Chapter VIII

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

From this reading THE SPRING LONGING In the valley at the foot of Knockdane Hill there is a great meadow.

later than; following

From this reading When the men ceased to dig out gravel and gave the copse back to the Fur Folk, an old rabbit made his burrow under the roots of a pine tree, and he or his descendants lived there ever after.

in the past

From this reading In the copse there is a hollow where long ago men used to quarry out stones; but now it is never used, and the heaps of flints are draped with bramble and cinquefoil trails.

(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 It is like an island surrounded by the sea, for the woods come close up to its hedge on all sides except on the east, where the river runs; and just as an island may have a lake in the middle, so in the centre of the Big Meadow there is a little copse.

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

From this reading It is like an island surrounded by the sea, for the woods come close up to its hedge on all sides except on the east, where the river runs; and just as an island may have a lake in the middle, so in the centre of the Big Meadow there is a little copse.

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

From this reading It is like an island surrounded by the sea, for the woods come close up to its hedge on all sides except on the east, where the river runs; and just as an island may have a lake in the middle, so in the centre of the Big Meadow there is a little copse.

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

From this reading The trees in the copse are sycamore and red-stemmed pine, and in spring the ground is carpeted with celandines and anemones.

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

From this reading The trees in the copse are sycamore and red-stemmed pine, and in spring the ground is carpeted with celandines and anemones.

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

From this reading It is like an island surrounded by the sea, for the woods come close up to its hedge on all sides except on the east, where the river runs; and just as an island may have a lake in the middle, so in the centre of the Big Meadow there is a little copse.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THE SPRING LONGING In the valley at the foot of Knockdane Hill there is a great meadow.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading When the men ceased to dig out gravel and gave the copse back to the Fur Folk, an old rabbit made his burrow under the roots of a pine tree, and he or his descendants lived there ever after.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading It is like an island surrounded by the sea, for the woods come close up to its hedge on all sides except on the east, where the river runs; and just as an island may have a lake in the middle, so in the centre of the Big Meadow there is a little copse.

any of various rough thorny shrubs or vines

From this reading In the copse there is a hollow where long ago men used to quarry out stones; but now it is never used, and the heaps of flints are draped with bramble and cinquefoil trails.

a hole made by an animal, usually for shelter

From this reading When the men ceased to dig out gravel and gave the copse back to the Fur Folk, an old rabbit made his burrow under the roots of a pine tree, and he or his descendants lived there ever after.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading In the copse there is a hollow where long ago men used to quarry out stones; but now it is never used, and the heaps of flints are draped with bramble and cinquefoil trails.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading It is like an island surrounded by the sea, for the woods come close up to its hedge on all sides except on the east, where the river runs; and just as an island may have a lake in the middle, so in the centre of the Big Meadow there is a little copse.

covered with or as if with carpeting or with carpeting as specified; often used in combination

From this reading The trees in the copse are sycamore and red-stemmed pine, and in spring the ground is carpeted with celandines and anemones.

past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity

From this reading When the men ceased to dig out gravel and gave the copse back to the Fur Folk, an old rabbit made his burrow under the roots of a pine tree, and he or his descendants lived there ever after.

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

From this reading The trees in the copse are sycamore and red-stemmed pine, and in spring the ground is carpeted with celandines and anemones.

a low-lying region in central France

From this reading It is like an island surrounded by the sea, for the woods come close up to its hedge on all sides except on the east, where the river runs; and just as an island may have a lake in the middle, so in the centre of the Big Meadow there is a little copse.

any of a numerous plants grown for their five-petaled flowers; abundant in temperate regions; alleged to have medicinal properties

From this reading In the copse there is a hollow where long ago men used to quarry out stones; but now it is never used, and the heaps of flints are draped with bramble and cinquefoil trails.

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

From this reading It is like an island surrounded by the sea, for the woods come close up to its hedge on all sides except on the east, where the river runs; and just as an island may have a lake in the middle, so in the centre of the Big Meadow there is a little copse.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading It is like an island surrounded by the sea, for the woods come close up to its hedge on all sides except on the east, where the river runs; and just as an island may have a lake in the middle, so in the centre of the Big Meadow there is a little copse.

a dense growth of bushes

From this reading It is like an island surrounded by the sea, for the woods come close up to its hedge on all sides except on the east, where the river runs; and just as an island may have a lake in the middle, so in the centre of the Big Meadow there is a little copse.

