used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading She took off the light hat that shaded her face, and threw it on the grass, and leaning back in the high-backed cane chair, thought what a comfort not to be in a hurry about anything.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading There was a drowsy hum of insects in the air, a faint whispering in the trees overhead.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
any thing at all
From this reading She took off the light hat that shaded her face, and threw it on the grass, and leaning back in the high-backed cane chair, thought what a comfort not to be in a hurry about anything.
applicationnounUS /ˌæpləˈkeɪʃən/
the act of bringing something to bear; using it for a particular purpose
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading She took off the light hat that shaded her face, and threw it on the grass, and leaning back in the high-backed cane chair, thought what a comfort not to be in a hurry about anything.
bathnounUS /bæθ/
a vessel containing liquid in which something is immersed (as to process it or to maintain it at a constant temperature or to lubricate it)
From this reading She was delicately and coolly dressed, just fresh from a bath and a sleep.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She took off the light hat that shaded her face, and threw it on the grass, and leaning back in the high-backed cane chair, thought what a comfort not to be in a hurry about anything.
beach-gate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
the act of breaking something
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
canenounUS /keɪn/
a stick that people can lean on to help them walk
From this reading She took off the light hat that shaded her face, and threw it on the grass, and leaning back in the high-backed cane chair, thought what a comfort not to be in a hurry about anything.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading She took off the light hat that shaded her face, and threw it on the grass, and leaning back in the high-backed cane chair, thought what a comfort not to be in a hurry about anything.
a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain
From this reading She took off the light hat that shaded her face, and threw it on the grass, and leaning back in the high-backed cane chair, thought what a comfort not to be in a hurry about anything.
coollyadverbUS /ˈkuːli/
in a composed and unconcerned manner
From this reading She was delicately and coolly dressed, just fresh from a bath and a sleep.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
delicatelyadverbUS /ˈdeləkətli/
in a delicate manner
From this reading She was delicately and coolly dressed, just fresh from a bath and a sleep.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading THE PEOPLE NEXT DOOR.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading She was delicately and coolly dressed, just fresh from a bath and a sleep.
drowsyadjectiveUS /ˈdraʊzi/
half asleep
From this reading There was a drowsy hum of insects in the air, a faint whispering in the trees overhead.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading She took off the light hat that shaded her face, and threw it on the grass, and leaning back in the high-backed cane chair, thought what a comfort not to be in a hurry about anything.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading There was a drowsy hum of insects in the air, a faint whispering in the trees overhead.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading She was delicately and coolly dressed, just fresh from a bath and a sleep.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading She took off the light hat that shaded her face, and threw it on the grass, and leaning back in the high-backed cane chair, thought what a comfort not to be in a hurry about anything.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading She took off the light hat that shaded her face, and threw it on the grass, and leaning back in the high-backed cane chair, thought what a comfort not to be in a hurry about anything.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
high-backedadjective
having a high back
From this reading She took off the light hat that shaded her face, and threw it on the grass, and leaning back in the high-backed cane chair, thought what a comfort not to be in a hurry about anything.
humverbUS /hʌm/
sing with closed lips
From this reading There was a drowsy hum of insects in the air, a faint whispering in the trees overhead.
a condition of urgency making it necessary to hurry
From this reading She took off the light hat that shaded her face, and threw it on the grass, and leaning back in the high-backed cane chair, thought what a comfort not to be in a hurry about anything.
idlyadverbUS /ˈaɪdli/
in an idle manner
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was a drowsy hum of insects in the air, a faint whispering in the trees overhead.
insectsnounUS /ˈɪnsekts/
plural of “insect” — small air-breathing arthropod
From this reading There was a drowsy hum of insects in the air, a faint whispering in the trees overhead.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
the month following June and preceding August
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
and nothing more
From this reading She was delicately and coolly dressed, just fresh from a bath and a sleep.
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading She took off the light hat that shaded her face, and threw it on the grass, and leaning back in the high-backed cane chair, thought what a comfort not to be in a hurry about anything.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading She took off the light hat that shaded her face, and threw it on the grass, and leaning back in the high-backed cane chair, thought what a comfort not to be in a hurry about anything.
appealing to the emotions as well as the eye
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
involving the mind or an intellectual process
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
MissynounUS /ˈmɪsi/
a young female
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading THE PEOPLE NEXT DOOR.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She took off the light hat that shaded her face, and threw it on the grass, and leaning back in the high-backed cane chair, thought what a comfort not to be in a hurry about anything.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was a drowsy hum of insects in the air, a faint whispering in the trees overhead.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading She took off the light hat that shaded her face, and threw it on the grass, and leaning back in the high-backed cane chair, thought what a comfort not to be in a hurry about anything.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
and nothing more
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
overheadadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhed/
above your head; in the sky
From this reading There was a drowsy hum of insects in the air, a faint whispering in the trees overhead.
pebblesnounUS /ˈpebəlz/
plural of “pebble” — a small smooth rounded rock
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading THE PEOPLE NEXT DOOR.
on the contrary
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
shadedadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪdɪd/
protected from heat and light with shade or shadow
From this reading She took off the light hat that shaded her face, and threw it on the grass, and leaning back in the high-backed cane chair, thought what a comfort not to be in a hurry about anything.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She took off the light hat that shaded her face, and threw it on the grass, and leaning back in the high-backed cane chair, thought what a comfort not to be in a hurry about anything.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading She was delicately and coolly dressed, just fresh from a bath and a sleep.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PEOPLE NEXT DOOR.
in or at that place or location
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading She took off the light hat that shaded her face, and threw it on the grass, and leaning back in the high-backed cane chair, thought what a comfort not to be in a hurry about anything.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading She took off the light hat that shaded her face, and threw it on the grass, and leaning back in the high-backed cane chair, thought what a comfort not to be in a hurry about anything.
the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading She took off the light hat that shaded her face, and threw it on the grass, and leaning back in the high-backed cane chair, thought what a comfort not to be in a hurry about anything.
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 There was a drowsy hum of insects in the air, a faint whispering in the trees overhead.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading She took off the light hat that shaded her face, and threw it on the grass, and leaning back in the high-backed cane chair, thought what a comfort not to be in a hurry about anything.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
whisperingnounUS /ˈwɪspərɪŋ/
a light noise, like the noise of silk clothing or leaves blowing in the wind
From this reading There was a drowsy hum of insects in the air, a faint whispering in the trees overhead.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading It was a lovely July afternoon, and at five o'clock Missy had taken her work and a book down to the beach-gate, and sat there rather idly reading, while the tide, which was only a few feet away from her, was breaking on the pebbles with a sound that is dead against serious mental application.
