used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A LONG AGO STORY.
abbeynounUS /ˈæbi/
a church associated with a monastery or convent
From this reading Looking back afterwards you see it was so--"from the time we all looked out of the window at the ruined abbey we seemed to get on so much faster," you would say, or--"after the steamer had passed the Spearhead Point, we began to feel dull and tired, and there was no more sunshine."
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading _The Land of Long Ago._ If any of you children have travelled much, have you noticed that on a long journey there seem to come points, turns--I hardly know what to call them--after which the journey seems to go on differently.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Looking back afterwards you see it was so--"from the time we all looked out of the window at the ruined abbey we seemed to get on so much faster," you would say, or--"after the steamer had passed the Spearhead Point, we began to feel dull and tired, and there was no more sunshine."
in the past
From this reading A LONG AGO STORY.
(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 Looking back afterwards you see it was so--"from the time we all looked out of the window at the ruined abbey we seemed to get on so much faster," you would say, or--"after the steamer had passed the Spearhead Point, we began to feel dull and tired, and there was no more sunshine."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Looking back afterwards you see it was so--"from the time we all looked out of the window at the ruined abbey we seemed to get on so much faster," you would say, or--"after the steamer had passed the Spearhead Point, we began to feel dull and tired, and there was no more sunshine."
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading _The Land of Long Ago._ If any of you children have travelled much, have you noticed that on a long journey there seem to come points, turns--I hardly know what to call them--after which the journey seems to go on differently.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Looking back afterwards you see it was so--"from the time we all looked out of the window at the ruined abbey we seemed to get on so much faster," you would say, or--"after the steamer had passed the Spearhead Point, we began to feel dull and tired, and there was no more sunshine."
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Looking back afterwards you see it was so--"from the time we all looked out of the window at the ruined abbey we seemed to get on so much faster," you would say, or--"after the steamer had passed the Spearhead Point, we began to feel dull and tired, and there was no more sunshine."
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "You may laugh, my little people, But be sure my story's true; For I vow by yon church steeple, I was once a child like you."
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Looking back afterwards you see it was so--"from the time we all looked out of the window at the ruined abbey we seemed to get on so much faster," you would say, or--"after the steamer had passed the Spearhead Point, we began to feel dull and tired, and there was no more sunshine."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "You may laugh, my little people, But be sure my story's true; For I vow by yon church steeple, I was once a child like you."
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "You may laugh, my little people, But be sure my story's true; For I vow by yon church steeple, I was once a child like you."
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading _The Land of Long Ago._ If any of you children have travelled much, have you noticed that on a long journey there seem to come points, turns--I hardly know what to call them--after which the journey seems to go on differently.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading More quickly, perhaps more cheerfully, or possibly less so, but certainly _differently_.
cheerfullyadverbUS /ˈtʃɪrfəli/
in a cheerful manner
From this reading More quickly, perhaps more cheerfully, or possibly less so, but certainly _differently_.
a young person of either sex
From this reading "You may laugh, my little people, But be sure my story's true; For I vow by yon church steeple, I was once a child like you."
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading _The Land of Long Ago._ If any of you children have travelled much, have you noticed that on a long journey there seem to come points, turns--I hardly know what to call them--after which the journey seems to go on differently.
one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship
From this reading "You may laugh, my little people, But be sure my story's true; For I vow by yon church steeple, I was once a child like you."
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading _The Land of Long Ago._ If any of you children have travelled much, have you noticed that on a long journey there seem to come points, turns--I hardly know what to call them--after which the journey seems to go on differently.
differentlyadverbUS /ˈdɪfrəntli/
in another and different manner
From this reading _The Land of Long Ago._ If any of you children have travelled much, have you noticed that on a long journey there seem to come points, turns--I hardly know what to call them--after which the journey seems to go on differently.
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading Looking back afterwards you see it was so--"from the time we all looked out of the window at the ruined abbey we seemed to get on so much faster," you would say, or--"after the steamer had passed the Spearhead Point, we began to feel dull and tired, and there was no more sunshine."
fasteradverbUS /ˈfæstər/
more quickly
From this reading Looking back afterwards you see it was so--"from the time we all looked out of the window at the ruined abbey we seemed to get on so much faster," you would say, or--"after the steamer had passed the Spearhead Point, we began to feel dull and tired, and there was no more sunshine."
