used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In fact, they contain no information whatever, either about the missions or history--a little, perhaps, about the climate and the fruits and flowers of the earth, but that has crept in more or less unavoidably.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading In fact, they contain no information whatever, either about the missions or history--a little, perhaps, about the climate and the fruits and flowers of the earth, but that has crept in more or less unavoidably.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Smiling Hill-Top and Other California Sketches The following sketches are entirely informal.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading They do not cover the subject of Southern California in any way.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The Smiling Hill-Top and Other California Sketches The following sketches are entirely informal.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading There are six of us, two grown-ups, two boys, and two dogs.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading In fact, they contain no information whatever, either about the missions or history--a little, perhaps, about the climate and the fruits and flowers of the earth, but that has crept in more or less unavoidably.
CalifornianounUS /ˌkæləˈfɔːrnjə/
a state in the western United States on the Pacific; the 3rd largest state; known for earthquakes
From this reading The Smiling Hill-Top and Other California Sketches The following sketches are entirely informal.
climatenounUS /ˈklaɪmət/
the weather in some location averaged over some long period of time
From this reading In fact, they contain no information whatever, either about the missions or history--a little, perhaps, about the climate and the fruits and flowers of the earth, but that has crept in more or less unavoidably.
containverbUS /kənˈteɪn/
include or contain; have as a component
From this reading In fact, they contain no information whatever, either about the missions or history--a little, perhaps, about the climate and the fruits and flowers of the earth, but that has crept in more or less unavoidably.
provide with a covering or cause to be covered
From this reading They do not cover the subject of Southern California in any way.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading In fact, they contain no information whatever, either about the missions or history--a little, perhaps, about the climate and the fruits and flowers of the earth, but that has crept in more or less unavoidably.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading They do not cover the subject of Southern California in any way.
plural of “dog” — 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 There are six of us, two grown-ups, two boys, and two dogs.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading In fact, they contain no information whatever, either about the missions or history--a little, perhaps, about the climate and the fruits and flowers of the earth, but that has crept in more or less unavoidably.
one or the other of two
From this reading In fact, they contain no information whatever, either about the missions or history--a little, perhaps, about the climate and the fruits and flowers of the earth, but that has crept in more or less unavoidably.
a division of the United Kingdom
From this reading They are the record of what happened to happen to a fairly light-hearted family who left New England in search of rest and health.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading The Smiling Hill-Top and Other California Sketches The following sketches are entirely informal.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading In fact, they contain no information whatever, either about the missions or history--a little, perhaps, about the climate and the fruits and flowers of the earth, but that has crept in more or less unavoidably.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading They are the record of what happened to happen to a fairly light-hearted family who left New England in search of rest and health.
a social unit living together
From this reading They are the record of what happened to happen to a fairly light-hearted family who left New England in search of rest and health.
plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading In fact, they contain no information whatever, either about the missions or history--a little, perhaps, about the climate and the fruits and flowers of the earth, but that has crept in more or less unavoidably.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading The Smiling Hill-Top and Other California Sketches The following sketches are entirely informal.
fruitsnounUS /fruːts/
plural of “fruit” — the ripened reproductive body of a seed plant
From this reading In fact, they contain no information whatever, either about the missions or history--a little, perhaps, about the climate and the fruits and flowers of the earth, but that has crept in more or less unavoidably.
grown-ups
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are six of us, two grown-ups, two boys, and two dogs.
come to pass
From this reading They are the record of what happened to happen to a fairly light-hearted family who left New England in search of rest and health.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading They are the record of what happened to happen to a fairly light-hearted family who left New England in search of rest and health.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In fact, they contain no information whatever, either about the missions or history--a little, perhaps, about the climate and the fruits and flowers of the earth, but that has crept in more or less unavoidably.
a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease
From this reading They are the record of what happened to happen to a fairly light-hearted family who left New England in search of rest and health.
Hill-Top
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Smiling Hill-Top and Other California Sketches The following sketches are entirely informal.
the aggregate of past events
From this reading In fact, they contain no information whatever, either about the missions or history--a little, perhaps, about the climate and the fruits and flowers of the earth, but that has crept in more or less unavoidably.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They do not cover the subject of Southern California in any way.
informaladjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈfɔːrməl/
not formal
From this reading The Smiling Hill-Top and Other California Sketches The following sketches are entirely informal.
a message received and understood
From this reading In fact, they contain no information whatever, either about the missions or history--a little, perhaps, about the climate and the fruits and flowers of the earth, but that has crept in more or less unavoidably.
