used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Then out of the darkness, and as if at a distance, the voice of SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF is heard singing the fairy song of the first scene.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading He stands against the faint glow of the window, draws the bow to full length, shoots and falls back into the arms of LITTLE JOHN._] LITTLE JOHN [_Laying him down._] Weep, England, for thine outlawed lover, Dear Robin Hood, the poor man's friend, is dead.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading The fairy glade in Sherwood begins to be visible in the gloom by the soft light of the ivory gates which are swinging open once more among the ferns.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He stands against the faint glow of the window, draws the bow to full length, shoots and falls back into the arms of LITTLE JOHN._] LITTLE JOHN [_Laying him down._] Weep, England, for thine outlawed lover, Dear Robin Hood, the poor man's friend, is dead.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The fairy glade in Sherwood begins to be visible in the gloom by the soft light of the ivory gates which are swinging open once more among the ferns.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading He stands against the faint glow of the window, draws the bow to full length, shoots and falls back into the arms of LITTLE JOHN._] LITTLE JOHN [_Laying him down._] Weep, England, for thine outlawed lover, Dear Robin Hood, the poor man's friend, is dead.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Then out of the darkness, and as if at a distance, the voice of SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF is heard singing the fairy song of the first scene.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Then out of the darkness, and as if at a distance, the voice of SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF is heard singing the fairy song of the first scene.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He stands against the faint glow of the window, draws the bow to full length, shoots and falls back into the arms of LITTLE JOHN._] LITTLE JOHN [_Laying him down._] Weep, England, for thine outlawed lover, Dear Robin Hood, the poor man's friend, is dead.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The fairy glade in Sherwood begins to be visible in the gloom by the soft light of the ivory gates which are swinging open once more among the ferns.
third-person singular of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading [_The scene becomes quite dark.
beginsnounUS /bɪˈɡɪnz/
plural of “begin” — Israeli statesman (born in Russia) who (as prime minister of Israel) negotiated a peace treaty with Anwar Sadat (then the president of Egypt) (1913-1992)
From this reading The fairy glade in Sherwood begins to be visible in the gloom by the soft light of the ivory gates which are swinging open once more among the ferns.
a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces
From this reading [_SCARLET hands him his bow.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The fairy glade in Sherwood begins to be visible in the gloom by the soft light of the ivory gates which are swinging open once more among the ferns.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading [_The scene becomes quite dark.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Then out of the darkness, and as if at a distance, the voice of SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF is heard singing the fairy song of the first scene.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading He stands against the faint glow of the window, draws the bow to full length, shoots and falls back into the arms of LITTLE JOHN._] LITTLE JOHN [_Laying him down._] Weep, England, for thine outlawed lover, Dear Robin Hood, the poor man's friend, is dead.
dearly loved
From this reading He stands against the faint glow of the window, draws the bow to full length, shoots and falls back into the arms of LITTLE JOHN._] LITTLE JOHN [_Laying him down._] Weep, England, for thine outlawed lover, Dear Robin Hood, the poor man's friend, is dead.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading Then out of the darkness, and as if at a distance, the voice of SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF is heard singing the fairy song of the first scene.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He stands against the faint glow of the window, draws the bow to full length, shoots and falls back into the arms of LITTLE JOHN._] LITTLE JOHN [_Laying him down._] Weep, England, for thine outlawed lover, Dear Robin Hood, the poor man's friend, is dead.
drawsnounUS /drɔːz/
plural of “draw” — a gully that is shallower than a ravine
From this reading He stands against the faint glow of the window, draws the bow to full length, shoots and falls back into the arms of LITTLE JOHN._] LITTLE JOHN [_Laying him down._] Weep, England, for thine outlawed lover, Dear Robin Hood, the poor man's friend, is dead.
