used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading SOME CAUSES OF TROUBLE It was early of a Saturday afternoon, warm and sultry.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Only the flies, buzzing about the ears of Colonel Witham's dog that lay stretched in the dooryard, were active.
tending to become more severe or wider in scope
From this reading Only the flies, buzzing about the ears of Colonel Witham's dog that lay stretched in the dooryard, were active.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading SOME CAUSES OF TROUBLE It was early of a Saturday afternoon, warm and sultry.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading SOME CAUSES OF TROUBLE It was early of a Saturday afternoon, warm and sultry.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Even the stream flowing by at a little distance moved as though its waters were lazy.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Even the stream flowing by at a little distance moved as though its waters were lazy.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading The birds and the cattle kept their respective places silently, in the treetops and beneath the shade.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading The birds and the cattle kept their respective places silently, in the treetops and beneath the shade.
buzzingadjectiveUS /ˈbʌzɪŋ/
noisy like the sound of a bee
From this reading Only the flies, buzzing about the ears of Colonel Witham's dog that lay stretched in the dooryard, were active.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Even the stream flowing by at a little distance moved as though its waters were lazy.
domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age
From this reading The birds and the cattle kept their respective places silently, in the treetops and beneath the shade.
CAUSESnounUS /ˈkɑːzəz/
plural of “cause” — events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading SOME CAUSES OF TROUBLE It was early of a Saturday afternoon, warm and sultry.
a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general
From this reading Only the flies, buzzing about the ears of Colonel Witham's dog that lay stretched in the dooryard, were active.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading Even the stream flowing by at a little distance moved as though its waters were lazy.
a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading Only the flies, buzzing about the ears of Colonel Witham's dog that lay stretched in the dooryard, were active.
dooryardnoun
a yard outside the front or rear door of a house
From this reading Only the flies, buzzing about the ears of Colonel Witham's dog that lay stretched in the dooryard, were active.
drowsinessnounUS /ˈdraʊzinəs/
a very sleepy state
From this reading Everything in the neighbourhood of the Half Way House seemed inclined to drowsiness.
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 SOME CAUSES OF TROUBLE It was early of a Saturday afternoon, warm and sultry.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading Only the flies, buzzing about the ears of Colonel Witham's dog that lay stretched in the dooryard, were active.
divisible by two
From this reading Even the stream flowing by at a little distance moved as though its waters were lazy.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading Everything in the neighbourhood of the Half Way House seemed inclined to drowsiness.
fliesnounUS /flaɪz/
(theater) the space over the stage (out of view of the audience) used to store scenery (drop curtains)
From this reading Only the flies, buzzing about the ears of Colonel Witham's dog that lay stretched in the dooryard, were active.
flowingnounUS /ˈfloʊɪŋ/
the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases)
From this reading Even the stream flowing by at a little distance moved as though its waters were lazy.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Everything in the neighbourhood of the Half Way House seemed inclined to drowsiness.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Everything in the neighbourhood of the Half Way House seemed inclined to drowsiness.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Everything in the neighbourhood of the Half Way House seemed inclined to drowsiness.
(often followed by “to”) having a preference, disposition, or tendency
From this reading Everything in the neighbourhood of the Half Way House seemed inclined to drowsiness.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading SOME CAUSES OF TROUBLE It was early of a Saturday afternoon, warm and sultry.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Even the stream flowing by at a little distance moved as though its waters were lazy.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading The birds and the cattle kept their respective places silently, in the treetops and beneath the shade.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Only the flies, buzzing about the ears of Colonel Witham's dog that lay stretched in the dooryard, were active.
lazyadjectiveUS /ˈleɪzi/
moving slowly and gently
From this reading Even the stream flowing by at a little distance moved as though its waters were lazy.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Even the stream flowing by at a little distance moved as though its waters were lazy.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading Even the stream flowing by at a little distance moved as though its waters were lazy.
neighbourhoodnounUS /ˈneɪbərhʊd/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading Everything in the neighbourhood of the Half Way House seemed inclined to drowsiness.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading SOME CAUSES OF TROUBLE It was early of a Saturday afternoon, warm and sultry.
and nothing more
From this reading Only the flies, buzzing about the ears of Colonel Witham's dog that lay stretched in the dooryard, were active.
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The birds and the cattle kept their respective places silently, in the treetops and beneath the shade.
respectiveadjectiveUS /rɪˈspektɪv/
considered individually
From this reading The birds and the cattle kept their respective places silently, in the treetops and beneath the shade.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading SOME CAUSES OF TROUBLE It was early of a Saturday afternoon, warm and sultry.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Everything in the neighbourhood of the Half Way House seemed inclined to drowsiness.
relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body
From this reading The birds and the cattle kept their respective places silently, in the treetops and beneath the shade.
without speaking
From this reading The birds and the cattle kept their respective places silently, in the treetops and beneath the shade.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading SOME CAUSES OF TROUBLE It was early of a Saturday afternoon, warm and sultry.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading Even the stream flowing by at a little distance moved as though its waters were lazy.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading Only the flies, buzzing about the ears of Colonel Witham's dog that lay stretched in the dooryard, were active.
sultryadjectiveUS /ˈsʌltri/
sexually exciting or gratifying
From this reading SOME CAUSES OF TROUBLE It was early of a Saturday afternoon, warm and sultry.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Only the flies, buzzing about the ears of Colonel Witham's dog that lay stretched in the dooryard, were active.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Everything in the neighbourhood of the Half Way House seemed inclined to drowsiness.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The birds and the cattle kept their respective places silently, in the treetops and beneath the shade.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Even the stream flowing by at a little distance moved as though its waters were lazy.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Everything in the neighbourhood of the Half Way House seemed inclined to drowsiness.
treetopsnounUS /ˈtriːtɔːps/
plural of “treetop” — the upper branches and leaves of a tree or other plant
From this reading The birds and the cattle kept their respective places silently, in the treetops and beneath the shade.
a source of difficulty
From this reading SOME CAUSES OF TROUBLE It was early of a Saturday afternoon, warm and sultry.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading SOME CAUSES OF TROUBLE It was early of a Saturday afternoon, warm and sultry.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading SOME CAUSES OF TROUBLE It was early of a Saturday afternoon, warm and sultry.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading Even the stream flowing by at a little distance moved as though its waters were lazy.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Everything in the neighbourhood of the Half Way House seemed inclined to drowsiness.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Even the stream flowing by at a little distance moved as though its waters were lazy.
Witham's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only the flies, buzzing about the ears of Colonel Witham's dog that lay stretched in the dooryard, were active.
