used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A Puzzling Letter Although the sky had cleared, evening shadows were creeping over the lake.
the state of being absent
From this reading She wondered if her long absence from home had caused worry and was not greatly surprised when she sighted another boat on the lake.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading A Puzzling Letter Although the sky had cleared, evening shadows were creeping over the lake.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She wondered if her long absence from home had caused worry and was not greatly surprised when she sighted another boat on the lake.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading She wondered if her long absence from home had caused worry and was not greatly surprised when she sighted another boat on the lake.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Madge rowed steadily, knowing that soon it would be dark.
a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading “It’s Uncle George and Old Bill,” she decided.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading She wondered if her long absence from home had caused worry and was not greatly surprised when she sighted another boat on the lake.
past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
From this reading She wondered if her long absence from home had caused worry and was not greatly surprised when she sighted another boat on the lake.
rid of objects or obstructions such as e.g. trees and brush
From this reading A Puzzling Letter Although the sky had cleared, evening shadows were creeping over the lake.
creepingnounUS /ˈkriːpɪŋ/
a slow mode of locomotion on hands and knees or dragging the body
From this reading A Puzzling Letter Although the sky had cleared, evening shadows were creeping over the lake.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Madge rowed steadily, knowing that soon it would be dark.
recognizable; marked
From this reading “It’s Uncle George and Old Bill,” she decided.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading A Puzzling Letter Although the sky had cleared, evening shadows were creeping over the lake.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “They’re out looking for me.”
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She wondered if her long absence from home had caused worry and was not greatly surprised when she sighted another boat on the lake.
Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading “It’s Uncle George and Old Bill,” she decided.
to an extraordinary extent or degree
From this reading She wondered if her long absence from home had caused worry and was not greatly surprised when she sighted another boat on the lake.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A Puzzling Letter Although the sky had cleared, evening shadows were creeping over the lake.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She wondered if her long absence from home had caused worry and was not greatly surprised when she sighted another boat on the lake.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading She wondered if her long absence from home had caused worry and was not greatly surprised when she sighted another boat on the lake.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading She wondered if her long absence from home had caused worry and was not greatly surprised when she sighted another boat on the lake.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Madge rowed steadily, knowing that soon it would be dark.
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It’s Uncle George and Old Bill,” she decided.
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading Madge rowed steadily, knowing that soon it would be dark.
a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
From this reading A Puzzling Letter Although the sky had cleared, evening shadows were creeping over the lake.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading A Puzzling Letter Although the sky had cleared, evening shadows were creeping over the lake.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading She wondered if her long absence from home had caused worry and was not greatly surprised when she sighted another boat on the lake.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading “They’re out looking for me.”
Madge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madge rowed steadily, knowing that soon it would be dark.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “They’re out looking for me.”
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She wondered if her long absence from home had caused worry and was not greatly surprised when she sighted another boat on the lake.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading “It’s Uncle George and Old Bill,” she decided.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She wondered if her long absence from home had caused worry and was not greatly surprised when she sighted another boat on the lake.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading “They’re out looking for me.”
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading A Puzzling Letter Although the sky had cleared, evening shadows were creeping over the lake.
PuzzlingadjectiveUS /ˈpʌzəlɪŋ/
not clear to the understanding
From this reading A Puzzling Letter Although the sky had cleared, evening shadows were creeping over the lake.
rowedverbUS /roʊd/
past form of “row” — propel with oars
From this reading Madge rowed steadily, knowing that soon it would be dark.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading A Puzzling Letter Although the sky had cleared, evening shadows were creeping over the lake.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She wondered if her long absence from home had caused worry and was not greatly surprised when she sighted another boat on the lake.
sightedadjectiveUS /ˈsaɪtɪd/
able to see
From this reading She wondered if her long absence from home had caused worry and was not greatly surprised when she sighted another boat on the lake.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading A Puzzling Letter Although the sky had cleared, evening shadows were creeping over the lake.
in the near future
From this reading Madge rowed steadily, knowing that soon it would be dark.
at a steady rate or pace
From this reading Madge rowed steadily, knowing that soon it would be dark.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading She wondered if her long absence from home had caused worry and was not greatly surprised when she sighted another boat on the lake.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Madge rowed steadily, knowing that soon it would be dark.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A Puzzling Letter Although the sky had cleared, evening shadows were creeping over the lake.
They're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “They’re out looking for me.”
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading “It’s Uncle George and Old Bill,” she decided.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She wondered if her long absence from home had caused worry and was not greatly surprised when she sighted another boat on the lake.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A Puzzling Letter Although the sky had cleared, evening shadows were creeping over the lake.
at the time that
From this reading She wondered if her long absence from home had caused worry and was not greatly surprised when she sighted another boat on the lake.
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading She wondered if her long absence from home had caused worry and was not greatly surprised when she sighted another boat on the lake.
be worried, concerned, anxious, troubled, or uneasy
From this reading She wondered if her long absence from home had caused worry and was not greatly surprised when she sighted another boat on the lake.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Madge rowed steadily, knowing that soon it would be dark.
