Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading But he was worried because he could not get the path straight, there was a pleat between his brows.

anew

From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.

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

From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.

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

From this reading He had cut the rough turf and bracken, leaving the grey, dryish soil bare.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.

completely unclothed

From this reading He had cut the rough turf and bracken, leaving the grey, dryish soil bare.

for the reason that

From this reading But he was worried because he could not get the path straight, there was a pleat between his brows.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading But he was worried because he could not get the path straight, there was a pleat between his brows.

on the far side of; further than

From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading He had set up his sticks, and taken the sights between the big pine trees, but for some reason everything seemed wrong.

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.

the lower side of anything

From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.

fern of southeastern Asia; not hardy in cold temperate regions

From this reading He had cut the rough turf and bracken, leaving the grey, dryish soil bare.

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

From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.

a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)

From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.

plural of “brow” — the part of the face above the eyes

From this reading But he was worried because he could not get the path straight, there was a pleat between his brows.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But he was worried because he could not get the path straight, there was a pleat between his brows.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.

-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.

belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public

From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.

the act of continuing an activity without interruption

From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading But he was worried because he could not get the path straight, there was a pleat between his brows.

separate with or as if with an instrument

From this reading He had cut the rough turf and bracken, leaving the grey, dryish soil bare.

immerse briefly into a liquid so as to wet, coat, or saturate

From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.

the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close

From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.

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

From this reading He had cut the rough turf and bracken, leaving the grey, dryish soil bare.

the boundary of a surface

From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.

all things; all of a situation

From this reading He had set up his sticks, and taken the sights between the big pine trees, but for some reason everything seemed wrong.

opinion or judgment

From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.

plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms

From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He had set up his sticks, and taken the sights between the big pine trees, but for some reason everything seemed wrong.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.

a plot of ground where plants are cultivated

From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.

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

From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading But he was worried because he could not get the path straight, there was a pleat between his brows.

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

From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.

of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black

From this reading He had cut the rough turf and bracken, leaving the grey, dryish soil bare.

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

From this reading He had cut the rough turf and bracken, leaving the grey, dryish soil bare.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading But he was worried because he could not get the path straight, there was a pleat between his brows.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.

having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions

From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.

the act of departing

From this reading He had cut the rough turf and bracken, leaving the grey, dryish soil bare.

enter into a log, as on ships and planes

From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading But he was worried because he could not get the path straight, there was a pleat between his brows.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.

a course of conduct

From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.

a coniferous tree

From this reading He had set up his sticks, and taken the sights between the big pine trees, but for some reason everything seemed wrong.

cover with planks

From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.

any of various types of fold formed by doubling fabric back upon itself and then pressing or stitching into shape

From this reading But he was worried because he could not get the path straight, there was a pleat between his brows.

inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.

a rational motive for a belief or action

From this reading He had set up his sticks, and taken the sights between the big pine trees, but for some reason everything seemed wrong.

advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status

From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.

having or caused by an irregular surface

From this reading He had cut the rough turf and bracken, leaving the grey, dryish soil bare.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading He had set up his sticks, and taken the sights between the big pine trees, but for some reason everything seemed wrong.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading He had set up his sticks, and taken the sights between the big pine trees, but for some reason everything seemed wrong.

A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.

filled with shade

From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.

an optical instrument for aiding the eye in aiming, as on a firearm or surveying instrument

From this reading He had set up his sticks, and taken the sights between the big pine trees, but for some reason everything seemed wrong.

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

From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.

the state of being covered with unclean things

From this reading He had cut the rough turf and bracken, leaving the grey, dryish soil bare.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading He had set up his sticks, and taken the sights between the big pine trees, but for some reason everything seemed wrong.

plural of “stick” — an implement consisting of a length of wood

From this reading He had set up his sticks, and taken the sights between the big pine trees, but for some reason everything seemed wrong.

successive (without a break)

From this reading But he was worried because he could not get the path straight, there was a pleat between his brows.

an intense or violent exertion

From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.

lighted by sunlight

From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading He had set up his sticks, and taken the sights between the big pine trees, but for some reason everything seemed wrong.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.

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

From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.

in or at that place or location

From this reading But he was worried because he could not get the path straight, there was a pleat between his brows.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.

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

From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.

make physical contact with, come in contact with

From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.

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 He had set up his sticks, and taken the sights between the big pine trees, but for some reason everything seemed wrong.

surface layer of ground containing a mat of grass and grass roots

From this reading He had cut the rough turf and bracken, leaving the grey, dryish soil bare.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading He had set up his sticks, and taken the sights between the big pine trees, but for some reason everything seemed wrong.

any of the Scandinavian people who raided the coasts of Europe from the 8th to the 11th centuries

From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.

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

From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.

actively engaged in paid work

From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.

afflicted with or marked by anxious uneasiness or trouble or grief

From this reading But he was worried because he could not get the path straight, there was a pleat between his brows.

not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth

From this reading He had set up his sticks, and taken the sights between the big pine trees, but for some reason everything seemed wrong.