used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading This story begins on a fine autumn afternoon when, at the end of a field over which the shadows of a few wayside trees were stalking like long thin giants, a man and a boy sat side by side upon a stile.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading This story begins on a fine autumn afternoon when, at the end of a field over which the shadows of a few wayside trees were stalking like long thin giants, a man and a boy sat side by side upon a stile.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading This story begins on a fine autumn afternoon when, at the end of a field over which the shadows of a few wayside trees were stalking like long thin giants, a man and a boy sat side by side upon a stile.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Cowards are cruel."
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading This story begins on a fine autumn afternoon when, at the end of a field over which the shadows of a few wayside trees were stalking like long thin giants, a man and a boy sat side by side upon a stile.
the season when the leaves fall from the trees
From this reading This story begins on a fine autumn afternoon when, at the end of a field over which the shadows of a few wayside trees were stalking like long thin giants, a man and a boy sat side by side upon a stile.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The boy looked uncomfortable, because he wanted to get away and dared not go.
for the reason that
From this reading The boy looked uncomfortable, because he wanted to get away and dared not go.
plural of “begin” — Israeli statesman (born in Russia) who (as prime minister of Israel) negotiated a peace treaty with Anwar Sadat (then the president of Egypt) (1913-1992)
From this reading This story begins on a fine autumn afternoon when, at the end of a field over which the shadows of a few wayside trees were stalking like long thin giants, a man and a boy sat side by side upon a stile.
a youthful male person
From this reading This story begins on a fine autumn afternoon when, at the end of a field over which the shadows of a few wayside trees were stalking like long thin giants, a man and a boy sat side by side upon a stile.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading This story begins on a fine autumn afternoon when, at the end of a field over which the shadows of a few wayside trees were stalking like long thin giants, a man and a boy sat side by side upon a stile.
CowardsnounUS /ˈkaʊərdz/
plural of “coward” — a person who shows fear or timidity
From this reading "Cowards are cruel."
crueladjectiveUS /ˈkruːəl/
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading "Cowards are cruel."
past form of “dare” — take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission
From this reading The boy looked uncomfortable, because he wanted to get away and dared not go.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading This story begins on a fine autumn afternoon when, at the end of a field over which the shadows of a few wayside trees were stalking like long thin giants, a man and a boy sat side by side upon a stile.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading This story begins on a fine autumn afternoon when, at the end of a field over which the shadows of a few wayside trees were stalking like long thin giants, a man and a boy sat side by side upon a stile.
a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed
From this reading This story begins on a fine autumn afternoon when, at the end of a field over which the shadows of a few wayside trees were stalking like long thin giants, a man and a boy sat side by side upon a stile.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading This story begins on a fine autumn afternoon when, at the end of a field over which the shadows of a few wayside trees were stalking like long thin giants, a man and a boy sat side by side upon a stile.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading The boy looked uncomfortable, because he wanted to get away and dared not go.
giantsnounUS /ˈdʒaɪənts/
plural of “giant” — any creature of exceptional size
From this reading This story begins on a fine autumn afternoon when, at the end of a field over which the shadows of a few wayside trees were stalking like long thin giants, a man and a boy sat side by side upon a stile.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The boy looked uncomfortable, because he wanted to get away and dared not go.
happy-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were not a happy-looking pair.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The boy looked uncomfortable, because he wanted to get away and dared not go.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading This story begins on a fine autumn afternoon when, at the end of a field over which the shadows of a few wayside trees were stalking like long thin giants, a man and a boy sat side by side upon a stile.
