adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The idle manner of it was this:— Toward the end of September, when school-time was drawing near and the nights were already black, we would begin to sally from our-respective villas, each equipped with a tin bull’s-eye lantern.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The thing was so well known that it had worn a rut in the commerce of Great Britain; and the grocers, about the due time, began to garnish their windows with our particular brand of luminary.
alreadyadverbUS /ɔːlˈredi/
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading The idle manner of it was this:— Toward the end of September, when school-time was drawing near and the nights were already black, we would begin to sally from our-respective villas, each equipped with a tin bull’s-eye lantern.
alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading They smelled noisomely of blistered tin; they never burned aright, though they would always burn our fingers; their use was naught; the pleasure of them merely fanciful; and yet a boy with a bull’s-eye under his top-coat asked for nothing more.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The idle manner of it was this:— Toward the end of September, when school-time was drawing near and the nights were already black, we would begin to sally from our-respective villas, each equipped with a tin bull’s-eye lantern.
arightadverb
in an accurate manner
From this reading They smelled noisomely of blistered tin; they never burned aright, though they would always burn our fingers; their use was naught; the pleasure of them merely fanciful; and yet a boy with a bull’s-eye under his top-coat asked for nothing more.
askedverbUS /æskt/
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading They smelled noisomely of blistered tin; they never burned aright, though they would always burn our fingers; their use was naught; the pleasure of them merely fanciful; and yet a boy with a bull’s-eye under his top-coat asked for nothing more.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The fishermen used lanterns about their boats, and it was from them, I suppose, that we had got the hint; but theirs were not bull’s-eyes, nor did we ever play at being fishermen.
beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The thing was so well known that it had worn a rut in the commerce of Great Britain; and the grocers, about the due time, began to garnish their windows with our particular brand of luminary.
beginverbUS /bɪˈɡɪn/
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The idle manner of it was this:— Toward the end of September, when school-time was drawing near and the nights were already black, we would begin to sally from our-respective villas, each equipped with a tin bull’s-eye lantern.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The fishermen used lanterns about their boats, and it was from them, I suppose, that we had got the hint; but theirs were not bull’s-eyes, nor did we ever play at being fishermen.
beltnounUS /belt/
endless loop of flexible material between two rotating shafts or pulleys
From this reading We wore them buckled to the waist upon a cricket belt, and over them, such was the rigour of the game, a buttoned top-coat.
blackadjectiveUS /blæk/
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading The idle manner of it was this:— Toward the end of September, when school-time was drawing near and the nights were already black, we would begin to sally from our-respective villas, each equipped with a tin bull’s-eye lantern.
blisteredverbUS /ˈblɪstərd/
past form of “blister” — get blistered
From this reading They smelled noisomely of blistered tin; they never burned aright, though they would always burn our fingers; their use was naught; the pleasure of them merely fanciful; and yet a boy with a bull’s-eye under his top-coat asked for nothing more.
boatsnounUS /boʊts/
plural of “boat” — a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading The fishermen used lanterns about their boats, and it was from them, I suppose, that we had got the hint; but theirs were not bull’s-eyes, nor did we ever play at being fishermen.
boynounUS /bɔɪ/
a youthful male person
From this reading They smelled noisomely of blistered tin; they never burned aright, though they would always burn our fingers; their use was naught; the pleasure of them merely fanciful; and yet a boy with a bull’s-eye under his top-coat asked for nothing more.
brandnounUS /brænd/
a name given to a product or service
From this reading The thing was so well known that it had worn a rut in the commerce of Great Britain; and the grocers, about the due time, began to garnish their windows with our particular brand of luminary.