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading Looking back afterwards you see it was so--"from the time we all looked out of the window at the ruined abbey we seemed to get on so much faster," you would say, or--"after the steamer had passed the Spearhead Point, we began to feel dull and tired, and there was no more sunshine."
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "You may laugh, my little people, But be sure my story's true; For I vow by yon church steeple, I was once a child like you."
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Looking back afterwards you see it was so--"from the time we all looked out of the window at the ruined abbey we seemed to get on so much faster," you would say, or--"after the steamer had passed the Spearhead Point, we began to feel dull and tired, and there was no more sunshine."
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Looking back afterwards you see it was so--"from the time we all looked out of the window at the ruined abbey we seemed to get on so much faster," you would say, or--"after the steamer had passed the Spearhead Point, we began to feel dull and tired, and there was no more sunshine."
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading _The Land of Long Ago._ If any of you children have travelled much, have you noticed that on a long journey there seem to come points, turns--I hardly know what to call them--after which the journey seems to go on differently.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Looking back afterwards you see it was so--"from the time we all looked out of the window at the ruined abbey we seemed to get on so much faster," you would say, or--"after the steamer had passed the Spearhead Point, we began to feel dull and tired, and there was no more sunshine."
only a very short time before
From this reading _The Land of Long Ago._ If any of you children have travelled much, have you noticed that on a long journey there seem to come points, turns--I hardly know what to call them--after which the journey seems to go on differently.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading _The Land of Long Ago._ If any of you children have travelled much, have you noticed that on a long journey there seem to come points, turns--I hardly know what to call them--after which the journey seems to go on differently.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "You may laugh, my little people, But be sure my story's true; For I vow by yon church steeple, I was once a child like you."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading _The Land of Long Ago._ If any of you children have travelled much, have you noticed that on a long journey there seem to come points, turns--I hardly know what to call them--after which the journey seems to go on differently.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Looking back afterwards you see it was so--"from the time we all looked out of the window at the ruined abbey we seemed to get on so much faster," you would say, or--"after the steamer had passed the Spearhead Point, we began to feel dull and tired, and there was no more sunshine."
undertake a journey or trip
From this reading _The Land of Long Ago._ If any of you children have travelled much, have you noticed that on a long journey there seem to come points, turns--I hardly know what to call them--after which the journey seems to go on differently.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading _The Land of Long Ago._ If any of you children have travelled much, have you noticed that on a long journey there seem to come points, turns--I hardly know what to call them--after which the journey seems to go on differently.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading _The Land of Long Ago._ If any of you children have travelled much, have you noticed that on a long journey there seem to come points, turns--I hardly know what to call them--after which the journey seems to go on differently.
the sound of laughing
From this reading "You may laugh, my little people, But be sure my story's true; For I vow by yon church steeple, I was once a child like you."
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading More quickly, perhaps more cheerfully, or possibly less so, but certainly _differently_.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "You may laugh, my little people, But be sure my story's true; For I vow by yon church steeple, I was once a child like you."
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "You may laugh, my little people, But be sure my story's true; For I vow by yon church steeple, I was once a child like you."
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 A LONG AGO STORY.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Looking back afterwards you see it was so--"from the time we all looked out of the window at the ruined abbey we seemed to get on so much faster," you would say, or--"after the steamer had passed the Spearhead Point, we began to feel dull and tired, and there was no more sunshine."
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Looking back afterwards you see it was so--"from the time we all looked out of the window at the ruined abbey we seemed to get on so much faster," you would say, or--"after the steamer had passed the Spearhead Point, we began to feel dull and tired, and there was no more sunshine."
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading "You may laugh, my little people, But be sure my story's true; For I vow by yon church steeple, I was once a child like you."
