Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

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

From this reading Hilda left the road, with a trace of its red dust on the hem of her skirt, and struck out into the Maidan.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading It was like a great English park, with something of the village common, only the trees, for the most part, made avenues over it, running an arbitrary half-mile this way or that, with here and there a group dotted about in the open; and the brimming tank-ponds were of India and of nowhere else in the world.

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading The light struck on the stuccoed upper verandahs of the houses in Chowringhee which made behind their gardens the other border, and seemed to push them back, to underline their scattered insignificance, hinting that the Maidan at its pleasure might surge over them altogether.

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

From this reading It was like a great English park, with something of the village common, only the trees, for the most part, made avenues over it, running an arbitrary half-mile this way or that, with here and there a group dotted about in the open; and the brimming tank-ponds were of India and of nowhere else in the world.

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

From this reading Hilda left the road, with a trace of its red dust on the hem of her skirt, and struck out into the Maidan.

based on or subject to individual discretion or preference or sometimes impulse or caprice

From this reading It was like a great English park, with something of the village common, only the trees, for the most part, made avenues over it, running an arbitrary half-mile this way or that, with here and there a group dotted about in the open; and the brimming tank-ponds were of India and of nowhere else in the world.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The light struck on the stuccoed upper verandahs of the houses in Chowringhee which made behind their gardens the other border, and seemed to push them back, to underline their scattered insignificance, hinting that the Maidan at its pleasure might surge over them altogether.

plural of “avenue” — a line of approach

From this reading It was like a great English park, with something of the village common, only the trees, for the most part, made avenues over it, running an arbitrary half-mile this way or that, with here and there a group dotted about in the open; and the brimming tank-ponds were of India and of nowhere else in the world.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading The light struck on the stuccoed upper verandahs of the houses in Chowringhee which made behind their gardens the other border, and seemed to push them back, to underline their scattered insignificance, hinting that the Maidan at its pleasure might surge over them altogether.

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

From this reading The sun was dipping behind the masts that showed where the straight border of the river ran, and the shadows of the pipals and the banyans were richly purple over the roads.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading It spread before her green where the slanting sun searched through the short blades, brown and yellow in the distance, where the light lay on the top of the withered grass.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading The sun was dipping behind the masts that showed where the straight border of the river ran, and the shadows of the pipals and the banyans were richly purple over the roads.

plural of “blade” — especially a leaf of grass or the broad portion of a leaf as distinct from the petiole

From this reading It spread before her green where the slanting sun searched through the short blades, brown and yellow in the distance, where the light lay on the top of the withered grass.

a line that indicates a boundary

From this reading The sun was dipping behind the masts that showed where the straight border of the river ran, and the shadows of the pipals and the banyans were richly purple over the roads.

filled to capacity

From this reading It was like a great English park, with something of the village common, only the trees, for the most part, made avenues over it, running an arbitrary half-mile this way or that, with here and there a group dotted about in the open; and the brimming tank-ponds were of India and of nowhere else in the world.

an orange of low brightness and saturation

From this reading It spread before her green where the slanting sun searched through the short blades, brown and yellow in the distance, where the light lay on the top of the withered grass.

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

From this reading The light struck on the stuccoed upper verandahs of the houses in Chowringhee which made behind their gardens the other border, and seemed to push them back, to underline their scattered insignificance, hinting that the Maidan at its pleasure might surge over them altogether.

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

From this reading It was like a great English park, with something of the village common, only the trees, for the most part, made avenues over it, running an arbitrary half-mile this way or that, with here and there a group dotted about in the open; and the brimming tank-ponds were of India and of nowhere else in the world.

inflected form of “dip” — immerse briefly into a liquid so as to wet, coat, or saturate

From this reading The sun was dipping behind the masts that showed where the straight border of the river ran, and the shadows of the pipals and the banyans were richly purple over the roads.

the property created by the space between two objects or points

From this reading It spread before her green where the slanting sun searched through the short blades, brown and yellow in the distance, where the light lay on the top of the withered grass.

having a pattern of dots

From this reading It was like a great English park, with something of the village common, only the trees, for the most part, made avenues over it, running an arbitrary half-mile this way or that, with here and there a group dotted about in the open; and the brimming tank-ponds were of India and of nowhere else in the world.

remove the dust from

From this reading Hilda left the road, with a trace of its red dust on the hem of her skirt, and struck out into the Maidan.

