used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He passed through the beech wood, crossed a stretch of open grassland, and plunged into a thicket of hollies that trailed down from the slopes of an oak-covered hill.
(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 His wits were at work, offering him all manner of wild hazards, and the more desperate and foolish they seemed, the more bitter and dogged grew his resolution.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He passed through the beech wood, crossed a stretch of open grassland, and plunged into a thicket of hollies that trailed down from the slopes of an oak-covered hill.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Martin took the lesson to heart, and turned back sullenly into the deeps of the wood.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading A man in a doublet of Lincoln green showed himself for a moment on the edge of the beech wood, scanned the grassland, and then turned back into the woodshade as though he had no liking for following such a wild dog any farther.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A man in a doublet of Lincoln green showed himself for a moment on the edge of the beech wood, scanned the grassland, and then turned back into the woodshade as though he had no liking for following such a wild dog any farther.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading His wits were at work, offering him all manner of wild hazards, and the more desperate and foolish they seemed, the more bitter and dogged grew his resolution.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Martin took the lesson to heart, and turned back sullenly into the deeps of the wood.
beechnounUS /biːtʃ/
any of several large deciduous trees with rounded spreading crowns and smooth grey bark and small sweet edible triangular nuts enclosed in burs; north temperate regions
From this reading He passed through the beech wood, crossed a stretch of open grassland, and plunged into a thicket of hollies that trailed down from the slopes of an oak-covered hill.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Once under cover, he stood at gaze to see if he had been followed, and his shrewdness had its reward.
marked by strong resentment or cynicism
From this reading His wits were at work, offering him all manner of wild hazards, and the more desperate and foolish they seemed, the more bitter and dogged grew his resolution.
provide with a covering or cause to be covered
From this reading Once under cover, he stood at gaze to see if he had been followed, and his shrewdness had its reward.
placed crosswise
From this reading He passed through the beech wood, crossed a stretch of open grassland, and plunged into a thicket of hollies that trailed down from the slopes of an oak-covered hill.
deeps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Martin took the lesson to heart, and turned back sullenly into the deeps of the wood.
arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
From this reading His wits were at work, offering him all manner of wild hazards, and the more desperate and foolish they seemed, the more bitter and dogged grew his resolution.
a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading A man in a doublet of Lincoln green showed himself for a moment on the edge of the beech wood, scanned the grassland, and then turned back into the woodshade as though he had no liking for following such a wild dog any farther.
doggedadjectiveUS /dɔːɡd/
stubbornly unyielding
From this reading His wits were at work, offering him all manner of wild hazards, and the more desperate and foolish they seemed, the more bitter and dogged grew his resolution.
doubletnoun
a man's close-fitting jacket; worn during the Renaissance
From this reading A man in a doublet of Lincoln green showed himself for a moment on the edge of the beech wood, scanned the grassland, and then turned back into the woodshade as though he had no liking for following such a wild dog any farther.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He passed through the beech wood, crossed a stretch of open grassland, and plunged into a thicket of hollies that trailed down from the slopes of an oak-covered hill.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading A man in a doublet of Lincoln green showed himself for a moment on the edge of the beech wood, scanned the grassland, and then turned back into the woodshade as though he had no liking for following such a wild dog any farther.
more distant in especially space or time
From this reading A man in a doublet of Lincoln green showed himself for a moment on the edge of the beech wood, scanned the grassland, and then turned back into the woodshade as though he had no liking for following such a wild dog any farther.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Once under cover, he stood at gaze to see if he had been followed, and his shrewdness had its reward.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading A man in a doublet of Lincoln green showed himself for a moment on the edge of the beech wood, scanned the grassland, and then turned back into the woodshade as though he had no liking for following such a wild dog any farther.
devoid of good sense or judgment
From this reading His wits were at work, offering him all manner of wild hazards, and the more desperate and foolish they seemed, the more bitter and dogged grew his resolution.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A man in a doublet of Lincoln green showed himself for a moment on the edge of the beech wood, scanned the grassland, and then turned back into the woodshade as though he had no liking for following such a wild dog any farther.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He passed through the beech wood, crossed a stretch of open grassland, and plunged into a thicket of hollies that trailed down from the slopes of an oak-covered hill.
a long fixed look
From this reading Once under cover, he stood at gaze to see if he had been followed, and his shrewdness had its reward.
grasslandnounUS /ˈɡræslænd/
land where grass or grasslike vegetation grows and is the dominant form of plant life
From this reading He passed through the beech wood, crossed a stretch of open grassland, and plunged into a thicket of hollies that trailed down from the slopes of an oak-covered hill.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading A man in a doublet of Lincoln green showed himself for a moment on the edge of the beech wood, scanned the grassland, and then turned back into the woodshade as though he had no liking for following such a wild dog any farther.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading His wits were at work, offering him all manner of wild hazards, and the more desperate and foolish they seemed, the more bitter and dogged grew his resolution.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Once under cover, he stood at gaze to see if he had been followed, and his shrewdness had its reward.