BritainnounUS /ˈbrɪtən/
a monarchy in northwestern Europe occupying most of the British Isles; divided into England and Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland; “Great Britain” is often used loosely to refer to the United Kingdom
From this reading The thing was so well known that it had worn a rut in the commerce of Great Britain; and the grocers, about the due time, began to garnish their windows with our particular brand of luminary.
buckledverbUS /ˈbʌkəld/
past form of “buckle” — fasten with a buckle or buckles
From this reading We wore them buckled to the waist upon a cricket belt, and over them, such was the rigour of the game, a buttoned top-coat.
bull's-eyenoun
a lantern with a single opening and a sliding panel that can be closed to conceal the light
From this reading The idle manner of it was this:— Toward the end of September, when school-time was drawing near and the nights were already black, we would begin to sally from our-respective villas, each equipped with a tin bull’s-eye lantern.
bull's-eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fishermen used lanterns about their boats, and it was from them, I suppose, that we had got the hint; but theirs were not bull’s-eyes, nor did we ever play at being fishermen.
burnverbUS /bɜːrn/
To consume or be consumed by fire.
From this reading They smelled noisomely of blistered tin; they never burned aright, though they would always burn our fingers; their use was naught; the pleasure of them merely fanciful; and yet a boy with a bull’s-eye under his top-coat asked for nothing more.
burnedadjectiveUS /bɜːrnd/
treated by heating to a high temperature but below the melting or fusing point
From this reading They smelled noisomely of blistered tin; they never burned aright, though they would always burn our fingers; their use was naught; the pleasure of them merely fanciful; and yet a boy with a bull’s-eye under his top-coat asked for nothing more.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The fishermen used lanterns about their boats, and it was from them, I suppose, that we had got the hint; but theirs were not bull’s-eyes, nor did we ever play at being fishermen.
buttonedadjectiveUS /ˈbʌtənd/
furnished or closed with buttons or something buttonlike
From this reading We wore them buckled to the waist upon a cricket belt, and over them, such was the rigour of the game, a buttoned top-coat.
commercenounUS /ˈkɑːmərs/
transactions (sales and purchases) having the objective of supplying commodities (goods and services)
From this reading The thing was so well known that it had worn a rut in the commerce of Great Britain; and the grocers, about the due time, began to garnish their windows with our particular brand of luminary.
cricketnounUS /ˈkrɪkət/
leaping insect; male makes chirping noises by rubbing the forewings together
From this reading We wore them buckled to the waist upon a cricket belt, and over them, such was the rigour of the game, a buttoned top-coat.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The fishermen used lanterns about their boats, and it was from them, I suppose, that we had got the hint; but theirs were not bull’s-eyes, nor did we ever play at being fishermen.
drawingnounUS /ˈdrɔːɪŋ/
an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper
From this reading The idle manner of it was this:— Toward the end of September, when school-time was drawing near and the nights were already black, we would begin to sally from our-respective villas, each equipped with a tin bull’s-eye lantern.
dueadjectiveUS /duː/
owed and payable immediately or on demand
From this reading The thing was so well known that it had worn a rut in the commerce of Great Britain; and the grocers, about the due time, began to garnish their windows with our particular brand of luminary.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading The idle manner of it was this:— Toward the end of September, when school-time was drawing near and the nights were already black, we would begin to sally from our-respective villas, each equipped with a tin bull’s-eye lantern.
endnounUS /end/
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading The idle manner of it was this:— Toward the end of September, when school-time was drawing near and the nights were already black, we would begin to sally from our-respective villas, each equipped with a tin bull’s-eye lantern.
equippedadjectiveUS /ɪˈkwɪpt/
provided or fitted out with what is necessary or useful or appropriate
From this reading The idle manner of it was this:— Toward the end of September, when school-time was drawing near and the nights were already black, we would begin to sally from our-respective villas, each equipped with a tin bull’s-eye lantern.
everadverbUS /ˈevər/
at any time
From this reading The fishermen used lanterns about their boats, and it was from them, I suppose, that we had got the hint; but theirs were not bull’s-eyes, nor did we ever play at being fishermen.
fancifuladjectiveUS /ˈfænsɪfəl/
indulging in or influenced by fancy
From this reading They smelled noisomely of blistered tin; they never burned aright, though they would always burn our fingers; their use was naught; the pleasure of them merely fanciful; and yet a boy with a bull’s-eye under his top-coat asked for nothing more.
