used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading --_Harper Ballad._ A servant opened the hall door and ushered in an old man, slightly bent under the weight of a harp under its green covering.
how long something has existed
From this reading From the hue of his hair, that was of an iron-grey and thick and wavy like his beard, and the slight stoop to his shoulders, he must have been in the neighbourhood of fifty years of age.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading --_Harper Ballad._ A servant opened the hall door and ushered in an old man, slightly bent under the weight of a harp under its green covering.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading --_Harper Ballad._ A servant opened the hall door and ushered in an old man, slightly bent under the weight of a harp under its green covering.
BalladnounUS /ˈbæləd/
a narrative song with a recurrent refrain
From this reading --_Harper Ballad._ A servant opened the hall door and ushered in an old man, slightly bent under the weight of a harp under its green covering.
the hair growing on the lower part of a man's face
From this reading From the hue of his hair, that was of an iron-grey and thick and wavy like his beard, and the slight stoop to his shoulders, he must have been in the neighbourhood of fifty years of age.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading From the hue of his hair, that was of an iron-grey and thick and wavy like his beard, and the slight stoop to his shoulders, he must have been in the neighbourhood of fifty years of age.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading He was clad in the ordinary garments of the time, except that he still clung to the long stockings, knee breeches, and low silver buckled shoes that were now generally being discarded by the gentry.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading --_Harper Ballad._ A servant opened the hall door and ushered in an old man, slightly bent under the weight of a harp under its green covering.
breechesnounUS /ˈbriːtʃɪz/
(used in the plural) trousers ending above the knee
From this reading He was clad in the ordinary garments of the time, except that he still clung to the long stockings, knee breeches, and low silver buckled shoes that were now generally being discarded by the gentry.
buckledverbUS /ˈbʌkəld/
past form of “buckle” — fasten with a buckle or buckles
From this reading He was clad in the ordinary garments of the time, except that he still clung to the long stockings, knee breeches, and low silver buckled shoes that were now generally being discarded by the gentry.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He was clad in the ordinary garments of the time, except that he still clung to the long stockings, knee breeches, and low silver buckled shoes that were now generally being discarded by the gentry.
the particular occupation for which you are trained
From this reading Emblem of my peaceful calling."
cladadjectiveUS /klæd/
wearing or provided with clothing; sometimes used in combination
From this reading He was clad in the ordinary garments of the time, except that he still clung to the long stockings, knee breeches, and low silver buckled shoes that were now generally being discarded by the gentry.
clungverbUS /klʌŋ/
inflected form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading He was clad in the ordinary garments of the time, except that he still clung to the long stockings, knee breeches, and low silver buckled shoes that were now generally being discarded by the gentry.
CORNISHnounUS /ˈkɔːrnɪʃ/
a Celtic language spoken in Cornwall
From this reading THE CORNISH DROLL TELLER "Seest thou not my harp?
coveringnounUS /ˈkʌvərɪŋ/
a natural object that covers or envelops
From this reading --_Harper Ballad._ A servant opened the hall door and ushered in an old man, slightly bent under the weight of a harp under its green covering.
discardedadjectiveUS /dɪˈskɑːrdɪd/
thrown away
From this reading He was clad in the ordinary garments of the time, except that he still clung to the long stockings, knee breeches, and low silver buckled shoes that were now generally being discarded by the gentry.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading --_Harper Ballad._ A servant opened the hall door and ushered in an old man, slightly bent under the weight of a harp under its green covering.
DROLLadjectiveUS /droʊl/
comical in an odd or whimsical manner
From this reading THE CORNISH DROLL TELLER "Seest thou not my harp?
EmblemnounUS /ˈembləm/
special design or visual object representing a quality, type, group, etc.
From this reading Emblem of my peaceful calling."
apart from; not including
From this reading He was clad in the ordinary garments of the time, except that he still clung to the long stockings, knee breeches, and low silver buckled shoes that were now generally being discarded by the gentry.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and five
From this reading From the hue of his hair, that was of an iron-grey and thick and wavy like his beard, and the slight stoop to his shoulders, he must have been in the neighbourhood of fifty years of age.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From the hue of his hair, that was of an iron-grey and thick and wavy like his beard, and the slight stoop to his shoulders, he must have been in the neighbourhood of fifty years of age.
garmentsnounUS /ˈɡɑːrmənts/
plural of “garment” — an article of clothing
From this reading He was clad in the ordinary garments of the time, except that he still clung to the long stockings, knee breeches, and low silver buckled shoes that were now generally being discarded by the gentry.
