Chapter XV · Chapter 15

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

From this reading The arrival of huge vans, decorated with gaudy colours and glaring pictures, was received by a crowd of all sorts and conditions of the peasant folk.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading It was held in the great meadows beyond the village, where there was no limit to the space which it might occupy if its promoters chose to stretch it out--space for booths innumerable; space for the great circus, with its big tent for animals as well as men, women and children; space for the huge varieties of shows, and space enough and to spare--one would think--for the motley crowd to wander about in.

(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 The arrival of huge vans, decorated with gaudy colours and glaring pictures, was received by a crowd of all sorts and conditions of the peasant folk.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading This great fair was an annual business, and was held in April each year.

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

From this reading The arrival of huge vans, decorated with gaudy colours and glaring pictures, was received by a crowd of all sorts and conditions of the peasant folk.

plural of “animal” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading It was held in the great meadows beyond the village, where there was no limit to the space which it might occupy if its promoters chose to stretch it out--space for booths innumerable; space for the great circus, with its big tent for animals as well as men, women and children; space for the huge varieties of shows, and space enough and to spare--one would think--for the motley crowd to wander about in.

completing its life cycle within a year

From this reading This great fair was an annual business, and was held in April each year.

the month following March and preceding May

From this reading This great fair was an annual business, and was held in April each year.

accomplishment of an objective

From this reading The arrival of huge vans, decorated with gaudy colours and glaring pictures, was received by a crowd of all sorts and conditions of the peasant folk.

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

From this reading The excitement in Tout-Petit increased as the day of the _fete_ drew near.

on the far side of; further than

From this reading It was held in the great meadows beyond the village, where there was no limit to the space which it might occupy if its promoters chose to stretch it out--space for booths innumerable; space for the great circus, with its big tent for animals as well as men, women and children; space for the huge varieties of shows, and space enough and to spare--one would think--for the motley crowd to wander about in.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading It was held in the great meadows beyond the village, where there was no limit to the space which it might occupy if its promoters chose to stretch it out--space for booths innumerable; space for the great circus, with its big tent for animals as well as men, women and children; space for the huge varieties of shows, and space enough and to spare--one would think--for the motley crowd to wander about in.

plural of “booth” — a table (in a restaurant or bar) surrounded by two high-backed benches

From this reading It was held in the great meadows beyond the village, where there was no limit to the space which it might occupy if its promoters chose to stretch it out--space for booths innumerable; space for the great circus, with its big tent for animals as well as men, women and children; space for the huge varieties of shows, and space enough and to spare--one would think--for the motley crowd to wander about in.

a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it

From this reading This great fair was an annual business, and was held in April each year.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The arrival of huge vans, decorated with gaudy colours and glaring pictures, was received by a crowd of all sorts and conditions of the peasant folk.

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading It was held in the great meadows beyond the village, where there was no limit to the space which it might occupy if its promoters chose to stretch it out--space for booths innumerable; space for the great circus, with its big tent for animals as well as men, women and children; space for the huge varieties of shows, and space enough and to spare--one would think--for the motley crowd to wander about in.

inflected form of “choose” — pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives

From this reading It was held in the great meadows beyond the village, where there was no limit to the space which it might occupy if its promoters chose to stretch it out--space for booths innumerable; space for the great circus, with its big tent for animals as well as men, women and children; space for the huge varieties of shows, and space enough and to spare--one would think--for the motley crowd to wander about in.

a travelling company of entertainers; including trained animals

From this reading It was held in the great meadows beyond the village, where there was no limit to the space which it might occupy if its promoters chose to stretch it out--space for booths innumerable; space for the great circus, with its big tent for animals as well as men, women and children; space for the huge varieties of shows, and space enough and to spare--one would think--for the motley crowd to wander about in.

a distinguishing emblem

From this reading The arrival of huge vans, decorated with gaudy colours and glaring pictures, was received by a crowd of all sorts and conditions of the peasant folk.

the prevailing context that influences the performance or the outcome of a process

From this reading The arrival of huge vans, decorated with gaudy colours and glaring pictures, was received by a crowd of all sorts and conditions of the peasant folk.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading Neighbours from all the country round visited the _fete_.

cause to herd, drive, or crowd together

From this reading The arrival of huge vans, decorated with gaudy colours and glaring pictures, was received by a crowd of all sorts and conditions of the peasant folk.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading The excitement in Tout-Petit increased as the day of the _fete_ drew near.

provided with something intended to increase its beauty or distinction

From this reading The arrival of huge vans, decorated with gaudy colours and glaring pictures, was received by a crowd of all sorts and conditions of the peasant folk.

