used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There is a short cut which leads from my house to the church, and therefore, of course, to the rectory, which stands, as rectories often do, close to the church.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It was on this path, a quarter of a mile or so from the road, that I met Canon Beresford, about ten days after my interview with Lalage in the pigsty.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It was on this path, a quarter of a mile or so from the road, that I met Canon Beresford, about ten days after my interview with Lalage in the pigsty.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There is a short cut which leads from my house to the church, and therefore, of course, to the rectory, which stands, as rectories often do, close to the church.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There is a short cut which leads from my house to the church, and therefore, of course, to the rectory, which stands, as rectories often do, close to the church.
attackingadjectiveUS /əˈtækɪŋ/
disposed to attack
From this reading Certain wood pigeons of low morality had been attacking our gooseberry bushes.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The path--it can only be used by those who walk--leads past the garden and through a wood to the high road.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Certain wood pigeons of low morality had been attacking our gooseberry bushes.
Beresford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was on this path, a quarter of a mile or so from the road, that I met Canon Beresford, about ten days after my interview with Lalage in the pigsty.
plural of “bush” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading Certain wood pigeons of low morality had been attacking our gooseberry bushes.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The path--it can only be used by those who walk--leads past the garden and through a wood to the high road.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading The path--it can only be used by those who walk--leads past the garden and through a wood to the high road.
CanonnounUS /ˈkænən/
a rule or especially body of rules or principles generally established as valid and fundamental in a field of art or philosophy
From this reading It was on this path, a quarter of a mile or so from the road, that I met Canon Beresford, about ten days after my interview with Lalage in the pigsty.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading Certain wood pigeons of low morality had been attacking our gooseberry bushes.
one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship
From this reading There is a short cut which leads from my house to the church, and therefore, of course, to the rectory, which stands, as rectories often do, close to the church.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading There is a short cut which leads from my house to the church, and therefore, of course, to the rectory, which stands, as rectories often do, close to the church.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading There is a short cut which leads from my house to the church, and therefore, of course, to the rectory, which stands, as rectories often do, close to the church.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading There is a short cut which leads from my house to the church, and therefore, of course, to the rectory, which stands, as rectories often do, close to the church.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading It was on this path, a quarter of a mile or so from the road, that I met Canon Beresford, about ten days after my interview with Lalage in the pigsty.
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading My mother, instigated by the gardener, demanded their destruction, and so I went out with a gun.
destructionnounUS /dɪˈstrʌkʃən/
the termination of something by causing so much damage to it that it cannot be repaired or no longer exists
From this reading My mother, instigated by the gardener, demanded their destruction, and so I went out with a gun.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading There is a short cut which leads from my house to the church, and therefore, of course, to the rectory, which stands, as rectories often do, close to the church.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading There is a short cut which leads from my house to the church, and therefore, of course, to the rectory, which stands, as rectories often do, close to the church.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading The path--it can only be used by those who walk--leads past the garden and through a wood to the high road.
gardenernounUS /ˈɡɑːrdənər/
someone who takes care of a garden
From this reading My mother, instigated by the gardener, demanded their destruction, and so I went out with a gun.
gooseberrynounUS /ˈɡuːsberi/
spiny Eurasian shrub having greenish purple-tinged flowers and ovoid yellow-green or red-purple berries
From this reading Certain wood pigeons of low morality had been attacking our gooseberry bushes.
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading My mother, instigated by the gardener, demanded their destruction, and so I went out with a gun.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Certain wood pigeons of low morality had been attacking our gooseberry bushes.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The path--it can only be used by those who walk--leads past the garden and through a wood to the high road.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading There is a short cut which leads from my house to the church, and therefore, of course, to the rectory, which stands, as rectories often do, close to the church.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading It was on this path, a quarter of a mile or so from the road, that I met Canon Beresford, about ten days after my interview with Lalage in the pigsty.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was on this path, a quarter of a mile or so from the road, that I met Canon Beresford, about ten days after my interview with Lalage in the pigsty.
instigatedverbUS /ˈɪnstəɡeɪtɪd/
past form of “instigate” — provoke or stir up
From this reading My mother, instigated by the gardener, demanded their destruction, and so I went out with a gun.
conduct an interview in television, newspaper, and radio reporting
From this reading It was on this path, a quarter of a mile or so from the road, that I met Canon Beresford, about ten days after my interview with Lalage in the pigsty.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There is a short cut which leads from my house to the church, and therefore, of course, to the rectory, which stands, as rectories often do, close to the church.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The path--it can only be used by those who walk--leads past the garden and through a wood to the high road.
