used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A CONTRARY ENGINE "It's a bright morning and you're like it," Larry greeted the Riddle Club with enthusiasm at quarter past eight the next morning.
at or in the front
From this reading They were ahead of time, each with a large square box of lunch in one hand and a heavy sweater in the other.
(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 "Well, we can't be late," replied Ward, and all the Riddle Club giggled at some secret joke.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A CONTRARY ENGINE "It's a bright morning and you're like it," Larry greeted the Riddle Club with enthusiasm at quarter past eight the next morning.
astiradjective
out of bed
From this reading The Meeker Cottage had been early astir, and the zeal displayed by the younger members of the household was marveled at.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A CONTRARY ENGINE "It's a bright morning and you're like it," Larry greeted the Riddle Club with enthusiasm at quarter past eight the next morning.
attractionnounUS /əˈtrækʃən/
the force by which one object attracts another
From this reading "Even though a picnic is to be the attraction, I never remember seeing such a concerted desire to be off," Mr. Marley remarked.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Even though a picnic is to be the attraction, I never remember seeing such a concerted desire to be off," Mr. Marley remarked.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The Meeker Cottage had been early astir, and the zeal displayed by the younger members of the household was marveled at.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading They were ahead of time, each with a large square box of lunch in one hand and a heavy sweater in the other.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading A CONTRARY ENGINE "It's a bright morning and you're like it," Larry greeted the Riddle Club with enthusiasm at quarter past eight the next morning.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The Meeker Cottage had been early astir, and the zeal displayed by the younger members of the household was marveled at.
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, we can't be late," replied Ward, and all the Riddle Club giggled at some secret joke.
a team of professional baseball players who play and travel together
From this reading A CONTRARY ENGINE "It's a bright morning and you're like it," Larry greeted the Riddle Club with enthusiasm at quarter past eight the next morning.
concertedadjectiveUS /kənˈsɜːrtəd/
involving the joint activity of two or more
From this reading "Even though a picnic is to be the attraction, I never remember seeing such a concerted desire to be off," Mr. Marley remarked.
very opposed in nature or character or purpose
From this reading A CONTRARY ENGINE "It's a bright morning and you're like it," Larry greeted the Riddle Club with enthusiasm at quarter past eight the next morning.
a small house with a single story
From this reading The Meeker Cottage had been early astir, and the zeal displayed by the younger members of the household was marveled at.
the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state
From this reading "Even though a picnic is to be the attraction, I never remember seeing such a concerted desire to be off," Mr. Marley remarked.
displayedverbUS /dɪˈspleɪd/
past form of “display” — to show, make visible or apparent
From this reading The Meeker Cottage had been early astir, and the zeal displayed by the younger members of the household was marveled at.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading They were ahead of time, each with a large square box of lunch in one hand and a heavy sweater in the other.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading The Meeker Cottage had been early astir, and the zeal displayed by the younger members of the household was marveled at.
being one more than seven
From this reading A CONTRARY ENGINE "It's a bright morning and you're like it," Larry greeted the Riddle Club with enthusiasm at quarter past eight the next morning.
motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
From this reading A CONTRARY ENGINE "It's a bright morning and you're like it," Larry greeted the Riddle Club with enthusiasm at quarter past eight the next morning.
a feeling of excitement
From this reading A CONTRARY ENGINE "It's a bright morning and you're like it," Larry greeted the Riddle Club with enthusiasm at quarter past eight the next morning.
divisible by two
From this reading "Even though a picnic is to be the attraction, I never remember seeing such a concerted desire to be off," Mr. Marley remarked.
giggledverbUS /ˈɡɪɡəld/
past form of “giggle” — laugh nervously
From this reading "Well, we can't be late," replied Ward, and all the Riddle Club giggled at some secret joke.
past form of “greet” — express greetings upon meeting someone
From this reading A CONTRARY ENGINE "It's a bright morning and you're like it," Larry greeted the Riddle Club with enthusiasm at quarter past eight the next morning.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Meeker Cottage had been early astir, and the zeal displayed by the younger members of the household was marveled at.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading They were ahead of time, each with a large square box of lunch in one hand and a heavy sweater in the other.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading They were ahead of time, each with a large square box of lunch in one hand and a heavy sweater in the other.
a social unit living together
From this reading The Meeker Cottage had been early astir, and the zeal displayed by the younger members of the household was marveled at.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Even though a picnic is to be the attraction, I never remember seeing such a concerted desire to be off," Mr. Marley remarked.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They were ahead of time, each with a large square box of lunch in one hand and a heavy sweater in the other.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Even though a picnic is to be the attraction, I never remember seeing such a concerted desire to be off," Mr. Marley remarked.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A CONTRARY ENGINE "It's a bright morning and you're like it," Larry greeted the Riddle Club with enthusiasm at quarter past eight the next morning.
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A CONTRARY ENGINE "It's a bright morning and you're like it," Larry greeted the Riddle Club with enthusiasm at quarter past eight the next morning.
a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter
From this reading "Well, we can't be late," replied Ward, and all the Riddle Club giggled at some secret joke.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading They were ahead of time, each with a large square box of lunch in one hand and a heavy sweater in the other.
Larry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A CONTRARY ENGINE "It's a bright morning and you're like it," Larry greeted the Riddle Club with enthusiasm at quarter past eight the next morning.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading "Well, we can't be late," replied Ward, and all the Riddle Club giggled at some secret joke.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading A CONTRARY ENGINE "It's a bright morning and you're like it," Larry greeted the Riddle Club with enthusiasm at quarter past eight the next morning.
take the midday meal
From this reading They were ahead of time, each with a large square box of lunch in one hand and a heavy sweater in the other.
