used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But I sat upon the doorstep with him for a few minutes while he performed on that cartridge shell instrument of his.
in actual fact
From this reading I actually saw him lure one of those noisy bluejays almost within reach of his arm, and I think he would have captured it if his granddaughter had not laughed aloud at my astonishment.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading I actually saw him lure one of those noisy bluejays almost within reach of his arm, and I think he would have captured it if his granddaughter had not laughed aloud at my astonishment.
using the voice; not silently
From this reading I actually saw him lure one of those noisy bluejays almost within reach of his arm, and I think he would have captured it if his granddaughter had not laughed aloud at my astonishment.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was now mid-afternoon and I could not linger at old Buck’s cabin.
appallingnounUS /əˈpɔːlɪŋ/
an experience that appalls
From this reading By using the shell in conjunction with a pebble he could reproduce the appalling sound of a rattlesnake.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading No rattlesnakes appeared, however.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading I actually saw him lure one of those noisy bluejays almost within reach of his arm, and I think he would have captured it if his granddaughter had not laughed aloud at my astonishment.
the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising
From this reading I actually saw him lure one of those noisy bluejays almost within reach of his arm, and I think he would have captured it if his granddaughter had not laughed aloud at my astonishment.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was now mid-afternoon and I could not linger at old Buck’s cabin.
bluejays
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I actually saw him lure one of those noisy bluejays almost within reach of his arm, and I think he would have captured it if his granddaughter had not laughed aloud at my astonishment.
Buck'snounUS /bʌks/
possessive form of “buck” — a gymnastic horse without pommels and with one end elongated; used lengthwise for vaulting
From this reading It was now mid-afternoon and I could not linger at old Buck’s cabin.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But I sat upon the doorstep with him for a few minutes while he performed on that cartridge shell instrument of his.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By using the shell in conjunction with a pebble he could reproduce the appalling sound of a rattlesnake.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading It was now mid-afternoon and I could not linger at old Buck’s cabin.
capturedverbUS /ˈkæptʃərd/
past form of “capture” — succeed in representing or expressing something intangible
From this reading I actually saw him lure one of those noisy bluejays almost within reach of his arm, and I think he would have captured it if his granddaughter had not laughed aloud at my astonishment.
cartridgenounUS /ˈkɑːrtrədʒ/
ammunition consisting of a cylindrical casing containing an explosive charge and a bullet; fired from a rifle or handgun
From this reading But I sat upon the doorstep with him for a few minutes while he performed on that cartridge shell instrument of his.
conjunctionnounUS /kənˈdʒʌŋkʃən/
the temporal property of two things happening at the same time
From this reading By using the shell in conjunction with a pebble he could reproduce the appalling sound of a rattlesnake.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It was now mid-afternoon and I could not linger at old Buck’s cabin.
doorstepnounUS /ˈdɔːrstep/
the sill of a door; a horizontal piece of wood or stone that forms the bottom of a doorway and offers support when passing through a doorway
From this reading But I sat upon the doorstep with him for a few minutes while he performed on that cartridge shell instrument of his.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading But I sat upon the doorstep with him for a few minutes while he performed on that cartridge shell instrument of his.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But I sat upon the doorstep with him for a few minutes while he performed on that cartridge shell instrument of his.
granddaughternounUS /ˈɡrændɔːtər/
a female grandchild
From this reading I actually saw him lure one of those noisy bluejays almost within reach of his arm, and I think he would have captured it if his granddaughter had not laughed aloud at my astonishment.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I actually saw him lure one of those noisy bluejays almost within reach of his arm, and I think he would have captured it if his granddaughter had not laughed aloud at my astonishment.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I actually saw him lure one of those noisy bluejays almost within reach of his arm, and I think he would have captured it if his granddaughter had not laughed aloud at my astonishment.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But I sat upon the doorstep with him for a few minutes while he performed on that cartridge shell instrument of his.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But I sat upon the doorstep with him for a few minutes while he performed on that cartridge shell instrument of his.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But I sat upon the doorstep with him for a few minutes while he performed on that cartridge shell instrument of his.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading No rattlesnakes appeared, however.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading It was now mid-afternoon and I could not linger at old Buck’s cabin.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading I actually saw him lure one of those noisy bluejays almost within reach of his arm, and I think he would have captured it if his granddaughter had not laughed aloud at my astonishment.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading By using the shell in conjunction with a pebble he could reproduce the appalling sound of a rattlesnake.
instrumentnounUS /ˈɪnstrəmənt/
a device that requires skill for proper use
From this reading But I sat upon the doorstep with him for a few minutes while he performed on that cartridge shell instrument of his.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was now mid-afternoon and I could not linger at old Buck’s cabin.
