used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Osborne did not go to town on Saturdays, and he and Ruth were sitting in a shady corner of the lawn during the hot afternoon when a cloud of dust whirled up among the firs.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading The speed with which it streaked the climbing forest had its significance to Ruth, but when a big gray car flashed across an opening her expression changed.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading Osborne did not go to town on Saturdays, and he and Ruth were sitting in a shady corner of the lawn during the hot afternoon when a cloud of dust whirled up among the firs.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading “He blazes it on the bodies of straying chickens and hogs; but I imagine you noticed that he wasn’t alone.”
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Osborne did not go to town on Saturdays, and he and Ruth were sitting in a shady corner of the lawn during the hot afternoon when a cloud of dust whirled up among the firs.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The speed with which it streaked the climbing forest had its significance to Ruth, but when a big gray car flashed across an opening her expression changed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Osborne did not go to town on Saturdays, and he and Ruth were sitting in a shady corner of the lawn during the hot afternoon when a cloud of dust whirled up among the firs.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “I did; and I would have been quite as pleased if he had left his father at home.”
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “I did; and I would have been quite as pleased if he had left his father at home.”
Aynsley's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There’s no mistaking Aynsley’s trail,” Osborne laughed.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “I did; and I would have been quite as pleased if he had left his father at home.”
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The speed with which it streaked the climbing forest had its significance to Ruth, but when a big gray car flashed across an opening her expression changed.
blazesnounUS /ˈbleɪzɪz/
plural of “blaze” — a strong flame that burns brightly
From this reading “He blazes it on the bodies of straying chickens and hogs; but I imagine you noticed that he wasn’t alone.”
plural of “body” — the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading “He blazes it on the bodies of straying chickens and hogs; but I imagine you noticed that he wasn’t alone.”
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The speed with which it streaked the climbing forest had its significance to Ruth, but when a big gray car flashed across an opening her expression changed.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading The speed with which it streaked the climbing forest had its significance to Ruth, but when a big gray car flashed across an opening her expression changed.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading The speed with which it streaked the climbing forest had its significance to Ruth, but when a big gray car flashed across an opening her expression changed.
chickensnounUS /ˈtʃɪkənz/
plural of “chicken” — the flesh of a chicken used for food
From this reading “He blazes it on the bodies of straying chickens and hogs; but I imagine you noticed that he wasn’t alone.”
climbingnounUS /ˈklaɪmɪŋ/
an event that involves rising to a higher point (as in altitude or temperature or intensity etc.)
From this reading The speed with which it streaked the climbing forest had its significance to Ruth, but when a big gray car flashed across an opening her expression changed.
make overcast or cloudy
From this reading Osborne did not go to town on Saturdays, and he and Ruth were sitting in a shady corner of the lawn during the hot afternoon when a cloud of dust whirled up among the firs.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading Osborne did not go to town on Saturdays, and he and Ruth were sitting in a shady corner of the lawn during the hot afternoon when a cloud of dust whirled up among the firs.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Osborne did not go to town on Saturdays, and he and Ruth were sitting in a shady corner of the lawn during the hot afternoon when a cloud of dust whirled up among the firs.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading Osborne did not go to town on Saturdays, and he and Ruth were sitting in a shady corner of the lawn during the hot afternoon when a cloud of dust whirled up among the firs.
remove the dust from
From this reading Osborne did not go to town on Saturdays, and he and Ruth were sitting in a shady corner of the lawn during the hot afternoon when a cloud of dust whirled up among the firs.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading The speed with which it streaked the climbing forest had its significance to Ruth, but when a big gray car flashed across an opening her expression changed.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading “I did; and I would have been quite as pleased if he had left his father at home.”
firsnounUS /fɜːrz/
plural of “fir” — nonresinous wood of a fir tree
From this reading Osborne did not go to town on Saturdays, and he and Ruth were sitting in a shady corner of the lawn during the hot afternoon when a cloud of dust whirled up among the firs.
