used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Down on the bank a little child He found,--a piteous sight,-- Who, weeping, earnestly implored To cross that very night.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The third time came the plaintive voice, Like infant’s, soft and weak;
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading But as the water closed around His knees, the infant’s weight Grew heavier and heavier, Until it was so great The giant scarce could stand upright, His staff shook in his hand, His mighty knees bent under him, He barely reached the land.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading With gruff good-will he picked him up, And on his neck to ride He tossed him, as men play with babes, And plunged into the tide.
babesnounUS /beɪbz/
plural of “babe” — a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
From this reading With gruff good-will he picked him up, And on his neck to ride He tossed him, as men play with babes, And plunged into the tide.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading Down on the bank a little child He found,--a piteous sight,-- Who, weeping, earnestly implored To cross that very night.
barelyadverbUS /ˈberli/
only a very short time before
From this reading But as the water closed around His knees, the infant’s weight Grew heavier and heavier, Until it was so great The giant scarce could stand upright, His staff shook in his hand, His mighty knees bent under him, He barely reached the land.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading But as the water closed around His knees, the infant’s weight Grew heavier and heavier, Until it was so great The giant scarce could stand upright, His staff shook in his hand, His mighty knees bent under him, He barely reached the land.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But as the water closed around His knees, the infant’s weight Grew heavier and heavier, Until it was so great The giant scarce could stand upright, His staff shook in his hand, His mighty knees bent under him, He barely reached the land.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The third time came the plaintive voice, Like infant’s, soft and weak;
taking care or paying attention
From this reading With lantern strode the giant forth, More carefully to seek.
a young person of either sex
From this reading Down on the bank a little child He found,--a piteous sight,-- Who, weeping, earnestly implored To cross that very night.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading But as the water closed around His knees, the infant’s weight Grew heavier and heavier, Until it was so great The giant scarce could stand upright, His staff shook in his hand, His mighty knees bent under him, He barely reached the land.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But as the water closed around His knees, the infant’s weight Grew heavier and heavier, Until it was so great The giant scarce could stand upright, His staff shook in his hand, His mighty knees bent under him, He barely reached the land.
travel across or pass over
From this reading Down on the bank a little child He found,--a piteous sight,-- Who, weeping, earnestly implored To cross that very night.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Down on the bank a little child He found,--a piteous sight,-- Who, weeping, earnestly implored To cross that very night.
in a serious manner
From this reading Down on the bank a little child He found,--a piteous sight,-- Who, weeping, earnestly implored To cross that very night.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading With lantern strode the giant forth, More carefully to seek.
set up or found
From this reading Down on the bank a little child He found,--a piteous sight,-- Who, weeping, earnestly implored To cross that very night.
any creature of exceptional size
From this reading With lantern strode the giant forth, More carefully to seek.
good-will
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With gruff good-will he picked him up, And on his neck to ride He tossed him, as men play with babes, And plunged into the tide.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading But as the water closed around His knees, the infant’s weight Grew heavier and heavier, Until it was so great The giant scarce could stand upright, His staff shook in his hand, His mighty knees bent under him, He barely reached the land.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading But as the water closed around His knees, the infant’s weight Grew heavier and heavier, Until it was so great The giant scarce could stand upright, His staff shook in his hand, His mighty knees bent under him, He barely reached the land.
gruffadjectiveUS /ɡrʌf/
brusque and surly and forbidding
From this reading With gruff good-will he picked him up, And on his neck to ride He tossed him, as men play with babes, And plunged into the tide.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading But as the water closed around His knees, the infant’s weight Grew heavier and heavier, Until it was so great The giant scarce could stand upright, His staff shook in his hand, His mighty knees bent under him, He barely reached the land.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Down on the bank a little child He found,--a piteous sight,-- Who, weeping, earnestly implored To cross that very night.
