used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A STRANGE INTERVIEW The sun had gone down behind a bank of angry, leaden-coloured clouds, which were fast spreading over the whole surface of the sky.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading It stood, or rather leaned, against one side of a sharp slope in the moor, and fifty yards from the rude sheep-track which did duty as a road, and even in the daytime there was no other human habitation within sight, or any sign of one.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Only here and there a stunted, half-grown, and leafless oak-tree stretched out its naked branches towards the darkening sky, and within a yard or two of me there was a miserable apology for a cottage.
angryadjectiveUS /ˈæŋɡri/
feeling or showing anger
From this reading A STRANGE INTERVIEW The sun had gone down behind a bank of angry, leaden-coloured clouds, which were fast spreading over the whole surface of the sky.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading It stood, or rather leaned, against one side of a sharp slope in the moor, and fifty yards from the rude sheep-track which did duty as a road, and even in the daytime there was no other human habitation within sight, or any sign of one.
any thing at all
From this reading No one, save they had known otherwise, would have taken it for anything but a cowshed of the rudest form.
apologynounUS /əˈpɑːlədʒiː/
an expression of regret at having caused trouble for someone
From this reading Only here and there a stunted, half-grown, and leafless oak-tree stretched out its naked branches towards the darkening sky, and within a yard or two of me there was a miserable apology for a cottage.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It stood, or rather leaned, against one side of a sharp slope in the moor, and fifty yards from the rude sheep-track which did duty as a road, and even in the daytime there was no other human habitation within sight, or any sign of one.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading A STRANGE INTERVIEW The sun had gone down behind a bank of angry, leaden-coloured clouds, which were fast spreading over the whole surface of the sky.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was built of boards dipped in black tar, windowless, chimneyless, save for a hole in the roof through which a small piece of dilapidated stove piping had been thrust, and without the merest pretence of a garden.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading A STRANGE INTERVIEW The sun had gone down behind a bank of angry, leaden-coloured clouds, which were fast spreading over the whole surface of the sky.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading It was built of boards dipped in black tar, windowless, chimneyless, save for a hole in the roof through which a small piece of dilapidated stove piping had been thrust, and without the merest pretence of a garden.
boardsnounUS /bɔːrdz/
(used in the plural) the stage of a theater
From this reading It was built of boards dipped in black tar, windowless, chimneyless, save for a hole in the roof through which a small piece of dilapidated stove piping had been thrust, and without the merest pretence of a garden.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading Only here and there a stunted, half-grown, and leafless oak-tree stretched out its naked branches towards the darkening sky, and within a yard or two of me there was a miserable apology for a cottage.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading It was built of boards dipped in black tar, windowless, chimneyless, save for a hole in the roof through which a small piece of dilapidated stove piping had been thrust, and without the merest pretence of a garden.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading No one, save they had known otherwise, would have taken it for anything but a cowshed of the rudest form.
chimneyless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was built of boards dipped in black tar, windowless, chimneyless, save for a hole in the roof through which a small piece of dilapidated stove piping had been thrust, and without the merest pretence of a garden.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading A STRANGE INTERVIEW The sun had gone down behind a bank of angry, leaden-coloured clouds, which were fast spreading over the whole surface of the sky.
a small house with a single story
From this reading Only here and there a stunted, half-grown, and leafless oak-tree stretched out its naked branches towards the darkening sky, and within a yard or two of me there was a miserable apology for a cottage.
cowshednoun
a barn for cows
From this reading No one, save they had known otherwise, would have taken it for anything but a cowshed of the rudest form.
darkeningadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːrkənɪŋ/
becoming dark or darker as from waning light or clouding over
From this reading Only here and there a stunted, half-grown, and leafless oak-tree stretched out its naked branches towards the darkening sky, and within a yard or two of me there was a miserable apology for a cottage.
