used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading First of all, I should have to leap several feet to a ledge, which was by no means wide, and then I should have to grasp the pipe, as well as some ivy which had climbed up by its side.
(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 First of all, I should have to leap several feet to a ledge, which was by no means wide, and then I should have to grasp the pipe, as well as some ivy which had climbed up by its side.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading As I have said, the task I had set myself was not an easy one.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading First of all, I should have to leap several feet to a ledge, which was by no means wide, and then I should have to grasp the pipe, as well as some ivy which had climbed up by its side.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As I have said, the task I had set myself was not an easy one.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But I did not hesitate.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading First of all, I should have to leap several feet to a ledge, which was by no means wide, and then I should have to grasp the pipe, as well as some ivy which had climbed up by its side.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading ON THE ROOF OF ENDELLION CASTLE.
past form of “climb” — go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading First of all, I should have to leap several feet to a ledge, which was by no means wide, and then I should have to grasp the pipe, as well as some ivy which had climbed up by its side.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading But I did not hesitate.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading As I have said, the task I had set myself was not an easy one.
ENDELLION
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON THE ROOF OF ENDELLION CASTLE.
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading If I failed to reach the ledge I should fall, I knew not how far; or if the pipe yielded to my weight, the same thing would happen.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading If I failed to reach the ledge I should fall, I knew not how far; or if the pipe yielded to my weight, the same thing would happen.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading If I failed to reach the ledge I should fall, I knew not how far; or if the pipe yielded to my weight, the same thing would happen.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading First of all, I should have to leap several feet to a ledge, which was by no means wide, and then I should have to grasp the pipe, as well as some ivy which had climbed up by its side.
FirstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading First of all, I should have to leap several feet to a ledge, which was by no means wide, and then I should have to grasp the pipe, as well as some ivy which had climbed up by its side.
hold firmly
From this reading First of all, I should have to leap several feet to a ledge, which was by no means wide, and then I should have to grasp the pipe, as well as some ivy which had climbed up by its side.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As I have said, the task I had set myself was not an easy one.
come to pass
From this reading If I failed to reach the ledge I should fall, I knew not how far; or if the pipe yielded to my weight, the same thing would happen.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading As I have said, the task I had set myself was not an easy one.
hesitateverbUS /ˈhezəteɪt/
pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
From this reading But I did not hesitate.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If I failed to reach the ledge I should fall, I knew not how far; or if the pipe yielded to my weight, the same thing would happen.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading As I have said, the task I had set myself was not an easy one.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If I failed to reach the ledge I should fall, I knew not how far; or if the pipe yielded to my weight, the same thing would happen.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading First of all, I should have to leap several feet to a ledge, which was by no means wide, and then I should have to grasp the pipe, as well as some ivy which had climbed up by its side.
ivynounUS /ˈaɪvi/
Old World vine with lobed evergreen leaves and black berrylike fruits
From this reading First of all, I should have to leap several feet to a ledge, which was by no means wide, and then I should have to grasp the pipe, as well as some ivy which had climbed up by its side.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading If I failed to reach the ledge I should fall, I knew not how far; or if the pipe yielded to my weight, the same thing would happen.
leapnounUS /liːp/
a light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwards
From this reading First of all, I should have to leap several feet to a ledge, which was by no means wide, and then I should have to grasp the pipe, as well as some ivy which had climbed up by its side.
ledgenounUS /ledʒ/
a projecting ridge on a mountain or submerged under water
From this reading First of all, I should have to leap several feet to a ledge, which was by no means wide, and then I should have to grasp the pipe, as well as some ivy which had climbed up by its side.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading First of all, I should have to leap several feet to a ledge, which was by no means wide, and then I should have to grasp the pipe, as well as some ivy which had climbed up by its side.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading If I failed to reach the ledge I should fall, I knew not how far; or if the pipe yielded to my weight, the same thing would happen.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading As I have said, the task I had set myself was not an easy one.
not any; not one
From this reading First of all, I should have to leap several feet to a ledge, which was by no means wide, and then I should have to grasp the pipe, as well as some ivy which had climbed up by its side.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading As I have said, the task I had set myself was not an easy one.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ON THE ROOF OF ENDELLION CASTLE.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ON THE ROOF OF ENDELLION CASTLE.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading As I have said, the task I had set myself was not an easy one.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading If I failed to reach the ledge I should fall, I knew not how far; or if the pipe yielded to my weight, the same thing would happen.
a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco
From this reading First of all, I should have to leap several feet to a ledge, which was by no means wide, and then I should have to grasp the pipe, as well as some ivy which had climbed up by its side.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading If I failed to reach the ledge I should fall, I knew not how far; or if the pipe yielded to my weight, the same thing would happen.
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading ON THE ROOF OF ENDELLION CASTLE.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading As I have said, the task I had set myself was not an easy one.
Identical; not different.
From this reading If I failed to reach the ledge I should fall, I knew not how far; or if the pipe yielded to my weight, the same thing would happen.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading As I have said, the task I had set myself was not an easy one.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading First of all, I should have to leap several feet to a ledge, which was by no means wide, and then I should have to grasp the pipe, as well as some ivy which had climbed up by its side.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading First of all, I should have to leap several feet to a ledge, which was by no means wide, and then I should have to grasp the pipe, as well as some ivy which had climbed up by its side.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading First of all, I should have to leap several feet to a ledge, which was by no means wide, and then I should have to grasp the pipe, as well as some ivy which had climbed up by its side.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading First of all, I should have to leap several feet to a ledge, which was by no means wide, and then I should have to grasp the pipe, as well as some ivy which had climbed up by its side.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading As I have said, the task I had set myself was not an easy one.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ON THE ROOF OF ENDELLION CASTLE.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading First of all, I should have to leap several feet to a ledge, which was by no means wide, and then I should have to grasp the pipe, as well as some ivy which had climbed up by its side.
a special situation
From this reading If I failed to reach the ledge I should fall, I knew not how far; or if the pipe yielded to my weight, the same thing would happen.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading First of all, I should have to leap several feet to a ledge, which was by no means wide, and then I should have to grasp the pipe, as well as some ivy which had climbed up by its side.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading First of all, I should have to leap several feet to a ledge, which was by no means wide, and then I should have to grasp the pipe, as well as some ivy which had climbed up by its side.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As I have said, the task I had set myself was not an easy one.
the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity
From this reading If I failed to reach the ledge I should fall, I knew not how far; or if the pipe yielded to my weight, the same thing would happen.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading First of all, I should have to leap several feet to a ledge, which was by no means wide, and then I should have to grasp the pipe, as well as some ivy which had climbed up by its side.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading First of all, I should have to leap several feet to a ledge, which was by no means wide, and then I should have to grasp the pipe, as well as some ivy which had climbed up by its side.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading First of all, I should have to leap several feet to a ledge, which was by no means wide, and then I should have to grasp the pipe, as well as some ivy which had climbed up by its side.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If I failed to reach the ledge I should fall, I knew not how far; or if the pipe yielded to my weight, the same thing would happen.
yieldedverbUS /ˈjiːldɪd/
past form of “yield” — be the cause or source of
From this reading If I failed to reach the ledge I should fall, I knew not how far; or if the pipe yielded to my weight, the same thing would happen.
