used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In the old Elizabethan days, before scene-painting was invented, they used to hang a placard on a black cloth behind the actors with such inscriptions as "This is the seashore," "This is a wood."
actorsnounUS /ˈæktərz/
plural of “actor” — a theatrical performer
From this reading In the old Elizabethan days, before scene-painting was invented, they used to hang a placard on a black cloth behind the actors with such inscriptions as "This is the seashore," "This is a wood."
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading With the Lewis Gun--and After!
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It _had_ been a wood--a wood of tall, straight trees in full summer leaf, with bramble bushes and pleasant undergrowth before the British batteries had flung their devastating hail into it; but now it resembled an old toothbrush more than anything else, with bristles long and short, and sticking out at every angle.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading With the Lewis Gun--and After!
anglenounUS /ˈæŋɡəl/
the space between two lines or planes that intersect; the inclination of one line to another; measured in degrees or radians
From this reading It _had_ been a wood--a wood of tall, straight trees in full summer leaf, with bramble bushes and pleasant undergrowth before the British batteries had flung their devastating hail into it; but now it resembled an old toothbrush more than anything else, with bristles long and short, and sticking out at every angle.
any thing at all
From this reading It _had_ been a wood--a wood of tall, straight trees in full summer leaf, with bramble bushes and pleasant undergrowth before the British batteries had flung their devastating hail into it; but now it resembled an old toothbrush more than anything else, with bristles long and short, and sticking out at every angle.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In the old Elizabethan days, before scene-painting was invented, they used to hang a placard on a black cloth behind the actors with such inscriptions as "This is the seashore," "This is a wood."
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It _had_ been a wood--a wood of tall, straight trees in full summer leaf, with bramble bushes and pleasant undergrowth before the British batteries had flung their devastating hail into it; but now it resembled an old toothbrush more than anything else, with bristles long and short, and sticking out at every angle.
barredadjectiveUS /bɑːrd/
preventing entry or exit or a course of action
From this reading Hundreds of fallen saplings barred their way.
batteriesnounUS /ˈbætəriz/
plural of “battery” — group of guns or missile launchers operated together at one place
From this reading It _had_ been a wood--a wood of tall, straight trees in full summer leaf, with bramble bushes and pleasant undergrowth before the British batteries had flung their devastating hail into it; but now it resembled an old toothbrush more than anything else, with bristles long and short, and sticking out at every angle.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It _had_ been a wood--a wood of tall, straight trees in full summer leaf, with bramble bushes and pleasant undergrowth before the British batteries had flung their devastating hail into it; but now it resembled an old toothbrush more than anything else, with bristles long and short, and sticking out at every angle.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading In the old Elizabethan days, before scene-painting was invented, they used to hang a placard on a black cloth behind the actors with such inscriptions as "This is the seashore," "This is a wood."
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading In the old Elizabethan days, before scene-painting was invented, they used to hang a placard on a black cloth behind the actors with such inscriptions as "This is the seashore," "This is a wood."
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading In the old Elizabethan days, before scene-painting was invented, they used to hang a placard on a black cloth behind the actors with such inscriptions as "This is the seashore," "This is a wood."
bramblenounUS /ˈbræmbəl/
any of various rough thorny shrubs or vines
From this reading It _had_ been a wood--a wood of tall, straight trees in full summer leaf, with bramble bushes and pleasant undergrowth before the British batteries had flung their devastating hail into it; but now it resembled an old toothbrush more than anything else, with bristles long and short, and sticking out at every angle.
bristlesnounUS /ˈbrɪsəlz/
plural of “bristle” — a stiff fiber (coarse hair or filament); natural or synthetic
From this reading It _had_ been a wood--a wood of tall, straight trees in full summer leaf, with bramble bushes and pleasant undergrowth before the British batteries had flung their devastating hail into it; but now it resembled an old toothbrush more than anything else, with bristles long and short, and sticking out at every angle.
the people of Great Britain
From this reading It _had_ been a wood--a wood of tall, straight trees in full summer leaf, with bramble bushes and pleasant undergrowth before the British batteries had flung their devastating hail into it; but now it resembled an old toothbrush more than anything else, with bristles long and short, and sticking out at every angle.
plural of “bush” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading It _had_ been a wood--a wood of tall, straight trees in full summer leaf, with bramble bushes and pleasant undergrowth before the British batteries had flung their devastating hail into it; but now it resembled an old toothbrush more than anything else, with bristles long and short, and sticking out at every angle.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It _had_ been a wood--a wood of tall, straight trees in full summer leaf, with bramble bushes and pleasant undergrowth before the British batteries had flung their devastating hail into it; but now it resembled an old toothbrush more than anything else, with bristles long and short, and sticking out at every angle.
artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers
From this reading In the old Elizabethan days, before scene-painting was invented, they used to hang a placard on a black cloth behind the actors with such inscriptions as "This is the seashore," "This is a wood."
