used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Half way along, a drip from a gutter had made a greenish puddle in a worn stone.
AbbotnounUS /ˈæbət/
the superior of an abbey of monks
From this reading The sun is on the leads still,” said the Abbot, rising.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Half way along, a drip from a gutter had made a greenish puddle in a worn stone.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Very carefully, John dropped a drop of it into the smaller hole of the compass-leg, and, steadying the apparatus on a coping, worked the screw in the compass-joint, screwed the cylinder, and swung the swivel of the mirror till he was satisfied.
apparatusnounUS /ˌæpərˈætəs/
equipment designed to serve a specific function
From this reading Very carefully, John dropped a drop of it into the smaller hole of the compass-leg, and, steadying the apparatus on a coping, worked the screw in the compass-joint, screwed the cylinder, and swung the swivel of the mirror till he was satisfied.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading Very carefully, John dropped a drop of it into the smaller hole of the compass-leg, and, steadying the apparatus on a coping, worked the screw in the compass-joint, screwed the cylinder, and swung the swivel of the mirror till he was satisfied.
cloisterverbUS /ˈklɔɪstər/
surround with a cloister, as of a garden
From this reading “Come to my upper cloister.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading “Come to my upper cloister.
compass-joint
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Very carefully, John dropped a drop of it into the smaller hole of the compass-leg, and, steadying the apparatus on a coping, worked the screw in the compass-joint, screwed the cylinder, and swung the swivel of the mirror till he was satisfied.
compass-leg
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Very carefully, John dropped a drop of it into the smaller hole of the compass-leg, and, steadying the apparatus on a coping, worked the screw in the compass-joint, screwed the cylinder, and swung the swivel of the mirror till he was satisfied.
copingnounUS /ˈkoʊpɪŋ/
brick that is laid sideways at the top of a wall
From this reading Very carefully, John dropped a drop of it into the smaller hole of the compass-leg, and, steadying the apparatus on a coping, worked the screw in the compass-joint, screwed the cylinder, and swung the swivel of the mirror till he was satisfied.
cylindernounUS /ˈsɪləndər/
a solid bounded by a cylindrical surface and two parallel planes (the bases)
From this reading Very carefully, John dropped a drop of it into the smaller hole of the compass-leg, and, steadying the apparatus on a coping, worked the screw in the compass-joint, screwed the cylinder, and swung the swivel of the mirror till he was satisfied.
dripverbUS /drɪp/
fall in drops
From this reading Half way along, a drip from a gutter had made a greenish puddle in a worn stone.
let fall to the ground
From this reading Very carefully, John dropped a drop of it into the smaller hole of the compass-leg, and, steadying the apparatus on a coping, worked the screw in the compass-joint, screwed the cylinder, and swung the swivel of the mirror till he was satisfied.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading Very carefully, John dropped a drop of it into the smaller hole of the compass-leg, and, steadying the apparatus on a coping, worked the screw in the compass-joint, screwed the cylinder, and swung the swivel of the mirror till he was satisfied.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading They followed him there.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Half way along, a drip from a gutter had made a greenish puddle in a worn stone.
greenishadjectiveUS /ˈɡriːnɪʃ/
of the color between blue and yellow in the color spectrum; similar to the color of fresh grass
From this reading Half way along, a drip from a gutter had made a greenish puddle in a worn stone.
gutternounUS /ˈɡʌtər/
a channel along the eaves or on the roof; collects and carries away rainwater
From this reading Half way along, a drip from a gutter had made a greenish puddle in a worn stone.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Half way along, a drip from a gutter had made a greenish puddle in a worn stone.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Half way along, a drip from a gutter had made a greenish puddle in a worn stone.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Very carefully, John dropped a drop of it into the smaller hole of the compass-leg, and, steadying the apparatus on a coping, worked the screw in the compass-joint, screwed the cylinder, and swung the swivel of the mirror till he was satisfied.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading They followed him there.
an opening into or through something
From this reading Very carefully, John dropped a drop of it into the smaller hole of the compass-leg, and, steadying the apparatus on a coping, worked the screw in the compass-joint, screwed the cylinder, and swung the swivel of the mirror till he was satisfied.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Half way along, a drip from a gutter had made a greenish puddle in a worn stone.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Very carefully, John dropped a drop of it into the smaller hole of the compass-leg, and, steadying the apparatus on a coping, worked the screw in the compass-joint, screwed the cylinder, and swung the swivel of the mirror till he was satisfied.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The sun is on the leads still,” said the Abbot, rising.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Very carefully, John dropped a drop of it into the smaller hole of the compass-leg, and, steadying the apparatus on a coping, worked the screw in the compass-joint, screwed the cylinder, and swung the swivel of the mirror till he was satisfied.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading Very carefully, John dropped a drop of it into the smaller hole of the compass-leg, and, steadying the apparatus on a coping, worked the screw in the compass-joint, screwed the cylinder, and swung the swivel of the mirror till he was satisfied.
