used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Burl's visit home was a curious interlude.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Actually, he had been away only a few weeks, since the summer vacation had begun, yet this single day had an air about it different from that of any other homecoming.
in actual fact
From this reading Actually, he had been away only a few weeks, since the summer vacation had begun, yet this single day had an air about it different from that of any other homecoming.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Actually, he had been away only a few weeks, since the summer vacation had begun, yet this single day had an air about it different from that of any other homecoming.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading For he had realized, as he sat in the fast plane transporting him home, that the Earth was itself a planet among planets, and that this might possibly prove to be his last visit to the town where he had been born.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Actually, he had been away only a few weeks, since the summer vacation had begun, yet this single day had an air about it different from that of any other homecoming.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For he had realized, as he sat in the fast plane transporting him home, that the Earth was itself a planet among planets, and that this might possibly prove to be his last visit to the town where he had been born.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Actually, he had been away only a few weeks, since the summer vacation had begun, yet this single day had an air about it different from that of any other homecoming.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading For he had realized, as he sat in the fast plane transporting him home, that the Earth was itself a planet among planets, and that this might possibly prove to be his last visit to the town where he had been born.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He found himself continually looking at things in a more inquisitive, more thoughtful manner.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Actually, he had been away only a few weeks, since the summer vacation had begun, yet this single day had an air about it different from that of any other homecoming.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading That which had been commonplace was suddenly something valuable, a sight to be treasured.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Actually, he had been away only a few weeks, since the summer vacation had begun, yet this single day had an air about it different from that of any other homecoming.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Actually, he had been away only a few weeks, since the summer vacation had begun, yet this single day had an air about it different from that of any other homecoming.
brought into existence
From this reading For he had realized, as he sat in the fast plane transporting him home, that the Earth was itself a planet among planets, and that this might possibly prove to be his last visit to the town where he had been born.
Burl's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Burl's visit home was a curious interlude.
commonplaceadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmənpleɪs/
completely ordinary and unremarkable
From this reading That which had been commonplace was suddenly something valuable, a sight to be treasured.
continuallyadverbUS /kənˈtɪnjuːəli/
seemingly without interruption
From this reading He found himself continually looking at things in a more inquisitive, more thoughtful manner.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading Burl's visit home was a curious interlude.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Actually, he had been away only a few weeks, since the summer vacation had begun, yet this single day had an air about it different from that of any other homecoming.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading Actually, he had been away only a few weeks, since the summer vacation had begun, yet this single day had an air about it different from that of any other homecoming.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading For he had realized, as he sat in the fast plane transporting him home, that the Earth was itself a planet among planets, and that this might possibly prove to be his last visit to the town where he had been born.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading For he had realized, as he sat in the fast plane transporting him home, that the Earth was itself a planet among planets, and that this might possibly prove to be his last visit to the town where he had been born.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Actually, he had been away only a few weeks, since the summer vacation had begun, yet this single day had an air about it different from that of any other homecoming.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For he had realized, as he sat in the fast plane transporting him home, that the Earth was itself a planet among planets, and that this might possibly prove to be his last visit to the town where he had been born.
set up or found
From this reading He found himself continually looking at things in a more inquisitive, more thoughtful manner.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Actually, he had been away only a few weeks, since the summer vacation had begun, yet this single day had an air about it different from that of any other homecoming.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Actually, he had been away only a few weeks, since the summer vacation had begun, yet this single day had an air about it different from that of any other homecoming.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Actually, he had been away only a few weeks, since the summer vacation had begun, yet this single day had an air about it different from that of any other homecoming.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading For he had realized, as he sat in the fast plane transporting him home, that the Earth was itself a planet among planets, and that this might possibly prove to be his last visit to the town where he had been born.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He found himself continually looking at things in a more inquisitive, more thoughtful manner.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading For he had realized, as he sat in the fast plane transporting him home, that the Earth was itself a planet among planets, and that this might possibly prove to be his last visit to the town where he had been born.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Burl's visit home was a curious interlude.
homecomingnounUS /ˈhoʊmkʌmɪŋ/
an annual school or university reunion for graduates
From this reading Actually, he had been away only a few weeks, since the summer vacation had begun, yet this single day had an air about it different from that of any other homecoming.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He found himself continually looking at things in a more inquisitive, more thoughtful manner.
inquisitiveadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkwɪzɪtɪv/
showing curiosity
From this reading He found himself continually looking at things in a more inquisitive, more thoughtful manner.
interludenounUS /ˈɪntərluːd/
an intervening period or episode
From this reading Burl's visit home was a curious interlude.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Actually, he had been away only a few weeks, since the summer vacation had begun, yet this single day had an air about it different from that of any other homecoming.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading For he had realized, as he sat in the fast plane transporting him home, that the Earth was itself a planet among planets, and that this might possibly prove to be his last visit to the town where he had been born.
