used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading While the Rector still was sitting on the mossy hump of an apple-tree, weary and disconsolate, listening to the murmuring brook, with louder murmurings of his own, he espied a light, well-balanced figure crossing the water on a narrow plank some hundred yards up the streamway.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading “A pretty girl!” said the parson; “I am sure of it, by the way she carries herself.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading While the Rector still was sitting on the mossy hump of an apple-tree, weary and disconsolate, listening to the murmuring brook, with louder murmurings of his own, he espied a light, well-balanced figure crossing the water on a narrow plank some hundred yards up the streamway.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading While the Rector still was sitting on the mossy hump of an apple-tree, weary and disconsolate, listening to the murmuring brook, with louder murmurings of his own, he espied a light, well-balanced figure crossing the water on a narrow plank some hundred yards up the streamway.
apple-tree
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While the Rector still was sitting on the mossy hump of an apple-tree, weary and disconsolate, listening to the murmuring brook, with louder murmurings of his own, he espied a light, well-balanced figure crossing the water on a narrow plank some hundred yards up the streamway.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading NOT TO BE RESISTED.
brooknounUS /brʊk/
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading While the Rector still was sitting on the mossy hump of an apple-tree, weary and disconsolate, listening to the murmuring brook, with louder murmurings of his own, he espied a light, well-balanced figure crossing the water on a narrow plank some hundred yards up the streamway.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading “A pretty girl!” said the parson; “I am sure of it, by the way she carries herself.
carriesnounUS /ˈkæriz/
plural of “carry” — the act of carrying something
From this reading “A pretty girl!” said the parson; “I am sure of it, by the way she carries herself.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading O that she were coming to my relief!
traveling across
From this reading While the Rector still was sitting on the mossy hump of an apple-tree, weary and disconsolate, listening to the murmuring brook, with louder murmurings of his own, he espied a light, well-balanced figure crossing the water on a narrow plank some hundred yards up the streamway.
disconsolateadjective
sad beyond comforting; incapable of being consoled
From this reading While the Rector still was sitting on the mossy hump of an apple-tree, weary and disconsolate, listening to the murmuring brook, with louder murmurings of his own, he espied a light, well-balanced figure crossing the water on a narrow plank some hundred yards up the streamway.
espied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While the Rector still was sitting on the mossy hump of an apple-tree, weary and disconsolate, listening to the murmuring brook, with louder murmurings of his own, he espied a light, well-balanced figure crossing the water on a narrow plank some hundred yards up the streamway.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading While the Rector still was sitting on the mossy hump of an apple-tree, weary and disconsolate, listening to the murmuring brook, with louder murmurings of his own, he espied a light, well-balanced figure crossing the water on a narrow plank some hundred yards up the streamway.
a young female
From this reading “A pretty girl!” said the parson; “I am sure of it, by the way she carries herself.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading Plain girls never walk like that.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading While the Rector still was sitting on the mossy hump of an apple-tree, weary and disconsolate, listening to the murmuring brook, with louder murmurings of his own, he espied a light, well-balanced figure crossing the water on a narrow plank some hundred yards up the streamway.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading “A pretty girl!” said the parson; “I am sure of it, by the way she carries herself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading While the Rector still was sitting on the mossy hump of an apple-tree, weary and disconsolate, listening to the murmuring brook, with louder murmurings of his own, he espied a light, well-balanced figure crossing the water on a narrow plank some hundred yards up the streamway.
humpverbUS /hʌmp/
round one's back by bending forward and drawing the shoulders forward
From this reading While the Rector still was sitting on the mossy hump of an apple-tree, weary and disconsolate, listening to the murmuring brook, with louder murmurings of his own, he espied a light, well-balanced figure crossing the water on a narrow plank some hundred yards up the streamway.
ten 10s
From this reading While the Rector still was sitting on the mossy hump of an apple-tree, weary and disconsolate, listening to the murmuring brook, with louder murmurings of his own, he espied a light, well-balanced figure crossing the water on a narrow plank some hundred yards up the streamway.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “A pretty girl!” said the parson; “I am sure of it, by the way she carries herself.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “A pretty girl!” said the parson; “I am sure of it, by the way she carries herself.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading While the Rector still was sitting on the mossy hump of an apple-tree, weary and disconsolate, listening to the murmuring brook, with louder murmurings of his own, he espied a light, well-balanced figure crossing the water on a narrow plank some hundred yards up the streamway.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Plain girls never walk like that.
