Chapter I

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

From this reading |Somewhere in that uncertain "long ago," Whose dim and vague chronology is all That elfin tales or nursery fables know, Rose a rare spirit,--keen, and quick, and quaint,-- Whom by the title, whether fact or feint, Mythic or real, Mother Goose we call.

in the past

From this reading |Somewhere in that uncertain "long ago," Whose dim and vague chronology is all That elfin tales or nursery fables know, Rose a rare spirit,--keen, and quick, and quaint,-- Whom by the title, whether fact or feint, Mythic or real, Mother Goose we call.

(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 |Somewhere in that uncertain "long ago," Whose dim and vague chronology is all That elfin tales or nursery fables know, Rose a rare spirit,--keen, and quick, and quaint,-- Whom by the title, whether fact or feint, Mythic or real, Mother Goose we call.

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

From this reading |Somewhere in that uncertain "long ago," Whose dim and vague chronology is all That elfin tales or nursery fables know, Rose a rare spirit,--keen, and quick, and quaint,-- Whom by the title, whether fact or feint, Mythic or real, Mother Goose we call.

a ceremonial dinner party for many people

From this reading Till, the bright, floating syllabub blown by, Lo, in its ruby splendor doth upshine The crimson radiance of Olympian wine By Pallas poured, in Jove's own banquet- hall.

plural of “bear” — massive plantigrade carnivorous or omnivorous mammals with long shaggy coats and strong claws

From this reading A brimming bowl she bears, that, frothing high With sparkling nonsense, seemeth non- sense all;

the time when something begins (especially life)

From this reading Of Momus and Minerva sprang the birth That gave the laughing oracle to earth:

being moved or acted upon by moving air or vapor

From this reading Till, the bright, floating syllabub blown by, Lo, in its ruby splendor doth upshine The crimson radiance of Olympian wine By Pallas poured, in Jove's own banquet- hall.

a round vessel that is open at the top; used chiefly for holding food or liquids

From this reading A brimming bowl she bears, that, frothing high With sparkling nonsense, seemeth non- sense all;

emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts

From this reading Till, the bright, floating syllabub blown by, Lo, in its ruby splendor doth upshine The crimson radiance of Olympian wine By Pallas poured, in Jove's own banquet- hall.

filled to capacity

From this reading A brimming bowl she bears, that, frothing high With sparkling nonsense, seemeth non- sense all;

showing who or what does the action

From this reading |Somewhere in that uncertain "long ago," Whose dim and vague chronology is all That elfin tales or nursery fables know, Rose a rare spirit,--keen, and quick, and quaint,-- Whom by the title, whether fact or feint, Mythic or real, Mother Goose we call.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading |Somewhere in that uncertain "long ago," Whose dim and vague chronology is all That elfin tales or nursery fables know, Rose a rare spirit,--keen, and quick, and quaint,-- Whom by the title, whether fact or feint, Mythic or real, Mother Goose we call.

an arrangement of events in time

From this reading |Somewhere in that uncertain "long ago," Whose dim and vague chronology is all That elfin tales or nursery fables know, Rose a rare spirit,--keen, and quick, and quaint,-- Whom by the title, whether fact or feint, Mythic or real, Mother Goose we call.

of a color at the end of the color spectrum (next to orange); resembling the color of blood or cherries or tomatoes or rubies

From this reading Till, the bright, floating syllabub blown by, Lo, in its ruby splendor doth upshine The crimson radiance of Olympian wine By Pallas poured, in Jove's own banquet- hall.

lacking in light; not bright or harsh

From this reading |Somewhere in that uncertain "long ago," Whose dim and vague chronology is all That elfin tales or nursery fables know, Rose a rare spirit,--keen, and quick, and quaint,-- Whom by the title, whether fact or feint, Mythic or real, Mother Goose we call.

an old form of “does”

From this reading Till, the bright, floating syllabub blown by, Lo, in its ruby splendor doth upshine The crimson radiance of Olympian wine By Pallas poured, in Jove's own banquet- hall.

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

From this reading Of Momus and Minerva sprang the birth That gave the laughing oracle to earth:

suggestive of an elf in strangeness and otherworldliness

From this reading |Somewhere in that uncertain "long ago," Whose dim and vague chronology is all That elfin tales or nursery fables know, Rose a rare spirit,--keen, and quick, and quaint,-- Whom by the title, whether fact or feint, Mythic or real, Mother Goose we call.

plural of “fable” — a deliberately false or improbable account

From this reading |Somewhere in that uncertain "long ago," Whose dim and vague chronology is all That elfin tales or nursery fables know, Rose a rare spirit,--keen, and quick, and quaint,-- Whom by the title, whether fact or feint, Mythic or real, Mother Goose we call.

