Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading Beside a winding creek of the Lynher River, and not far from the Cornish borough of Saltash, you may find a roofless building so closely backed with cherry-orchards that the trees seem by their slow pressure to be thrusting the mud-walls down to the river's brink, there to topple and fall into the tide.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading They have, in fact, almost reverted to savagery, even as the cottage itself is crumbling back to the earth out of which it was built.

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

From this reading MERRY-GARDEN AND OTHER STORIES.

elected vice president and became 21st President of the United States when Garfield was assassinated (1830-1886)

From this reading ARTHUR THOMAS QUILLER-COUCH.

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

From this reading The old trees, though sheeted with white blossom in the spring, bear little fruit, and that of so poor a flavour as to be scarcely worth picking.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading They have, in fact, almost reverted to savagery, even as the cottage itself is crumbling back to the earth out of which it was built.

having a back or backing, usually of a specified type

From this reading Beside a winding creek of the Lynher River, and not far from the Cornish borough of Saltash, you may find a roofless building so closely backed with cherry-orchards that the trees seem by their slow pressure to be thrusting the mud-walls down to the river's brink, there to topple and fall into the tide.

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

From this reading Beside a winding creek of the Lynher River, and not far from the Cornish borough of Saltash, you may find a roofless building so closely backed with cherry-orchards that the trees seem by their slow pressure to be thrusting the mud-walls down to the river's brink, there to topple and fall into the tide.

have

From this reading The old trees, though sheeted with white blossom in the spring, bear little fruit, and that of so poor a flavour as to be scarcely worth picking.

next to; at the side of

From this reading Beside a winding creek of the Lynher River, and not far from the Cornish borough of Saltash, you may find a roofless building so closely backed with cherry-orchards that the trees seem by their slow pressure to be thrusting the mud-walls down to the river's brink, there to topple and fall into the tide.

produce or yield flowers

From this reading The old trees, though sheeted with white blossom in the spring, bear little fruit, and that of so poor a flavour as to be scarcely worth picking.

one of the administrative divisions of a large city

From this reading Beside a winding creek of the Lynher River, and not far from the Cornish borough of Saltash, you may find a roofless building so closely backed with cherry-orchards that the trees seem by their slow pressure to be thrusting the mud-walls down to the river's brink, there to topple and fall into the tide.

a region marking a boundary

From this reading Beside a winding creek of the Lynher River, and not far from the Cornish borough of Saltash, you may find a roofless building so closely backed with cherry-orchards that the trees seem by their slow pressure to be thrusting the mud-walls down to the river's brink, there to topple and fall into the tide.

a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place

From this reading Beside a winding creek of the Lynher River, and not far from the Cornish borough of Saltash, you may find a roofless building so closely backed with cherry-orchards that the trees seem by their slow pressure to be thrusting the mud-walls down to the river's brink, there to topple and fall into the tide.

(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness

From this reading They have, in fact, almost reverted to savagery, even as the cottage itself is crumbling back to the earth out of which it was built.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Beside a winding creek of the Lynher River, and not far from the Cornish borough of Saltash, you may find a roofless building so closely backed with cherry-orchards that the trees seem by their slow pressure to be thrusting the mud-walls down to the river's brink, there to topple and fall into the tide.

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

From this reading Beside a winding creek of the Lynher River, and not far from the Cornish borough of Saltash, you may find a roofless building so closely backed with cherry-orchards that the trees seem by their slow pressure to be thrusting the mud-walls down to the river's brink, there to topple and fall into the tide.

in a close relation or position in time or space

From this reading Beside a winding creek of the Lynher River, and not far from the Cornish borough of Saltash, you may find a roofless building so closely backed with cherry-orchards that the trees seem by their slow pressure to be thrusting the mud-walls down to the river's brink, there to topple and fall into the tide.

a Celtic language spoken in Cornwall

From this reading Beside a winding creek of the Lynher River, and not far from the Cornish borough of Saltash, you may find a roofless building so closely backed with cherry-orchards that the trees seem by their slow pressure to be thrusting the mud-walls down to the river's brink, there to topple and fall into the tide.

a small house with a single story

From this reading They have, in fact, almost reverted to savagery, even as the cottage itself is crumbling back to the earth out of which it was built.

