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.
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 blacks; 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 blacks; 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 They were a very old family with whom Snecky Hobart, the bellman, lodged.
blacksnounUS /blæks/
plural of “black” — the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)
From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty blacks; 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 blacks; 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 blacks; 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 blacks; 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 blacks; 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 favorite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirk-yard.
dandernoun
small scales from animal skins or hair or bird feathers that can cause allergic reactions in some people
From this reading Their favorite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirk-yard.
dissipationnounUS /ˌdɪsɪˈpeɪʃən/
breaking up and scattering by dispersion
From this reading Their favorite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirk-yard.
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 blacks; 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 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 blacks; 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.
something regarded with special favor or liking
From this reading Their favorite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirk-yard.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty blacks; 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 blacks; 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 blacks; 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 favorite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirk-yard.
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 blacks; 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 blacks; 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 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 blacks; 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 blacks; 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 thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty blacks; 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.
kirk-yard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their favorite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirk-yard.
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 blacks; 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 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 favorite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirk-yard.
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 blacks; 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 blacks; 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 blacks; 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 blacks; 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.
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 blacks; 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.
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 blacks; 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 move; be in a resting position
From this reading Their favorite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirk-yard.
rustyadjectiveUS /ˈrʌsti/
covered with or consisting of rust
From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty blacks; 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 They were a very old family with whom Snecky Hobart, the bellman, lodged.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading 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 favorite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirk-yard.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty blacks; 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 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 blacks; 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 favorite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirk-yard.
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 favorite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirk-yard.
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 blacks; 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.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Their favorite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirk-yard.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were a very old family with whom Snecky Hobart, the bellman, lodged.
at the time that
From this reading Their favorite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirk-yard.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading They were a very old family with whom Snecky Hobart, the bellman, lodged.
in the company of; together with
From this reading 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 blacks; 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.