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

From this reading |Somewhere in that uncertain "long ago," Whose dim and vague chronology is all That elfin tales or nursery fables know, Rose a rare spirit,--keen, and quick, and quaint,-- Whom by the title, whether fact or feint, Mythic or real, Mother Goose we call.

deceive by a mock action

From this reading |Somewhere in that uncertain "long ago," Whose dim and vague chronology is all That elfin tales or nursery fables know, Rose a rare spirit,--keen, and quick, and quaint,-- Whom by the title, whether fact or feint, Mythic or real, Mother Goose we call.

borne up by or suspended in a liquid

From this reading Till, the bright, floating syllabub blown by, Lo, in its ruby splendor doth upshine The crimson radiance of Olympian wine By Pallas poured, in Jove's own banquet- hall.

producing or covered with lathery sweat or saliva from exhaustion or disease

From this reading A brimming bowl she bears, that, frothing high With sparkling nonsense, seemeth non- sense all;

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading Of Momus and Minerva sprang the birth That gave the laughing oracle to earth:

web-footed long-necked typically gregarious migratory aquatic birds usually larger and less aquatic than ducks

From this reading |Somewhere in that uncertain "long ago," Whose dim and vague chronology is all That elfin tales or nursery fables know, Rose a rare spirit,--keen, and quick, and quaint,-- Whom by the title, whether fact or feint, Mythic or real, Mother Goose we call.

an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

From this reading Till, the bright, floating syllabub blown by, Lo, in its ruby splendor doth upshine The crimson radiance of Olympian wine By Pallas poured, in Jove's own banquet- hall.

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading A brimming bowl she bears, that, frothing high With sparkling nonsense, seemeth non- sense all;

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

From this reading |Somewhere in that uncertain "long ago," Whose dim and vague chronology is all That elfin tales or nursery fables know, Rose a rare spirit,--keen, and quick, and quaint,-- Whom by the title, whether fact or feint, Mythic or real, Mother Goose we call.

serving to open or begin

From this reading INTRODUCTORY.

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

From this reading |Somewhere in that uncertain "long ago," Whose dim and vague chronology is all That elfin tales or nursery fables know, Rose a rare spirit,--keen, and quick, and quaint,-- Whom by the title, whether fact or feint, Mythic or real, Mother Goose we call.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Till, the bright, floating syllabub blown by, Lo, in its ruby splendor doth upshine The crimson radiance of Olympian wine By Pallas poured, in Jove's own banquet- hall.

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

From this reading Till, the bright, floating syllabub blown by, Lo, in its ruby splendor doth upshine The crimson radiance of Olympian wine By Pallas poured, in Jove's own banquet- hall.

having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions

From this reading |Somewhere in that uncertain "long ago," Whose dim and vague chronology is all That elfin tales or nursery fables know, Rose a rare spirit,--keen, and quick, and quaint,-- Whom by the title, whether fact or feint, Mythic or real, Mother Goose we call.

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading |Somewhere in that uncertain "long ago," Whose dim and vague chronology is all That elfin tales or nursery fables know, Rose a rare spirit,--keen, and quick, and quaint,-- Whom by the title, whether fact or feint, Mythic or real, Mother Goose we call.

showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness

From this reading Of Momus and Minerva sprang the birth That gave the laughing oracle to earth:

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

From this reading Till, the bright, floating syllabub blown by, Lo, in its ruby splendor doth upshine The crimson radiance of Olympian wine By Pallas poured, in Jove's own banquet- hall.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading |Somewhere in that uncertain "long ago," Whose dim and vague chronology is all That elfin tales or nursery fables know, Rose a rare spirit,--keen, and quick, and quaint,-- Whom by the title, whether fact or feint, Mythic or real, Mother Goose we call.

(Roman mythology) goddess of wisdom; counterpart of Greek Athena

From this reading Of Momus and Minerva sprang the birth That gave the laughing oracle to earth:

god of blame and mockery

From this reading Of Momus and Minerva sprang the birth That gave the laughing oracle to earth:

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading |Somewhere in that uncertain "long ago," Whose dim and vague chronology is all That elfin tales or nursery fables know, Rose a rare spirit,--keen, and quick, and quaint,-- Whom by the title, whether fact or feint, Mythic or real, Mother Goose we call.

relating to or having the nature of myth

From this reading |Somewhere in that uncertain "long ago," Whose dim and vague chronology is all That elfin tales or nursery fables know, Rose a rare spirit,--keen, and quick, and quaint,-- Whom by the title, whether fact or feint, Mythic or real, Mother Goose we call.