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

From this reading Beside a winding creek of the Lynher River, and not far from the Cornish borough of Saltash, you may find a roofless building so closely backed with cherry-orchards that the trees seem by their slow pressure to be thrusting the mud-walls down to the river's brink, there to topple and fall into the tide.

-ing form of “crumble” — fall apart

From this reading They have, in fact, almost reverted to savagery, even as the cottage itself is crumbling back to the earth out of which it was built.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Beside a winding creek of the Lynher River, and not far from the Cornish borough of Saltash, you may find a roofless building so closely backed with cherry-orchards that the trees seem by their slow pressure to be thrusting the mud-walls down to the river's brink, there to topple and fall into the tide.

the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

From this reading They have, in fact, almost reverted to savagery, even as the cottage itself is crumbling back to the earth out of which it was built.

divisible by two

From this reading They have, in fact, almost reverted to savagery, even as the cottage itself is crumbling back to the earth out of which it was built.

a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading They have, in fact, almost reverted to savagery, even as the cottage itself is crumbling back to the earth out of which it was built.

descend in free fall under the influence of gravity

From this reading Beside a winding creek of the Lynher River, and not far from the Cornish borough of Saltash, you may find a roofless building so closely backed with cherry-orchards that the trees seem by their slow pressure to be thrusting the mud-walls down to the river's brink, there to topple and fall into the tide.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading Beside a winding creek of the Lynher River, and not far from the Cornish borough of Saltash, you may find a roofless building so closely backed with cherry-orchards that the trees seem by their slow pressure to be thrusting the mud-walls down to the river's brink, there to topple and fall into the tide.

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading Beside a winding creek of the Lynher River, and not far from the Cornish borough of Saltash, you may find a roofless building so closely backed with cherry-orchards that the trees seem by their slow pressure to be thrusting the mud-walls down to the river's brink, there to topple and fall into the tide.

the general atmosphere of a place or situation and the effect that it has on people

From this reading The old trees, though sheeted with white blossom in the spring, bear little fruit, and that of so poor a flavour as to be scarcely worth picking.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Beside a winding creek of the Lynher River, and not far from the Cornish borough of Saltash, you may find a roofless building so closely backed with cherry-orchards that the trees seem by their slow pressure to be thrusting the mud-walls down to the river's brink, there to topple and fall into the tide.

the ripened reproductive body of a seed plant

From this reading The old trees, though sheeted with white blossom in the spring, bear little fruit, and that of so poor a flavour as to be scarcely worth picking.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading They have, in fact, almost reverted to savagery, even as the cottage itself is crumbling back to the earth out of which it was built.

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

From this reading The old trees, though sheeted with white blossom in the spring, bear little fruit, and that of so poor a flavour as to be scarcely worth picking.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Beside a winding creek of the Lynher River, and not far from the Cornish borough of Saltash, you may find a roofless building so closely backed with cherry-orchards that the trees seem by their slow pressure to be thrusting the mud-walls down to the river's brink, there to topple and fall into the tide.

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

From this reading They have, in fact, almost reverted to savagery, even as the cottage itself is crumbling back to the earth out of which it was built.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading They have, in fact, almost reverted to savagery, even as the cottage itself is crumbling back to the earth out of which it was built.

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading They have, in fact, almost reverted to savagery, even as the cottage itself is crumbling back to the earth out of which it was built.

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

From this reading The old trees, though sheeted with white blossom in the spring, bear little fruit, and that of so poor a flavour as to be scarcely worth picking.

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

From this reading Beside a winding creek of the Lynher River, and not far from the Cornish borough of Saltash, you may find a roofless building so closely backed with cherry-orchards that the trees seem by their slow pressure to be thrusting the mud-walls down to the river's brink, there to topple and fall into the tide.

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading Beside a winding creek of the Lynher River, and not far from the Cornish borough of Saltash, you may find a roofless building so closely backed with cherry-orchards that the trees seem by their slow pressure to be thrusting the mud-walls down to the river's brink, there to topple and fall into the tide.

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

From this reading MERRY-GARDEN AND OTHER STORIES.

