used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading One soft spring morning, some two weeks later, a little knot of officers had gathered about the Cranstons' quarters at the cantonment.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading One soft spring morning, some two weeks later, a little knot of officers had gathered about the Cranstons' quarters at the cantonment.
absorbingadjectiveUS /əbˈzɔːrbɪŋ/
capable of arousing and holding the attention
From this reading Neither felt like studying this day of days, for absorbing news, and lots of it, had come.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Under an awning of tent flies they were conning the papers that had just reached them and eagerly discussing their contents.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Under an awning of tent flies they were conning the papers that had just reached them and eagerly discussing their contents.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Mrs. Cranston, a shade of anxiety on her winsome, sunburned face, was glancing quickly from one speaker to another.
(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic
From this reading Mrs. Cranston, a shade of anxiety on her winsome, sunburned face, was glancing quickly from one speaker to another.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Through the open door-way in the cool interior Miss Loomis could be seen bending over the boys as they fidgeted at their books.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading One soft spring morning, some two weeks later, a little knot of officers had gathered about the Cranstons' quarters at the cantonment.
awningnounUS /ˈɑːnɪŋ/
a canopy made of canvas to shelter people or things from rain or sun
From this reading Under an awning of tent flies they were conning the papers that had just reached them and eagerly discussing their contents.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Through the open door-way in the cool interior Miss Loomis could be seen bending over the boys as they fidgeted at their books.
bendingnounUS /ˈbendɪŋ/
movement that causes the formation of a curve
From this reading Through the open door-way in the cool interior Miss Loomis could be seen bending over the boys as they fidgeted at their books.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading Through the open door-way in the cool interior Miss Loomis could be seen bending over the boys as they fidgeted at their books.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading Through the open door-way in the cool interior Miss Loomis could be seen bending over the boys as they fidgeted at their books.
cantonmentnoun
temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
From this reading One soft spring morning, some two weeks later, a little knot of officers had gathered about the Cranstons' quarters at the cantonment.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Neither felt like studying this day of days, for absorbing news, and lots of it, had come.
conningverbUS /ˈkɑːnɪŋ/
inflected form of “con” — deprive of by deceit
From this reading Under an awning of tent flies they were conning the papers that had just reached them and eagerly discussing their contents.
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading Under an awning of tent flies they were conning the papers that had just reached them and eagerly discussing their contents.
neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat
From this reading Through the open door-way in the cool interior Miss Loomis could be seen bending over the boys as they fidgeted at their books.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Through the open door-way in the cool interior Miss Loomis could be seen bending over the boys as they fidgeted at their books.
Cranston
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Cranston, a shade of anxiety on her winsome, sunburned face, was glancing quickly from one speaker to another.
Cranstons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One soft spring morning, some two weeks later, a little knot of officers had gathered about the Cranstons' quarters at the cantonment.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Neither felt like studying this day of days, for absorbing news, and lots of it, had come.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Neither felt like studying this day of days, for absorbing news, and lots of it, had come.
discussingverbUS /dɪˈskʌsɪŋ/
-ing form of “discuss” — to consider or examine in speech or writing
From this reading Under an awning of tent flies they were conning the papers that had just reached them and eagerly discussing their contents.
door-way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through the open door-way in the cool interior Miss Loomis could be seen bending over the boys as they fidgeted at their books.
with eagerness; in an eager manner
From this reading Under an awning of tent flies they were conning the papers that had just reached them and eagerly discussing their contents.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Mrs. Cranston, a shade of anxiety on her winsome, sunburned face, was glancing quickly from one speaker to another.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Neither felt like studying this day of days, for absorbing news, and lots of it, had come.
fidgeted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through the open door-way in the cool interior Miss Loomis could be seen bending over the boys as they fidgeted at their books.
fliesnounUS /flaɪz/
(theater) the space over the stage (out of view of the audience) used to store scenery (drop curtains)
From this reading Under an awning of tent flies they were conning the papers that had just reached them and eagerly discussing their contents.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Neither felt like studying this day of days, for absorbing news, and lots of it, had come.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Mrs. Cranston, a shade of anxiety on her winsome, sunburned face, was glancing quickly from one speaker to another.
brought together in one place
From this reading One soft spring morning, some two weeks later, a little knot of officers had gathered about the Cranstons' quarters at the cantonment.
-ing form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Mrs. Cranston, a shade of anxiety on her winsome, sunburned face, was glancing quickly from one speaker to another.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading One soft spring morning, some two weeks later, a little knot of officers had gathered about the Cranstons' quarters at the cantonment.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Cranston, a shade of anxiety on her winsome, sunburned face, was glancing quickly from one speaker to another.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Through the open door-way in the cool interior Miss Loomis could be seen bending over the boys as they fidgeted at their books.
interioradjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtɪriər/
situated within or suitable for inside a building
From this reading Through the open door-way in the cool interior Miss Loomis could be seen bending over the boys as they fidgeted at their books.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Neither felt like studying this day of days, for absorbing news, and lots of it, had come.
and nothing more
From this reading Under an awning of tent flies they were conning the papers that had just reached them and eagerly discussing their contents.
knotnounUS /nɑːt/
a tight cluster of people or things
From this reading One soft spring morning, some two weeks later, a little knot of officers had gathered about the Cranstons' quarters at the cantonment.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading One soft spring morning, some two weeks later, a little knot of officers had gathered about the Cranstons' quarters at the cantonment.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Neither felt like studying this day of days, for absorbing news, and lots of it, had come.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading One soft spring morning, some two weeks later, a little knot of officers had gathered about the Cranstons' quarters at the cantonment.
