used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE IRON TRAPDOOR The Hayfork Minister, who had laboured with equal determination to save the crop of a true-blue Presbyterian and to make me a good Churchman, evidently knew his way about the precincts of the Grange.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading THE IRON TRAPDOOR The Hayfork Minister, who had laboured with equal determination to save the crop of a true-blue Presbyterian and to make me a good Churchman, evidently knew his way about the precincts of the Grange.
(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 It took me all my time to keep up with him, and I am a good jumper, too--nearly as good as Elsie.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading It took me all my time to keep up with him, and I am a good jumper, too--nearly as good as Elsie.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE IRON TRAPDOOR The Hayfork Minister, who had laboured with equal determination to save the crop of a true-blue Presbyterian and to make me a good Churchman, evidently knew his way about the precincts of the Grange.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He stepped through a gap in the hedge, jumped a half-dry ditch, and wound his way through the scattering brambles and underbrush as if he had been in his own garden plot.
BackwaternounUS /ˈbækwɔːtər/
a body of water that was created by a flood or tide or by being held or forced back by a dam
From this reading We went down the side of the Moat Backwater.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He stepped through a gap in the hedge, jumped a half-dry ditch, and wound his way through the scattering brambles and underbrush as if he had been in his own garden plot.
bramblesnounUS /ˈbræmbəlz/
plural of “bramble” — any of various rough thorny shrubs or vines
From this reading He stepped through a gap in the hedge, jumped a half-dry ditch, and wound his way through the scattering brambles and underbrush as if he had been in his own garden plot.
ChurchmannounUS /ˈtʃɜːrtʃmən/
a clergyman or other person in religious orders
From this reading THE IRON TRAPDOOR The Hayfork Minister, who had laboured with equal determination to save the crop of a true-blue Presbyterian and to make me a good Churchman, evidently knew his way about the precincts of the Grange.
cowardnounUS /ˈkaʊərd/
a person who shows fear or timidity
From this reading No coward, the Hayfork!
cropnounUS /krɑːp/
the yield from plants in a single growing season
From this reading THE IRON TRAPDOOR The Hayfork Minister, who had laboured with equal determination to save the crop of a true-blue Presbyterian and to make me a good Churchman, evidently knew his way about the precincts of the Grange.
determinationnounUS /dɪˌtɜːrməˈneɪʃən/
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading THE IRON TRAPDOOR The Hayfork Minister, who had laboured with equal determination to save the crop of a true-blue Presbyterian and to make me a good Churchman, evidently knew his way about the precincts of the Grange.
ditchnounUS /dɪtʃ/
a long narrow excavation in the earth
From this reading He stepped through a gap in the hedge, jumped a half-dry ditch, and wound his way through the scattering brambles and underbrush as if he had been in his own garden plot.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading We went down the side of the Moat Backwater.
Elsie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It took me all my time to keep up with him, and I am a good jumper, too--nearly as good as Elsie.
be identical or equivalent to
From this reading THE IRON TRAPDOOR The Hayfork Minister, who had laboured with equal determination to save the crop of a true-blue Presbyterian and to make me a good Churchman, evidently knew his way about the precincts of the Grange.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading THE IRON TRAPDOOR The Hayfork Minister, who had laboured with equal determination to save the crop of a true-blue Presbyterian and to make me a good Churchman, evidently knew his way about the precincts of the Grange.
gapnounUS /ɡæp/
a conspicuous disparity or difference as between two figures
From this reading He stepped through a gap in the hedge, jumped a half-dry ditch, and wound his way through the scattering brambles and underbrush as if he had been in his own garden plot.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading He stepped through a gap in the hedge, jumped a half-dry ditch, and wound his way through the scattering brambles and underbrush as if he had been in his own garden plot.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading THE IRON TRAPDOOR The Hayfork Minister, who had laboured with equal determination to save the crop of a true-blue Presbyterian and to make me a good Churchman, evidently knew his way about the precincts of the Grange.
