used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was smoking a cigar, and swinging his gold-headed cane lightly as he came along.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The old verger was still pottering about the grey quadrangle, sunning himself in such glimpses of the glorious light as found their way into that shadowy place, when one of the two gentlemen who had spoken to him returned.
anew
From this reading "You may as well show me the cathedral," he said to the verger; "I shouldn't like to leave Winchester without having seen it; that is to say without having seen it again.
in the past
From this reading I was here forty years ago, when I was a boy; but I have been in India five-and-thirty years, and have seen nothing but Pagan temples."
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading He was smoking a cigar, and swinging his gold-headed cane lightly as he came along.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was smoking a cigar, and swinging his gold-headed cane lightly as he came along.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The old verger was still pottering about the grey quadrangle, sunning himself in such glimpses of the glorious light as found their way into that shadowy place, when one of the two gentlemen who had spoken to him returned.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading I was here forty years ago, when I was a boy; but I have been in India five-and-thirty years, and have seen nothing but Pagan temples."
a youthful male person
From this reading I was here forty years ago, when I was a boy; but I have been in India five-and-thirty years, and have seen nothing but Pagan temples."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I was here forty years ago, when I was a boy; but I have been in India five-and-thirty years, and have seen nothing but Pagan temples."
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He was smoking a cigar, and swinging his gold-headed cane lightly as he came along.
canenounUS /keɪn/
a stick that people can lean on to help them walk
From this reading He was smoking a cigar, and swinging his gold-headed cane lightly as he came along.
cathedralnounUS /kəˈθiːdrəl/
any large and important church
From this reading "You may as well show me the cathedral," he said to the verger; "I shouldn't like to leave Winchester without having seen it; that is to say without having seen it again.
cigarnounUS /sɪˈɡɑːr/
a roll of tobacco for smoking
From this reading He was smoking a cigar, and swinging his gold-headed cane lightly as he came along.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading HOW HENRY DUNBAR WAITED DINNER.
DUNBAR
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HOW HENRY DUNBAR WAITED DINNER.
five-and-thirty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was here forty years ago, when I was a boy; but I have been in India five-and-thirty years, and have seen nothing but Pagan temples."
fortyadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrti/
being ten more than thirty
From this reading I was here forty years ago, when I was a boy; but I have been in India five-and-thirty years, and have seen nothing but Pagan temples."
set up or found
From this reading The old verger was still pottering about the grey quadrangle, sunning himself in such glimpses of the glorious light as found their way into that shadowy place, when one of the two gentlemen who had spoken to him returned.
plural of “gentleman” — a man of refinement
From this reading The old verger was still pottering about the grey quadrangle, sunning himself in such glimpses of the glorious light as found their way into that shadowy place, when one of the two gentlemen who had spoken to him returned.
glimpsesnounUS /ˈɡlɪmpsɪz/
plural of “glimpse” — a quick look
From this reading The old verger was still pottering about the grey quadrangle, sunning himself in such glimpses of the glorious light as found their way into that shadowy place, when one of the two gentlemen who had spoken to him returned.
having or deserving or conferring glory
From this reading The old verger was still pottering about the grey quadrangle, sunning himself in such glimpses of the glorious light as found their way into that shadowy place, when one of the two gentlemen who had spoken to him returned.
gold-headed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was smoking a cigar, and swinging his gold-headed cane lightly as he came along.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading The old verger was still pottering about the grey quadrangle, sunning himself in such glimpses of the glorious light as found their way into that shadowy place, when one of the two gentlemen who had spoken to him returned.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The old verger was still pottering about the grey quadrangle, sunning himself in such glimpses of the glorious light as found their way into that shadowy place, when one of the two gentlemen who had spoken to him returned.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I was here forty years ago, when I was a boy; but I have been in India five-and-thirty years, and have seen nothing but Pagan temples."
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading "You may as well show me the cathedral," he said to the verger; "I shouldn't like to leave Winchester without having seen it; that is to say without having seen it again.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was smoking a cigar, and swinging his gold-headed cane lightly as he came along.
a unit of inductance in which an induced electromotive force of one volt is produced when the current is varied at the rate of one ampere per second
From this reading HOW HENRY DUNBAR WAITED DINNER.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading I was here forty years ago, when I was a boy; but I have been in India five-and-thirty years, and have seen nothing but Pagan temples."
