used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was not a mouthful of meat on the plantation.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The family lived on corn-bread and black-eyed pease.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As yet nothing had been heard of Hugh or the General, though the boys' father went to Richmond to see whether they had been released.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading As yet nothing had been heard of Hugh or the General, though the boys' father went to Richmond to see whether they had been released.
black-eyed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The family lived on corn-bread and black-eyed pease.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The boys' Uncle William came the next day.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The boys' Uncle William came the next day.
corn-bread
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The family lived on corn-bread and black-eyed pease.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The boys' Uncle William came the next day.
at any time
From this reading The two weeks which followed were the hardest the boys had ever known.
a social unit living together
From this reading The family lived on corn-bread and black-eyed pease.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading As yet nothing had been heard of Hugh or the General, though the boys' father went to Richmond to see whether they had been released.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading The two weeks which followed were the hardest the boys had ever known.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading As yet nothing had been heard of Hugh or the General, though the boys' father went to Richmond to see whether they had been released.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The two weeks which followed were the hardest the boys had ever known.
hardestadverbUS /ˈhɑːrdəst/
superlative of “hard” — with effort or force or vigor
From this reading The two weeks which followed were the hardest the boys had ever known.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading As yet nothing had been heard of Hugh or the General, though the boys' father went to Richmond to see whether they had been released.
Hugh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As yet nothing had been heard of Hugh or the General, though the boys' father went to Richmond to see whether they had been released.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading The two weeks which followed were the hardest the boys had ever known.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading The family lived on corn-bread and black-eyed pease.
the flesh of animals (including fishes and birds and snails) used as food
From this reading There was not a mouthful of meat on the plantation.
mouthfulnounUS /ˈmaʊθfʊl/
the quantity that can be held in the mouth
From this reading There was not a mouthful of meat on the plantation.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading The boys' Uncle William came the next day.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There was not a mouthful of meat on the plantation.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading As yet nothing had been heard of Hugh or the General, though the boys' father went to Richmond to see whether they had been released.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As yet nothing had been heard of Hugh or the General, though the boys' father went to Richmond to see whether they had been released.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The family lived on corn-bread and black-eyed pease.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading As yet nothing had been heard of Hugh or the General, though the boys' father went to Richmond to see whether they had been released.
peasenounUS /piːz/
plural of “pea” — seed of a pea plant used for food
From this reading The family lived on corn-bread and black-eyed pease.
plantationnounUS /ˌplænˈteɪʃən/
an estate where cash crops are grown on a large scale (especially in tropical areas)
From this reading There was not a mouthful of meat on the plantation.
releasedverbUS /riˈliːst/
past form of “release” — release, as from one's grip
From this reading As yet nothing had been heard of Hugh or the General, though the boys' father went to Richmond to see whether they had been released.
RichmondnounUS /ˈrɪtʃmənd/
capital of the state of Virginia located in the east central part of the state; was capital of the Confederacy during the American Civil War
From this reading As yet nothing had been heard of Hugh or the General, though the boys' father went to Richmond to see whether they had been released.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading As yet nothing had been heard of Hugh or the General, though the boys' father went to Richmond to see whether they had been released.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The boys' Uncle William came the next day.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was not a mouthful of meat on the plantation.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As yet nothing had been heard of Hugh or the General, though the boys' father went to Richmond to see whether they had been released.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading As yet nothing had been heard of Hugh or the General, though the boys' father went to Richmond to see whether they had been released.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As yet nothing had been heard of Hugh or the General, though the boys' father went to Richmond to see whether they had been released.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The two weeks which followed were the hardest the boys had ever known.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading The boys' Uncle William came the next day.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was not a mouthful of meat on the plantation.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading The two weeks which followed were the hardest the boys had ever known.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading As yet nothing had been heard of Hugh or the General, though the boys' father went to Richmond to see whether they had been released.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The two weeks which followed were the hardest the boys had ever known.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading As yet nothing had been heard of Hugh or the General, though the boys' father went to Richmond to see whether they had been released.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The two weeks which followed were the hardest the boys had ever known.
William
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boys' Uncle William came the next day.
but in spite of that
From this reading As yet nothing had been heard of Hugh or the General, though the boys' father went to Richmond to see whether they had been released.