daytimenounUS /ˈdeɪtaɪm/
the time after sunrise and before sunset while it is light outside
From this reading It stood, or rather leaned, against one side of a sharp slope in the moor, and fifty yards from the rude sheep-track which did duty as a road, and even in the daytime there was no other human habitation within sight, or any sign of one.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It stood, or rather leaned, against one side of a sharp slope in the moor, and fifty yards from the rude sheep-track which did duty as a road, and even in the daytime there was no other human habitation within sight, or any sign of one.
dilapidatedadjectiveUS /dəˈlæpədeɪtɪd/
in deplorable condition
From this reading It was built of boards dipped in black tar, windowless, chimneyless, save for a hole in the roof through which a small piece of dilapidated stove piping had been thrust, and without the merest pretence of a garden.
dippedadjectiveUS /dɪpt/
having abnormal sagging of the spine (especially in horses)
From this reading It was built of boards dipped in black tar, windowless, chimneyless, save for a hole in the roof through which a small piece of dilapidated stove piping had been thrust, and without the merest pretence of a garden.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading A STRANGE INTERVIEW The sun had gone down behind a bank of angry, leaden-coloured clouds, which were fast spreading over the whole surface of the sky.
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading It stood, or rather leaned, against one side of a sharp slope in the moor, and fifty yards from the rude sheep-track which did duty as a road, and even in the daytime there was no other human habitation within sight, or any sign of one.
divisible by two
From this reading It stood, or rather leaned, against one side of a sharp slope in the moor, and fifty yards from the rude sheep-track which did duty as a road, and even in the daytime there was no other human habitation within sight, or any sign of one.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading A STRANGE INTERVIEW The sun had gone down behind a bank of angry, leaden-coloured clouds, which were fast spreading over the whole surface of the sky.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and five
From this reading It stood, or rather leaned, against one side of a sharp slope in the moor, and fifty yards from the rude sheep-track which did duty as a road, and even in the daytime there was no other human habitation within sight, or any sign of one.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Only here and there a stunted, half-grown, and leafless oak-tree stretched out its naked branches towards the darkening sky, and within a yard or two of me there was a miserable apology for a cottage.
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading No one, save they had known otherwise, would have taken it for anything but a cowshed of the rudest form.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It stood, or rather leaned, against one side of a sharp slope in the moor, and fifty yards from the rude sheep-track which did duty as a road, and even in the daytime there was no other human habitation within sight, or any sign of one.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading It was built of boards dipped in black tar, windowless, chimneyless, save for a hole in the roof through which a small piece of dilapidated stove piping had been thrust, and without the merest pretence of a garden.
destroyed or killed
From this reading A STRANGE INTERVIEW The sun had gone down behind a bank of angry, leaden-coloured clouds, which were fast spreading over the whole surface of the sky.
habitationnounUS /ˌhæbəˈteɪʃən/
the native habitat or home of an animal or plant
From this reading It stood, or rather leaned, against one side of a sharp slope in the moor, and fifty yards from the rude sheep-track which did duty as a road, and even in the daytime there was no other human habitation within sight, or any sign of one.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A STRANGE INTERVIEW The sun had gone down behind a bank of angry, leaden-coloured clouds, which were fast spreading over the whole surface of the sky.
half-grown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only here and there a stunted, half-grown, and leafless oak-tree stretched out its naked branches towards the darkening sky, and within a yard or two of me there was a miserable apology for a cottage.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading No one, save they had known otherwise, would have taken it for anything but a cowshed of the rudest form.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Only here and there a stunted, half-grown, and leafless oak-tree stretched out its naked branches towards the darkening sky, and within a yard or two of me there was a miserable apology for a cottage.
an opening into or through something
From this reading It was built of boards dipped in black tar, windowless, chimneyless, save for a hole in the roof through which a small piece of dilapidated stove piping had been thrust, and without the merest pretence of a garden.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading It stood, or rather leaned, against one side of a sharp slope in the moor, and fifty yards from the rude sheep-track which did duty as a road, and even in the daytime there was no other human habitation within sight, or any sign of one.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was built of boards dipped in black tar, windowless, chimneyless, save for a hole in the roof through which a small piece of dilapidated stove piping had been thrust, and without the merest pretence of a garden.
