Chapter XIV · Chapter 14

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading A NOMADIC MINSTREL Striking west into New York State, Diane had come into Orange County, whence she wound slowly down into northern Jersey, through the Poconos.

belonging to or lasting from times long ago

From this reading It was a goodly land of peaceful villages tucked away mid age-old trees, of garrulous, kindly folks and covered bridges, of long, lazy canals with grassy banks banding each shore of the rippling river, of tow-paths padded by the feet of bargemen and bell-hung mules and lock-tenders.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading A little later a drowsy negro passed through with a load of hay, a barking dog and a mysterious voice, with a lazy drawl, which directed the payment of the toll from among the hay.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading At sunset one night Diane paid her toll at a Lilliputian house built like an architectural barnacle on to the end of a covered bridge, and with a rumble of boards wound slowly through the dusty, twilight tunnel into Pennsylvania.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading For days now the dusty wanderers had followed the silver flash of the Delaware, coming at length from a rugged, cooler country of mountain and lake into a sunny valley cleft by the singing river.

of or pertaining to the art and science of architecture

From this reading At sunset one night Diane paid her toll at a Lilliputian house built like an architectural barnacle on to the end of a covered bridge, and with a rumble of boards wound slowly through the dusty, twilight tunnel into Pennsylvania.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading For days now the dusty wanderers had followed the silver flash of the Delaware, coming at length from a rugged, cooler country of mountain and lake into a sunny valley cleft by the singing river.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading It was a goodly land of peaceful villages tucked away mid age-old trees, of garrulous, kindly folks and covered bridges, of long, lazy canals with grassy banks banding each shore of the rippling river, of tow-paths padded by the feet of bargemen and bell-hung mules and lock-tenders.

a stripe or stripes of contrasting color

From this reading It was a goodly land of peaceful villages tucked away mid age-old trees, of garrulous, kindly folks and covered bridges, of long, lazy canals with grassy banks banding each shore of the rippling river, of tow-paths padded by the feet of bargemen and bell-hung mules and lock-tenders.

English botanist who accompanied Captain Cook on his first voyage to the Pacific Ocean (1743-1820)

From this reading It was a goodly land of peaceful villages tucked away mid age-old trees, of garrulous, kindly folks and covered bridges, of long, lazy canals with grassy banks banding each shore of the rippling river, of tow-paths padded by the feet of bargemen and bell-hung mules and lock-tenders.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was a goodly land of peaceful villages tucked away mid age-old trees, of garrulous, kindly folks and covered bridges, of long, lazy canals with grassy banks banding each shore of the rippling river, of tow-paths padded by the feet of bargemen and bell-hung mules and lock-tenders.

-ing form of “bark” — speak in an unfriendly tone

From this reading A little later a drowsy negro passed through with a load of hay, a barking dog and a mysterious voice, with a lazy drawl, which directed the payment of the toll from among the hay.

marine crustaceans with feathery food-catching appendages; free-swimming as larvae; as adults form a hard shell and live attached to submerged surfaces

From this reading At sunset one night Diane paid her toll at a Lilliputian house built like an architectural barnacle on to the end of a covered bridge, and with a rumble of boards wound slowly through the dusty, twilight tunnel into Pennsylvania.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was a goodly land of peaceful villages tucked away mid age-old trees, of garrulous, kindly folks and covered bridges, of long, lazy canals with grassy banks banding each shore of the rippling river, of tow-paths padded by the feet of bargemen and bell-hung mules and lock-tenders.

(used in the plural) the stage of a theater

From this reading At sunset one night Diane paid her toll at a Lilliputian house built like an architectural barnacle on to the end of a covered bridge, and with a rumble of boards wound slowly through the dusty, twilight tunnel into Pennsylvania.

a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.

From this reading At sunset one night Diane paid her toll at a Lilliputian house built like an architectural barnacle on to the end of a covered bridge, and with a rumble of boards wound slowly through the dusty, twilight tunnel into Pennsylvania.

United States labor leader who organized the longshoremen (1901-1990)

From this reading It was a goodly land of peaceful villages tucked away mid age-old trees, of garrulous, kindly folks and covered bridges, of long, lazy canals with grassy banks banding each shore of the rippling river, of tow-paths padded by the feet of bargemen and bell-hung mules and lock-tenders.