a division of the United Kingdom
From this reading He stands against the faint glow of the window, draws the bow to full length, shoots and falls back into the arms of LITTLE JOHN._] LITTLE JOHN [_Laying him down._] Weep, England, for thine outlawed lover, Dear Robin Hood, the poor man's friend, is dead.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading He stands against the faint glow of the window, draws the bow to full length, shoots and falls back into the arms of LITTLE JOHN._] LITTLE JOHN [_Laying him down._] Weep, England, for thine outlawed lover, Dear Robin Hood, the poor man's friend, is dead.
a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers
From this reading Then out of the darkness, and as if at a distance, the voice of SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF is heard singing the fairy song of the first scene.
the petals or sepals of a flower that bend downward (especially the outer perianth of an iris)
From this reading He stands against the faint glow of the window, draws the bow to full length, shoots and falls back into the arms of LITTLE JOHN._] LITTLE JOHN [_Laying him down._] Weep, England, for thine outlawed lover, Dear Robin Hood, the poor man's friend, is dead.
fernsnounUS /fɜːrnz/
plural of “fern” — any of numerous flowerless and seedless vascular plants having true roots from a rhizome and fronds that uncurl upward; reproduce by spores
From this reading The fairy glade in Sherwood begins to be visible in the gloom by the soft light of the ivory gates which are swinging open once more among the ferns.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Then out of the darkness, and as if at a distance, the voice of SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF is heard singing the fairy song of the first scene.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He stands against the faint glow of the window, draws the bow to full length, shoots and falls back into the arms of LITTLE JOHN._] LITTLE JOHN [_Laying him down._] Weep, England, for thine outlawed lover, Dear Robin Hood, the poor man's friend, is dead.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading He stands against the faint glow of the window, draws the bow to full length, shoots and falls back into the arms of LITTLE JOHN._] LITTLE JOHN [_Laying him down._] Weep, England, for thine outlawed lover, Dear Robin Hood, the poor man's friend, is dead.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading He stands against the faint glow of the window, draws the bow to full length, shoots and falls back into the arms of LITTLE JOHN._] LITTLE JOHN [_Laying him down._] Weep, England, for thine outlawed lover, Dear Robin Hood, the poor man's friend, is dead.
United States computer entrepreneur whose software company made him the youngest multi-billionaire in the history of the United States (born in 1955)
From this reading The fairy glade in Sherwood begins to be visible in the gloom by the soft light of the ivory gates which are swinging open once more among the ferns.
gladenounUS /ɡleɪd/
a tract of land with few or no trees in the middle of a wooded area
From this reading The fairy glade in Sherwood begins to be visible in the gloom by the soft light of the ivory gates which are swinging open once more among the ferns.
a state of partial or total darkness
From this reading The fairy glade in Sherwood begins to be visible in the gloom by the soft light of the ivory gates which are swinging open once more among the ferns.
an alert and refreshed state
From this reading He stands against the faint glow of the window, draws the bow to full length, shoots and falls back into the arms of LITTLE JOHN._] LITTLE JOHN [_Laying him down._] Weep, England, for thine outlawed lover, Dear Robin Hood, the poor man's friend, is dead.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading [_SCARLET hands him his bow.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He stands against the faint glow of the window, draws the bow to full length, shoots and falls back into the arms of LITTLE JOHN._] LITTLE JOHN [_Laying him down._] Weep, England, for thine outlawed lover, Dear Robin Hood, the poor man's friend, is dead.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Then out of the darkness, and as if at a distance, the voice of SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF is heard singing the fairy song of the first scene.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading [_SCARLET hands him his bow.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading [_SCARLET hands him his bow.
