Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading Alone at some distance from the wasting walls of a disused abbey I found half sunken in the grass the grey and goggle-eyed visage of one of those graven monsters that made the ornamental water-spouts in the cathedrals of the Middle Ages.

a church associated with a monastery or convent

From this reading Alone at some distance from the wasting walls of a disused abbey I found half sunken in the grass the grey and goggle-eyed visage of one of those graven monsters that made the ornamental water-spouts in the cathedrals of the Middle Ages.

matters of personal concern

From this reading They were republicans, like all primitive and simple souls; they talked over their affairs under a tree, and the nearest approach they had to a personal ruler was a sort of priest or white witch who said their prayers for them.

plural of “age” — how long something has existed

From this reading Alone at some distance from the wasting walls of a disused abbey I found half sunken in the grass the grey and goggle-eyed visage of one of those graven monsters that made the ornamental water-spouts in the cathedrals of the Middle Ages.

(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 They were republicans, like all primitive and simple souls; they talked over their affairs under a tree, and the nearest approach they had to a personal ruler was a sort of priest or white witch who said their prayers for them.

Having no one else present.

From this reading Alone at some distance from the wasting walls of a disused abbey I found half sunken in the grass the grey and goggle-eyed visage of one of those graven monsters that made the ornamental water-spouts in the cathedrals of the Middle Ages.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Once upon a time there lived upon an island a merry and innocent people, mostly shepherds and tillers of the earth.

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.

From this reading It lay there, scoured by ancient rains or striped by recent fungus, but still looking like the head of some huge dragon slain by a primeval hero.

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

From this reading Alone at some distance from the wasting walls of a disused abbey I found half sunken in the grass the grey and goggle-eyed visage of one of those graven monsters that made the ornamental water-spouts in the cathedrals of the Middle Ages.

move towards

From this reading They were republicans, like all primitive and simple souls; they talked over their affairs under a tree, and the nearest approach they had to a personal ruler was a sort of priest or white witch who said their prayers for them.

an old form of “are”, used with “thou”

From this reading And as I looked at it, I thought of the meaning of the grotesque, and passed into some symbolic reverie of the three great stages of art.

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

From this reading And as I looked at it, I thought of the meaning of the grotesque, and passed into some symbolic reverie of the three great stages of art.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Alone at some distance from the wasting walls of a disused abbey I found half sunken in the grass the grey and goggle-eyed visage of one of those graven monsters that made the ornamental water-spouts in the cathedrals of the Middle Ages.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It lay there, scoured by ancient rains or striped by recent fungus, but still looking like the head of some huge dragon slain by a primeval hero.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading It lay there, scoured by ancient rains or striped by recent fungus, but still looking like the head of some huge dragon slain by a primeval hero.

plural of “cathedral” — any large and important church

From this reading Alone at some distance from the wasting walls of a disused abbey I found half sunken in the grass the grey and goggle-eyed visage of one of those graven monsters that made the ornamental water-spouts in the cathedrals of the Middle Ages.

the property created by the space between two objects or points

From this reading Alone at some distance from the wasting walls of a disused abbey I found half sunken in the grass the grey and goggle-eyed visage of one of those graven monsters that made the ornamental water-spouts in the cathedrals of the Middle Ages.

no longer in use

From this reading Alone at some distance from the wasting walls of a disused abbey I found half sunken in the grass the grey and goggle-eyed visage of one of those graven monsters that made the ornamental water-spouts in the cathedrals of the Middle Ages.

a creature of Teutonic mythology; usually represented as breathing fire and having a reptilian body and sometimes wings

From this reading It lay there, scoured by ancient rains or striped by recent fungus, but still looking like the head of some huge dragon slain by a primeval hero.

the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

From this reading Once upon a time there lived upon an island a merry and innocent people, mostly shepherds and tillers of the earth.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading They were republicans, like all primitive and simple souls; they talked over their affairs under a tree, and the nearest approach they had to a personal ruler was a sort of priest or white witch who said their prayers for them.