(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness

From this reading At sunset one night Diane paid her toll at a Lilliputian house built like an architectural barnacle on to the end of a covered bridge, and with a rumble of boards wound slowly through the dusty, twilight tunnel into Pennsylvania.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading For days now the dusty wanderers had followed the silver flash of the Delaware, coming at length from a rugged, cooler country of mountain and lake into a sunny valley cleft by the singing river.

plural of “canal” — (astronomy) an indistinct surface feature of Mars once thought to be a system of channels; they are now believed to be an optical illusion

From this reading It was a goodly land of peaceful villages tucked away mid age-old trees, of garrulous, kindly folks and covered bridges, of long, lazy canals with grassy banks banding each shore of the rippling river, of tow-paths padded by the feet of bargemen and bell-hung mules and lock-tenders.

a split or indentation in something (as the palate or chin)

From this reading For days now the dusty wanderers had followed the silver flash of the Delaware, coming at length from a rugged, cooler country of mountain and lake into a sunny valley cleft by the singing river.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading A NOMADIC MINSTREL Striking west into New York State, Diane had come into Orange County, whence she wound slowly down into northern Jersey, through the Poconos.

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading For days now the dusty wanderers had followed the silver flash of the Delaware, coming at length from a rugged, cooler country of mountain and lake into a sunny valley cleft by the singing river.

a refrigerator for cooling liquids

From this reading For days now the dusty wanderers had followed the silver flash of the Delaware, coming at length from a rugged, cooler country of mountain and lake into a sunny valley cleft by the singing river.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading For days now the dusty wanderers had followed the silver flash of the Delaware, coming at length from a rugged, cooler country of mountain and lake into a sunny valley cleft by the singing river.

(United Kingdom) a region created by territorial division for the purpose of local government

From this reading A NOMADIC MINSTREL Striking west into New York State, Diane had come into Orange County, whence she wound slowly down into northern Jersey, through the Poconos.

overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form

From this reading It was a goodly land of peaceful villages tucked away mid age-old trees, of garrulous, kindly folks and covered bridges, of long, lazy canals with grassy banks banding each shore of the rippling river, of tow-paths padded by the feet of bargemen and bell-hung mules and lock-tenders.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading For days now the dusty wanderers had followed the silver flash of the Delaware, coming at length from a rugged, cooler country of mountain and lake into a sunny valley cleft by the singing river.

a river that rises in the Catskills in southeastern New York and flows southward along the border of Pennsylvania with New York and New Jersey to northern Delaware where it empties into Delaware Bay

From this reading For days now the dusty wanderers had followed the silver flash of the Delaware, coming at length from a rugged, cooler country of mountain and lake into a sunny valley cleft by the singing river.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A NOMADIC MINSTREL Striking west into New York State, Diane had come into Orange County, whence she wound slowly down into northern Jersey, through the Poconos.

(often used in combination) having a specified direction

From this reading A little later a drowsy negro passed through with a load of hay, a barking dog and a mysterious voice, with a lazy drawl, which directed the payment of the toll from among the hay.

a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds

From this reading A little later a drowsy negro passed through with a load of hay, a barking dog and a mysterious voice, with a lazy drawl, which directed the payment of the toll from among the hay.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading A NOMADIC MINSTREL Striking west into New York State, Diane had come into Orange County, whence she wound slowly down into northern Jersey, through the Poconos.

a slow speech pattern with prolonged vowels

From this reading A little later a drowsy negro passed through with a load of hay, a barking dog and a mysterious voice, with a lazy drawl, which directed the payment of the toll from among the hay.

half asleep

From this reading A little later a drowsy negro passed through with a load of hay, a barking dog and a mysterious voice, with a lazy drawl, which directed the payment of the toll from among the hay.

covered with a layer of dust

From this reading For days now the dusty wanderers had followed the silver flash of the Delaware, coming at length from a rugged, cooler country of mountain and lake into a sunny valley cleft by the singing river.

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading It was a goodly land of peaceful villages tucked away mid age-old trees, of garrulous, kindly folks and covered bridges, of long, lazy canals with grassy banks banding each shore of the rippling river, of tow-paths padded by the feet of bargemen and bell-hung mules and lock-tenders.

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading At sunset one night Diane paid her toll at a Lilliputian house built like an architectural barnacle on to the end of a covered bridge, and with a rumble of boards wound slowly through the dusty, twilight tunnel into Pennsylvania.