conduct an interview in television, newspaper, and radio reporting
From this reading A STRANGE INTERVIEW The sun had gone down behind a bank of angry, leaden-coloured clouds, which were fast spreading over the whole surface of the sky.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading No one, save they had known otherwise, would have taken it for anything but a cowshed of the rudest form.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Only here and there a stunted, half-grown, and leafless oak-tree stretched out its naked branches towards the darkening sky, and within a yard or two of me there was a miserable apology for a cottage.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading No one, save they had known otherwise, would have taken it for anything but a cowshed of the rudest form.
leaden-coloured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A STRANGE INTERVIEW The sun had gone down behind a bank of angry, leaden-coloured clouds, which were fast spreading over the whole surface of the sky.
leaflessadjectiveUS /ˈliːfləs/
having no leaves
From this reading Only here and there a stunted, half-grown, and leafless oak-tree stretched out its naked branches towards the darkening sky, and within a yard or two of me there was a miserable apology for a cottage.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading It stood, or rather leaned, against one side of a sharp slope in the moor, and fifty yards from the rude sheep-track which did duty as a road, and even in the daytime there was no other human habitation within sight, or any sign of one.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Only here and there a stunted, half-grown, and leafless oak-tree stretched out its naked branches towards the darkening sky, and within a yard or two of me there was a miserable apology for a cottage.
merestadjectiveUS /ˈmerəst/
superlative of “mere” — being nothing more than specified
From this reading It was built of boards dipped in black tar, windowless, chimneyless, save for a hole in the roof through which a small piece of dilapidated stove piping had been thrust, and without the merest pretence of a garden.
very unhappy; full of misery
From this reading Only here and there a stunted, half-grown, and leafless oak-tree stretched out its naked branches towards the darkening sky, and within a yard or two of me there was a miserable apology for a cottage.
moorverbUS /mʊr/
secure in or as if in a berth or dock
From this reading It stood, or rather leaned, against one side of a sharp slope in the moor, and fifty yards from the rude sheep-track which did duty as a road, and even in the daytime there was no other human habitation within sight, or any sign of one.
nakedadjectiveUS /ˈneɪkəd/
completely unclothed
From this reading Only here and there a stunted, half-grown, and leafless oak-tree stretched out its naked branches towards the darkening sky, and within a yard or two of me there was a miserable apology for a cottage.
not any; not one
From this reading No one, save they had known otherwise, would have taken it for anything but a cowshed of the rudest form.
oak-tree
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only here and there a stunted, half-grown, and leafless oak-tree stretched out its naked branches towards the darkening sky, and within a yard or two of me there was a miserable apology for a cottage.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A STRANGE INTERVIEW The sun had gone down behind a bank of angry, leaden-coloured clouds, which were fast spreading over the whole surface of the sky.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading No one, save they had known otherwise, would have taken it for anything but a cowshed of the rudest form.
and nothing more
From this reading Only here and there a stunted, half-grown, and leafless oak-tree stretched out its naked branches towards the darkening sky, and within a yard or two of me there was a miserable apology for a cottage.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Only here and there a stunted, half-grown, and leafless oak-tree stretched out its naked branches towards the darkening sky, and within a yard or two of me there was a miserable apology for a cottage.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading It stood, or rather leaned, against one side of a sharp slope in the moor, and fifty yards from the rude sheep-track which did duty as a road, and even in the daytime there was no other human habitation within sight, or any sign of one.
in other respects or ways
From this reading No one, save they had known otherwise, would have taken it for anything but a cowshed of the rudest form.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Only here and there a stunted, half-grown, and leafless oak-tree stretched out its naked branches towards the darkening sky, and within a yard or two of me there was a miserable apology for a cottage.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading A STRANGE INTERVIEW The sun had gone down behind a bank of angry, leaden-coloured clouds, which were fast spreading over the whole surface of the sky.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading It was built of boards dipped in black tar, windowless, chimneyless, save for a hole in the roof through which a small piece of dilapidated stove piping had been thrust, and without the merest pretence of a garden.