Lalage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was on this path, a quarter of a mile or so from the road, that I met Canon Beresford, about ten days after my interview with Lalage in the pigsty.
leadsnounUS /liːdz/
plural of “lead” — an advantage held by a competitor in a race
From this reading There is a short cut which leads from my house to the church, and therefore, of course, to the rectory, which stands, as rectories often do, close to the church.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Certain wood pigeons of low morality had been attacking our gooseberry bushes.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading It was on this path, a quarter of a mile or so from the road, that I met Canon Beresford, about ten days after my interview with Lalage in the pigsty.
a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading It was on this path, a quarter of a mile or so from the road, that I met Canon Beresford, about ten days after my interview with Lalage in the pigsty.
moralitynounUS /mərˈæləti/
concern with the distinction between good and evil or right and wrong; right or good conduct
From this reading Certain wood pigeons of low morality had been attacking our gooseberry bushes.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading My mother, instigated by the gardener, demanded their destruction, and so I went out with a gun.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading There is a short cut which leads from my house to the church, and therefore, of course, to the rectory, which stands, as rectories often do, close to the church.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There is a short cut which leads from my house to the church, and therefore, of course, to the rectory, which stands, as rectories often do, close to the church.
many times at short intervals
From this reading There is a short cut which leads from my house to the church, and therefore, of course, to the rectory, which stands, as rectories often do, close to the church.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was on this path, a quarter of a mile or so from the road, that I met Canon Beresford, about ten days after my interview with Lalage in the pigsty.
and nothing more
From this reading The path--it can only be used by those who walk--leads past the garden and through a wood to the high road.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was on this path, a quarter of a mile or so from the road, that I met Canon Beresford, about ten days after my interview with Lalage in the pigsty.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Certain wood pigeons of low morality had been attacking our gooseberry bushes.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading My mother, instigated by the gardener, demanded their destruction, and so I went out with a gun.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading The path--it can only be used by those who walk--leads past the garden and through a wood to the high road.
a course of conduct
From this reading The path--it can only be used by those who walk--leads past the garden and through a wood to the high road.
pigeonsnounUS /ˈpɪdʒənz/
plural of “pigeon” — wild and domesticated birds having a heavy body and short legs
From this reading Certain wood pigeons of low morality had been attacking our gooseberry bushes.
pigstynounUS /ˈpɪɡstaɪ/
a pen for swine
From this reading It was on this path, a quarter of a mile or so from the road, that I met Canon Beresford, about ten days after my interview with Lalage in the pigsty.
one of four equal parts
From this reading It was on this path, a quarter of a mile or so from the road, that I met Canon Beresford, about ten days after my interview with Lalage in the pigsty.
rectories
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is a short cut which leads from my house to the church, and therefore, of course, to the rectory, which stands, as rectories often do, close to the church.
rectorynounUS /ˈrektəri/
an official residence provided by a church for its parson or vicar or rector
From this reading There is a short cut which leads from my house to the church, and therefore, of course, to the rectory, which stands, as rectories often do, close to the church.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading The path--it can only be used by those who walk--leads past the garden and through a wood to the high road.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading There is a short cut which leads from my house to the church, and therefore, of course, to the rectory, which stands, as rectories often do, close to the church.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was on this path, a quarter of a mile or so from the road, that I met Canon Beresford, about ten days after my interview with Lalage in the pigsty.
plural of “stand” — a support or foundation
From this reading There is a short cut which leads from my house to the church, and therefore, of course, to the rectory, which stands, as rectories often do, close to the church.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading It was on this path, a quarter of a mile or so from the road, that I met Canon Beresford, about ten days after my interview with Lalage in the pigsty.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was on this path, a quarter of a mile or so from the road, that I met Canon Beresford, about ten days after my interview with Lalage in the pigsty.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There is a short cut which leads from my house to the church, and therefore, of course, to the rectory, which stands, as rectories often do, close to the church.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading My mother, instigated by the gardener, demanded their destruction, and so I went out with a gun.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There is a short cut which leads from my house to the church, and therefore, of course, to the rectory, which stands, as rectories often do, close to the church.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading There is a short cut which leads from my house to the church, and therefore, of course, to the rectory, which stands, as rectories often do, close to the church.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It was on this path, a quarter of a mile or so from the road, that I met Canon Beresford, about ten days after my interview with Lalage in the pigsty.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading The path--it can only be used by those who walk--leads past the garden and through a wood to the high road.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The path--it can only be used by those who walk--leads past the garden and through a wood to the high road.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There is a short cut which leads from my house to the church, and therefore, of course, to the rectory, which stands, as rectories often do, close to the church.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading The path--it can only be used by those who walk--leads past the garden and through a wood to the high road.
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading The path--it can only be used by those who walk--leads past the garden and through a wood to the high road.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was on this path, a quarter of a mile or so from the road, that I met Canon Beresford, about ten days after my interview with Lalage in the pigsty.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading My mother, instigated by the gardener, demanded their destruction, and so I went out with a gun.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There is a short cut which leads from my house to the church, and therefore, of course, to the rectory, which stands, as rectories often do, close to the church.
which person or people
From this reading The path--it can only be used by those who walk--leads past the garden and through a wood to the high road.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was on this path, a quarter of a mile or so from the road, that I met Canon Beresford, about ten days after my interview with Lalage in the pigsty.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading The path--it can only be used by those who walk--leads past the garden and through a wood to the high road.