past form of “flash” — gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading The speed with which it streaked the climbing forest had its significance to Ruth, but when a big gray car flashed across an opening her expression changed.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading The speed with which it streaked the climbing forest had its significance to Ruth, but when a big gray car flashed across an opening her expression changed.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Osborne did not go to town on Saturdays, and he and Ruth were sitting in a shady corner of the lawn during the hot afternoon when a cloud of dust whirled up among the firs.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading The speed with which it streaked the climbing forest had its significance to Ruth, but when a big gray car flashed across an opening her expression changed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The speed with which it streaked the climbing forest had its significance to Ruth, but when a big gray car flashed across an opening her expression changed.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “I did; and I would have been quite as pleased if he had left his father at home.”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Osborne did not go to town on Saturdays, and he and Ruth were sitting in a shady corner of the lawn during the hot afternoon when a cloud of dust whirled up among the firs.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The speed with which it streaked the climbing forest had its significance to Ruth, but when a big gray car flashed across an opening her expression changed.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “I did; and I would have been quite as pleased if he had left his father at home.”
hogsnounUS /hɑːɡz/
plural of “hog” — a person regarded as greedy and pig-like
From this reading “He blazes it on the bodies of straying chickens and hogs; but I imagine you noticed that he wasn’t alone.”
where you live at a particular time
From this reading “I did; and I would have been quite as pleased if he had left his father at home.”
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading Osborne did not go to town on Saturdays, and he and Ruth were sitting in a shady corner of the lawn during the hot afternoon when a cloud of dust whirled up among the firs.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “He blazes it on the bodies of straying chickens and hogs; but I imagine you noticed that he wasn’t alone.”
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “I did; and I would have been quite as pleased if he had left his father at home.”
form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading “He blazes it on the bodies of straying chickens and hogs; but I imagine you noticed that he wasn’t alone.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Osborne did not go to town on Saturdays, and he and Ruth were sitting in a shady corner of the lawn during the hot afternoon when a cloud of dust whirled up among the firs.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The speed with which it streaked the climbing forest had its significance to Ruth, but when a big gray car flashed across an opening her expression changed.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The speed with which it streaked the climbing forest had its significance to Ruth, but when a big gray car flashed across an opening her expression changed.
past form of “laugh” — produce laughter
From this reading “There’s no mistaking Aynsley’s trail,” Osborne laughed.
lawnnounUS /lɔːn/
a field of cultivated and mowed grass
From this reading Osborne did not go to town on Saturdays, and he and Ruth were sitting in a shady corner of the lawn during the hot afternoon when a cloud of dust whirled up among the firs.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading “I did; and I would have been quite as pleased if he had left his father at home.”
mistakingnounUS /mɪˈsteɪkɪŋ/
putting the wrong interpretation on
From this reading “There’s no mistaking Aynsley’s trail,” Osborne laughed.
not any; not one
From this reading “There’s no mistaking Aynsley’s trail,” Osborne laughed.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Osborne did not go to town on Saturdays, and he and Ruth were sitting in a shady corner of the lawn during the hot afternoon when a cloud of dust whirled up among the firs.
being perceived or observed
From this reading “He blazes it on the bodies of straying chickens and hogs; but I imagine you noticed that he wasn’t alone.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Osborne did not go to town on Saturdays, and he and Ruth were sitting in a shady corner of the lawn during the hot afternoon when a cloud of dust whirled up among the firs.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Osborne did not go to town on Saturdays, and he and Ruth were sitting in a shady corner of the lawn during the hot afternoon when a cloud of dust whirled up among the firs.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading The speed with which it streaked the climbing forest had its significance to Ruth, but when a big gray car flashed across an opening her expression changed.
