used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The stranger spoke in a low, persuasive tone; his eyes glanced rapidly hither and thither as he spoke, taking the bearings of house and garden, noting the turn of the road, the distance of the neighboring houses.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "I am sure you will listen to reason,--a fine, intelligent lady like yourself.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The stranger spoke in a low, persuasive tone; his eyes glanced rapidly hither and thither as he spoke, taking the bearings of house and garden, noting the turn of the road, the distance of the neighboring houses.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The stranger spoke in a low, persuasive tone; his eyes glanced rapidly hither and thither as he spoke, taking the bearings of house and garden, noting the turn of the road, the distance of the neighboring houses.
bearingsnounUS /ˈberɪŋz/
plural of “bearing” — relevant relation or interconnection
From this reading The stranger spoke in a low, persuasive tone; his eyes glanced rapidly hither and thither as he spoke, taking the bearings of house and garden, noting the turn of the road, the distance of the neighboring houses.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "But I'm sure you will listen to reason, ma'am."
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading The stranger spoke in a low, persuasive tone; his eyes glanced rapidly hither and thither as he spoke, taking the bearings of house and garden, noting the turn of the road, the distance of the neighboring houses.
opinion or judgment
From this reading The stranger spoke in a low, persuasive tone; his eyes glanced rapidly hither and thither as he spoke, taking the bearings of house and garden, noting the turn of the road, the distance of the neighboring houses.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading "I am sure you will listen to reason,--a fine, intelligent lady like yourself.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading The stranger spoke in a low, persuasive tone; his eyes glanced rapidly hither and thither as he spoke, taking the bearings of house and garden, noting the turn of the road, the distance of the neighboring houses.
past form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading The stranger spoke in a low, persuasive tone; his eyes glanced rapidly hither and thither as he spoke, taking the bearings of house and garden, noting the turn of the road, the distance of the neighboring houses.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading One would have said he was a surveyor, only he had no instruments with him.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading One would have said he was a surveyor, only he had no instruments with him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The stranger spoke in a low, persuasive tone; his eyes glanced rapidly hither and thither as he spoke, taking the bearings of house and garden, noting the turn of the road, the distance of the neighboring houses.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading One would have said he was a surveyor, only he had no instruments with him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The stranger spoke in a low, persuasive tone; his eyes glanced rapidly hither and thither as he spoke, taking the bearings of house and garden, noting the turn of the road, the distance of the neighboring houses.
an old word meaning “to this place”
From this reading The stranger spoke in a low, persuasive tone; his eyes glanced rapidly hither and thither as he spoke, taking the bearings of house and garden, noting the turn of the road, the distance of the neighboring houses.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The stranger spoke in a low, persuasive tone; his eyes glanced rapidly hither and thither as he spoke, taking the bearings of house and garden, noting the turn of the road, the distance of the neighboring houses.
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The stranger spoke in a low, persuasive tone; his eyes glanced rapidly hither and thither as he spoke, taking the bearings of house and garden, noting the turn of the road, the distance of the neighboring houses.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I am sure you will listen to reason,--a fine, intelligent lady like yourself.
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "But I'm sure you will listen to reason, ma'am."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The stranger spoke in a low, persuasive tone; his eyes glanced rapidly hither and thither as he spoke, taking the bearings of house and garden, noting the turn of the road, the distance of the neighboring houses.
instrumentsnounUS /ˈɪnstrəmənts/
plural of “instrument” — a device that requires skill for proper use
From this reading One would have said he was a surveyor, only he had no instruments with him.
intelligentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtelədʒənt/
having the capacity for thought and reason especially to a high degree
From this reading "I am sure you will listen to reason,--a fine, intelligent lady like yourself.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading "I am sure you will listen to reason,--a fine, intelligent lady like yourself.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "I am sure you will listen to reason,--a fine, intelligent lady like yourself.
hear with intention
From this reading "But I'm sure you will listen to reason, ma'am."
