Chapter II · Chapter 2

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading How in his heart he wisht to have A childe, in time to come, To be his heire, though it might be No bigger than his Thumbe.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading But all unseene to goe or come Whereas it pleasd him still; And thus King Arthurs Dwarfe was born, To fit his fathers will:

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Of which old Merlin thus foretold, That he his wish should have, And so this sonne of stature small The charmer to him gave.

plural of “arthur” — elected vice president and became 21st President of the United States when Garfield was assassinated (1830-1886)

From this reading But all unseene to goe or come Whereas it pleasd him still; And thus King Arthurs Dwarfe was born, To fit his fathers will:

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading And in foure minutes grew so fast, That he became so tall As was the plowmans thumbe in height, And so they did him call Tom Thumbe, the which the Fayry-Queene There gave him to his name, Who, with her traine of Goblins grim, Unto his christning came.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading How in his heart he wisht to have A childe, in time to come, To be his heire, though it might be No bigger than his Thumbe.

inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading And in foure minutes grew so fast, That he became so tall As was the plowmans thumbe in height, And so they did him call Tom Thumbe, the which the Fayry-Queene There gave him to his name, Who, with her traine of Goblins grim, Unto his christning came.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading No blood nor bones in him should be, In shape and being such, That men should heare him speake, but not His wandring shadow touch:

large or big relative to something else

From this reading How in his heart he wisht to have A childe, in time to come, To be his heire, though it might be No bigger than his Thumbe.

The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.

From this reading No blood nor bones in him should be, In shape and being such, That men should heare him speake, but not His wandring shadow touch:

(used in the plural) a percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hollow pieces of wood or bone (usually held between the thumb and fingers) that are made to click together (as by Spanish dancers) in rhythm with the dance

From this reading No blood nor bones in him should be, In shape and being such, That men should heare him speake, but not His wandring shadow touch:

brought into existence

From this reading But all unseene to goe or come Whereas it pleasd him still; And thus King Arthurs Dwarfe was born, To fit his fathers will:

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading No blood nor bones in him should be, In shape and being such, That men should heare him speake, but not His wandring shadow touch:

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading And in foure minutes grew so fast, That he became so tall As was the plowmans thumbe in height, And so they did him call Tom Thumbe, the which the Fayry-Queene There gave him to his name, Who, with her traine of Goblins grim, Unto his christning came.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading And in foure minutes grew so fast, That he became so tall As was the plowmans thumbe in height, And so they did him call Tom Thumbe, the which the Fayry-Queene There gave him to his name, Who, with her traine of Goblins grim, Unto his christning came.

someone with an assured and ingratiating manner

From this reading Of which old Merlin thus foretold, That he his wish should have, And so this sonne of stature small The charmer to him gave.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading How in his heart he wisht to have A childe, in time to come, To be his heire, though it might be No bigger than his Thumbe.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And in foure minutes grew so fast, That he became so tall As was the plowmans thumbe in height, And so they did him call Tom Thumbe, the which the Fayry-Queene There gave him to his name, Who, with her traine of Goblins grim, Unto his christning came.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading How in his heart he wisht to have A childe, in time to come, To be his heire, though it might be No bigger than his Thumbe.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading And in foure minutes grew so fast, That he became so tall As was the plowmans thumbe in height, And so they did him call Tom Thumbe, the which the Fayry-Queene There gave him to his name, Who, with her traine of Goblins grim, Unto his christning came.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But all unseene to goe or come Whereas it pleasd him still; And thus King Arthurs Dwarfe was born, To fit his fathers will:

quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)

From this reading And in foure minutes grew so fast, That he became so tall As was the plowmans thumbe in height, And so they did him call Tom Thumbe, the which the Fayry-Queene There gave him to his name, Who, with her traine of Goblins grim, Unto his christning came.

plural of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading But all unseene to goe or come Whereas it pleasd him still; And thus King Arthurs Dwarfe was born, To fit his fathers will:

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And in foure minutes grew so fast, That he became so tall As was the plowmans thumbe in height, And so they did him call Tom Thumbe, the which the Fayry-Queene There gave him to his name, Who, with her traine of Goblins grim, Unto his christning came.

be agreeable or acceptable to

From this reading But all unseene to goe or come Whereas it pleasd him still; And thus King Arthurs Dwarfe was born, To fit his fathers will:

inflected form of “foretell” — foreshadow or presage

From this reading Of which old Merlin thus foretold, That he his wish should have, And so this sonne of stature small The charmer to him gave.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And in foure minutes grew so fast, That he became so tall As was the plowmans thumbe in height, And so they did him call Tom Thumbe, the which the Fayry-Queene There gave him to his name, Who, with her traine of Goblins grim, Unto his christning came.

