Chapter I

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

From this reading In a little wooden hut within the shadow of the forest and close to a noisy brook, a poor widow dwelt alone.

any address at which you dwell more than temporarily

From this reading The villagers also told strange stories about her, for no one knew whence she came or when she had taken up her solitary abode apart from the village.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading But the villagers only came to visit her when they had need of her medicines, and these had such wonderful power to cure that it was whispered about the lonely old woman to be a witch.

Having no one else present.

From this reading In a little wooden hut within the shadow of the forest and close to a noisy brook, a poor widow dwelt alone.

in addition

From this reading The villagers also told strange stories about her, for no one knew whence she came or when she had taken up her solitary abode apart from the village.

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

From this reading TOLD BY V. TILLE AND ILLUSTRATED BY O. [vS]TAFL.

separated or at a distance in place or position or time

From this reading The villagers also told strange stories about her, for no one knew whence she came or when she had taken up her solitary abode apart from the village.

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

From this reading But the villagers only came to visit her when they had need of her medicines, and these had such wonderful power to cure that it was whispered about the lonely old woman to be a witch.

a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)

From this reading In a little wooden hut within the shadow of the forest and close to a noisy brook, a poor widow dwelt alone.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But the villagers only came to visit her when they had need of her medicines, and these had such wonderful power to cure that it was whispered about the lonely old woman to be a witch.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading TOLD BY V. TILLE AND ILLUSTRATED BY O. [vS]TAFL.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading She passed her days gathering and drying plants and herbs, from which she was forever making strange simples which proved very helpful to the village people and their cattle when illness came upon them.

domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age

From this reading She passed her days gathering and drying plants and herbs, from which she was forever making strange simples which proved very helpful to the village people and their cattle when illness came upon them.

at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other

From this reading In a little wooden hut within the shadow of the forest and close to a noisy brook, a poor widow dwelt alone.

provide a cure for, make healthy again

From this reading But the villagers only came to visit her when they had need of her medicines, and these had such wonderful power to cure that it was whispered about the lonely old woman to be a witch.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading She passed her days gathering and drying plants and herbs, from which she was forever making strange simples which proved very helpful to the village people and their cattle when illness came upon them.

-ing form of “dry” — remove the moisture from and make dry

From this reading She passed her days gathering and drying plants and herbs, from which she was forever making strange simples which proved very helpful to the village people and their cattle when illness came upon them.

inflected form of “dwell” — think moodily or anxiously about something

From this reading In a little wooden hut within the shadow of the forest and close to a noisy brook, a poor widow dwelt alone.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The villagers also told strange stories about her, for no one knew whence she came or when she had taken up her solitary abode apart from the village.

the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading In a little wooden hut within the shadow of the forest and close to a noisy brook, a poor widow dwelt alone.

for a limitless time

From this reading She passed her days gathering and drying plants and herbs, from which she was forever making strange simples which proved very helpful to the village people and their cattle when illness came upon them.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading She passed her days gathering and drying plants and herbs, from which she was forever making strange simples which proved very helpful to the village people and their cattle when illness came upon them.

a group of persons together in one place

From this reading She passed her days gathering and drying plants and herbs, from which she was forever making strange simples which proved very helpful to the village people and their cattle when illness came upon them.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading But the villagers only came to visit her when they had need of her medicines, and these had such wonderful power to cure that it was whispered about the lonely old woman to be a witch.

providing assistance or serving a useful function

From this reading She passed her days gathering and drying plants and herbs, from which she was forever making strange simples which proved very helpful to the village people and their cattle when illness came upon them.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading She passed her days gathering and drying plants and herbs, from which she was forever making strange simples which proved very helpful to the village people and their cattle when illness came upon them.

plural of “herb” — a plant lacking a permanent woody stem; many are flowering garden plants or potherbs; some having medicinal properties; some are pests

From this reading She passed her days gathering and drying plants and herbs, from which she was forever making strange simples which proved very helpful to the village people and their cattle when illness came upon them.

temporary military shelter

From this reading In a little wooden hut within the shadow of the forest and close to a noisy brook, a poor widow dwelt alone.

impairment of normal physiological function affecting part or all of an organism

From this reading She passed her days gathering and drying plants and herbs, from which she was forever making strange simples which proved very helpful to the village people and their cattle when illness came upon them.

past form of “illustrate” — clarify by giving an example of

From this reading TOLD BY V. TILLE AND ILLUSTRATED BY O. [vS]TAFL.

