used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The orphan brothers sat together under the shadow of a garden wall, talking with earnest energy, as if their young lives were in the subject under discussion.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A tender sadness lay on their faces; tears now and then broke through their words; and more than once their small hands clasped lovingly, as if companionship gave sweetness even to grief.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “Now you see how it is, Joe, you and I are the men of the family.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The orphan brothers sat together under the shadow of a garden wall, talking with earnest energy, as if their young lives were in the subject under discussion.
lacking funds
From this reading A tender sadness lay on their faces; tears now and then broke through their words; and more than once their small hands clasped lovingly, as if companionship gave sweetness even to grief.
plural of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading The orphan brothers sat together under the shadow of a garden wall, talking with earnest energy, as if their young lives were in the subject under discussion.
brushedadjectiveUS /brʌʃt/
touched lightly in passing; grazed against
From this reading Robert brushed it off with great care, and patted the child on his shoulder in finishing.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A carriage drove by as they talked, scattering drops of mud on the sleeve of Joseph’s jacket.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading Robert brushed it off with great care, and patted the child on his shoulder in finishing.
a railcar where passengers ride
From this reading A carriage drove by as they talked, scattering drops of mud on the sleeve of Joseph’s jacket.
a young person of either sex
From this reading Robert brushed it off with great care, and patted the child on his shoulder in finishing.
past form of “clasp” — hold firmly and tightly
From this reading A tender sadness lay on their faces; tears now and then broke through their words; and more than once their small hands clasped lovingly, as if companionship gave sweetness even to grief.
companionshipnounUS /kəmˈpænjənʃɪp/
the state of being with someone
From this reading A tender sadness lay on their faces; tears now and then broke through their words; and more than once their small hands clasped lovingly, as if companionship gave sweetness even to grief.
discussionnounUS /dɪˈskʌʃən/
an extended communication (often interactive) dealing with some particular topic
From this reading The orphan brothers sat together under the shadow of a garden wall, talking with earnest energy, as if their young lives were in the subject under discussion.
dropsnounUS /drɑːps/
plural of “drop” — a shape that is spherical and small
From this reading A carriage drove by as they talked, scattering drops of mud on the sleeve of Joseph’s jacket.
a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together
From this reading A carriage drove by as they talked, scattering drops of mud on the sleeve of Joseph’s jacket.
characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions
From this reading The orphan brothers sat together under the shadow of a garden wall, talking with earnest energy, as if their young lives were in the subject under discussion.
(physics) a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs
From this reading The orphan brothers sat together under the shadow of a garden wall, talking with earnest energy, as if their young lives were in the subject under discussion.
divisible by two
From this reading A tender sadness lay on their faces; tears now and then broke through their words; and more than once their small hands clasped lovingly, as if companionship gave sweetness even to grief.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading A tender sadness lay on their faces; tears now and then broke through their words; and more than once their small hands clasped lovingly, as if companionship gave sweetness even to grief.
a social unit living together
From this reading “Now you see how it is, Joe, you and I are the men of the family.
finishingnounUS /ˈfɪnɪʃɪŋ/
a decorative texture or appearance of a surface (or the substance that gives it that appearance)
From this reading Robert brushed it off with great care, and patted the child on his shoulder in finishing.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading The orphan brothers sat together under the shadow of a garden wall, talking with earnest energy, as if their young lives were in the subject under discussion.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading A tender sadness lay on their faces; tears now and then broke through their words; and more than once their small hands clasped lovingly, as if companionship gave sweetness even to grief.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Robert brushed it off with great care, and patted the child on his shoulder in finishing.
intense sorrow caused by loss of a loved one (especially by death)
From this reading A tender sadness lay on their faces; tears now and then broke through their words; and more than once their small hands clasped lovingly, as if companionship gave sweetness even to grief.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading A tender sadness lay on their faces; tears now and then broke through their words; and more than once their small hands clasped lovingly, as if companionship gave sweetness even to grief.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Robert brushed it off with great care, and patted the child on his shoulder in finishing.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Now you see how it is, Joe, you and I are the men of the family.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Now you see how it is, Joe, you and I are the men of the family.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The orphan brothers sat together under the shadow of a garden wall, talking with earnest energy, as if their young lives were in the subject under discussion.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The orphan brothers sat together under the shadow of a garden wall, talking with earnest energy, as if their young lives were in the subject under discussion.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Now you see how it is, Joe, you and I are the men of the family.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Robert brushed it off with great care, and patted the child on his shoulder in finishing.
jacketnounUS /ˈdʒækət/
a short coat
From this reading A carriage drove by as they talked, scattering drops of mud on the sleeve of Joseph’s jacket.
Joe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Now you see how it is, Joe, you and I are the men of the family.
Joseph'snounUS /ˈdʒoʊzəfs/
possessive form of “joseph” — leader of the Nez Perce in their retreat from United States troops (1840-1904)
From this reading A carriage drove by as they talked, scattering drops of mud on the sleeve of Joseph’s jacket.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading A tender sadness lay on their faces; tears now and then broke through their words; and more than once their small hands clasped lovingly, as if companionship gave sweetness even to grief.
plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The orphan brothers sat together under the shadow of a garden wall, talking with earnest energy, as if their young lives were in the subject under discussion.
lovinglyadverbUS /ˈlʌvɪŋli/
with fondness; with love
From this reading A tender sadness lay on their faces; tears now and then broke through their words; and more than once their small hands clasped lovingly, as if companionship gave sweetness even to grief.