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The old verger was still pottering about the grey quadrangle, sunning himself in such glimpses of the glorious light as found their way into that shadowy place, when one of the two gentlemen who had spoken to him returned.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The old verger was still pottering about the grey quadrangle, sunning himself in such glimpses of the glorious light as found their way into that shadowy place, when one of the two gentlemen who had spoken to him returned.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was smoking a cigar, and swinging his gold-headed cane lightly as he came along.
HOW
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HOW HENRY DUNBAR WAITED DINNER.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "You may as well show me the cathedral," he said to the verger; "I shouldn't like to leave Winchester without having seen it; that is to say without having seen it again.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The old verger was still pottering about the grey quadrangle, sunning himself in such glimpses of the glorious light as found their way into that shadowy place, when one of the two gentlemen who had spoken to him returned.
IndianounUS /ˈɪndiə/
a republic in the Asian subcontinent in southern Asia; second most populous country in the world; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1947
From this reading I was here forty years ago, when I was a boy; but I have been in India five-and-thirty years, and have seen nothing but Pagan temples."
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The old verger was still pottering about the grey quadrangle, sunning himself in such glimpses of the glorious light as found their way into that shadowy place, when one of the two gentlemen who had spoken to him returned.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "You may as well show me the cathedral," he said to the verger; "I shouldn't like to leave Winchester without having seen it; that is to say without having seen it again.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "You may as well show me the cathedral," he said to the verger; "I shouldn't like to leave Winchester without having seen it; that is to say without having seen it again.
go away from a place
From this reading "You may as well show me the cathedral," he said to the verger; "I shouldn't like to leave Winchester without having seen it; that is to say without having seen it again.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The old verger was still pottering about the grey quadrangle, sunning himself in such glimpses of the glorious light as found their way into that shadowy place, when one of the two gentlemen who had spoken to him returned.
without good reason
From this reading He was smoking a cigar, and swinging his gold-headed cane lightly as he came along.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "You may as well show me the cathedral," he said to the verger; "I shouldn't like to leave Winchester without having seen it; that is to say without having seen it again.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading "You may as well show me the cathedral," he said to the verger; "I shouldn't like to leave Winchester without having seen it; that is to say without having seen it again.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "You may as well show me the cathedral," he said to the verger; "I shouldn't like to leave Winchester without having seen it; that is to say without having seen it again.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading I was here forty years ago, when I was a boy; but I have been in India five-and-thirty years, and have seen nothing but Pagan temples."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The old verger was still pottering about the grey quadrangle, sunning himself in such glimpses of the glorious light as found their way into that shadowy place, when one of the two gentlemen who had spoken to him returned.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The old verger was still pottering about the grey quadrangle, sunning himself in such glimpses of the glorious light as found their way into that shadowy place, when one of the two gentlemen who had spoken to him returned.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The old verger was still pottering about the grey quadrangle, sunning himself in such glimpses of the glorious light as found their way into that shadowy place, when one of the two gentlemen who had spoken to him returned.
PagannounUS /ˈpeɪɡən/
a person who does not acknowledge your god
From this reading I was here forty years ago, when I was a boy; but I have been in India five-and-thirty years, and have seen nothing but Pagan temples."
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The old verger was still pottering about the grey quadrangle, sunning himself in such glimpses of the glorious light as found their way into that shadowy place, when one of the two gentlemen who had spoken to him returned.
pottering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old verger was still pottering about the grey quadrangle, sunning himself in such glimpses of the glorious light as found their way into that shadowy place, when one of the two gentlemen who had spoken to him returned.
quadranglenoun
a four-sided polygon
From this reading The old verger was still pottering about the grey quadrangle, sunning himself in such glimpses of the glorious light as found their way into that shadowy place, when one of the two gentlemen who had spoken to him returned.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading The old verger was still pottering about the grey quadrangle, sunning himself in such glimpses of the glorious light as found their way into that shadowy place, when one of the two gentlemen who had spoken to him returned.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "You may as well show me the cathedral," he said to the verger; "I shouldn't like to leave Winchester without having seen it; that is to say without having seen it again.
express in words
From this reading "You may as well show me the cathedral," he said to the verger; "I shouldn't like to leave Winchester without having seen it; that is to say without having seen it again.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "You may as well show me the cathedral," he said to the verger; "I shouldn't like to leave Winchester without having seen it; that is to say without having seen it again.
shadowyadjectiveUS /ˈʃædoʊi/
filled with shade
From this reading The old verger was still pottering about the grey quadrangle, sunning himself in such glimpses of the glorious light as found their way into that shadowy place, when one of the two gentlemen who had spoken to him returned.
shouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You may as well show me the cathedral," he said to the verger; "I shouldn't like to leave Winchester without having seen it; that is to say without having seen it again.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading "You may as well show me the cathedral," he said to the verger; "I shouldn't like to leave Winchester without having seen it; that is to say without having seen it again.
the act of smoking tobacco or other substances
From this reading He was smoking a cigar, and swinging his gold-headed cane lightly as he came along.
uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination
From this reading The old verger was still pottering about the grey quadrangle, sunning himself in such glimpses of the glorious light as found their way into that shadowy place, when one of the two gentlemen who had spoken to him returned.
not in physical motion
From this reading The old verger was still pottering about the grey quadrangle, sunning himself in such glimpses of the glorious light as found their way into that shadowy place, when one of the two gentlemen who had spoken to him returned.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The old verger was still pottering about the grey quadrangle, sunning himself in such glimpses of the glorious light as found their way into that shadowy place, when one of the two gentlemen who had spoken to him returned.
sunningverbUS /ˈsʌnɪŋ/
inflected form of “sun” — expose one's body to the sun
From this reading The old verger was still pottering about the grey quadrangle, sunning himself in such glimpses of the glorious light as found their way into that shadowy place, when one of the two gentlemen who had spoken to him returned.
swingingnounUS /ˈswɪŋɪŋ/
changing location by moving back and forth
From this reading He was smoking a cigar, and swinging his gold-headed cane lightly as he came along.
templesnounUS /ˈtempəlz/
plural of “temple” — place of worship consisting of an edifice for the worship of a deity
From this reading I was here forty years ago, when I was a boy; but I have been in India five-and-thirty years, and have seen nothing but Pagan temples."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The old verger was still pottering about the grey quadrangle, sunning himself in such glimpses of the glorious light as found their way into that shadowy place, when one of the two gentlemen who had spoken to him returned.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The old verger was still pottering about the grey quadrangle, sunning himself in such glimpses of the glorious light as found their way into that shadowy place, when one of the two gentlemen who had spoken to him returned.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The old verger was still pottering about the grey quadrangle, sunning himself in such glimpses of the glorious light as found their way into that shadowy place, when one of the two gentlemen who had spoken to him returned.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The old verger was still pottering about the grey quadrangle, sunning himself in such glimpses of the glorious light as found their way into that shadowy place, when one of the two gentlemen who had spoken to him returned.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The old verger was still pottering about the grey quadrangle, sunning himself in such glimpses of the glorious light as found their way into that shadowy place, when one of the two gentlemen who had spoken to him returned.
vergernoun
a church officer who takes care of the interior of the building and acts as an attendant (carries the verge) during ceremonies
From this reading The old verger was still pottering about the grey quadrangle, sunning himself in such glimpses of the glorious light as found their way into that shadowy place, when one of the two gentlemen who had spoken to him returned.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading HOW HENRY DUNBAR WAITED DINNER.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The old verger was still pottering about the grey quadrangle, sunning himself in such glimpses of the glorious light as found their way into that shadowy place, when one of the two gentlemen who had spoken to him returned.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The old verger was still pottering about the grey quadrangle, sunning himself in such glimpses of the glorious light as found their way into that shadowy place, when one of the two gentlemen who had spoken to him returned.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading "You may as well show me the cathedral," he said to the verger; "I shouldn't like to leave Winchester without having seen it; that is to say without having seen it again.
at the time that
From this reading The old verger was still pottering about the grey quadrangle, sunning himself in such glimpses of the glorious light as found their way into that shadowy place, when one of the two gentlemen who had spoken to him returned.
which person or people
From this reading The old verger was still pottering about the grey quadrangle, sunning himself in such glimpses of the glorious light as found their way into that shadowy place, when one of the two gentlemen who had spoken to him returned.
WinchesternounUS /ˈwɪntʃestər/
a city in southern England; administrative center of Hampshire
From this reading "You may as well show me the cathedral," he said to the verger; "I shouldn't like to leave Winchester without having seen it; that is to say without having seen it again.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading "You may as well show me the cathedral," he said to the verger; "I shouldn't like to leave Winchester without having seen it; that is to say without having seen it again.
a late time of life
From this reading I was here forty years ago, when I was a boy; but I have been in India five-and-thirty years, and have seen nothing but Pagan temples."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You may as well show me the cathedral," he said to the verger; "I shouldn't like to leave Winchester without having seen it; that is to say without having seen it again.
