used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading This finished, Tad turned a smiling face to the three brown-faced young men who were regarding him solemnly.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The almost unearthly chorus of yells behind him had not even startled the boy or caused him to cease his efforts until he had completed what he had set out to do.
any thing at all
From this reading "Haven't you fellows anything to do?" demanded Tad.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Tad Butler, who was industriously chopping wood at the rear of the woodshed of his home, finished the tough, knotted stick before looking up.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Tad Butler, who was industriously chopping wood at the rear of the woodshed of his home, finished the tough, knotted stick before looking up.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The almost unearthly chorus of yells behind him had not even startled the boy or caused him to cease his efforts until he had completed what he had set out to do.
a youthful male person
From this reading The almost unearthly chorus of yells behind him had not even startled the boy or caused him to cease his efforts until he had completed what he had set out to do.
brown-faced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This finished, Tad turned a smiling face to the three brown-faced young men who were regarding him solemnly.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Yes, but we have graduated from the woodpile," replied Ned Rector.
ButlernounUS /ˈbʌtlər/
a manservant (usually the head servant of a household) who has charge of wines and the table
From this reading Tad Butler, who was industriously chopping wood at the rear of the woodshed of his home, finished the tough, knotted stick before looking up.
past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
From this reading The almost unearthly chorus of yells behind him had not even startled the boy or caused him to cease his efforts until he had completed what he had set out to do.
put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading The almost unearthly chorus of yells behind him had not even startled the boy or caused him to cease his efforts until he had completed what he had set out to do.
choppingverbUS /ˈtʃɑːpɪŋ/
inflected form of “chop” — cut into pieces
From this reading Tad Butler, who was industriously chopping wood at the rear of the woodshed of his home, finished the tough, knotted stick before looking up.
chorusnounUS /ˈkɔːrəs/
any utterance produced simultaneously by a group
From this reading The almost unearthly chorus of yells behind him had not even startled the boy or caused him to cease his efforts until he had completed what he had set out to do.
completedadjectiveUS /kəmˈpliːtəd/
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading The almost unearthly chorus of yells behind him had not even startled the boy or caused him to cease his efforts until he had completed what he had set out to do.
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading "Haven't you fellows anything to do?" demanded Tad.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading The almost unearthly chorus of yells behind him had not even startled the boy or caused him to cease his efforts until he had completed what he had set out to do.
plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading The almost unearthly chorus of yells behind him had not even startled the boy or caused him to cease his efforts until he had completed what he had set out to do.
divisible by two
From this reading The almost unearthly chorus of yells behind him had not even startled the boy or caused him to cease his efforts until he had completed what he had set out to do.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading This finished, Tad turned a smiling face to the three brown-faced young men who were regarding him solemnly.
plural of “fellow” — a boy or man
From this reading "Haven't you fellows anything to do?" demanded Tad.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading Tad Butler, who was industriously chopping wood at the rear of the woodshed of his home, finished the tough, knotted stick before looking up.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "Yes, but we have graduated from the woodpile," replied Ned Rector.
graduatedadjectiveUS /ˈɡrædʒuːeɪtɪd/
marked with or divided into degrees
From this reading "Yes, but we have graduated from the woodpile," replied Ned Rector.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The almost unearthly chorus of yells behind him had not even startled the boy or caused him to cease his efforts until he had completed what he had set out to do.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Yes, but we have graduated from the woodpile," replied Ned Rector.
Haven't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Haven't you fellows anything to do?" demanded Tad.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The almost unearthly chorus of yells behind him had not even startled the boy or caused him to cease his efforts until he had completed what he had set out to do.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The almost unearthly chorus of yells behind him had not even startled the boy or caused him to cease his efforts until he had completed what he had set out to do.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Tad Butler, who was industriously chopping wood at the rear of the woodshed of his home, finished the tough, knotted stick before looking up.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Tad Butler, who was industriously chopping wood at the rear of the woodshed of his home, finished the tough, knotted stick before looking up.
industriouslyadverb
in an industrious manner
From this reading Tad Butler, who was industriously chopping wood at the rear of the woodshed of his home, finished the tough, knotted stick before looking up.
knottedadjectiveUS /ˈnɑːtɪd/
tied with a knot
From this reading Tad Butler, who was industriously chopping wood at the rear of the woodshed of his home, finished the tough, knotted stick before looking up.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Tad Butler, who was industriously chopping wood at the rear of the woodshed of his home, finished the tough, knotted stick before looking up.
the force of workers available
From this reading This finished, Tad turned a smiling face to the three brown-faced young men who were regarding him solemnly.
