Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

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

From this reading Whenever, therefore, he happened upon a genuine Dutch family, snugly shut up in its low-roofed farmhouse under a spreading sycamore, he looked upon it as a little clasped volume of black-letter, and studied it with the zeal of a book worm.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading The result of all these researches was a history of the province during the reign of the Dutch governors, which he published some years since.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading RIP VAN WINKLE The following tale was found among the papers of the late Diedrich Knickerbocker, an old gentleman of New York, who was very curious in the Dutch history of the province, and the manners of the descendants from its primitive settlers.

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

From this reading RIP VAN WINKLE The following tale was found among the papers of the late Diedrich Knickerbocker, an old gentleman of New York, who was very curious in the Dutch history of the province, and the manners of the descendants from its primitive settlers.

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

From this reading RIP VAN WINKLE The following tale was found among the papers of the late Diedrich Knickerbocker, an old gentleman of New York, who was very curious in the Dutch history of the province, and the manners of the descendants from its primitive settlers.

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading His historical researches, however, did not lie so much among books as among men; for the former are lamentably scanty on his favourite topics; whereas he found the old burghers, and still more their wives, rich in that legendary lore so invaluable to true history.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading His historical researches, however, did not lie so much among books as among men; for the former are lamentably scanty on his favourite topics; whereas he found the old burghers, and still more their wives, rich in that legendary lore so invaluable to true history.

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

From this reading There have been various opinions as to the literary character of his work, and, to tell the truth, it is not a whit better than it should be.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading There have been various opinions as to the literary character of his work, and, to tell the truth, it is not a whit better than it should be.

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading There have been various opinions as to the literary character of his work, and, to tell the truth, it is not a whit better than it should be.

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

From this reading Whenever, therefore, he happened upon a genuine Dutch family, snugly shut up in its low-roofed farmhouse under a spreading sycamore, he looked upon it as a little clasped volume of black-letter, and studied it with the zeal of a book worm.

a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)

From this reading Whenever, therefore, he happened upon a genuine Dutch family, snugly shut up in its low-roofed farmhouse under a spreading sycamore, he looked upon it as a little clasped volume of black-letter, and studied it with the zeal of a book worm.

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading His historical researches, however, did not lie so much among books as among men; for the former are lamentably scanty on his favourite topics; whereas he found the old burghers, and still more their wives, rich in that legendary lore so invaluable to true history.

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

From this reading His historical researches, however, did not lie so much among books as among men; for the former are lamentably scanty on his favourite topics; whereas he found the old burghers, and still more their wives, rich in that legendary lore so invaluable to true history.

an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)

From this reading There have been various opinions as to the literary character of his work, and, to tell the truth, it is not a whit better than it should be.

past form of “clasp” — hold firmly and tightly

From this reading Whenever, therefore, he happened upon a genuine Dutch family, snugly shut up in its low-roofed farmhouse under a spreading sycamore, he looked upon it as a little clasped volume of black-letter, and studied it with the zeal of a book worm.

beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

From this reading RIP VAN WINKLE The following tale was found among the papers of the late Diedrich Knickerbocker, an old gentleman of New York, who was very curious in the Dutch history of the province, and the manners of the descendants from its primitive settlers.

all of the offspring of a given progenitor

From this reading RIP VAN WINKLE The following tale was found among the papers of the late Diedrich Knickerbocker, an old gentleman of New York, who was very curious in the Dutch history of the province, and the manners of the descendants from its primitive settlers.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading His historical researches, however, did not lie so much among books as among men; for the former are lamentably scanty on his favourite topics; whereas he found the old burghers, and still more their wives, rich in that legendary lore so invaluable to true history.

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

From this reading RIP VAN WINKLE The following tale was found among the papers of the late Diedrich Knickerbocker, an old gentleman of New York, who was very curious in the Dutch history of the province, and the manners of the descendants from its primitive settlers.