the force of workers available
From this reading “Now you see how it is, Joe, you and I are the men of the family.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading A tender sadness lay on their faces; tears now and then broke through their words; and more than once their small hands clasped lovingly, as if companionship gave sweetness even to grief.
water soaked soil; soft wet earth
From this reading A carriage drove by as they talked, scattering drops of mud on the sleeve of Joseph’s jacket.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading A tender sadness lay on their faces; tears now and then broke through their words; and more than once their small hands clasped lovingly, as if companionship gave sweetness even to grief.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The orphan brothers sat together under the shadow of a garden wall, talking with earnest energy, as if their young lives were in the subject under discussion.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Robert brushed it off with great care, and patted the child on his shoulder in finishing.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A tender sadness lay on their faces; tears now and then broke through their words; and more than once their small hands clasped lovingly, as if companionship gave sweetness even to grief.
on one occasion
From this reading A tender sadness lay on their faces; tears now and then broke through their words; and more than once their small hands clasped lovingly, as if companionship gave sweetness even to grief.
orphannounUS /ˈɔːrfən/
a child who has lost both parents
From this reading The orphan brothers sat together under the shadow of a garden wall, talking with earnest energy, as if their young lives were in the subject under discussion.
pattedverbUS /ˈpætɪd/
inflected form of “pat” — pat or squeeze fondly or playfully, especially under the chin
From this reading Robert brushed it off with great care, and patted the child on his shoulder in finishing.
United States parliamentary authority and author (in 1876) of Robert's Rules of Order (1837-1923)
From this reading Robert brushed it off with great care, and patted the child on his shoulder in finishing.
sadnessnounUS /ˈsædnəs/
emotions experienced when not in a state of well-being
From this reading A tender sadness lay on their faces; tears now and then broke through their words; and more than once their small hands clasped lovingly, as if companionship gave sweetness even to grief.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading The orphan brothers sat together under the shadow of a garden wall, talking with earnest energy, as if their young lives were in the subject under discussion.
scatteringnounUS /ˈskætərɪŋ/
a small number (of something) dispersed haphazardly
From this reading A carriage drove by as they talked, scattering drops of mud on the sleeve of Joseph’s jacket.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading “Now you see how it is, Joe, you and I are the men of the family.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading The orphan brothers sat together under the shadow of a garden wall, talking with earnest energy, as if their young lives were in the subject under discussion.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading Robert brushed it off with great care, and patted the child on his shoulder in finishing.
sleevenounUS /sliːv/
the part of a garment that is attached at the armhole and that provides a cloth covering for the arm
From this reading A carriage drove by as they talked, scattering drops of mud on the sleeve of Joseph’s jacket.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A tender sadness lay on their faces; tears now and then broke through their words; and more than once their small hands clasped lovingly, as if companionship gave sweetness even to grief.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading The orphan brothers sat together under the shadow of a garden wall, talking with earnest energy, as if their young lives were in the subject under discussion.
sweetnessnounUS /ˈswiːtnəs/
the taste experience when sugar dissolves in the mouth
From this reading A tender sadness lay on their faces; tears now and then broke through their words; and more than once their small hands clasped lovingly, as if companionship gave sweetness even to grief.
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading A carriage drove by as they talked, scattering drops of mud on the sleeve of Joseph’s jacket.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading The orphan brothers sat together under the shadow of a garden wall, talking with earnest energy, as if their young lives were in the subject under discussion.
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
From this reading A tender sadness lay on their faces; tears now and then broke through their words; and more than once their small hands clasped lovingly, as if companionship gave sweetness even to grief.
given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality
From this reading A tender sadness lay on their faces; tears now and then broke through their words; and more than once their small hands clasped lovingly, as if companionship gave sweetness even to grief.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading A tender sadness lay on their faces; tears now and then broke through their words; and more than once their small hands clasped lovingly, as if companionship gave sweetness even to grief.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The orphan brothers sat together under the shadow of a garden wall, talking with earnest energy, as if their young lives were in the subject under discussion.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The orphan brothers sat together under the shadow of a garden wall, talking with earnest energy, as if their young lives were in the subject under discussion.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading A tender sadness lay on their faces; tears now and then broke through their words; and more than once their small hands clasped lovingly, as if companionship gave sweetness even to grief.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A carriage drove by as they talked, scattering drops of mud on the sleeve of Joseph’s jacket.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading A tender sadness lay on their faces; tears now and then broke through their words; and more than once their small hands clasped lovingly, as if companionship gave sweetness even to grief.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A tender sadness lay on their faces; tears now and then broke through their words; and more than once their small hands clasped lovingly, as if companionship gave sweetness even to grief.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading The orphan brothers sat together under the shadow of a garden wall, talking with earnest energy, as if their young lives were in the subject under discussion.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The orphan brothers sat together under the shadow of a garden wall, talking with earnest energy, as if their young lives were in the subject under discussion.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading The orphan brothers sat together under the shadow of a garden wall, talking with earnest energy, as if their young lives were in the subject under discussion.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The orphan brothers sat together under the shadow of a garden wall, talking with earnest energy, as if their young lives were in the subject under discussion.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The orphan brothers sat together under the shadow of a garden wall, talking with earnest energy, as if their young lives were in the subject under discussion.
the words that are spoken
From this reading A tender sadness lay on their faces; tears now and then broke through their words; and more than once their small hands clasped lovingly, as if companionship gave sweetness even to grief.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Now you see how it is, Joe, you and I are the men of the family.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading The orphan brothers sat together under the shadow of a garden wall, talking with earnest energy, as if their young lives were in the subject under discussion.
