Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading _Krindlesyke is a remote shepherd’s cottage on the Northumbrian fells, at least three miles from any other habitation.

the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading EZRA BARRASFORD, an old herd, blind and decrepit, sits in an armchair in the but, or living-room, near the open door, on a mild afternoon in April.

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

From this reading EZRA BARRASFORD, an old herd, blind and decrepit, sits in an armchair in the but, or living-room, near the open door, on a mild afternoon in April.

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

From this reading It consists of two rooms, a but and a ben.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading _Krindlesyke is a remote shepherd’s cottage on the Northumbrian fells, at least three miles from any other habitation.

the month following March and preceding May

From this reading EZRA BARRASFORD, an old herd, blind and decrepit, sits in an armchair in the but, or living-room, near the open door, on a mild afternoon in April.

chair with a support on each side for arms

From this reading EZRA BARRASFORD, an old herd, blind and decrepit, sits in an armchair in the but, or living-room, near the open door, on a mild afternoon in April.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading _Krindlesyke is a remote shepherd’s cottage on the Northumbrian fells, at least three miles from any other habitation.

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

From this reading EZRA BARRASFORD, an old herd, blind and decrepit, sits in an armchair in the but, or living-room, near the open door, on a mild afternoon in April.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading ELIZA BARRASFORD, his wife, is busy, making griddle-cakes over the peat fire._ ELIZA (_glancing at the wag-at-the-wa’_): It’s hard on three o’clock, and they’ll be home Before so very long now.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading ELIZA BARRASFORD, his wife, is busy, making griddle-cakes over the peat fire._ ELIZA (_glancing at the wag-at-the-wa’_): It’s hard on three o’clock, and they’ll be home Before so very long now.

a mountain or tall hill

From this reading It consists of two rooms, a but and a ben.

people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group

From this reading EZRA BARRASFORD, an old herd, blind and decrepit, sits in an armchair in the but, or living-room, near the open door, on a mild afternoon in April.

actively or fully engaged or occupied

From this reading ELIZA BARRASFORD, his wife, is busy, making griddle-cakes over the peat fire._ ELIZA (_glancing at the wag-at-the-wa’_): It’s hard on three o’clock, and they’ll be home Before so very long now.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It consists of two rooms, a but and a ben.

third-person singular of “consist” — originate

From this reading It consists of two rooms, a but and a ben.

a small house with a single story

From this reading _Krindlesyke is a remote shepherd’s cottage on the Northumbrian fells, at least three miles from any other habitation.

worn and broken down by hard use

From this reading EZRA BARRASFORD, an old herd, blind and decrepit, sits in an armchair in the but, or living-room, near the open door, on a mild afternoon in April.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading EZRA BARRASFORD, an old herd, blind and decrepit, sits in an armchair in the but, or living-room, near the open door, on a mild afternoon in April.

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

From this reading EZRA: Eh, what’s that?

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

From this reading ELIZA BARRASFORD, his wife, is busy, making griddle-cakes over the peat fire._ ELIZA (_glancing at the wag-at-the-wa’_): It’s hard on three o’clock, and they’ll be home Before so very long now.

a Jewish priest and scribe sent by the Persian king to restore Jewish law and worship in Jerusalem

From this reading EZRA BARRASFORD, an old herd, blind and decrepit, sits in an armchair in the but, or living-room, near the open door, on a mild afternoon in April.

plural of “fell” — the dressed skin of an animal (especially a large animal)

From this reading _Krindlesyke is a remote shepherd’s cottage on the Northumbrian fells, at least three miles from any other habitation.

start firing a weapon

From this reading ELIZA BARRASFORD, his wife, is busy, making griddle-cakes over the peat fire._ ELIZA (_glancing at the wag-at-the-wa’_): It’s hard on three o’clock, and they’ll be home Before so very long now.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading _Krindlesyke is a remote shepherd’s cottage on the Northumbrian fells, at least three miles from any other habitation.

-ing form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at

From this reading ELIZA BARRASFORD, his wife, is busy, making griddle-cakes over the peat fire._ ELIZA (_glancing at the wag-at-the-wa’_): It’s hard on three o’clock, and they’ll be home Before so very long now.

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

From this reading ELIZA BARRASFORD, his wife, is busy, making griddle-cakes over the peat fire._ ELIZA (_glancing at the wag-at-the-wa’_): It’s hard on three o’clock, and they’ll be home Before so very long now.

the native habitat or home of an animal or plant

From this reading _Krindlesyke is a remote shepherd’s cottage on the Northumbrian fells, at least three miles from any other habitation.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading ELIZA BARRASFORD, his wife, is busy, making griddle-cakes over the peat fire._ ELIZA (_glancing at the wag-at-the-wa’_): It’s hard on three o’clock, and they’ll be home Before so very long now.

a group of cattle or sheep or other domestic mammals all of the same kind that are herded by humans

From this reading EZRA BARRASFORD, an old herd, blind and decrepit, sits in an armchair in the but, or living-room, near the open door, on a mild afternoon in April.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading ELIZA BARRASFORD, his wife, is busy, making griddle-cakes over the peat fire._ ELIZA (_glancing at the wag-at-the-wa’_): It’s hard on three o’clock, and they’ll be home Before so very long now.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading ELIZA BARRASFORD, his wife, is busy, making griddle-cakes over the peat fire._ ELIZA (_glancing at the wag-at-the-wa’_): It’s hard on three o’clock, and they’ll be home Before so very long now.

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

From this reading EZRA BARRASFORD, an old herd, blind and decrepit, sits in an armchair in the but, or living-room, near the open door, on a mild afternoon in April.

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

From this reading _Krindlesyke is a remote shepherd’s cottage on the Northumbrian fells, at least three miles from any other habitation.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It consists of two rooms, a but and a ben.