GrangenounUS /ɡreɪndʒ/
an outlying farm
From this reading THE IRON TRAPDOOR The Hayfork Minister, who had laboured with equal determination to save the crop of a true-blue Presbyterian and to make me a good Churchman, evidently knew his way about the precincts of the Grange.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE IRON TRAPDOOR The Hayfork Minister, who had laboured with equal determination to save the crop of a true-blue Presbyterian and to make me a good Churchman, evidently knew his way about the precincts of the Grange.
half-dry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stepped through a gap in the hedge, jumped a half-dry ditch, and wound his way through the scattering brambles and underbrush as if he had been in his own garden plot.
Hayforknoun
a long-handled fork for turning or lifting hay
From this reading THE IRON TRAPDOOR The Hayfork Minister, who had laboured with equal determination to save the crop of a true-blue Presbyterian and to make me a good Churchman, evidently knew his way about the precincts of the Grange.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He stepped through a gap in the hedge, jumped a half-dry ditch, and wound his way through the scattering brambles and underbrush as if he had been in his own garden plot.
hedgeverbUS /hedʒ/
avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues)
From this reading He stepped through a gap in the hedge, jumped a half-dry ditch, and wound his way through the scattering brambles and underbrush as if he had been in his own garden plot.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It took me all my time to keep up with him, and I am a good jumper, too--nearly as good as Elsie.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE IRON TRAPDOOR The Hayfork Minister, who had laboured with equal determination to save the crop of a true-blue Presbyterian and to make me a good Churchman, evidently knew his way about the precincts of the Grange.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading It took me all my time to keep up with him, and I am a good jumper, too--nearly as good as Elsie.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He stepped through a gap in the hedge, jumped a half-dry ditch, and wound his way through the scattering brambles and underbrush as if he had been in his own garden plot.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He stepped through a gap in the hedge, jumped a half-dry ditch, and wound his way through the scattering brambles and underbrush as if he had been in his own garden plot.
a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
From this reading THE IRON TRAPDOOR The Hayfork Minister, who had laboured with equal determination to save the crop of a true-blue Presbyterian and to make me a good Churchman, evidently knew his way about the precincts of the Grange.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It took me all my time to keep up with him, and I am a good jumper, too--nearly as good as Elsie.
past form of “jump” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading He stepped through a gap in the hedge, jumped a half-dry ditch, and wound his way through the scattering brambles and underbrush as if he had been in his own garden plot.
jumpernounUS /ˈdʒʌmpər/
a person who jumps
From this reading It took me all my time to keep up with him, and I am a good jumper, too--nearly as good as Elsie.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading It took me all my time to keep up with him, and I am a good jumper, too--nearly as good as Elsie.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading THE IRON TRAPDOOR The Hayfork Minister, who had laboured with equal determination to save the crop of a true-blue Presbyterian and to make me a good Churchman, evidently knew his way about the precincts of the Grange.
labouredadjective
lacking natural ease
From this reading THE IRON TRAPDOOR The Hayfork Minister, who had laboured with equal determination to save the crop of a true-blue Presbyterian and to make me a good Churchman, evidently knew his way about the precincts of the Grange.
engage in
From this reading THE IRON TRAPDOOR The Hayfork Minister, who had laboured with equal determination to save the crop of a true-blue Presbyterian and to make me a good Churchman, evidently knew his way about the precincts of the Grange.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE IRON TRAPDOOR The Hayfork Minister, who had laboured with equal determination to save the crop of a true-blue Presbyterian and to make me a good Churchman, evidently knew his way about the precincts of the Grange.
a person authorized to conduct religious worship
From this reading THE IRON TRAPDOOR The Hayfork Minister, who had laboured with equal determination to save the crop of a true-blue Presbyterian and to make me a good Churchman, evidently knew his way about the precincts of the Grange.
MoatnounUS /moʊt/
ditch dug as a fortification and usually filled with water
From this reading We went down the side of the Moat Backwater.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading It took me all my time to keep up with him, and I am a good jumper, too--nearly as good as Elsie.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading It took me all my time to keep up with him, and I am a good jumper, too--nearly as good as Elsie.
not any; not one
From this reading No coward, the Hayfork!