pipingnounUS /ˈpaɪpɪŋ/
a thin strip of covered cord used to edge hems
From this reading It was built of boards dipped in black tar, windowless, chimneyless, save for a hole in the roof through which a small piece of dilapidated stove piping had been thrust, and without the merest pretence of a garden.
pretencenoun
a false or unsupportable quality
From this reading It was built of boards dipped in black tar, windowless, chimneyless, save for a hole in the roof through which a small piece of dilapidated stove piping had been thrust, and without the merest pretence of a garden.
on the contrary
From this reading It stood, or rather leaned, against one side of a sharp slope in the moor, and fifty yards from the rude sheep-track which did duty as a road, and even in the daytime there was no other human habitation within sight, or any sign of one.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading It stood, or rather leaned, against one side of a sharp slope in the moor, and fifty yards from the rude sheep-track which did duty as a road, and even in the daytime there was no other human habitation within sight, or any sign of one.
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading It was built of boards dipped in black tar, windowless, chimneyless, save for a hole in the roof through which a small piece of dilapidated stove piping had been thrust, and without the merest pretence of a garden.
socially incorrect in behavior
From this reading It stood, or rather leaned, against one side of a sharp slope in the moor, and fifty yards from the rude sheep-track which did duty as a road, and even in the daytime there was no other human habitation within sight, or any sign of one.
rudestadjectiveUS /ˈruːdəst/
superlative of “rude” — socially incorrect in behavior
From this reading No one, save they had known otherwise, would have taken it for anything but a cowshed of the rudest form.
except for; apart from
From this reading No one, save they had known otherwise, would have taken it for anything but a cowshed of the rudest form.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading It stood, or rather leaned, against one side of a sharp slope in the moor, and fifty yards from the rude sheep-track which did duty as a road, and even in the daytime there was no other human habitation within sight, or any sign of one.
sheep-track
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It stood, or rather leaned, against one side of a sharp slope in the moor, and fifty yards from the rude sheep-track which did duty as a road, and even in the daytime there was no other human habitation within sight, or any sign of one.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading It stood, or rather leaned, against one side of a sharp slope in the moor, and fifty yards from the rude sheep-track which did duty as a road, and even in the daytime there was no other human habitation within sight, or any sign of one.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading It stood, or rather leaned, against one side of a sharp slope in the moor, and fifty yards from the rude sheep-track which did duty as a road, and even in the daytime there was no other human habitation within sight, or any sign of one.
a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading It stood, or rather leaned, against one side of a sharp slope in the moor, and fifty yards from the rude sheep-track which did duty as a road, and even in the daytime there was no other human habitation within sight, or any sign of one.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading A STRANGE INTERVIEW The sun had gone down behind a bank of angry, leaden-coloured clouds, which were fast spreading over the whole surface of the sky.
an elevated geological formation
From this reading It stood, or rather leaned, against one side of a sharp slope in the moor, and fifty yards from the rude sheep-track which did duty as a road, and even in the daytime there was no other human habitation within sight, or any sign of one.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was built of boards dipped in black tar, windowless, chimneyless, save for a hole in the roof through which a small piece of dilapidated stove piping had been thrust, and without the merest pretence of a garden.
spreadingnounUS /ˈspredɪŋ/
process or result of distributing or extending over a wide expanse of space
From this reading A STRANGE INTERVIEW The sun had gone down behind a bank of angry, leaden-coloured clouds, which were fast spreading over the whole surface of the sky.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading It stood, or rather leaned, against one side of a sharp slope in the moor, and fifty yards from the rude sheep-track which did duty as a road, and even in the daytime there was no other human habitation within sight, or any sign of one.
