used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Directly opposite our house, and just across along green meadow, was a piece of woods which belonged to Mr. Gilbert, and there, one afternoon early in May, I saw Nellie.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading As yet I had only seen Nellie in the distance, and was about despairing of making her acquaintance when accident threw her in my way.
an unfortunate mishap; especially one causing damage or injury
From this reading As yet I had only seen Nellie in the distance, and was about despairing of making her acquaintance when accident threw her in my way.
personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading As yet I had only seen Nellie in the distance, and was about despairing of making her acquaintance when accident threw her in my way.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Directly opposite our house, and just across along green meadow, was a piece of woods which belonged to Mr. Gilbert, and there, one afternoon early in May, I saw Nellie.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading Directly opposite our house, and just across along green meadow, was a piece of woods which belonged to Mr. Gilbert, and there, one afternoon early in May, I saw Nellie.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading I was just thinking how nice it would be if the rain should drive her to our house for shelter, when patter, patter came the large drops in my face; thicker and faster they fell, until it seemed like a perfect deluge; and through the almost blinding sheet of rain I descried Nellie coming toward me at a furious rate.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Directly opposite our house, and just across along green meadow, was a piece of woods which belonged to Mr. Gilbert, and there, one afternoon early in May, I saw Nellie.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As yet I had only seen Nellie in the distance, and was about despairing of making her acquaintance when accident threw her in my way.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading I had seen her there before, but never dared approach her; and now I divided my time between watching her and a dense black cloud which had appeared in the west, and was fast approaching the zenith.
move towards
From this reading I had seen her there before, but never dared approach her; and now I divided my time between watching her and a dense black cloud which had appeared in the west, and was fast approaching the zenith.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading I had seen her there before, but never dared approach her; and now I divided my time between watching her and a dense black cloud which had appeared in the west, and was fast approaching the zenith.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As yet I had only seen Nellie in the distance, and was about despairing of making her acquaintance when accident threw her in my way.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I was just thinking how nice it would be if the rain should drive her to our house for shelter, when patter, patter came the large drops in my face; thicker and faster they fell, until it seemed like a perfect deluge; and through the almost blinding sheet of rain I descried Nellie coming toward me at a furious rate.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I was just thinking how nice it would be if the rain should drive her to our house for shelter, when patter, patter came the large drops in my face; thicker and faster they fell, until it seemed like a perfect deluge; and through the almost blinding sheet of rain I descried Nellie coming toward me at a furious rate.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading I had seen her there before, but never dared approach her; and now I divided my time between watching her and a dense black cloud which had appeared in the west, and was fast approaching the zenith.
past form of “belong” — be owned by; be in the possession of
From this reading Directly opposite our house, and just across along green meadow, was a piece of woods which belonged to Mr. Gilbert, and there, one afternoon early in May, I saw Nellie.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading I had seen her there before, but never dared approach her; and now I divided my time between watching her and a dense black cloud which had appeared in the west, and was fast approaching the zenith.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading I had seen her there before, but never dared approach her; and now I divided my time between watching her and a dense black cloud which had appeared in the west, and was fast approaching the zenith.
blindingadjectiveUS /ˈblaɪndɪŋ/
shining intensely
From this reading I was just thinking how nice it would be if the rain should drive her to our house for shelter, when patter, patter came the large drops in my face; thicker and faster they fell, until it seemed like a perfect deluge; and through the almost blinding sheet of rain I descried Nellie coming toward me at a furious rate.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I had seen her there before, but never dared approach her; and now I divided my time between watching her and a dense black cloud which had appeared in the west, and was fast approaching the zenith.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading I was just thinking how nice it would be if the rain should drive her to our house for shelter, when patter, patter came the large drops in my face; thicker and faster they fell, until it seemed like a perfect deluge; and through the almost blinding sheet of rain I descried Nellie coming toward me at a furious rate.
