(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading The thought crossed his mind that the old man might not be able to compass the two miles or more of country road.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Then he got into his raincoat and followed.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The minister from the doorstep of the parsonage watched the stooped figure as it shambled down the street.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The thought crossed his mind that the old man might not be able to compass the two miles or more of country road.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading “My umbrella isn’t of the best,” he said, as he overtook the toiling figure; “but I should have offered it.”
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “My umbrella isn’t of the best,” he said, as he overtook the toiling figure; “but I should have offered it.”
compassnounUS /ˈkʌmpəs/
navigational instrument for finding directions
From this reading The thought crossed his mind that the old man might not be able to compass the two miles or more of country road.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading The thought crossed his mind that the old man might not be able to compass the two miles or more of country road.
placed crosswise
From this reading The thought crossed his mind that the old man might not be able to compass the two miles or more of country road.
doorstepnounUS /ˈdɔːrstep/
the sill of a door; a horizontal piece of wood or stone that forms the bottom of a doorway and offers support when passing through a doorway
From this reading The minister from the doorstep of the parsonage watched the stooped figure as it shambled down the street.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The minister from the doorstep of the parsonage watched the stooped figure as it shambled down the street.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading The rain was still falling in torrents.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading The minister from the doorstep of the parsonage watched the stooped figure as it shambled down the street.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Then he got into his raincoat and followed.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The minister from the doorstep of the parsonage watched the stooped figure as it shambled down the street.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Then he got into his raincoat and followed.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “My umbrella isn’t of the best,” he said, as he overtook the toiling figure; “but I should have offered it.”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then he got into his raincoat and followed.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The thought crossed his mind that the old man might not be able to compass the two miles or more of country road.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “My umbrella isn’t of the best,” he said, as he overtook the toiling figure; “but I should have offered it.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The rain was still falling in torrents.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Then he got into his raincoat and followed.
isn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “My umbrella isn’t of the best,” he said, as he overtook the toiling figure; “but I should have offered it.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The minister from the doorstep of the parsonage watched the stooped figure as it shambled down the street.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The thought crossed his mind that the old man might not be able to compass the two miles or more of country road.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The thought crossed his mind that the old man might not be able to compass the two miles or more of country road.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading The thought crossed his mind that the old man might not be able to compass the two miles or more of country road.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading The thought crossed his mind that the old man might not be able to compass the two miles or more of country road.
a person authorized to conduct religious worship
From this reading The minister from the doorstep of the parsonage watched the stooped figure as it shambled down the street.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The thought crossed his mind that the old man might not be able to compass the two miles or more of country road.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “My umbrella isn’t of the best,” he said, as he overtook the toiling figure; “but I should have offered it.”
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The thought crossed his mind that the old man might not be able to compass the two miles or more of country road.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The minister from the doorstep of the parsonage watched the stooped figure as it shambled down the street.
past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading “My umbrella isn’t of the best,” he said, as he overtook the toiling figure; “but I should have offered it.”
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The thought crossed his mind that the old man might not be able to compass the two miles or more of country road.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The thought crossed his mind that the old man might not be able to compass the two miles or more of country road.
overtookverbUS /ˌoʊvərˈtʊk/
inflected form of “overtake” — catch up with and possibly overtake
From this reading “My umbrella isn’t of the best,” he said, as he overtook the toiling figure; “but I should have offered it.”
parsonagenounUS /ˈpɑːrsənɪdʒ/
an official residence provided by a church for its parson or vicar or rector
From this reading The minister from the doorstep of the parsonage watched the stooped figure as it shambled down the street.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading The rain was still falling in torrents.
raincoatnounUS /ˈreɪnkoʊt/
a water-resistant coat
From this reading Then he got into his raincoat and followed.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading The thought crossed his mind that the old man might not be able to compass the two miles or more of country road.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “My umbrella isn’t of the best,” he said, as he overtook the toiling figure; “but I should have offered it.”
shambled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The minister from the doorstep of the parsonage watched the stooped figure as it shambled down the street.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading “My umbrella isn’t of the best,” he said, as he overtook the toiling figure; “but I should have offered it.”
not in physical motion
From this reading The rain was still falling in torrents.
stoopedadjectiveUS /stuːpt/
having the back and shoulders rounded; not erect
From this reading The minister from the doorstep of the parsonage watched the stooped figure as it shambled down the street.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading The minister from the doorstep of the parsonage watched the stooped figure as it shambled down the street.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The thought crossed his mind that the old man might not be able to compass the two miles or more of country road.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The minister from the doorstep of the parsonage watched the stooped figure as it shambled down the street.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then he got into his raincoat and followed.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The thought crossed his mind that the old man might not be able to compass the two miles or more of country road.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The thought crossed his mind that the old man might not be able to compass the two miles or more of country road.
toilingadjectiveUS /ˈtɔɪlɪŋ/
doing arduous or unpleasant work
From this reading “My umbrella isn’t of the best,” he said, as he overtook the toiling figure; “but I should have offered it.”
torrentsnounUS /ˈtɔːrənts/
plural of “torrent” — a heavy rain
From this reading The rain was still falling in torrents.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The thought crossed his mind that the old man might not be able to compass the two miles or more of country road.
umbrellanounUS /əmˈbrelə/
a lightweight handheld collapsible canopy
From this reading “My umbrella isn’t of the best,” he said, as he overtook the toiling figure; “but I should have offered it.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The rain was still falling in torrents.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading The minister from the doorstep of the parsonage watched the stooped figure as it shambled down the street.
