used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading And when they saw Meggy, fairly weeping with joy, and old Dan Higgins, holding a handful of precious golden nuggets, they nearly went mad themselves.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading THE END OF PETER LEVINE The crowd scattered as the Outdoor Girls came whirling down into its midst, but in an instant it had closed about them again.
anew
From this reading THE END OF PETER LEVINE The crowd scattered as the Outdoor Girls came whirling down into its midst, but in an instant it had closed about them again.
(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 They dismounted, leaving their excited horses to go where they would, and pushed their way through to the group that seemed to be the center of all this wild demonstration.
using the voice; not silently
From this reading They kissed and hugged Meggy till she cried aloud for mercy.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE END OF PETER LEVINE The crowd scattered as the Outdoor Girls came whirling down into its midst, but in an instant it had closed about them again.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They dismounted, leaving their excited horses to go where they would, and pushed their way through to the group that seemed to be the center of all this wild demonstration.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE END OF PETER LEVINE The crowd scattered as the Outdoor Girls came whirling down into its midst, but in an instant it had closed about them again.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They dismounted, leaving their excited horses to go where they would, and pushed their way through to the group that seemed to be the center of all this wild demonstration.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading They kissed and hugged old Dan, and he took it as though he had been used to being made much of by pretty girls all his life.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading They kissed and hugged old Dan, and he took it as though he had been used to being made much of by pretty girls all his life.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THE END OF PETER LEVINE The crowd scattered as the Outdoor Girls came whirling down into its midst, but in an instant it had closed about them again.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading They kissed and hugged old Dan, and he took it as though he had been used to being made much of by pretty girls all his life.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading THE END OF PETER LEVINE The crowd scattered as the Outdoor Girls came whirling down into its midst, but in an instant it had closed about them again.
centernounUS /ˈsɛn.tər/
The middle point or core of an area.
From this reading They dismounted, leaving their excited horses to go where they would, and pushed their way through to the group that seemed to be the center of all this wild demonstration.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading THE END OF PETER LEVINE The crowd scattered as the Outdoor Girls came whirling down into its midst, but in an instant it had closed about them again.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading They kissed and hugged Meggy till she cried aloud for mercy.
cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading THE END OF PETER LEVINE The crowd scattered as the Outdoor Girls came whirling down into its midst, but in an instant it had closed about them again.
Dan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And when they saw Meggy, fairly weeping with joy, and old Dan Higgins, holding a handful of precious golden nuggets, they nearly went mad themselves.
demonstrationnounUS /ˌdemənˈstreɪʃən/
a show or display; the act of presenting something to sight or view
From this reading They dismounted, leaving their excited horses to go where they would, and pushed their way through to the group that seemed to be the center of all this wild demonstration.
dismounted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They dismounted, leaving their excited horses to go where they would, and pushed their way through to the group that seemed to be the center of all this wild demonstration.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading THE END OF PETER LEVINE The crowd scattered as the Outdoor Girls came whirling down into its midst, but in an instant it had closed about them again.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading THE END OF PETER LEVINE The crowd scattered as the Outdoor Girls came whirling down into its midst, but in an instant it had closed about them again.
(of persons) excessively affected by emotion
From this reading They dismounted, leaving their excited horses to go where they would, and pushed their way through to the group that seemed to be the center of all this wild demonstration.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading And when they saw Meggy, fairly weeping with joy, and old Dan Higgins, holding a handful of precious golden nuggets, they nearly went mad themselves.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They kissed and hugged Meggy till she cried aloud for mercy.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading THE END OF PETER LEVINE The crowd scattered as the Outdoor Girls came whirling down into its midst, but in an instant it had closed about them again.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading They dismounted, leaving their excited horses to go where they would, and pushed their way through to the group that seemed to be the center of all this wild demonstration.
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading And when they saw Meggy, fairly weeping with joy, and old Dan Higgins, holding a handful of precious golden nuggets, they nearly went mad themselves.