Ned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yes, but we have graduated from the woodpile," replied Ned Rector.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The almost unearthly chorus of yells behind him had not even startled the boy or caused him to cease his efforts until he had completed what he had set out to do.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Tad Butler, who was industriously chopping wood at the rear of the woodshed of his home, finished the tough, knotted stick before looking up.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The almost unearthly chorus of yells behind him had not even startled the boy or caused him to cease his efforts until he had completed what he had set out to do.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The almost unearthly chorus of yells behind him had not even startled the boy or caused him to cease his efforts until he had completed what he had set out to do.
the back of a military formation or procession
From this reading Tad Butler, who was industriously chopping wood at the rear of the woodshed of his home, finished the tough, knotted stick before looking up.
RectornounUS /ˈrektər/
a person authorized to conduct religious worship
From this reading "Yes, but we have graduated from the woodpile," replied Ned Rector.
regardingverbUS /rɪˈɡɑːrdɪŋ/
-ing form of “regard” — deem to be
From this reading This finished, Tad turned a smiling face to the three brown-faced young men who were regarding him solemnly.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading "Yes, but we have graduated from the woodpile," replied Ned Rector.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The almost unearthly chorus of yells behind him had not even startled the boy or caused him to cease his efforts until he had completed what he had set out to do.
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading This finished, Tad turned a smiling face to the three brown-faced young men who were regarding him solemnly.
solemnlyadverbUS /ˈsɔːləmli/
in a grave and sedate manner
From this reading This finished, Tad turned a smiling face to the three brown-faced young men who were regarding him solemnly.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading The almost unearthly chorus of yells behind him had not even startled the boy or caused him to cease his efforts until he had completed what he had set out to do.
put, fix, force, or implant
From this reading Tad Butler, who was industriously chopping wood at the rear of the woodshed of his home, finished the tough, knotted stick before looking up.
TadnounUS /tæd/
a slight amount or degree of difference
From this reading Tad Butler, who was industriously chopping wood at the rear of the woodshed of his home, finished the tough, knotted stick before looking up.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Tad Butler, who was industriously chopping wood at the rear of the woodshed of his home, finished the tough, knotted stick before looking up.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This finished, Tad turned a smiling face to the three brown-faced young men who were regarding him solemnly.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading This finished, Tad turned a smiling face to the three brown-faced young men who were regarding him solemnly.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The almost unearthly chorus of yells behind him had not even startled the boy or caused him to cease his efforts until he had completed what he had set out to do.
toughadjectiveUS /tʌf/
not given to gentleness or sentimentality
From this reading Tad Butler, who was industriously chopping wood at the rear of the woodshed of his home, finished the tough, knotted stick before looking up.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading This finished, Tad turned a smiling face to the three brown-faced young men who were regarding him solemnly.
unearthlyadjectiveUS /əˈnɜːrθli/
concerned with or affecting the spirit or soul
From this reading The almost unearthly chorus of yells behind him had not even startled the boy or caused him to cease his efforts until he had completed what he had set out to do.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading The almost unearthly chorus of yells behind him had not even startled the boy or caused him to cease his efforts until he had completed what he had set out to do.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Tad Butler, who was industriously chopping wood at the rear of the woodshed of his home, finished the tough, knotted stick before looking up.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Tad Butler, who was industriously chopping wood at the rear of the woodshed of his home, finished the tough, knotted stick before looking up.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "Yes, but we have graduated from the woodpile," replied Ned Rector.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading This finished, Tad turned a smiling face to the three brown-faced young men who were regarding him solemnly.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The almost unearthly chorus of yells behind him had not even startled the boy or caused him to cease his efforts until he had completed what he had set out to do.
which person or people
From this reading Tad Butler, who was industriously chopping wood at the rear of the woodshed of his home, finished the tough, knotted stick before looking up.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading Tad Butler, who was industriously chopping wood at the rear of the woodshed of his home, finished the tough, knotted stick before looking up.
woodpilenounUS /ˈwʊdpaɪl/
a pile or stack of wood to be used for fuel
From this reading "Yes, but we have graduated from the woodpile," replied Ned Rector.
woodshednounUS /ˈwʊdʃed/
a shed for storing firewood or garden tools
From this reading Tad Butler, who was industriously chopping wood at the rear of the woodshed of his home, finished the tough, knotted stick before looking up.
yellsnounUS /jelz/
plural of “yell” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading The almost unearthly chorus of yells behind him had not even startled the boy or caused him to cease his efforts until he had completed what he had set out to do.
an affirmative
From this reading "Yes, but we have graduated from the woodpile," replied Ned Rector.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Haven't you fellows anything to do?" demanded Tad.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading This finished, Tad turned a smiling face to the three brown-faced young men who were regarding him solemnly.