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 This story begins on a fine autumn afternoon when, at the end of a field over which the shadows of a few wayside trees were stalking like long thin giants, a man and a boy sat side by side upon a stile.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The boy looked uncomfortable, because he wanted to get away and dared not go.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading This story begins on a fine autumn afternoon when, at the end of a field over which the shadows of a few wayside trees were stalking like long thin giants, a man and a boy sat side by side upon a stile.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They were not a happy-looking pair.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading This story begins on a fine autumn afternoon when, at the end of a field over which the shadows of a few wayside trees were stalking like long thin giants, a man and a boy sat side by side upon a stile.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading OLD PROVERB.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading This story begins on a fine autumn afternoon when, at the end of a field over which the shadows of a few wayside trees were stalking like long thin giants, a man and a boy sat side by side upon a stile.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading This story begins on a fine autumn afternoon when, at the end of a field over which the shadows of a few wayside trees were stalking like long thin giants, a man and a boy sat side by side upon a stile.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading They were not a happy-looking pair.
PROVERBnounUS /ˈprɑːvərb/
a condensed but memorable saying embodying some important fact of experience that is taken as true by many people
From this reading OLD PROVERB.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading This story begins on a fine autumn afternoon when, at the end of a field over which the shadows of a few wayside trees were stalking like long thin giants, a man and a boy sat side by side upon a stile.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading This story begins on a fine autumn afternoon when, at the end of a field over which the shadows of a few wayside trees were stalking like long thin giants, a man and a boy sat side by side upon a stile.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading This story begins on a fine autumn afternoon when, at the end of a field over which the shadows of a few wayside trees were stalking like long thin giants, a man and a boy sat side by side upon a stile.
stalkingnounUS /ˈstɔːkɪŋ/
a hunt for game carried on by following it stealthily or waiting in ambush
From this reading This story begins on a fine autumn afternoon when, at the end of a field over which the shadows of a few wayside trees were stalking like long thin giants, a man and a boy sat side by side upon a stile.
stilenounUS /staɪl/
an upright that is a member in a door or window frame
From this reading This story begins on a fine autumn afternoon when, at the end of a field over which the shadows of a few wayside trees were stalking like long thin giants, a man and a boy sat side by side upon a stile.
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 This story begins on a fine autumn afternoon when, at the end of a field over which the shadows of a few wayside trees were stalking like long thin giants, a man and a boy sat side by side upon a stile.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading This story begins on a fine autumn afternoon when, at the end of a field over which the shadows of a few wayside trees were stalking like long thin giants, a man and a boy sat side by side upon a stile.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were not a happy-looking pair.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading This story begins on a fine autumn afternoon when, at the end of a field over which the shadows of a few wayside trees were stalking like long thin giants, a man and a boy sat side by side upon a stile.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This story begins on a fine autumn afternoon when, at the end of a field over which the shadows of a few wayside trees were stalking like long thin giants, a man and a boy sat side by side upon a stile.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The boy looked uncomfortable, because he wanted to get away and dared not go.
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 This story begins on a fine autumn afternoon when, at the end of a field over which the shadows of a few wayside trees were stalking like long thin giants, a man and a boy sat side by side upon a stile.
uncomfortableadjectiveUS /ənˈkʌmfərtəbəl/
conducive to or feeling mental discomfort
From this reading The boy looked uncomfortable, because he wanted to get away and dared not go.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading This story begins on a fine autumn afternoon when, at the end of a field over which the shadows of a few wayside trees were stalking like long thin giants, a man and a boy sat side by side upon a stile.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading The boy looked uncomfortable, because he wanted to get away and dared not go.
waysidenounUS /ˈweɪsaɪd/
edge of a way or road or path
From this reading This story begins on a fine autumn afternoon when, at the end of a field over which the shadows of a few wayside trees were stalking like long thin giants, a man and a boy sat side by side upon a stile.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading This story begins on a fine autumn afternoon when, at the end of a field over which the shadows of a few wayside trees were stalking like long thin giants, a man and a boy sat side by side upon a stile.
at the time that
From this reading This story begins on a fine autumn afternoon when, at the end of a field over which the shadows of a few wayside trees were stalking like long thin giants, a man and a boy sat side by side upon a stile.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading This story begins on a fine autumn afternoon when, at the end of a field over which the shadows of a few wayside trees were stalking like long thin giants, a man and a boy sat side by side upon a stile.
