used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The children stood before a very handsome house, and played many of their best pieces; yet no window was opened, no friendly face looked out, no kind hands threw gentle gifts to the little musicians.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The children stood before a very handsome house, and played many of their best pieces; yet no window was opened, no friendly face looked out, no kind hands threw gentle gifts to the little musicians.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The children and people who were passing by would indeed stop and look at them for a moment; but as soon as Walter came near them with his hat for a collection, they would suddenly turn upon their heels and go away.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The children and people who were passing by would indeed stop and look at them for a moment; but as soon as Walter came near them with his hat for a collection, they would suddenly turn upon their heels and go away.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The children and people who were passing by would indeed stop and look at them for a moment; but as soon as Walter came near them with his hat for a collection, they would suddenly turn upon their heels and go away.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The children stood before a very handsome house, and played many of their best pieces; yet no window was opened, no friendly face looked out, no kind hands threw gentle gifts to the little musicians.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Draw near them, then, in being merciful!"
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading The children stood before a very handsome house, and played many of their best pieces; yet no window was opened, no friendly face looked out, no kind hands threw gentle gifts to the little musicians.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The children and people who were passing by would indeed stop and look at them for a moment; but as soon as Walter came near them with his hat for a collection, they would suddenly turn upon their heels and go away.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The children and people who were passing by would indeed stop and look at them for a moment; but as soon as Walter came near them with his hat for a collection, they would suddenly turn upon their heels and go away.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The children and people who were passing by would indeed stop and look at them for a moment; but as soon as Walter came near them with his hat for a collection, they would suddenly turn upon their heels and go away.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading The children stood before a very handsome house, and played many of their best pieces; yet no window was opened, no friendly face looked out, no kind hands threw gentle gifts to the little musicians.
collectionnounUS /kəˈlekʃən/
several things grouped together or considered as a whole
From this reading The children and people who were passing by would indeed stop and look at them for a moment; but as soon as Walter came near them with his hat for a collection, they would suddenly turn upon their heels and go away.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading "Wilt thou draw near the nature of the gods?
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The children stood before a very handsome house, and played many of their best pieces; yet no window was opened, no friendly face looked out, no kind hands threw gentle gifts to the little musicians.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The children and people who were passing by would indeed stop and look at them for a moment; but as soon as Walter came near them with his hat for a collection, they would suddenly turn upon their heels and go away.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading WALTER'S FRIEND.
characteristic of or befitting a friend
From this reading The children stood before a very handsome house, and played many of their best pieces; yet no window was opened, no friendly face looked out, no kind hands threw gentle gifts to the little musicians.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading The children stood before a very handsome house, and played many of their best pieces; yet no window was opened, no friendly face looked out, no kind hands threw gentle gifts to the little musicians.
giftsnounUS /ɡɪfts/
plural of “gift” — something acquired without compensation
From this reading The children stood before a very handsome house, and played many of their best pieces; yet no window was opened, no friendly face looked out, no kind hands threw gentle gifts to the little musicians.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The children and people who were passing by would indeed stop and look at them for a moment; but as soon as Walter came near them with his hat for a collection, they would suddenly turn upon their heels and go away.
plural of “god” — the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading "Wilt thou draw near the nature of the gods?
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading The children stood before a very handsome house, and played many of their best pieces; yet no window was opened, no friendly face looked out, no kind hands threw gentle gifts to the little musicians.
pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion
From this reading The children stood before a very handsome house, and played many of their best pieces; yet no window was opened, no friendly face looked out, no kind hands threw gentle gifts to the little musicians.
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading The children and people who were passing by would indeed stop and look at them for a moment; but as soon as Walter came near them with his hat for a collection, they would suddenly turn upon their heels and go away.
plural of “heel” — the bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation
From this reading The children and people who were passing by would indeed stop and look at them for a moment; but as soon as Walter came near them with his hat for a collection, they would suddenly turn upon their heels and go away.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The children and people who were passing by would indeed stop and look at them for a moment; but as soon as Walter came near them with his hat for a collection, they would suddenly turn upon their heels and go away.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The children stood before a very handsome house, and played many of their best pieces; yet no window was opened, no friendly face looked out, no kind hands threw gentle gifts to the little musicians.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Draw near them, then, in being merciful!"
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading The children and people who were passing by would indeed stop and look at them for a moment; but as soon as Walter came near them with his hat for a collection, they would suddenly turn upon their heels and go away.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading The children stood before a very handsome house, and played many of their best pieces; yet no window was opened, no friendly face looked out, no kind hands threw gentle gifts to the little musicians.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The children stood before a very handsome house, and played many of their best pieces; yet no window was opened, no friendly face looked out, no kind hands threw gentle gifts to the little musicians.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The children and people who were passing by would indeed stop and look at them for a moment; but as soon as Walter came near them with his hat for a collection, they would suddenly turn upon their heels and go away.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The children stood before a very handsome house, and played many of their best pieces; yet no window was opened, no friendly face looked out, no kind hands threw gentle gifts to the little musicians.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading The children stood before a very handsome house, and played many of their best pieces; yet no window was opened, no friendly face looked out, no kind hands threw gentle gifts to the little musicians.
mercifuladjectiveUS /ˈmɜːrsɪfəl/
showing or giving mercy
From this reading Draw near them, then, in being merciful!"
a particular point in time
From this reading The children and people who were passing by would indeed stop and look at them for a moment; but as soon as Walter came near them with his hat for a collection, they would suddenly turn upon their heels and go away.
musiciansnounUS /mjuːˈzɪʃənz/
plural of “musician” — someone who plays a musical instrument (as a profession)
From this reading The children stood before a very handsome house, and played many of their best pieces; yet no window was opened, no friendly face looked out, no kind hands threw gentle gifts to the little musicians.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading "Wilt thou draw near the nature of the gods?