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading More quickly, perhaps more cheerfully, or possibly less so, but certainly _differently_.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading _The Land of Long Ago._ If any of you children have travelled much, have you noticed that on a long journey there seem to come points, turns--I hardly know what to call them--after which the journey seems to go on differently.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "You may laugh, my little people, But be sure my story's true; For I vow by yon church steeple, I was once a child like you."
not any; not one
From this reading Looking back afterwards you see it was so--"from the time we all looked out of the window at the ruined abbey we seemed to get on so much faster," you would say, or--"after the steamer had passed the Spearhead Point, we began to feel dull and tired, and there was no more sunshine."
being perceived or observed
From this reading _The Land of Long Ago._ If any of you children have travelled much, have you noticed that on a long journey there seem to come points, turns--I hardly know what to call them--after which the journey seems to go on differently.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _The Land of Long Ago._ If any of you children have travelled much, have you noticed that on a long journey there seem to come points, turns--I hardly know what to call them--after which the journey seems to go on differently.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading _The Land of Long Ago._ If any of you children have travelled much, have you noticed that on a long journey there seem to come points, turns--I hardly know what to call them--after which the journey seems to go on differently.
on one occasion
From this reading "You may laugh, my little people, But be sure my story's true; For I vow by yon church steeple, I was once a child like you."
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading More quickly, perhaps more cheerfully, or possibly less so, but certainly _differently_.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Looking back afterwards you see it was so--"from the time we all looked out of the window at the ruined abbey we seemed to get on so much faster," you would say, or--"after the steamer had passed the Spearhead Point, we began to feel dull and tired, and there was no more sunshine."
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Looking back afterwards you see it was so--"from the time we all looked out of the window at the ruined abbey we seemed to get on so much faster," you would say, or--"after the steamer had passed the Spearhead Point, we began to feel dull and tired, and there was no more sunshine."
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading "You may laugh, my little people, But be sure my story's true; For I vow by yon church steeple, I was once a child like you."
by chance
From this reading More quickly, perhaps more cheerfully, or possibly less so, but certainly _differently_.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading Looking back afterwards you see it was so--"from the time we all looked out of the window at the ruined abbey we seemed to get on so much faster," you would say, or--"after the steamer had passed the Spearhead Point, we began to feel dull and tired, and there was no more sunshine."
plural of “point” — a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading _The Land of Long Ago._ If any of you children have travelled much, have you noticed that on a long journey there seem to come points, turns--I hardly know what to call them--after which the journey seems to go on differently.
by chance
From this reading More quickly, perhaps more cheerfully, or possibly less so, but certainly _differently_.
with speed
From this reading More quickly, perhaps more cheerfully, or possibly less so, but certainly _differently_.
destroyed physically or morally
From this reading Looking back afterwards you see it was so--"from the time we all looked out of the window at the ruined abbey we seemed to get on so much faster," you would say, or--"after the steamer had passed the Spearhead Point, we began to feel dull and tired, and there was no more sunshine."
express in words
From this reading Looking back afterwards you see it was so--"from the time we all looked out of the window at the ruined abbey we seemed to get on so much faster," you would say, or--"after the steamer had passed the Spearhead Point, we began to feel dull and tired, and there was no more sunshine."
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Looking back afterwards you see it was so--"from the time we all looked out of the window at the ruined abbey we seemed to get on so much faster," you would say, or--"after the steamer had passed the Spearhead Point, we began to feel dull and tired, and there was no more sunshine."
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading _The Land of Long Ago._ If any of you children have travelled much, have you noticed that on a long journey there seem to come points, turns--I hardly know what to call them--after which the journey seems to go on differently.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Looking back afterwards you see it was so--"from the time we all looked out of the window at the ruined abbey we seemed to get on so much faster," you would say, or--"after the steamer had passed the Spearhead Point, we began to feel dull and tired, and there was no more sunshine."
third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading _The Land of Long Ago._ If any of you children have travelled much, have you noticed that on a long journey there seem to come points, turns--I hardly know what to call them--after which the journey seems to go on differently.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading More quickly, perhaps more cheerfully, or possibly less so, but certainly _differently_.
SpearheadverbUS /ˈspɪrhed/
be the leader of
From this reading Looking back afterwards you see it was so--"from the time we all looked out of the window at the ruined abbey we seemed to get on so much faster," you would say, or--"after the steamer had passed the Spearhead Point, we began to feel dull and tired, and there was no more sunshine."
a clam that is usually steamed in the shell
From this reading Looking back afterwards you see it was so--"from the time we all looked out of the window at the ruined abbey we seemed to get on so much faster," you would say, or--"after the steamer had passed the Spearhead Point, we began to feel dull and tired, and there was no more sunshine."
steeplenounUS /ˈstiːpəl/
a tall tower that forms the superstructure of a building (usually a church or temple) and that tapers to a point at the top
From this reading "You may laugh, my little people, But be sure my story's true; For I vow by yon church steeple, I was once a child like you."
