used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading UNDER A WHITE MAN'S ROOF.
AbelnounUS /ˈeɪbəl/
Norwegian mathematician (1802-1829)
From this reading The log cabin of Abel and Mercy Smith stood within a bit of forest that bordered the rich prairie.
abodenounUS /əˈboʊd/
any address at which you dwell more than temporarily
From this reading As homes went in those early days, when Illinois was only a territory, and in that sparsely settled locality, it was a most roomy and comfortable abode.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading They had early come into the wilderness, and had, therefore, lived much alone.
in addition
From this reading The childless couple which dwelt in it were comfortable also, although to hear their daily converse with one another a stranger would not so have fancied.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The childless couple which dwelt in it were comfortable also, although to hear their daily converse with one another a stranger would not so have fancied.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The log cabin of Abel and Mercy Smith stood within a bit of forest that bordered the rich prairie.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading The childless couple which dwelt in it were comfortable also, although to hear their daily converse with one another a stranger would not so have fancied.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As homes went in those early days, when Illinois was only a territory, and in that sparsely settled locality, it was a most roomy and comfortable abode.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading The log cabin of Abel and Mercy Smith stood within a bit of forest that bordered the rich prairie.
borderedadjectiveUS /ˈbɔːrdərd/
having a border especially of a specified kind; sometimes used as a combining term
From this reading The log cabin of Abel and Mercy Smith stood within a bit of forest that bordered the rich prairie.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading The log cabin of Abel and Mercy Smith stood within a bit of forest that bordered the rich prairie.
childlessadjectiveUS /ˈtʃaɪldləs/
without offspring
From this reading The childless couple which dwelt in it were comfortable also, although to hear their daily converse with one another a stranger would not so have fancied.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading They had early come into the wilderness, and had, therefore, lived much alone.
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading As homes went in those early days, when Illinois was only a territory, and in that sparsely settled locality, it was a most roomy and comfortable abode.
converseverbUS /ˈkɑːnvərs/
carry on a conversation
From this reading The childless couple which dwelt in it were comfortable also, although to hear their daily converse with one another a stranger would not so have fancied.
a pair who associate with one another
From this reading The childless couple which dwelt in it were comfortable also, although to hear their daily converse with one another a stranger would not so have fancied.
every day; without missing a day
From this reading The childless couple which dwelt in it were comfortable also, although to hear their daily converse with one another a stranger would not so have fancied.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading As homes went in those early days, when Illinois was only a territory, and in that sparsely settled locality, it was a most roomy and comfortable abode.
dweltverbUS /dwelt/
inflected form of “dwell” — think moodily or anxiously about something
From this reading The childless couple which dwelt in it were comfortable also, although to hear their daily converse with one another a stranger would not so have fancied.
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 As homes went in those early days, when Illinois was only a territory, and in that sparsely settled locality, it was a most roomy and comfortable abode.
formed or conceived by the imagination
From this reading The childless couple which dwelt in it were comfortable also, although to hear their daily converse with one another a stranger would not so have fancied.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading The log cabin of Abel and Mercy Smith stood within a bit of forest that bordered the rich prairie.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had early come into the wilderness, and had, therefore, lived much alone.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The childless couple which dwelt in it were comfortable also, although to hear their daily converse with one another a stranger would not so have fancied.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading The childless couple which dwelt in it were comfortable also, although to hear their daily converse with one another a stranger would not so have fancied.
homesnounUS /hoʊmz/
plural of “home” — where you live at a particular time
From this reading As homes went in those early days, when Illinois was only a territory, and in that sparsely settled locality, it was a most roomy and comfortable abode.
IllinoisnounUS /ˌɪləˈnɔɪ/
a midwestern state in north-central United States
From this reading As homes went in those early days, when Illinois was only a territory, and in that sparsely settled locality, it was a most roomy and comfortable abode.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As homes went in those early days, when Illinois was only a territory, and in that sparsely settled locality, it was a most roomy and comfortable abode.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading They had early come into the wilderness, and had, therefore, lived much alone.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading As homes went in those early days, when Illinois was only a territory, and in that sparsely settled locality, it was a most roomy and comfortable abode.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading They had early come into the wilderness, and had, therefore, lived much alone.
localitynounUS /loʊˈkæləti/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading As homes went in those early days, when Illinois was only a territory, and in that sparsely settled locality, it was a most roomy and comfortable abode.
logverbUS /lɔːɡ/
enter into a log, as on ships and planes
From this reading The log cabin of Abel and Mercy Smith stood within a bit of forest that bordered the rich prairie.