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading It was a goodly land of peaceful villages tucked away mid age-old trees, of garrulous, kindly folks and covered bridges, of long, lazy canals with grassy banks banding each shore of the rippling river, of tow-paths padded by the feet of bargemen and bell-hung mules and lock-tenders.

gleam or glow intermittently

From this reading For days now the dusty wanderers had followed the silver flash of the Delaware, coming at length from a rugged, cooler country of mountain and lake into a sunny valley cleft by the singing river.

your parents

From this reading It was a goodly land of peaceful villages tucked away mid age-old trees, of garrulous, kindly folks and covered bridges, of long, lazy canals with grassy banks banding each shore of the rippling river, of tow-paths padded by the feet of bargemen and bell-hung mules and lock-tenders.

past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading For days now the dusty wanderers had followed the silver flash of the Delaware, coming at length from a rugged, cooler country of mountain and lake into a sunny valley cleft by the singing river.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For days now the dusty wanderers had followed the silver flash of the Delaware, coming at length from a rugged, cooler country of mountain and lake into a sunny valley cleft by the singing river.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading For days now the dusty wanderers had followed the silver flash of the Delaware, coming at length from a rugged, cooler country of mountain and lake into a sunny valley cleft by the singing river.

full of trivial conversation

From this reading It was a goodly land of peaceful villages tucked away mid age-old trees, of garrulous, kindly folks and covered bridges, of long, lazy canals with grassy banks banding each shore of the rippling river, of tow-paths padded by the feet of bargemen and bell-hung mules and lock-tenders.

large in amount or extent or degree

From this reading It was a goodly land of peaceful villages tucked away mid age-old trees, of garrulous, kindly folks and covered bridges, of long, lazy canals with grassy banks banding each shore of the rippling river, of tow-paths padded by the feet of bargemen and bell-hung mules and lock-tenders.

abounding in grass

From this reading It was a goodly land of peaceful villages tucked away mid age-old trees, of garrulous, kindly folks and covered bridges, of long, lazy canals with grassy banks banding each shore of the rippling river, of tow-paths padded by the feet of bargemen and bell-hung mules and lock-tenders.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading A NOMADIC MINSTREL Striking west into New York State, Diane had come into Orange County, whence she wound slowly down into northern Jersey, through the Poconos.

grass mowed and cured for use as fodder

From this reading A little later a drowsy negro passed through with a load of hay, a barking dog and a mysterious voice, with a lazy drawl, which directed the payment of the toll from among the hay.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading At sunset one night Diane paid her toll at a Lilliputian house built like an architectural barnacle on to the end of a covered bridge, and with a rumble of boards wound slowly through the dusty, twilight tunnel into Pennsylvania.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading At sunset one night Diane paid her toll at a Lilliputian house built like an architectural barnacle on to the end of a covered bridge, and with a rumble of boards wound slowly through the dusty, twilight tunnel into Pennsylvania.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading A NOMADIC MINSTREL Striking west into New York State, Diane had come into Orange County, whence she wound slowly down into northern Jersey, through the Poconos.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was a goodly land of peaceful villages tucked away mid age-old trees, of garrulous, kindly folks and covered bridges, of long, lazy canals with grassy banks banding each shore of the rippling river, of tow-paths padded by the feet of bargemen and bell-hung mules and lock-tenders.

a Mid-Atlantic state on the Atlantic; one of the original 13 colonies

From this reading A NOMADIC MINSTREL Striking west into New York State, Diane had come into Orange County, whence she wound slowly down into northern Jersey, through the Poconos.

showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity

From this reading It was a goodly land of peaceful villages tucked away mid age-old trees, of garrulous, kindly folks and covered bridges, of long, lazy canals with grassy banks banding each shore of the rippling river, of tow-paths padded by the feet of bargemen and bell-hung mules and lock-tenders.

a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land

From this reading For days now the dusty wanderers had followed the silver flash of the Delaware, coming at length from a rugged, cooler country of mountain and lake into a sunny valley cleft by the singing river.

the land on which real estate is located

From this reading It was a goodly land of peaceful villages tucked away mid age-old trees, of garrulous, kindly folks and covered bridges, of long, lazy canals with grassy banks banding each shore of the rippling river, of tow-paths padded by the feet of bargemen and bell-hung mules and lock-tenders.

