used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Once in a while we saw the hut of a peasant or a charcoal burner.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading During the morning we kept it in our rear while in the afternoon we made sure of ourselves by the shine of it (when there was an opening in the woods) in our faces.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading During the morning we kept it in our rear while in the afternoon we made sure of ourselves by the shine of it (when there was an opening in the woods) in our faces.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading That day we went on as fast as our legs could carry us.
burnernounUS /ˈbɜːrnər/
an apparatus for burning fuel (or refuse)
From this reading Once in a while we saw the hut of a peasant or a charcoal burner.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading We gauged our position by the sun.
move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading That day we went on as fast as our legs could carry us.
charcoalnounUS /ˈtʃɑːrkoʊl/
a carbonaceous material obtained by heating wood or other organic matter in the absence of air
From this reading Once in a while we saw the hut of a peasant or a charcoal burner.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading That day we went on as fast as our legs could carry us.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading That day we went on as fast as our legs could carry us.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading During the morning we kept it in our rear while in the afternoon we made sure of ourselves by the shine of it (when there was an opening in the woods) in our faces.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading There were no roads that you could speak of—only rutted trails of mud hardly wide enough for two ox-carts to pass without touching the hubs of each other’s wheels.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading There were no roads that you could speak of—only rutted trails of mud hardly wide enough for two ox-carts to pass without touching the hubs of each other’s wheels.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading During the morning we kept it in our rear while in the afternoon we made sure of ourselves by the shine of it (when there was an opening in the woods) in our faces.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading That day we went on as fast as our legs could carry us.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There were no roads that you could speak of—only rutted trails of mud hardly wide enough for two ox-carts to pass without touching the hubs of each other’s wheels.
gaugedverbUS /ɡeɪdʒd/
past form of “gauge” — judge tentatively or form an estimate of (quantities or time)
From this reading We gauged our position by the sun.
only a very short time before
From this reading There were no roads that you could speak of—only rutted trails of mud hardly wide enough for two ox-carts to pass without touching the hubs of each other’s wheels.
hubsnounUS /hʌbz/
plural of “hub” — the central part of a car wheel (or fan or propeller etc) through which the shaft or axle passes
From this reading There were no roads that you could speak of—only rutted trails of mud hardly wide enough for two ox-carts to pass without touching the hubs of each other’s wheels.
temporary military shelter
From this reading Once in a while we saw the hut of a peasant or a charcoal burner.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading During the morning we kept it in our rear while in the afternoon we made sure of ourselves by the shine of it (when there was an opening in the woods) in our faces.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading During the morning we kept it in our rear while in the afternoon we made sure of ourselves by the shine of it (when there was an opening in the woods) in our faces.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading During the morning we kept it in our rear while in the afternoon we made sure of ourselves by the shine of it (when there was an opening in the woods) in our faces.
staying power
From this reading That day we went on as fast as our legs could carry us.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading During the morning we kept it in our rear while in the afternoon we made sure of ourselves by the shine of it (when there was an opening in the woods) in our faces.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading During the morning we kept it in our rear while in the afternoon we made sure of ourselves by the shine of it (when there was an opening in the woods) in our faces.
water soaked soil; soft wet earth
From this reading There were no roads that you could speak of—only rutted trails of mud hardly wide enough for two ox-carts to pass without touching the hubs of each other’s wheels.
not any; not one
From this reading There were no roads that you could speak of—only rutted trails of mud hardly wide enough for two ox-carts to pass without touching the hubs of each other’s wheels.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading During the morning we kept it in our rear while in the afternoon we made sure of ourselves by the shine of it (when there was an opening in the woods) in our faces.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading That day we went on as fast as our legs could carry us.
on one occasion
From this reading Once in a while we saw the hut of a peasant or a charcoal burner.
and nothing more
From this reading There were no roads that you could speak of—only rutted trails of mud hardly wide enough for two ox-carts to pass without touching the hubs of each other’s wheels.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading During the morning we kept it in our rear while in the afternoon we made sure of ourselves by the shine of it (when there was an opening in the woods) in our faces.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Once in a while we saw the hut of a peasant or a charcoal burner.
other's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were no roads that you could speak of—only rutted trails of mud hardly wide enough for two ox-carts to pass without touching the hubs of each other’s wheels.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading That day we went on as fast as our legs could carry us.