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading The result of all these researches was a history of the province during the reign of the Dutch governors, which he published some years since.

of or relating to the Netherlands or its people or culture

From this reading RIP VAN WINKLE The following tale was found among the papers of the late Diedrich Knickerbocker, an old gentleman of New York, who was very curious in the Dutch history of the province, and the manners of the descendants from its primitive settlers.

a social unit living together

From this reading Whenever, therefore, he happened upon a genuine Dutch family, snugly shut up in its low-roofed farmhouse under a spreading sycamore, he looked upon it as a little clasped volume of black-letter, and studied it with the zeal of a book worm.

house for a farmer and family

From this reading Whenever, therefore, he happened upon a genuine Dutch family, snugly shut up in its low-roofed farmhouse under a spreading sycamore, he looked upon it as a little clasped volume of black-letter, and studied it with the zeal of a book worm.

a competitor thought likely to win

From this reading His historical researches, however, did not lie so much among books as among men; for the former are lamentably scanty on his favourite topics; whereas he found the old burghers, and still more their wives, rich in that legendary lore so invaluable to true history.

about to be mentioned or specified

From this reading RIP VAN WINKLE The following tale was found among the papers of the late Diedrich Knickerbocker, an old gentleman of New York, who was very curious in the Dutch history of the province, and the manners of the descendants from its primitive settlers.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading His historical researches, however, did not lie so much among books as among men; for the former are lamentably scanty on his favourite topics; whereas he found the old burghers, and still more their wives, rich in that legendary lore so invaluable to true history.

referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)

From this reading His historical researches, however, did not lie so much among books as among men; for the former are lamentably scanty on his favourite topics; whereas he found the old burghers, and still more their wives, rich in that legendary lore so invaluable to true history.

set up or found

From this reading RIP VAN WINKLE The following tale was found among the papers of the late Diedrich Knickerbocker, an old gentleman of New York, who was very curious in the Dutch history of the province, and the manners of the descendants from its primitive settlers.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading RIP VAN WINKLE The following tale was found among the papers of the late Diedrich Knickerbocker, an old gentleman of New York, who was very curious in the Dutch history of the province, and the manners of the descendants from its primitive settlers.

a man of refinement

From this reading RIP VAN WINKLE The following tale was found among the papers of the late Diedrich Knickerbocker, an old gentleman of New York, who was very curious in the Dutch history of the province, and the manners of the descendants from its primitive settlers.

not fake or counterfeit

From this reading Whenever, therefore, he happened upon a genuine Dutch family, snugly shut up in its low-roofed farmhouse under a spreading sycamore, he looked upon it as a little clasped volume of black-letter, and studied it with the zeal of a book worm.

plural of “governor” — the head of a state government

From this reading The result of all these researches was a history of the province during the reign of the Dutch governors, which he published some years since.

past form of “happen” — come to pass

From this reading Whenever, therefore, he happened upon a genuine Dutch family, snugly shut up in its low-roofed farmhouse under a spreading sycamore, he looked upon it as a little clasped volume of black-letter, and studied it with the zeal of a book worm.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading There have been various opinions as to the literary character of his work, and, to tell the truth, it is not a whit better than it should be.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading His historical researches, however, did not lie so much among books as among men; for the former are lamentably scanty on his favourite topics; whereas he found the old burghers, and still more their wives, rich in that legendary lore so invaluable to true history.

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

From this reading His historical researches, however, did not lie so much among books as among men; for the former are lamentably scanty on his favourite topics; whereas he found the old burghers, and still more their wives, rich in that legendary lore so invaluable to true history.

of or relating to the study of history

From this reading His historical researches, however, did not lie so much among books as among men; for the former are lamentably scanty on his favourite topics; whereas he found the old burghers, and still more their wives, rich in that legendary lore so invaluable to true history.

the aggregate of past events

From this reading RIP VAN WINKLE The following tale was found among the papers of the late Diedrich Knickerbocker, an old gentleman of New York, who was very curious in the Dutch history of the province, and the manners of the descendants from its primitive settlers.

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading His historical researches, however, did not lie so much among books as among men; for the former are lamentably scanty on his favourite topics; whereas he found the old burghers, and still more their wives, rich in that legendary lore so invaluable to true history.

