used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I found Belle seated by a fire, over which her kettle was suspended.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The public-house where the scenes which I have attempted to describe in the preceding chapters took place, was at the distance of about two miles from the dingle.
the state of being absent
From this reading During my absence she had prepared herself a kind of tent, consisting of large hoops covered over with tarpaulin, quite impenetrable to rain, however violent.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "I am glad you are returned," said she, as soon as she perceived me; "I began to be anxious about you.
eagerly desirous
From this reading "I am glad you are returned," said she, as soon as she perceived me; "I began to be anxious about you.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "I am glad you are returned," said she, as soon as she perceived me; "I began to be anxious about you.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "I am glad you are returned," said she, as soon as she perceived me; "I began to be anxious about you.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The public-house where the scenes which I have attempted to describe in the preceding chapters took place, was at the distance of about two miles from the dingle.
tried unsuccessfully
From this reading The public-house where the scenes which I have attempted to describe in the preceding chapters took place, was at the distance of about two miles from the dingle.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "I am glad you are returned," said she, as soon as she perceived me; "I began to be anxious about you.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading "I am glad you are returned," said she, as soon as she perceived me; "I began to be anxious about you.
BellenounUS /bel/
a young woman who is the most charming and beautiful of several rivals
From this reading I found Belle seated by a fire, over which her kettle was suspended.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The sun was sinking in the west by the time I returned to the latter spot.
chaptersnounUS /ˈtʃæptərz/
plural of “chapter” — a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled
From this reading The public-house where the scenes which I have attempted to describe in the preceding chapters took place, was at the distance of about two miles from the dingle.
consistingverbUS /kənˈsɪstɪŋ/
-ing form of “consist” — originate
From this reading During my absence she had prepared herself a kind of tent, consisting of large hoops covered over with tarpaulin, quite impenetrable to rain, however violent.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading During my absence she had prepared herself a kind of tent, consisting of large hoops covered over with tarpaulin, quite impenetrable to rain, however violent.
give a description of
From this reading The public-house where the scenes which I have attempted to describe in the preceding chapters took place, was at the distance of about two miles from the dingle.
dinglenounUS /ˈdɪŋɡəl/
a small wooded hollow
From this reading The public-house where the scenes which I have attempted to describe in the preceding chapters took place, was at the distance of about two miles from the dingle.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading The public-house where the scenes which I have attempted to describe in the preceding chapters took place, was at the distance of about two miles from the dingle.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading During my absence she had prepared herself a kind of tent, consisting of large hoops covered over with tarpaulin, quite impenetrable to rain, however violent.
start firing a weapon
From this reading I found Belle seated by a fire, over which her kettle was suspended.
set up or found
From this reading I found Belle seated by a fire, over which her kettle was suspended.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The public-house where the scenes which I have attempted to describe in the preceding chapters took place, was at the distance of about two miles from the dingle.
showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy
From this reading "I am glad you are returned," said she, as soon as she perceived me; "I began to be anxious about you.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading During my absence she had prepared herself a kind of tent, consisting of large hoops covered over with tarpaulin, quite impenetrable to rain, however violent.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The public-house where the scenes which I have attempted to describe in the preceding chapters took place, was at the distance of about two miles from the dingle.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading I found Belle seated by a fire, over which her kettle was suspended.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading During my absence she had prepared herself a kind of tent, consisting of large hoops covered over with tarpaulin, quite impenetrable to rain, however violent.
hoopsnounUS /huːps/
a game played on a court by two opposing teams of 5 players; points are scored by throwing the ball through an elevated horizontal hoop
From this reading During my absence she had prepared herself a kind of tent, consisting of large hoops covered over with tarpaulin, quite impenetrable to rain, however violent.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading During my absence she had prepared herself a kind of tent, consisting of large hoops covered over with tarpaulin, quite impenetrable to rain, however violent.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The public-house where the scenes which I have attempted to describe in the preceding chapters took place, was at the distance of about two miles from the dingle.
impenetrableadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpenətrəbəl/
not admitting of penetration or passage into or through
From this reading During my absence she had prepared herself a kind of tent, consisting of large hoops covered over with tarpaulin, quite impenetrable to rain, however violent.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The public-house where the scenes which I have attempted to describe in the preceding chapters took place, was at the distance of about two miles from the dingle.
kettlenounUS /ˈketəl/
a metal pot for stewing or boiling; usually has a lid
From this reading I found Belle seated by a fire, over which her kettle was suspended.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading During my absence she had prepared herself a kind of tent, consisting of large hoops covered over with tarpaulin, quite impenetrable to rain, however violent.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading During my absence she had prepared herself a kind of tent, consisting of large hoops covered over with tarpaulin, quite impenetrable to rain, however violent.
referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)
From this reading The sun was sinking in the west by the time I returned to the latter spot.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "I am glad you are returned," said she, as soon as she perceived me; "I began to be anxious about you.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading The public-house where the scenes which I have attempted to describe in the preceding chapters took place, was at the distance of about two miles from the dingle.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading During my absence she had prepared herself a kind of tent, consisting of large hoops covered over with tarpaulin, quite impenetrable to rain, however violent.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The public-house where the scenes which I have attempted to describe in the preceding chapters took place, was at the distance of about two miles from the dingle.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading I found Belle seated by a fire, over which her kettle was suspended.
detected by instinct or inference rather than by recognized perceptual cues
From this reading "I am glad you are returned," said she, as soon as she perceived me; "I began to be anxious about you.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The public-house where the scenes which I have attempted to describe in the preceding chapters took place, was at the distance of about two miles from the dingle.
precedingadjectiveUS /priˈsiːdɪŋ/
existing or coming before
From this reading The public-house where the scenes which I have attempted to describe in the preceding chapters took place, was at the distance of about two miles from the dingle.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading During my absence she had prepared herself a kind of tent, consisting of large hoops covered over with tarpaulin, quite impenetrable to rain, however violent.
public-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The public-house where the scenes which I have attempted to describe in the preceding chapters took place, was at the distance of about two miles from the dingle.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading During my absence she had prepared herself a kind of tent, consisting of large hoops covered over with tarpaulin, quite impenetrable to rain, however violent.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading During my absence she had prepared herself a kind of tent, consisting of large hoops covered over with tarpaulin, quite impenetrable to rain, however violent.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading The sun was sinking in the west by the time I returned to the latter spot.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I am glad you are returned," said she, as soon as she perceived me; "I began to be anxious about you.
plural of “scene” — the place where some action occurs
From this reading The public-house where the scenes which I have attempted to describe in the preceding chapters took place, was at the distance of about two miles from the dingle.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading I found Belle seated by a fire, over which her kettle was suspended.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading During my absence she had prepared herself a kind of tent, consisting of large hoops covered over with tarpaulin, quite impenetrable to rain, however violent.
sinkingnounUS /ˈsɪŋkɪŋ/
a descent as through liquid (especially through water)
From this reading The sun was sinking in the west by the time I returned to the latter spot.
in the near future
From this reading "I am glad you are returned," said she, as soon as she perceived me; "I began to be anxious about you.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The sun was sinking in the west by the time I returned to the latter spot.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The sun was sinking in the west by the time I returned to the latter spot.
suspendedadjectiveUS /səˈspendɪd/
(of undissolved particles in a fluid) supported or kept from sinking or falling by buoyancy and without apparent attachment
From this reading I found Belle seated by a fire, over which her kettle was suspended.
tarpaulinnoun
waterproofed canvas
From this reading During my absence she had prepared herself a kind of tent, consisting of large hoops covered over with tarpaulin, quite impenetrable to rain, however violent.
a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading During my absence she had prepared herself a kind of tent, consisting of large hoops covered over with tarpaulin, quite impenetrable to rain, however violent.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The public-house where the scenes which I have attempted to describe in the preceding chapters took place, was at the distance of about two miles from the dingle.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The sun was sinking in the west by the time I returned to the latter spot.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The public-house where the scenes which I have attempted to describe in the preceding chapters took place, was at the distance of about two miles from the dingle.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading The public-house where the scenes which I have attempted to describe in the preceding chapters took place, was at the distance of about two miles from the dingle.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The public-house where the scenes which I have attempted to describe in the preceding chapters took place, was at the distance of about two miles from the dingle.
acting with or marked by or resulting from great force or energy or emotional intensity
From this reading During my absence she had prepared herself a kind of tent, consisting of large hoops covered over with tarpaulin, quite impenetrable to rain, however violent.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The public-house where the scenes which I have attempted to describe in the preceding chapters took place, was at the distance of about two miles from the dingle.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading The sun was sinking in the west by the time I returned to the latter spot.
in or at the place that
From this reading The public-house where the scenes which I have attempted to describe in the preceding chapters took place, was at the distance of about two miles from the dingle.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The public-house where the scenes which I have attempted to describe in the preceding chapters took place, was at the distance of about two miles from the dingle.
in the company of; together with
From this reading During my absence she had prepared herself a kind of tent, consisting of large hoops covered over with tarpaulin, quite impenetrable to rain, however violent.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I am glad you are returned," said she, as soon as she perceived me; "I began to be anxious about you.