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

From this reading It was like a great English park, with something of the village common, only the trees, for the most part, made avenues over it, running an arbitrary half-mile this way or that, with here and there a group dotted about in the open; and the brimming tank-ponds were of India and of nowhere else in the world.

an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries

From this reading It was like a great English park, with something of the village common, only the trees, for the most part, made avenues over it, running an arbitrary half-mile this way or that, with here and there a group dotted about in the open; and the brimming tank-ponds were of India and of nowhere else in the world.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It was like a great English park, with something of the village common, only the trees, for the most part, made avenues over it, running an arbitrary half-mile this way or that, with here and there a group dotted about in the open; and the brimming tank-ponds were of India and of nowhere else in the world.

plural of “garden” — a plot of ground where plants are cultivated

From this reading The light struck on the stuccoed upper verandahs of the houses in Chowringhee which made behind their gardens the other border, and seemed to push them back, to underline their scattered insignificance, hinting that the Maidan at its pleasure might surge over them altogether.

shoot down, of birds

From this reading It spread before her green where the slanting sun searched through the short blades, brown and yellow in the distance, where the light lay on the top of the withered grass.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading It was like a great English park, with something of the village common, only the trees, for the most part, made avenues over it, running an arbitrary half-mile this way or that, with here and there a group dotted about in the open; and the brimming tank-ponds were of India and of nowhere else in the world.

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading It spread before her green where the slanting sun searched through the short blades, brown and yellow in the distance, where the light lay on the top of the withered grass.

any number of entities (members) considered as a unit

From this reading It was like a great English park, with something of the village common, only the trees, for the most part, made avenues over it, running an arbitrary half-mile this way or that, with here and there a group dotted about in the open; and the brimming tank-ponds were of India and of nowhere else in the world.

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

From this reading It was like a great English park, with something of the village common, only the trees, for the most part, made avenues over it, running an arbitrary half-mile this way or that, with here and there a group dotted about in the open; and the brimming tank-ponds were of India and of nowhere else in the world.

the edge of a piece of cloth; especially the finished edge that has been doubled under and stitched down

From this reading Hilda left the road, with a trace of its red dust on the hem of her skirt, and struck out into the Maidan.

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

From this reading Hilda left the road, with a trace of its red dust on the hem of her skirt, and struck out into the Maidan.

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading It was like a great English park, with something of the village common, only the trees, for the most part, made avenues over it, running an arbitrary half-mile this way or that, with here and there a group dotted about in the open; and the brimming tank-ponds were of India and of nowhere else in the world.

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

From this reading Hilda left the road, with a trace of its red dust on the hem of her skirt, and struck out into the Maidan.

-ing form of “hint” — drop a hint; intimate by a hint

From this reading The light struck on the stuccoed upper verandahs of the houses in Chowringhee which made behind their gardens the other border, and seemed to push them back, to underline their scattered insignificance, hinting that the Maidan at its pleasure might surge over them altogether.

plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading The light struck on the stuccoed upper verandahs of the houses in Chowringhee which made behind their gardens the other border, and seemed to push them back, to underline their scattered insignificance, hinting that the Maidan at its pleasure might surge over them altogether.

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

From this reading It spread before her green where the slanting sun searched through the short blades, brown and yellow in the distance, where the light lay on the top of the withered grass.

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 It was like a great English park, with something of the village common, only the trees, for the most part, made avenues over it, running an arbitrary half-mile this way or that, with here and there a group dotted about in the open; and the brimming tank-ponds were of India and of nowhere else in the world.

the quality of having little or no significance

From this reading The light struck on the stuccoed upper verandahs of the houses in Chowringhee which made behind their gardens the other border, and seemed to push them back, to underline their scattered insignificance, hinting that the Maidan at its pleasure might surge over them altogether.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Hilda left the road, with a trace of its red dust on the hem of her skirt, and struck out into the Maidan.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It spread before her green where the slanting sun searched through the short blades, brown and yellow in the distance, where the light lay on the top of the withered grass.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Hilda left the road, with a trace of its red dust on the hem of her skirt, and struck out into the Maidan.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading It spread before her green where the slanting sun searched through the short blades, brown and yellow in the distance, where the light lay on the top of the withered grass.