set up or found

From this reading Alone at some distance from the wasting walls of a disused abbey I found half sunken in the grass the grey and goggle-eyed visage of one of those graven monsters that made the ornamental water-spouts in the cathedrals of the Middle Ages.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Alone at some distance from the wasting walls of a disused abbey I found half sunken in the grass the grey and goggle-eyed visage of one of those graven monsters that made the ornamental water-spouts in the cathedrals of the Middle Ages.

an organism of the kingdom Fungi lacking chlorophyll and feeding on organic matter; ranging from unicellular or multicellular organisms to spore-bearing syncytia

From this reading It lay there, scoured by ancient rains or striped by recent fungus, but still looking like the head of some huge dragon slain by a primeval hero.

with eyes or mouth open in surprise

From this reading Alone at some distance from the wasting walls of a disused abbey I found half sunken in the grass the grey and goggle-eyed visage of one of those graven monsters that made the ornamental water-spouts in the cathedrals of the Middle Ages.

shoot down, of birds

From this reading Alone at some distance from the wasting walls of a disused abbey I found half sunken in the grass the grey and goggle-eyed visage of one of those graven monsters that made the ornamental water-spouts in the cathedrals of the Middle Ages.

cut into a desired shape

From this reading Alone at some distance from the wasting walls of a disused abbey I found half sunken in the grass the grey and goggle-eyed visage of one of those graven monsters that made the ornamental water-spouts in the cathedrals of the Middle Ages.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading And as I looked at it, I thought of the meaning of the grotesque, and passed into some symbolic reverie of the three great stages of art.

of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black

From this reading Alone at some distance from the wasting walls of a disused abbey I found half sunken in the grass the grey and goggle-eyed visage of one of those graven monsters that made the ornamental water-spouts in the cathedrals of the Middle Ages.

distorted and unnatural in shape or size; abnormal and hideous

From this reading And as I looked at it, I thought of the meaning of the grotesque, and passed into some symbolic reverie of the three great stages of art.

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

From this reading They were republicans, like all primitive and simple souls; they talked over their affairs under a tree, and the nearest approach they had to a personal ruler was a sort of priest or white witch who said their prayers for them.

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading Alone at some distance from the wasting walls of a disused abbey I found half sunken in the grass the grey and goggle-eyed visage of one of those graven monsters that made the ornamental water-spouts in the cathedrals of the Middle Ages.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading It lay there, scoured by ancient rains or striped by recent fungus, but still looking like the head of some huge dragon slain by a primeval hero.

a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength

From this reading It lay there, scoured by ancient rains or striped by recent fungus, but still looking like the head of some huge dragon slain by a primeval hero.

unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope

From this reading It lay there, scoured by ancient rains or striped by recent fungus, but still looking like the head of some huge dragon slain by a primeval hero.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading Alone at some distance from the wasting walls of a disused abbey I found half sunken in the grass the grey and goggle-eyed visage of one of those graven monsters that made the ornamental water-spouts in the cathedrals of the Middle Ages.

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

From this reading Alone at some distance from the wasting walls of a disused abbey I found half sunken in the grass the grey and goggle-eyed visage of one of those graven monsters that made the ornamental water-spouts in the cathedrals of the Middle Ages.

free from evil or guilt

From this reading Once upon a time there lived upon an island a merry and innocent people, mostly shepherds and tillers of the earth.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading And as I looked at it, I thought of the meaning of the grotesque, and passed into some symbolic reverie of the three great stages of art.

a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water

From this reading Once upon a time there lived upon an island a merry and innocent people, mostly shepherds and tillers of the earth.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It lay there, scoured by ancient rains or striped by recent fungus, but still looking like the head of some huge dragon slain by a primeval hero.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading It lay there, scoured by ancient rains or striped by recent fungus, but still looking like the head of some huge dragon slain by a primeval hero.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading It lay there, scoured by ancient rains or striped by recent fungus, but still looking like the head of some huge dragon slain by a primeval hero.

past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading Once upon a time there lived upon an island a merry and innocent people, mostly shepherds and tillers of the earth.

