used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A small knot of people, ourselves and others, had collected in the transept after service, waiting for one of the old bedesmen to do the honours of the cathedral, when the chanter came down the steps of the south aisle, after disrobing in the vestry.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading A small knot of people, ourselves and others, had collected in the transept after service, waiting for one of the old bedesmen to do the honours of the cathedral, when the chanter came down the steps of the south aisle, after disrobing in the vestry.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading The chanter that afternoon was Mr. Leafchild's rector: I knew him to speak to.
aislenounUS /aɪl/
a long narrow passage (as in a cave or woods)
From this reading A small knot of people, ourselves and others, had collected in the transept after service, waiting for one of the old bedesmen to do the honours of the cathedral, when the chanter came down the steps of the south aisle, after disrobing in the vestry.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Just in time, were we, to get into our seats before the procession of clergy and choristers came in.
bedesmen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A small knot of people, ourselves and others, had collected in the transept after service, waiting for one of the old bedesmen to do the honours of the cathedral, when the chanter came down the steps of the south aisle, after disrobing in the vestry.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Just in time, were we, to get into our seats before the procession of clergy and choristers came in.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But there's no space to linger upon details.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Just in time, were we, to get into our seats before the procession of clergy and choristers came in.
cathedralnounUS /kəˈθiːdrəl/
any large and important church
From this reading A small knot of people, ourselves and others, had collected in the transept after service, waiting for one of the old bedesmen to do the honours of the cathedral, when the chanter came down the steps of the south aisle, after disrobing in the vestry.
chanternoun
reed pipe with finger holes on which the melody is played
From this reading The chanter that afternoon was Mr. Leafchild's rector: I knew him to speak to.
choristers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just in time, were we, to get into our seats before the procession of clergy and choristers came in.
clergynounUS /ˈklɜːrdʒi/
in Christianity, clergymen collectively (as distinguished from the laity)
From this reading Just in time, were we, to get into our seats before the procession of clergy and choristers came in.
collectedadjectiveUS /kəˈlektəd/
brought together in one place
From this reading A small knot of people, ourselves and others, had collected in the transept after service, waiting for one of the old bedesmen to do the honours of the cathedral, when the chanter came down the steps of the south aisle, after disrobing in the vestry.
true confidential information
From this reading But there's no space to linger upon details.
disrobing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A small knot of people, ourselves and others, had collected in the transept after service, waiting for one of the old bedesmen to do the honours of the cathedral, when the chanter came down the steps of the south aisle, after disrobing in the vestry.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading A small knot of people, ourselves and others, had collected in the transept after service, waiting for one of the old bedesmen to do the honours of the cathedral, when the chanter came down the steps of the south aisle, after disrobing in the vestry.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading A small knot of people, ourselves and others, had collected in the transept after service, waiting for one of the old bedesmen to do the honours of the cathedral, when the chanter came down the steps of the south aisle, after disrobing in the vestry.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A small knot of people, ourselves and others, had collected in the transept after service, waiting for one of the old bedesmen to do the honours of the cathedral, when the chanter came down the steps of the south aisle, after disrobing in the vestry.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Just in time, were we, to get into our seats before the procession of clergy and choristers came in.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A small knot of people, ourselves and others, had collected in the transept after service, waiting for one of the old bedesmen to do the honours of the cathedral, when the chanter came down the steps of the south aisle, after disrobing in the vestry.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Do you know who he is?"
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The chanter that afternoon was Mr. Leafchild's rector: I knew him to speak to.
honoursnoun
a university degree with honors
From this reading A small knot of people, ourselves and others, had collected in the transept after service, waiting for one of the old bedesmen to do the honours of the cathedral, when the chanter came down the steps of the south aisle, after disrobing in the vestry.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The chanter that afternoon was Mr. Leafchild's rector: I knew him to speak to.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Just in time, were we, to get into our seats before the procession of clergy and choristers came in.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Just in time, were we, to get into our seats before the procession of clergy and choristers came in.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Do you know who he is?"
and nothing more
From this reading Just in time, were we, to get into our seats before the procession of clergy and choristers came in.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading The chanter that afternoon was Mr. Leafchild's rector: I knew him to speak to.
knotnounUS /nɑːt/
a tight cluster of people or things
From this reading A small knot of people, ourselves and others, had collected in the transept after service, waiting for one of the old bedesmen to do the honours of the cathedral, when the chanter came down the steps of the south aisle, after disrobing in the vestry.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "Do you know who he is?"