OsbornenounUS /ˈɔːzbɔːrn/
English playwright (1929-1994)
From this reading Osborne did not go to town on Saturdays, and he and Ruth were sitting in a shady corner of the lawn during the hot afternoon when a cloud of dust whirled up among the firs.
experiencing or manifesting pleasure
From this reading “I did; and I would have been quite as pleased if he had left his father at home.”
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading “I did; and I would have been quite as pleased if he had left his father at home.”
United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading Osborne did not go to town on Saturdays, and he and Ruth were sitting in a shady corner of the lawn during the hot afternoon when a cloud of dust whirled up among the firs.
SaturdaysnounUS /ˈsætərdiz/
plural of “saturday” — the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Osborne did not go to town on Saturdays, and he and Ruth were sitting in a shady corner of the lawn during the hot afternoon when a cloud of dust whirled up among the firs.
shadyadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪdi/
quiet, dark, or concealed
From this reading Osborne did not go to town on Saturdays, and he and Ruth were sitting in a shady corner of the lawn during the hot afternoon when a cloud of dust whirled up among the firs.
significancenounUS /səɡˈnɪfɪkəns/
the quality of being significant
From this reading The speed with which it streaked the climbing forest had its significance to Ruth, but when a big gray car flashed across an opening her expression changed.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading Osborne did not go to town on Saturdays, and he and Ruth were sitting in a shady corner of the lawn during the hot afternoon when a cloud of dust whirled up among the firs.
move hurridly
From this reading The speed with which it streaked the climbing forest had its significance to Ruth, but when a big gray car flashed across an opening her expression changed.
strayingadjectiveUS /ˈstreɪɪŋ/
unable to find your way
From this reading “He blazes it on the bodies of straying chickens and hogs; but I imagine you noticed that he wasn’t alone.”
streakedadjectiveUS /striːkt/
marked with or as if with stripes or linear discolorations
From this reading The speed with which it streaked the climbing forest had its significance to Ruth, but when a big gray car flashed across an opening her expression changed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “He blazes it on the bodies of straying chickens and hogs; but I imagine you noticed that he wasn’t alone.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Osborne did not go to town on Saturdays, and he and Ruth were sitting in a shady corner of the lawn during the hot afternoon when a cloud of dust whirled up among the firs.
There's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There’s no mistaking Aynsley’s trail,” Osborne laughed.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Osborne did not go to town on Saturdays, and he and Ruth were sitting in a shady corner of the lawn during the hot afternoon when a cloud of dust whirled up among the firs.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading Osborne did not go to town on Saturdays, and he and Ruth were sitting in a shady corner of the lawn during the hot afternoon when a cloud of dust whirled up among the firs.
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading “There’s no mistaking Aynsley’s trail,” Osborne laughed.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Osborne did not go to town on Saturdays, and he and Ruth were sitting in a shady corner of the lawn during the hot afternoon when a cloud of dust whirled up among the firs.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “He blazes it on the bodies of straying chickens and hogs; but I imagine you noticed that he wasn’t alone.”
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Osborne did not go to town on Saturdays, and he and Ruth were sitting in a shady corner of the lawn during the hot afternoon when a cloud of dust whirled up among the firs.
at the time that
From this reading Osborne did not go to town on Saturdays, and he and Ruth were sitting in a shady corner of the lawn during the hot afternoon when a cloud of dust whirled up among the firs.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The speed with which it streaked the climbing forest had its significance to Ruth, but when a big gray car flashed across an opening her expression changed.
whirledverbUS /wɜːrld/
past form of “whirl” — turn in a twisting or spinning motion
From this reading Osborne did not go to town on Saturdays, and he and Ruth were sitting in a shady corner of the lawn during the hot afternoon when a cloud of dust whirled up among the firs.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The speed with which it streaked the climbing forest had its significance to Ruth, but when a big gray car flashed across an opening her expression changed.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “I did; and I would have been quite as pleased if he had left his father at home.”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “He blazes it on the bodies of straying chickens and hogs; but I imagine you noticed that he wasn’t alone.”