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading In the old Elizabethan days, before scene-painting was invented, they used to hang a placard on a black cloth behind the actors with such inscriptions as "This is the seashore," "This is a wood."
a statement that represents something in words
From this reading And such a description would have well passed for the spot through which they now threaded their way.
devastatingadjectiveUS /ˈdevəsteɪtɪŋ/
making light of
From this reading It _had_ been a wood--a wood of tall, straight trees in full summer leaf, with bramble bushes and pleasant undergrowth before the British batteries had flung their devastating hail into it; but now it resembled an old toothbrush more than anything else, with bristles long and short, and sticking out at every angle.
ElizabethannounUS /ˌelɪzəˈbiːθən/
a person who lived during the reign of Elizabeth I
From this reading In the old Elizabethan days, before scene-painting was invented, they used to hang a placard on a black cloth behind the actors with such inscriptions as "This is the seashore," "This is a wood."
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It _had_ been a wood--a wood of tall, straight trees in full summer leaf, with bramble bushes and pleasant undergrowth before the British batteries had flung their devastating hail into it; but now it resembled an old toothbrush more than anything else, with bristles long and short, and sticking out at every angle.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading It _had_ been a wood--a wood of tall, straight trees in full summer leaf, with bramble bushes and pleasant undergrowth before the British batteries had flung their devastating hail into it; but now it resembled an old toothbrush more than anything else, with bristles long and short, and sticking out at every angle.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading Hundreds of fallen saplings barred their way.
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading It _had_ been a wood--a wood of tall, straight trees in full summer leaf, with bramble bushes and pleasant undergrowth before the British batteries had flung their devastating hail into it; but now it resembled an old toothbrush more than anything else, with bristles long and short, and sticking out at every angle.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading And such a description would have well passed for the spot through which they now threaded their way.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading It _had_ been a wood--a wood of tall, straight trees in full summer leaf, with bramble bushes and pleasant undergrowth before the British batteries had flung their devastating hail into it; but now it resembled an old toothbrush more than anything else, with bristles long and short, and sticking out at every angle.
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading With the Lewis Gun--and After!
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It _had_ been a wood--a wood of tall, straight trees in full summer leaf, with bramble bushes and pleasant undergrowth before the British batteries had flung their devastating hail into it; but now it resembled an old toothbrush more than anything else, with bristles long and short, and sticking out at every angle.
hailverbUS /heɪl/
praise vociferously
From this reading It _had_ been a wood--a wood of tall, straight trees in full summer leaf, with bramble bushes and pleasant undergrowth before the British batteries had flung their devastating hail into it; but now it resembled an old toothbrush more than anything else, with bristles long and short, and sticking out at every angle.
be suspended or hanging
From this reading In the old Elizabethan days, before scene-painting was invented, they used to hang a placard on a black cloth behind the actors with such inscriptions as "This is the seashore," "This is a wood."
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading And such a description would have well passed for the spot through which they now threaded their way.
plural of “hundred” — ten 10s
From this reading Hundreds of fallen saplings barred their way.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the old Elizabethan days, before scene-painting was invented, they used to hang a placard on a black cloth behind the actors with such inscriptions as "This is the seashore," "This is a wood."
inscriptionsnounUS /ˌɪnˈskrɪpʃənz/
plural of “inscription” — letters inscribed (especially words engraved or carved) on something
From this reading In the old Elizabethan days, before scene-painting was invented, they used to hang a placard on a black cloth behind the actors with such inscriptions as "This is the seashore," "This is a wood."
