used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Squire Vivian was riding at a smart pace on the solid roads.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He must see his old friend, Sir James Lanyan, about one or two things, and so, after a hasty lunch and a word of instruction to the steward, he mounted his fast-pacing cob and was off.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading He was fond of horse-back riding, but long ago, having given up riding after the hounds, he was constrained to solace himself by daily trips over the turnpike.
in the past
From this reading He was fond of horse-back riding, but long ago, having given up riding after the hounds, he was constrained to solace himself by daily trips over the turnpike.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading SQUIRE AND PARLIAMENTARIAN Thud, thud, thud, thud.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Squire Vivian was riding at a smart pace on the solid roads.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He was fond of horse-back riding, but long ago, having given up riding after the hounds, he was constrained to solace himself by daily trips over the turnpike.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He was fond of horse-back riding, but long ago, having given up riding after the hounds, he was constrained to solace himself by daily trips over the turnpike.
cobnounUS /kɑːb/
nut of any of several trees of the genus Corylus
From this reading He must see his old friend, Sir James Lanyan, about one or two things, and so, after a hasty lunch and a word of instruction to the steward, he mounted his fast-pacing cob and was off.
constrainedadjectiveUS /kənˈstreɪnd/
lacking spontaneity; not natural
From this reading He was fond of horse-back riding, but long ago, having given up riding after the hounds, he was constrained to solace himself by daily trips over the turnpike.
every day; without missing a day
From this reading He was fond of horse-back riding, but long ago, having given up riding after the hounds, he was constrained to solace himself by daily trips over the turnpike.
the activity of exerting your muscles in various ways to keep fit
From this reading This was not exercise, however.
fast-pacing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He must see his old friend, Sir James Lanyan, about one or two things, and so, after a hasty lunch and a word of instruction to the steward, he mounted his fast-pacing cob and was off.
having or displaying warmth or affection
From this reading He was fond of horse-back riding, but long ago, having given up riding after the hounds, he was constrained to solace himself by daily trips over the turnpike.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading He must see his old friend, Sir James Lanyan, about one or two things, and so, after a hasty lunch and a word of instruction to the steward, he mounted his fast-pacing cob and was off.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading He was fond of horse-back riding, but long ago, having given up riding after the hounds, he was constrained to solace himself by daily trips over the turnpike.
hastyadjectiveUS /ˈheɪsti/
excessively quick
From this reading He must see his old friend, Sir James Lanyan, about one or two things, and so, after a hasty lunch and a word of instruction to the steward, he mounted his fast-pacing cob and was off.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading He was fond of horse-back riding, but long ago, having given up riding after the hounds, he was constrained to solace himself by daily trips over the turnpike.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was fond of horse-back riding, but long ago, having given up riding after the hounds, he was constrained to solace himself by daily trips over the turnpike.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He was fond of horse-back riding, but long ago, having given up riding after the hounds, he was constrained to solace himself by daily trips over the turnpike.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He must see his old friend, Sir James Lanyan, about one or two things, and so, after a hasty lunch and a word of instruction to the steward, he mounted his fast-pacing cob and was off.
horse-back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was fond of horse-back riding, but long ago, having given up riding after the hounds, he was constrained to solace himself by daily trips over the turnpike.
houndsnounUS /haʊndz/
plural of “hound” — any of several breeds of dog used for hunting typically having large drooping ears
From this reading He was fond of horse-back riding, but long ago, having given up riding after the hounds, he was constrained to solace himself by daily trips over the turnpike.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading This was not exercise, however.
instructionnounUS /ˌɪnˈstrʌkʃən/
a message describing how something is to be done
From this reading He must see his old friend, Sir James Lanyan, about one or two things, and so, after a hasty lunch and a word of instruction to the steward, he mounted his fast-pacing cob and was off.
a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)
From this reading He must see his old friend, Sir James Lanyan, about one or two things, and so, after a hasty lunch and a word of instruction to the steward, he mounted his fast-pacing cob and was off.
Lanyan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He must see his old friend, Sir James Lanyan, about one or two things, and so, after a hasty lunch and a word of instruction to the steward, he mounted his fast-pacing cob and was off.