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

From this reading ELIZA BARRASFORD, his wife, is busy, making griddle-cakes over the peat fire._ ELIZA (_glancing at the wag-at-the-wa’_): It’s hard on three o’clock, and they’ll be home Before so very long now.

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

From this reading _Krindlesyke is a remote shepherd’s cottage on the Northumbrian fells, at least three miles from any other habitation.

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 _Krindlesyke is a remote shepherd’s cottage on the Northumbrian fells, at least three miles from any other habitation.

a room in a private house or establishment where people can sit and talk and relax

From this reading EZRA BARRASFORD, an old herd, blind and decrepit, sits in an armchair in the but, or living-room, near the open door, on a mild afternoon in April.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading ELIZA BARRASFORD, his wife, is busy, making griddle-cakes over the peat fire._ ELIZA (_glancing at the wag-at-the-wa’_): It’s hard on three o’clock, and they’ll be home Before so very long now.

the act that results in something coming to be

From this reading ELIZA BARRASFORD, his wife, is busy, making griddle-cakes over the peat fire._ ELIZA (_glancing at the wag-at-the-wa’_): It’s hard on three o’clock, and they’ll be home Before so very long now.

moderate in type or degree or effect or force; far from extreme

From this reading EZRA BARRASFORD, an old herd, blind and decrepit, sits in an armchair in the but, or living-room, near the open door, on a mild afternoon in April.

plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading _Krindlesyke is a remote shepherd’s cottage on the Northumbrian fells, at least three miles from any other habitation.

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading EZRA BARRASFORD, an old herd, blind and decrepit, sits in an armchair in the but, or living-room, near the open door, on a mild afternoon in April.

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

From this reading _Krindlesyke is a remote shepherd’s cottage on the Northumbrian fells, at least three miles from any other habitation.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading ELIZA BARRASFORD, his wife, is busy, making griddle-cakes over the peat fire._ ELIZA (_glancing at the wag-at-the-wa’_): It’s hard on three o’clock, and they’ll be home Before so very long now.

according to the clock

From this reading ELIZA BARRASFORD, his wife, is busy, making griddle-cakes over the peat fire._ ELIZA (_glancing at the wag-at-the-wa’_): It’s hard on three o’clock, and they’ll be home Before so very long now.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It consists of two rooms, a but and a ben.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading EZRA BARRASFORD, an old herd, blind and decrepit, sits in an armchair in the but, or living-room, near the open door, on a mild afternoon in April.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading _Krindlesyke is a remote shepherd’s cottage on the Northumbrian fells, at least three miles from any other habitation.

To move from a closed position.

From this reading EZRA BARRASFORD, an old herd, blind and decrepit, sits in an armchair in the but, or living-room, near the open door, on a mild afternoon in April.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading EZRA BARRASFORD, an old herd, blind and decrepit, sits in an armchair in the but, or living-room, near the open door, on a mild afternoon in April.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading _Krindlesyke is a remote shepherd’s cottage on the Northumbrian fells, at least three miles from any other habitation.

above and across; more than

From this reading ELIZA BARRASFORD, his wife, is busy, making griddle-cakes over the peat fire._ ELIZA (_glancing at the wag-at-the-wa’_): It’s hard on three o’clock, and they’ll be home Before so very long now.

partially carbonized vegetable matter saturated with water; can be used as a fuel when dried

From this reading ELIZA BARRASFORD, his wife, is busy, making griddle-cakes over the peat fire._ ELIZA (_glancing at the wag-at-the-wa’_): It’s hard on three o’clock, and they’ll be home Before so very long now.

located far away spatially

From this reading _Krindlesyke is a remote shepherd’s cottage on the Northumbrian fells, at least three miles from any other habitation.

apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)

From this reading It consists of two rooms, a but and a ben.

possessive form of “shepherd” — a clergyman who watches over a group of people

From this reading _Krindlesyke is a remote shepherd’s cottage on the Northumbrian fells, at least three miles from any other habitation.

third-person singular of “sit” — be seated

From this reading EZRA BARRASFORD, an old herd, blind and decrepit, sits in an armchair in the but, or living-room, near the open door, on a mild afternoon in April.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading ELIZA BARRASFORD, his wife, is busy, making griddle-cakes over the peat fire._ ELIZA (_glancing at the wag-at-the-wa’_): It’s hard on three o’clock, and they’ll be home Before so very long now.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading EZRA: Eh, what’s that?

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

From this reading _Krindlesyke is a remote shepherd’s cottage on the Northumbrian fells, at least three miles from any other habitation.

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

From this reading ELIZA BARRASFORD, his wife, is busy, making griddle-cakes over the peat fire._ ELIZA (_glancing at the wag-at-the-wa’_): It’s hard on three o’clock, and they’ll be home Before so very long now.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading _Krindlesyke is a remote shepherd’s cottage on the Northumbrian fells, at least three miles from any other habitation.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading It consists of two rooms, a but and a ben.

precisely as stated

From this reading ELIZA BARRASFORD, his wife, is busy, making griddle-cakes over the peat fire._ ELIZA (_glancing at the wag-at-the-wa’_): It’s hard on three o’clock, and they’ll be home Before so very long now.

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

From this reading ELIZA BARRASFORD, his wife, is busy, making griddle-cakes over the peat fire._ ELIZA (_glancing at the wag-at-the-wa’_): It’s hard on three o’clock, and they’ll be home Before so very long now.

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

From this reading EZRA: Eh, what’s that?

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading ELIZA BARRASFORD, his wife, is busy, making griddle-cakes over the peat fire._ ELIZA (_glancing at the wag-at-the-wa’_): It’s hard on three o’clock, and they’ll be home Before so very long now.