used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There were footprints on the snow though, leading away through the Park in the direction of Muddlebury, and I came back to breakfast with a heart lightened of at least half its load.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Sure enough, large fragments of ice were floating about where the surface had been broken, close to the side farthest from the Hall.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It may easily be believed that I took an early walk next morning before breakfast.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading No sooner had I made my escape from Aunt Horsingham's room, than, in utter defiance of the cold thaw just commencing, I put my bonnet on and made the best of my way to the moat.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There were footprints on the snow though, leading away through the Park in the direction of Muddlebury, and I came back to breakfast with a heart lightened of at least half its load.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading No sooner had I made my escape from Aunt Horsingham's room, than, in utter defiance of the cold thaw just commencing, I put my bonnet on and made the best of my way to the moat.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading There were footprints on the snow though, leading away through the Park in the direction of Muddlebury, and I came back to breakfast with a heart lightened of at least half its load.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading There were footprints on the snow though, leading away through the Park in the direction of Muddlebury, and I came back to breakfast with a heart lightened of at least half its load.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It may easily be believed that I took an early walk next morning before breakfast.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Sure enough, large fragments of ice were floating about where the surface had been broken, close to the side farthest from the Hall.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It may easily be believed that I took an early walk next morning before breakfast.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading It may easily be believed that I took an early walk next morning before breakfast.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading No sooner had I made my escape from Aunt Horsingham's room, than, in utter defiance of the cold thaw just commencing, I put my bonnet on and made the best of my way to the moat.
bonnetnounUS /ˈbɑːnət/
a hat tied under the chin
From this reading No sooner had I made my escape from Aunt Horsingham's room, than, in utter defiance of the cold thaw just commencing, I put my bonnet on and made the best of my way to the moat.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading It may easily be believed that I took an early walk next morning before breakfast.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading Sure enough, large fragments of ice were floating about where the surface had been broken, close to the side farthest from the Hall.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading There were footprints on the snow though, leading away through the Park in the direction of Muddlebury, and I came back to breakfast with a heart lightened of at least half its load.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading Sure enough, large fragments of ice were floating about where the surface had been broken, close to the side farthest from the Hall.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading No sooner had I made my escape from Aunt Horsingham's room, than, in utter defiance of the cold thaw just commencing, I put my bonnet on and made the best of my way to the moat.
commencingverbUS /kəˈmensɪŋ/
-ing form of “commence” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading No sooner had I made my escape from Aunt Horsingham's room, than, in utter defiance of the cold thaw just commencing, I put my bonnet on and made the best of my way to the moat.
defiancenounUS /dɪˈfaɪəns/
intentionally contemptuous behavior or attitude
From this reading No sooner had I made my escape from Aunt Horsingham's room, than, in utter defiance of the cold thaw just commencing, I put my bonnet on and made the best of my way to the moat.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading There were footprints on the snow though, leading away through the Park in the direction of Muddlebury, and I came back to breakfast with a heart lightened of at least half its load.
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 It may easily be believed that I took an early walk next morning before breakfast.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading It may easily be believed that I took an early walk next morning before breakfast.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Sure enough, large fragments of ice were floating about where the surface had been broken, close to the side farthest from the Hall.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading No sooner had I made my escape from Aunt Horsingham's room, than, in utter defiance of the cold thaw just commencing, I put my bonnet on and made the best of my way to the moat.
farthestadverbUS /ˈfɑːrðəst/
to the greatest distance in space or time (“farthest” is used more often than “furthest” in this physical sense)
From this reading Sure enough, large fragments of ice were floating about where the surface had been broken, close to the side farthest from the Hall.
floatingadjectiveUS /ˈfloʊtɪŋ/
borne up by or suspended in a liquid
From this reading Sure enough, large fragments of ice were floating about where the surface had been broken, close to the side farthest from the Hall.