usually; as a rule
From this reading He was clad in the ordinary garments of the time, except that he still clung to the long stockings, knee breeches, and low silver buckled shoes that were now generally being discarded by the gentry.
gentrynounUS /ˈdʒentri/
the most powerful members of a society
From this reading He was clad in the ordinary garments of the time, except that he still clung to the long stockings, knee breeches, and low silver buckled shoes that were now generally being discarded by the gentry.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading --_Harper Ballad._ A servant opened the hall door and ushered in an old man, slightly bent under the weight of a harp under its green covering.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading From the hue of his hair, that was of an iron-grey and thick and wavy like his beard, and the slight stoop to his shoulders, he must have been in the neighbourhood of fifty years of age.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading --_Harper Ballad._ A servant opened the hall door and ushered in an old man, slightly bent under the weight of a harp under its green covering.
harpnounUS /hɑːrp/
a chordophone that has a triangular frame consisting of a sounding board and a pillar and a curved neck; the strings stretched between the neck and the soundbox are plucked with the fingers
From this reading THE CORNISH DROLL TELLER "Seest thou not my harp?
HarpernounUS /ˈhɑːrpər/
someone who plays the harp
From this reading --_Harper Ballad._ A servant opened the hall door and ushered in an old man, slightly bent under the weight of a harp under its green covering.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading From the hue of his hair, that was of an iron-grey and thick and wavy like his beard, and the slight stoop to his shoulders, he must have been in the neighbourhood of fifty years of age.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was clad in the ordinary garments of the time, except that he still clung to the long stockings, knee breeches, and low silver buckled shoes that were now generally being discarded by the gentry.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading From the hue of his hair, that was of an iron-grey and thick and wavy like his beard, and the slight stoop to his shoulders, he must have been in the neighbourhood of fifty years of age.
huenounUS /hjuː/
the quality of a color as determined by its dominant wavelength
From this reading From the hue of his hair, that was of an iron-grey and thick and wavy like his beard, and the slight stoop to his shoulders, he must have been in the neighbourhood of fifty years of age.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading --_Harper Ballad._ A servant opened the hall door and ushered in an old man, slightly bent under the weight of a harp under its green covering.
iron-greynoun
the color of freshly broken cast iron
From this reading From the hue of his hair, that was of an iron-grey and thick and wavy like his beard, and the slight stoop to his shoulders, he must have been in the neighbourhood of fifty years of age.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading --_Harper Ballad._ A servant opened the hall door and ushered in an old man, slightly bent under the weight of a harp under its green covering.
hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading He was clad in the ordinary garments of the time, except that he still clung to the long stockings, knee breeches, and low silver buckled shoes that were now generally being discarded by the gentry.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading From the hue of his hair, that was of an iron-grey and thick and wavy like his beard, and the slight stoop to his shoulders, he must have been in the neighbourhood of fifty years of age.
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 clad in the ordinary garments of the time, except that he still clung to the long stockings, knee breeches, and low silver buckled shoes that were now generally being discarded by the gentry.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading He was clad in the ordinary garments of the time, except that he still clung to the long stockings, knee breeches, and low silver buckled shoes that were now generally being discarded by the gentry.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading --_Harper Ballad._ A servant opened the hall door and ushered in an old man, slightly bent under the weight of a harp under its green covering.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading From the hue of his hair, that was of an iron-grey and thick and wavy like his beard, and the slight stoop to his shoulders, he must have been in the neighbourhood of fifty years of age.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading THE CORNISH DROLL TELLER "Seest thou not my harp?
neighbourhoodnounUS /ˈneɪbərhʊd/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading From the hue of his hair, that was of an iron-grey and thick and wavy like his beard, and the slight stoop to his shoulders, he must have been in the neighbourhood of fifty years of age.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE CORNISH DROLL TELLER "Seest thou not my harp?
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He was clad in the ordinary garments of the time, except that he still clung to the long stockings, knee breeches, and low silver buckled shoes that were now generally being discarded by the gentry.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Emblem of my peaceful calling."