hazardsnounUS /ˈhæzərdz/
plural of “hazard” — a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
From this reading His wits were at work, offering him all manner of wild hazards, and the more desperate and foolish they seemed, the more bitter and dogged grew his resolution.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He passed through the beech wood, crossed a stretch of open grassland, and plunged into a thicket of hollies that trailed down from the slopes of an oak-covered hill.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Martin took the lesson to heart, and turned back sullenly into the deeps of the wood.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading He passed through the beech wood, crossed a stretch of open grassland, and plunged into a thicket of hollies that trailed down from the slopes of an oak-covered hill.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His wits were at work, offering him all manner of wild hazards, and the more desperate and foolish they seemed, the more bitter and dogged grew his resolution.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading A man in a doublet of Lincoln green showed himself for a moment on the edge of the beech wood, scanned the grassland, and then turned back into the woodshade as though he had no liking for following such a wild dog any farther.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His wits were at work, offering him all manner of wild hazards, and the more desperate and foolish they seemed, the more bitter and dogged grew his resolution.
holliesnounUS /ˈhɑːliz/
plural of “holly” — any tree or shrub of the genus Ilex having red berries and shiny evergreen leaves with prickly edges
From this reading He passed through the beech wood, crossed a stretch of open grassland, and plunged into a thicket of hollies that trailed down from the slopes of an oak-covered hill.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Once under cover, he stood at gaze to see if he had been followed, and his shrewdness had its reward.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A man in a doublet of Lincoln green showed himself for a moment on the edge of the beech wood, scanned the grassland, and then turned back into the woodshade as though he had no liking for following such a wild dog any farther.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Martin took the lesson to heart, and turned back sullenly into the deeps of the wood.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Once under cover, he stood at gaze to see if he had been followed, and his shrewdness had its reward.
a unit of instruction
From this reading Martin took the lesson to heart, and turned back sullenly into the deeps of the wood.
likingnounUS /ˈlaɪkɪŋ/
a feeling of pleasure and enjoyment
From this reading A man in a doublet of Lincoln green showed himself for a moment on the edge of the beech wood, scanned the grassland, and then turned back into the woodshade as though he had no liking for following such a wild dog any farther.
LincolnnounUS /ˈlɪŋkən/
16th President of the United States; saved the Union during the American Civil War and emancipated the slaves; was assassinated by Booth (1809-1865)
From this reading A man in a doublet of Lincoln green showed himself for a moment on the edge of the beech wood, scanned the grassland, and then turned back into the woodshade as though he had no liking for following such a wild dog any farther.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A man in a doublet of Lincoln green showed himself for a moment on the edge of the beech wood, scanned the grassland, and then turned back into the woodshade as though he had no liking for following such a wild dog any farther.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading His wits were at work, offering him all manner of wild hazards, and the more desperate and foolish they seemed, the more bitter and dogged grew his resolution.
French bishop who is a patron saint of France (died in 397)
From this reading Martin took the lesson to heart, and turned back sullenly into the deeps of the wood.
a particular point in time
From this reading A man in a doublet of Lincoln green showed himself for a moment on the edge of the beech wood, scanned the grassland, and then turned back into the woodshade as though he had no liking for following such a wild dog any farther.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading His wits were at work, offering him all manner of wild hazards, and the more desperate and foolish they seemed, the more bitter and dogged grew his resolution.
not any; not one
From this reading A man in a doublet of Lincoln green showed himself for a moment on the edge of the beech wood, scanned the grassland, and then turned back into the woodshade as though he had no liking for following such a wild dog any farther.
oak-covered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He passed through the beech wood, crossed a stretch of open grassland, and plunged into a thicket of hollies that trailed down from the slopes of an oak-covered hill.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Martin took the lesson to heart, and turned back sullenly into the deeps of the wood.
offeringnounUS /ˈɔːfərɪŋ/
something offered (as a proposal or bid)
From this reading His wits were at work, offering him all manner of wild hazards, and the more desperate and foolish they seemed, the more bitter and dogged grew his resolution.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A man in a doublet of Lincoln green showed himself for a moment on the edge of the beech wood, scanned the grassland, and then turned back into the woodshade as though he had no liking for following such a wild dog any farther.
on one occasion
From this reading Once under cover, he stood at gaze to see if he had been followed, and his shrewdness had its reward.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading He passed through the beech wood, crossed a stretch of open grassland, and plunged into a thicket of hollies that trailed down from the slopes of an oak-covered hill.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading He passed through the beech wood, crossed a stretch of open grassland, and plunged into a thicket of hollies that trailed down from the slopes of an oak-covered hill.