all of the offspring of a given progenitor

From this reading When the men ceased to dig out gravel and gave the copse back to the Fur Folk, an old rabbit made his burrow under the roots of a pine tree, and he or his descendants lived there ever after.

turn up, loosen, or remove earth

From this reading When the men ceased to dig out gravel and gave the copse back to the Fur Folk, an old rabbit made his burrow under the roots of a pine tree, and he or his descendants lived there ever after.

covered with or as if with clothes or a wrap or cloak

From this reading In the copse there is a hollow where long ago men used to quarry out stones; but now it is never used, and the heaps of flints are draped with bramble and cinquefoil trails.

the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees

From this reading It is like an island surrounded by the sea, for the woods come close up to its hedge on all sides except on the east, where the river runs; and just as an island may have a lake in the middle, so in the centre of the Big Meadow there is a little copse.

at any time

From this reading When the men ceased to dig out gravel and gave the copse back to the Fur Folk, an old rabbit made his burrow under the roots of a pine tree, and he or his descendants lived there ever after.

apart from; not including

From this reading It is like an island surrounded by the sea, for the woods come close up to its hedge on all sides except on the east, where the river runs; and just as an island may have a lake in the middle, so in the centre of the Big Meadow there is a little copse.

plural of “flint” — a hard kind of stone; a form of silica more opaque than chalcedony

From this reading In the copse there is a hollow where long ago men used to quarry out stones; but now it is never used, and the heaps of flints are draped with bramble and cinquefoil trails.

people in general (often used in the plural)

From this reading When the men ceased to dig out gravel and gave the copse back to the Fur Folk, an old rabbit made his burrow under the roots of a pine tree, and he or his descendants lived there ever after.

the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading THE SPRING LONGING In the valley at the foot of Knockdane Hill there is a great meadow.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It is like an island surrounded by the sea, for the woods come close up to its hedge on all sides except on the east, where the river runs; and just as an island may have a lake in the middle, so in the centre of the Big Meadow there is a little copse.

the dressed hairy coat of a mammal

From this reading When the men ceased to dig out gravel and gave the copse back to the Fur Folk, an old rabbit made his burrow under the roots of a pine tree, and he or his descendants lived there ever after.

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading When the men ceased to dig out gravel and gave the copse back to the Fur Folk, an old rabbit made his burrow under the roots of a pine tree, and he or his descendants lived there ever after.

rock fragments and pebbles

From this reading When the men ceased to dig out gravel and gave the copse back to the Fur Folk, an old rabbit made his burrow under the roots of a pine tree, and he or his descendants lived there ever after.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading THE SPRING LONGING In the valley at the foot of Knockdane Hill there is a great meadow.

the solid part of the earth's surface

From this reading The trees in the copse are sycamore and red-stemmed pine, and in spring the ground is carpeted with celandines and anemones.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading It is like an island surrounded by the sea, for the woods come close up to its hedge on all sides except on the east, where the river runs; and just as an island may have a lake in the middle, so in the centre of the Big Meadow there is a little copse.

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

From this reading When the men ceased to dig out gravel and gave the copse back to the Fur Folk, an old rabbit made his burrow under the roots of a pine tree, and he or his descendants lived there ever after.

a large number or amount

From this reading In the copse there is a hollow where long ago men used to quarry out stones; but now it is never used, and the heaps of flints are draped with bramble and cinquefoil trails.

avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues)

From this reading It is like an island surrounded by the sea, for the woods come close up to its hedge on all sides except on the east, where the river runs; and just as an island may have a lake in the middle, so in the centre of the Big Meadow there is a little copse.

a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading THE SPRING LONGING In the valley at the foot of Knockdane Hill there is a great meadow.

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

From this reading When the men ceased to dig out gravel and gave the copse back to the Fur Folk, an old rabbit made his burrow under the roots of a pine tree, and he or his descendants lived there ever after.

not solid; having a space or gap or cavity

From this reading In the copse there is a hollow where long ago men used to quarry out stones; but now it is never used, and the heaps of flints are draped with bramble and cinquefoil trails.

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

From this reading THE SPRING LONGING In the valley at the foot of Knockdane Hill there is a great meadow.