make overcast or cloudy
From this reading I had seen her there before, but never dared approach her; and now I divided my time between watching her and a dense black cloud which had appeared in the west, and was fast approaching the zenith.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading I was just thinking how nice it would be if the rain should drive her to our house for shelter, when patter, patter came the large drops in my face; thicker and faster they fell, until it seemed like a perfect deluge; and through the almost blinding sheet of rain I descried Nellie coming toward me at a furious rate.
past form of “dare” — take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission
From this reading I had seen her there before, but never dared approach her; and now I divided my time between watching her and a dense black cloud which had appeared in the west, and was fast approaching the zenith.
delugenounUS /ˈdeljuːdʒ/
an overwhelming number or amount
From this reading I was just thinking how nice it would be if the rain should drive her to our house for shelter, when patter, patter came the large drops in my face; thicker and faster they fell, until it seemed like a perfect deluge; and through the almost blinding sheet of rain I descried Nellie coming toward me at a furious rate.
denseadjectiveUS /dens/
permitting little if any light to pass through because of denseness of matter
From this reading I had seen her there before, but never dared approach her; and now I divided my time between watching her and a dense black cloud which had appeared in the west, and was fast approaching the zenith.
descried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was just thinking how nice it would be if the rain should drive her to our house for shelter, when patter, patter came the large drops in my face; thicker and faster they fell, until it seemed like a perfect deluge; and through the almost blinding sheet of rain I descried Nellie coming toward me at a furious rate.
despairingadjectiveUS /dɪˈsperɪŋ/
arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
From this reading As yet I had only seen Nellie in the distance, and was about despairing of making her acquaintance when accident threw her in my way.
without deviation
From this reading Directly opposite our house, and just across along green meadow, was a piece of woods which belonged to Mr. Gilbert, and there, one afternoon early in May, I saw Nellie.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading As yet I had only seen Nellie in the distance, and was about despairing of making her acquaintance when accident threw her in my way.
separated into parts or pieces
From this reading I had seen her there before, but never dared approach her; and now I divided my time between watching her and a dense black cloud which had appeared in the west, and was fast approaching the zenith.
operate or control a vehicle
From this reading I was just thinking how nice it would be if the rain should drive her to our house for shelter, when patter, patter came the large drops in my face; thicker and faster they fell, until it seemed like a perfect deluge; and through the almost blinding sheet of rain I descried Nellie coming toward me at a furious rate.
dropsnounUS /drɑːps/
plural of “drop” — a shape that is spherical and small
From this reading I was just thinking how nice it would be if the rain should drive her to our house for shelter, when patter, patter came the large drops in my face; thicker and faster they fell, until it seemed like a perfect deluge; and through the almost blinding sheet of rain I descried Nellie coming toward me at a furious rate.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading Directly opposite our house, and just across along green meadow, was a piece of woods which belonged to Mr. Gilbert, and there, one afternoon early in May, I saw Nellie.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading I was just thinking how nice it would be if the rain should drive her to our house for shelter, when patter, patter came the large drops in my face; thicker and faster they fell, until it seemed like a perfect deluge; and through the almost blinding sheet of rain I descried Nellie coming toward me at a furious rate.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading I had seen her there before, but never dared approach her; and now I divided my time between watching her and a dense black cloud which had appeared in the west, and was fast approaching the zenith.
fasteradverbUS /ˈfæstər/
more quickly
From this reading I was just thinking how nice it would be if the rain should drive her to our house for shelter, when patter, patter came the large drops in my face; thicker and faster they fell, until it seemed like a perfect deluge; and through the almost blinding sheet of rain I descried Nellie coming toward me at a furious rate.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading I was just thinking how nice it would be if the rain should drive her to our house for shelter, when patter, patter came the large drops in my face; thicker and faster they fell, until it seemed like a perfect deluge; and through the almost blinding sheet of rain I descried Nellie coming toward me at a furious rate.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I was just thinking how nice it would be if the rain should drive her to our house for shelter, when patter, patter came the large drops in my face; thicker and faster they fell, until it seemed like a perfect deluge; and through the almost blinding sheet of rain I descried Nellie coming toward me at a furious rate.
marked by extreme and violent energy
From this reading I was just thinking how nice it would be if the rain should drive her to our house for shelter, when patter, patter came the large drops in my face; thicker and faster they fell, until it seemed like a perfect deluge; and through the almost blinding sheet of rain I descried Nellie coming toward me at a furious rate.
