introduction to a play
From this reading PROLOGUE.
RAHWAY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MERSHON COMPANY PRESS, RAHWAY, N. J.
rattlingnounUS /ˈrætlɪŋ/
a rapid series of short loud sounds (as might be heard with a stethoscope in some types of respiratory disorders)
From this reading A STURDY northeast wind was rattling the doors and windows of a deserted farmhouse in Western Michigan.
repairedverbUS /rɪˈperd/
past form of “repair” — restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken
From this reading The building was not old, measured by years, but it had never been painted or repaired, and its wooden face, prematurely lined with weather stains, looked as if it had borne the wear and tear of centuries.
spindling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows, like lidless eyes, stared vacantly at the flat stubble fields and the few spindling trees, a dreary apology for an orchard.
stainsnounUS /steɪnz/
plural of “stain” — a soiled or discolored appearance
From this reading The building was not old, measured by years, but it had never been painted or repaired, and its wooden face, prematurely lined with weather stains, looked as if it had borne the wear and tear of centuries.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading The windows, like lidless eyes, stared vacantly at the flat stubble fields and the few spindling trees, a dreary apology for an orchard.
stubblenounUS /ˈstʌbəl/
material consisting of seed coverings and small pieces of stem or leaves that have been separated from the seeds
From this reading The windows, like lidless eyes, stared vacantly at the flat stubble fields and the few spindling trees, a dreary apology for an orchard.
STURDYadjectiveUS /ˈstɜːrdi/
having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships
From this reading A STURDY northeast wind was rattling the doors and windows of a deserted farmhouse in Western Michigan.
separate or cause to separate abruptly
From this reading The building was not old, measured by years, but it had never been painted or repaired, and its wooden face, prematurely lined with weather stains, looked as if it had borne the wear and tear of centuries.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE MERSHON COMPANY PRESS, RAHWAY, N. J.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading The windows, like lidless eyes, stared vacantly at the flat stubble fields and the few spindling trees, a dreary apology for an orchard.
vacantlyadverb
in a vacant manner
From this reading The windows, like lidless eyes, stared vacantly at the flat stubble fields and the few spindling trees, a dreary apology for an orchard.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A STURDY northeast wind was rattling the doors and windows of a deserted farmhouse in Western Michigan.
be dressed in
From this reading The building was not old, measured by years, but it had never been painted or repaired, and its wooden face, prematurely lined with weather stains, looked as if it had borne the wear and tear of centuries.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading The building was not old, measured by years, but it had never been painted or repaired, and its wooden face, prematurely lined with weather stains, looked as if it had borne the wear and tear of centuries.
relating to or characteristic of the western parts of the world or the West as opposed to the eastern or oriental parts
From this reading A STURDY northeast wind was rattling the doors and windows of a deserted farmhouse in Western Michigan.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading A STURDY northeast wind was rattling the doors and windows of a deserted farmhouse in Western Michigan.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading A STURDY northeast wind was rattling the doors and windows of a deserted farmhouse in Western Michigan.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The building was not old, measured by years, but it had never been painted or repaired, and its wooden face, prematurely lined with weather stains, looked as if it had borne the wear and tear of centuries.
made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood
From this reading The building was not old, measured by years, but it had never been painted or repaired, and its wooden face, prematurely lined with weather stains, looked as if it had borne the wear and tear of centuries.
a late time of life
From this reading The building was not old, measured by years, but it had never been painted or repaired, and its wooden face, prematurely lined with weather stains, looked as if it had borne the wear and tear of centuries.