United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)

From this reading The excitement in Tout-Petit increased as the day of the _fete_ drew near.

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading This great fair was an annual business, and was held in April each year.

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading It was held in the great meadows beyond the village, where there was no limit to the space which it might occupy if its promoters chose to stretch it out--space for booths innumerable; space for the great circus, with its big tent for animals as well as men, women and children; space for the huge varieties of shows, and space enough and to spare--one would think--for the motley crowd to wander about in.

the feeling of lively and cheerful joy

From this reading The excitement in Tout-Petit increased as the day of the _fete_ drew near.

free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules

From this reading This great fair was an annual business, and was held in April each year.

have a celebration

From this reading The excitement in Tout-Petit increased as the day of the _fete_ drew near.

people in general (often used in the plural)

From this reading The arrival of huge vans, decorated with gaudy colours and glaring pictures, was received by a crowd of all sorts and conditions of the peasant folk.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It was held in the great meadows beyond the village, where there was no limit to the space which it might occupy if its promoters chose to stretch it out--space for booths innumerable; space for the great circus, with its big tent for animals as well as men, women and children; space for the huge varieties of shows, and space enough and to spare--one would think--for the motley crowd to wander about in.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Neighbours from all the country round visited the _fete_.

tastelessly showy

From this reading The arrival of huge vans, decorated with gaudy colours and glaring pictures, was received by a crowd of all sorts and conditions of the peasant folk.

shining intensely

From this reading The arrival of huge vans, decorated with gaudy colours and glaring pictures, was received by a crowd of all sorts and conditions of the peasant folk.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading This great fair was an annual business, and was held in April each year.

occupied or in the control of; often used in combination

From this reading This great fair was an annual business, and was held in April each year.

unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope

From this reading The arrival of huge vans, decorated with gaudy colours and glaring pictures, was received by a crowd of all sorts and conditions of the peasant folk.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading It was held in the great meadows beyond the village, where there was no limit to the space which it might occupy if its promoters chose to stretch it out--space for booths innumerable; space for the great circus, with its big tent for animals as well as men, women and children; space for the huge varieties of shows, and space enough and to spare--one would think--for the motley crowd to wander about in.

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

From this reading The excitement in Tout-Petit increased as the day of the _fete_ drew near.

made greater in size or amount or degree

From this reading The excitement in Tout-Petit increased as the day of the _fete_ drew near.

too numerous to be counted

From this reading It was held in the great meadows beyond the village, where there was no limit to the space which it might occupy if its promoters chose to stretch it out--space for booths innumerable; space for the great circus, with its big tent for animals as well as men, women and children; space for the huge varieties of shows, and space enough and to spare--one would think--for the motley crowd to wander about in.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was held in the great meadows beyond the village, where there was no limit to the space which it might occupy if its promoters chose to stretch it out--space for booths innumerable; space for the great circus, with its big tent for animals as well as men, women and children; space for the huge varieties of shows, and space enough and to spare--one would think--for the motley crowd to wander about in.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading It was held in the great meadows beyond the village, where there was no limit to the space which it might occupy if its promoters chose to stretch it out--space for booths innumerable; space for the great circus, with its big tent for animals as well as men, women and children; space for the huge varieties of shows, and space enough and to spare--one would think--for the motley crowd to wander about in.

the greatest possible degree of something

From this reading It was held in the great meadows beyond the village, where there was no limit to the space which it might occupy if its promoters chose to stretch it out--space for booths innumerable; space for the great circus, with its big tent for animals as well as men, women and children; space for the huge varieties of shows, and space enough and to spare--one would think--for the motley crowd to wander about in.

plural of “meadow” — a field where grass or alfalfa are grown to be made into hay

From this reading It was held in the great meadows beyond the village, where there was no limit to the space which it might occupy if its promoters chose to stretch it out--space for booths innumerable; space for the great circus, with its big tent for animals as well as men, women and children; space for the huge varieties of shows, and space enough and to spare--one would think--for the motley crowd to wander about in.

the force of workers available

From this reading It was held in the great meadows beyond the village, where there was no limit to the space which it might occupy if its promoters chose to stretch it out--space for booths innumerable; space for the great circus, with its big tent for animals as well as men, women and children; space for the huge varieties of shows, and space enough and to spare--one would think--for the motley crowd to wander about in.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading It was held in the great meadows beyond the village, where there was no limit to the space which it might occupy if its promoters chose to stretch it out--space for booths innumerable; space for the great circus, with its big tent for animals as well as men, women and children; space for the huge varieties of shows, and space enough and to spare--one would think--for the motley crowd to wander about in.

a collection containing a variety of sorts of things

From this reading It was held in the great meadows beyond the village, where there was no limit to the space which it might occupy if its promoters chose to stretch it out--space for booths innumerable; space for the great circus, with its big tent for animals as well as men, women and children; space for the huge varieties of shows, and space enough and to spare--one would think--for the motley crowd to wander about in.