negation of a word or group of words

From this reading A brimming bowl she bears, that, frothing high With sparkling nonsense, seemeth non- sense all;

a message that seems to convey no meaning

From this reading A brimming bowl she bears, that, frothing high With sparkling nonsense, seemeth non- sense all;

a child's room for a baby

From this reading |Somewhere in that uncertain "long ago," Whose dim and vague chronology is all That elfin tales or nursery fables know, Rose a rare spirit,--keen, and quick, and quaint,-- Whom by the title, whether fact or feint, Mythic or real, Mother Goose we call.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Of Momus and Minerva sprang the birth That gave the laughing oracle to earth:

of the region of Olympia in Greece or its inhabitants

From this reading Till, the bright, floating syllabub blown by, Lo, in its ruby splendor doth upshine The crimson radiance of Olympian wine By Pallas poured, in Jove's own banquet- hall.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading |Somewhere in that uncertain "long ago," Whose dim and vague chronology is all That elfin tales or nursery fables know, Rose a rare spirit,--keen, and quick, and quaint,-- Whom by the title, whether fact or feint, Mythic or real, Mother Goose we call.

an authoritative person who divines the future

From this reading Of Momus and Minerva sprang the birth That gave the laughing oracle to earth:

have ownership or possession of

From this reading Till, the bright, floating syllabub blown by, Lo, in its ruby splendor doth upshine The crimson radiance of Olympian wine By Pallas poured, in Jove's own banquet- hall.

(Greek mythology) goddess of wisdom and useful arts and prudent warfare; guardian of Athens; identified with Roman Minerva

From this reading Till, the bright, floating syllabub blown by, Lo, in its ruby splendor doth upshine The crimson radiance of Olympian wine By Pallas poured, in Jove's own banquet- hall.

past form of “pour” — cause to run

From this reading Till, the bright, floating syllabub blown by, Lo, in its ruby splendor doth upshine The crimson radiance of Olympian wine By Pallas poured, in Jove's own banquet- hall.

strange in an interesting or pleasing way

From this reading |Somewhere in that uncertain "long ago," Whose dim and vague chronology is all That elfin tales or nursery fables know, Rose a rare spirit,--keen, and quick, and quaint,-- Whom by the title, whether fact or feint, Mythic or real, Mother Goose we call.

accomplished rapidly and without delay

From this reading |Somewhere in that uncertain "long ago," Whose dim and vague chronology is all That elfin tales or nursery fables know, Rose a rare spirit,--keen, and quick, and quaint,-- Whom by the title, whether fact or feint, Mythic or real, Mother Goose we call.

the amount of electromagnetic radiation leaving or arriving at a point on a surface

From this reading Till, the bright, floating syllabub blown by, Lo, in its ruby splendor doth upshine The crimson radiance of Olympian wine By Pallas poured, in Jove's own banquet- hall.

not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness

From this reading |Somewhere in that uncertain "long ago," Whose dim and vague chronology is all That elfin tales or nursery fables know, Rose a rare spirit,--keen, and quick, and quaint,-- Whom by the title, whether fact or feint, Mythic or real, Mother Goose we call.

being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory

From this reading |Somewhere in that uncertain "long ago," Whose dim and vague chronology is all That elfin tales or nursery fables know, Rose a rare spirit,--keen, and quick, and quaint,-- Whom by the title, whether fact or feint, Mythic or real, Mother Goose we call.

any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses

From this reading |Somewhere in that uncertain "long ago," Whose dim and vague chronology is all That elfin tales or nursery fables know, Rose a rare spirit,--keen, and quick, and quaint,-- Whom by the title, whether fact or feint, Mythic or real, Mother Goose we call.

a transparent piece of ruby that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem

From this reading Till, the bright, floating syllabub blown by, Lo, in its ruby splendor doth upshine The crimson radiance of Olympian wine By Pallas poured, in Jove's own banquet- hall.

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

From this reading A brimming bowl she bears, that, frothing high With sparkling nonsense, seemeth non- sense all;

a general conscious awareness

From this reading A brimming bowl she bears, that, frothing high With sparkling nonsense, seemeth non- sense all;

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading A brimming bowl she bears, that, frothing high With sparkling nonsense, seemeth non- sense all;

in or at or to some place

From this reading |Somewhere in that uncertain "long ago," Whose dim and vague chronology is all That elfin tales or nursery fables know, Rose a rare spirit,--keen, and quick, and quaint,-- Whom by the title, whether fact or feint, Mythic or real, Mother Goose we call.

shining with brilliant points of light like stars

From this reading A brimming bowl she bears, that, frothing high With sparkling nonsense, seemeth non- sense all;

the vital principle or animating force within living things

From this reading |Somewhere in that uncertain "long ago," Whose dim and vague chronology is all That elfin tales or nursery fables know, Rose a rare spirit,--keen, and quick, and quaint,-- Whom by the title, whether fact or feint, Mythic or real, Mother Goose we call.