Loomis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through the open door-way in the cool interior Miss Loomis could be seen bending over the boys as they fidgeted at their books.
lotsnounUS /lɑːts/
a large number or amount
From this reading Neither felt like studying this day of days, for absorbing news, and lots of it, had come.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Through the open door-way in the cool interior Miss Loomis could be seen bending over the boys as they fidgeted at their books.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading One soft spring morning, some two weeks later, a little knot of officers had gathered about the Cranstons' quarters at the cantonment.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Cranston, a shade of anxiety on her winsome, sunburned face, was glancing quickly from one speaker to another.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading Neither felt like studying this day of days, for absorbing news, and lots of it, had come.
information about recent and important events
From this reading Neither felt like studying this day of days, for absorbing news, and lots of it, had come.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading One soft spring morning, some two weeks later, a little knot of officers had gathered about the Cranstons' quarters at the cantonment.
plural of “officer” — any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading One soft spring morning, some two weeks later, a little knot of officers had gathered about the Cranstons' quarters at the cantonment.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Mrs. Cranston, a shade of anxiety on her winsome, sunburned face, was glancing quickly from one speaker to another.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One soft spring morning, some two weeks later, a little knot of officers had gathered about the Cranstons' quarters at the cantonment.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Through the open door-way in the cool interior Miss Loomis could be seen bending over the boys as they fidgeted at their books.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Through the open door-way in the cool interior Miss Loomis could be seen bending over the boys as they fidgeted at their books.
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading Under an awning of tent flies they were conning the papers that had just reached them and eagerly discussing their contents.
housing available for people to live in
From this reading One soft spring morning, some two weeks later, a little knot of officers had gathered about the Cranstons' quarters at the cantonment.
with speed
From this reading Mrs. Cranston, a shade of anxiety on her winsome, sunburned face, was glancing quickly from one speaker to another.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Under an awning of tent flies they were conning the papers that had just reached them and eagerly discussing their contents.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Through the open door-way in the cool interior Miss Loomis could be seen bending over the boys as they fidgeted at their books.
relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body
From this reading Mrs. Cranston, a shade of anxiety on her winsome, sunburned face, was glancing quickly from one speaker to another.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading One soft spring morning, some two weeks later, a little knot of officers had gathered about the Cranstons' quarters at the cantonment.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading One soft spring morning, some two weeks later, a little knot of officers had gathered about the Cranstons' quarters at the cantonment.
speakernounUS /ˈspiːkər/
someone who expresses in language; someone who talks (especially someone who delivers a public speech or someone especially garrulous)
From this reading Mrs. Cranston, a shade of anxiety on her winsome, sunburned face, was glancing quickly from one speaker to another.
the season of growth
From this reading One soft spring morning, some two weeks later, a little knot of officers had gathered about the Cranstons' quarters at the cantonment.
studyingnounUS /ˈstʌdiɪŋ/
reading carefully with intent to remember
From this reading Neither felt like studying this day of days, for absorbing news, and lots of it, had come.
sunburnedadjectiveUS /ˈsʌnbɜːrnd/
suffering from overexposure to direct sunlight
From this reading Mrs. Cranston, a shade of anxiety on her winsome, sunburned face, was glancing quickly from one speaker to another.
a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading Under an awning of tent flies they were conning the papers that had just reached them and eagerly discussing their contents.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Under an awning of tent flies they were conning the papers that had just reached them and eagerly discussing their contents.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading One soft spring morning, some two weeks later, a little knot of officers had gathered about the Cranstons' quarters at the cantonment.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Under an awning of tent flies they were conning the papers that had just reached them and eagerly discussing their contents.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Under an awning of tent flies they were conning the papers that had just reached them and eagerly discussing their contents.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Under an awning of tent flies they were conning the papers that had just reached them and eagerly discussing their contents.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Neither felt like studying this day of days, for absorbing news, and lots of it, had come.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Through the open door-way in the cool interior Miss Loomis could be seen bending over the boys as they fidgeted at their books.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mrs. Cranston, a shade of anxiety on her winsome, sunburned face, was glancing quickly from one speaker to another.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading One soft spring morning, some two weeks later, a little knot of officers had gathered about the Cranstons' quarters at the cantonment.
UnderprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Under an awning of tent flies they were conning the papers that had just reached them and eagerly discussing their contents.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mrs. Cranston, a shade of anxiety on her winsome, sunburned face, was glancing quickly from one speaker to another.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading One soft spring morning, some two weeks later, a little knot of officers had gathered about the Cranstons' quarters at the cantonment.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Under an awning of tent flies they were conning the papers that had just reached them and eagerly discussing their contents.
winsomeadjectiveUS /ˈwɪnsəm/
charming in a childlike or naive way
From this reading Mrs. Cranston, a shade of anxiety on her winsome, sunburned face, was glancing quickly from one speaker to another.