HoodnounUS /hʊd/
an aggressive and violent young criminal
From this reading He stands against the faint glow of the window, draws the bow to full length, shoots and falls back into the arms of LITTLE JOHN._] LITTLE JOHN [_Laying him down._] Weep, England, for thine outlawed lover, Dear Robin Hood, the poor man's friend, is dead.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Then out of the darkness, and as if at a distance, the voice of SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF is heard singing the fairy song of the first scene.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The fairy glade in Sherwood begins to be visible in the gloom by the soft light of the ivory gates which are swinging open once more among the ferns.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He stands against the faint glow of the window, draws the bow to full length, shoots and falls back into the arms of LITTLE JOHN._] LITTLE JOHN [_Laying him down._] Weep, England, for thine outlawed lover, Dear Robin Hood, the poor man's friend, is dead.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He stands against the faint glow of the window, draws the bow to full length, shoots and falls back into the arms of LITTLE JOHN._] LITTLE JOHN [_Laying him down._] Weep, England, for thine outlawed lover, Dear Robin Hood, the poor man's friend, is dead.
ivorynounUS /ˈaɪvəri/
a hard smooth ivory colored dentine that makes up most of the tusks of elephants and walruses
From this reading The fairy glade in Sherwood begins to be visible in the gloom by the soft light of the ivory gates which are swinging open once more among the ferns.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading He stands against the faint glow of the window, draws the bow to full length, shoots and falls back into the arms of LITTLE JOHN._] LITTLE JOHN [_Laying him down._] Weep, England, for thine outlawed lover, Dear Robin Hood, the poor man's friend, is dead.
the production of eggs (especially in birds)
From this reading He stands against the faint glow of the window, draws the bow to full length, shoots and falls back into the arms of LITTLE JOHN._] LITTLE JOHN [_Laying him down._] Weep, England, for thine outlawed lover, Dear Robin Hood, the poor man's friend, is dead.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading He stands against the faint glow of the window, draws the bow to full length, shoots and falls back into the arms of LITTLE JOHN._] LITTLE JOHN [_Laying him down._] Weep, England, for thine outlawed lover, Dear Robin Hood, the poor man's friend, is dead.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The fairy glade in Sherwood begins to be visible in the gloom by the soft light of the ivory gates which are swinging open once more among the ferns.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He stands against the faint glow of the window, draws the bow to full length, shoots and falls back into the arms of LITTLE JOHN._] LITTLE JOHN [_Laying him down._] Weep, England, for thine outlawed lover, Dear Robin Hood, the poor man's friend, is dead.
a person who loves someone or is loved by someone
From this reading He stands against the faint glow of the window, draws the bow to full length, shoots and falls back into the arms of LITTLE JOHN._] LITTLE JOHN [_Laying him down._] Weep, England, for thine outlawed lover, Dear Robin Hood, the poor man's friend, is dead.
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He stands against the faint glow of the window, draws the bow to full length, shoots and falls back into the arms of LITTLE JOHN._] LITTLE JOHN [_Laying him down._] Weep, England, for thine outlawed lover, Dear Robin Hood, the poor man's friend, is dead.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The fairy glade in Sherwood begins to be visible in the gloom by the soft light of the ivory gates which are swinging open once more among the ferns.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He stands against the faint glow of the window, draws the bow to full length, shoots and falls back into the arms of LITTLE JOHN._] LITTLE JOHN [_Laying him down._] Weep, England, for thine outlawed lover, Dear Robin Hood, the poor man's friend, is dead.
on one occasion
From this reading The fairy glade in Sherwood begins to be visible in the gloom by the soft light of the ivory gates which are swinging open once more among the ferns.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The fairy glade in Sherwood begins to be visible in the gloom by the soft light of the ivory gates which are swinging open once more among the ferns.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Then out of the darkness, and as if at a distance, the voice of SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF is heard singing the fairy song of the first scene.
outlawedadjectiveUS /ˈaʊtlɔːd/
contrary to or forbidden by law
From this reading He stands against the faint glow of the window, draws the bow to full length, shoots and falls back into the arms of LITTLE JOHN._] LITTLE JOHN [_Laying him down._] Weep, England, for thine outlawed lover, Dear Robin Hood, the poor man's friend, is dead.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading He stands against the faint glow of the window, draws the bow to full length, shoots and falls back into the arms of LITTLE JOHN._] LITTLE JOHN [_Laying him down._] Weep, England, for thine outlawed lover, Dear Robin Hood, the poor man's friend, is dead.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading [_The scene becomes quite dark.
small Old World songbird with a reddish breast
From this reading He stands against the faint glow of the window, draws the bow to full length, shoots and falls back into the arms of LITTLE JOHN._] LITTLE JOHN [_Laying him down._] Weep, England, for thine outlawed lover, Dear Robin Hood, the poor man's friend, is dead.