GilbertnounUS /ˈɡɪlbərt/
a unit of magnetomotive force equal to 0.7958 ampere-turns
From this reading Directly opposite our house, and just across along green meadow, was a piece of woods which belonged to Mr. Gilbert, and there, one afternoon early in May, I saw Nellie.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading Directly opposite our house, and just across along green meadow, was a piece of woods which belonged to Mr. Gilbert, and there, one afternoon early in May, I saw Nellie.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As yet I had only seen Nellie in the distance, and was about despairing of making her acquaintance when accident threw her in my way.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading As yet I had only seen Nellie in the distance, and was about despairing of making her acquaintance when accident threw her in my way.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Directly opposite our house, and just across along green meadow, was a piece of woods which belonged to Mr. Gilbert, and there, one afternoon early in May, I saw Nellie.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was just thinking how nice it would be if the rain should drive her to our house for shelter, when patter, patter came the large drops in my face; thicker and faster they fell, until it seemed like a perfect deluge; and through the almost blinding sheet of rain I descried Nellie coming toward me at a furious rate.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading As yet I had only seen Nellie in the distance, and was about despairing of making her acquaintance when accident threw her in my way.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading I was just thinking how nice it would be if the rain should drive her to our house for shelter, when patter, patter came the large drops in my face; thicker and faster they fell, until it seemed like a perfect deluge; and through the almost blinding sheet of rain I descried Nellie coming toward me at a furious rate.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As yet I had only seen Nellie in the distance, and was about despairing of making her acquaintance when accident threw her in my way.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I was just thinking how nice it would be if the rain should drive her to our house for shelter, when patter, patter came the large drops in my face; thicker and faster they fell, until it seemed like a perfect deluge; and through the almost blinding sheet of rain I descried Nellie coming toward me at a furious rate.
and nothing more
From this reading Directly opposite our house, and just across along green meadow, was a piece of woods which belonged to Mr. Gilbert, and there, one afternoon early in May, I saw Nellie.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading I was just thinking how nice it would be if the rain should drive her to our house for shelter, when patter, patter came the large drops in my face; thicker and faster they fell, until it seemed like a perfect deluge; and through the almost blinding sheet of rain I descried Nellie coming toward me at a furious rate.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading I was just thinking how nice it would be if the rain should drive her to our house for shelter, when patter, patter came the large drops in my face; thicker and faster they fell, until it seemed like a perfect deluge; and through the almost blinding sheet of rain I descried Nellie coming toward me at a furious rate.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading As yet I had only seen Nellie in the distance, and was about despairing of making her acquaintance when accident threw her in my way.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Directly opposite our house, and just across along green meadow, was a piece of woods which belonged to Mr. Gilbert, and there, one afternoon early in May, I saw Nellie.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I was just thinking how nice it would be if the rain should drive her to our house for shelter, when patter, patter came the large drops in my face; thicker and faster they fell, until it seemed like a perfect deluge; and through the almost blinding sheet of rain I descried Nellie coming toward me at a furious rate.
meadownounUS /ˈmedoʊ/
a field where grass or alfalfa are grown to be made into hay
From this reading Directly opposite our house, and just across along green meadow, was a piece of woods which belonged to Mr. Gilbert, and there, one afternoon early in May, I saw Nellie.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Directly opposite our house, and just across along green meadow, was a piece of woods which belonged to Mr. Gilbert, and there, one afternoon early in May, I saw Nellie.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading As yet I had only seen Nellie in the distance, and was about despairing of making her acquaintance when accident threw her in my way.
