used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A CHILD'S CREED.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "Heaven lies about us in our infancy."--WORDSWORTH.
matters of personal concern
From this reading "I was born, sir, when the crab was ascending and my affairs go backwards."--CONGREVE.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Thorold Chaytor was not an imaginative man; he was neither emotional nor impressionable, and more than once lately he had puzzled himself over the singular persistency with which his long-lost brother Tristram haunted him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "I was born, sir, when the crab was ascending and my affairs go backwards."--CONGREVE.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading For the last two or three years he had hardly thought of him, but now, as he crossed the bridge of an evening, little tricks of speech and long-forgotten scenes would recur to his memory; but he never spoke of this to Joanna.
ascendingadjectiveUS /əˈsendɪŋ/
moving or going or growing upward
From this reading "I was born, sir, when the crab was ascending and my affairs go backwards."--CONGREVE.
backwardsadverbUS /ˈbækwərdz/
at or to or toward the back or rear
From this reading "I was born, sir, when the crab was ascending and my affairs go backwards."--CONGREVE.
brought into existence
From this reading "I was born, sir, when the crab was ascending and my affairs go backwards."--CONGREVE.
a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.
From this reading For the last two or three years he had hardly thought of him, but now, as he crossed the bridge of an evening, little tricks of speech and long-forgotten scenes would recur to his memory; but he never spoke of this to Joanna.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading Thorold Chaytor was not an imaginative man; he was neither emotional nor impressionable, and more than once lately he had puzzled himself over the singular persistency with which his long-lost brother Tristram haunted him.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading For the last two or three years he had hardly thought of him, but now, as he crossed the bridge of an evening, little tricks of speech and long-forgotten scenes would recur to his memory; but he never spoke of this to Joanna.
Chaytor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thorold Chaytor was not an imaginative man; he was neither emotional nor impressionable, and more than once lately he had puzzled himself over the singular persistency with which his long-lost brother Tristram haunted him.
CHILD'SnounUS /tʃaɪldz/
possessive form of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading A CHILD'S CREED.
CONGREVEnoun
English playwright remembered for his comedies (1670-1729)
From this reading "I was born, sir, when the crab was ascending and my affairs go backwards."--CONGREVE.
crabnounUS /kræb/
decapod having eyes on short stalks and a broad flattened carapace with a small abdomen folded under the thorax and pincers
From this reading "I was born, sir, when the crab was ascending and my affairs go backwards."--CONGREVE.
CREEDnounUS /kriːd/
any system of principles or beliefs
From this reading A CHILD'S CREED.
placed crosswise
From this reading For the last two or three years he had hardly thought of him, but now, as he crossed the bridge of an evening, little tricks of speech and long-forgotten scenes would recur to his memory; but he never spoke of this to Joanna.
emotionaladjectiveUS /ɪˈmoʊʃənəl/
determined or actuated by emotion rather than reason
From this reading Thorold Chaytor was not an imaginative man; he was neither emotional nor impressionable, and more than once lately he had puzzled himself over the singular persistency with which his long-lost brother Tristram haunted him.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading For the last two or three years he had hardly thought of him, but now, as he crossed the bridge of an evening, little tricks of speech and long-forgotten scenes would recur to his memory; but he never spoke of this to Joanna.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the last two or three years he had hardly thought of him, but now, as he crossed the bridge of an evening, little tricks of speech and long-forgotten scenes would recur to his memory; but he never spoke of this to Joanna.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "I was born, sir, when the crab was ascending and my affairs go backwards."--CONGREVE.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Thorold Chaytor was not an imaginative man; he was neither emotional nor impressionable, and more than once lately he had puzzled himself over the singular persistency with which his long-lost brother Tristram haunted him.
only a very short time before
From this reading For the last two or three years he had hardly thought of him, but now, as he crossed the bridge of an evening, little tricks of speech and long-forgotten scenes would recur to his memory; but he never spoke of this to Joanna.
hauntedadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːntɪd/
having or showing excessive or compulsive concern with something
From this reading Thorold Chaytor was not an imaginative man; he was neither emotional nor impressionable, and more than once lately he had puzzled himself over the singular persistency with which his long-lost brother Tristram haunted him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Thorold Chaytor was not an imaginative man; he was neither emotional nor impressionable, and more than once lately he had puzzled himself over the singular persistency with which his long-lost brother Tristram haunted him.