Magnificent and splendid appearance; grandeur and brilliance.

From this reading Till, the bright, floating syllabub blown by, Lo, in its ruby splendor doth upshine The crimson radiance of Olympian wine By Pallas poured, in Jove's own banquet- hall.

inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds

From this reading Of Momus and Minerva sprang the birth That gave the laughing oracle to earth:

spiced hot milk with rum or wine

From this reading Till, the bright, floating syllabub blown by, Lo, in its ruby splendor doth upshine The crimson radiance of Olympian wine By Pallas poured, in Jove's own banquet- hall.

plural of “tale” — 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 |Somewhere in that uncertain "long ago," Whose dim and vague chronology is all That elfin tales or nursery fables know, Rose a rare spirit,--keen, and quick, and quaint,-- Whom by the title, whether fact or feint, Mythic or real, Mother Goose we call.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading |Somewhere in that uncertain "long ago," Whose dim and vague chronology is all That elfin tales or nursery fables know, Rose a rare spirit,--keen, and quick, and quaint,-- Whom by the title, whether fact or feint, Mythic or real, Mother Goose we call.

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

From this reading |Somewhere in that uncertain "long ago," Whose dim and vague chronology is all That elfin tales or nursery fables know, Rose a rare spirit,--keen, and quick, and quaint,-- Whom by the title, whether fact or feint, Mythic or real, Mother Goose we call.

up to a particular time

From this reading Till, the bright, floating syllabub blown by, Lo, in its ruby splendor doth upshine The crimson radiance of Olympian wine By Pallas poured, in Jove's own banquet- hall.

a heading that names a statute or legislative bill; may give a brief summary of the matters it deals with

From this reading |Somewhere in that uncertain "long ago," Whose dim and vague chronology is all That elfin tales or nursery fables know, Rose a rare spirit,--keen, and quick, and quaint,-- Whom by the title, whether fact or feint, Mythic or real, Mother Goose we call.

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

From this reading Of Momus and Minerva sprang the birth That gave the laughing oracle to earth:

lacking or indicating lack of confidence or assurance

From this reading |Somewhere in that uncertain "long ago," Whose dim and vague chronology is all That elfin tales or nursery fables know, Rose a rare spirit,--keen, and quick, and quaint,-- Whom by the title, whether fact or feint, Mythic or real, Mother Goose we call.

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

From this reading Till, the bright, floating syllabub blown by, Lo, in its ruby splendor doth upshine The crimson radiance of Olympian wine By Pallas poured, in Jove's own banquet- hall.

not clearly expressed or understood

From this reading |Somewhere in that uncertain "long ago," Whose dim and vague chronology is all That elfin tales or nursery fables know, Rose a rare spirit,--keen, and quick, and quaint,-- Whom by the title, whether fact or feint, Mythic or real, Mother Goose we call.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading |Somewhere in that uncertain "long ago," Whose dim and vague chronology is all That elfin tales or nursery fables know, Rose a rare spirit,--keen, and quick, and quaint,-- Whom by the title, whether fact or feint, Mythic or real, Mother Goose we call.

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading |Somewhere in that uncertain "long ago," Whose dim and vague chronology is all That elfin tales or nursery fables know, Rose a rare spirit,--keen, and quick, and quaint,-- Whom by the title, whether fact or feint, Mythic or real, Mother Goose we call.

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading |Somewhere in that uncertain "long ago," Whose dim and vague chronology is all That elfin tales or nursery fables know, Rose a rare spirit,--keen, and quick, and quaint,-- Whom by the title, whether fact or feint, Mythic or real, Mother Goose we call.

belonging to which person

From this reading |Somewhere in that uncertain "long ago," Whose dim and vague chronology is all That elfin tales or nursery fables know, Rose a rare spirit,--keen, and quick, and quaint,-- Whom by the title, whether fact or feint, Mythic or real, Mother Goose we call.

fermented juice (of grapes especially)

From this reading Till, the bright, floating syllabub blown by, Lo, in its ruby splendor doth upshine The crimson radiance of Olympian wine By Pallas poured, in Jove's own banquet- hall.

in the company of; together with

From this reading A brimming bowl she bears, that, frothing high With sparkling nonsense, seemeth non- sense all;