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

From this reading THE SPRING LONGING In the valley at the foot of Knockdane Hill there is a great meadow.

a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water

From this reading It is like an island surrounded by the sea, for the woods come close up to its hedge on all sides except on the east, where the river runs; and just as an island may have a lake in the middle, so in the centre of the Big Meadow there is a little copse.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It is like an island surrounded by the sea, for the woods come close up to its hedge on all sides except on the east, where the river runs; and just as an island may have a lake in the middle, so in the centre of the Big Meadow there is a little copse.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading It is like an island surrounded by the sea, for the woods come close up to its hedge on all sides except on the east, where the river runs; and just as an island may have a lake in the middle, so in the centre of the Big Meadow there is a little copse.

and nothing more

From this reading It is like an island surrounded by the sea, for the woods come close up to its hedge on all sides except on the east, where the river runs; and just as an island may have a lake in the middle, so in the centre of the Big Meadow there is a little copse.

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

From this reading THE SPRING LONGING In the valley at the foot of Knockdane Hill there is a great meadow.

a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land

From this reading It is like an island surrounded by the sea, for the woods come close up to its hedge on all sides except on the east, where the river runs; and just as an island may have a lake in the middle, so in the centre of the Big Meadow there is a little copse.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading It is like an island surrounded by the sea, for the woods come close up to its hedge on all sides except on the east, where the river runs; and just as an island may have a lake in the middle, so in the centre of the Big Meadow there is a little copse.

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

From this reading It is like an island surrounded by the sea, for the woods come close up to its hedge on all sides except on the east, where the river runs; and just as an island may have a lake in the middle, so in the centre of the Big Meadow there is a little copse.

past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading When the men ceased to dig out gravel and gave the copse back to the Fur Folk, an old rabbit made his burrow under the roots of a pine tree, and he or his descendants lived there ever after.

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 In the copse there is a hollow where long ago men used to quarry out stones; but now it is never used, and the heaps of flints are draped with bramble and cinquefoil trails.

prolonged unfulfilled desire or need

From this reading THE SPRING LONGING In the valley at the foot of Knockdane Hill there is a great meadow.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading When the men ceased to dig out gravel and gave the copse back to the Fur Folk, an old rabbit made his burrow under the roots of a pine tree, and he or his descendants lived there ever after.

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading It is like an island surrounded by the sea, for the woods come close up to its hedge on all sides except on the east, where the river runs; and just as an island may have a lake in the middle, so in the centre of the Big Meadow there is a little copse.

a field where grass or alfalfa are grown to be made into hay

From this reading THE SPRING LONGING In the valley at the foot of Knockdane Hill there is a great meadow.

the force of workers available

From this reading In the copse there is a hollow where long ago men used to quarry out stones; but now it is never used, and the heaps of flints are draped with bramble and cinquefoil trails.

an area that is approximately central within some larger region

From this reading It is like an island surrounded by the sea, for the woods come close up to its hedge on all sides except on the east, where the river runs; and just as an island may have a lake in the middle, so in the centre of the Big Meadow there is a little copse.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading In the copse there is a hollow where long ago men used to quarry out stones; but now it is never used, and the heaps of flints are draped with bramble and cinquefoil trails.

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

From this reading In the copse there is a hollow where long ago men used to quarry out stones; but now it is never used, and the heaps of flints are draped with bramble and cinquefoil trails.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE SPRING LONGING In the valley at the foot of Knockdane Hill there is a great meadow.

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

From this reading When the men ceased to dig out gravel and gave the copse back to the Fur Folk, an old rabbit made his burrow under the roots of a pine tree, and he or his descendants lived there ever after.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It is like an island surrounded by the sea, for the woods come close up to its hedge on all sides except on the east, where the river runs; and just as an island may have a lake in the middle, so in the centre of the Big Meadow there is a little copse.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading When the men ceased to dig out gravel and gave the copse back to the Fur Folk, an old rabbit made his burrow under the roots of a pine tree, and he or his descendants lived there ever after.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading In the copse there is a hollow where long ago men used to quarry out stones; but now it is never used, and the heaps of flints are draped with bramble and cinquefoil trails.

a coniferous tree

From this reading The trees in the copse are sycamore and red-stemmed pine, and in spring the ground is carpeted with celandines and anemones.

a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence

From this reading In the copse there is a hollow where long ago men used to quarry out stones; but now it is never used, and the heaps of flints are draped with bramble and cinquefoil trails.

any of various burrowing animals of the family Leporidae having long ears and short tails; some domesticated and raised for pets or food

From this reading When the men ceased to dig out gravel and gave the copse back to the Fur Folk, an old rabbit made his burrow under the roots of a pine tree, and he or his descendants lived there ever after.