Leafchild's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The chanter that afternoon was Mr. Leafchild's rector: I knew him to speak to.
lingerverbUS /ˈlɪŋɡər/
remain present although waning or gradually dying
From this reading But there's no space to linger upon details.
a form of address for a man
From this reading The chanter that afternoon was Mr. Leafchild's rector: I knew him to speak to.
not any; not one
From this reading But there's no space to linger upon details.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Just in time, were we, to get into our seats before the procession of clergy and choristers came in.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading A small knot of people, ourselves and others, had collected in the transept after service, waiting for one of the old bedesmen to do the honours of the cathedral, when the chanter came down the steps of the south aisle, after disrobing in the vestry.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A small knot of people, ourselves and others, had collected in the transept after service, waiting for one of the old bedesmen to do the honours of the cathedral, when the chanter came down the steps of the south aisle, after disrobing in the vestry.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A small knot of people, ourselves and others, had collected in the transept after service, waiting for one of the old bedesmen to do the honours of the cathedral, when the chanter came down the steps of the south aisle, after disrobing in the vestry.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Just in time, were we, to get into our seats before the procession of clergy and choristers came in.
used when we are both doing the action and receiving it
From this reading A small knot of people, ourselves and others, had collected in the transept after service, waiting for one of the old bedesmen to do the honours of the cathedral, when the chanter came down the steps of the south aisle, after disrobing in the vestry.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading A small knot of people, ourselves and others, had collected in the transept after service, waiting for one of the old bedesmen to do the honours of the cathedral, when the chanter came down the steps of the south aisle, after disrobing in the vestry.
processionnounUS /prəˈseʃən/
(theology) the origination of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost
From this reading Just in time, were we, to get into our seats before the procession of clergy and choristers came in.
rectornounUS /ˈrektər/
a person authorized to conduct religious worship
From this reading The chanter that afternoon was Mr. Leafchild's rector: I knew him to speak to.
seatsnounUS /siːts/
an area that includes places where several people can sit
From this reading Just in time, were we, to get into our seats before the procession of clergy and choristers came in.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading A small knot of people, ourselves and others, had collected in the transept after service, waiting for one of the old bedesmen to do the honours of the cathedral, when the chanter came down the steps of the south aisle, after disrobing in the vestry.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A small knot of people, ourselves and others, had collected in the transept after service, waiting for one of the old bedesmen to do the honours of the cathedral, when the chanter came down the steps of the south aisle, after disrobing in the vestry.
the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading A small knot of people, ourselves and others, had collected in the transept after service, waiting for one of the old bedesmen to do the honours of the cathedral, when the chanter came down the steps of the south aisle, after disrobing in the vestry.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading But there's no space to linger upon details.
express in speech
From this reading The chanter that afternoon was Mr. Leafchild's rector: I knew him to speak to.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading A small knot of people, ourselves and others, had collected in the transept after service, waiting for one of the old bedesmen to do the honours of the cathedral, when the chanter came down the steps of the south aisle, after disrobing in the vestry.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The chanter that afternoon was Mr. Leafchild's rector: I knew him to speak to.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Just in time, were we, to get into our seats before the procession of clergy and choristers came in.
there's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But there's no space to linger upon details.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Just in time, were we, to get into our seats before the procession of clergy and choristers came in.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Just in time, were we, to get into our seats before the procession of clergy and choristers came in.
transeptnoun
structure forming the transverse part of a cruciform church; crosses the nave at right angles
From this reading A small knot of people, ourselves and others, had collected in the transept after service, waiting for one of the old bedesmen to do the honours of the cathedral, when the chanter came down the steps of the south aisle, after disrobing in the vestry.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading But there's no space to linger upon details.
vestrynoun
in the Protestant Episcopal Church: a committee elected by the congregation to work with the churchwardens in managing the temporal affairs of the church
From this reading A small knot of people, ourselves and others, had collected in the transept after service, waiting for one of the old bedesmen to do the honours of the cathedral, when the chanter came down the steps of the south aisle, after disrobing in the vestry.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading A small knot of people, ourselves and others, had collected in the transept after service, waiting for one of the old bedesmen to do the honours of the cathedral, when the chanter came down the steps of the south aisle, after disrobing in the vestry.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The chanter that afternoon was Mr. Leafchild's rector: I knew him to speak to.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Just in time, were we, to get into our seats before the procession of clergy and choristers came in.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Just in time, were we, to get into our seats before the procession of clergy and choristers came in.
at the time that
From this reading A small knot of people, ourselves and others, had collected in the transept after service, waiting for one of the old bedesmen to do the honours of the cathedral, when the chanter came down the steps of the south aisle, after disrobing in the vestry.
which person or people
From this reading "Do you know who he is?"
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Do you know who he is?"