stovenounUS /stoʊv/
a kitchen appliance used for cooking food
From this reading It was built of boards dipped in black tar, windowless, chimneyless, save for a hole in the roof through which a small piece of dilapidated stove piping had been thrust, and without the merest pretence of a garden.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading A STRANGE INTERVIEW The sun had gone down behind a bank of angry, leaden-coloured clouds, which were fast spreading over the whole surface of the sky.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading Only here and there a stunted, half-grown, and leafless oak-tree stretched out its naked branches towards the darkening sky, and within a yard or two of me there was a miserable apology for a cottage.
stuntedadjectiveUS /ˈstʌntɪd/
inferior in size or quality
From this reading Only here and there a stunted, half-grown, and leafless oak-tree stretched out its naked branches towards the darkening sky, and within a yard or two of me there was a miserable apology for a cottage.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading A STRANGE INTERVIEW The sun had gone down behind a bank of angry, leaden-coloured clouds, which were fast spreading over the whole surface of the sky.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading A STRANGE INTERVIEW The sun had gone down behind a bank of angry, leaden-coloured clouds, which were fast spreading over the whole surface of the sky.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading No one, save they had known otherwise, would have taken it for anything but a cowshed of the rudest form.
tarnounUS /tɑːr/
any of various dark heavy viscid substances obtained as a residue
From this reading It was built of boards dipped in black tar, windowless, chimneyless, save for a hole in the roof through which a small piece of dilapidated stove piping had been thrust, and without the merest pretence of a garden.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A STRANGE INTERVIEW The sun had gone down behind a bank of angry, leaden-coloured clouds, which were fast spreading over the whole surface of the sky.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Only here and there a stunted, half-grown, and leafless oak-tree stretched out its naked branches towards the darkening sky, and within a yard or two of me there was a miserable apology for a cottage.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading No one, save they had known otherwise, would have taken it for anything but a cowshed of the rudest form.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading It was built of boards dipped in black tar, windowless, chimneyless, save for a hole in the roof through which a small piece of dilapidated stove piping had been thrust, and without the merest pretence of a garden.
push forcefully
From this reading It was built of boards dipped in black tar, windowless, chimneyless, save for a hole in the roof through which a small piece of dilapidated stove piping had been thrust, and without the merest pretence of a garden.
in the direction of
From this reading Only here and there a stunted, half-grown, and leafless oak-tree stretched out its naked branches towards the darkening sky, and within a yard or two of me there was a miserable apology for a cottage.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Only here and there a stunted, half-grown, and leafless oak-tree stretched out its naked branches towards the darkening sky, and within a yard or two of me there was a miserable apology for a cottage.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Only here and there a stunted, half-grown, and leafless oak-tree stretched out its naked branches towards the darkening sky, and within a yard or two of me there was a miserable apology for a cottage.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A STRANGE INTERVIEW The sun had gone down behind a bank of angry, leaden-coloured clouds, which were fast spreading over the whole surface of the sky.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A STRANGE INTERVIEW The sun had gone down behind a bank of angry, leaden-coloured clouds, which were fast spreading over the whole surface of the sky.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading A STRANGE INTERVIEW The sun had gone down behind a bank of angry, leaden-coloured clouds, which were fast spreading over the whole surface of the sky.
windowless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was built of boards dipped in black tar, windowless, chimneyless, save for a hole in the roof through which a small piece of dilapidated stove piping had been thrust, and without the merest pretence of a garden.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Only here and there a stunted, half-grown, and leafless oak-tree stretched out its naked branches towards the darkening sky, and within a yard or two of me there was a miserable apology for a cottage.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading It was built of boards dipped in black tar, windowless, chimneyless, save for a hole in the roof through which a small piece of dilapidated stove piping had been thrust, and without the merest pretence of a garden.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading No one, save they had known otherwise, would have taken it for anything but a cowshed of the rudest form.
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading Only here and there a stunted, half-grown, and leafless oak-tree stretched out its naked branches towards the darkening sky, and within a yard or two of me there was a miserable apology for a cottage.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading It stood, or rather leaned, against one side of a sharp slope in the moor, and fifty yards from the rude sheep-track which did duty as a road, and even in the daytime there was no other human habitation within sight, or any sign of one.