SCARLETnounUS /ˈskɑːrlət/
a variable color that is vivid red but sometimes with an orange tinge
From this reading [_SCARLET hands him his bow.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading [_The scene becomes quite dark.
SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then out of the darkness, and as if at a distance, the voice of SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF is heard singing the fairy song of the first scene.
SherwoodnounUS /ˈʃɜːrwʊd/
United States playwright (1896-1955)
From this reading The fairy glade in Sherwood begins to be visible in the gloom by the soft light of the ivory gates which are swinging open once more among the ferns.
shootsnounUS /ʃuːts/
plural of “shoot” — a new branch
From this reading He stands against the faint glow of the window, draws the bow to full length, shoots and falls back into the arms of LITTLE JOHN._] LITTLE JOHN [_Laying him down._] Weep, England, for thine outlawed lover, Dear Robin Hood, the poor man's friend, is dead.
the act of singing vocal music
From this reading Then out of the darkness, and as if at a distance, the voice of SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF is heard singing the fairy song of the first scene.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading The fairy glade in Sherwood begins to be visible in the gloom by the soft light of the ivory gates which are swinging open once more among the ferns.
a short musical composition with words
From this reading Then out of the darkness, and as if at a distance, the voice of SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF is heard singing the fairy song of the first scene.
plural of “stand” — a support or foundation
From this reading He stands against the faint glow of the window, draws the bow to full length, shoots and falls back into the arms of LITTLE JOHN._] LITTLE JOHN [_Laying him down._] Weep, England, for thine outlawed lover, Dear Robin Hood, the poor man's friend, is dead.
swingingnounUS /ˈswɪŋɪŋ/
changing location by moving back and forth
From this reading The fairy glade in Sherwood begins to be visible in the gloom by the soft light of the ivory gates which are swinging open once more among the ferns.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He stands against the faint glow of the window, draws the bow to full length, shoots and falls back into the arms of LITTLE JOHN._] LITTLE JOHN [_Laying him down._] Weep, England, for thine outlawed lover, Dear Robin Hood, the poor man's friend, is dead.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then out of the darkness, and as if at a distance, the voice of SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF is heard singing the fairy song of the first scene.
an old word for “yours”
From this reading He stands against the faint glow of the window, draws the bow to full length, shoots and falls back into the arms of LITTLE JOHN._] LITTLE JOHN [_Laying him down._] Weep, England, for thine outlawed lover, Dear Robin Hood, the poor man's friend, is dead.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He stands against the faint glow of the window, draws the bow to full length, shoots and falls back into the arms of LITTLE JOHN._] LITTLE JOHN [_Laying him down._] Weep, England, for thine outlawed lover, Dear Robin Hood, the poor man's friend, is dead.
capable of being seen; or open to easy view
From this reading The fairy glade in Sherwood begins to be visible in the gloom by the soft light of the ivory gates which are swinging open once more among the ferns.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Then out of the darkness, and as if at a distance, the voice of SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF is heard singing the fairy song of the first scene.
WeepverbUS /wiːp/
shed tears because of sadness, rage, or pain
From this reading He stands against the faint glow of the window, draws the bow to full length, shoots and falls back into the arms of LITTLE JOHN._] LITTLE JOHN [_Laying him down._] Weep, England, for thine outlawed lover, Dear Robin Hood, the poor man's friend, is dead.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The fairy glade in Sherwood begins to be visible in the gloom by the soft light of the ivory gates which are swinging open once more among the ferns.
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 He stands against the faint glow of the window, draws the bow to full length, shoots and falls back into the arms of LITTLE JOHN._] LITTLE JOHN [_Laying him down._] Weep, England, for thine outlawed lover, Dear Robin Hood, the poor man's friend, is dead.