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading And as I looked at it, I thought of the meaning of the grotesque, and passed into some symbolic reverie of the three great stages of art.

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading It lay there, scoured by ancient rains or striped by recent fungus, but still looking like the head of some huge dragon slain by a primeval hero.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Alone at some distance from the wasting walls of a disused abbey I found half sunken in the grass the grey and goggle-eyed visage of one of those graven monsters that made the ornamental water-spouts in the cathedrals of the Middle Ages.

the message that is intended or expressed or signified

From this reading And as I looked at it, I thought of the meaning of the grotesque, and passed into some symbolic reverie of the three great stages of art.

full of or showing high-spirited merriment

From this reading Once upon a time there lived upon an island a merry and innocent people, mostly shepherds and tillers of the earth.

an area that is approximately central within some larger region

From this reading Alone at some distance from the wasting walls of a disused abbey I found half sunken in the grass the grey and goggle-eyed visage of one of those graven monsters that made the ornamental water-spouts in the cathedrals of the Middle Ages.

plural of “monster” — an imaginary creature usually having various human and animal parts

From this reading Alone at some distance from the wasting walls of a disused abbey I found half sunken in the grass the grey and goggle-eyed visage of one of those graven monsters that made the ornamental water-spouts in the cathedrals of the Middle Ages.

in large part; mainly or chiefly

From this reading Once upon a time there lived upon an island a merry and innocent people, mostly shepherds and tillers of the earth.

(superlative of “near” or “close”) within the shortest distance

From this reading They were republicans, like all primitive and simple souls; they talked over their affairs under a tree, and the nearest approach they had to a personal ruler was a sort of priest or white witch who said their prayers for them.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Alone at some distance from the wasting walls of a disused abbey I found half sunken in the grass the grey and goggle-eyed visage of one of those graven monsters that made the ornamental water-spouts in the cathedrals of the Middle Ages.

on one occasion

From this reading Once upon a time there lived upon an island a merry and innocent people, mostly shepherds and tillers of the earth.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Alone at some distance from the wasting walls of a disused abbey I found half sunken in the grass the grey and goggle-eyed visage of one of those graven monsters that made the ornamental water-spouts in the cathedrals of the Middle Ages.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading It lay there, scoured by ancient rains or striped by recent fungus, but still looking like the head of some huge dragon slain by a primeval hero.

any plant grown for its beauty or ornamental value

From this reading Alone at some distance from the wasting walls of a disused abbey I found half sunken in the grass the grey and goggle-eyed visage of one of those graven monsters that made the ornamental water-spouts in the cathedrals of the Middle Ages.

above and across; more than

From this reading They were republicans, like all primitive and simple souls; they talked over their affairs under a tree, and the nearest approach they had to a personal ruler was a sort of priest or white witch who said their prayers for them.

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading And as I looked at it, I thought of the meaning of the grotesque, and passed into some symbolic reverie of the three great stages of art.

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading Once upon a time there lived upon an island a merry and innocent people, mostly shepherds and tillers of the earth.

concerning or affecting a particular person or his or her private life and personality

From this reading They were republicans, like all primitive and simple souls; they talked over their affairs under a tree, and the nearest approach they had to a personal ruler was a sort of priest or white witch who said their prayers for them.

plural of “prayer” — the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving)

From this reading They were republicans, like all primitive and simple souls; they talked over their affairs under a tree, and the nearest approach they had to a personal ruler was a sort of priest or white witch who said their prayers for them.

a clergyman in Christian churches who has the authority to perform or administer various religious rites; one of the Holy Orders

From this reading They were republicans, like all primitive and simple souls; they talked over their affairs under a tree, and the nearest approach they had to a personal ruler was a sort of priest or white witch who said their prayers for them.

having existed from the beginning; in an earliest or original stage or state

From this reading It lay there, scoured by ancient rains or striped by recent fungus, but still looking like the head of some huge dragon slain by a primeval hero.

belonging to an early stage of technical development; characterized by simplicity and (often) crudeness