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE IRON TRAPDOOR The Hayfork Minister, who had laboured with equal determination to save the crop of a true-blue Presbyterian and to make me a good Churchman, evidently knew his way about the precincts of the Grange.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading He stepped through a gap in the hedge, jumped a half-dry ditch, and wound his way through the scattering brambles and underbrush as if he had been in his own garden plot.
plotnounUS /plɑːt/
a secret scheme to do something (especially something underhand or illegal)
From this reading He stepped through a gap in the hedge, jumped a half-dry ditch, and wound his way through the scattering brambles and underbrush as if he had been in his own garden plot.
precinctsnounUS /ˈpriːsɪŋkts/
plural of “precinct” — a district of a city or town marked out for administrative purposes
From this reading THE IRON TRAPDOOR The Hayfork Minister, who had laboured with equal determination to save the crop of a true-blue Presbyterian and to make me a good Churchman, evidently knew his way about the precincts of the Grange.
PresbyteriannounUS /ˌpresbɪˈtɪriən/
a follower of Calvinism as taught in the Presbyterian Church
From this reading THE IRON TRAPDOOR The Hayfork Minister, who had laboured with equal determination to save the crop of a true-blue Presbyterian and to make me a good Churchman, evidently knew his way about the precincts of the Grange.
except for; apart from
From this reading THE IRON TRAPDOOR The Hayfork Minister, who had laboured with equal determination to save the crop of a true-blue Presbyterian and to make me a good Churchman, evidently knew his way about the precincts of the Grange.
scatteringnounUS /ˈskætərɪŋ/
a small number (of something) dispersed haphazardly
From this reading He stepped through a gap in the hedge, jumped a half-dry ditch, and wound his way through the scattering brambles and underbrush as if he had been in his own garden plot.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading We went down the side of the Moat Backwater.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading He stepped through a gap in the hedge, jumped a half-dry ditch, and wound his way through the scattering brambles and underbrush as if he had been in his own garden plot.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE IRON TRAPDOOR The Hayfork Minister, who had laboured with equal determination to save the crop of a true-blue Presbyterian and to make me a good Churchman, evidently knew his way about the precincts of the Grange.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading He stepped through a gap in the hedge, jumped a half-dry ditch, and wound his way through the scattering brambles and underbrush as if he had been in his own garden plot.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It took me all my time to keep up with him, and I am a good jumper, too--nearly as good as Elsie.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE IRON TRAPDOOR The Hayfork Minister, who had laboured with equal determination to save the crop of a true-blue Presbyterian and to make me a good Churchman, evidently knew his way about the precincts of the Grange.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading It took me all my time to keep up with him, and I am a good jumper, too--nearly as good as Elsie.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading It took me all my time to keep up with him, and I am a good jumper, too--nearly as good as Elsie.
TRAPDOOR
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE IRON TRAPDOOR The Hayfork Minister, who had laboured with equal determination to save the crop of a true-blue Presbyterian and to make me a good Churchman, evidently knew his way about the precincts of the Grange.
true-blueadjective
marked by unswerving loyalty
From this reading THE IRON TRAPDOOR The Hayfork Minister, who had laboured with equal determination to save the crop of a true-blue Presbyterian and to make me a good Churchman, evidently knew his way about the precincts of the Grange.
underbrushnounUS /ˈʌndərbrʌʃ/
the brush (small trees and bushes and ferns etc.) growing beneath taller trees in a wood or forest
From this reading He stepped through a gap in the hedge, jumped a half-dry ditch, and wound his way through the scattering brambles and underbrush as if he had been in his own garden plot.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading It took me all my time to keep up with him, and I am a good jumper, too--nearly as good as Elsie.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading THE IRON TRAPDOOR The Hayfork Minister, who had laboured with equal determination to save the crop of a true-blue Presbyterian and to make me a good Churchman, evidently knew his way about the precincts of the Grange.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We went down the side of the Moat Backwater.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading We went down the side of the Moat Backwater.
which person or people
From this reading THE IRON TRAPDOOR The Hayfork Minister, who had laboured with equal determination to save the crop of a true-blue Presbyterian and to make me a good Churchman, evidently knew his way about the precincts of the Grange.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE IRON TRAPDOOR The Hayfork Minister, who had laboured with equal determination to save the crop of a true-blue Presbyterian and to make me a good Churchman, evidently knew his way about the precincts of the Grange.
an injury to living tissue (especially an injury involving a cut or break in the skin)
From this reading He stepped through a gap in the hedge, jumped a half-dry ditch, and wound his way through the scattering brambles and underbrush as if he had been in his own garden plot.