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 They are the record of what happened to happen to a fairly light-hearted family who left New England in search of rest and health.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading In fact, they contain no information whatever, either about the missions or history--a little, perhaps, about the climate and the fruits and flowers of the earth, but that has crept in more or less unavoidably.
light-heartedadjective
carefree and happy and lighthearted
From this reading They are the record of what happened to happen to a fairly light-hearted family who left New England in search of rest and health.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading In fact, they contain no information whatever, either about the missions or history--a little, perhaps, about the climate and the fruits and flowers of the earth, but that has crept in more or less unavoidably.
missionsnounUS /ˈmɪʃənz/
plural of “mission” — an organization of missionaries in a foreign land sent to carry on religious work
From this reading In fact, they contain no information whatever, either about the missions or history--a little, perhaps, about the climate and the fruits and flowers of the earth, but that has crept in more or less unavoidably.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading In fact, they contain no information whatever, either about the missions or history--a little, perhaps, about the climate and the fruits and flowers of the earth, but that has crept in more or less unavoidably.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading They are the record of what happened to happen to a fairly light-hearted family who left New England in search of rest and health.
not any; not one
From this reading In fact, they contain no information whatever, either about the missions or history--a little, perhaps, about the climate and the fruits and flowers of the earth, but that has crept in more or less unavoidably.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They do not cover the subject of Southern California in any way.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They do not cover the subject of Southern California in any way.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading In fact, they contain no information whatever, either about the missions or history--a little, perhaps, about the climate and the fruits and flowers of the earth, but that has crept in more or less unavoidably.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The Smiling Hill-Top and Other California Sketches The following sketches are entirely informal.
by chance
From this reading In fact, they contain no information whatever, either about the missions or history--a little, perhaps, about the climate and the fruits and flowers of the earth, but that has crept in more or less unavoidably.
anything (such as a document or a phonograph record or a photograph) providing permanent evidence of or information about past events
From this reading They are the record of what happened to happen to a fairly light-hearted family who left New England in search of rest and health.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading They are the record of what happened to happen to a fairly light-hearted family who left New England in search of rest and health.
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading They are the record of what happened to happen to a fairly light-hearted family who left New England in search of rest and health.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading There are six of us, two grown-ups, two boys, and two dogs.
SketchesnounUS /ˈsketʃəz/
plural of “sketch” — preliminary drawing for later elaboration
From this reading The Smiling Hill-Top and Other California Sketches The following sketches are entirely informal.
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading The Smiling Hill-Top and Other California Sketches The following sketches are entirely informal.
in or characteristic of a region of the United States south of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading They do not cover the subject of Southern California in any way.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading They do not cover the subject of Southern California in any way.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In fact, they contain no information whatever, either about the missions or history--a little, perhaps, about the climate and the fruits and flowers of the earth, but that has crept in more or less unavoidably.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Smiling Hill-Top and Other California Sketches The following sketches are entirely informal.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There are six of us, two grown-ups, two boys, and two dogs.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They do not cover the subject of Southern California in any way.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They are the record of what happened to happen to a fairly light-hearted family who left New England in search of rest and health.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading There are six of us, two grown-ups, two boys, and two dogs.
unavoidablyadverbUS /ˌʌnəˈvɔɪdəbli/
by necessity
From this reading In fact, they contain no information whatever, either about the missions or history--a little, perhaps, about the climate and the fruits and flowers of the earth, but that has crept in more or less unavoidably.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading There are six of us, two grown-ups, two boys, and two dogs.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading They do not cover the subject of Southern California in any way.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading They are the record of what happened to happen to a fairly light-hearted family who left New England in search of rest and health.
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading In fact, they contain no information whatever, either about the missions or history--a little, perhaps, about the climate and the fruits and flowers of the earth, but that has crept in more or less unavoidably.
which person or people
From this reading They are the record of what happened to happen to a fairly light-hearted family who left New England in search of rest and health.
