used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For a whole week the school looked empty and forlorn as the boys went to their homes to spend the holiday season.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Christmas came and Woodcrest was almost deserted.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Christmas came and Woodcrest was almost deserted.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading For a whole week the school looked empty and forlorn as the boys went to their homes to spend the holiday season.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The Mercer brothers thoroughly enjoyed the week at home, visiting friends, spending time with the family, and getting in some fine skating.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The Mercers and Terry had returned to Maine, separating for a brief week to be with their own families.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading For a whole week the school looked empty and forlorn as the boys went to their homes to spend the holiday season.
of short duration or distance
From this reading The Mercers and Terry had returned to Maine, separating for a brief week to be with their own families.
plural of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading The Mercer brothers thoroughly enjoyed the week at home, visiting friends, spending time with the family, and getting in some fine skating.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Christmas came and Woodcrest was almost deserted.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading Christmas came and Woodcrest was almost deserted.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading It was the day following New Year’s Day that the brothers returned to Woodcrest and once more plunged into the routine of school life.
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading Christmas came and Woodcrest was almost deserted.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading For a whole week the school looked empty and forlorn as the boys went to their homes to spend the holiday season.
past form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
From this reading The Mercer brothers thoroughly enjoyed the week at home, visiting friends, spending time with the family, and getting in some fine skating.
plural of “family” — a social unit living together
From this reading The Mercers and Terry had returned to Maine, separating for a brief week to be with their own families.
a social unit living together
From this reading The Mercer brothers thoroughly enjoyed the week at home, visiting friends, spending time with the family, and getting in some fine skating.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading The Mercer brothers thoroughly enjoyed the week at home, visiting friends, spending time with the family, and getting in some fine skating.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading It was the day following New Year’s Day that the brothers returned to Woodcrest and once more plunged into the routine of school life.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a whole week the school looked empty and forlorn as the boys went to their homes to spend the holiday season.
forlornadjectiveUS /fərˈlɔːrn/
marked by or showing hopelessness
From this reading For a whole week the school looked empty and forlorn as the boys went to their homes to spend the holiday season.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading The Mercer brothers thoroughly enjoyed the week at home, visiting friends, spending time with the family, and getting in some fine skating.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading The Mercer brothers thoroughly enjoyed the week at home, visiting friends, spending time with the family, and getting in some fine skating.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Mercers and Terry had returned to Maine, separating for a brief week to be with their own families.
holidaynounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪ/
leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading For a whole week the school looked empty and forlorn as the boys went to their homes to spend the holiday season.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading The Mercer brothers thoroughly enjoyed the week at home, visiting friends, spending time with the family, and getting in some fine skating.
homesnounUS /hoʊmz/
plural of “home” — where you live at a particular time
From this reading For a whole week the school looked empty and forlorn as the boys went to their homes to spend the holiday season.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Mercer brothers thoroughly enjoyed the week at home, visiting friends, spending time with the family, and getting in some fine skating.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading It was the day following New Year’s Day that the brothers returned to Woodcrest and once more plunged into the routine of school life.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the day following New Year’s Day that the brothers returned to Woodcrest and once more plunged into the routine of school life.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading It was the day following New Year’s Day that the brothers returned to Woodcrest and once more plunged into the routine of school life.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading For a whole week the school looked empty and forlorn as the boys went to their homes to spend the holiday season.
MainenounUS /meɪn/
a state in New England
From this reading The Mercers and Terry had returned to Maine, separating for a brief week to be with their own families.
MercernounUS /ˈmɜːrsər/
a dealer in textiles (especially silks)
From this reading The Mercer brothers thoroughly enjoyed the week at home, visiting friends, spending time with the family, and getting in some fine skating.
Mercers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Mercers and Terry had returned to Maine, separating for a brief week to be with their own families.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading It was the day following New Year’s Day that the brothers returned to Woodcrest and once more plunged into the routine of school life.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading It was the day following New Year’s Day that the brothers returned to Woodcrest and once more plunged into the routine of school life.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was the day following New Year’s Day that the brothers returned to Woodcrest and once more plunged into the routine of school life.
on one occasion
From this reading It was the day following New Year’s Day that the brothers returned to Woodcrest and once more plunged into the routine of school life.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading The Mercers and Terry had returned to Maine, separating for a brief week to be with their own families.
past form of “plunge” — thrust or throw into
From this reading It was the day following New Year’s Day that the brothers returned to Woodcrest and once more plunged into the routine of school life.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading The Mercers and Terry had returned to Maine, separating for a brief week to be with their own families.
routinenounUS /ruːˈtiːn/
an unvarying or habitual method or procedure
From this reading It was the day following New Year’s Day that the brothers returned to Woodcrest and once more plunged into the routine of school life.
an educational institution
From this reading For a whole week the school looked empty and forlorn as the boys went to their homes to spend the holiday season.
a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field
From this reading For a whole week the school looked empty and forlorn as the boys went to their homes to spend the holiday season.
separatingverbUS /ˈsepəreɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “separate” — act as a barrier between; stand between
From this reading The Mercers and Terry had returned to Maine, separating for a brief week to be with their own families.
skatingnounUS /ˈskeɪtɪŋ/
the sport of gliding on skates
From this reading The Mercer brothers thoroughly enjoyed the week at home, visiting friends, spending time with the family, and getting in some fine skating.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The Mercer brothers thoroughly enjoyed the week at home, visiting friends, spending time with the family, and getting in some fine skating.
use up a period of time in a specific way
From this reading For a whole week the school looked empty and forlorn as the boys went to their homes to spend the holiday season.
spendingnounUS /ˈspendɪŋ/
the act of spending or disbursing money
From this reading The Mercer brothers thoroughly enjoyed the week at home, visiting friends, spending time with the family, and getting in some fine skating.
TerrynounUS /ˈteri/
English actress (1847-1928)
From this reading The Mercers and Terry had returned to Maine, separating for a brief week to be with their own families.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was the day following New Year’s Day that the brothers returned to Woodcrest and once more plunged into the routine of school life.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For a whole week the school looked empty and forlorn as the boys went to their homes to spend the holiday season.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading For a whole week the school looked empty and forlorn as the boys went to their homes to spend the holiday season.
in an exhaustive manner
From this reading The Mercer brothers thoroughly enjoyed the week at home, visiting friends, spending time with the family, and getting in some fine skating.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The Mercer brothers thoroughly enjoyed the week at home, visiting friends, spending time with the family, and getting in some fine skating.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For a whole week the school looked empty and forlorn as the boys went to their homes to spend the holiday season.
visitingnounUS /ˈvɪzɪtɪŋ/
the activity of making visits
From this reading The Mercer brothers thoroughly enjoyed the week at home, visiting friends, spending time with the family, and getting in some fine skating.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Christmas came and Woodcrest was almost deserted.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading For a whole week the school looked empty and forlorn as the boys went to their homes to spend the holiday season.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading For a whole week the school looked empty and forlorn as the boys went to their homes to spend the holiday season.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading For a whole week the school looked empty and forlorn as the boys went to their homes to spend the holiday season.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Mercers and Terry had returned to Maine, separating for a brief week to be with their own families.
Woodcrest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Christmas came and Woodcrest was almost deserted.
Year'snounUS /jɪrz/
possessive form of “year” — a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading It was the day following New Year’s Day that the brothers returned to Woodcrest and once more plunged into the routine of school life.