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading The excitement in Tout-Petit increased as the day of the _fete_ drew near.

plural of “neighbour” — a person who lives (or is located) near another

From this reading Neighbours from all the country round visited the _fete_.

not any; not one

From this reading It was held in the great meadows beyond the village, where there was no limit to the space which it might occupy if its promoters chose to stretch it out--space for booths innumerable; space for the great circus, with its big tent for animals as well as men, women and children; space for the huge varieties of shows, and space enough and to spare--one would think--for the motley crowd to wander about in.

keep busy with

From this reading It was held in the great meadows beyond the village, where there was no limit to the space which it might occupy if its promoters chose to stretch it out--space for booths innumerable; space for the great circus, with its big tent for animals as well as men, women and children; space for the huge varieties of shows, and space enough and to spare--one would think--for the motley crowd to wander about in.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The excitement in Tout-Petit increased as the day of the _fete_ drew near.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading It was held in the great meadows beyond the village, where there was no limit to the space which it might occupy if its promoters chose to stretch it out--space for booths innumerable; space for the great circus, with its big tent for animals as well as men, women and children; space for the huge varieties of shows, and space enough and to spare--one would think--for the motley crowd to wander about in.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading It was held in the great meadows beyond the village, where there was no limit to the space which it might occupy if its promoters chose to stretch it out--space for booths innumerable; space for the great circus, with its big tent for animals as well as men, women and children; space for the huge varieties of shows, and space enough and to spare--one would think--for the motley crowd to wander about in.

a country person

From this reading The arrival of huge vans, decorated with gaudy colours and glaring pictures, was received by a crowd of all sorts and conditions of the peasant folk.

plural of “picture” — a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface

From this reading The arrival of huge vans, decorated with gaudy colours and glaring pictures, was received by a crowd of all sorts and conditions of the peasant folk.

plural of “promoter” — someone who is an active supporter and advocate

From this reading It was held in the great meadows beyond the village, where there was no limit to the space which it might occupy if its promoters chose to stretch it out--space for booths innumerable; space for the great circus, with its big tent for animals as well as men, women and children; space for the huge varieties of shows, and space enough and to spare--one would think--for the motley crowd to wander about in.

conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers

From this reading The arrival of huge vans, decorated with gaudy colours and glaring pictures, was received by a crowd of all sorts and conditions of the peasant folk.

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading Neighbours from all the country round visited the _fete_.

plural of “show” — the act of publicly exhibiting or entertaining

From this reading It was held in the great meadows beyond the village, where there was no limit to the space which it might occupy if its promoters chose to stretch it out--space for booths innumerable; space for the great circus, with its big tent for animals as well as men, women and children; space for the huge varieties of shows, and space enough and to spare--one would think--for the motley crowd to wander about in.

plural of “sort” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading The arrival of huge vans, decorated with gaudy colours and glaring pictures, was received by a crowd of all sorts and conditions of the peasant folk.

the unlimited expanse in which everything is located

From this reading It was held in the great meadows beyond the village, where there was no limit to the space which it might occupy if its promoters chose to stretch it out--space for booths innumerable; space for the great circus, with its big tent for animals as well as men, women and children; space for the huge varieties of shows, and space enough and to spare--one would think--for the motley crowd to wander about in.

refrain from harming

From this reading It was held in the great meadows beyond the village, where there was no limit to the space which it might occupy if its promoters chose to stretch it out--space for booths innumerable; space for the great circus, with its big tent for animals as well as men, women and children; space for the huge varieties of shows, and space enough and to spare--one would think--for the motley crowd to wander about in.

occupy a large, elongated area

From this reading It was held in the great meadows beyond the village, where there was no limit to the space which it might occupy if its promoters chose to stretch it out--space for booths innumerable; space for the great circus, with its big tent for animals as well as men, women and children; space for the huge varieties of shows, and space enough and to spare--one would think--for the motley crowd to wander about in.

a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)

From this reading It was held in the great meadows beyond the village, where there was no limit to the space which it might occupy if its promoters chose to stretch it out--space for booths innumerable; space for the great circus, with its big tent for animals as well as men, women and children; space for the huge varieties of shows, and space enough and to spare--one would think--for the motley crowd to wander about in.