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

From this reading In a little wooden hut within the shadow of the forest and close to a noisy brook, a poor widow dwelt alone.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading But the villagers only came to visit her when they had need of her medicines, and these had such wonderful power to cure that it was whispered about the lonely old woman to be a witch.

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 villagers also told strange stories about her, for no one knew whence she came or when she had taken up her solitary abode apart from the village.

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

From this reading In a little wooden hut within the shadow of the forest and close to a noisy brook, a poor widow dwelt alone.

lacking companions or companionship

From this reading But the villagers only came to visit her when they had need of her medicines, and these had such wonderful power to cure that it was whispered about the lonely old woman to be a witch.

the act that results in something coming to be

From this reading She passed her days gathering and drying plants and herbs, from which she was forever making strange simples which proved very helpful to the village people and their cattle when illness came upon them.

plural of “medicine” — the branches of medical science that deal with nonsurgical techniques

From this reading But the villagers only came to visit her when they had need of her medicines, and these had such wonderful power to cure that it was whispered about the lonely old woman to be a witch.

a condition requiring relief

From this reading But the villagers only came to visit her when they had need of her medicines, and these had such wonderful power to cure that it was whispered about the lonely old woman to be a witch.

not any; not one

From this reading The villagers also told strange stories about her, for no one knew whence she came or when she had taken up her solitary abode apart from the village.

full of or characterized by loud and nonmusical sounds

From this reading In a little wooden hut within the shadow of the forest and close to a noisy brook, a poor widow dwelt alone.

a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust

From this reading TOLD BY V. TILLE AND ILLUSTRATED BY O. [vS]TAFL.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading In a little wooden hut within the shadow of the forest and close to a noisy brook, a poor widow dwelt alone.

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

From this reading But the villagers only came to visit her when they had need of her medicines, and these had such wonderful power to cure that it was whispered about the lonely old woman to be a witch.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The villagers also told strange stories about her, for no one knew whence she came or when she had taken up her solitary abode apart from the village.

and nothing more

From this reading But the villagers only came to visit her when they had need of her medicines, and these had such wonderful power to cure that it was whispered about the lonely old woman to be a witch.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading The villagers also told strange stories about her, for no one knew whence she came or when she had taken up her solitary abode apart from the village.

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading She passed her days gathering and drying plants and herbs, from which she was forever making strange simples which proved very helpful to the village people and their cattle when illness came upon them.

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading She passed her days gathering and drying plants and herbs, from which she was forever making strange simples which proved very helpful to the village people and their cattle when illness came upon them.

plural of “plant” — buildings for carrying on industrial labor

From this reading She passed her days gathering and drying plants and herbs, from which she was forever making strange simples which proved very helpful to the village people and their cattle when illness came upon them.

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading In a little wooden hut within the shadow of the forest and close to a noisy brook, a poor widow dwelt alone.

possession of controlling influence

From this reading But the villagers only came to visit her when they had need of her medicines, and these had such wonderful power to cure that it was whispered about the lonely old woman to be a witch.

established beyond doubt

From this reading She passed her days gathering and drying plants and herbs, from which she was forever making strange simples which proved very helpful to the village people and their cattle when illness came upon them.

A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

From this reading In a little wooden hut within the shadow of the forest and close to a noisy brook, a poor widow dwelt alone.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She passed her days gathering and drying plants and herbs, from which she was forever making strange simples which proved very helpful to the village people and their cattle when illness came upon them.

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

From this reading She passed her days gathering and drying plants and herbs, from which she was forever making strange simples which proved very helpful to the village people and their cattle when illness came upon them.

characterized by or preferring solitude

From this reading The villagers also told strange stories about her, for no one knew whence she came or when she had taken up her solitary abode apart from the village.

plural of “story” — 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 The villagers also told strange stories about her, for no one knew whence she came or when she had taken up her solitary abode apart from the village.

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading She passed her days gathering and drying plants and herbs, from which she was forever making strange simples which proved very helpful to the village people and their cattle when illness came upon them.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading But the villagers only came to visit her when they had need of her medicines, and these had such wonderful power to cure that it was whispered about the lonely old woman to be a witch.

