Chapter III

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading THE SAFFRON MAN As warmth in a dying man, so life in the village of Kilmarnock had retreated from the extremities.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Beyond these dead environs, a brook, with cool and hearty noises, tumbled out of its brown alder-shadow to halt, slacken, and wriggle in a delta of deep-channeled rivulets through seaweed and long mud-flats.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

in addition

From this reading In the post-office,--a littered, gloomy shed which was also carpenter’s shop, wheel-wright’s factory, and woolen mill,--a few sad old men sat always, talking slowly and vaguely; while underneath, the roaring brook made the floor-boards vibrate, and flashed through chinks and knot-holes the whiteness of cascade foam.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading In the post-office,--a littered, gloomy shed which was also carpenter’s shop, wheel-wright’s factory, and woolen mill,--a few sad old men sat always, talking slowly and vaguely; while underneath, the roaring brook made the floor-boards vibrate, and flashed through chinks and knot-holes the whiteness of cascade foam.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading THE SAFFRON MAN As warmth in a dying man, so life in the village of Kilmarnock had retreated from the extremities.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

the season when the leaves fall from the trees

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

come out better in a competition, race, or conflict

From this reading And here, where fairy falls descended to that vile foreshore, the heart of the village beat feebly in a half-dozen houses, weather-silvered.

on the far side of; further than

From this reading Beyond these dead environs, a brook, with cool and hearty noises, tumbled out of its brown alder-shadow to halt, slacken, and wriggle in a delta of deep-channeled rivulets through seaweed and long mud-flats.

a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)

From this reading Beyond these dead environs, a brook, with cool and hearty noises, tumbled out of its brown alder-shadow to halt, slacken, and wriggle in a delta of deep-channeled rivulets through seaweed and long mud-flats.

an orange of low brightness and saturation

From this reading Beyond these dead environs, a brook, with cool and hearty noises, tumbled out of its brown alder-shadow to halt, slacken, and wriggle in a delta of deep-channeled rivulets through seaweed and long mud-flats.

plural of “cabin” — small room on a ship or boat where people sleep

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

possessive form of “carpenter” — a woodworker who makes or repairs wooden objects

From this reading In the post-office,--a littered, gloomy shed which was also carpenter’s shop, wheel-wright’s factory, and woolen mill,--a few sad old men sat always, talking slowly and vaguely; while underneath, the roaring brook made the floor-boards vibrate, and flashed through chinks and knot-holes the whiteness of cascade foam.

rush down in big quantities, like a cascade

From this reading In the post-office,--a littered, gloomy shed which was also carpenter’s shop, wheel-wright’s factory, and woolen mill,--a few sad old men sat always, talking slowly and vaguely; while underneath, the roaring brook made the floor-boards vibrate, and flashed through chinks and knot-holes the whiteness of cascade foam.

any of various plants of the genus Stellaria

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

plural of “chink” — (ethnic slur) offensive term for a person of Chinese descent

From this reading In the post-office,--a littered, gloomy shed which was also carpenter’s shop, wheel-wright’s factory, and woolen mill,--a few sad old men sat always, talking slowly and vaguely; while underneath, the roaring brook made the floor-boards vibrate, and flashed through chinks and knot-holes the whiteness of cascade foam.

stopped up; clogged up

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat

From this reading Beyond these dead environs, a brook, with cool and hearty noises, tumbled out of its brown alder-shadow to halt, slacken, and wriggle in a delta of deep-channeled rivulets through seaweed and long mud-flats.

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading Beyond these dead environs, a brook, with cool and hearty noises, tumbled out of its brown alder-shadow to halt, slacken, and wriggle in a delta of deep-channeled rivulets through seaweed and long mud-flats.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Beyond these dead environs, a brook, with cool and hearty noises, tumbled out of its brown alder-shadow to halt, slacken, and wriggle in a delta of deep-channeled rivulets through seaweed and long mud-flats.

a low triangular area of alluvial deposits where a river divides before entering a larger body of water

From this reading Beyond these dead environs, a brook, with cool and hearty noises, tumbled out of its brown alder-shadow to halt, slacken, and wriggle in a delta of deep-channeled rivulets through seaweed and long mud-flats.

past form of “descend” — move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way

From this reading And here, where fairy falls descended to that vile foreshore, the heart of the village beat feebly in a half-dozen houses, weather-silvered.