leadsnounUS /liːdz/
plural of “lead” — an advantage held by a competitor in a race
From this reading The sun is on the leads still,” said the Abbot, rising.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Half way along, a drip from a gutter had made a greenish puddle in a worn stone.
mirrornounUS /ˈmɪrər/
polished surface that forms images by reflecting light
From this reading Very carefully, John dropped a drop of it into the smaller hole of the compass-leg, and, steadying the apparatus on a coping, worked the screw in the compass-joint, screwed the cylinder, and swung the swivel of the mirror till he was satisfied.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “Come to my upper cloister.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Very carefully, John dropped a drop of it into the smaller hole of the compass-leg, and, steadying the apparatus on a coping, worked the screw in the compass-joint, screwed the cylinder, and swung the swivel of the mirror till he was satisfied.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The sun is on the leads still,” said the Abbot, rising.
puddleverbUS /ˈpʌdəl/
wade or dabble in a puddle
From this reading Half way along, a drip from a gutter had made a greenish puddle in a worn stone.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading The sun is on the leads still,” said the Abbot, rising.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading The sun is on the leads still,” said the Abbot, rising.
filled with satisfaction
From this reading Very carefully, John dropped a drop of it into the smaller hole of the compass-leg, and, steadying the apparatus on a coping, worked the screw in the compass-joint, screwed the cylinder, and swung the swivel of the mirror till he was satisfied.
screwnounUS /skruː/
someone who guards prisoners
From this reading Very carefully, John dropped a drop of it into the smaller hole of the compass-leg, and, steadying the apparatus on a coping, worked the screw in the compass-joint, screwed the cylinder, and swung the swivel of the mirror till he was satisfied.
screwedverbUS /skruːd/
past form of “screw” — have sexual intercourse with
From this reading Very carefully, John dropped a drop of it into the smaller hole of the compass-leg, and, steadying the apparatus on a coping, worked the screw in the compass-joint, screwed the cylinder, and swung the swivel of the mirror till he was satisfied.
small or little relative to something else
From this reading Very carefully, John dropped a drop of it into the smaller hole of the compass-leg, and, steadying the apparatus on a coping, worked the screw in the compass-joint, screwed the cylinder, and swung the swivel of the mirror till he was satisfied.
steadyingadjective
causing to become steady
From this reading Very carefully, John dropped a drop of it into the smaller hole of the compass-leg, and, steadying the apparatus on a coping, worked the screw in the compass-joint, screwed the cylinder, and swung the swivel of the mirror till he was satisfied.
not in physical motion
From this reading The sun is on the leads still,” said the Abbot, rising.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Half way along, a drip from a gutter had made a greenish puddle in a worn stone.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The sun is on the leads still,” said the Abbot, rising.
swivelverbUS /ˈswɪvəl/
turn on a pivot
From this reading Very carefully, John dropped a drop of it into the smaller hole of the compass-leg, and, steadying the apparatus on a coping, worked the screw in the compass-joint, screwed the cylinder, and swung the swivel of the mirror till he was satisfied.
inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading Very carefully, John dropped a drop of it into the smaller hole of the compass-leg, and, steadying the apparatus on a coping, worked the screw in the compass-joint, screwed the cylinder, and swung the swivel of the mirror till he was satisfied.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The sun is on the leads still,” said the Abbot, rising.
in or at that place or location
From this reading They followed him there.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They followed him there.
up to a particular time
From this reading Very carefully, John dropped a drop of it into the smaller hole of the compass-leg, and, steadying the apparatus on a coping, worked the screw in the compass-joint, screwed the cylinder, and swung the swivel of the mirror till he was satisfied.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Come to my upper cloister.
the topmost one of two
From this reading “Come to my upper cloister.
precisely as stated
From this reading Very carefully, John dropped a drop of it into the smaller hole of the compass-leg, and, steadying the apparatus on a coping, worked the screw in the compass-joint, screwed the cylinder, and swung the swivel of the mirror till he was satisfied.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Very carefully, John dropped a drop of it into the smaller hole of the compass-leg, and, steadying the apparatus on a coping, worked the screw in the compass-joint, screwed the cylinder, and swung the swivel of the mirror till he was satisfied.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Half way along, a drip from a gutter had made a greenish puddle in a worn stone.
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Very carefully, John dropped a drop of it into the smaller hole of the compass-leg, and, steadying the apparatus on a coping, worked the screw in the compass-joint, screwed the cylinder, and swung the swivel of the mirror till he was satisfied.
Damaged or thinned by continuous use.
From this reading Half way along, a drip from a gutter had made a greenish puddle in a worn stone.