From this reading They were republicans, like all primitive and simple souls; they talked over their affairs under a tree, and the nearest approach they had to a personal ruler was a sort of priest or white witch who said their prayers for them.

plural of “rain” — water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere

From this reading It lay there, scoured by ancient rains or striped by recent fungus, but still looking like the head of some huge dragon slain by a primeval hero.

new

From this reading It lay there, scoured by ancient rains or striped by recent fungus, but still looking like the head of some huge dragon slain by a primeval hero.

plural of “republican” — a member of the Republican Party

From this reading They were republicans, like all primitive and simple souls; they talked over their affairs under a tree, and the nearest approach they had to a personal ruler was a sort of priest or white witch who said their prayers for them.

absentminded dreaming while awake

From this reading And as I looked at it, I thought of the meaning of the grotesque, and passed into some symbolic reverie of the three great stages of art.

a person who rules or commands

From this reading They were republicans, like all primitive and simple souls; they talked over their affairs under a tree, and the nearest approach they had to a personal ruler was a sort of priest or white witch who said their prayers for them.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading They were republicans, like all primitive and simple souls; they talked over their affairs under a tree, and the nearest approach they had to a personal ruler was a sort of priest or white witch who said their prayers for them.

worn away as by water or ice or wind

From this reading It lay there, scoured by ancient rains or striped by recent fungus, but still looking like the head of some huge dragon slain by a primeval hero.

plural of “shepherd” — a clergyman who watches over a group of people

From this reading Once upon a time there lived upon an island a merry and innocent people, mostly shepherds and tillers of the earth.

having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved

From this reading They were republicans, like all primitive and simple souls; they talked over their affairs under a tree, and the nearest approach they had to a personal ruler was a sort of priest or white witch who said their prayers for them.

people who have been slain (as in battle)

From this reading It lay there, scoured by ancient rains or striped by recent fungus, but still looking like the head of some huge dragon slain by a primeval hero.

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

From this reading Alone at some distance from the wasting walls of a disused abbey I found half sunken in the grass the grey and goggle-eyed visage of one of those graven monsters that made the ornamental water-spouts in the cathedrals of the Middle Ages.

a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading They were republicans, like all primitive and simple souls; they talked over their affairs under a tree, and the nearest approach they had to a personal ruler was a sort of priest or white witch who said their prayers for them.

plural of “soul” — the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life

From this reading They were republicans, like all primitive and simple souls; they talked over their affairs under a tree, and the nearest approach they had to a personal ruler was a sort of priest or white witch who said their prayers for them.

plural of “stage” — any distinct time period in a sequence of events

From this reading And as I looked at it, I thought of the meaning of the grotesque, and passed into some symbolic reverie of the three great stages of art.

not in physical motion

From this reading It lay there, scoured by ancient rains or striped by recent fungus, but still looking like the head of some huge dragon slain by a primeval hero.

marked or decorated with stripes

From this reading It lay there, scoured by ancient rains or striped by recent fungus, but still looking like the head of some huge dragon slain by a primeval hero.

having a sunken area

From this reading Alone at some distance from the wasting walls of a disused abbey I found half sunken in the grass the grey and goggle-eyed visage of one of those graven monsters that made the ornamental water-spouts in the cathedrals of the Middle Ages.

relating to or using or proceeding by means of symbols

From this reading And as I looked at it, I thought of the meaning of the grotesque, and passed into some symbolic reverie of the three great stages of art.

past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading They were republicans, like all primitive and simple souls; they talked over their affairs under a tree, and the nearest approach they had to a personal ruler was a sort of priest or white witch who said their prayers for them.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Alone at some distance from the wasting walls of a disused abbey I found half sunken in the grass the grey and goggle-eyed visage of one of those graven monsters that made the ornamental water-spouts in the cathedrals of the Middle Ages.