in or associated with the process of passing from life or ceasing to be

From this reading THE SAFFRON MAN As warmth in a dying man, so life in the village of Kilmarnock had retreated from the extremities.

the area in which something exists or lives

From this reading Beyond these dead environs, a brook, with cool and hearty noises, tumbled out of its brown alder-shadow to halt, slacken, and wriggle in a delta of deep-channeled rivulets through seaweed and long mud-flats.

with no protection or shield

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

plural of “extremity” — an external body part that projects from the body

From this reading THE SAFFRON MAN As warmth in a dying man, so life in the village of Kilmarnock had retreated from the extremities.

a plant consisting of one or more buildings with facilities for manufacturing

From this reading In the post-office,--a littered, gloomy shed which was also carpenter’s shop, wheel-wright’s factory, and woolen mill,--a few sad old men sat always, talking slowly and vaguely; while underneath, the roaring brook made the floor-boards vibrate, and flashed through chinks and knot-holes the whiteness of cascade foam.

a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers

From this reading And here, where fairy falls descended to that vile foreshore, the heart of the village beat feebly in a half-dozen houses, weather-silvered.

having dropped by the force of gravity

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

the petals or sepals of a flower that bend downward (especially the outer perianth of an iris)

From this reading And here, where fairy falls descended to that vile foreshore, the heart of the village beat feebly in a half-dozen houses, weather-silvered.

in a faint and feeble manner

From this reading And here, where fairy falls descended to that vile foreshore, the heart of the village beat feebly in a half-dozen houses, weather-silvered.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading In the post-office,--a littered, gloomy shed which was also carpenter’s shop, wheel-wright’s factory, and woolen mill,--a few sad old men sat always, talking slowly and vaguely; while underneath, the roaring brook made the floor-boards vibrate, and flashed through chinks and knot-holes the whiteness of cascade foam.

past form of “flash” — gleam or glow intermittently

From this reading In the post-office,--a littered, gloomy shed which was also carpenter’s shop, wheel-wright’s factory, and woolen mill,--a few sad old men sat always, talking slowly and vaguely; while underneath, the roaring brook made the floor-boards vibrate, and flashed through chinks and knot-holes the whiteness of cascade foam.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the post-office,--a littered, gloomy shed which was also carpenter’s shop, wheel-wright’s factory, and woolen mill,--a few sad old men sat always, talking slowly and vaguely; while underneath, the roaring brook made the floor-boards vibrate, and flashed through chinks and knot-holes the whiteness of cascade foam.

a mass of small bubbles formed in or on a liquid

From this reading In the post-office,--a littered, gloomy shed which was also carpenter’s shop, wheel-wright’s factory, and woolen mill,--a few sad old men sat always, talking slowly and vaguely; while underneath, the roaring brook made the floor-boards vibrate, and flashed through chinks and knot-holes the whiteness of cascade foam.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

the part of the seashore between the highwater mark and the low-water mark

From this reading And here, where fairy falls descended to that vile foreshore, the heart of the village beat feebly in a half-dozen houses, weather-silvered.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading THE SAFFRON MAN As warmth in a dying man, so life in the village of Kilmarnock had retreated from the extremities.

depressingly dark

From this reading In the post-office,--a littered, gloomy shed which was also carpenter’s shop, wheel-wright’s factory, and woolen mill,--a few sad old men sat always, talking slowly and vaguely; while underneath, the roaring brook made the floor-boards vibrate, and flashed through chinks and knot-holes the whiteness of cascade foam.

a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading THE SAFFRON MAN As warmth in a dying man, so life in the village of Kilmarnock had retreated from the extremities.

denoting a quantity consisting of six items or units

From this reading And here, where fairy falls descended to that vile foreshore, the heart of the village beat feebly in a half-dozen houses, weather-silvered.

cause to stop

From this reading Beyond these dead environs, a brook, with cool and hearty noises, tumbled out of its brown alder-shadow to halt, slacken, and wriggle in a delta of deep-channeled rivulets through seaweed and long mud-flats.

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading And here, where fairy falls descended to that vile foreshore, the heart of the village beat feebly in a half-dozen houses, weather-silvered.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

showing warm and heartfelt friendliness

From this reading Beyond these dead environs, a brook, with cool and hearty noises, tumbled out of its brown alder-shadow to halt, slacken, and wriggle in a delta of deep-channeled rivulets through seaweed and long mud-flats.