heavieradjectiveUS /ˈheviər/
comparative of “heavy” — of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading But as the water closed around His knees, the infant’s weight Grew heavier and heavier, Until it was so great The giant scarce could stand upright, His staff shook in his hand, His mighty knees bent under him, He barely reached the land.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading With gruff good-will he picked him up, And on his neck to ride He tossed him, as men play with babes, And plunged into the tide.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading With gruff good-will he picked him up, And on his neck to ride He tossed him, as men play with babes, And plunged into the tide.
imploredverbUS /ˌɪmˈplɔːrd/
past form of “implore” — call upon in supplication; entreat
From this reading Down on the bank a little child He found,--a piteous sight,-- Who, weeping, earnestly implored To cross that very night.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But as the water closed around His knees, the infant’s weight Grew heavier and heavier, Until it was so great The giant scarce could stand upright, His staff shook in his hand, His mighty knees bent under him, He barely reached the land.
infant'snounUS /ˈɪnfənts/
possessive form of “infant” — a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
From this reading The third time came the plaintive voice, Like infant’s, soft and weak;
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading With gruff good-will he picked him up, And on his neck to ride He tossed him, as men play with babes, And plunged into the tide.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But as the water closed around His knees, the infant’s weight Grew heavier and heavier, Until it was so great The giant scarce could stand upright, His staff shook in his hand, His mighty knees bent under him, He barely reached the land.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading But as the water closed around His knees, the infant’s weight Grew heavier and heavier, Until it was so great The giant scarce could stand upright, His staff shook in his hand, His mighty knees bent under him, He barely reached the land.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading But as the water closed around His knees, the infant’s weight Grew heavier and heavier, Until it was so great The giant scarce could stand upright, His staff shook in his hand, His mighty knees bent under him, He barely reached the land.
lanternnounUS /ˈlæntərn/
light in a transparent protective case
From this reading With lantern strode the giant forth, More carefully to seek.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The third time came the plaintive voice, Like infant’s, soft and weak;
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Down on the bank a little child He found,--a piteous sight,-- Who, weeping, earnestly implored To cross that very night.
the force of workers available
From this reading With gruff good-will he picked him up, And on his neck to ride He tossed him, as men play with babes, And plunged into the tide.
having or showing great strength or force or intensity
From this reading But as the water closed around His knees, the infant’s weight Grew heavier and heavier, Until it was so great The giant scarce could stand upright, His staff shook in his hand, His mighty knees bent under him, He barely reached the land.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading With lantern strode the giant forth, More carefully to seek.
the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
From this reading With gruff good-will he picked him up, And on his neck to ride He tossed him, as men play with babes, And plunged into the tide.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Down on the bank a little child He found,--a piteous sight,-- Who, weeping, earnestly implored To cross that very night.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Down on the bank a little child He found,--a piteous sight,-- Who, weeping, earnestly implored To cross that very night.
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading With gruff good-will he picked him up, And on his neck to ride He tossed him, as men play with babes, And plunged into the tide.
piteousadjective
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading Down on the bank a little child He found,--a piteous sight,-- Who, weeping, earnestly implored To cross that very night.
plaintiveadjectiveUS /ˈpleɪntɪv/
expressing sorrow
From this reading The third time came the plaintive voice, Like infant’s, soft and weak;
participate in games or sport
From this reading With gruff good-will he picked him up, And on his neck to ride He tossed him, as men play with babes, And plunged into the tide.
past form of “plunge” — thrust or throw into
From this reading With gruff good-will he picked him up, And on his neck to ride He tossed him, as men play with babes, And plunged into the tide.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading But as the water closed around His knees, the infant’s weight Grew heavier and heavier, Until it was so great The giant scarce could stand upright, His staff shook in his hand, His mighty knees bent under him, He barely reached the land.
sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading With gruff good-will he picked him up, And on his neck to ride He tossed him, as men play with babes, And plunged into the tide.
only a very short time before
From this reading But as the water closed around His knees, the infant’s weight Grew heavier and heavier, Until it was so great The giant scarce could stand upright, His staff shook in his hand, His mighty knees bent under him, He barely reached the land.
try to get or reach
From this reading With lantern strode the giant forth, More carefully to seek.