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

From this reading The excitement in Tout-Petit increased as the day of the _fete_ drew near.

in or at that place or location

From this reading It was held in the great meadows beyond the village, where there was no limit to the space which it might occupy if its promoters chose to stretch it out--space for booths innumerable; space for the great circus, with its big tent for animals as well as men, women and children; space for the huge varieties of shows, and space enough and to spare--one would think--for the motley crowd to wander about in.

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading It was held in the great meadows beyond the village, where there was no limit to the space which it might occupy if its promoters chose to stretch it out--space for booths innumerable; space for the great circus, with its big tent for animals as well as men, women and children; space for the huge varieties of shows, and space enough and to spare--one would think--for the motley crowd to wander about in.

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

From this reading This great fair was an annual business, and was held in April each year.

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

From this reading It was held in the great meadows beyond the village, where there was no limit to the space which it might occupy if its promoters chose to stretch it out--space for booths innumerable; space for the great circus, with its big tent for animals as well as men, women and children; space for the huge varieties of shows, and space enough and to spare--one would think--for the motley crowd to wander about in.

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

From this reading The excitement in Tout-Petit increased as the day of the _fete_ drew near.

plural of “van” — any creative group active in the innovation and application of new concepts and techniques in a given field (especially in the arts)

From this reading The arrival of huge vans, decorated with gaudy colours and glaring pictures, was received by a crowd of all sorts and conditions of the peasant folk.

plural of “variety” — a collection containing a variety of sorts of things

From this reading It was held in the great meadows beyond the village, where there was no limit to the space which it might occupy if its promoters chose to stretch it out--space for booths innumerable; space for the great circus, with its big tent for animals as well as men, women and children; space for the huge varieties of shows, and space enough and to spare--one would think--for the motley crowd to wander about in.

a community of people smaller than a town

From this reading It was held in the great meadows beyond the village, where there was no limit to the space which it might occupy if its promoters chose to stretch it out--space for booths innumerable; space for the great circus, with its big tent for animals as well as men, women and children; space for the huge varieties of shows, and space enough and to spare--one would think--for the motley crowd to wander about in.

past form of “visit” — go to see a place, as for entertainment

From this reading Neighbours from all the country round visited the _fete_.

move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment

From this reading It was held in the great meadows beyond the village, where there was no limit to the space which it might occupy if its promoters chose to stretch it out--space for booths innumerable; space for the great circus, with its big tent for animals as well as men, women and children; space for the huge varieties of shows, and space enough and to spare--one would think--for the motley crowd to wander about in.

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

From this reading The arrival of huge vans, decorated with gaudy colours and glaring pictures, was received by a crowd of all sorts and conditions of the peasant folk.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading It was held in the great meadows beyond the village, where there was no limit to the space which it might occupy if its promoters chose to stretch it out--space for booths innumerable; space for the great circus, with its big tent for animals as well as men, women and children; space for the huge varieties of shows, and space enough and to spare--one would think--for the motley crowd to wander about in.

in or at the place that

From this reading It was held in the great meadows beyond the village, where there was no limit to the space which it might occupy if its promoters chose to stretch it out--space for booths innumerable; space for the great circus, with its big tent for animals as well as men, women and children; space for the huge varieties of shows, and space enough and to spare--one would think--for the motley crowd to wander about in.

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

From this reading It was held in the great meadows beyond the village, where there was no limit to the space which it might occupy if its promoters chose to stretch it out--space for booths innumerable; space for the great circus, with its big tent for animals as well as men, women and children; space for the huge varieties of shows, and space enough and to spare--one would think--for the motley crowd to wander about in.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The arrival of huge vans, decorated with gaudy colours and glaring pictures, was received by a crowd of all sorts and conditions of the peasant folk.

plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading It was held in the great meadows beyond the village, where there was no limit to the space which it might occupy if its promoters chose to stretch it out--space for booths innumerable; space for the great circus, with its big tent for animals as well as men, women and children; space for the huge varieties of shows, and space enough and to spare--one would think--for the motley crowd to wander about in.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading It was held in the great meadows beyond the village, where there was no limit to the space which it might occupy if its promoters chose to stretch it out--space for booths innumerable; space for the great circus, with its big tent for animals as well as men, women and children; space for the huge varieties of shows, and space enough and to spare--one would think--for the motley crowd to wander about in.

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading This great fair was an annual business, and was held in April each year.