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading And here, where fairy falls descended to that vile foreshore, the heart of the village beat feebly in a half-dozen houses, weather-silvered.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading THE SAFFRON MAN As warmth in a dying man, so life in the village of Kilmarnock had retreated from the extremities.

close or warm friendship

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Beyond these dead environs, a brook, with cool and hearty noises, tumbled out of its brown alder-shadow to halt, slacken, and wriggle in a delta of deep-channeled rivulets through seaweed and long mud-flats.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE SAFFRON MAN As warmth in a dying man, so life in the village of Kilmarnock had retreated from the extremities.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the post-office,--a littered, gloomy shed which was also carpenter’s shop, wheel-wright’s factory, and woolen mill,--a few sad old men sat always, talking slowly and vaguely; while underneath, the roaring brook made the floor-boards vibrate, and flashed through chinks and knot-holes the whiteness of cascade foam.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading THE SAFFRON MAN As warmth in a dying man, so life in the village of Kilmarnock had retreated from the extremities.

filled or scattered with a disorderly accumulation of objects or rubbish

From this reading In the post-office,--a littered, gloomy shed which was also carpenter’s shop, wheel-wright’s factory, and woolen mill,--a few sad old men sat always, talking slowly and vaguely; while underneath, the roaring brook made the floor-boards vibrate, and flashed through chinks and knot-holes the whiteness of cascade foam.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

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 Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading In the post-office,--a littered, gloomy shed which was also carpenter’s shop, wheel-wright’s factory, and woolen mill,--a few sad old men sat always, talking slowly and vaguely; while underneath, the roaring brook made the floor-boards vibrate, and flashed through chinks and knot-holes the whiteness of cascade foam.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading THE SAFFRON MAN As warmth in a dying man, so life in the village of Kilmarnock had retreated from the extremities.

an extravagant comedy in which action is more salient than characterization

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

the force of workers available

From this reading In the post-office,--a littered, gloomy shed which was also carpenter’s shop, wheel-wright’s factory, and woolen mill,--a few sad old men sat always, talking slowly and vaguely; while underneath, the roaring brook made the floor-boards vibrate, and flashed through chinks and knot-holes the whiteness of cascade foam.

move about in a confused manner

From this reading In the post-office,--a littered, gloomy shed which was also carpenter’s shop, wheel-wright’s factory, and woolen mill,--a few sad old men sat always, talking slowly and vaguely; while underneath, the roaring brook made the floor-boards vibrate, and flashed through chinks and knot-holes the whiteness of cascade foam.

used to form the superlative

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

an event that involves rising to a higher point (as in altitude or temperature or intensity etc.)

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Beyond these dead environs, a brook, with cool and hearty noises, tumbled out of its brown alder-shadow to halt, slacken, and wriggle in a delta of deep-channeled rivulets through seaweed and long mud-flats.

plural of “noise” — sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)

From this reading Beyond these dead environs, a brook, with cool and hearty noises, tumbled out of its brown alder-shadow to halt, slacken, and wriggle in a delta of deep-channeled rivulets through seaweed and long mud-flats.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE SAFFRON MAN As warmth in a dying man, so life in the village of Kilmarnock had retreated from the extremities.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading In the post-office,--a littered, gloomy shed which was also carpenter’s shop, wheel-wright’s factory, and woolen mill,--a few sad old men sat always, talking slowly and vaguely; while underneath, the roaring brook made the floor-boards vibrate, and flashed through chinks and knot-holes the whiteness of cascade foam.

on one occasion

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the post-office,--a littered, gloomy shed which was also carpenter’s shop, wheel-wright’s factory, and woolen mill,--a few sad old men sat always, talking slowly and vaguely; while underneath, the roaring brook made the floor-boards vibrate, and flashed through chinks and knot-holes the whiteness of cascade foam.

plural of “purpose” — an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

being or dressed in clothes that are worn or torn

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

people who have retreated

From this reading THE SAFFRON MAN As warmth in a dying man, so life in the village of Kilmarnock had retreated from the extremities.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Beyond these dead environs, a brook, with cool and hearty noises, tumbled out of its brown alder-shadow to halt, slacken, and wriggle in a delta of deep-channeled rivulets through seaweed and long mud-flats.

a deep prolonged loud noise

From this reading In the post-office,--a littered, gloomy shed which was also carpenter’s shop, wheel-wright’s factory, and woolen mill,--a few sad old men sat always, talking slowly and vaguely; while underneath, the roaring brook made the floor-boards vibrate, and flashed through chinks and knot-holes the whiteness of cascade foam.

a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness

From this reading In the post-office,--a littered, gloomy shed which was also carpenter’s shop, wheel-wright’s factory, and woolen mill,--a few sad old men sat always, talking slowly and vaguely; while underneath, the roaring brook made the floor-boards vibrate, and flashed through chinks and knot-holes the whiteness of cascade foam.