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading Hilda left the road, with a trace of its red dust on the hem of her skirt, and struck out into the Maidan.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading It spread before her green where the slanting sun searched through the short blades, brown and yellow in the distance, where the light lay on the top of the withered grass.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading It was like a great English park, with something of the village common, only the trees, for the most part, made avenues over it, running an arbitrary half-mile this way or that, with here and there a group dotted about in the open; and the brimming tank-ponds were of India and of nowhere else in the world.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading It was like a great English park, with something of the village common, only the trees, for the most part, made avenues over it, running an arbitrary half-mile this way or that, with here and there a group dotted about in the open; and the brimming tank-ponds were of India and of nowhere else in the world.

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

From this reading Hilda left the road, with a trace of its red dust on the hem of her skirt, and struck out into the Maidan.

plural of “mast” — a vertical spar for supporting sails

From this reading The sun was dipping behind the masts that showed where the straight border of the river ran, and the shadows of the pipals and the banyans were richly purple over the roads.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading The light struck on the stuccoed upper verandahs of the houses in Chowringhee which made behind their gardens the other border, and seemed to push them back, to underline their scattered insignificance, hinting that the Maidan at its pleasure might surge over them altogether.

used to form the superlative

From this reading It was like a great English park, with something of the village common, only the trees, for the most part, made avenues over it, running an arbitrary half-mile this way or that, with here and there a group dotted about in the open; and the brimming tank-ponds were of India and of nowhere else in the world.

an insignificant place

From this reading It was like a great English park, with something of the village common, only the trees, for the most part, made avenues over it, running an arbitrary half-mile this way or that, with here and there a group dotted about in the open; and the brimming tank-ponds were of India and of nowhere else in the world.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Hilda left the road, with a trace of its red dust on the hem of her skirt, and struck out into the Maidan.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Hilda left the road, with a trace of its red dust on the hem of her skirt, and struck out into the Maidan.

and nothing more

From this reading It was like a great English park, with something of the village common, only the trees, for the most part, made avenues over it, running an arbitrary half-mile this way or that, with here and there a group dotted about in the open; and the brimming tank-ponds were of India and of nowhere else in the world.

To move from a closed position.

From this reading It was like a great English park, with something of the village common, only the trees, for the most part, made avenues over it, running an arbitrary half-mile this way or that, with here and there a group dotted about in the open; and the brimming tank-ponds were of India and of nowhere else in the world.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading It was like a great English park, with something of the village common, only the trees, for the most part, made avenues over it, running an arbitrary half-mile this way or that, with here and there a group dotted about in the open; and the brimming tank-ponds were of India and of nowhere else in the world.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading The light struck on the stuccoed upper verandahs of the houses in Chowringhee which made behind their gardens the other border, and seemed to push them back, to underline their scattered insignificance, hinting that the Maidan at its pleasure might surge over them altogether.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Hilda left the road, with a trace of its red dust on the hem of her skirt, and struck out into the Maidan.

above and across; more than

From this reading It was like a great English park, with something of the village common, only the trees, for the most part, made avenues over it, running an arbitrary half-mile this way or that, with here and there a group dotted about in the open; and the brimming tank-ponds were of India and of nowhere else in the world.

a large area of land preserved in its natural state as public property

From this reading It was like a great English park, with something of the village common, only the trees, for the most part, made avenues over it, running an arbitrary half-mile this way or that, with here and there a group dotted about in the open; and the brimming tank-ponds were of India and of nowhere else in the world.

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading It was like a great English park, with something of the village common, only the trees, for the most part, made avenues over it, running an arbitrary half-mile this way or that, with here and there a group dotted about in the open; and the brimming tank-ponds were of India and of nowhere else in the world.

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

From this reading The sun was dipping behind the masts that showed where the straight border of the river ran, and the shadows of the pipals and the banyans were richly purple over the roads.

a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience

From this reading The light struck on the stuccoed upper verandahs of the houses in Chowringhee which made behind their gardens the other border, and seemed to push them back, to underline their scattered insignificance, hinting that the Maidan at its pleasure might surge over them altogether.

a purple color or pigment

From this reading The sun was dipping behind the masts that showed where the straight border of the river ran, and the shadows of the pipals and the banyans were richly purple over the roads.

move with force

From this reading The light struck on the stuccoed upper verandahs of the houses in Chowringhee which made behind their gardens the other border, and seemed to push them back, to underline their scattered insignificance, hinting that the Maidan at its pleasure might surge over them altogether.

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

From this reading The sun was dipping behind the masts that showed where the straight border of the river ran, and the shadows of the pipals and the banyans were richly purple over the roads.