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading Of which old Merlin thus foretold, That he his wish should have, And so this sonne of stature small The charmer to him gave.

plural of “goblin” — (folklore) a small grotesque supernatural creature that makes trouble for human beings

From this reading And in foure minutes grew so fast, That he became so tall As was the plowmans thumbe in height, And so they did him call Tom Thumbe, the which the Fayry-Queene There gave him to his name, Who, with her traine of Goblins grim, Unto his christning came.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But all unseene to goe or come Whereas it pleasd him still; And thus King Arthurs Dwarfe was born, To fit his fathers will:

inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading And in foure minutes grew so fast, That he became so tall As was the plowmans thumbe in height, And so they did him call Tom Thumbe, the which the Fayry-Queene There gave him to his name, Who, with her traine of Goblins grim, Unto his christning came.

not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty

From this reading And in foure minutes grew so fast, That he became so tall As was the plowmans thumbe in height, And so they did him call Tom Thumbe, the which the Fayry-Queene There gave him to his name, Who, with her traine of Goblins grim, Unto his christning came.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading How in his heart he wisht to have A childe, in time to come, To be his heire, though it might be No bigger than his Thumbe.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading How in his heart he wisht to have A childe, in time to come, To be his heire, though it might be No bigger than his Thumbe.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading No blood nor bones in him should be, In shape and being such, That men should heare him speake, but not His wandring shadow touch:

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading How in his heart he wisht to have A childe, in time to come, To be his heire, though it might be No bigger than his Thumbe.

the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base of something to the top

From this reading And in foure minutes grew so fast, That he became so tall As was the plowmans thumbe in height, And so they did him call Tom Thumbe, the which the Fayry-Queene There gave him to his name, Who, with her traine of Goblins grim, Unto his christning came.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading How in his heart he wisht to have A childe, in time to come, To be his heire, though it might be No bigger than his Thumbe.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading And in foure minutes grew so fast, That he became so tall As was the plowmans thumbe in height, And so they did him call Tom Thumbe, the which the Fayry-Queene There gave him to his name, Who, with her traine of Goblins grim, Unto his christning came.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Of which old Merlin thus foretold, That he his wish should have, And so this sonne of stature small The charmer to him gave.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading How in his heart he wisht to have A childe, in time to come, To be his heire, though it might be No bigger than his Thumbe.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading How in his heart he wisht to have A childe, in time to come, To be his heire, though it might be No bigger than his Thumbe.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading How in his heart he wisht to have A childe, in time to come, To be his heire, though it might be No bigger than his Thumbe.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading How in his heart he wisht to have A childe, in time to come, To be his heire, though it might be No bigger than his Thumbe.

a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom

From this reading But all unseene to goe or come Whereas it pleasd him still; And thus King Arthurs Dwarfe was born, To fit his fathers will:

the force of workers available

From this reading No blood nor bones in him should be, In shape and being such, That men should heare him speake, but not His wandring shadow touch:

(Arthurian legend) the magician who acted as King Arthur's advisor

From this reading Of which old Merlin thus foretold, That he his wish should have, And so this sonne of stature small The charmer to him gave.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading How in his heart he wisht to have A childe, in time to come, To be his heire, though it might be No bigger than his Thumbe.

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading And in foure minutes grew so fast, That he became so tall As was the plowmans thumbe in height, And so they did him call Tom Thumbe, the which the Fayry-Queene There gave him to his name, Who, with her traine of Goblins grim, Unto his christning came.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading And in foure minutes grew so fast, That he became so tall As was the plowmans thumbe in height, And so they did him call Tom Thumbe, the which the Fayry-Queene There gave him to his name, Who, with her traine of Goblins grim, Unto his christning came.

not any; not one

From this reading How in his heart he wisht to have A childe, in time to come, To be his heire, though it might be No bigger than his Thumbe.

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading No blood nor bones in him should be, In shape and being such, That men should heare him speake, but not His wandring shadow touch:

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading No blood nor bones in him should be, In shape and being such, That men should heare him speake, but not His wandring shadow touch:

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Of which old Merlin thus foretold, That he his wish should have, And so this sonne of stature small The charmer to him gave.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading Of which old Merlin thus foretold, That he his wish should have, And so this sonne of stature small The charmer to him gave.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading But all unseene to goe or come Whereas it pleasd him still; And thus King Arthurs Dwarfe was born, To fit his fathers will:

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But all unseene to goe or come Whereas it pleasd him still; And thus King Arthurs Dwarfe was born, To fit his fathers will:

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And in foure minutes grew so fast, That he became so tall As was the plowmans thumbe in height, And so they did him call Tom Thumbe, the which the Fayry-Queene There gave him to his name, Who, with her traine of Goblins grim, Unto his christning came.

