used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Then he patted the bark of the choke-cherry tree and ran his palm up and down it, as though he were a lumberman and knew all about trees.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Then he patted the bark of the choke-cherry tree and ran his palm up and down it, as though he were a lumberman and knew all about trees.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Suddenly he stopped patting the trunk and turned, leaning his back against it.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Then he patted the bark of the choke-cherry tree and ran his palm up and down it, as though he were a lumberman and knew all about trees.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Then he patted the bark of the choke-cherry tree and ran his palm up and down it, as though he were a lumberman and knew all about trees.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Then he patted the bark of the choke-cherry tree and ran his palm up and down it, as though he were a lumberman and knew all about trees.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading And he gazed up at the tiny ripening berries.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Suddenly he stopped patting the trunk and turned, leaning his back against it.
barknounUS /bɑːrk/
tough protective covering of the woody stems and roots of trees and other woody plants
From this reading Then he patted the bark of the choke-cherry tree and ran his palm up and down it, as though he were a lumberman and knew all about trees.
berriesnounUS /ˈberiz/
plural of “berry” — any of numerous small and pulpy edible fruits; used as desserts or in making jams and jellies and preserves
From this reading And he gazed up at the tiny ripening berries.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But he laughed: "I don't know what it is _not_ to."
carvedadjectiveUS /kɑːrvd/
made for or formed by carving (“carven” is archaic or literary)
From this reading He stood there, confused a little, tapping first one heel and then the other against a projecting root; for his exploring hand, as it chanced, had encountered a certain recently carved set of initials within a rude heart.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading He stood there, confused a little, tapping first one heel and then the other against a projecting root; for his exploring hand, as it chanced, had encountered a certain recently carved set of initials within a rude heart.
chancedverbUS /tʃænst/
past form of “chance” — be the case by chance
From this reading He stood there, confused a little, tapping first one heel and then the other against a projecting root; for his exploring hand, as it chanced, had encountered a certain recently carved set of initials within a rude heart.
choke-cherry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he patted the bark of the choke-cherry tree and ran his palm up and down it, as though he were a lumberman and knew all about trees.
perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment
From this reading He stood there, confused a little, tapping first one heel and then the other against a projecting root; for his exploring hand, as it chanced, had encountered a certain recently carved set of initials within a rude heart.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he laughed: "I don't know what it is _not_ to."
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Then he patted the bark of the choke-cherry tree and ran his palm up and down it, as though he were a lumberman and knew all about trees.
encounteredverbUS /ɪnˈkaʊntərd/
past form of “encounter” — come together
From this reading He stood there, confused a little, tapping first one heel and then the other against a projecting root; for his exploring hand, as it chanced, had encountered a certain recently carved set of initials within a rude heart.
exploringverbUS /ɪkˈsplɔːrɪŋ/
-ing form of “explore” — inquire into
From this reading He stood there, confused a little, tapping first one heel and then the other against a projecting root; for his exploring hand, as it chanced, had encountered a certain recently carved set of initials within a rude heart.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading He stood there, confused a little, tapping first one heel and then the other against a projecting root; for his exploring hand, as it chanced, had encountered a certain recently carved set of initials within a rude heart.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He stood there, confused a little, tapping first one heel and then the other against a projecting root; for his exploring hand, as it chanced, had encountered a certain recently carved set of initials within a rude heart.
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading And he gazed up at the tiny ripening berries.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He stood there, confused a little, tapping first one heel and then the other against a projecting root; for his exploring hand, as it chanced, had encountered a certain recently carved set of initials within a rude heart.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading He stood there, confused a little, tapping first one heel and then the other against a projecting root; for his exploring hand, as it chanced, had encountered a certain recently carved set of initials within a rude heart.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But he laughed: "I don't know what it is _not_ to."
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading He stood there, confused a little, tapping first one heel and then the other against a projecting root; for his exploring hand, as it chanced, had encountered a certain recently carved set of initials within a rude heart.
heelnounUS /hiːl/
the bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation
From this reading He stood there, confused a little, tapping first one heel and then the other against a projecting root; for his exploring hand, as it chanced, had encountered a certain recently carved set of initials within a rude heart.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Then he patted the bark of the choke-cherry tree and ran his palm up and down it, as though he were a lumberman and knew all about trees.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading But he laughed: "I don't know what it is _not_ to."
initialsnounUS /ˌɪˈnɪʃəlz/
plural of “initial” — the first letter of a word (especially a person's name)
From this reading He stood there, confused a little, tapping first one heel and then the other against a projecting root; for his exploring hand, as it chanced, had encountered a certain recently carved set of initials within a rude heart.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But he laughed: "I don't know what it is _not_ to."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But he laughed: "I don't know what it is _not_ to."
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Then he patted the bark of the choke-cherry tree and ran his palm up and down it, as though he were a lumberman and knew all about trees.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading But he laughed: "I don't know what it is _not_ to."
past form of “laugh” — produce laughter
From this reading But he laughed: "I don't know what it is _not_ to."