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

From this reading Alone at some distance from the wasting walls of a disused abbey I found half sunken in the grass the grey and goggle-eyed visage of one of those graven monsters that made the ornamental water-spouts in the cathedrals of the Middle Ages.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading They were republicans, like all primitive and simple souls; they talked over their affairs under a tree, and the nearest approach they had to a personal ruler was a sort of priest or white witch who said their prayers for them.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading They were republicans, like all primitive and simple souls; they talked over their affairs under a tree, and the nearest approach they had to a personal ruler was a sort of priest or white witch who said their prayers for them.

in or at that place or location

From this reading It lay there, scoured by ancient rains or striped by recent fungus, but still looking like the head of some huge dragon slain by a primeval hero.

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

From this reading They were republicans, like all primitive and simple souls; they talked over their affairs under a tree, and the nearest approach they had to a personal ruler was a sort of priest or white witch who said their prayers for them.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading Alone at some distance from the wasting walls of a disused abbey I found half sunken in the grass the grey and goggle-eyed visage of one of those graven monsters that made the ornamental water-spouts in the cathedrals of the Middle Ages.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading And as I looked at it, I thought of the meaning of the grotesque, and passed into some symbolic reverie of the three great stages of art.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading And as I looked at it, I thought of the meaning of the grotesque, and passed into some symbolic reverie of the three great stages of art.

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

From this reading Once upon a time there lived upon an island a merry and innocent people, mostly shepherds and tillers of the earth.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Once upon a time there lived upon an island a merry and innocent people, mostly shepherds and tillers of the earth.

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

From this reading They were republicans, like all primitive and simple souls; they talked over their affairs under a tree, and the nearest approach they had to a personal ruler was a sort of priest or white witch who said their prayers for them.

a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading They were republicans, like all primitive and simple souls; they talked over their affairs under a tree, and the nearest approach they had to a personal ruler was a sort of priest or white witch who said their prayers for them.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading They were republicans, like all primitive and simple souls; they talked over their affairs under a tree, and the nearest approach they had to a personal ruler was a sort of priest or white witch who said their prayers for them.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Once upon a time there lived upon an island a merry and innocent people, mostly shepherds and tillers of the earth.

the human face (“kisser” and “smiler” and “mug” are informal terms for “face” and “phiz” is British)

From this reading Alone at some distance from the wasting walls of a disused abbey I found half sunken in the grass the grey and goggle-eyed visage of one of those graven monsters that made the ornamental water-spouts in the cathedrals of the Middle Ages.

plural of “wall” — 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 Alone at some distance from the wasting walls of a disused abbey I found half sunken in the grass the grey and goggle-eyed visage of one of those graven monsters that made the ornamental water-spouts in the cathedrals of the Middle Ages.

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

From this reading They were republicans, like all primitive and simple souls; they talked over their affairs under a tree, and the nearest approach they had to a personal ruler was a sort of priest or white witch who said their prayers for them.

any general reduction in vitality and strength of body and mind resulting from a debilitating chronic disease

From this reading Alone at some distance from the wasting walls of a disused abbey I found half sunken in the grass the grey and goggle-eyed visage of one of those graven monsters that made the ornamental water-spouts in the cathedrals of the Middle Ages.

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

From this reading Alone at some distance from the wasting walls of a disused abbey I found half sunken in the grass the grey and goggle-eyed visage of one of those graven monsters that made the ornamental water-spouts in the cathedrals of the Middle Ages.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading They were republicans, like all primitive and simple souls; they talked over their affairs under a tree, and the nearest approach they had to a personal ruler was a sort of priest or white witch who said their prayers for them.

a Caucasian

From this reading They were republicans, like all primitive and simple souls; they talked over their affairs under a tree, and the nearest approach they had to a personal ruler was a sort of priest or white witch who said their prayers for them.

which person or people

From this reading They were republicans, like all primitive and simple souls; they talked over their affairs under a tree, and the nearest approach they had to a personal ruler was a sort of priest or white witch who said their prayers for them.

a female sorcerer or magician

From this reading They were republicans, like all primitive and simple souls; they talked over their affairs under a tree, and the nearest approach they had to a personal ruler was a sort of priest or white witch who said their prayers for them.