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading They dismounted, leaving their excited horses to go where they would, and pushed their way through to the group that seemed to be the center of all this wild demonstration.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE END OF PETER LEVINE The crowd scattered as the Outdoor Girls came whirling down into its midst, but in an instant it had closed about them again.
handfulnounUS /ˈhændfʊl/
a small number or amount
From this reading And when they saw Meggy, fairly weeping with joy, and old Dan Higgins, holding a handful of precious golden nuggets, they nearly went mad themselves.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They kissed and hugged old Dan, and he took it as though he had been used to being made much of by pretty girls all his life.
Higgins
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And when they saw Meggy, fairly weeping with joy, and old Dan Higgins, holding a handful of precious golden nuggets, they nearly went mad themselves.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading They kissed and hugged old Dan, and he took it as though he had been used to being made much of by pretty girls all his life.
the act of retaining something
From this reading And when they saw Meggy, fairly weeping with joy, and old Dan Higgins, holding a handful of precious golden nuggets, they nearly went mad themselves.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading They dismounted, leaving their excited horses to go where they would, and pushed their way through to the group that seemed to be the center of all this wild demonstration.
huggedverbUS /hʌɡd/
inflected form of “hug” — hold (someone) tightly in your arms, usually with fondness
From this reading They kissed and hugged Meggy till she cried aloud for mercy.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE END OF PETER LEVINE The crowd scattered as the Outdoor Girls came whirling down into its midst, but in an instant it had closed about them again.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading THE END OF PETER LEVINE The crowd scattered as the Outdoor Girls came whirling down into its midst, but in an instant it had closed about them again.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading THE END OF PETER LEVINE The crowd scattered as the Outdoor Girls came whirling down into its midst, but in an instant it had closed about them again.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE END OF PETER LEVINE The crowd scattered as the Outdoor Girls came whirling down into its midst, but in an instant it had closed about them again.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading THE END OF PETER LEVINE The crowd scattered as the Outdoor Girls came whirling down into its midst, but in an instant it had closed about them again.
the emotion of great happiness
From this reading And when they saw Meggy, fairly weeping with joy, and old Dan Higgins, holding a handful of precious golden nuggets, they nearly went mad themselves.
past form of “kiss” — touch with the lips or press the lips (against someone's mouth or other body part) as an expression of love, greeting, etc.
From this reading They kissed and hugged Meggy till she cried aloud for mercy.
the act of departing
From this reading They dismounted, leaving their excited horses to go where they would, and pushed their way through to the group that seemed to be the center of all this wild demonstration.
LEVINE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE END OF PETER LEVINE The crowd scattered as the Outdoor Girls came whirling down into its midst, but in an instant it had closed about them again.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading They kissed and hugged old Dan, and he took it as though he had been used to being made much of by pretty girls all his life.
roused to anger
From this reading And when they saw Meggy, fairly weeping with joy, and old Dan Higgins, holding a handful of precious golden nuggets, they nearly went mad themselves.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading They kissed and hugged old Dan, and he took it as though he had been used to being made much of by pretty girls all his life.
Meggy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And when they saw Meggy, fairly weeping with joy, and old Dan Higgins, holding a handful of precious golden nuggets, they nearly went mad themselves.
leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice
From this reading They kissed and hugged Meggy till she cried aloud for mercy.
the location of something surrounded by other things
From this reading THE END OF PETER LEVINE The crowd scattered as the Outdoor Girls came whirling down into its midst, but in an instant it had closed about them again.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading They kissed and hugged old Dan, and he took it as though he had been used to being made much of by pretty girls all his life.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading And when they saw Meggy, fairly weeping with joy, and old Dan Higgins, holding a handful of precious golden nuggets, they nearly went mad themselves.
nuggetsnounUS /ˈnʌɡəts/
plural of “nugget” — a solid lump of a precious metal (especially gold) as found in the earth
From this reading And when they saw Meggy, fairly weeping with joy, and old Dan Higgins, holding a handful of precious golden nuggets, they nearly went mad themselves.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE END OF PETER LEVINE The crowd scattered as the Outdoor Girls came whirling down into its midst, but in an instant it had closed about them again.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading And when they saw Meggy, fairly weeping with joy, and old Dan Higgins, holding a handful of precious golden nuggets, they nearly went mad themselves.
