used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Saturday, toward sunset, I heard a whooping in the woods.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading With him, his wild brother, Jack; and Bill, his assistant plumber and man-about-shop.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading And it was kept up till late Sunday night ... around a big fire in a cleared space they sang and gambled and drank.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was Randall coming with a few friends for his week-end, as he had warned.
assistantnounUS /əˈsɪstənt/
a person who contributes to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose
From this reading With him, his wild brother, Jack; and Bill, his assistant plumber and man-about-shop.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The drinking had begun before they were in sight of the shack.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The drinking had begun before they were in sight of the shack.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading And it was kept up till late Sunday night ... around a big fire in a cleared space they sang and gambled and drank.
a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading With him, his wild brother, Jack; and Bill, his assistant plumber and man-about-shop.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading With him, his wild brother, Jack; and Bill, his assistant plumber and man-about-shop.
rid of objects or obstructions such as e.g. trees and brush
From this reading And it was kept up till late Sunday night ... around a big fire in a cleared space they sang and gambled and drank.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading It was Randall coming with a few friends for his week-end, as he had warned.
inflected form of “drink” — take in liquids
From this reading And it was kept up till late Sunday night ... around a big fire in a cleared space they sang and gambled and drank.
the act of consuming liquids
From this reading The drinking had begun before they were in sight of the shack.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading It was Randall coming with a few friends for his week-end, as he had warned.
start firing a weapon
From this reading And it was kept up till late Sunday night ... around a big fire in a cleared space they sang and gambled and drank.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was Randall coming with a few friends for his week-end, as he had warned.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading It was Randall coming with a few friends for his week-end, as he had warned.
gambledverbUS /ˈɡæmbəld/
past form of “gamble” — take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
From this reading And it was kept up till late Sunday night ... around a big fire in a cleared space they sang and gambled and drank.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was Randall coming with a few friends for his week-end, as he had warned.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was Randall coming with a few friends for his week-end, as he had warned.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Saturday, toward sunset, I heard a whooping in the woods.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading With him, his wild brother, Jack; and Bill, his assistant plumber and man-about-shop.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was Randall coming with a few friends for his week-end, as he had warned.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Saturday, toward sunset, I heard a whooping in the woods.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Saturday, toward sunset, I heard a whooping in the woods.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was Randall coming with a few friends for his week-end, as he had warned.
a small worthless amount
From this reading With him, his wild brother, Jack; and Bill, his assistant plumber and man-about-shop.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading And it was kept up till late Sunday night ... around a big fire in a cleared space they sang and gambled and drank.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading And it was kept up till late Sunday night ... around a big fire in a cleared space they sang and gambled and drank.
man-about-shop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With him, his wild brother, Jack; and Bill, his assistant plumber and man-about-shop.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading And it was kept up till late Sunday night ... around a big fire in a cleared space they sang and gambled and drank.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The drinking had begun before they were in sight of the shack.
plumbernounUS /ˈplʌmər/
a craftsman who installs and repairs pipes and fixtures and appliances
From this reading With him, his wild brother, Jack; and Bill, his assistant plumber and man-about-shop.
Randall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Randall coming with a few friends for his week-end, as he had warned.
North American woodland herb similar to and used as substitute for the Chinese ginseng
From this reading And it was kept up till late Sunday night ... around a big fire in a cleared space they sang and gambled and drank.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Saturday, toward sunset, I heard a whooping in the woods.
shacknounUS /ʃæk/
small crude shelter used as a dwelling
From this reading The drinking had begun before they were in sight of the shack.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading The drinking had begun before they were in sight of the shack.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading And it was kept up till late Sunday night ... around a big fire in a cleared space they sang and gambled and drank.
first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians
From this reading And it was kept up till late Sunday night ... around a big fire in a cleared space they sang and gambled and drank.
the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon
From this reading Saturday, toward sunset, I heard a whooping in the woods.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Saturday, toward sunset, I heard a whooping in the woods.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The drinking had begun before they were in sight of the shack.
up to a particular time
From this reading And it was kept up till late Sunday night ... around a big fire in a cleared space they sang and gambled and drank.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Saturday, toward sunset, I heard a whooping in the woods.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading And it was kept up till late Sunday night ... around a big fire in a cleared space they sang and gambled and drank.
past form of “warn” — notify of danger, potential harm, or risk
From this reading It was Randall coming with a few friends for his week-end, as he had warned.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was Randall coming with a few friends for his week-end, as he had warned.
week-end
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Randall coming with a few friends for his week-end, as he had warned.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The drinking had begun before they were in sight of the shack.
whoopingverbUS /ˈwuːpɪŋ/
-ing form of “whoop” — shout, as if with joy or enthusiasm
From this reading Saturday, toward sunset, I heard a whooping in the woods.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading With him, his wild brother, Jack; and Bill, his assistant plumber and man-about-shop.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was Randall coming with a few friends for his week-end, as he had warned.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading Saturday, toward sunset, I heard a whooping in the woods.