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading It _had_ been a wood--a wood of tall, straight trees in full summer leaf, with bramble bushes and pleasant undergrowth before the British batteries had flung their devastating hail into it; but now it resembled an old toothbrush more than anything else, with bristles long and short, and sticking out at every angle.
inventedverbUS /ˌɪnˈventəd/
past form of “invent” — come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort
From this reading In the old Elizabethan days, before scene-painting was invented, they used to hang a placard on a black cloth behind the actors with such inscriptions as "This is the seashore," "This is a wood."
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In the old Elizabethan days, before scene-painting was invented, they used to hang a placard on a black cloth behind the actors with such inscriptions as "This is the seashore," "This is a wood."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It _had_ been a wood--a wood of tall, straight trees in full summer leaf, with bramble bushes and pleasant undergrowth before the British batteries had flung their devastating hail into it; but now it resembled an old toothbrush more than anything else, with bristles long and short, and sticking out at every angle.
leafnounUS /liːf/
the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading It _had_ been a wood--a wood of tall, straight trees in full summer leaf, with bramble bushes and pleasant undergrowth before the British batteries had flung their devastating hail into it; but now it resembled an old toothbrush more than anything else, with bristles long and short, and sticking out at every angle.
LewisnounUS /ˈluːɪs/
United States rock star singer and pianist (born in 1935)
From this reading With the Lewis Gun--and After!
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading It _had_ been a wood--a wood of tall, straight trees in full summer leaf, with bramble bushes and pleasant undergrowth before the British batteries had flung their devastating hail into it; but now it resembled an old toothbrush more than anything else, with bristles long and short, and sticking out at every angle.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading It _had_ been a wood--a wood of tall, straight trees in full summer leaf, with bramble bushes and pleasant undergrowth before the British batteries had flung their devastating hail into it; but now it resembled an old toothbrush more than anything else, with bristles long and short, and sticking out at every angle.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading And such a description would have well passed for the spot through which they now threaded their way.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It _had_ been a wood--a wood of tall, straight trees in full summer leaf, with bramble bushes and pleasant undergrowth before the British batteries had flung their devastating hail into it; but now it resembled an old toothbrush more than anything else, with bristles long and short, and sticking out at every angle.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading In the old Elizabethan days, before scene-painting was invented, they used to hang a placard on a black cloth behind the actors with such inscriptions as "This is the seashore," "This is a wood."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In the old Elizabethan days, before scene-painting was invented, they used to hang a placard on a black cloth behind the actors with such inscriptions as "This is the seashore," "This is a wood."
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It _had_ been a wood--a wood of tall, straight trees in full summer leaf, with bramble bushes and pleasant undergrowth before the British batteries had flung their devastating hail into it; but now it resembled an old toothbrush more than anything else, with bristles long and short, and sticking out at every angle.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading And such a description would have well passed for the spot through which they now threaded their way.
placardverbUS /ˈplækərd/
post in a public place
From this reading In the old Elizabethan days, before scene-painting was invented, they used to hang a placard on a black cloth behind the actors with such inscriptions as "This is the seashore," "This is a wood."
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading It _had_ been a wood--a wood of tall, straight trees in full summer leaf, with bramble bushes and pleasant undergrowth before the British batteries had flung their devastating hail into it; but now it resembled an old toothbrush more than anything else, with bristles long and short, and sticking out at every angle.
resembledverbUS /rɪˈzembəld/
past form of “resemble” — appear like; be similar or bear a likeness to
From this reading It _had_ been a wood--a wood of tall, straight trees in full summer leaf, with bramble bushes and pleasant undergrowth before the British batteries had flung their devastating hail into it; but now it resembled an old toothbrush more than anything else, with bristles long and short, and sticking out at every angle.
saplingsnounUS /ˈsæplɪŋz/
plural of “sapling” — young tree
From this reading Hundreds of fallen saplings barred their way.
scene-painting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the old Elizabethan days, before scene-painting was invented, they used to hang a placard on a black cloth behind the actors with such inscriptions as "This is the seashore," "This is a wood."
seashorenounUS /ˈsiːʃɔːr/
the shore of a sea or ocean
From this reading In the old Elizabethan days, before scene-painting was invented, they used to hang a placard on a black cloth behind the actors with such inscriptions as "This is the seashore," "This is a wood."