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading "Wilt thou draw near the nature of the gods?
not any; not one
From this reading The children stood before a very handsome house, and played many of their best pieces; yet no window was opened, no friendly face looked out, no kind hands threw gentle gifts to the little musicians.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Wilt thou draw near the nature of the gods?
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading The children stood before a very handsome house, and played many of their best pieces; yet no window was opened, no friendly face looked out, no kind hands threw gentle gifts to the little musicians.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The children stood before a very handsome house, and played many of their best pieces; yet no window was opened, no friendly face looked out, no kind hands threw gentle gifts to the little musicians.
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
From this reading The children and people who were passing by would indeed stop and look at them for a moment; but as soon as Walter came near them with his hat for a collection, they would suddenly turn upon their heels and go away.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading The children and people who were passing by would indeed stop and look at them for a moment; but as soon as Walter came near them with his hat for a collection, they would suddenly turn upon their heels and go away.
plural of “piece” — a separate part of a whole
From this reading The children stood before a very handsome house, and played many of their best pieces; yet no window was opened, no friendly face looked out, no kind hands threw gentle gifts to the little musicians.
(of games) engaged in
From this reading The children stood before a very handsome house, and played many of their best pieces; yet no window was opened, no friendly face looked out, no kind hands threw gentle gifts to the little musicians.
in the near future
From this reading The children and people who were passing by would indeed stop and look at them for a moment; but as soon as Walter came near them with his hat for a collection, they would suddenly turn upon their heels and go away.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The children stood before a very handsome house, and played many of their best pieces; yet no window was opened, no friendly face looked out, no kind hands threw gentle gifts to the little musicians.
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading The children and people who were passing by would indeed stop and look at them for a moment; but as soon as Walter came near them with his hat for a collection, they would suddenly turn upon their heels and go away.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading The children and people who were passing by would indeed stop and look at them for a moment; but as soon as Walter came near them with his hat for a collection, they would suddenly turn upon their heels and go away.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Wilt thou draw near the nature of the gods?
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The children stood before a very handsome house, and played many of their best pieces; yet no window was opened, no friendly face looked out, no kind hands threw gentle gifts to the little musicians.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Draw near them, then, in being merciful!"
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Draw near them, then, in being merciful!"
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The children and people who were passing by would indeed stop and look at them for a moment; but as soon as Walter came near them with his hat for a collection, they would suddenly turn upon their heels and go away.
an old word for “you”, as the subject, speaking to one person
From this reading "Wilt thou draw near the nature of the gods?
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading The children stood before a very handsome house, and played many of their best pieces; yet no window was opened, no friendly face looked out, no kind hands threw gentle gifts to the little musicians.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The children stood before a very handsome house, and played many of their best pieces; yet no window was opened, no friendly face looked out, no kind hands threw gentle gifts to the little musicians.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading The children and people who were passing by would indeed stop and look at them for a moment; but as soon as Walter came near them with his hat for a collection, they would suddenly turn upon their heels and go away.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The children and people who were passing by would indeed stop and look at them for a moment; but as soon as Walter came near them with his hat for a collection, they would suddenly turn upon their heels and go away.
precisely as stated
From this reading The children stood before a very handsome house, and played many of their best pieces; yet no window was opened, no friendly face looked out, no kind hands threw gentle gifts to the little musicians.
German conductor (1876-1962)
From this reading The children and people who were passing by would indeed stop and look at them for a moment; but as soon as Walter came near them with his hat for a collection, they would suddenly turn upon their heels and go away.
WALTER'SnounUS /ˈwɔːltərz/
possessive form of “walter” — German conductor (1876-1962)
From this reading WALTER'S FRIEND.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The children stood before a very handsome house, and played many of their best pieces; yet no window was opened, no friendly face looked out, no kind hands threw gentle gifts to the little musicians.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The children and people who were passing by would indeed stop and look at them for a moment; but as soon as Walter came near them with his hat for a collection, they would suddenly turn upon their heels and go away.
which person or people
From this reading The children and people who were passing by would indeed stop and look at them for a moment; but as soon as Walter came near them with his hat for a collection, they would suddenly turn upon their heels and go away.
Wiltmodal verbUS /wɪlt/
an old form of “will”, used with “thou”
From this reading "Wilt thou draw near the nature of the gods?
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading The children stood before a very handsome house, and played many of their best pieces; yet no window was opened, no friendly face looked out, no kind hands threw gentle gifts to the little musicians.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The children and people who were passing by would indeed stop and look at them for a moment; but as soon as Walter came near them with his hat for a collection, they would suddenly turn upon their heels and go away.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The children and people who were passing by would indeed stop and look at them for a moment; but as soon as Walter came near them with his hat for a collection, they would suddenly turn upon their heels and go away.
but in spite of that
From this reading The children stood before a very handsome house, and played many of their best pieces; yet no window was opened, no friendly face looked out, no kind hands threw gentle gifts to the little musicians.