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

From this reading RIP VAN WINKLE The following tale was found among the papers of the late Diedrich Knickerbocker, an old gentleman of New York, who was very curious in the Dutch history of the province, and the manners of the descendants from its primitive settlers.

having incalculable monetary, intellectual, or spiritual worth

From this reading His historical researches, however, did not lie so much among books as among men; for the former are lamentably scanty on his favourite topics; whereas he found the old burghers, and still more their wives, rich in that legendary lore so invaluable to true history.

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

From this reading There have been various opinions as to the literary character of his work, and, to tell the truth, it is not a whit better than it should be.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Whenever, therefore, he happened upon a genuine Dutch family, snugly shut up in its low-roofed farmhouse under a spreading sycamore, he looked upon it as a little clasped volume of black-letter, and studied it with the zeal of a book worm.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading RIP VAN WINKLE The following tale was found among the papers of the late Diedrich Knickerbocker, an old gentleman of New York, who was very curious in the Dutch history of the province, and the manners of the descendants from its primitive settlers.

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

From this reading RIP VAN WINKLE The following tale was found among the papers of the late Diedrich Knickerbocker, an old gentleman of New York, who was very curious in the Dutch history of the province, and the manners of the descendants from its primitive settlers.

in an unfortunate or deplorable manner

From this reading His historical researches, however, did not lie so much among books as among men; for the former are lamentably scanty on his favourite topics; whereas he found the old burghers, and still more their wives, rich in that legendary lore so invaluable to true history.

being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time

From this reading RIP VAN WINKLE The following tale was found among the papers of the late Diedrich Knickerbocker, an old gentleman of New York, who was very curious in the Dutch history of the province, and the manners of the descendants from its primitive settlers.

so celebrated as to having taken on the nature of a legend

From this reading His historical researches, however, did not lie so much among books as among men; for the former are lamentably scanty on his favourite topics; whereas he found the old burghers, and still more their wives, rich in that legendary lore so invaluable to true history.

be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position

From this reading His historical researches, however, did not lie so much among books as among men; for the former are lamentably scanty on his favourite topics; whereas he found the old burghers, and still more their wives, rich in that legendary lore so invaluable to true history.

of or relating to or characteristic of literature

From this reading There have been various opinions as to the literary character of his work, and, to tell the truth, it is not a whit better than it should be.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Whenever, therefore, he happened upon a genuine Dutch family, snugly shut up in its low-roofed farmhouse under a spreading sycamore, he looked upon it as a little clasped volume of black-letter, and studied it with the zeal of a book worm.

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading Whenever, therefore, he happened upon a genuine Dutch family, snugly shut up in its low-roofed farmhouse under a spreading sycamore, he looked upon it as a little clasped volume of black-letter, and studied it with the zeal of a book worm.

knowledge gained through tradition or anecdote

From this reading His historical researches, however, did not lie so much among books as among men; for the former are lamentably scanty on his favourite topics; whereas he found the old burghers, and still more their wives, rich in that legendary lore so invaluable to true history.

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

From this reading Whenever, therefore, he happened upon a genuine Dutch family, snugly shut up in its low-roofed farmhouse under a spreading sycamore, he looked upon it as a little clasped volume of black-letter, and studied it with the zeal of a book worm.

social deportment

From this reading RIP VAN WINKLE The following tale was found among the papers of the late Diedrich Knickerbocker, an old gentleman of New York, who was very curious in the Dutch history of the province, and the manners of the descendants from its primitive settlers.

the force of workers available

From this reading His historical researches, however, did not lie so much among books as among men; for the former are lamentably scanty on his favourite topics; whereas he found the old burghers, and still more their wives, rich in that legendary lore so invaluable to true history.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading His historical researches, however, did not lie so much among books as among men; for the former are lamentably scanty on his favourite topics; whereas he found the old burghers, and still more their wives, rich in that legendary lore so invaluable to true history.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading His historical researches, however, did not lie so much among books as among men; for the former are lamentably scanty on his favourite topics; whereas he found the old burghers, and still more their wives, rich in that legendary lore so invaluable to true history.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading RIP VAN WINKLE The following tale was found among the papers of the late Diedrich Knickerbocker, an old gentleman of New York, who was very curious in the Dutch history of the province, and the manners of the descendants from its primitive settlers.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading His historical researches, however, did not lie so much among books as among men; for the former are lamentably scanty on his favourite topics; whereas he found the old burghers, and still more their wives, rich in that legendary lore so invaluable to true history.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading RIP VAN WINKLE The following tale was found among the papers of the late Diedrich Knickerbocker, an old gentleman of New York, who was very curious in the Dutch history of the province, and the manners of the descendants from its primitive settlers.