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading Hilda left the road, with a trace of its red dust on the hem of her skirt, and struck out into the Maidan.

to an ample degree or in an ample manner

From this reading The sun was dipping behind the masts that showed where the straight border of the river ran, and the shadows of the pipals and the banyans were richly purple over the roads.

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

From this reading The sun was dipping behind the masts that showed where the straight border of the river ran, and the shadows of the pipals and the banyans were richly purple over the roads.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading Hilda left the road, with a trace of its red dust on the hem of her skirt, and struck out into the Maidan.

a partly sheltered anchorage

From this reading The sun was dipping behind the masts that showed where the straight border of the river ran, and the shadows of the pipals and the banyans were richly purple over the roads.

(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream

From this reading It was like a great English park, with something of the village common, only the trees, for the most part, made avenues over it, running an arbitrary half-mile this way or that, with here and there a group dotted about in the open; and the brimming tank-ponds were of India and of nowhere else in the world.

occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space

From this reading The light struck on the stuccoed upper verandahs of the houses in Chowringhee which made behind their gardens the other border, and seemed to push them back, to underline their scattered insignificance, hinting that the Maidan at its pleasure might surge over them altogether.

past form of “search” — try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of

From this reading It spread before her green where the slanting sun searched through the short blades, brown and yellow in the distance, where the light lay on the top of the withered grass.

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

From this reading The light struck on the stuccoed upper verandahs of the houses in Chowringhee which made behind their gardens the other border, and seemed to push them back, to underline their scattered insignificance, hinting that the Maidan at its pleasure might surge over them altogether.

plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries

From this reading The sun was dipping behind the masts that showed where the straight border of the river ran, and the shadows of the pipals and the banyans were richly purple over the roads.

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading It spread before her green where the slanting sun searched through the short blades, brown and yellow in the distance, where the light lay on the top of the withered grass.

past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading The sun was dipping behind the masts that showed where the straight border of the river ran, and the shadows of the pipals and the banyans were richly purple over the roads.

cloth covering that forms the part of a garment below the waist

From this reading Hilda left the road, with a trace of its red dust on the hem of her skirt, and struck out into the Maidan.

having an oblique or slanted direction

From this reading It spread before her green where the slanting sun searched through the short blades, brown and yellow in the distance, where the light lay on the top of the withered grass.

a thing, without saying which

From this reading It was like a great English park, with something of the village common, only the trees, for the most part, made avenues over it, running an arbitrary half-mile this way or that, with here and there a group dotted about in the open; and the brimming tank-ponds were of India and of nowhere else in the world.

distribute or disperse widely

From this reading It spread before her green where the slanting sun searched through the short blades, brown and yellow in the distance, where the light lay on the top of the withered grass.

successive (without a break)

From this reading The sun was dipping behind the masts that showed where the straight border of the river ran, and the shadows of the pipals and the banyans were richly purple over the roads.

(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming

From this reading Hilda left the road, with a trace of its red dust on the hem of her skirt, and struck out into the Maidan.

past form of “stucco” — decorate with stucco work

From this reading The light struck on the stuccoed upper verandahs of the houses in Chowringhee which made behind their gardens the other border, and seemed to push them back, to underline their scattered insignificance, hinting that the Maidan at its pleasure might surge over them altogether.

the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system

From this reading It spread before her green where the slanting sun searched through the short blades, brown and yellow in the distance, where the light lay on the top of the withered grass.

rise and move, as in waves or billows

From this reading The light struck on the stuccoed upper verandahs of the houses in Chowringhee which made behind their gardens the other border, and seemed to push them back, to underline their scattered insignificance, hinting that the Maidan at its pleasure might surge over them altogether.

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

From this reading It was like a great English park, with something of the village common, only the trees, for the most part, made avenues over it, running an arbitrary half-mile this way or that, with here and there a group dotted about in the open; and the brimming tank-ponds were of India and of nowhere else in the world.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was like a great English park, with something of the village common, only the trees, for the most part, made avenues over it, running an arbitrary half-mile this way or that, with here and there a group dotted about in the open; and the brimming tank-ponds were of India and of nowhere else in the world.