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 He was fond of horse-back riding, but long ago, having given up riding after the hounds, he was constrained to solace himself by daily trips over the turnpike.
take the midday meal
From this reading He must see his old friend, Sir James Lanyan, about one or two things, and so, after a hasty lunch and a word of instruction to the steward, he mounted his fast-pacing cob and was off.
assembled for use; especially by being attached to a support
From this reading He must see his old friend, Sir James Lanyan, about one or two things, and so, after a hasty lunch and a word of instruction to the steward, he mounted his fast-pacing cob and was off.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading He must see his old friend, Sir James Lanyan, about one or two things, and so, after a hasty lunch and a word of instruction to the steward, he mounted his fast-pacing cob and was off.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading This was not exercise, however.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was fond of horse-back riding, but long ago, having given up riding after the hounds, he was constrained to solace himself by daily trips over the turnpike.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He must see his old friend, Sir James Lanyan, about one or two things, and so, after a hasty lunch and a word of instruction to the steward, he mounted his fast-pacing cob and was off.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading He must see his old friend, Sir James Lanyan, about one or two things, and so, after a hasty lunch and a word of instruction to the steward, he mounted his fast-pacing cob and was off.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Squire Vivian was riding at a smart pace on the solid roads.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He must see his old friend, Sir James Lanyan, about one or two things, and so, after a hasty lunch and a word of instruction to the steward, he mounted his fast-pacing cob and was off.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He must see his old friend, Sir James Lanyan, about one or two things, and so, after a hasty lunch and a word of instruction to the steward, he mounted his fast-pacing cob and was off.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He was fond of horse-back riding, but long ago, having given up riding after the hounds, he was constrained to solace himself by daily trips over the turnpike.
the rate of moving (especially walking or running)
From this reading Squire Vivian was riding at a smart pace on the solid roads.
PARLIAMENTARIANnounUS /ˌpɑːrləmənˈteriən/
an elected member of the British Parliament: a member of the House of Commons
From this reading SQUIRE AND PARLIAMENTARIAN Thud, thud, thud, thud.
the sport of sitting on the back of a horse while controlling its movements
From this reading Squire Vivian was riding at a smart pace on the solid roads.
roadsnounUS /roʊdz/
a partly sheltered anchorage
From this reading Squire Vivian was riding at a smart pace on the solid roads.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He must see his old friend, Sir James Lanyan, about one or two things, and so, after a hasty lunch and a word of instruction to the steward, he mounted his fast-pacing cob and was off.
term of address for a man
From this reading He must see his old friend, Sir James Lanyan, about one or two things, and so, after a hasty lunch and a word of instruction to the steward, he mounted his fast-pacing cob and was off.
smartadjectiveUS /smɑːrt/
showing mental alertness and calculation and resourcefulness
From this reading Squire Vivian was riding at a smart pace on the solid roads.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He must see his old friend, Sir James Lanyan, about one or two things, and so, after a hasty lunch and a word of instruction to the steward, he mounted his fast-pacing cob and was off.
solacenounUS /ˈsɑːləs/
the comfort you feel when consoled in times of disappointment
From this reading He was fond of horse-back riding, but long ago, having given up riding after the hounds, he was constrained to solace himself by daily trips over the turnpike.
solidadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləd/
characterized by good substantial quality
From this reading Squire Vivian was riding at a smart pace on the solid roads.
young nobleman attendant on a knight
From this reading SQUIRE AND PARLIAMENTARIAN Thud, thud, thud, thud.
stewardnounUS /ˈstuːərd/
someone who manages property or other affairs for someone else
From this reading He must see his old friend, Sir James Lanyan, about one or two things, and so, after a hasty lunch and a word of instruction to the steward, he mounted his fast-pacing cob and was off.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Squire Vivian was riding at a smart pace on the solid roads.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading He must see his old friend, Sir James Lanyan, about one or two things, and so, after a hasty lunch and a word of instruction to the steward, he mounted his fast-pacing cob and was off.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was not exercise, however.
ThudverbUS /θʌd/
make a dull sound
From this reading SQUIRE AND PARLIAMENTARIAN Thud, thud, thud, thud.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was fond of horse-back riding, but long ago, having given up riding after the hounds, he was constrained to solace himself by daily trips over the turnpike.
tripsnounUS /trɪps/
plural of “trip” — a journey for some purpose (usually including the return)
From this reading He was fond of horse-back riding, but long ago, having given up riding after the hounds, he was constrained to solace himself by daily trips over the turnpike.
turnpikenounUS /ˈtɜːrnpaɪk/
(from 16th to 19th centuries) gates set across a road to prevent passage until a toll had been paid
From this reading He was fond of horse-back riding, but long ago, having given up riding after the hounds, he was constrained to solace himself by daily trips over the turnpike.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading He must see his old friend, Sir James Lanyan, about one or two things, and so, after a hasty lunch and a word of instruction to the steward, he mounted his fast-pacing cob and was off.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He was fond of horse-back riding, but long ago, having given up riding after the hounds, he was constrained to solace himself by daily trips over the turnpike.
Vivian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Squire Vivian was riding at a smart pace on the solid roads.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Squire Vivian was riding at a smart pace on the solid roads.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading He must see his old friend, Sir James Lanyan, about one or two things, and so, after a hasty lunch and a word of instruction to the steward, he mounted his fast-pacing cob and was off.