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

From this reading RIP VAN WINKLE The following tale was found among the papers of the late Diedrich Knickerbocker, an old gentleman of New York, who was very curious in the Dutch history of the province, and the manners of the descendants from its primitive settlers.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading His historical researches, however, did not lie so much among books as among men; for the former are lamentably scanty on his favourite topics; whereas he found the old burghers, and still more their wives, rich in that legendary lore so invaluable to true history.

plural of “opinion” — a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty

From this reading There have been various opinions as to the literary character of his work, and, to tell the truth, it is not a whit better than it should be.

writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)

From this reading RIP VAN WINKLE The following tale was found among the papers of the late Diedrich Knickerbocker, an old gentleman of New York, who was very curious in the Dutch history of the province, and the manners of the descendants from its primitive settlers.

belonging to an early stage of technical development; characterized by simplicity and (often) crudeness

From this reading RIP VAN WINKLE The following tale was found among the papers of the late Diedrich Knickerbocker, an old gentleman of New York, who was very curious in the Dutch history of the province, and the manners of the descendants from its primitive settlers.

the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation

From this reading RIP VAN WINKLE The following tale was found among the papers of the late Diedrich Knickerbocker, an old gentleman of New York, who was very curious in the Dutch history of the province, and the manners of the descendants from its primitive settlers.

prepared and printed for distribution and sale

From this reading The result of all these researches was a history of the province during the reign of the Dutch governors, which he published some years since.

have sovereign power

From this reading The result of all these researches was a history of the province during the reign of the Dutch governors, which he published some years since.

plural of “research” — systematic investigation to establish facts

From this reading His historical researches, however, did not lie so much among books as among men; for the former are lamentably scanty on his favourite topics; whereas he found the old burghers, and still more their wives, rich in that legendary lore so invaluable to true history.

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading The result of all these researches was a history of the province during the reign of the Dutch governors, which he published some years since.

possessing material wealth

From this reading His historical researches, however, did not lie so much among books as among men; for the former are lamentably scanty on his favourite topics; whereas he found the old burghers, and still more their wives, rich in that legendary lore so invaluable to true history.

tear or be torn violently

From this reading RIP VAN WINKLE The following tale was found among the papers of the late Diedrich Knickerbocker, an old gentleman of New York, who was very curious in the Dutch history of the province, and the manners of the descendants from its primitive settlers.

lacking in magnitude or quantity

From this reading His historical researches, however, did not lie so much among books as among men; for the former are lamentably scanty on his favourite topics; whereas he found the old burghers, and still more their wives, rich in that legendary lore so invaluable to true history.

plural of “settler” — a person who settles in a new colony or moves into new country

From this reading RIP VAN WINKLE The following tale was found among the papers of the late Diedrich Knickerbocker, an old gentleman of New York, who was very curious in the Dutch history of the province, and the manners of the descendants from its primitive settlers.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading There have been various opinions as to the literary character of his work, and, to tell the truth, it is not a whit better than it should be.

move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut

From this reading Whenever, therefore, he happened upon a genuine Dutch family, snugly shut up in its low-roofed farmhouse under a spreading sycamore, he looked upon it as a little clasped volume of black-letter, and studied it with the zeal of a book worm.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading The result of all these researches was a history of the province during the reign of the Dutch governors, which he published some years since.

fitting closely

From this reading Whenever, therefore, he happened upon a genuine Dutch family, snugly shut up in its low-roofed farmhouse under a spreading sycamore, he looked upon it as a little clasped volume of black-letter, and studied it with the zeal of a book worm.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading His historical researches, however, did not lie so much among books as among men; for the former are lamentably scanty on his favourite topics; whereas he found the old burghers, and still more their wives, rich in that legendary lore so invaluable to true history.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading The result of all these researches was a history of the province during the reign of the Dutch governors, which he published some years since.

