used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Of course what remains of it now exults in an infinitely grander title, though smelling thereby no sweeter.
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
archesnounUS /ˈɑːrtʃəz/
plural of “arch” — a curved shape in the vertical plane that spans an opening
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
artificialadjectiveUS /ˌɑːrtəˈfɪʃəl/
contrived by art rather than nature
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
BELL-PULL
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading KNOCKER VERSUS BELL-PULL.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
betwixtprepositionUS /biˈtwɪkst/
an old word for “between”
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading Here, in a highly respectable house, a truly respectable man was living, with his business and his family.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
a large and stately mansion
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
(United Kingdom) a region created by territorial division for the purpose of local government
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Of course what remains of it now exults in an infinitely grander title, though smelling thereby no sweeter.
travel across or pass over
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
spoiled or ruined or demolished
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading With that we have nothing to do; the street was "Cross Duck Lane" in our time.
DuckverbUS /dʌk/
to move (the head or body) quickly downwards or away
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
a person who is older than you are
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
exultsverbUS /ɪɡˈzʌlts/
third-person singular of “exult” — feel extreme happiness or elation
From this reading Of course what remains of it now exults in an infinitely grander title, though smelling thereby no sweeter.
a social unit living together
From this reading Here, in a highly respectable house, a truly respectable man was living, with his business and his family.
filtersnounUS /ˈfɪltərz/
plural of “filter” — device that removes something from whatever passes through it
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
generationnounUS /ˌdʒenərˈeɪʃən/
all the people living at the same time or of approximately the same age
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
granderadjectiveUS /ˈɡrændər/
comparative of “grand” — of behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope
From this reading Of course what remains of it now exults in an infinitely grander title, though smelling thereby no sweeter.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading With that we have nothing to do; the street was "Cross Duck Lane" in our time.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here, in a highly respectable house, a truly respectable man was living, with his business and his family.
to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect
From this reading Here, in a highly respectable house, a truly respectable man was living, with his business and his family.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Here, in a highly respectable house, a truly respectable man was living, with his business and his family.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Here, in a highly respectable house, a truly respectable man was living, with his business and his family.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
infinitelyadverbUS /ˈɪnfənətli/
without bounds
From this reading Of course what remains of it now exults in an infinitely grander title, though smelling thereby no sweeter.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
IsisnounUS /ˈaɪsəs/
Egyptian goddess of fertility; daughter of Geb; sister and wife of Osiris
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Of course what remains of it now exults in an infinitely grander title, though smelling thereby no sweeter.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
jailnounUS /dʒeɪl/
a correctional institution used to detain persons who are in the lawful custody of the government (either accused persons awaiting trial or convicted persons serving a sentence)
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
KNOCKERnoun
(Yiddish) a big shot who knows it and acts that way; a boastful immoderate person
From this reading KNOCKER VERSUS BELL-PULL.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
a narrow way or road
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading Here, in a highly respectable house, a truly respectable man was living, with his business and his family.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Here, in a highly respectable house, a truly respectable man was living, with his business and his family.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
not any; not one
From this reading Of course what remains of it now exults in an infinitely grander title, though smelling thereby no sweeter.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading With that we have nothing to do; the street was "Cross Duck Lane" in our time.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Of course what remains of it now exults in an infinitely grander title, though smelling thereby no sweeter.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
offsetsnounUS /ˈɔːfsets/
plural of “offset” — the time at which something is supposed to begin
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading With that we have nothing to do; the street was "Cross Duck Lane" in our time.
OxfordnounUS /ˈɑːksfərd/
a city in southern England to the northwest of London; site of Oxford University
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
to some extent; in some degree; not wholly
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
any object that is left unused or still extant
From this reading Of course what remains of it now exults in an infinitely grander title, though smelling thereby no sweeter.
characterized by socially or conventionally acceptable morals
From this reading Here, in a highly respectable house, a truly respectable man was living, with his business and his family.
ruinsnounUS /ˈruːənz/
plural of “ruin” — an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
smellingnounUS /ˈsmelɪŋ/
the act of perceiving the odor of something
From this reading Of course what remains of it now exults in an infinitely grander title, though smelling thereby no sweeter.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
sweeteradjectiveUS /ˈswiːtər/
comparative of “sweet” — having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar
From this reading Of course what remains of it now exults in an infinitely grander title, though smelling thereby no sweeter.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading With that we have nothing to do; the street was "Cross Duck Lane" in our time.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
in or at that place or location
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
therebyadverbUS /ˈðerˈbaɪ/
by that means or because of that
From this reading Of course what remains of it now exults in an infinitely grander title, though smelling thereby no sweeter.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Of course what remains of it now exults in an infinitely grander title, though smelling thereby no sweeter.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading With that we have nothing to do; the street was "Cross Duck Lane" in our time.
a heading that names a statute or legislative bill; may give a brief summary of the matters it deals with
From this reading Of course what remains of it now exults in an infinitely grander title, though smelling thereby no sweeter.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading Here, in a highly respectable house, a truly respectable man was living, with his business and his family.
VERSUS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading KNOCKER VERSUS BELL-PULL.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading With that we have nothing to do; the street was "Cross Duck Lane" in our time.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Of course what remains of it now exults in an infinitely grander title, though smelling thereby no sweeter.
in or at the place that
From this reading There is, or was, a street in Oxford, near the ruins of the ancient castle, and behind the new county jail, where one of the many offsets of the Isis filters its artificial way beneath low arches and betwixt dead walls; and this street (partly destroyed since then) was known to the elder generation by the name of "Cross Duck Lane."
in the company of; together with
From this reading With that we have nothing to do; the street was "Cross Duck Lane" in our time.