fingersnounUS /ˈfɪŋɡərz/
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading They smelled noisomely of blistered tin; they never burned aright, though they would always burn our fingers; their use was naught; the pleasure of them merely fanciful; and yet a boy with a bull’s-eye under his top-coat asked for nothing more.
fishermennounUS /ˈfɪʃərmɪn/
plural of “fisherman” — someone whose occupation is catching fish
From this reading The fishermen used lanterns about their boats, and it was from them, I suppose, that we had got the hint; but theirs were not bull’s-eyes, nor did we ever play at being fishermen.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They smelled noisomely of blistered tin; they never burned aright, though they would always burn our fingers; their use was naught; the pleasure of them merely fanciful; and yet a boy with a bull’s-eye under his top-coat asked for nothing more.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The idle manner of it was this:— Toward the end of September, when school-time was drawing near and the nights were already black, we would begin to sally from our-respective villas, each equipped with a tin bull’s-eye lantern.
gamenounUS /ɡeɪm/
a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading We wore them buckled to the waist upon a cricket belt, and over them, such was the rigour of the game, a buttoned top-coat.
garnishnounUS /ˈɡɑːrnɪʃ/
something (such as parsley) added to a dish for flavor or decoration
From this reading The thing was so well known that it had worn a rut in the commerce of Great Britain; and the grocers, about the due time, began to garnish their windows with our particular brand of luminary.
gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading The fishermen used lanterns about their boats, and it was from them, I suppose, that we had got the hint; but theirs were not bull’s-eyes, nor did we ever play at being fishermen.
GreatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The thing was so well known that it had worn a rut in the commerce of Great Britain; and the grocers, about the due time, began to garnish their windows with our particular brand of luminary.
grocersnounUS /ˈɡroʊsərz/
plural of “grocer” — a retail merchant who sells foodstuffs (and some household supplies)
From this reading The thing was so well known that it had worn a rut in the commerce of Great Britain; and the grocers, about the due time, began to garnish their windows with our particular brand of luminary.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The thing was so well known that it had worn a rut in the commerce of Great Britain; and the grocers, about the due time, began to garnish their windows with our particular brand of luminary.
hintnounUS /hɪnt/
an indirect suggestion
From this reading The fishermen used lanterns about their boats, and it was from them, I suppose, that we had got the hint; but theirs were not bull’s-eyes, nor did we ever play at being fishermen.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading They smelled noisomely of blistered tin; they never burned aright, though they would always burn our fingers; their use was naught; the pleasure of them merely fanciful; and yet a boy with a bull’s-eye under his top-coat asked for nothing more.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The fishermen used lanterns about their boats, and it was from them, I suppose, that we had got the hint; but theirs were not bull’s-eyes, nor did we ever play at being fishermen.
idleadjectiveUS /ˈaɪdəl/
not in action or at work
From this reading The idle manner of it was this:— Toward the end of September, when school-time was drawing near and the nights were already black, we would begin to sally from our-respective villas, each equipped with a tin bull’s-eye lantern.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The thing was so well known that it had worn a rut in the commerce of Great Britain; and the grocers, about the due time, began to garnish their windows with our particular brand of luminary.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The idle manner of it was this:— Toward the end of September, when school-time was drawing near and the nights were already black, we would begin to sally from our-respective villas, each equipped with a tin bull’s-eye lantern.
knownadjectiveUS /noʊn/
apprehended with certainty
From this reading The thing was so well known that it had worn a rut in the commerce of Great Britain; and the grocers, about the due time, began to garnish their windows with our particular brand of luminary.
lanternnounUS /ˈlæntərn/
light in a transparent protective case
From this reading The idle manner of it was this:— Toward the end of September, when school-time was drawing near and the nights were already black, we would begin to sally from our-respective villas, each equipped with a tin bull’s-eye lantern.
lanternsnounUS /ˈlæntərnz/
plural of “lantern” — light in a transparent protective case
From this reading The fishermen used lanterns about their boats, and it was from them, I suppose, that we had got the hint; but theirs were not bull’s-eyes, nor did we ever play at being fishermen.