process or result of distributing or extending over a wide expanse of space

From this reading Whenever, therefore, he happened upon a genuine Dutch family, snugly shut up in its low-roofed farmhouse under a spreading sycamore, he looked upon it as a little clasped volume of black-letter, and studied it with the zeal of a book worm.

not in physical motion

From this reading His historical researches, however, did not lie so much among books as among men; for the former are lamentably scanty on his favourite topics; whereas he found the old burghers, and still more their wives, rich in that legendary lore so invaluable to true history.

produced or marked by conscious design or premeditation

From this reading Whenever, therefore, he happened upon a genuine Dutch family, snugly shut up in its low-roofed farmhouse under a spreading sycamore, he looked upon it as a little clasped volume of black-letter, and studied it with the zeal of a book worm.

variably colored and sometimes variegated hard tough elastic wood of a sycamore tree

From this reading Whenever, therefore, he happened upon a genuine Dutch family, snugly shut up in its low-roofed farmhouse under a spreading sycamore, he looked upon it as a little clasped volume of black-letter, and studied it with the zeal of a book worm.

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading RIP VAN WINKLE The following tale was found among the papers of the late Diedrich Knickerbocker, an old gentleman of New York, who was very curious in the Dutch history of the province, and the manners of the descendants from its primitive settlers.

express in words

From this reading There have been various opinions as to the literary character of his work, and, to tell the truth, it is not a whit better than it should be.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading There have been various opinions as to the literary character of his work, and, to tell the truth, it is not a whit better than it should be.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading His historical researches, however, did not lie so much among books as among men; for the former are lamentably scanty on his favourite topics; whereas he found the old burghers, and still more their wives, rich in that legendary lore so invaluable to true history.

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

From this reading RIP VAN WINKLE The following tale was found among the papers of the late Diedrich Knickerbocker, an old gentleman of New York, who was very curious in the Dutch history of the province, and the manners of the descendants from its primitive settlers.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading His historical researches, however, did not lie so much among books as among men; for the former are lamentably scanty on his favourite topics; whereas he found the old burghers, and still more their wives, rich in that legendary lore so invaluable to true history.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There have been various opinions as to the literary character of his work, and, to tell the truth, it is not a whit better than it should be.

for that reason; as a result

From this reading Whenever, therefore, he happened upon a genuine Dutch family, snugly shut up in its low-roofed farmhouse under a spreading sycamore, he looked upon it as a little clasped volume of black-letter, and studied it with the zeal of a book worm.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading The result of all these researches was a history of the province during the reign of the Dutch governors, which he published some years since.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading His historical researches, however, did not lie so much among books as among men; for the former are lamentably scanty on his favourite topics; whereas he found the old burghers, and still more their wives, rich in that legendary lore so invaluable to true history.

plural of “topic” — the subject matter of a conversation or discussion

From this reading His historical researches, however, did not lie so much among books as among men; for the former are lamentably scanty on his favourite topics; whereas he found the old burghers, and still more their wives, rich in that legendary lore so invaluable to true history.

consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading His historical researches, however, did not lie so much among books as among men; for the former are lamentably scanty on his favourite topics; whereas he found the old burghers, and still more their wives, rich in that legendary lore so invaluable to true history.

a fact that has been verified

From this reading There have been various opinions as to the literary character of his work, and, to tell the truth, it is not a whit better than it should be.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Whenever, therefore, he happened upon a genuine Dutch family, snugly shut up in its low-roofed farmhouse under a spreading sycamore, he looked upon it as a little clasped volume of black-letter, and studied it with the zeal of a book worm.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading Whenever, therefore, he happened upon a genuine Dutch family, snugly shut up in its low-roofed farmhouse under a spreading sycamore, he looked upon it as a little clasped volume of black-letter, and studied it with the zeal of a book worm.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Whenever, therefore, he happened upon a genuine Dutch family, snugly shut up in its low-roofed farmhouse under a spreading sycamore, he looked upon it as a little clasped volume of black-letter, and studied it with the zeal of a book worm.