used when we are both doing the action and receiving it
From this reading During the morning we kept it in our rear while in the afternoon we made sure of ourselves by the shine of it (when there was an opening in the woods) in our faces.
ox-carts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were no roads that you could speak of—only rutted trails of mud hardly wide enough for two ox-carts to pass without touching the hubs of each other’s wheels.
go across or through
From this reading There were no roads that you could speak of—only rutted trails of mud hardly wide enough for two ox-carts to pass without touching the hubs of each other’s wheels.
peasantnounUS /ˈpezənt/
a country person
From this reading Once in a while we saw the hut of a peasant or a charcoal burner.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading We gauged our position by the sun.
the back of a military formation or procession
From this reading During the morning we kept it in our rear while in the afternoon we made sure of ourselves by the shine of it (when there was an opening in the woods) in our faces.
roadsnounUS /roʊdz/
a partly sheltered anchorage
From this reading There were no roads that you could speak of—only rutted trails of mud hardly wide enough for two ox-carts to pass without touching the hubs of each other’s wheels.
ruttedadjectiveUS /ˈrʌtɪd/
full of ruts
From this reading There were no roads that you could speak of—only rutted trails of mud hardly wide enough for two ox-carts to pass without touching the hubs of each other’s wheels.
cut with a saw
From this reading Once in a while we saw the hut of a peasant or a charcoal burner.
shineverbUS /ʃaɪn/
be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading During the morning we kept it in our rear while in the afternoon we made sure of ourselves by the shine of it (when there was an opening in the woods) in our faces.
express in speech
From this reading There were no roads that you could speak of—only rutted trails of mud hardly wide enough for two ox-carts to pass without touching the hubs of each other’s wheels.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading We gauged our position by the sun.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading During the morning we kept it in our rear while in the afternoon we made sure of ourselves by the shine of it (when there was an opening in the woods) in our faces.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That day we went on as fast as our legs could carry us.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading We gauged our position by the sun.
in or at that place or location
From this reading During the morning we kept it in our rear while in the afternoon we made sure of ourselves by the shine of it (when there was an opening in the woods) in our faces.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There were no roads that you could speak of—only rutted trails of mud hardly wide enough for two ox-carts to pass without touching the hubs of each other’s wheels.
arousing affect
From this reading There were no roads that you could speak of—only rutted trails of mud hardly wide enough for two ox-carts to pass without touching the hubs of each other’s wheels.
trailsnounUS /treɪlz/
plural of “trail” — a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading There were no roads that you could speak of—only rutted trails of mud hardly wide enough for two ox-carts to pass without touching the hubs of each other’s wheels.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading There were no roads that you could speak of—only rutted trails of mud hardly wide enough for two ox-carts to pass without touching the hubs of each other’s wheels.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading That day we went on as fast as our legs could carry us.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading During the morning we kept it in our rear while in the afternoon we made sure of ourselves by the shine of it (when there was an opening in the woods) in our faces.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading That day we went on as fast as our legs could carry us.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading That day we went on as fast as our legs could carry us.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were no roads that you could speak of—only rutted trails of mud hardly wide enough for two ox-carts to pass without touching the hubs of each other’s wheels.
wheelsnounUS /wiːlz/
plural of “wheel” — a simple machine consisting of a circular frame with spokes (or a solid disc) that can rotate on a shaft or axle (as in vehicles or other machines)
From this reading There were no roads that you could speak of—only rutted trails of mud hardly wide enough for two ox-carts to pass without touching the hubs of each other’s wheels.
at the time that
From this reading During the morning we kept it in our rear while in the afternoon we made sure of ourselves by the shine of it (when there was an opening in the woods) in our faces.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading During the morning we kept it in our rear while in the afternoon we made sure of ourselves by the shine of it (when there was an opening in the woods) in our faces.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading There were no roads that you could speak of—only rutted trails of mud hardly wide enough for two ox-carts to pass without touching the hubs of each other’s wheels.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading There were no roads that you could speak of—only rutted trails of mud hardly wide enough for two ox-carts to pass without touching the hubs of each other’s wheels.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading During the morning we kept it in our rear while in the afternoon we made sure of ourselves by the shine of it (when there was an opening in the woods) in our faces.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading There were no roads that you could speak of—only rutted trails of mud hardly wide enough for two ox-carts to pass without touching the hubs of each other’s wheels.
