used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE SPECTACLE MAN A fire burned in the grate when the children, clinging together, creeping close to one another, came slowly into the cottage.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading One was naturally uncertain about what could happen in an altogether unknown place.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading He insisted that he couldn’t very well leave the goat out there alone.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading One was naturally uncertain about what could happen in an altogether unknown place.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Really he thought it only right that Andy should receive the first blow among strangers.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading One was naturally uncertain about what could happen in an altogether unknown place.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And yet Magnus was missing.
Andy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Really he thought it only right that Andy should receive the first blow among strangers.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading THE SPECTACLE MAN A fire burned in the grate when the children, clinging together, creeping close to one another, came slowly into the cottage.
exhale hard
From this reading Really he thought it only right that Andy should receive the first blow among strangers.
treated by heating to a high temperature but below the melting or fusing point
From this reading THE SPECTACLE MAN A fire burned in the grate when the children, clinging together, creeping close to one another, came slowly into the cottage.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading THE SPECTACLE MAN A fire burned in the grate when the children, clinging together, creeping close to one another, came slowly into the cottage.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading THE SPECTACLE MAN A fire burned in the grate when the children, clinging together, creeping close to one another, came slowly into the cottage.
clingingverbUS /ˈklɪŋɪŋ/
-ing form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading THE SPECTACLE MAN A fire burned in the grate when the children, clinging together, creeping close to one another, came slowly into the cottage.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading THE SPECTACLE MAN A fire burned in the grate when the children, clinging together, creeping close to one another, came slowly into the cottage.
a small house with a single story
From this reading THE SPECTACLE MAN A fire burned in the grate when the children, clinging together, creeping close to one another, came slowly into the cottage.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading One was naturally uncertain about what could happen in an altogether unknown place.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He insisted that he couldn’t very well leave the goat out there alone.
creepingnounUS /ˈkriːpɪŋ/
a slow mode of locomotion on hands and knees or dragging the body
From this reading THE SPECTACLE MAN A fire burned in the grate when the children, clinging together, creeping close to one another, came slowly into the cottage.
start firing a weapon
From this reading THE SPECTACLE MAN A fire burned in the grate when the children, clinging together, creeping close to one another, came slowly into the cottage.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Really he thought it only right that Andy should receive the first blow among strangers.
goatnounUS /ɡoʊt/
any of numerous agile ruminants related to sheep but having a beard and straight horns
From this reading He insisted that he couldn’t very well leave the goat out there alone.
gratenounUS /ɡreɪt/
a frame of iron bars to hold a fire
From this reading THE SPECTACLE MAN A fire burned in the grate when the children, clinging together, creeping close to one another, came slowly into the cottage.
come to pass
From this reading One was naturally uncertain about what could happen in an altogether unknown place.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He insisted that he couldn’t very well leave the goat out there alone.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE SPECTACLE MAN A fire burned in the grate when the children, clinging together, creeping close to one another, came slowly into the cottage.
past form of “insist” — be emphatic or resolute and refuse to budge
From this reading He insisted that he couldn’t very well leave the goat out there alone.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading THE SPECTACLE MAN A fire burned in the grate when the children, clinging together, creeping close to one another, came slowly into the cottage.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Really he thought it only right that Andy should receive the first blow among strangers.
go away from a place
From this reading He insisted that he couldn’t very well leave the goat out there alone.
Magnus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And yet Magnus was missing.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading THE SPECTACLE MAN A fire burned in the grate when the children, clinging together, creeping close to one another, came slowly into the cottage.
not able to be found
From this reading And yet Magnus was missing.
as might be expected
From this reading One was naturally uncertain about what could happen in an altogether unknown place.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading THE SPECTACLE MAN A fire burned in the grate when the children, clinging together, creeping close to one another, came slowly into the cottage.
and nothing more
From this reading Really he thought it only right that Andy should receive the first blow among strangers.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He insisted that he couldn’t very well leave the goat out there alone.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading One was naturally uncertain about what could happen in an altogether unknown place.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading Really he thought it only right that Andy should receive the first blow among strangers.
get something; come into possession of
From this reading Really he thought it only right that Andy should receive the first blow among strangers.
precisely, exactly
From this reading Really he thought it only right that Andy should receive the first blow among strangers.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Really he thought it only right that Andy should receive the first blow among strangers.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading THE SPECTACLE MAN A fire burned in the grate when the children, clinging together, creeping close to one another, came slowly into the cottage.
SPECTACLEnounUS /ˈspektəkəl/
something or someone seen (especially a notable or unusual sight)
From this reading THE SPECTACLE MAN A fire burned in the grate when the children, clinging together, creeping close to one another, came slowly into the cottage.
plural of “stranger” — anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading Really he thought it only right that Andy should receive the first blow among strangers.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He insisted that he couldn’t very well leave the goat out there alone.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SPECTACLE MAN A fire burned in the grate when the children, clinging together, creeping close to one another, came slowly into the cottage.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He insisted that he couldn’t very well leave the goat out there alone.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Really he thought it only right that Andy should receive the first blow among strangers.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE SPECTACLE MAN A fire burned in the grate when the children, clinging together, creeping close to one another, came slowly into the cottage.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading THE SPECTACLE MAN A fire burned in the grate when the children, clinging together, creeping close to one another, came slowly into the cottage.
uncertainadjectiveUS /ənˈsɜːrtən/
lacking or indicating lack of confidence or assurance
From this reading One was naturally uncertain about what could happen in an altogether unknown place.
not known
From this reading One was naturally uncertain about what could happen in an altogether unknown place.
precisely as stated
From this reading He insisted that he couldn’t very well leave the goat out there alone.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And yet Magnus was missing.
(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 He insisted that he couldn’t very well leave the goat out there alone.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading One was naturally uncertain about what could happen in an altogether unknown place.
at the time that
From this reading THE SPECTACLE MAN A fire burned in the grate when the children, clinging together, creeping close to one another, came slowly into the cottage.
but in spite of that
From this reading And yet Magnus was missing.