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

From this reading Beside a winding creek of the Lynher River, and not far from the Cornish borough of Saltash, you may find a roofless building so closely backed with cherry-orchards that the trees seem by their slow pressure to be thrusting the mud-walls down to the river's brink, there to topple and fall into the tide.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Beside a winding creek of the Lynher River, and not far from the Cornish borough of Saltash, you may find a roofless building so closely backed with cherry-orchards that the trees seem by their slow pressure to be thrusting the mud-walls down to the river's brink, there to topple and fall into the tide.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Beside a winding creek of the Lynher River, and not far from the Cornish borough of Saltash, you may find a roofless building so closely backed with cherry-orchards that the trees seem by their slow pressure to be thrusting the mud-walls down to the river's brink, there to topple and fall into the tide.

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

From this reading The old trees, though sheeted with white blossom in the spring, bear little fruit, and that of so poor a flavour as to be scarcely worth picking.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading MERRY-GARDEN AND OTHER STORIES.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading They have, in fact, almost reverted to savagery, even as the cottage itself is crumbling back to the earth out of which it was built.

the quantity of a crop that is harvested

From this reading The old trees, though sheeted with white blossom in the spring, bear little fruit, and that of so poor a flavour as to be scarcely worth picking.

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading The old trees, though sheeted with white blossom in the spring, bear little fruit, and that of so poor a flavour as to be scarcely worth picking.

the force applied to a unit area of surface; measured in pascals (SI unit) or in dynes (cgs unit)

From this reading Beside a winding creek of the Lynher River, and not far from the Cornish borough of Saltash, you may find a roofless building so closely backed with cherry-orchards that the trees seem by their slow pressure to be thrusting the mud-walls down to the river's brink, there to topple and fall into the tide.

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

From this reading ARTHUR THOMAS QUILLER-COUCH.

past form of “revert” — go back to a previous state

From this reading They have, in fact, almost reverted to savagery, even as the cottage itself is crumbling back to the earth out of which it was built.

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

From this reading Beside a winding creek of the Lynher River, and not far from the Cornish borough of Saltash, you may find a roofless building so closely backed with cherry-orchards that the trees seem by their slow pressure to be thrusting the mud-walls down to the river's brink, there to topple and fall into the tide.

possessive form of “river” — a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading Beside a winding creek of the Lynher River, and not far from the Cornish borough of Saltash, you may find a roofless building so closely backed with cherry-orchards that the trees seem by their slow pressure to be thrusting the mud-walls down to the river's brink, there to topple and fall into the tide.

not having a roof

From this reading Beside a winding creek of the Lynher River, and not far from the Cornish borough of Saltash, you may find a roofless building so closely backed with cherry-orchards that the trees seem by their slow pressure to be thrusting the mud-walls down to the river's brink, there to topple and fall into the tide.

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

From this reading Beside a winding creek of the Lynher River, and not far from the Cornish borough of Saltash, you may find a roofless building so closely backed with cherry-orchards that the trees seem by their slow pressure to be thrusting the mud-walls down to the river's brink, there to topple and fall into the tide.

the property of being untamed and ferocious

From this reading They have, in fact, almost reverted to savagery, even as the cottage itself is crumbling back to the earth out of which it was built.

only a very short time before

From this reading The old trees, though sheeted with white blossom in the spring, bear little fruit, and that of so poor a flavour as to be scarcely worth picking.

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading Beside a winding creek of the Lynher River, and not far from the Cornish borough of Saltash, you may find a roofless building so closely backed with cherry-orchards that the trees seem by their slow pressure to be thrusting the mud-walls down to the river's brink, there to topple and fall into the tide.

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

From this reading The old trees, though sheeted with white blossom in the spring, bear little fruit, and that of so poor a flavour as to be scarcely worth picking.

not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time

From this reading Beside a winding creek of the Lynher River, and not far from the Cornish borough of Saltash, you may find a roofless building so closely backed with cherry-orchards that the trees seem by their slow pressure to be thrusting the mud-walls down to the river's brink, there to topple and fall into the tide.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Beside a winding creek of the Lynher River, and not far from the Cornish borough of Saltash, you may find a roofless building so closely backed with cherry-orchards that the trees seem by their slow pressure to be thrusting the mud-walls down to the river's brink, there to topple and fall into the tide.

the season of growth

From this reading The old trees, though sheeted with white blossom in the spring, bear little fruit, and that of so poor a flavour as to be scarcely worth picking.