NELLIE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NELLIE.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading I had seen her there before, but never dared approach her; and now I divided my time between watching her and a dense black cloud which had appeared in the west, and was fast approaching the zenith.
pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance
From this reading I was just thinking how nice it would be if the rain should drive her to our house for shelter, when patter, patter came the large drops in my face; thicker and faster they fell, until it seemed like a perfect deluge; and through the almost blinding sheet of rain I descried Nellie coming toward me at a furious rate.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading I had seen her there before, but never dared approach her; and now I divided my time between watching her and a dense black cloud which had appeared in the west, and was fast approaching the zenith.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As yet I had only seen Nellie in the distance, and was about despairing of making her acquaintance when accident threw her in my way.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Directly opposite our house, and just across along green meadow, was a piece of woods which belonged to Mr. Gilbert, and there, one afternoon early in May, I saw Nellie.
and nothing more
From this reading As yet I had only seen Nellie in the distance, and was about despairing of making her acquaintance when accident threw her in my way.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading Directly opposite our house, and just across along green meadow, was a piece of woods which belonged to Mr. Gilbert, and there, one afternoon early in May, I saw Nellie.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Directly opposite our house, and just across along green meadow, was a piece of woods which belonged to Mr. Gilbert, and there, one afternoon early in May, I saw Nellie.
patternounUS /ˈpætər/
plausible glib talk (especially useful to a salesperson)
From this reading I was just thinking how nice it would be if the rain should drive her to our house for shelter, when patter, patter came the large drops in my face; thicker and faster they fell, until it seemed like a perfect deluge; and through the almost blinding sheet of rain I descried Nellie coming toward me at a furious rate.
being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish
From this reading I was just thinking how nice it would be if the rain should drive her to our house for shelter, when patter, patter came the large drops in my face; thicker and faster they fell, until it seemed like a perfect deluge; and through the almost blinding sheet of rain I descried Nellie coming toward me at a furious rate.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading Directly opposite our house, and just across along green meadow, was a piece of woods which belonged to Mr. Gilbert, and there, one afternoon early in May, I saw Nellie.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading I was just thinking how nice it would be if the rain should drive her to our house for shelter, when patter, patter came the large drops in my face; thicker and faster they fell, until it seemed like a perfect deluge; and through the almost blinding sheet of rain I descried Nellie coming toward me at a furious rate.
a magnitude or frequency relative to a time unit
From this reading I was just thinking how nice it would be if the rain should drive her to our house for shelter, when patter, patter came the large drops in my face; thicker and faster they fell, until it seemed like a perfect deluge; and through the almost blinding sheet of rain I descried Nellie coming toward me at a furious rate.
cut with a saw
From this reading Directly opposite our house, and just across along green meadow, was a piece of woods which belonged to Mr. Gilbert, and there, one afternoon early in May, I saw Nellie.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading I was just thinking how nice it would be if the rain should drive her to our house for shelter, when patter, patter came the large drops in my face; thicker and faster they fell, until it seemed like a perfect deluge; and through the almost blinding sheet of rain I descried Nellie coming toward me at a furious rate.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading As yet I had only seen Nellie in the distance, and was about despairing of making her acquaintance when accident threw her in my way.
any broad thin expanse or surface
From this reading I was just thinking how nice it would be if the rain should drive her to our house for shelter, when patter, patter came the large drops in my face; thicker and faster they fell, until it seemed like a perfect deluge; and through the almost blinding sheet of rain I descried Nellie coming toward me at a furious rate.