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading Suddenly he stopped patting the trunk and turned, leaning his back against it.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He stood there, confused a little, tapping first one heel and then the other against a projecting root; for his exploring hand, as it chanced, had encountered a certain recently carved set of initials within a rude heart.
lumbermannounUS /ˈlʌmbərmən/
a person who fells trees
From this reading Then he patted the bark of the choke-cherry tree and ran his palm up and down it, as though he were a lumberman and knew all about trees.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But he laughed: "I don't know what it is _not_ to."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Then he patted the bark of the choke-cherry tree and ran his palm up and down it, as though he were a lumberman and knew all about trees.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He stood there, confused a little, tapping first one heel and then the other against a projecting root; for his exploring hand, as it chanced, had encountered a certain recently carved set of initials within a rude heart.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading He stood there, confused a little, tapping first one heel and then the other against a projecting root; for his exploring hand, as it chanced, had encountered a certain recently carved set of initials within a rude heart.
palmnounUS /pɑːm/
the inner surface of the hand from the wrist to the base of the fingers
From this reading Then he patted the bark of the choke-cherry tree and ran his palm up and down it, as though he were a lumberman and knew all about trees.
pattedverbUS /ˈpætɪd/
inflected form of “pat” — pat or squeeze fondly or playfully, especially under the chin
From this reading Then he patted the bark of the choke-cherry tree and ran his palm up and down it, as though he were a lumberman and knew all about trees.
pattingverbUS /ˈpætɪŋ/
inflected form of “pat” — pat or squeeze fondly or playfully, especially under the chin
From this reading Suddenly he stopped patting the trunk and turned, leaning his back against it.
projectingadjectiveUS /prəˈdʒektɪŋ/
extending out above or beyond a surface or boundary
From this reading He stood there, confused a little, tapping first one heel and then the other against a projecting root; for his exploring hand, as it chanced, had encountered a certain recently carved set of initials within a rude heart.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading Then he patted the bark of the choke-cherry tree and ran his palm up and down it, as though he were a lumberman and knew all about trees.
recentlyadverbUS /ˈriːsəntli/
in the recent past
From this reading He stood there, confused a little, tapping first one heel and then the other against a projecting root; for his exploring hand, as it chanced, had encountered a certain recently carved set of initials within a rude heart.
ripeningnounUS /ˈraɪpənɪŋ/
coming to full development; becoming mature
From this reading And he gazed up at the tiny ripening berries.
rootnounUS /ruːt/
(botany) the usually underground organ that lacks buds or leaves or nodes; absorbs water and mineral salts; usually it anchors the plant to the ground
From this reading He stood there, confused a little, tapping first one heel and then the other against a projecting root; for his exploring hand, as it chanced, had encountered a certain recently carved set of initials within a rude heart.
socially incorrect in behavior
From this reading He stood there, confused a little, tapping first one heel and then the other against a projecting root; for his exploring hand, as it chanced, had encountered a certain recently carved set of initials within a rude heart.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He stood there, confused a little, tapping first one heel and then the other against a projecting root; for his exploring hand, as it chanced, had encountered a certain recently carved set of initials within a rude heart.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading He stood there, confused a little, tapping first one heel and then the other against a projecting root; for his exploring hand, as it chanced, had encountered a certain recently carved set of initials within a rude heart.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading Suddenly he stopped patting the trunk and turned, leaning his back against it.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Suddenly he stopped patting the trunk and turned, leaning his back against it.
tappingnounUS /ˈtæpɪŋ/
the sound of light blow or knock
From this reading He stood there, confused a little, tapping first one heel and then the other against a projecting root; for his exploring hand, as it chanced, had encountered a certain recently carved set of initials within a rude heart.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Then he patted the bark of the choke-cherry tree and ran his palm up and down it, as though he were a lumberman and knew all about trees.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then he patted the bark of the choke-cherry tree and ran his palm up and down it, as though he were a lumberman and knew all about trees.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He stood there, confused a little, tapping first one heel and then the other against a projecting root; for his exploring hand, as it chanced, had encountered a certain recently carved set of initials within a rude heart.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Then he patted the bark of the choke-cherry tree and ran his palm up and down it, as though he were a lumberman and knew all about trees.
very small
From this reading And he gazed up at the tiny ripening berries.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But he laughed: "I don't know what it is _not_ to."
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading Then he patted the bark of the choke-cherry tree and ran his palm up and down it, as though he were a lumberman and knew all about trees.
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 Then he patted the bark of the choke-cherry tree and ran his palm up and down it, as though he were a lumberman and knew all about trees.
the main stem of a tree; usually covered with bark; the bole is usually the part that is commercially useful for lumber
From this reading Suddenly he stopped patting the trunk and turned, leaning his back against it.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Suddenly he stopped patting the trunk and turned, leaning his back against it.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Then he patted the bark of the choke-cherry tree and ran his palm up and down it, as though he were a lumberman and knew all about trees.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Then he patted the bark of the choke-cherry tree and ran his palm up and down it, as though he were a lumberman and knew all about trees.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading But he laughed: "I don't know what it is _not_ to."
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading He stood there, confused a little, tapping first one heel and then the other against a projecting root; for his exploring hand, as it chanced, had encountered a certain recently carved set of initials within a rude heart.