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 MERRY-GARDEN AND OTHER STORIES.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Beside a winding creek of the Lynher River, and not far from the Cornish borough of Saltash, you may find a roofless building so closely backed with cherry-orchards that the trees seem by their slow pressure to be thrusting the mud-walls down to the river's brink, there to topple and fall into the tide.

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

From this reading Beside a winding creek of the Lynher River, and not far from the Cornish borough of Saltash, you may find a roofless building so closely backed with cherry-orchards that the trees seem by their slow pressure to be thrusting the mud-walls down to the river's brink, there to topple and fall into the tide.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Beside a winding creek of the Lynher River, and not far from the Cornish borough of Saltash, you may find a roofless building so closely backed with cherry-orchards that the trees seem by their slow pressure to be thrusting the mud-walls down to the river's brink, there to topple and fall into the tide.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Beside a winding creek of the Lynher River, and not far from the Cornish borough of Saltash, you may find a roofless building so closely backed with cherry-orchards that the trees seem by their slow pressure to be thrusting the mud-walls down to the river's brink, there to topple and fall into the tide.

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

From this reading They have, in fact, almost reverted to savagery, even as the cottage itself is crumbling back to the earth out of which it was built.

United States clockmaker who introduced mass production (1785-1859)

From this reading ARTHUR THOMAS QUILLER-COUCH.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading The old trees, though sheeted with white blossom in the spring, bear little fruit, and that of so poor a flavour as to be scarcely worth picking.

a sharp hand gesture (resembling a blow)

From this reading Beside a winding creek of the Lynher River, and not far from the Cornish borough of Saltash, you may find a roofless building so closely backed with cherry-orchards that the trees seem by their slow pressure to be thrusting the mud-walls down to the river's brink, there to topple and fall into the tide.

the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon

From this reading Beside a winding creek of the Lynher River, and not far from the Cornish borough of Saltash, you may find a roofless building so closely backed with cherry-orchards that the trees seem by their slow pressure to be thrusting the mud-walls down to the river's brink, there to topple and fall into the tide.

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

From this reading Beside a winding creek of the Lynher River, and not far from the Cornish borough of Saltash, you may find a roofless building so closely backed with cherry-orchards that the trees seem by their slow pressure to be thrusting the mud-walls down to the river's brink, there to topple and fall into the tide.

fall down, as if collapsing

From this reading Beside a winding creek of the Lynher River, and not far from the Cornish borough of Saltash, you may find a roofless building so closely backed with cherry-orchards that the trees seem by their slow pressure to be thrusting the mud-walls down to the river's brink, there to topple and fall into the tide.

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 Beside a winding creek of the Lynher River, and not far from the Cornish borough of Saltash, you may find a roofless building so closely backed with cherry-orchards that the trees seem by their slow pressure to be thrusting the mud-walls down to the river's brink, there to topple and fall into the tide.

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

From this reading They have, in fact, almost reverted to savagery, even as the cottage itself is crumbling back to the earth out of which it was built.

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

From this reading They have, in fact, almost reverted to savagery, even as the cottage itself is crumbling back to the earth out of which it was built.

a Caucasian

From this reading The old trees, though sheeted with white blossom in the spring, bear little fruit, and that of so poor a flavour as to be scarcely worth picking.

marked by repeated turns and bends

From this reading Beside a winding creek of the Lynher River, and not far from the Cornish borough of Saltash, you may find a roofless building so closely backed with cherry-orchards that the trees seem by their slow pressure to be thrusting the mud-walls down to the river's brink, there to topple and fall into the tide.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Beside a winding creek of the Lynher River, and not far from the Cornish borough of Saltash, you may find a roofless building so closely backed with cherry-orchards that the trees seem by their slow pressure to be thrusting the mud-walls down to the river's brink, there to topple and fall into the tide.

an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value

From this reading The old trees, though sheeted with white blossom in the spring, bear little fruit, and that of so poor a flavour as to be scarcely worth picking.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Beside a winding creek of the Lynher River, and not far from the Cornish borough of Saltash, you may find a roofless building so closely backed with cherry-orchards that the trees seem by their slow pressure to be thrusting the mud-walls down to the river's brink, there to topple and fall into the tide.