used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.
a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state
From this reading The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Oh, Jack! do you think they will come here?" was the question Marion asked at least a dozen times.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "Oh, Jack! do you think they will come here?" was the question Marion asked at least a dozen times.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.
cannon-firing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.
a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled
From this reading The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "Oh, Jack! do you think they will come here?" was the question Marion asked at least a dozen times.
ConfederatesnounUS /kənˈfedərəts/
plural of “confederate” — a supporter of the Confederate States of America
From this reading The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.
clear to the mind; with distinct mental discernment
From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.
districtnounUS /ˈdɪstrɪkt/
a region marked off for administrative or other purposes
From this reading The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "Oh, Jack! do you think they will come here?" was the question Marion asked at least a dozen times.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading "Oh, Jack! do you think they will come here?" was the question Marion asked at least a dozen times.
fearful expectation or anticipation
From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.
encampedverbUS /ɪnˈkæmpt/
past form of “encamp” — live in or as if in a tent
From this reading The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.
plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.
your parents
From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.
to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.
GUARDSnounUS /ɡɑːrdz/
plural of “guard” — a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading THE HOME GUARDS OF OLDVILLE.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading "Oh, Jack! do you think they will come here?" was the question Marion asked at least a dozen times.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading THE HOME GUARDS OF OLDVILLE.
homesnounUS /hoʊmz/
plural of “home” — where you live at a particular time
From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.
plural of “inhabitant” — a person who inhabits a particular place
From this reading The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.
invadersnounUS /ˌɪnˈveɪdərz/
plural of “invader” — someone who enters by force in order to conquer
From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.
a small worthless amount
From this reading "Oh, Jack! do you think they will come here?" was the question Marion asked at least a dozen times.
Jack'snounUS /dʒæks/
possessive form of “jack” — a small worthless amount
From this reading The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.
immediately past
From this reading The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading "Oh, Jack! do you think they will come here?" was the question Marion asked at least a dozen times.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.
Marion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Oh, Jack! do you think they will come here?" was the question Marion asked at least a dozen times.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE HOME GUARDS OF OLDVILLE.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading "Oh, Jack! do you think they will come here?" was the question Marion asked at least a dozen times.
OLDVILLE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HOME GUARDS OF OLDVILLE.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.
pillagenounUS /ˈpɪlɪdʒ/
goods or money obtained illegally
From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.
plantationnounUS /ˌplænˈteɪʃən/
an estate where cash crops are grown on a large scale (especially in tropical areas)
From this reading The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.
compacted by ironing
From this reading The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading "Oh, Jack! do you think they will come here?" was the question Marion asked at least a dozen times.
recordedadjectiveUS /rəˈkɔːrdɪd/
set down or registered in a permanent form especially on film or tape for reproduction
From this reading The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.
Ruthvens
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.
the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.
at a steady rate or pace
From this reading The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.
swoopnounUS /swuːp/
(music) rapid sliding up or down the musical scale
From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE HOME GUARDS OF OLDVILLE.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Oh, Jack! do you think they will come here?" was the question Marion asked at least a dozen times.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "Oh, Jack! do you think they will come here?" was the question Marion asked at least a dozen times.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading "Oh, Jack! do you think they will come here?" was the question Marion asked at least a dozen times.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.
hard to endure
From this reading The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "Oh, Jack! do you think they will come here?" was the question Marion asked at least a dozen times.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Oh, Jack! do you think they will come here?" was the question Marion asked at least a dozen times.