footprintsnounUS /ˈfʊtprɪnts/
plural of “footprint” — a mark of a foot or shoe on a surface
From this reading There were footprints on the snow though, leading away through the Park in the direction of Muddlebury, and I came back to breakfast with a heart lightened of at least half its load.
fragmentsnounUS /ˈfræɡmənts/
plural of “fragment” — a piece broken off or cut off of something else
From this reading Sure enough, large fragments of ice were floating about where the surface had been broken, close to the side farthest from the Hall.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading No sooner had I made my escape from Aunt Horsingham's room, than, in utter defiance of the cold thaw just commencing, I put my bonnet on and made the best of my way to the moat.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading No sooner had I made my escape from Aunt Horsingham's room, than, in utter defiance of the cold thaw just commencing, I put my bonnet on and made the best of my way to the moat.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading There were footprints on the snow though, leading away through the Park in the direction of Muddlebury, and I came back to breakfast with a heart lightened of at least half its load.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading Sure enough, large fragments of ice were floating about where the surface had been broken, close to the side farthest from the Hall.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading There were footprints on the snow though, leading away through the Park in the direction of Muddlebury, and I came back to breakfast with a heart lightened of at least half its load.
Horsingham's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No sooner had I made my escape from Aunt Horsingham's room, than, in utter defiance of the cold thaw just commencing, I put my bonnet on and made the best of my way to the moat.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading It may easily be believed that I took an early walk next morning before breakfast.
water frozen in the solid state
From this reading Sure enough, large fragments of ice were floating about where the surface had been broken, close to the side farthest from the Hall.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading We were to return to London immediately.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading No sooner had I made my escape from Aunt Horsingham's room, than, in utter defiance of the cold thaw just commencing, I put my bonnet on and made the best of my way to the moat.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It may easily be believed that I took an early walk next morning before breakfast.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading There were footprints on the snow though, leading away through the Park in the direction of Muddlebury, and I came back to breakfast with a heart lightened of at least half its load.
and nothing more
From this reading No sooner had I made my escape from Aunt Horsingham's room, than, in utter defiance of the cold thaw just commencing, I put my bonnet on and made the best of my way to the moat.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Sure enough, large fragments of ice were floating about where the surface had been broken, close to the side farthest from the Hall.
indicating the most important performer or role
From this reading There were footprints on the snow though, leading away through the Park in the direction of Muddlebury, and I came back to breakfast with a heart lightened of at least half its load.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading There were footprints on the snow though, leading away through the Park in the direction of Muddlebury, and I came back to breakfast with a heart lightened of at least half its load.
lightenedverbUS /ˈlaɪtənd/
past form of “lighten” — make more cheerful
From this reading There were footprints on the snow though, leading away through the Park in the direction of Muddlebury, and I came back to breakfast with a heart lightened of at least half its load.
loadnounUS /loʊd/
weight to be borne or conveyed
From this reading There were footprints on the snow though, leading away through the Park in the direction of Muddlebury, and I came back to breakfast with a heart lightened of at least half its load.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading We were to return to London immediately.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading No sooner had I made my escape from Aunt Horsingham's room, than, in utter defiance of the cold thaw just commencing, I put my bonnet on and made the best of my way to the moat.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading It may easily be believed that I took an early walk next morning before breakfast.
moatnounUS /moʊt/
ditch dug as a fortification and usually filled with water
From this reading No sooner had I made my escape from Aunt Horsingham's room, than, in utter defiance of the cold thaw just commencing, I put my bonnet on and made the best of my way to the moat.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading It may easily be believed that I took an early walk next morning before breakfast.