Old World crocus having purple or white flowers with aromatic pungent orange stigmas used in flavoring food

From this reading THE SAFFRON MAN As warmth in a dying man, so life in the village of Kilmarnock had retreated from the extremities.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading In the post-office,--a littered, gloomy shed which was also carpenter’s shop, wheel-wright’s factory, and woolen mill,--a few sad old men sat always, talking slowly and vaguely; while underneath, the roaring brook made the floor-boards vibrate, and flashed through chinks and knot-holes the whiteness of cascade foam.

a mark left (usually on the skin) by the healing of injured tissue

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

plant growing in the sea, especially marine algae

From this reading Beyond these dead environs, a brook, with cool and hearty noises, tumbled out of its brown alder-shadow to halt, slacken, and wriggle in a delta of deep-channeled rivulets through seaweed and long mud-flats.

get rid of

From this reading In the post-office,--a littered, gloomy shed which was also carpenter’s shop, wheel-wright’s factory, and woolen mill,--a few sad old men sat always, talking slowly and vaguely; while underneath, the roaring brook made the floor-boards vibrate, and flashed through chinks and knot-holes the whiteness of cascade foam.

do one's shopping

From this reading In the post-office,--a littered, gloomy shed which was also carpenter’s shop, wheel-wright’s factory, and woolen mill,--a few sad old men sat always, talking slowly and vaguely; while underneath, the roaring brook made the floor-boards vibrate, and flashed through chinks and knot-holes the whiteness of cascade foam.

become slow or slower

From this reading Beyond these dead environs, a brook, with cool and hearty noises, tumbled out of its brown alder-shadow to halt, slacken, and wriggle in a delta of deep-channeled rivulets through seaweed and long mud-flats.

without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)

From this reading In the post-office,--a littered, gloomy shed which was also carpenter’s shop, wheel-wright’s factory, and woolen mill,--a few sad old men sat always, talking slowly and vaguely; while underneath, the roaring brook made the floor-boards vibrate, and flashed through chinks and knot-holes the whiteness of cascade foam.

precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading THE SAFFRON MAN As warmth in a dying man, so life in the village of Kilmarnock had retreated from the extremities.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

any distinct time period in a sequence of events

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

having a sunken area

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

an exchange of ideas via conversation

From this reading In the post-office,--a littered, gloomy shed which was also carpenter’s shop, wheel-wright’s factory, and woolen mill,--a few sad old men sat always, talking slowly and vaguely; while underneath, the roaring brook made the floor-boards vibrate, and flashed through chinks and knot-holes the whiteness of cascade foam.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading And here, where fairy falls descended to that vile foreshore, the heart of the village beat feebly in a half-dozen houses, weather-silvered.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading THE SAFFRON MAN As warmth in a dying man, so life in the village of Kilmarnock had retreated from the extremities.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading Beyond these dead environs, a brook, with cool and hearty noises, tumbled out of its brown alder-shadow to halt, slacken, and wriggle in a delta of deep-channeled rivulets through seaweed and long mud-flats.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Beyond these dead environs, a brook, with cool and hearty noises, tumbled out of its brown alder-shadow to halt, slacken, and wriggle in a delta of deep-channeled rivulets through seaweed and long mud-flats.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Beyond these dead environs, a brook, with cool and hearty noises, tumbled out of its brown alder-shadow to halt, slacken, and wriggle in a delta of deep-channeled rivulets through seaweed and long mud-flats.