immediately past
From this reading For he had realized, as he sat in the fast plane transporting him home, that the Earth was itself a planet among planets, and that this might possibly prove to be his last visit to the town where he had been born.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading He found himself continually looking at things in a more inquisitive, more thoughtful manner.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He found himself continually looking at things in a more inquisitive, more thoughtful manner.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading For he had realized, as he sat in the fast plane transporting him home, that the Earth was itself a planet among planets, and that this might possibly prove to be his last visit to the town where he had been born.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He found himself continually looking at things in a more inquisitive, more thoughtful manner.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Actually, he had been away only a few weeks, since the summer vacation had begun, yet this single day had an air about it different from that of any other homecoming.
and nothing more
From this reading Actually, he had been away only a few weeks, since the summer vacation had begun, yet this single day had an air about it different from that of any other homecoming.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Actually, he had been away only a few weeks, since the summer vacation had begun, yet this single day had an air about it different from that of any other homecoming.
planenounUS /pleɪn/
an aircraft that has a fixed wing and is powered by propellers or jets
From this reading For he had realized, as he sat in the fast plane transporting him home, that the Earth was itself a planet among planets, and that this might possibly prove to be his last visit to the town where he had been born.
planetnounUS /ˈplænət/
(astronomy) any of the nine large celestial bodies in the solar system that revolve around the sun and shine by reflected light
From this reading For he had realized, as he sat in the fast plane transporting him home, that the Earth was itself a planet among planets, and that this might possibly prove to be his last visit to the town where he had been born.
planetsnounUS /ˈplænəts/
plural of “planet” — (astronomy) any of the nine large celestial bodies in the solar system that revolve around the sun and shine by reflected light
From this reading For he had realized, as he sat in the fast plane transporting him home, that the Earth was itself a planet among planets, and that this might possibly prove to be his last visit to the town where he had been born.
by chance
From this reading For he had realized, as he sat in the fast plane transporting him home, that the Earth was itself a planet among planets, and that this might possibly prove to be his last visit to the town where he had been born.
be shown or be found to be
From this reading For he had realized, as he sat in the fast plane transporting him home, that the Earth was itself a planet among planets, and that this might possibly prove to be his last visit to the town where he had been born.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading For he had realized, as he sat in the fast plane transporting him home, that the Earth was itself a planet among planets, and that this might possibly prove to be his last visit to the town where he had been born.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading For he had realized, as he sat in the fast plane transporting him home, that the Earth was itself a planet among planets, and that this might possibly prove to be his last visit to the town where he had been born.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading That which had been commonplace was suddenly something valuable, a sight to be treasured.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Actually, he had been away only a few weeks, since the summer vacation had begun, yet this single day had an air about it different from that of any other homecoming.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading Actually, he had been away only a few weeks, since the summer vacation had begun, yet this single day had an air about it different from that of any other homecoming.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading That which had been commonplace was suddenly something valuable, a sight to be treasured.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading That which had been commonplace was suddenly something valuable, a sight to be treasured.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading Actually, he had been away only a few weeks, since the summer vacation had begun, yet this single day had an air about it different from that of any other homecoming.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Actually, he had been away only a few weeks, since the summer vacation had begun, yet this single day had an air about it different from that of any other homecoming.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Actually, he had been away only a few weeks, since the summer vacation had begun, yet this single day had an air about it different from that of any other homecoming.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading He found himself continually looking at things in a more inquisitive, more thoughtful manner.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Actually, he had been away only a few weeks, since the summer vacation had begun, yet this single day had an air about it different from that of any other homecoming.
thoughtfuladjectiveUS /ˈθɔːtfəl/
having intellectual depth
From this reading He found himself continually looking at things in a more inquisitive, more thoughtful manner.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading That which had been commonplace was suddenly something valuable, a sight to be treasured.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading For he had realized, as he sat in the fast plane transporting him home, that the Earth was itself a planet among planets, and that this might possibly prove to be his last visit to the town where he had been born.
transportingverbUS /trænˈspɔːrtɪŋ/
-ing form of “transport” — move something or somebody around; usually over long distances
From this reading For he had realized, as he sat in the fast plane transporting him home, that the Earth was itself a planet among planets, and that this might possibly prove to be his last visit to the town where he had been born.
treasuredadjectiveUS /ˈtreʒərd/
characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for
From this reading That which had been commonplace was suddenly something valuable, a sight to be treasured.
vacationnounUS /veɪˈkeɪʃən/
leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading Actually, he had been away only a few weeks, since the summer vacation had begun, yet this single day had an air about it different from that of any other homecoming.
having great material or monetary value especially for use or exchange
From this reading That which had been commonplace was suddenly something valuable, a sight to be treasured.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading Burl's visit home was a curious interlude.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Burl's visit home was a curious interlude.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading Actually, he had been away only a few weeks, since the summer vacation had begun, yet this single day had an air about it different from that of any other homecoming.
in or at the place that
From this reading For he had realized, as he sat in the fast plane transporting him home, that the Earth was itself a planet among planets, and that this might possibly prove to be his last visit to the town where he had been born.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading That which had been commonplace was suddenly something valuable, a sight to be treasured.
but in spite of that
From this reading Actually, he had been away only a few weeks, since the summer vacation had begun, yet this single day had an air about it different from that of any other homecoming.