Muddlebury
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were footprints on the snow though, leading away through the Park in the direction of Muddlebury, and I came back to breakfast with a heart lightened of at least half its load.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading No sooner had I made my escape from Aunt Horsingham's room, than, in utter defiance of the cold thaw just commencing, I put my bonnet on and made the best of my way to the moat.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading It may easily be believed that I took an early walk next morning before breakfast.
not any; not one
From this reading No sooner had I made my escape from Aunt Horsingham's room, than, in utter defiance of the cold thaw just commencing, I put my bonnet on and made the best of my way to the moat.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading No sooner had I made my escape from Aunt Horsingham's room, than, in utter defiance of the cold thaw just commencing, I put my bonnet on and made the best of my way to the moat.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading No sooner had I made my escape from Aunt Horsingham's room, than, in utter defiance of the cold thaw just commencing, I put my bonnet on and made the best of my way to the moat.
a large area of land preserved in its natural state as public property
From this reading There were footprints on the snow though, leading away through the Park in the direction of Muddlebury, and I came back to breakfast with a heart lightened of at least half its load.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading No sooner had I made my escape from Aunt Horsingham's room, than, in utter defiance of the cold thaw just commencing, I put my bonnet on and made the best of my way to the moat.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading We were to return to London immediately.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading No sooner had I made my escape from Aunt Horsingham's room, than, in utter defiance of the cold thaw just commencing, I put my bonnet on and made the best of my way to the moat.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Sure enough, large fragments of ice were floating about where the surface had been broken, close to the side farthest from the Hall.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading There were footprints on the snow though, leading away through the Park in the direction of Muddlebury, and I came back to breakfast with a heart lightened of at least half its load.
comparatives of “soon” or “early”
From this reading No sooner had I made my escape from Aunt Horsingham's room, than, in utter defiance of the cold thaw just commencing, I put my bonnet on and made the best of my way to the moat.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading Sure enough, large fragments of ice were floating about where the surface had been broken, close to the side farthest from the Hall.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading Sure enough, large fragments of ice were floating about where the surface had been broken, close to the side farthest from the Hall.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading No sooner had I made my escape from Aunt Horsingham's room, than, in utter defiance of the cold thaw just commencing, I put my bonnet on and made the best of my way to the moat.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It may easily be believed that I took an early walk next morning before breakfast.
thawnounUS /θɔː/
the process whereby heat changes something from a solid to a liquid
From this reading No sooner had I made my escape from Aunt Horsingham's room, than, in utter defiance of the cold thaw just commencing, I put my bonnet on and made the best of my way to the moat.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading No sooner had I made my escape from Aunt Horsingham's room, than, in utter defiance of the cold thaw just commencing, I put my bonnet on and made the best of my way to the moat.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were footprints on the snow though, leading away through the Park in the direction of Muddlebury, and I came back to breakfast with a heart lightened of at least half its load.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading There were footprints on the snow though, leading away through the Park in the direction of Muddlebury, and I came back to breakfast with a heart lightened of at least half its load.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading There were footprints on the snow though, leading away through the Park in the direction of Muddlebury, and I came back to breakfast with a heart lightened of at least half its load.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading No sooner had I made my escape from Aunt Horsingham's room, than, in utter defiance of the cold thaw just commencing, I put my bonnet on and made the best of my way to the moat.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading It may easily be believed that I took an early walk next morning before breakfast.
articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise
From this reading No sooner had I made my escape from Aunt Horsingham's room, than, in utter defiance of the cold thaw just commencing, I put my bonnet on and made the best of my way to the moat.
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading It may easily be believed that I took an early walk next morning before breakfast.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading No sooner had I made my escape from Aunt Horsingham's room, than, in utter defiance of the cold thaw just commencing, I put my bonnet on and made the best of my way to the moat.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We were to return to London immediately.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Sure enough, large fragments of ice were floating about where the surface had been broken, close to the side farthest from the Hall.
in or at the place that
From this reading Sure enough, large fragments of ice were floating about where the surface had been broken, close to the side farthest from the Hall.
in the company of; together with
From this reading There were footprints on the snow though, leading away through the Park in the direction of Muddlebury, and I came back to breakfast with a heart lightened of at least half its load.
