used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When Ellen came in sight of her house that night she saw her father's bent figure moving down the path with sidewise motions of a broom.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading He had been out at short intervals all the afternoon, that she should not have to wade through drifts to the door.
(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 He had been out at short intervals all the afternoon, that she should not have to wade through drifts to the door.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The electric-light shone full on this narrow, cleared track and the toiling figure.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He had been out at short intervals all the afternoon, that she should not have to wade through drifts to the door.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been out at short intervals all the afternoon, that she should not have to wade through drifts to the door.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading When Ellen came in sight of her house that night she saw her father's bent figure moving down the path with sidewise motions of a broom.
broomnounUS /bruːm/
a cleaning implement for sweeping; bundle of straws or twigs attached to a long handle
From this reading When Ellen came in sight of her house that night she saw her father's bent figure moving down the path with sidewise motions of a broom.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Ellen called out.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading When Ellen came in sight of her house that night she saw her father's bent figure moving down the path with sidewise motions of a broom.
rid of objects or obstructions such as e.g. trees and brush
From this reading The electric-light shone full on this narrow, cleared track and the toiling figure.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading He had been out at short intervals all the afternoon, that she should not have to wade through drifts to the door.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading When Ellen came in sight of her house that night she saw her father's bent figure moving down the path with sidewise motions of a broom.
driftsnounUS /drɪfts/
plural of “drift” — a force that moves something along
From this reading He had been out at short intervals all the afternoon, that she should not have to wade through drifts to the door.
electric-light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The electric-light shone full on this narrow, cleared track and the toiling figure.
Ellen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Ellen came in sight of her house that night she saw her father's bent figure moving down the path with sidewise motions of a broom.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading "Hullo, father!"
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading When Ellen came in sight of her house that night she saw her father's bent figure moving down the path with sidewise motions of a broom.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading When Ellen came in sight of her house that night she saw her father's bent figure moving down the path with sidewise motions of a broom.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading The electric-light shone full on this narrow, cleared track and the toiling figure.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had been out at short intervals all the afternoon, that she should not have to wade through drifts to the door.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He had been out at short intervals all the afternoon, that she should not have to wade through drifts to the door.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had been out at short intervals all the afternoon, that she should not have to wade through drifts to the door.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When Ellen came in sight of her house that night she saw her father's bent figure moving down the path with sidewise motions of a broom.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading When Ellen came in sight of her house that night she saw her father's bent figure moving down the path with sidewise motions of a broom.
Hullonoun
an expression of greeting
From this reading "Hullo, father!"
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When Ellen came in sight of her house that night she saw her father's bent figure moving down the path with sidewise motions of a broom.
plural of “interval” — a definite length of time marked off by two instants
From this reading He had been out at short intervals all the afternoon, that she should not have to wade through drifts to the door.
motionsnounUS /ˈmoʊʃənz/
plural of “motion” — the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
From this reading When Ellen came in sight of her house that night she saw her father's bent figure moving down the path with sidewise motions of a broom.
in motion
From this reading When Ellen came in sight of her house that night she saw her father's bent figure moving down the path with sidewise motions of a broom.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading The electric-light shone full on this narrow, cleared track and the toiling figure.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading When Ellen came in sight of her house that night she saw her father's bent figure moving down the path with sidewise motions of a broom.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He had been out at short intervals all the afternoon, that she should not have to wade through drifts to the door.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When Ellen came in sight of her house that night she saw her father's bent figure moving down the path with sidewise motions of a broom.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The electric-light shone full on this narrow, cleared track and the toiling figure.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He had been out at short intervals all the afternoon, that she should not have to wade through drifts to the door.
a course of conduct
From this reading When Ellen came in sight of her house that night she saw her father's bent figure moving down the path with sidewise motions of a broom.
cut with a saw
From this reading When Ellen came in sight of her house that night she saw her father's bent figure moving down the path with sidewise motions of a broom.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Ellen came in sight of her house that night she saw her father's bent figure moving down the path with sidewise motions of a broom.
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading The electric-light shone full on this narrow, cleared track and the toiling figure.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading He had been out at short intervals all the afternoon, that she should not have to wade through drifts to the door.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading He had been out at short intervals all the afternoon, that she should not have to wade through drifts to the door.
sidewiseadverbUS /ˈsaɪdwaɪz/
toward one side
From this reading When Ellen came in sight of her house that night she saw her father's bent figure moving down the path with sidewise motions of a broom.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading When Ellen came in sight of her house that night she saw her father's bent figure moving down the path with sidewise motions of a broom.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When Ellen came in sight of her house that night she saw her father's bent figure moving down the path with sidewise motions of a broom.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When Ellen came in sight of her house that night she saw her father's bent figure moving down the path with sidewise motions of a broom.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The electric-light shone full on this narrow, cleared track and the toiling figure.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading He had been out at short intervals all the afternoon, that she should not have to wade through drifts to the door.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had been out at short intervals all the afternoon, that she should not have to wade through drifts to the door.
toilingadjectiveUS /ˈtɔɪlɪŋ/
doing arduous or unpleasant work
From this reading The electric-light shone full on this narrow, cleared track and the toiling figure.
a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading The electric-light shone full on this narrow, cleared track and the toiling figure.
wadeverbUS /weɪd/
walk (through relatively shallow water)
From this reading He had been out at short intervals all the afternoon, that she should not have to wade through drifts to the door.
at the time that
From this reading When Ellen came in sight of her house that night she saw her father's bent figure moving down the path with sidewise motions of a broom.
in the company of; together with
From this reading When Ellen came in sight of her house that night she saw her father's bent figure moving down the path with sidewise motions of a broom.