any creative group active in the innovation and application of new concepts and techniques in a given field (especially in the arts)

From this reading RIP VAN WINKLE The following tale was found among the papers of the late Diedrich Knickerbocker, an old gentleman of New York, who was very curious in the Dutch history of the province, and the manners of the descendants from its primitive settlers.

of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity

From this reading There have been various opinions as to the literary character of his work, and, to tell the truth, it is not a whit better than it should be.

precisely as stated

From this reading RIP VAN WINKLE The following tale was found among the papers of the late Diedrich Knickerbocker, an old gentleman of New York, who was very curious in the Dutch history of the province, and the manners of the descendants from its primitive settlers.

the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object

From this reading Whenever, therefore, he happened upon a genuine Dutch family, snugly shut up in its low-roofed farmhouse under a spreading sycamore, he looked upon it as a little clasped volume of black-letter, and studied it with the zeal of a book worm.

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

From this reading RIP VAN WINKLE The following tale was found among the papers of the late Diedrich Knickerbocker, an old gentleman of New York, who was very curious in the Dutch history of the province, and the manners of the descendants from its primitive settlers.

at any time that; every time that

From this reading Whenever, therefore, he happened upon a genuine Dutch family, snugly shut up in its low-roofed farmhouse under a spreading sycamore, he looked upon it as a little clasped volume of black-letter, and studied it with the zeal of a book worm.

in contrast with the fact that

From this reading His historical researches, however, did not lie so much among books as among men; for the former are lamentably scanty on his favourite topics; whereas he found the old burghers, and still more their wives, rich in that legendary lore so invaluable to true history.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading The result of all these researches was a history of the province during the reign of the Dutch governors, which he published some years since.

a tiny or scarcely detectable amount

From this reading There have been various opinions as to the literary character of his work, and, to tell the truth, it is not a whit better than it should be.

which person or people

From this reading RIP VAN WINKLE The following tale was found among the papers of the late Diedrich Knickerbocker, an old gentleman of New York, who was very curious in the Dutch history of the province, and the manners of the descendants from its primitive settlers.

emit or reflect light in a flickering manner

From this reading RIP VAN WINKLE The following tale was found among the papers of the late Diedrich Knickerbocker, an old gentleman of New York, who was very curious in the Dutch history of the province, and the manners of the descendants from its primitive settlers.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Whenever, therefore, he happened upon a genuine Dutch family, snugly shut up in its low-roofed farmhouse under a spreading sycamore, he looked upon it as a little clasped volume of black-letter, and studied it with the zeal of a book worm.

plural of “wife” — a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading His historical researches, however, did not lie so much among books as among men; for the former are lamentably scanty on his favourite topics; whereas he found the old burghers, and still more their wives, rich in that legendary lore so invaluable to true history.

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading There have been various opinions as to the literary character of his work, and, to tell the truth, it is not a whit better than it should be.

any of numerous relatively small elongated soft-bodied animals especially of the phyla Annelida and Chaetognatha and Nematoda and Nemertea and Platyhelminthes; also many insect larvae

From this reading Whenever, therefore, he happened upon a genuine Dutch family, snugly shut up in its low-roofed farmhouse under a spreading sycamore, he looked upon it as a little clasped volume of black-letter, and studied it with the zeal of a book worm.

a late time of life

From this reading The result of all these researches was a history of the province during the reign of the Dutch governors, which he published some years since.

the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose

From this reading RIP VAN WINKLE The following tale was found among the papers of the late Diedrich Knickerbocker, an old gentleman of New York, who was very curious in the Dutch history of the province, and the manners of the descendants from its primitive settlers.

a feeling of strong eagerness (usually in favor of a person or cause)

From this reading Whenever, therefore, he happened upon a genuine Dutch family, snugly shut up in its low-roofed farmhouse under a spreading sycamore, he looked upon it as a little clasped volume of black-letter, and studied it with the zeal of a book worm.