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading --_Harper Ballad._ A servant opened the hall door and ushered in an old man, slightly bent under the weight of a harp under its green covering.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading --_Harper Ballad._ A servant opened the hall door and ushered in an old man, slightly bent under the weight of a harp under its green covering.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading He was clad in the ordinary garments of the time, except that he still clung to the long stockings, knee breeches, and low silver buckled shoes that were now generally being discarded by the gentry.
peacefuladjectiveUS /ˈpiːsfəl/
not disturbed by strife or turmoil or war
From this reading Emblem of my peaceful calling."
Seest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CORNISH DROLL TELLER "Seest thou not my harp?
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading --_Harper Ballad._ A servant opened the hall door and ushered in an old man, slightly bent under the weight of a harp under its green covering.
a particular situation
From this reading He was clad in the ordinary garments of the time, except that he still clung to the long stockings, knee breeches, and low silver buckled shoes that were now generally being discarded by the gentry.
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading From the hue of his hair, that was of an iron-grey and thick and wavy like his beard, and the slight stoop to his shoulders, he must have been in the neighbourhood of fifty years of age.
a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography
From this reading He was clad in the ordinary garments of the time, except that he still clung to the long stockings, knee breeches, and low silver buckled shoes that were now generally being discarded by the gentry.
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading From the hue of his hair, that was of an iron-grey and thick and wavy like his beard, and the slight stoop to his shoulders, he must have been in the neighbourhood of fifty years of age.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading --_Harper Ballad._ A servant opened the hall door and ushered in an old man, slightly bent under the weight of a harp under its green covering.
not in physical motion
From this reading He was clad in the ordinary garments of the time, except that he still clung to the long stockings, knee breeches, and low silver buckled shoes that were now generally being discarded by the gentry.
stockingsnounUS /ˈstɑːkɪŋz/
plural of “stocking” — close-fitting hosiery to cover the foot and leg; come in matched pairs (usually used in the plural)
From this reading He was clad in the ordinary garments of the time, except that he still clung to the long stockings, knee breeches, and low silver buckled shoes that were now generally being discarded by the gentry.
stoopverbUS /stuːp/
bend one's back forward from the waist on down
From this reading From the hue of his hair, that was of an iron-grey and thick and wavy like his beard, and the slight stoop to his shoulders, he must have been in the neighbourhood of fifty years of age.
TELLERnounUS /ˈtelər/
United States physicist (born in Hungary) who worked on the first atom bomb and the first hydrogen bomb (1908-2003)
From this reading THE CORNISH DROLL TELLER "Seest thou not my harp?
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He was clad in the ordinary garments of the time, except that he still clung to the long stockings, knee breeches, and low silver buckled shoes that were now generally being discarded by the gentry.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CORNISH DROLL TELLER "Seest thou not my harp?
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading From the hue of his hair, that was of an iron-grey and thick and wavy like his beard, and the slight stoop to his shoulders, he must have been in the neighbourhood of fifty years of age.
an old word for “you”, as the subject, speaking to one person
From this reading THE CORNISH DROLL TELLER "Seest thou not my harp?
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading He was clad in the ordinary garments of the time, except that he still clung to the long stockings, knee breeches, and low silver buckled shoes that were now generally being discarded by the gentry.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was clad in the ordinary garments of the time, except that he still clung to the long stockings, knee breeches, and low silver buckled shoes that were now generally being discarded by the gentry.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading --_Harper Ballad._ A servant opened the hall door and ushered in an old man, slightly bent under the weight of a harp under its green covering.
usheredverbUS /ˈʌʃərd/
past form of “usher” — take (someone) to their seats, as in theaters or auditoriums
From this reading --_Harper Ballad._ A servant opened the hall door and ushered in an old man, slightly bent under the weight of a harp under its green covering.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was clad in the ordinary garments of the time, except that he still clung to the long stockings, knee breeches, and low silver buckled shoes that were now generally being discarded by the gentry.
wavyadjectiveUS /ˈweɪvi/
(of hair) having waves
From this reading From the hue of his hair, that was of an iron-grey and thick and wavy like his beard, and the slight stoop to his shoulders, he must have been in the neighbourhood of fifty years of age.
the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity
From this reading --_Harper Ballad._ A servant opened the hall door and ushered in an old man, slightly bent under the weight of a harp under its green covering.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He was clad in the ordinary garments of the time, except that he still clung to the long stockings, knee breeches, and low silver buckled shoes that were now generally being discarded by the gentry.
a late time of life
From this reading From the hue of his hair, that was of an iron-grey and thick and wavy like his beard, and the slight stoop to his shoulders, he must have been in the neighbourhood of fifty years of age.