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
From this reading "Heaven lies about us in our infancy."--WORDSWORTH.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Thorold Chaytor was not an imaginative man; he was neither emotional nor impressionable, and more than once lately he had puzzled himself over the singular persistency with which his long-lost brother Tristram haunted him.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Thorold Chaytor was not an imaginative man; he was neither emotional nor impressionable, and more than once lately he had puzzled himself over the singular persistency with which his long-lost brother Tristram haunted him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Thorold Chaytor was not an imaginative man; he was neither emotional nor impressionable, and more than once lately he had puzzled himself over the singular persistency with which his long-lost brother Tristram haunted him.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I was born, sir, when the crab was ascending and my affairs go backwards."--CONGREVE.
imaginativeadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈmædʒənətɪv/
(used of persons or artifacts) marked by independence and creativity in thought or action
From this reading Thorold Chaytor was not an imaginative man; he was neither emotional nor impressionable, and more than once lately he had puzzled himself over the singular persistency with which his long-lost brother Tristram haunted him.
impressionableadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpreʃənəbəl/
easily impressed or influenced
From this reading Thorold Chaytor was not an imaginative man; he was neither emotional nor impressionable, and more than once lately he had puzzled himself over the singular persistency with which his long-lost brother Tristram haunted him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Heaven lies about us in our infancy."--WORDSWORTH.
infancynounUS /ˈɪnfənsi/
the early stage of growth or development
From this reading "Heaven lies about us in our infancy."--WORDSWORTH.
Joanna
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the last two or three years he had hardly thought of him, but now, as he crossed the bridge of an evening, little tricks of speech and long-forgotten scenes would recur to his memory; but he never spoke of this to Joanna.
immediately past
From this reading For the last two or three years he had hardly thought of him, but now, as he crossed the bridge of an evening, little tricks of speech and long-forgotten scenes would recur to his memory; but he never spoke of this to Joanna.
in the recent past
From this reading Thorold Chaytor was not an imaginative man; he was neither emotional nor impressionable, and more than once lately he had puzzled himself over the singular persistency with which his long-lost brother Tristram haunted him.
plural of “lie” — a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth
From this reading "Heaven lies about us in our infancy."--WORDSWORTH.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading For the last two or three years he had hardly thought of him, but now, as he crossed the bridge of an evening, little tricks of speech and long-forgotten scenes would recur to his memory; but he never spoke of this to Joanna.
long-forgotten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the last two or three years he had hardly thought of him, but now, as he crossed the bridge of an evening, little tricks of speech and long-forgotten scenes would recur to his memory; but he never spoke of this to Joanna.
long-lost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thorold Chaytor was not an imaginative man; he was neither emotional nor impressionable, and more than once lately he had puzzled himself over the singular persistency with which his long-lost brother Tristram haunted him.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Thorold Chaytor was not an imaginative man; he was neither emotional nor impressionable, and more than once lately he had puzzled himself over the singular persistency with which his long-lost brother Tristram haunted him.
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading For the last two or three years he had hardly thought of him, but now, as he crossed the bridge of an evening, little tricks of speech and long-forgotten scenes would recur to his memory; but he never spoke of this to Joanna.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Thorold Chaytor was not an imaginative man; he was neither emotional nor impressionable, and more than once lately he had puzzled himself over the singular persistency with which his long-lost brother Tristram haunted him.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "I was born, sir, when the crab was ascending and my affairs go backwards."--CONGREVE.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading Thorold Chaytor was not an imaginative man; he was neither emotional nor impressionable, and more than once lately he had puzzled himself over the singular persistency with which his long-lost brother Tristram haunted him.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading For the last two or three years he had hardly thought of him, but now, as he crossed the bridge of an evening, little tricks of speech and long-forgotten scenes would recur to his memory; but he never spoke of this to Joanna.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Thorold Chaytor was not an imaginative man; he was neither emotional nor impressionable, and more than once lately he had puzzled himself over the singular persistency with which his long-lost brother Tristram haunted him.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Thorold Chaytor was not an imaginative man; he was neither emotional nor impressionable, and more than once lately he had puzzled himself over the singular persistency with which his long-lost brother Tristram haunted him.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading For the last two or three years he had hardly thought of him, but now, as he crossed the bridge of an evening, little tricks of speech and long-forgotten scenes would recur to his memory; but he never spoke of this to Joanna.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For the last two or three years he had hardly thought of him, but now, as he crossed the bridge of an evening, little tricks of speech and long-forgotten scenes would recur to his memory; but he never spoke of this to Joanna.
on one occasion
From this reading Thorold Chaytor was not an imaginative man; he was neither emotional nor impressionable, and more than once lately he had puzzled himself over the singular persistency with which his long-lost brother Tristram haunted him.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading For the last two or three years he had hardly thought of him, but now, as he crossed the bridge of an evening, little tricks of speech and long-forgotten scenes would recur to his memory; but he never spoke of this to Joanna.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "Heaven lies about us in our infancy."--WORDSWORTH.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Thorold Chaytor was not an imaginative man; he was neither emotional nor impressionable, and more than once lately he had puzzled himself over the singular persistency with which his long-lost brother Tristram haunted him.
persistencynoun
persistent determination
From this reading Thorold Chaytor was not an imaginative man; he was neither emotional nor impressionable, and more than once lately he had puzzled himself over the singular persistency with which his long-lost brother Tristram haunted him.