past form of “plunge” — thrust or throw into
From this reading He passed through the beech wood, crossed a stretch of open grassland, and plunged into a thicket of hollies that trailed down from the slopes of an oak-covered hill.
a formal expression by a meeting; agreed to by a vote
From this reading His wits were at work, offering him all manner of wild hazards, and the more desperate and foolish they seemed, the more bitter and dogged grew his resolution.
a recompense for worthy acts or retribution for wrongdoing
From this reading Once under cover, he stood at gaze to see if he had been followed, and his shrewdness had its reward.
scannedverbUS /skænd/
inflected form of “scan” — examine minutely or intensely
From this reading A man in a doublet of Lincoln green showed himself for a moment on the edge of the beech wood, scanned the grassland, and then turned back into the woodshade as though he had no liking for following such a wild dog any farther.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Once under cover, he stood at gaze to see if he had been followed, and his shrewdness had its reward.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading His wits were at work, offering him all manner of wild hazards, and the more desperate and foolish they seemed, the more bitter and dogged grew his resolution.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading A man in a doublet of Lincoln green showed himself for a moment on the edge of the beech wood, scanned the grassland, and then turned back into the woodshade as though he had no liking for following such a wild dog any farther.
shrewdnessnounUS /ˈʃruːdnəs/
intelligence manifested by being astute (as in business dealings)
From this reading Once under cover, he stood at gaze to see if he had been followed, and his shrewdness had its reward.
slopesnounUS /sloʊps/
plural of “slope” — an elevated geological formation
From this reading He passed through the beech wood, crossed a stretch of open grassland, and plunged into a thicket of hollies that trailed down from the slopes of an oak-covered hill.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Once under cover, he stood at gaze to see if he had been followed, and his shrewdness had its reward.
stretchverbUS /stretʃ/
occupy a large, elongated area
From this reading He passed through the beech wood, crossed a stretch of open grassland, and plunged into a thicket of hollies that trailed down from the slopes of an oak-covered hill.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading A man in a doublet of Lincoln green showed himself for a moment on the edge of the beech wood, scanned the grassland, and then turned back into the woodshade as though he had no liking for following such a wild dog any farther.
sullenlyadverb
in a sullen manner
From this reading Martin took the lesson to heart, and turned back sullenly into the deeps of the wood.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He passed through the beech wood, crossed a stretch of open grassland, and plunged into a thicket of hollies that trailed down from the slopes of an oak-covered hill.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Martin took the lesson to heart, and turned back sullenly into the deeps of the wood.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading A man in a doublet of Lincoln green showed himself for a moment on the edge of the beech wood, scanned the grassland, and then turned back into the woodshade as though he had no liking for following such a wild dog any farther.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His wits were at work, offering him all manner of wild hazards, and the more desperate and foolish they seemed, the more bitter and dogged grew his resolution.
thicketnounUS /ˈθɪkɪt/
a dense growth of bushes
From this reading He passed through the beech wood, crossed a stretch of open grassland, and plunged into a thicket of hollies that trailed down from the slopes of an oak-covered hill.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading A man in a doublet of Lincoln green showed himself for a moment on the edge of the beech wood, scanned the grassland, and then turned back into the woodshade as though he had no liking for following such a wild dog any farther.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading He passed through the beech wood, crossed a stretch of open grassland, and plunged into a thicket of hollies that trailed down from the slopes of an oak-covered hill.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Martin took the lesson to heart, and turned back sullenly into the deeps of the wood.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Martin took the lesson to heart, and turned back sullenly into the deeps of the wood.
trailedverbUS /treɪld/
past form of “trail” — to lag or linger behind
From this reading He passed through the beech wood, crossed a stretch of open grassland, and plunged into a thicket of hollies that trailed down from the slopes of an oak-covered hill.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Martin took the lesson to heart, and turned back sullenly into the deeps of the wood.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Once under cover, he stood at gaze to see if he had been followed, and his shrewdness had its reward.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His wits were at work, offering him all manner of wild hazards, and the more desperate and foolish they seemed, the more bitter and dogged grew his resolution.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading His wits were at work, offering him all manner of wild hazards, and the more desperate and foolish they seemed, the more bitter and dogged grew his resolution.
witsnounUS /wɪts/
the basic human power of intelligent thought and perception
From this reading His wits were at work, offering him all manner of wild hazards, and the more desperate and foolish they seemed, the more bitter and dogged grew his resolution.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading Martin took the lesson to heart, and turned back sullenly into the deeps of the wood.
woodshade
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A man in a doublet of Lincoln green showed himself for a moment on the edge of the beech wood, scanned the grassland, and then turned back into the woodshade as though he had no liking for following such a wild dog any farther.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading His wits were at work, offering him all manner of wild hazards, and the more desperate and foolish they seemed, the more bitter and dogged grew his resolution.