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

From this reading The trees in the copse are sycamore and red-stemmed pine, and in spring the ground is carpeted with celandines and anemones.

a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading It is like an island surrounded by the sea, for the woods come close up to its hedge on all sides except on the east, where the river runs; and just as an island may have a lake in the middle, so in the centre of the Big Meadow there is a little copse.

the condition of belonging to a particular place or group by virtue of social or ethnic or cultural lineage

From this reading When the men ceased to dig out gravel and gave the copse back to the Fur Folk, an old rabbit made his burrow under the roots of a pine tree, and he or his descendants lived there ever after.

plural of “run” — a score in baseball made by a runner touching all four bases safely

From this reading It is like an island surrounded by the sea, for the woods come close up to its hedge on all sides except on the east, where the river runs; and just as an island may have a lake in the middle, so in the centre of the Big Meadow there is a little copse.

a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land

From this reading It is like an island surrounded by the sea, for the woods come close up to its hedge on all sides except on the east, where the river runs; and just as an island may have a lake in the middle, so in the centre of the Big Meadow there is a little copse.

plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading It is like an island surrounded by the sea, for the woods come close up to its hedge on all sides except on the east, where the river runs; and just as an island may have a lake in the middle, so in the centre of the Big Meadow there is a little copse.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading It is like an island surrounded by the sea, for the woods come close up to its hedge on all sides except on the east, where the river runs; and just as an island may have a lake in the middle, so in the centre of the Big Meadow there is a little copse.

the season of growth

From this reading THE SPRING LONGING In the valley at the foot of Knockdane Hill there is a great meadow.

plural of “stone” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading In the copse there is a hollow where long ago men used to quarry out stones; but now it is never used, and the heaps of flints are draped with bramble and cinquefoil trails.

confined on all sides

From this reading It is like an island surrounded by the sea, for the woods come close up to its hedge on all sides except on the east, where the river runs; and just as an island may have a lake in the middle, so in the centre of the Big Meadow there is a little copse.

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

From this reading The trees in the copse are sycamore and red-stemmed pine, and in spring the ground is carpeted with celandines and anemones.

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

From this reading THE SPRING LONGING In the valley at the foot of Knockdane Hill there is a great meadow.

in or at that place or location

From this reading THE SPRING LONGING In the valley at the foot of Knockdane Hill there is a great meadow.

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

From this reading It is like an island surrounded by the sea, for the woods come close up to its hedge on all sides except on the east, where the river runs; and just as an island may have a lake in the middle, so in the centre of the Big Meadow there is a little copse.

plural of “trail” — a track or mark left by something that has passed

From this reading In the copse there is a hollow where long ago men used to quarry out stones; but now it is never used, and the heaps of flints are draped with bramble and cinquefoil trails.

a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading When the men ceased to dig out gravel and gave the copse back to the Fur Folk, an old rabbit made his burrow under the roots of a pine tree, and he or his descendants lived there ever after.

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading The trees in the copse are sycamore and red-stemmed pine, and in spring the ground is carpeted with celandines and anemones.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading When the men ceased to dig out gravel and gave the copse back to the Fur Folk, an old rabbit made his burrow under the roots of a pine tree, and he or his descendants lived there ever after.

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

From this reading It is like an island surrounded by the sea, for the woods come close up to its hedge on all sides except on the east, where the river runs; and just as an island may have a lake in the middle, so in the centre of the Big Meadow there is a little copse.

employed in accomplishing something

From this reading In the copse there is a hollow where long ago men used to quarry out stones; but now it is never used, and the heaps of flints are draped with bramble and cinquefoil trails.

a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river

From this reading THE SPRING LONGING In the valley at the foot of Knockdane Hill there is a great meadow.

at the time that

From this reading When the men ceased to dig out gravel and gave the copse back to the Fur Folk, an old rabbit made his burrow under the roots of a pine tree, and he or his descendants lived there ever after.

in or at the place that

From this reading It is like an island surrounded by the sea, for the woods come close up to its hedge on all sides except on the east, where the river runs; and just as an island may have a lake in the middle, so in the centre of the Big Meadow there is a little copse.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The trees in the copse are sycamore and red-stemmed pine, and in spring the ground is carpeted with celandines and anemones.

the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading It is like an island surrounded by the sea, for the woods come close up to its hedge on all sides except on the east, where the river runs; and just as an island may have a lake in the middle, so in the centre of the Big Meadow there is a little copse.