past form of “tumble” — fall down, as if collapsing

From this reading Beyond these dead environs, a brook, with cool and hearty noises, tumbled out of its brown alder-shadow to halt, slacken, and wriggle in a delta of deep-channeled rivulets through seaweed and long mud-flats.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

directly under, often hidden by what is above

From this reading In the post-office,--a littered, gloomy shed which was also carpenter’s shop, wheel-wright’s factory, and woolen mill,--a few sad old men sat always, talking slowly and vaguely; while underneath, the roaring brook made the floor-boards vibrate, and flashed through chinks and knot-holes the whiteness of cascade foam.

in a vague way

From this reading In the post-office,--a littered, gloomy shed which was also carpenter’s shop, wheel-wright’s factory, and woolen mill,--a few sad old men sat always, talking slowly and vaguely; while underneath, the roaring brook made the floor-boards vibrate, and flashed through chinks and knot-holes the whiteness of cascade foam.

having passed out of existence

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

shake, quiver, or throb; move back and forth rapidly, usually in an uncontrolled manner

From this reading In the post-office,--a littered, gloomy shed which was also carpenter’s shop, wheel-wright’s factory, and woolen mill,--a few sad old men sat always, talking slowly and vaguely; while underneath, the roaring brook made the floor-boards vibrate, and flashed through chinks and knot-holes the whiteness of cascade foam.

morally reprehensible

From this reading And here, where fairy falls descended to that vile foreshore, the heart of the village beat feebly in a half-dozen houses, weather-silvered.

a community of people smaller than a town

From this reading THE SAFFRON MAN As warmth in a dying man, so life in the village of Kilmarnock had retreated from the extremities.

an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

a decorative paper for the walls of rooms

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

the sensation caused by heat energy

From this reading THE SAFFRON MAN As warmth in a dying man, so life in the village of Kilmarnock had retreated from the extremities.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading In the post-office,--a littered, gloomy shed which was also carpenter’s shop, wheel-wright’s factory, and woolen mill,--a few sad old men sat always, talking slowly and vaguely; while underneath, the roaring brook made the floor-boards vibrate, and flashed through chinks and knot-holes the whiteness of cascade foam.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And here, where fairy falls descended to that vile foreshore, the heart of the village beat feebly in a half-dozen houses, weather-silvered.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the post-office,--a littered, gloomy shed which was also carpenter’s shop, wheel-wright’s factory, and woolen mill,--a few sad old men sat always, talking slowly and vaguely; while underneath, the roaring brook made the floor-boards vibrate, and flashed through chinks and knot-holes the whiteness of cascade foam.

in or at the place that

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading In the post-office,--a littered, gloomy shed which was also carpenter’s shop, wheel-wright’s factory, and woolen mill,--a few sad old men sat always, talking slowly and vaguely; while underneath, the roaring brook made the floor-boards vibrate, and flashed through chinks and knot-holes the whiteness of cascade foam.

during the time that

From this reading In the post-office,--a littered, gloomy shed which was also carpenter’s shop, wheel-wright’s factory, and woolen mill,--a few sad old men sat always, talking slowly and vaguely; while underneath, the roaring brook made the floor-boards vibrate, and flashed through chinks and knot-holes the whiteness of cascade foam.

the quality or state of the achromatic color of greatest lightness (bearing the least resemblance to black)

From this reading In the post-office,--a littered, gloomy shed which was also carpenter’s shop, wheel-wright’s factory, and woolen mill,--a few sad old men sat always, talking slowly and vaguely; while underneath, the roaring brook made the floor-boards vibrate, and flashed through chinks and knot-holes the whiteness of cascade foam.

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

a fabric made from the hair of sheep

From this reading In the post-office,--a littered, gloomy shed which was also carpenter’s shop, wheel-wright’s factory, and woolen mill,--a few sad old men sat always, talking slowly and vaguely; while underneath, the roaring brook made the floor-boards vibrate, and flashed through chinks and knot-holes the whiteness of cascade foam.

to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)

From this reading Beyond these dead environs, a brook, with cool and hearty noises, tumbled out of its brown alder-shadow to halt, slacken, and wriggle in a delta of deep-channeled rivulets through seaweed and long mud-flats.

gaping open as if threatening to engulf someone or something

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.

travel along a zigzag path

From this reading Gray cabins stood for the most part with sunken roof and yawning window; here and there, where a wall had fallen out, they exposed, as for the stage purposes of some unacted melodrama, the intimacy of all their little rooms at once,--the ragged wallpaper, the zigzag mounting scar of stairs long vanished, the hearthstones choked, in winter with snow, as now with autumn chickweed.