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The stranger spoke in a low, persuasive tone; his eyes glanced rapidly hither and thither as he spoke, taking the bearings of house and garden, noting the turn of the road, the distance of the neighboring houses.
ma'amnounUS /mæm/
a woman of refinement
From this reading "But I'm sure you will listen to reason, ma'am."
neighboringadjectiveUS /ˈneɪbərɪŋ/
having a common boundary or edge; abutting; touching
From this reading The stranger spoke in a low, persuasive tone; his eyes glanced rapidly hither and thither as he spoke, taking the bearings of house and garden, noting the turn of the road, the distance of the neighboring houses.
not any; not one
From this reading One would have said he was a surveyor, only he had no instruments with him.
notingverbUS /ˈnoʊtɪŋ/
-ing form of “note” — make mention of
From this reading The stranger spoke in a low, persuasive tone; his eyes glanced rapidly hither and thither as he spoke, taking the bearings of house and garden, noting the turn of the road, the distance of the neighboring houses.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The stranger spoke in a low, persuasive tone; his eyes glanced rapidly hither and thither as he spoke, taking the bearings of house and garden, noting the turn of the road, the distance of the neighboring houses.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One would have said he was a surveyor, only he had no instruments with him.
and nothing more
From this reading One would have said he was a surveyor, only he had no instruments with him.
persuasiveadjectiveUS /pərˈsweɪsɪv/
intended or having the power to induce action or belief
From this reading The stranger spoke in a low, persuasive tone; his eyes glanced rapidly hither and thither as he spoke, taking the bearings of house and garden, noting the turn of the road, the distance of the neighboring houses.
with speed
From this reading The stranger spoke in a low, persuasive tone; his eyes glanced rapidly hither and thither as he spoke, taking the bearings of house and garden, noting the turn of the road, the distance of the neighboring houses.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading "But I'm sure you will listen to reason, ma'am."
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading The stranger spoke in a low, persuasive tone; his eyes glanced rapidly hither and thither as he spoke, taking the bearings of house and garden, noting the turn of the road, the distance of the neighboring houses.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading One would have said he was a surveyor, only he had no instruments with him.
SERPENTnounUS /ˈsɜːrpənt/
limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous
From this reading THE SERPENT.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading The stranger spoke in a low, persuasive tone; his eyes glanced rapidly hither and thither as he spoke, taking the bearings of house and garden, noting the turn of the road, the distance of the neighboring houses.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading The stranger spoke in a low, persuasive tone; his eyes glanced rapidly hither and thither as he spoke, taking the bearings of house and garden, noting the turn of the road, the distance of the neighboring houses.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading "But I'm sure you will listen to reason, ma'am."
surveyornounUS /sərˈveɪər/
an engineer who determines the boundaries and elevations of land or structures
From this reading One would have said he was a surveyor, only he had no instruments with him.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading The stranger spoke in a low, persuasive tone; his eyes glanced rapidly hither and thither as he spoke, taking the bearings of house and garden, noting the turn of the road, the distance of the neighboring houses.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SERPENT.
an old word meaning “to that place”
From this reading The stranger spoke in a low, persuasive tone; his eyes glanced rapidly hither and thither as he spoke, taking the bearings of house and garden, noting the turn of the road, the distance of the neighboring houses.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "But I'm sure you will listen to reason, ma'am."
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading The stranger spoke in a low, persuasive tone; his eyes glanced rapidly hither and thither as he spoke, taking the bearings of house and garden, noting the turn of the road, the distance of the neighboring houses.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading The stranger spoke in a low, persuasive tone; his eyes glanced rapidly hither and thither as he spoke, taking the bearings of house and garden, noting the turn of the road, the distance of the neighboring houses.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading One would have said he was a surveyor, only he had no instruments with him.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "But I'm sure you will listen to reason, ma'am."
in the company of; together with
From this reading One would have said he was a surveyor, only he had no instruments with him.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading One would have said he was a surveyor, only he had no instruments with him.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "But I'm sure you will listen to reason, ma'am."
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading "I am sure you will listen to reason,--a fine, intelligent lady like yourself.