filled with bewilderment
From this reading Thorold Chaytor was not an imaginative man; he was neither emotional nor impressionable, and more than once lately he had puzzled himself over the singular persistency with which his long-lost brother Tristram haunted him.
recurverbUS /rɪˈkɜːr/
happen or occur again
From this reading For the last two or three years he had hardly thought of him, but now, as he crossed the bridge of an evening, little tricks of speech and long-forgotten scenes would recur to his memory; but he never spoke of this to Joanna.
plural of “scene” — the place where some action occurs
From this reading For the last two or three years he had hardly thought of him, but now, as he crossed the bridge of an evening, little tricks of speech and long-forgotten scenes would recur to his memory; but he never spoke of this to Joanna.
unusual or striking
From this reading Thorold Chaytor was not an imaginative man; he was neither emotional nor impressionable, and more than once lately he had puzzled himself over the singular persistency with which his long-lost brother Tristram haunted him.
term of address for a man
From this reading "I was born, sir, when the crab was ascending and my affairs go backwards."--CONGREVE.
the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience
From this reading For the last two or three years he had hardly thought of him, but now, as he crossed the bridge of an evening, little tricks of speech and long-forgotten scenes would recur to his memory; but he never spoke of this to Joanna.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading For the last two or three years he had hardly thought of him, but now, as he crossed the bridge of an evening, little tricks of speech and long-forgotten scenes would recur to his memory; but he never spoke of this to Joanna.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Thorold Chaytor was not an imaginative man; he was neither emotional nor impressionable, and more than once lately he had puzzled himself over the singular persistency with which his long-lost brother Tristram haunted him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "I was born, sir, when the crab was ascending and my affairs go backwards."--CONGREVE.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading For the last two or three years he had hardly thought of him, but now, as he crossed the bridge of an evening, little tricks of speech and long-forgotten scenes would recur to his memory; but he never spoke of this to Joanna.
Thorold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thorold Chaytor was not an imaginative man; he was neither emotional nor impressionable, and more than once lately he had puzzled himself over the singular persistency with which his long-lost brother Tristram haunted him.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading For the last two or three years he had hardly thought of him, but now, as he crossed the bridge of an evening, little tricks of speech and long-forgotten scenes would recur to his memory; but he never spoke of this to Joanna.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading For the last two or three years he had hardly thought of him, but now, as he crossed the bridge of an evening, little tricks of speech and long-forgotten scenes would recur to his memory; but he never spoke of this to Joanna.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For the last two or three years he had hardly thought of him, but now, as he crossed the bridge of an evening, little tricks of speech and long-forgotten scenes would recur to his memory; but he never spoke of this to Joanna.
tricksnounUS /trɪks/
plural of “trick” — a cunning or deceitful action or device
From this reading For the last two or three years he had hardly thought of him, but now, as he crossed the bridge of an evening, little tricks of speech and long-forgotten scenes would recur to his memory; but he never spoke of this to Joanna.
TristramnounUS /ˈtrɪstrəm/
(Middle Ages) the nephew of the king of Cornwall who (according to legend) fell in love with his uncle's bride (Iseult) after they mistakenly drank a love potion that left them eternally in love with each other
From this reading Thorold Chaytor was not an imaginative man; he was neither emotional nor impressionable, and more than once lately he had puzzled himself over the singular persistency with which his long-lost brother Tristram haunted him.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading For the last two or three years he had hardly thought of him, but now, as he crossed the bridge of an evening, little tricks of speech and long-forgotten scenes would recur to his memory; but he never spoke of this to Joanna.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Heaven lies about us in our infancy."--WORDSWORTH.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "I was born, sir, when the crab was ascending and my affairs go backwards."--CONGREVE.
at the time that
From this reading "I was born, sir, when the crab was ascending and my affairs go backwards."--CONGREVE.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Thorold Chaytor was not an imaginative man; he was neither emotional nor impressionable, and more than once lately he had puzzled himself over the singular persistency with which his long-lost brother Tristram haunted him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Thorold Chaytor was not an imaginative man; he was neither emotional nor impressionable, and more than once lately he had puzzled himself over the singular persistency with which his long-lost brother Tristram haunted him.
WORDSWORTHnounUS /ˈwɜːrdzwərθ/
a romantic English poet whose work was inspired by the Lake District where he spent most of his life (1770-1850)
From this reading "Heaven lies about us in our infancy."--WORDSWORTH.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading For the last two or three years he had hardly thought of him, but now, as he crossed the bridge of an evening, little tricks of speech and long-forgotten scenes would recur to his memory; but he never spoke of this to Joanna.
a late time of life
From this reading For the last two or three years he had hardly thought of him, but now, as he crossed the bridge of an evening, little tricks of speech and long-forgotten scenes would recur to his memory; but he never spoke of this to Joanna.