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading But as the water closed around His knees, the infant’s weight Grew heavier and heavier, Until it was so great The giant scarce could stand upright, His staff shook in his hand, His mighty knees bent under him, He barely reached the land.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading Down on the bank a little child He found,--a piteous sight,-- Who, weeping, earnestly implored To cross that very night.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But as the water closed around His knees, the infant’s weight Grew heavier and heavier, Until it was so great The giant scarce could stand upright, His staff shook in his hand, His mighty knees bent under him, He barely reached the land.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading The third time came the plaintive voice, Like infant’s, soft and weak;
staffnounUS /stæf/
personnel who assist their superior in carrying out an assigned task
From this reading But as the water closed around His knees, the infant’s weight Grew heavier and heavier, Until it was so great The giant scarce could stand upright, His staff shook in his hand, His mighty knees bent under him, He barely reached the land.
be standing; be upright
From this reading But as the water closed around His knees, the infant’s weight Grew heavier and heavier, Until it was so great The giant scarce could stand upright, His staff shook in his hand, His mighty knees bent under him, He barely reached the land.
strodeverbUS /stroʊd/
inflected form of “stride” — walk with long steps
From this reading With lantern strode the giant forth, More carefully to seek.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Down on the bank a little child He found,--a piteous sight,-- Who, weeping, earnestly implored To cross that very night.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The third time came the plaintive voice, Like infant’s, soft and weak;
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading The third time came the plaintive voice, Like infant’s, soft and weak;
the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon
From this reading With gruff good-will he picked him up, And on his neck to ride He tossed him, as men play with babes, And plunged into the tide.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The third time came the plaintive voice, Like infant’s, soft and weak;
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading With lantern strode the giant forth, More carefully to seek.
tossedverbUS /tɔːst/
past form of “toss” — throw or toss with a light motion
From this reading With gruff good-will he picked him up, And on his neck to ride He tossed him, as men play with babes, And plunged into the tide.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading But as the water closed around His knees, the infant’s weight Grew heavier and heavier, Until it was so great The giant scarce could stand upright, His staff shook in his hand, His mighty knees bent under him, He barely reached the land.
UntilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading But as the water closed around His knees, the infant’s weight Grew heavier and heavier, Until it was so great The giant scarce could stand upright, His staff shook in his hand, His mighty knees bent under him, He barely reached the land.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading With gruff good-will he picked him up, And on his neck to ride He tossed him, as men play with babes, And plunged into the tide.
uprightadjectiveUS /əˈpraɪt/
in a vertical position; not sloping
From this reading But as the water closed around His knees, the infant’s weight Grew heavier and heavier, Until it was so great The giant scarce could stand upright, His staff shook in his hand, His mighty knees bent under him, He barely reached the land.
precisely as stated
From this reading Down on the bank a little child He found,--a piteous sight,-- Who, weeping, earnestly implored To cross that very night.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading The third time came the plaintive voice, Like infant’s, soft and weak;
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But as the water closed around His knees, the infant’s weight Grew heavier and heavier, Until it was so great The giant scarce could stand upright, His staff shook in his hand, His mighty knees bent under him, He barely reached the land.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading But as the water closed around His knees, the infant’s weight Grew heavier and heavier, Until it was so great The giant scarce could stand upright, His staff shook in his hand, His mighty knees bent under him, He barely reached the land.
wanting in physical strength
From this reading The third time came the plaintive voice, Like infant’s, soft and weak;
showing sorrow
From this reading Down on the bank a little child He found,--a piteous sight,-- Who, weeping, earnestly implored To cross that very night.
the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity
From this reading But as the water closed around His knees, the infant’s weight Grew heavier and heavier, Until it was so great The giant scarce could stand upright, His staff shook in his hand, His mighty knees bent under him, He barely reached the land.
which person or people
From this reading Down on the bank a little child He found,--a piteous sight,-- Who, weeping, earnestly implored To cross that very night.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With lantern strode the giant forth, More carefully to seek.