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading While the Rector still was sitting on the mossy hump of an apple-tree, weary and disconsolate, listening to the murmuring brook, with louder murmurings of his own, he espied a light, well-balanced figure crossing the water on a narrow plank some hundred yards up the streamway.
louderadjectiveUS /ˈlaʊdər/
comparative of “loud” — characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity
From this reading While the Rector still was sitting on the mossy hump of an apple-tree, weary and disconsolate, listening to the murmuring brook, with louder murmurings of his own, he espied a light, well-balanced figure crossing the water on a narrow plank some hundred yards up the streamway.
mossyadjectiveUS /ˈmɔːsi/
overgrown with moss
From this reading While the Rector still was sitting on the mossy hump of an apple-tree, weary and disconsolate, listening to the murmuring brook, with louder murmurings of his own, he espied a light, well-balanced figure crossing the water on a narrow plank some hundred yards up the streamway.
murmuringnounUS /ˈmɜːrmərɪŋ/
a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech
From this reading While the Rector still was sitting on the mossy hump of an apple-tree, weary and disconsolate, listening to the murmuring brook, with louder murmurings of his own, he espied a light, well-balanced figure crossing the water on a narrow plank some hundred yards up the streamway.
murmurings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While the Rector still was sitting on the mossy hump of an apple-tree, weary and disconsolate, listening to the murmuring brook, with louder murmurings of his own, he espied a light, well-balanced figure crossing the water on a narrow plank some hundred yards up the streamway.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading O that she were coming to my relief!
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading While the Rector still was sitting on the mossy hump of an apple-tree, weary and disconsolate, listening to the murmuring brook, with louder murmurings of his own, he espied a light, well-balanced figure crossing the water on a narrow plank some hundred yards up the streamway.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Plain girls never walk like that.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading NOT TO BE RESISTED.
a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust
From this reading O that she were coming to my relief!
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading While the Rector still was sitting on the mossy hump of an apple-tree, weary and disconsolate, listening to the murmuring brook, with louder murmurings of his own, he espied a light, well-balanced figure crossing the water on a narrow plank some hundred yards up the streamway.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading While the Rector still was sitting on the mossy hump of an apple-tree, weary and disconsolate, listening to the murmuring brook, with louder murmurings of his own, he espied a light, well-balanced figure crossing the water on a narrow plank some hundred yards up the streamway.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading While the Rector still was sitting on the mossy hump of an apple-tree, weary and disconsolate, listening to the murmuring brook, with louder murmurings of his own, he espied a light, well-balanced figure crossing the water on a narrow plank some hundred yards up the streamway.
parsonnounUS /ˈpɑːrsən/
a person authorized to conduct religious worship
From this reading “A pretty girl!” said the parson; “I am sure of it, by the way she carries herself.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading Plain girls never walk like that.
plankverbUS /plæŋk/
cover with planks
From this reading While the Rector still was sitting on the mossy hump of an apple-tree, weary and disconsolate, listening to the murmuring brook, with louder murmurings of his own, he espied a light, well-balanced figure crossing the water on a narrow plank some hundred yards up the streamway.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading “A pretty girl!” said the parson; “I am sure of it, by the way she carries herself.
RectornounUS /ˈrektər/
a person authorized to conduct religious worship
From this reading While the Rector still was sitting on the mossy hump of an apple-tree, weary and disconsolate, listening to the murmuring brook, with louder murmurings of his own, he espied a light, well-balanced figure crossing the water on a narrow plank some hundred yards up the streamway.