luminarynounUS /ˈluːməneri/
a celebrity who is an inspiration to others
From this reading The thing was so well known that it had worn a rut in the commerce of Great Britain; and the grocers, about the due time, began to garnish their windows with our particular brand of luminary.
mannernounUS /ˈmænər/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The idle manner of it was this:— Toward the end of September, when school-time was drawing near and the nights were already black, we would begin to sally from our-respective villas, each equipped with a tin bull’s-eye lantern.
merelyadverbUS /ˈmɪrli/
and nothing more
From this reading They smelled noisomely of blistered tin; they never burned aright, though they would always burn our fingers; their use was naught; the pleasure of them merely fanciful; and yet a boy with a bull’s-eye under his top-coat asked for nothing more.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading They smelled noisomely of blistered tin; they never burned aright, though they would always burn our fingers; their use was naught; the pleasure of them merely fanciful; and yet a boy with a bull’s-eye under his top-coat asked for nothing more.
naughtnounUS /nɔːt/
a quantity of no importance
From this reading They smelled noisomely of blistered tin; they never burned aright, though they would always burn our fingers; their use was naught; the pleasure of them merely fanciful; and yet a boy with a bull’s-eye under his top-coat asked for nothing more.
nearadverbUS /nɪr/
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading The idle manner of it was this:— Toward the end of September, when school-time was drawing near and the nights were already black, we would begin to sally from our-respective villas, each equipped with a tin bull’s-eye lantern.
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading They smelled noisomely of blistered tin; they never burned aright, though they would always burn our fingers; their use was naught; the pleasure of them merely fanciful; and yet a boy with a bull’s-eye under his top-coat asked for nothing more.
nightsnounUS /naɪts/
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading The idle manner of it was this:— Toward the end of September, when school-time was drawing near and the nights were already black, we would begin to sally from our-respective villas, each equipped with a tin bull’s-eye lantern.
noisomely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They smelled noisomely of blistered tin; they never burned aright, though they would always burn our fingers; their use was naught; the pleasure of them merely fanciful; and yet a boy with a bull’s-eye under his top-coat asked for nothing more.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading The fishermen used lanterns about their boats, and it was from them, I suppose, that we had got the hint; but theirs were not bull’s-eyes, nor did we ever play at being fishermen.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The fishermen used lanterns about their boats, and it was from them, I suppose, that we had got the hint; but theirs were not bull’s-eyes, nor did we ever play at being fishermen.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading They smelled noisomely of blistered tin; they never burned aright, though they would always burn our fingers; their use was naught; the pleasure of them merely fanciful; and yet a boy with a bull’s-eye under his top-coat asked for nothing more.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The idle manner of it was this:— Toward the end of September, when school-time was drawing near and the nights were already black, we would begin to sally from our-respective villas, each equipped with a tin bull’s-eye lantern.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading The thing was so well known that it had worn a rut in the commerce of Great Britain; and the grocers, about the due time, began to garnish their windows with our particular brand of luminary.
our-respective
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The idle manner of it was this:— Toward the end of September, when school-time was drawing near and the nights were already black, we would begin to sally from our-respective villas, each equipped with a tin bull’s-eye lantern.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading We wore them buckled to the waist upon a cricket belt, and over them, such was the rigour of the game, a buttoned top-coat.
particularadjectiveUS /pərˈtɪkjələr/
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading The thing was so well known that it had worn a rut in the commerce of Great Britain; and the grocers, about the due time, began to garnish their windows with our particular brand of luminary.
playverbUS /pleɪ/
participate in games or sport
From this reading The fishermen used lanterns about their boats, and it was from them, I suppose, that we had got the hint; but theirs were not bull’s-eyes, nor did we ever play at being fishermen.
pleasurenounUS /ˈpleʒər/
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading They smelled noisomely of blistered tin; they never burned aright, though they would always burn our fingers; their use was naught; the pleasure of them merely fanciful; and yet a boy with a bull’s-eye under his top-coat asked for nothing more.