A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

From this reading No blood nor bones in him should be, In shape and being such, That men should heare him speake, but not His wandring shadow touch:

any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)

From this reading No blood nor bones in him should be, In shape and being such, That men should heare him speake, but not His wandring shadow touch:

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Of which old Merlin thus foretold, That he his wish should have, And so this sonne of stature small The charmer to him gave.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Of which old Merlin thus foretold, That he his wish should have, And so this sonne of stature small The charmer to him gave.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Of which old Merlin thus foretold, That he his wish should have, And so this sonne of stature small The charmer to him gave.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Of which old Merlin thus foretold, That he his wish should have, And so this sonne of stature small The charmer to him gave.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading No blood nor bones in him should be, In shape and being such, That men should heare him speake, but not His wandring shadow touch:

high level of respect gained by impressive development or achievement

From this reading Of which old Merlin thus foretold, That he his wish should have, And so this sonne of stature small The charmer to him gave.

not in physical motion

From this reading But all unseene to goe or come Whereas it pleasd him still; And thus King Arthurs Dwarfe was born, To fit his fathers will:

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading No blood nor bones in him should be, In shape and being such, That men should heare him speake, but not His wandring shadow touch:

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading And in foure minutes grew so fast, That he became so tall As was the plowmans thumbe in height, And so they did him call Tom Thumbe, the which the Fayry-Queene There gave him to his name, Who, with her traine of Goblins grim, Unto his christning came.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading How in his heart he wisht to have A childe, in time to come, To be his heire, though it might be No bigger than his Thumbe.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Of which old Merlin thus foretold, That he his wish should have, And so this sonne of stature small The charmer to him gave.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Of which old Merlin thus foretold, That he his wish should have, And so this sonne of stature small The charmer to him gave.

in or at that place or location

From this reading And in foure minutes grew so fast, That he became so tall As was the plowmans thumbe in height, And so they did him call Tom Thumbe, the which the Fayry-Queene There gave him to his name, Who, with her traine of Goblins grim, Unto his christning came.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading And in foure minutes grew so fast, That he became so tall As was the plowmans thumbe in height, And so they did him call Tom Thumbe, the which the Fayry-Queene There gave him to his name, Who, with her traine of Goblins grim, Unto his christning came.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Of which old Merlin thus foretold, That he his wish should have, And so this sonne of stature small The charmer to him gave.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading How in his heart he wisht to have A childe, in time to come, To be his heire, though it might be No bigger than his Thumbe.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading How in his heart he wisht to have A childe, in time to come, To be his heire, though it might be No bigger than his Thumbe.

(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result

From this reading Of which old Merlin thus foretold, That he his wish should have, And so this sonne of stature small The charmer to him gave.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading How in his heart he wisht to have A childe, in time to come, To be his heire, though it might be No bigger than his Thumbe.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading How in his heart he wisht to have A childe, in time to come, To be his heire, though it might be No bigger than his Thumbe.

male cat

From this reading And in foure minutes grew so fast, That he became so tall As was the plowmans thumbe in height, And so they did him call Tom Thumbe, the which the Fayry-Queene There gave him to his name, Who, with her traine of Goblins grim, Unto his christning came.

make physical contact with, come in contact with

From this reading No blood nor bones in him should be, In shape and being such, That men should heare him speake, but not His wandring shadow touch:

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And in foure minutes grew so fast, That he became so tall As was the plowmans thumbe in height, And so they did him call Tom Thumbe, the which the Fayry-Queene There gave him to his name, Who, with her traine of Goblins grim, Unto his christning came.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But all unseene to goe or come Whereas it pleasd him still; And thus King Arthurs Dwarfe was born, To fit his fathers will:

an old word for “to”

From this reading And in foure minutes grew so fast, That he became so tall As was the plowmans thumbe in height, And so they did him call Tom Thumbe, the which the Fayry-Queene There gave him to his name, Who, with her traine of Goblins grim, Unto his christning came.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading No blood nor bones in him should be, In shape and being such, That men should heare him speake, but not His wandring shadow touch:

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading But all unseene to goe or come Whereas it pleasd him still; And thus King Arthurs Dwarfe was born, To fit his fathers will:

in contrast with the fact that

From this reading But all unseene to goe or come Whereas it pleasd him still; And thus King Arthurs Dwarfe was born, To fit his fathers will:

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Of which old Merlin thus foretold, That he his wish should have, And so this sonne of stature small The charmer to him gave.

which person or people

From this reading And in foure minutes grew so fast, That he became so tall As was the plowmans thumbe in height, And so they did him call Tom Thumbe, the which the Fayry-Queene There gave him to his name, Who, with her traine of Goblins grim, Unto his christning came.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading But all unseene to goe or come Whereas it pleasd him still; And thus King Arthurs Dwarfe was born, To fit his fathers will:

hope for; have a wish

From this reading Of which old Merlin thus foretold, That he his wish should have, And so this sonne of stature small The charmer to him gave.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading How in his heart he wisht to have A childe, in time to come, To be his heire, though it might be No bigger than his Thumbe.

in the company of; together with

From this reading And in foure minutes grew so fast, That he became so tall As was the plowmans thumbe in height, And so they did him call Tom Thumbe, the which the Fayry-Queene There gave him to his name, Who, with her traine of Goblins grim, Unto his christning came.