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading A LONG AGO STORY.
story'snounUS /ˈstɔːriz/
possessive form of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading "You may laugh, my little people, But be sure my story's true; For I vow by yon church steeple, I was once a child like you."
the rays of the sun
From this reading Looking back afterwards you see it was so--"from the time we all looked out of the window at the ruined abbey we seemed to get on so much faster," you would say, or--"after the steamer had passed the Spearhead Point, we began to feel dull and tired, and there was no more sunshine."
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading "You may laugh, my little people, But be sure my story's true; For I vow by yon church steeple, I was once a child like you."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading _The Land of Long Ago._ If any of you children have travelled much, have you noticed that on a long journey there seem to come points, turns--I hardly know what to call them--after which the journey seems to go on differently.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _The Land of Long Ago._ If any of you children have travelled much, have you noticed that on a long journey there seem to come points, turns--I hardly know what to call them--after which the journey seems to go on differently.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading _The Land of Long Ago._ If any of you children have travelled much, have you noticed that on a long journey there seem to come points, turns--I hardly know what to call them--after which the journey seems to go on differently.
in or at that place or location
From this reading _The Land of Long Ago._ If any of you children have travelled much, have you noticed that on a long journey there seem to come points, turns--I hardly know what to call them--after which the journey seems to go on differently.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Looking back afterwards you see it was so--"from the time we all looked out of the window at the ruined abbey we seemed to get on so much faster," you would say, or--"after the steamer had passed the Spearhead Point, we began to feel dull and tired, and there was no more sunshine."
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading Looking back afterwards you see it was so--"from the time we all looked out of the window at the ruined abbey we seemed to get on so much faster," you would say, or--"after the steamer had passed the Spearhead Point, we began to feel dull and tired, and there was no more sunshine."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _The Land of Long Ago._ If any of you children have travelled much, have you noticed that on a long journey there seem to come points, turns--I hardly know what to call them--after which the journey seems to go on differently.
travelledadjectiveUS /ˈtrævəld/
familiar with many parts of the world
From this reading _The Land of Long Ago._ If any of you children have travelled much, have you noticed that on a long journey there seem to come points, turns--I hardly know what to call them--after which the journey seems to go on differently.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading "You may laugh, my little people, But be sure my story's true; For I vow by yon church steeple, I was once a child like you."
plural of “turn” — a circular segment of a curve
From this reading _The Land of Long Ago._ If any of you children have travelled much, have you noticed that on a long journey there seem to come points, turns--I hardly know what to call them--after which the journey seems to go on differently.
vowverbUS /vaʊ/
make a vow; promise
From this reading "You may laugh, my little people, But be sure my story's true; For I vow by yon church steeple, I was once a child like you."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "You may laugh, my little people, But be sure my story's true; For I vow by yon church steeple, I was once a child like you."
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Looking back afterwards you see it was so--"from the time we all looked out of the window at the ruined abbey we seemed to get on so much faster," you would say, or--"after the steamer had passed the Spearhead Point, we began to feel dull and tired, and there was no more sunshine."
used to ask for information about something
From this reading _The Land of Long Ago._ If any of you children have travelled much, have you noticed that on a long journey there seem to come points, turns--I hardly know what to call them--after which the journey seems to go on differently.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading _The Land of Long Ago._ If any of you children have travelled much, have you noticed that on a long journey there seem to come points, turns--I hardly know what to call them--after which the journey seems to go on differently.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading Looking back afterwards you see it was so--"from the time we all looked out of the window at the ruined abbey we seemed to get on so much faster," you would say, or--"after the steamer had passed the Spearhead Point, we began to feel dull and tired, and there was no more sunshine."
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Looking back afterwards you see it was so--"from the time we all looked out of the window at the ruined abbey we seemed to get on so much faster," you would say, or--"after the steamer had passed the Spearhead Point, we began to feel dull and tired, and there was no more sunshine."
yonadjectiveUS /jɑːn/
distant but within sight (“yon” is dialectal)
From this reading "You may laugh, my little people, But be sure my story's true; For I vow by yon church steeple, I was once a child like you."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You may laugh, my little people, But be sure my story's true; For I vow by yon church steeple, I was once a child like you."