rigournoun
the quality of being valid and rigorous
From this reading We wore them buckled to the waist upon a cricket belt, and over them, such was the rigour of the game, a buttoned top-coat.
rutnounUS /rʌt/
a groove or furrow (especially one in soft earth caused by wheels)
From this reading The thing was so well known that it had worn a rut in the commerce of Great Britain; and the grocers, about the due time, began to garnish their windows with our particular brand of luminary.
sallynounUS /ˈsæli/
witty remark
From this reading The idle manner of it was this:— Toward the end of September, when school-time was drawing near and the nights were already black, we would begin to sally from our-respective villas, each equipped with a tin bull’s-eye lantern.
school-time
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The idle manner of it was this:— Toward the end of September, when school-time was drawing near and the nights were already black, we would begin to sally from our-respective villas, each equipped with a tin bull’s-eye lantern.
SeptembernounUS /sepˈtembər/
the month following August and preceding October
From this reading The idle manner of it was this:— Toward the end of September, when school-time was drawing near and the nights were already black, we would begin to sally from our-respective villas, each equipped with a tin bull’s-eye lantern.
smelledverbUS /smeld/
past form of “smell” — inhale the odor of; perceive by the olfactory sense
From this reading They smelled noisomely of blistered tin; they never burned aright, though they would always burn our fingers; their use was naught; the pleasure of them merely fanciful; and yet a boy with a bull’s-eye under his top-coat asked for nothing more.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The thing was so well known that it had worn a rut in the commerce of Great Britain; and the grocers, about the due time, began to garnish their windows with our particular brand of luminary.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading We wore them buckled to the waist upon a cricket belt, and over them, such was the rigour of the game, a buttoned top-coat.
supposeverbUS /səˈpoʊz/
express a supposition
From this reading The fishermen used lanterns about their boats, and it was from them, I suppose, that we had got the hint; but theirs were not bull’s-eyes, nor did we ever play at being fishermen.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The thing was so well known that it had worn a rut in the commerce of Great Britain; and the grocers, about the due time, began to garnish their windows with our particular brand of luminary.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The idle manner of it was this:— Toward the end of September, when school-time was drawing near and the nights were already black, we would begin to sally from our-respective villas, each equipped with a tin bull’s-eye lantern.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The thing was so well known that it had worn a rut in the commerce of Great Britain; and the grocers, about the due time, began to garnish their windows with our particular brand of luminary.
theirspronounUS /ðerz/
the one or ones belonging to them
From this reading The fishermen used lanterns about their boats, and it was from them, I suppose, that we had got the hint; but theirs were not bull’s-eyes, nor did we ever play at being fishermen.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading We wore them buckled to the waist upon a cricket belt, and over them, such was the rigour of the game, a buttoned top-coat.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They smelled noisomely of blistered tin; they never burned aright, though they would always burn our fingers; their use was naught; the pleasure of them merely fanciful; and yet a boy with a bull’s-eye under his top-coat asked for nothing more.
thingnounUS /θɪŋ/
a special situation
From this reading The thing was so well known that it had worn a rut in the commerce of Great Britain; and the grocers, about the due time, began to garnish their windows with our particular brand of luminary.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The idle manner of it was this:— Toward the end of September, when school-time was drawing near and the nights were already black, we would begin to sally from our-respective villas, each equipped with a tin bull’s-eye lantern.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading They smelled noisomely of blistered tin; they never burned aright, though they would always burn our fingers; their use was naught; the pleasure of them merely fanciful; and yet a boy with a bull’s-eye under his top-coat asked for nothing more.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The thing was so well known that it had worn a rut in the commerce of Great Britain; and the grocers, about the due time, began to garnish their windows with our particular brand of luminary.
tinnounUS /tɪn/
a silvery malleable metallic element that resists corrosion; used in many alloys and to coat other metals to prevent corrosion; obtained chiefly from cassiterite where it occurs as tin oxide
From this reading The idle manner of it was this:— Toward the end of September, when school-time was drawing near and the nights were already black, we would begin to sally from our-respective villas, each equipped with a tin bull’s-eye lantern.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The idle manner of it was this:— Toward the end of September, when school-time was drawing near and the nights were already black, we would begin to sally from our-respective villas, each equipped with a tin bull’s-eye lantern.
top-coat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We wore them buckled to the waist upon a cricket belt, and over them, such was the rigour of the game, a buttoned top-coat.
TowardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading The idle manner of it was this:— Toward the end of September, when school-time was drawing near and the nights were already black, we would begin to sally from our-respective villas, each equipped with a tin bull’s-eye lantern.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading They smelled noisomely of blistered tin; they never burned aright, though they would always burn our fingers; their use was naught; the pleasure of them merely fanciful; and yet a boy with a bull’s-eye under his top-coat asked for nothing more.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading We wore them buckled to the waist upon a cricket belt, and over them, such was the rigour of the game, a buttoned top-coat.
usenounUS /juːs/
the act of using
From this reading They smelled noisomely of blistered tin; they never burned aright, though they would always burn our fingers; their use was naught; the pleasure of them merely fanciful; and yet a boy with a bull’s-eye under his top-coat asked for nothing more.
usedadjectiveUS /juːzd/
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading The fishermen used lanterns about their boats, and it was from them, I suppose, that we had got the hint; but theirs were not bull’s-eyes, nor did we ever play at being fishermen.
villasnounUS /ˈvɪləz/
plural of “villa” — Mexican revolutionary leader (1877-1923)
From this reading The idle manner of it was this:— Toward the end of September, when school-time was drawing near and the nights were already black, we would begin to sally from our-respective villas, each equipped with a tin bull’s-eye lantern.
waistnounUS /weɪst/
the narrowing of the body between the ribs and hips
From this reading We wore them buckled to the waist upon a cricket belt, and over them, such was the rigour of the game, a buttoned top-coat.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The idle manner of it was this:— Toward the end of September, when school-time was drawing near and the nights were already black, we would begin to sally from our-respective villas, each equipped with a tin bull’s-eye lantern.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading The idle manner of it was this:— Toward the end of September, when school-time was drawing near and the nights were already black, we would begin to sally from our-respective villas, each equipped with a tin bull’s-eye lantern.
welladverbUS /wel/
(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 The thing was so well known that it had worn a rut in the commerce of Great Britain; and the grocers, about the due time, began to garnish their windows with our particular brand of luminary.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The idle manner of it was this:— Toward the end of September, when school-time was drawing near and the nights were already black, we would begin to sally from our-respective villas, each equipped with a tin bull’s-eye lantern.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading The idle manner of it was this:— Toward the end of September, when school-time was drawing near and the nights were already black, we would begin to sally from our-respective villas, each equipped with a tin bull’s-eye lantern.
windowsnounUS /ˈwɪndoʊz/
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading The thing was so well known that it had worn a rut in the commerce of Great Britain; and the grocers, about the due time, began to garnish their windows with our particular brand of luminary.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The idle manner of it was this:— Toward the end of September, when school-time was drawing near and the nights were already black, we would begin to sally from our-respective villas, each equipped with a tin bull’s-eye lantern.
woreverbUS /wɔːr/
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading We wore them buckled to the waist upon a cricket belt, and over them, such was the rigour of the game, a buttoned top-coat.
wornverbUS /wɔːrn/
Damaged or thinned by continuous use.
From this reading The thing was so well known that it had worn a rut in the commerce of Great Britain; and the grocers, about the due time, began to garnish their windows with our particular brand of luminary.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The idle manner of it was this:— Toward the end of September, when school-time was drawing near and the nights were already black, we would begin to sally from our-respective villas, each equipped with a tin bull’s-eye lantern.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading They smelled noisomely of blistered tin; they never burned aright, though they would always burn our fingers; their use was naught; the pleasure of them merely fanciful; and yet a boy with a bull’s-eye under his top-coat asked for nothing more.
