used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A VERY OLD FAMILY They were a very old family with whom Snecky Hobart, the bellman, lodged.
past form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of
From this reading They read out the inscriptions on the tombstones in a solemn drone, and their father added his reminiscences.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.
averagedverbUS /ˈævrədʒd/
past form of “average” — amount to or come to an average, without loss or gain
From this reading By this time the old man was nearly ninety, and the young ones averaged sixty.
bellmannounUS /ˈbelmən/
someone employed as an errand boy and luggage carrier around hotels
From this reading A VERY OLD FAMILY They were a very old family with whom Snecky Hobart, the bellman, lodged.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.
bonnetnounUS /ˈbɑːnət/
a hat tied under the chin
From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By this time the old man was nearly ninety, and the young ones averaged sixty.
an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Their favourite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirkyard.
dandernoun
small scales from animal skins or hair or bird feathers that can cause allergic reactions in some people
From this reading Their favourite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirkyard.
dissipationnounUS /ˌdɪsɪˈpeɪʃən/
breaking up and scattering by dispersion
From this reading Their favourite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirkyard.
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.
dronenounUS /droʊn/
stingless male bee in a colony of social bees (especially honeybees) whose sole function is to mate with the queen
From this reading They read out the inscriptions on the tombstones in a solemn drone, and their father added his reminiscences.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.
a social unit living together
From this reading A VERY OLD FAMILY They were a very old family with whom Snecky Hobart, the bellman, lodged.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading They read out the inscriptions on the tombstones in a solemn drone, and their father added his reminiscences.
a competitor thought likely to win
From this reading Their favourite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirkyard.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.
death of a person
From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Their favourite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirkyard.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.
HobartnounUS /ˈhoʊbɑːrt/
a port and state capital of Tasmania
From this reading A VERY OLD FAMILY They were a very old family with whom Snecky Hobart, the bellman, lodged.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.
inscriptionsnounUS /ˌɪnˈskrɪpʃənz/
plural of “inscription” — letters inscribed (especially words engraved or carved) on something
From this reading They read out the inscriptions on the tombstones in a solemn drone, and their father added his reminiscences.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.
kirkyard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their favourite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirkyard.
knee-breeches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.
lodgedverbUS /lɑːdʒd/
past form of “lodge” — be a lodger; stay temporarily
From this reading A VERY OLD FAMILY They were a very old family with whom Snecky Hobart, the bellman, lodged.
loomsnounUS /luːmz/
plural of “loom” — a textile machine for weaving yarn into a textile
From this reading Their favourite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirkyard.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading By this time the old man was nearly ninety, and the young ones averaged sixty.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.
in motion
From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading By this time the old man was nearly ninety, and the young ones averaged sixty.
ninetyadjectiveUS /ˈnaɪnti/
being ten more than eighty
From this reading By this time the old man was nearly ninety, and the young ones averaged sixty.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.
many times at short intervals
From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading A VERY OLD FAMILY They were a very old family with whom Snecky Hobart, the bellman, lodged.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They read out the inscriptions on the tombstones in a solemn drone, and their father added his reminiscences.
plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading They read out the inscriptions on the tombstones in a solemn drone, and their father added his reminiscences.
patriarchnounUS /ˈpeɪtriɑːrk/
title for the heads of the Eastern Orthodox Churches (in Istanbul and Alexandria and Moscow and Jerusalem)
From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading They read out the inscriptions on the tombstones in a solemn drone, and their father added his reminiscences.
reminiscencesnounUS /ˌreməˈnɪsənsɪz/
plural of “reminiscence” — a mental impression retained and recalled from the past
From this reading They read out the inscriptions on the tombstones in a solemn drone, and their father added his reminiscences.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading Their favourite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirkyard.
rustyadjectiveUS /ˈrʌsti/
covered with or consisting of rust
From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.
sixtyadjectiveUS /ˈsɪksti/
being ten more than fifty
From this reading By this time the old man was nearly ninety, and the young ones averaged sixty.
Snecky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A VERY OLD FAMILY They were a very old family with whom Snecky Hobart, the bellman, lodged.
dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises
From this reading They read out the inscriptions on the tombstones in a solemn drone, and their father added his reminiscences.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A VERY OLD FAMILY They were a very old family with whom Snecky Hobart, the bellman, lodged.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Their favourite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirkyard.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A VERY OLD FAMILY They were a very old family with whom Snecky Hobart, the bellman, lodged.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading By this time the old man was nearly ninety, and the young ones averaged sixty.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Their favourite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirkyard.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading By this time the old man was nearly ninety, and the young ones averaged sixty.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Their favourite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirkyard.
tombstonesnounUS /ˈtuːmstoʊnz/
plural of “tombstone” — a stone that is used to mark a grave
From this reading They read out the inscriptions on the tombstones in a solemn drone, and their father added his reminiscences.
velvetnounUS /ˈvelvət/
a silky densely piled fabric with a plain back
From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.
precisely as stated
From this reading A VERY OLD FAMILY They were a very old family with whom Snecky Hobart, the bellman, lodged.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Their favourite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirkyard.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A VERY OLD FAMILY They were a very old family with whom Snecky Hobart, the bellman, lodged.
at the time that
From this reading Their favourite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirkyard.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A VERY OLD FAMILY They were a very old family with whom Snecky Hobart, the bellman, lodged.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A VERY OLD FAMILY They were a very old family with whom Snecky Hobart, the bellman, lodged.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.