OutdooradjectiveUS /ˈaʊtdɔːr/
located, suited for, or taking place in the open air
From this reading THE END OF PETER LEVINE The crowd scattered as the Outdoor Girls came whirling down into its midst, but in an instant it had closed about them again.
disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading THE END OF PETER LEVINE The crowd scattered as the Outdoor Girls came whirling down into its midst, but in an instant it had closed about them again.
characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for
From this reading And when they saw Meggy, fairly weeping with joy, and old Dan Higgins, holding a handful of precious golden nuggets, they nearly went mad themselves.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading They kissed and hugged old Dan, and he took it as though he had been used to being made much of by pretty girls all his life.
past form of “push” — move with force
From this reading They dismounted, leaving their excited horses to go where they would, and pushed their way through to the group that seemed to be the center of all this wild demonstration.
cut with a saw
From this reading And when they saw Meggy, fairly weeping with joy, and old Dan Higgins, holding a handful of precious golden nuggets, they nearly went mad themselves.
occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space
From this reading THE END OF PETER LEVINE The crowd scattered as the Outdoor Girls came whirling down into its midst, but in an instant it had closed about them again.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading They dismounted, leaving their excited horses to go where they would, and pushed their way through to the group that seemed to be the center of all this wild demonstration.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They kissed and hugged Meggy till she cried aloud for mercy.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They dismounted, leaving their excited horses to go where they would, and pushed their way through to the group that seemed to be the center of all this wild demonstration.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE END OF PETER LEVINE The crowd scattered as the Outdoor Girls came whirling down into its midst, but in an instant it had closed about them again.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They dismounted, leaving their excited horses to go where they would, and pushed their way through to the group that seemed to be the center of all this wild demonstration.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading THE END OF PETER LEVINE The crowd scattered as the Outdoor Girls came whirling down into its midst, but in an instant it had closed about them again.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading And when they saw Meggy, fairly weeping with joy, and old Dan Higgins, holding a handful of precious golden nuggets, they nearly went mad themselves.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They dismounted, leaving their excited horses to go where they would, and pushed their way through to the group that seemed to be the center of all this wild demonstration.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading They dismounted, leaving their excited horses to go where they would, and pushed their way through to the group that seemed to be the center of all this wild demonstration.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading They kissed and hugged old Dan, and he took it as though he had been used to being made much of by pretty girls all his life.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading They dismounted, leaving their excited horses to go where they would, and pushed their way through to the group that seemed to be the center of all this wild demonstration.
up to a particular time
From this reading They kissed and hugged Meggy till she cried aloud for mercy.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They dismounted, leaving their excited horses to go where they would, and pushed their way through to the group that seemed to be the center of all this wild demonstration.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading They kissed and hugged old Dan, and he took it as though he had been used to being made much of by pretty girls all his life.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading They kissed and hugged old Dan, and he took it as though he had been used to being made much of by pretty girls all his life.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading They dismounted, leaving their excited horses to go where they would, and pushed their way through to the group that seemed to be the center of all this wild demonstration.
showing sorrow
From this reading And when they saw Meggy, fairly weeping with joy, and old Dan Higgins, holding a handful of precious golden nuggets, they nearly went mad themselves.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading And when they saw Meggy, fairly weeping with joy, and old Dan Higgins, holding a handful of precious golden nuggets, they nearly went mad themselves.
at the time that
From this reading And when they saw Meggy, fairly weeping with joy, and old Dan Higgins, holding a handful of precious golden nuggets, they nearly went mad themselves.
in or at the place that
From this reading They dismounted, leaving their excited horses to go where they would, and pushed their way through to the group that seemed to be the center of all this wild demonstration.
whirlingnounUS /ˈwɜːrlɪŋ/
the act of rotating in a circle or spiral
From this reading THE END OF PETER LEVINE The crowd scattered as the Outdoor Girls came whirling down into its midst, but in an instant it had closed about them again.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading They dismounted, leaving their excited horses to go where they would, and pushed their way through to the group that seemed to be the center of all this wild demonstration.
in the company of; together with
From this reading And when they saw Meggy, fairly weeping with joy, and old Dan Higgins, holding a handful of precious golden nuggets, they nearly went mad themselves.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading They dismounted, leaving their excited horses to go where they would, and pushed their way through to the group that seemed to be the center of all this wild demonstration.