past form of “laugh” — produce laughter
From this reading I actually saw him lure one of those noisy bluejays almost within reach of his arm, and I think he would have captured it if his granddaughter had not laughed aloud at my astonishment.
lingerverbUS /ˈlɪŋɡər/
remain present although waning or gradually dying
From this reading It was now mid-afternoon and I could not linger at old Buck’s cabin.
lurenounUS /lʊr/
qualities that attract by seeming to promise some kind of reward
From this reading I actually saw him lure one of those noisy bluejays almost within reach of his arm, and I think he would have captured it if his granddaughter had not laughed aloud at my astonishment.
mid-afternoon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was now mid-afternoon and I could not linger at old Buck’s cabin.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading But I sat upon the doorstep with him for a few minutes while he performed on that cartridge shell instrument of his.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I actually saw him lure one of those noisy bluejays almost within reach of his arm, and I think he would have captured it if his granddaughter had not laughed aloud at my astonishment.
not any; not one
From this reading No rattlesnakes appeared, however.
noisyadjectiveUS /ˈnɔɪzi/
full of or characterized by loud and nonmusical sounds
From this reading I actually saw him lure one of those noisy bluejays almost within reach of his arm, and I think he would have captured it if his granddaughter had not laughed aloud at my astonishment.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was now mid-afternoon and I could not linger at old Buck’s cabin.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It was now mid-afternoon and I could not linger at old Buck’s cabin.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But I sat upon the doorstep with him for a few minutes while he performed on that cartridge shell instrument of his.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading It was now mid-afternoon and I could not linger at old Buck’s cabin.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But I sat upon the doorstep with him for a few minutes while he performed on that cartridge shell instrument of his.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I actually saw him lure one of those noisy bluejays almost within reach of his arm, and I think he would have captured it if his granddaughter had not laughed aloud at my astonishment.
pebblenounUS /ˈpebəl/
a small smooth rounded rock
From this reading By using the shell in conjunction with a pebble he could reproduce the appalling sound of a rattlesnake.
performedverbUS /pərˈfɔːrmd/
past form of “perform” — carry out or perform an action
From this reading But I sat upon the doorstep with him for a few minutes while he performed on that cartridge shell instrument of his.
rattlesnakenounUS /ˈrætəlsneɪk/
pit viper with horny segments at the end of the tail that rattle when shaken
From this reading By using the shell in conjunction with a pebble he could reproduce the appalling sound of a rattlesnake.
rattlesnakesnounUS /ˈrætəlsneɪks/
plural of “rattlesnake” — pit viper with horny segments at the end of the tail that rattle when shaken
From this reading No rattlesnakes appeared, however.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading I actually saw him lure one of those noisy bluejays almost within reach of his arm, and I think he would have captured it if his granddaughter had not laughed aloud at my astonishment.
reproduceverbUS /ˌriːprəˈduːs/
make a copy or equivalent of
From this reading By using the shell in conjunction with a pebble he could reproduce the appalling sound of a rattlesnake.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading But I sat upon the doorstep with him for a few minutes while he performed on that cartridge shell instrument of his.
cut with a saw
From this reading I actually saw him lure one of those noisy bluejays almost within reach of his arm, and I think he would have captured it if his granddaughter had not laughed aloud at my astonishment.
shellnounUS /ʃel/
ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun
From this reading But I sat upon the doorstep with him for a few minutes while he performed on that cartridge shell instrument of his.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading By using the shell in conjunction with a pebble he could reproduce the appalling sound of a rattlesnake.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But I sat upon the doorstep with him for a few minutes while he performed on that cartridge shell instrument of his.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But I sat upon the doorstep with him for a few minutes while he performed on that cartridge shell instrument of his.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading I actually saw him lure one of those noisy bluejays almost within reach of his arm, and I think he would have captured it if his granddaughter had not laughed aloud at my astonishment.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading I actually saw him lure one of those noisy bluejays almost within reach of his arm, and I think he would have captured it if his granddaughter had not laughed aloud at my astonishment.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading But I sat upon the doorstep with him for a few minutes while he performed on that cartridge shell instrument of his.
an act that exploits or victimizes someone (treats them unfairly)
From this reading By using the shell in conjunction with a pebble he could reproduce the appalling sound of a rattlesnake.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was now mid-afternoon and I could not linger at old Buck’s cabin.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading But I sat upon the doorstep with him for a few minutes while he performed on that cartridge shell instrument of his.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But I sat upon the doorstep with him for a few minutes while he performed on that cartridge shell instrument of his.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading I actually saw him lure one of those noisy bluejays almost within reach of his arm, and I think he would have captured it if his granddaughter had not laughed aloud at my astonishment.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading I actually saw him lure one of those noisy bluejays almost within reach of his arm, and I think he would have captured it if his granddaughter had not laughed aloud at my astonishment.