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading It _had_ been a wood--a wood of tall, straight trees in full summer leaf, with bramble bushes and pleasant undergrowth before the British batteries had flung their devastating hail into it; but now it resembled an old toothbrush more than anything else, with bristles long and short, and sticking out at every angle.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading And such a description would have well passed for the spot through which they now threaded their way.
stickingadjectiveUS /ˈstɪkɪŋ/
extending out above or beyond a surface or boundary
From this reading It _had_ been a wood--a wood of tall, straight trees in full summer leaf, with bramble bushes and pleasant undergrowth before the British batteries had flung their devastating hail into it; but now it resembled an old toothbrush more than anything else, with bristles long and short, and sticking out at every angle.
successive (without a break)
From this reading It _had_ been a wood--a wood of tall, straight trees in full summer leaf, with bramble bushes and pleasant undergrowth before the British batteries had flung their devastating hail into it; but now it resembled an old toothbrush more than anything else, with bristles long and short, and sticking out at every angle.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading In the old Elizabethan days, before scene-painting was invented, they used to hang a placard on a black cloth behind the actors with such inscriptions as "This is the seashore," "This is a wood."
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading It _had_ been a wood--a wood of tall, straight trees in full summer leaf, with bramble bushes and pleasant undergrowth before the British batteries had flung their devastating hail into it; but now it resembled an old toothbrush more than anything else, with bristles long and short, and sticking out at every angle.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading It _had_ been a wood--a wood of tall, straight trees in full summer leaf, with bramble bushes and pleasant undergrowth before the British batteries had flung their devastating hail into it; but now it resembled an old toothbrush more than anything else, with bristles long and short, and sticking out at every angle.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It _had_ been a wood--a wood of tall, straight trees in full summer leaf, with bramble bushes and pleasant undergrowth before the British batteries had flung their devastating hail into it; but now it resembled an old toothbrush more than anything else, with bristles long and short, and sticking out at every angle.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading With the Lewis Gun--and After!
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading And such a description would have well passed for the spot through which they now threaded their way.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In the old Elizabethan days, before scene-painting was invented, they used to hang a placard on a black cloth behind the actors with such inscriptions as "This is the seashore," "This is a wood."
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading In the old Elizabethan days, before scene-painting was invented, they used to hang a placard on a black cloth behind the actors with such inscriptions as "This is the seashore," "This is a wood."
threadedadjectiveUS /ˈθredɪd/
(of bolts or screws) having screw threads
From this reading And such a description would have well passed for the spot through which they now threaded their way.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading And such a description would have well passed for the spot through which they now threaded their way.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In the old Elizabethan days, before scene-painting was invented, they used to hang a placard on a black cloth behind the actors with such inscriptions as "This is the seashore," "This is a wood."
toothbrushnounUS /ˈtuːθbrəʃ/
small brush; has long handle; used to clean teeth
From this reading It _had_ been a wood--a wood of tall, straight trees in full summer leaf, with bramble bushes and pleasant undergrowth before the British batteries had flung their devastating hail into it; but now it resembled an old toothbrush more than anything else, with bristles long and short, and sticking out at every angle.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading It _had_ been a wood--a wood of tall, straight trees in full summer leaf, with bramble bushes and pleasant undergrowth before the British batteries had flung their devastating hail into it; but now it resembled an old toothbrush more than anything else, with bristles long and short, and sticking out at every angle.
undergrowthnounUS /ˈʌndərɡroʊθ/
the brush (small trees and bushes and ferns etc.) growing beneath taller trees in a wood or forest
From this reading It _had_ been a wood--a wood of tall, straight trees in full summer leaf, with bramble bushes and pleasant undergrowth before the British batteries had flung their devastating hail into it; but now it resembled an old toothbrush more than anything else, with bristles long and short, and sticking out at every angle.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading In the old Elizabethan days, before scene-painting was invented, they used to hang a placard on a black cloth behind the actors with such inscriptions as "This is the seashore," "This is a wood."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In the old Elizabethan days, before scene-painting was invented, they used to hang a placard on a black cloth behind the actors with such inscriptions as "This is the seashore," "This is a wood."
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading And such a description would have well passed for the spot through which they now threaded their way.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading And such a description would have well passed for the spot through which they now threaded their way.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading And such a description would have well passed for the spot through which they now threaded their way.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With the Lewis Gun--and After!
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading In the old Elizabethan days, before scene-painting was invented, they used to hang a placard on a black cloth behind the actors with such inscriptions as "This is the seashore," "This is a wood."
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading And such a description would have well passed for the spot through which they now threaded their way.