MarleynounUS /ˈmɑːrli/
Jamaican singer who popularized reggae (1945-1981)
From this reading "Even though a picnic is to be the attraction, I never remember seeing such a concerted desire to be off," Mr. Marley remarked.
marveledverbUS /ˈmɑːrveld/
past form of “marvel” — be amazed at
From this reading The Meeker Cottage had been early astir, and the zeal displayed by the younger members of the household was marveled at.
MeekeradjectiveUS /ˈmiːkər/
comparative of “meek” — humble in spirit or manner; suggesting retiring mildness or even cowed submissiveness
From this reading The Meeker Cottage had been early astir, and the zeal displayed by the younger members of the household was marveled at.
plural of “member” — one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)
From this reading The Meeker Cottage had been early astir, and the zeal displayed by the younger members of the household was marveled at.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading A CONTRARY ENGINE "It's a bright morning and you're like it," Larry greeted the Riddle Club with enthusiasm at quarter past eight the next morning.
a form of address for a man
From this reading "Even though a picnic is to be the attraction, I never remember seeing such a concerted desire to be off," Mr. Marley remarked.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading "Even though a picnic is to be the attraction, I never remember seeing such a concerted desire to be off," Mr. Marley remarked.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading A CONTRARY ENGINE "It's a bright morning and you're like it," Larry greeted the Riddle Club with enthusiasm at quarter past eight the next morning.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Meeker Cottage had been early astir, and the zeal displayed by the younger members of the household was marveled at.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading "Even though a picnic is to be the attraction, I never remember seeing such a concerted desire to be off," Mr. Marley remarked.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading They were ahead of time, each with a large square box of lunch in one hand and a heavy sweater in the other.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading They were ahead of time, each with a large square box of lunch in one hand and a heavy sweater in the other.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading A CONTRARY ENGINE "It's a bright morning and you're like it," Larry greeted the Riddle Club with enthusiasm at quarter past eight the next morning.
picnicnounUS /ˈpɪknɪk/
a day devoted to an outdoor social gathering
From this reading "Even though a picnic is to be the attraction, I never remember seeing such a concerted desire to be off," Mr. Marley remarked.
one of four equal parts
From this reading A CONTRARY ENGINE "It's a bright morning and you're like it," Larry greeted the Riddle Club with enthusiasm at quarter past eight the next morning.
past form of “remark” — make mention of
From this reading "Even though a picnic is to be the attraction, I never remember seeing such a concerted desire to be off," Mr. Marley remarked.
To recall to mind.
From this reading "Even though a picnic is to be the attraction, I never remember seeing such a concerted desire to be off," Mr. Marley remarked.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading "Well, we can't be late," replied Ward, and all the Riddle Club giggled at some secret joke.
RiddleverbUS /ˈrɪdəl/
pierce with many holes
From this reading A CONTRARY ENGINE "It's a bright morning and you're like it," Larry greeted the Riddle Club with enthusiasm at quarter past eight the next morning.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading "Well, we can't be late," replied Ward, and all the Riddle Club giggled at some secret joke.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading "Even though a picnic is to be the attraction, I never remember seeing such a concerted desire to be off," Mr. Marley remarked.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading "Well, we can't be late," replied Ward, and all the Riddle Club giggled at some secret joke.
make square
From this reading They were ahead of time, each with a large square box of lunch in one hand and a heavy sweater in the other.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading "Even though a picnic is to be the attraction, I never remember seeing such a concerted desire to be off," Mr. Marley remarked.
sweaternounUS /ˈswetər/
a crocheted or knitted garment covering the upper part of the body
From this reading They were ahead of time, each with a large square box of lunch in one hand and a heavy sweater in the other.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A CONTRARY ENGINE "It's a bright morning and you're like it," Larry greeted the Riddle Club with enthusiasm at quarter past eight the next morning.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were ahead of time, each with a large square box of lunch in one hand and a heavy sweater in the other.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading "Even though a picnic is to be the attraction, I never remember seeing such a concerted desire to be off," Mr. Marley remarked.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading They were ahead of time, each with a large square box of lunch in one hand and a heavy sweater in the other.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Even though a picnic is to be the attraction, I never remember seeing such a concerted desire to be off," Mr. Marley remarked.
WardnounUS /wɔːrd/
a person who is under the protection or in the custody of another
From this reading "Well, we can't be late," replied Ward, and all the Riddle Club giggled at some secret joke.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Meeker Cottage had been early astir, and the zeal displayed by the younger members of the household was marveled at.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "Well, we can't be late," replied Ward, and all the Riddle Club giggled at some secret joke.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading "Well, we can't be late," replied Ward, and all the Riddle Club giggled at some secret joke.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were ahead of time, each with a large square box of lunch in one hand and a heavy sweater in the other.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A CONTRARY ENGINE "It's a bright morning and you're like it," Larry greeted the Riddle Club with enthusiasm at quarter past eight the next morning.
you're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A CONTRARY ENGINE "It's a bright morning and you're like it," Larry greeted the Riddle Club with enthusiasm at quarter past eight the next morning.
used of the younger of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a son from his father
From this reading The Meeker Cottage had been early astir, and the zeal displayed by the younger members of the household was marveled at.
zealnounUS /ziːl/
a feeling of strong eagerness (usually in favor of a person or cause)
From this reading The Meeker Cottage had been early astir, and the zeal displayed by the younger members of the household was marveled at.