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading A little later a drowsy negro passed through with a load of hay, a barking dog and a mysterious voice, with a lazy drawl, which directed the payment of the toll from among the hay.

moving slowly and gently

From this reading It was a goodly land of peaceful villages tucked away mid age-old trees, of garrulous, kindly folks and covered bridges, of long, lazy canals with grassy banks banding each shore of the rippling river, of tow-paths padded by the feet of bargemen and bell-hung mules and lock-tenders.

the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place

From this reading For days now the dusty wanderers had followed the silver flash of the Delaware, coming at length from a rugged, cooler country of mountain and lake into a sunny valley cleft by the singing river.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading At sunset one night Diane paid her toll at a Lilliputian house built like an architectural barnacle on to the end of a covered bridge, and with a rumble of boards wound slowly through the dusty, twilight tunnel into Pennsylvania.

tiny; relating to or characteristic of the imaginary country of Lilliput

From this reading At sunset one night Diane paid her toll at a Lilliputian house built like an architectural barnacle on to the end of a covered bridge, and with a rumble of boards wound slowly through the dusty, twilight tunnel into Pennsylvania.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading A little later a drowsy negro passed through with a load of hay, a barking dog and a mysterious voice, with a lazy drawl, which directed the payment of the toll from among the hay.

weight to be borne or conveyed

From this reading A little later a drowsy negro passed through with a load of hay, a barking dog and a mysterious voice, with a lazy drawl, which directed the payment of the toll from among the hay.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was a goodly land of peaceful villages tucked away mid age-old trees, of garrulous, kindly folks and covered bridges, of long, lazy canals with grassy banks banding each shore of the rippling river, of tow-paths padded by the feet of bargemen and bell-hung mules and lock-tenders.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading It was a goodly land of peaceful villages tucked away mid age-old trees, of garrulous, kindly folks and covered bridges, of long, lazy canals with grassy banks banding each shore of the rippling river, of tow-paths padded by the feet of bargemen and bell-hung mules and lock-tenders.

used in combination to denote the middle

From this reading It was a goodly land of peaceful villages tucked away mid age-old trees, of garrulous, kindly folks and covered bridges, of long, lazy canals with grassy banks banding each shore of the rippling river, of tow-paths padded by the feet of bargemen and bell-hung mules and lock-tenders.

a singer of folk songs

From this reading A NOMADIC MINSTREL Striking west into New York State, Diane had come into Orange County, whence she wound slowly down into northern Jersey, through the Poconos.

a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill

From this reading For days now the dusty wanderers had followed the silver flash of the Delaware, coming at length from a rugged, cooler country of mountain and lake into a sunny valley cleft by the singing river.

plural of “mule” — hybrid offspring of a male donkey and a female horse; usually sterile

From this reading It was a goodly land of peaceful villages tucked away mid age-old trees, of garrulous, kindly folks and covered bridges, of long, lazy canals with grassy banks banding each shore of the rippling river, of tow-paths padded by the feet of bargemen and bell-hung mules and lock-tenders.

of an obscure nature

From this reading A little later a drowsy negro passed through with a load of hay, a barking dog and a mysterious voice, with a lazy drawl, which directed the payment of the toll from among the hay.

a person with African ancestry, "Negro" and "Negroid" are archaic and pejorative today

From this reading A little later a drowsy negro passed through with a load of hay, a barking dog and a mysterious voice, with a lazy drawl, which directed the payment of the toll from among the hay.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading A NOMADIC MINSTREL Striking west into New York State, Diane had come into Orange County, whence she wound slowly down into northern Jersey, through the Poconos.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading At sunset one night Diane paid her toll at a Lilliputian house built like an architectural barnacle on to the end of a covered bridge, and with a rumble of boards wound slowly through the dusty, twilight tunnel into Pennsylvania.

migratory

From this reading A NOMADIC MINSTREL Striking west into New York State, Diane had come into Orange County, whence she wound slowly down into northern Jersey, through the Poconos.

in or characteristic of a region of the United States north of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading A NOMADIC MINSTREL Striking west into New York State, Diane had come into Orange County, whence she wound slowly down into northern Jersey, through the Poconos.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading For days now the dusty wanderers had followed the silver flash of the Delaware, coming at length from a rugged, cooler country of mountain and lake into a sunny valley cleft by the singing river.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading For days now the dusty wanderers had followed the silver flash of the Delaware, coming at length from a rugged, cooler country of mountain and lake into a sunny valley cleft by the singing river.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading At sunset one night Diane paid her toll at a Lilliputian house built like an architectural barnacle on to the end of a covered bridge, and with a rumble of boards wound slowly through the dusty, twilight tunnel into Pennsylvania.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading At sunset one night Diane paid her toll at a Lilliputian house built like an architectural barnacle on to the end of a covered bridge, and with a rumble of boards wound slowly through the dusty, twilight tunnel into Pennsylvania.