MAN'SnounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading UNDER A WHITE MAN'S ROOF.
leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice
From this reading The log cabin of Abel and Mercy Smith stood within a bit of forest that bordered the rich prairie.
used to form the superlative
From this reading As homes went in those early days, when Illinois was only a territory, and in that sparsely settled locality, it was a most roomy and comfortable abode.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading They had early come into the wilderness, and had, therefore, lived much alone.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The childless couple which dwelt in it were comfortable also, although to hear their daily converse with one another a stranger would not so have fancied.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The log cabin of Abel and Mercy Smith stood within a bit of forest that bordered the rich prairie.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The childless couple which dwelt in it were comfortable also, although to hear their daily converse with one another a stranger would not so have fancied.
and nothing more
From this reading As homes went in those early days, when Illinois was only a territory, and in that sparsely settled locality, it was a most roomy and comfortable abode.
prairienounUS /ˈpreri/
a treeless grassy plain
From this reading The log cabin of Abel and Mercy Smith stood within a bit of forest that bordered the rich prairie.
possessing material wealth
From this reading The log cabin of Abel and Mercy Smith stood within a bit of forest that bordered the rich prairie.
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading UNDER A WHITE MAN'S ROOF.
roomynounUS /ˈruːmi/
an associate who shares a room with you
From this reading As homes went in those early days, when Illinois was only a territory, and in that sparsely settled locality, it was a most roomy and comfortable abode.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading As homes went in those early days, when Illinois was only a territory, and in that sparsely settled locality, it was a most roomy and comfortable abode.
Rhodesian statesman who declared independence of Zimbabwe from Great Britain (born in 1919)
From this reading The log cabin of Abel and Mercy Smith stood within a bit of forest that bordered the rich prairie.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The childless couple which dwelt in it were comfortable also, although to hear their daily converse with one another a stranger would not so have fancied.
sparselyadverbUS /ˈspɑːrsli/
in a sparse way
From this reading As homes went in those early days, when Illinois was only a territory, and in that sparsely settled locality, it was a most roomy and comfortable abode.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The log cabin of Abel and Mercy Smith stood within a bit of forest that bordered the rich prairie.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading The childless couple which dwelt in it were comfortable also, although to hear their daily converse with one another a stranger would not so have fancied.
territorynounUS /ˈterɪtɔːri/
a region marked off for administrative or other purposes
From this reading As homes went in those early days, when Illinois was only a territory, and in that sparsely settled locality, it was a most roomy and comfortable abode.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The log cabin of Abel and Mercy Smith stood within a bit of forest that bordered the rich prairie.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The log cabin of Abel and Mercy Smith stood within a bit of forest that bordered the rich prairie.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The childless couple which dwelt in it were comfortable also, although to hear their daily converse with one another a stranger would not so have fancied.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading They had early come into the wilderness, and had, therefore, lived much alone.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had early come into the wilderness, and had, therefore, lived much alone.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading As homes went in those early days, when Illinois was only a territory, and in that sparsely settled locality, it was a most roomy and comfortable abode.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The childless couple which dwelt in it were comfortable also, although to hear their daily converse with one another a stranger would not so have fancied.
UNDERprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading UNDER A WHITE MAN'S ROOF.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As homes went in those early days, when Illinois was only a territory, and in that sparsely settled locality, it was a most roomy and comfortable abode.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading As homes went in those early days, when Illinois was only a territory, and in that sparsely settled locality, it was a most roomy and comfortable abode.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The childless couple which dwelt in it were comfortable also, although to hear their daily converse with one another a stranger would not so have fancied.
at the time that
From this reading As homes went in those early days, when Illinois was only a territory, and in that sparsely settled locality, it was a most roomy and comfortable abode.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The childless couple which dwelt in it were comfortable also, although to hear their daily converse with one another a stranger would not so have fancied.
a Caucasian
From this reading UNDER A WHITE MAN'S ROOF.
wildernessnounUS /ˈwɪldərnəs/
(politics) a state of disfavor
From this reading They had early come into the wilderness, and had, therefore, lived much alone.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The childless couple which dwelt in it were comfortable also, although to hear their daily converse with one another a stranger would not so have fancied.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading The log cabin of Abel and Mercy Smith stood within a bit of forest that bordered the rich prairie.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The childless couple which dwelt in it were comfortable also, although to hear their daily converse with one another a stranger would not so have fancied.