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading O that she were coming to my relief!
RESISTEDverbUS /rɪˈzɪstɪd/
past form of “resist” — elude, especially in a baffling way
From this reading NOT TO BE RESISTED.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “A pretty girl!” said the parson; “I am sure of it, by the way she carries herself.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “A pretty girl!” said the parson; “I am sure of it, by the way she carries herself.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading While the Rector still was sitting on the mossy hump of an apple-tree, weary and disconsolate, listening to the murmuring brook, with louder murmurings of his own, he espied a light, well-balanced figure crossing the water on a narrow plank some hundred yards up the streamway.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading While the Rector still was sitting on the mossy hump of an apple-tree, weary and disconsolate, listening to the murmuring brook, with louder murmurings of his own, he espied a light, well-balanced figure crossing the water on a narrow plank some hundred yards up the streamway.
not in physical motion
From this reading While the Rector still was sitting on the mossy hump of an apple-tree, weary and disconsolate, listening to the murmuring brook, with louder murmurings of his own, he espied a light, well-balanced figure crossing the water on a narrow plank some hundred yards up the streamway.
streamway
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While the Rector still was sitting on the mossy hump of an apple-tree, weary and disconsolate, listening to the murmuring brook, with louder murmurings of his own, he espied a light, well-balanced figure crossing the water on a narrow plank some hundred yards up the streamway.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading “A pretty girl!” said the parson; “I am sure of it, by the way she carries herself.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Plain girls never walk like that.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading While the Rector still was sitting on the mossy hump of an apple-tree, weary and disconsolate, listening to the murmuring brook, with louder murmurings of his own, he espied a light, well-balanced figure crossing the water on a narrow plank some hundred yards up the streamway.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading NOT TO BE RESISTED.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading While the Rector still was sitting on the mossy hump of an apple-tree, weary and disconsolate, listening to the murmuring brook, with louder murmurings of his own, he espied a light, well-balanced figure crossing the water on a narrow plank some hundred yards up the streamway.
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading Plain girls never walk like that.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading While the Rector still was sitting on the mossy hump of an apple-tree, weary and disconsolate, listening to the murmuring brook, with louder murmurings of his own, he espied a light, well-balanced figure crossing the water on a narrow plank some hundred yards up the streamway.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading While the Rector still was sitting on the mossy hump of an apple-tree, weary and disconsolate, listening to the murmuring brook, with louder murmurings of his own, he espied a light, well-balanced figure crossing the water on a narrow plank some hundred yards up the streamway.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading “A pretty girl!” said the parson; “I am sure of it, by the way she carries herself.
exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress
From this reading While the Rector still was sitting on the mossy hump of an apple-tree, weary and disconsolate, listening to the murmuring brook, with louder murmurings of his own, he espied a light, well-balanced figure crossing the water on a narrow plank some hundred yards up the streamway.
well-balancedadjective
in an optimal state of balance or equilibrium
From this reading While the Rector still was sitting on the mossy hump of an apple-tree, weary and disconsolate, listening to the murmuring brook, with louder murmurings of his own, he espied a light, well-balanced figure crossing the water on a narrow plank some hundred yards up the streamway.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading O that she were coming to my relief!
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While the Rector still was sitting on the mossy hump of an apple-tree, weary and disconsolate, listening to the murmuring brook, with louder murmurings of his own, he espied a light, well-balanced figure crossing the water on a narrow plank some hundred yards up the streamway.
in the company of; together with
From this reading While the Rector still was sitting on the mossy hump of an apple-tree, weary and disconsolate, listening to the murmuring brook, with louder murmurings of his own, he espied a light, well-balanced figure crossing the water on a narrow plank some hundred yards up the streamway.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading While the Rector still was sitting on the mossy hump of an apple-tree, weary and disconsolate, listening to the murmuring brook, with louder murmurings of his own, he espied a light, well-balanced figure crossing the water on a narrow plank some hundred yards up the streamway.