round yellow to orange fruit of any of several citrus trees

From this reading A NOMADIC MINSTREL Striking west into New York State, Diane had come into Orange County, whence she wound slowly down into northern Jersey, through the Poconos.

softened by the addition of cushions or padding

From this reading It was a goodly land of peaceful villages tucked away mid age-old trees, of garrulous, kindly folks and covered bridges, of long, lazy canals with grassy banks banding each shore of the rippling river, of tow-paths padded by the feet of bargemen and bell-hung mules and lock-tenders.

marked by the reception of pay

From this reading At sunset one night Diane paid her toll at a Lilliputian house built like an architectural barnacle on to the end of a covered bridge, and with a rumble of boards wound slowly through the dusty, twilight tunnel into Pennsylvania.

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading A little later a drowsy negro passed through with a load of hay, a barking dog and a mysterious voice, with a lazy drawl, which directed the payment of the toll from among the hay.

a sum of money paid or a claim discharged

From this reading A little later a drowsy negro passed through with a load of hay, a barking dog and a mysterious voice, with a lazy drawl, which directed the payment of the toll from among the hay.

not disturbed by strife or turmoil or war

From this reading It was a goodly land of peaceful villages tucked away mid age-old trees, of garrulous, kindly folks and covered bridges, of long, lazy canals with grassy banks banding each shore of the rippling river, of tow-paths padded by the feet of bargemen and bell-hung mules and lock-tenders.

a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies

From this reading At sunset one night Diane paid her toll at a Lilliputian house built like an architectural barnacle on to the end of a covered bridge, and with a rumble of boards wound slowly through the dusty, twilight tunnel into Pennsylvania.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A NOMADIC MINSTREL Striking west into New York State, Diane had come into Orange County, whence she wound slowly down into northern Jersey, through the Poconos.

a small wave on the surface of a liquid

From this reading It was a goodly land of peaceful villages tucked away mid age-old trees, of garrulous, kindly folks and covered bridges, of long, lazy canals with grassy banks banding each shore of the rippling river, of tow-paths padded by the feet of bargemen and bell-hung mules and lock-tenders.

a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading For days now the dusty wanderers had followed the silver flash of the Delaware, coming at length from a rugged, cooler country of mountain and lake into a sunny valley cleft by the singing river.

sturdy and strong in constitution or construction; enduring

From this reading For days now the dusty wanderers had followed the silver flash of the Delaware, coming at length from a rugged, cooler country of mountain and lake into a sunny valley cleft by the singing river.

make a low noise

From this reading At sunset one night Diane paid her toll at a Lilliputian house built like an architectural barnacle on to the end of a covered bridge, and with a rumble of boards wound slowly through the dusty, twilight tunnel into Pennsylvania.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading A NOMADIC MINSTREL Striking west into New York State, Diane had come into Orange County, whence she wound slowly down into northern Jersey, through the Poconos.

the land along the edge of a body of water

From this reading It was a goodly land of peaceful villages tucked away mid age-old trees, of garrulous, kindly folks and covered bridges, of long, lazy canals with grassy banks banding each shore of the rippling river, of tow-paths padded by the feet of bargemen and bell-hung mules and lock-tenders.

a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography

From this reading For days now the dusty wanderers had followed the silver flash of the Delaware, coming at length from a rugged, cooler country of mountain and lake into a sunny valley cleft by the singing river.

the act of singing vocal music

From this reading For days now the dusty wanderers had followed the silver flash of the Delaware, coming at length from a rugged, cooler country of mountain and lake into a sunny valley cleft by the singing river.

without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)

From this reading A NOMADIC MINSTREL Striking west into New York State, Diane had come into Orange County, whence she wound slowly down into northern Jersey, through the Poconos.

the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation

From this reading A NOMADIC MINSTREL Striking west into New York State, Diane had come into Orange County, whence she wound slowly down into northern Jersey, through the Poconos.

sensational in appearance or thrilling in effect

From this reading A NOMADIC MINSTREL Striking west into New York State, Diane had come into Orange County, whence she wound slowly down into northern Jersey, through the Poconos.

bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer

From this reading For days now the dusty wanderers had followed the silver flash of the Delaware, coming at length from a rugged, cooler country of mountain and lake into a sunny valley cleft by the singing river.