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

From this reading TOLD BY V. TILLE AND ILLUSTRATED BY O. [vS]TAFL.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading The villagers also told strange stories about her, for no one knew whence she came or when she had taken up her solitary abode apart from the village.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But the villagers only came to visit her when they had need of her medicines, and these had such wonderful power to cure that it was whispered about the lonely old woman to be a witch.

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

From this reading In a little wooden hut within the shadow of the forest and close to a noisy brook, a poor widow dwelt alone.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading She passed her days gathering and drying plants and herbs, from which she was forever making strange simples which proved very helpful to the village people and their cattle when illness came upon them.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading She passed her days gathering and drying plants and herbs, from which she was forever making strange simples which proved very helpful to the village people and their cattle when illness came upon them.

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

From this reading But the villagers only came to visit her when they had need of her medicines, and these had such wonderful power to cure that it was whispered about the lonely old woman to be a witch.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading But the villagers only came to visit her when they had need of her medicines, and these had such wonderful power to cure that it was whispered about the lonely old woman to be a witch.

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

From this reading TOLD BY V. TILLE AND ILLUSTRATED BY O. [vS]TAFL.

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

From this reading In a little wooden hut within the shadow of the forest and close to a noisy brook, a poor widow dwelt alone.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading TOLD BY V. TILLE AND ILLUSTRATED BY O. [vS]TAFL.

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

From this reading The villagers also told strange stories about her, for no one knew whence she came or when she had taken up her solitary abode apart from the village.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading She passed her days gathering and drying plants and herbs, from which she was forever making strange simples which proved very helpful to the village people and their cattle when illness came upon them.

a unit of potential equal to the potential difference between two points on a conductor carrying a current of 1 ampere when the power dissipated between the two points is 1 watt

From this reading TOLD BY V. TILLE AND ILLUSTRATED BY O. [vS]TAFL.

precisely as stated

From this reading She passed her days gathering and drying plants and herbs, from which she was forever making strange simples which proved very helpful to the village people and their cattle when illness came upon them.

a community of people smaller than a town

From this reading She passed her days gathering and drying plants and herbs, from which she was forever making strange simples which proved very helpful to the village people and their cattle when illness came upon them.

plural of “villager” — one who has lived in a village most of their life

From this reading But the villagers only came to visit her when they had need of her medicines, and these had such wonderful power to cure that it was whispered about the lonely old woman to be a witch.

go to see a place, as for entertainment

From this reading But the villagers only came to visit her when they had need of her medicines, and these had such wonderful power to cure that it was whispered about the lonely old woman to be a witch.

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

From this reading TOLD BY V. TILLE AND ILLUSTRATED BY O. [vS]TAFL.

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

From this reading She passed her days gathering and drying plants and herbs, from which she was forever making strange simples which proved very helpful to the village people and their cattle when illness came upon them.

at the time that

From this reading She passed her days gathering and drying plants and herbs, from which she was forever making strange simples which proved very helpful to the village people and their cattle when illness came upon them.

an old word meaning “from where”

From this reading The villagers also told strange stories about her, for no one knew whence she came or when she had taken up her solitary abode apart from the village.

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

From this reading She passed her days gathering and drying plants and herbs, from which she was forever making strange simples which proved very helpful to the village people and their cattle when illness came upon them.

spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords

From this reading But the villagers only came to visit her when they had need of her medicines, and these had such wonderful power to cure that it was whispered about the lonely old woman to be a witch.

a woman whose husband is dead especially one who has not remarried

From this reading In a little wooden hut within the shadow of the forest and close to a noisy brook, a poor widow dwelt alone.

a female sorcerer or magician

From this reading But the villagers only came to visit her when they had need of her medicines, and these had such wonderful power to cure that it was whispered about the lonely old woman to be a witch.

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading In a little wooden hut within the shadow of the forest and close to a noisy brook, a poor widow dwelt alone.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading But the villagers only came to visit her when they had need of her medicines, and these had such wonderful power to cure that it was whispered about the lonely old woman to be a witch.

extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers

From this reading But the villagers only came to visit her when they had need of her medicines, and these had such wonderful power to cure that it was whispered about the lonely old woman to be a witch.

made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood

From this reading In a little wooden hut within the shadow of the forest and close to a noisy brook, a poor widow dwelt alone.