a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger
From this reading I was just thinking how nice it would be if the rain should drive her to our house for shelter, when patter, patter came the large drops in my face; thicker and faster they fell, until it seemed like a perfect deluge; and through the almost blinding sheet of rain I descried Nellie coming toward me at a furious rate.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading I was just thinking how nice it would be if the rain should drive her to our house for shelter, when patter, patter came the large drops in my face; thicker and faster they fell, until it seemed like a perfect deluge; and through the almost blinding sheet of rain I descried Nellie coming toward me at a furious rate.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As yet I had only seen Nellie in the distance, and was about despairing of making her acquaintance when accident threw her in my way.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Directly opposite our house, and just across along green meadow, was a piece of woods which belonged to Mr. Gilbert, and there, one afternoon early in May, I saw Nellie.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I was just thinking how nice it would be if the rain should drive her to our house for shelter, when patter, patter came the large drops in my face; thicker and faster they fell, until it seemed like a perfect deluge; and through the almost blinding sheet of rain I descried Nellie coming toward me at a furious rate.
thickeradjectiveUS /ˈθɪkər/
comparative of “thick” — not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading I was just thinking how nice it would be if the rain should drive her to our house for shelter, when patter, patter came the large drops in my face; thicker and faster they fell, until it seemed like a perfect deluge; and through the almost blinding sheet of rain I descried Nellie coming toward me at a furious rate.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading I was just thinking how nice it would be if the rain should drive her to our house for shelter, when patter, patter came the large drops in my face; thicker and faster they fell, until it seemed like a perfect deluge; and through the almost blinding sheet of rain I descried Nellie coming toward me at a furious rate.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading As yet I had only seen Nellie in the distance, and was about despairing of making her acquaintance when accident threw her in my way.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading I was just thinking how nice it would be if the rain should drive her to our house for shelter, when patter, patter came the large drops in my face; thicker and faster they fell, until it seemed like a perfect deluge; and through the almost blinding sheet of rain I descried Nellie coming toward me at a furious rate.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading I had seen her there before, but never dared approach her; and now I divided my time between watching her and a dense black cloud which had appeared in the west, and was fast approaching the zenith.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Directly opposite our house, and just across along green meadow, was a piece of woods which belonged to Mr. Gilbert, and there, one afternoon early in May, I saw Nellie.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading I was just thinking how nice it would be if the rain should drive her to our house for shelter, when patter, patter came the large drops in my face; thicker and faster they fell, until it seemed like a perfect deluge; and through the almost blinding sheet of rain I descried Nellie coming toward me at a furious rate.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading I was just thinking how nice it would be if the rain should drive her to our house for shelter, when patter, patter came the large drops in my face; thicker and faster they fell, until it seemed like a perfect deluge; and through the almost blinding sheet of rain I descried Nellie coming toward me at a furious rate.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As yet I had only seen Nellie in the distance, and was about despairing of making her acquaintance when accident threw her in my way.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading I had seen her there before, but never dared approach her; and now I divided my time between watching her and a dense black cloud which had appeared in the west, and was fast approaching the zenith.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading As yet I had only seen Nellie in the distance, and was about despairing of making her acquaintance when accident threw her in my way.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading I had seen her there before, but never dared approach her; and now I divided my time between watching her and a dense black cloud which had appeared in the west, and was fast approaching the zenith.
at the time that
From this reading As yet I had only seen Nellie in the distance, and was about despairing of making her acquaintance when accident threw her in my way.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Directly opposite our house, and just across along green meadow, was a piece of woods which belonged to Mr. Gilbert, and there, one afternoon early in May, I saw Nellie.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading Directly opposite our house, and just across along green meadow, was a piece of woods which belonged to Mr. Gilbert, and there, one afternoon early in May, I saw Nellie.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading I was just thinking how nice it would be if the rain should drive her to our house for shelter, when patter, patter came the large drops in my face; thicker and faster they fell, until it seemed like a perfect deluge; and through the almost blinding sheet of rain I descried Nellie coming toward me at a furious rate.
but in spite of that
From this reading As yet I had only seen Nellie in the distance, and was about despairing of making her acquaintance when accident threw her in my way.
zenithnounUS /ˈziːnəθ/
the point above the observer that is directly opposite the nadir on the imaginary sphere against which celestial bodies appear to be projected
From this reading I had seen her there before, but never dared approach her; and now I divided my time between watching her and a dense black cloud which had appeared in the west, and was fast approaching the zenith.