the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon

From this reading At sunset one night Diane paid her toll at a Lilliputian house built like an architectural barnacle on to the end of a covered bridge, and with a rumble of boards wound slowly through the dusty, twilight tunnel into Pennsylvania.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading A NOMADIC MINSTREL Striking west into New York State, Diane had come into Orange County, whence she wound slowly down into northern Jersey, through the Poconos.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading A NOMADIC MINSTREL Striking west into New York State, Diane had come into Orange County, whence she wound slowly down into northern Jersey, through the Poconos.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading At sunset one night Diane paid her toll at a Lilliputian house built like an architectural barnacle on to the end of a covered bridge, and with a rumble of boards wound slowly through the dusty, twilight tunnel into Pennsylvania.

a fee levied for the use of roads or bridges (used for maintenance)

From this reading At sunset one night Diane paid her toll at a Lilliputian house built like an architectural barnacle on to the end of a covered bridge, and with a rumble of boards wound slowly through the dusty, twilight tunnel into Pennsylvania.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was a goodly land of peaceful villages tucked away mid age-old trees, of garrulous, kindly folks and covered bridges, of long, lazy canals with grassy banks banding each shore of the rippling river, of tow-paths padded by the feet of bargemen and bell-hung mules and lock-tenders.

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading It was a goodly land of peaceful villages tucked away mid age-old trees, of garrulous, kindly folks and covered bridges, of long, lazy canals with grassy banks banding each shore of the rippling river, of tow-paths padded by the feet of bargemen and bell-hung mules and lock-tenders.

having tucked or being tucked

From this reading It was a goodly land of peaceful villages tucked away mid age-old trees, of garrulous, kindly folks and covered bridges, of long, lazy canals with grassy banks banding each shore of the rippling river, of tow-paths padded by the feet of bargemen and bell-hung mules and lock-tenders.

move through by or as by digging

From this reading At sunset one night Diane paid her toll at a Lilliputian house built like an architectural barnacle on to the end of a covered bridge, and with a rumble of boards wound slowly through the dusty, twilight tunnel into Pennsylvania.

the time of day immediately following sunset

From this reading At sunset one night Diane paid her toll at a Lilliputian house built like an architectural barnacle on to the end of a covered bridge, and with a rumble of boards wound slowly through the dusty, twilight tunnel into Pennsylvania.

a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river

From this reading For days now the dusty wanderers had followed the silver flash of the Delaware, coming at length from a rugged, cooler country of mountain and lake into a sunny valley cleft by the singing river.

plural of “village” — a community of people smaller than a town

From this reading It was a goodly land of peaceful villages tucked away mid age-old trees, of garrulous, kindly folks and covered bridges, of long, lazy canals with grassy banks banding each shore of the rippling river, of tow-paths padded by the feet of bargemen and bell-hung mules and lock-tenders.

the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading A little later a drowsy negro passed through with a load of hay, a barking dog and a mysterious voice, with a lazy drawl, which directed the payment of the toll from among the hay.

plural of “wanderer” — someone who leads a wandering unsettled life

From this reading For days now the dusty wanderers had followed the silver flash of the Delaware, coming at length from a rugged, cooler country of mountain and lake into a sunny valley cleft by the singing river.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading It was a goodly land of peaceful villages tucked away mid age-old trees, of garrulous, kindly folks and covered bridges, of long, lazy canals with grassy banks banding each shore of the rippling river, of tow-paths padded by the feet of bargemen and bell-hung mules and lock-tenders.

the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America

From this reading A NOMADIC MINSTREL Striking west into New York State, Diane had come into Orange County, whence she wound slowly down into northern Jersey, through the Poconos.

an old word meaning “from where”

From this reading A NOMADIC MINSTREL Striking west into New York State, Diane had come into Orange County, whence she wound slowly down into northern Jersey, through the Poconos.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading A little later a drowsy negro passed through with a load of hay, a barking dog and a mysterious voice, with a lazy drawl, which directed the payment of the toll from among the hay.

in the company of; together with

From this reading It was a goodly land of peaceful villages tucked away mid age-old trees, of garrulous, kindly folks and covered bridges, of long, lazy canals with grassy banks banding each shore of the rippling river, of tow-paths padded by the feet of bargemen and bell-hung mules and lock-tenders.

an injury to living tissue (especially an injury involving a cut or break in the skin)

From this reading A NOMADIC MINSTREL Striking west into New York State, Diane had come into Orange County, whence she wound slowly down into northern Jersey, through the Poconos.

the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose

From this reading A NOMADIC MINSTREL Striking west into New York State, Diane had come into Orange County, whence she wound slowly down into northern Jersey, through the Poconos.