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

From this reading Hilda left the road, with a trace of its red dust on the hem of her skirt, and struck out into the Maidan.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The light struck on the stuccoed upper verandahs of the houses in Chowringhee which made behind their gardens the other border, and seemed to push them back, to underline their scattered insignificance, hinting that the Maidan at its pleasure might surge over them altogether.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The light struck on the stuccoed upper verandahs of the houses in Chowringhee which made behind their gardens the other border, and seemed to push them back, to underline their scattered insignificance, hinting that the Maidan at its pleasure might surge over them altogether.

in or at that place or location

From this reading It was like a great English park, with something of the village common, only the trees, for the most part, made avenues over it, running an arbitrary half-mile this way or that, with here and there a group dotted about in the open; and the brimming tank-ponds were of India and of nowhere else in the world.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading It was like a great English park, with something of the village common, only the trees, for the most part, made avenues over it, running an arbitrary half-mile this way or that, with here and there a group dotted about in the open; and the brimming tank-ponds were of India and of nowhere else in the world.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading It spread before her green where the slanting sun searched through the short blades, brown and yellow in the distance, where the light lay on the top of the withered grass.

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

From this reading The light struck on the stuccoed upper verandahs of the houses in Chowringhee which made behind their gardens the other border, and seemed to push them back, to underline their scattered insignificance, hinting that the Maidan at its pleasure might surge over them altogether.

the upper part of anything

From this reading It spread before her green where the slanting sun searched through the short blades, brown and yellow in the distance, where the light lay on the top of the withered grass.

a just detectable amount

From this reading Hilda left the road, with a trace of its red dust on the hem of her skirt, and struck out into the Maidan.

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 like a great English park, with something of the village common, only the trees, for the most part, made avenues over it, running an arbitrary half-mile this way or that, with here and there a group dotted about in the open; and the brimming tank-ponds were of India and of nowhere else in the world.

give extra weight to (a communication)

From this reading The light struck on the stuccoed upper verandahs of the houses in Chowringhee which made behind their gardens the other border, and seemed to push them back, to underline their scattered insignificance, hinting that the Maidan at its pleasure might surge over them altogether.

the topmost one of two

From this reading The light struck on the stuccoed upper verandahs of the houses in Chowringhee which made behind their gardens the other border, and seemed to push them back, to underline their scattered insignificance, hinting that the Maidan at its pleasure might surge over them altogether.

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

From this reading The light struck on the stuccoed upper verandahs of the houses in Chowringhee which made behind their gardens the other border, and seemed to push them back, to underline their scattered insignificance, hinting that the Maidan at its pleasure might surge over them altogether.

a community of people smaller than a town

From this reading It was like a great English park, with something of the village common, only the trees, for the most part, made avenues over it, running an arbitrary half-mile this way or that, with here and there a group dotted about in the open; and the brimming tank-ponds were of India and of nowhere else in the world.

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

From this reading It was like a great English park, with something of the village common, only the trees, for the most part, made avenues over it, running an arbitrary half-mile this way or that, with here and there a group dotted about in the open; and the brimming tank-ponds were of India and of nowhere else in the world.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading It was like a great English park, with something of the village common, only the trees, for the most part, made avenues over it, running an arbitrary half-mile this way or that, with here and there a group dotted about in the open; and the brimming tank-ponds were of India and of nowhere else in the world.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading It was like a great English park, with something of the village common, only the trees, for the most part, made avenues over it, running an arbitrary half-mile this way or that, with here and there a group dotted about in the open; and the brimming tank-ponds were of India and of nowhere else in the world.

in or at the place that

From this reading It spread before her green where the slanting sun searched through the short blades, brown and yellow in the distance, where the light lay on the top of the withered grass.

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

From this reading The light struck on the stuccoed upper verandahs of the houses in Chowringhee which made behind their gardens the other border, and seemed to push them back, to underline their scattered insignificance, hinting that the Maidan at its pleasure might surge over them altogether.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Hilda left the road, with a trace of its red dust on the hem of her skirt, and struck out into the Maidan.

lean and wrinkled by shrinkage as from age or illness

From this reading It spread before her green where the slanting sun searched through the short blades, brown and yellow in the distance, where the light lay on the top of the withered grass.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading It was like a great English park, with something of the village common, only the trees, for the most part, made avenues over it, running an arbitrary half-mile this way or that, with here and there a group dotted about in the open; and the brimming tank-ponds were of India and of nowhere else in the world.

of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk

From this reading It spread before her green where the slanting sun searched through the short blades, brown and yellow in the distance, where the light lay on the top of the withered grass.