used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A penny tract is the shoeing-horn of literature! it draws on a great many books, and some too tight to be very useful in walking.
abstemiousadjective
sparing in consumption of especially food and drink
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
in actual fact
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
anew
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
appetitenounUS /ˈæpətaɪt/
a feeling of craving something
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading The butterflies were hovering over the belt of flowers which he had placed around his fountain, and the birds were singing overhead.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
assertionnounUS /əˈsɜːrʃən/
a declaration that is made emphatically (as if no supporting evidence were necessary)
From this reading The penny tract quotes a celebrated writer--you long to read him; it props a startling assertion by a grave authority--you long to refer to it.
the power or right to give orders or make decisions
From this reading The penny tract quotes a celebrated writer--you long to read him; it props a startling assertion by a grave authority--you long to refer to it.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading A penny tract is the shoeing-horn of literature! it draws on a great many books, and some too tight to be very useful in walking.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
beltnounUS /belt/
endless loop of flexible material between two rotating shafts or pulleys
From this reading The butterflies were hovering over the belt of flowers which he had placed around his fountain, and the birds were singing overhead.
next to; at the side of
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading The butterflies were hovering over the belt of flowers which he had placed around his fountain, and the birds were singing overhead.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading A penny tract is the shoeing-horn of literature! it draws on a great many books, and some too tight to be very useful in walking.
butterfliesnounUS /ˈbʌtərflaɪz/
plural of “butterfly” — diurnal insect typically having a slender body with knobbed antennae and broad colorful wings
From this reading The butterflies were hovering over the belt of flowers which he had placed around his fountain, and the birds were singing overhead.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The penny tract quotes a celebrated writer--you long to read him; it props a startling assertion by a grave authority--you long to refer to it.
celebratedadjectiveUS /ˈseləbreɪtɪd/
widely known and esteemed
From this reading The penny tract quotes a celebrated writer--you long to read him; it props a startling assertion by a grave authority--you long to refer to it.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
constructedverbUS /kənˈstrʌktəd/
past form of “construct” — make by combining materials and parts
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
crustsnounUS /krʌsts/
plural of “crust” — the outer layer of the Earth
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
day'snounUS /deɪz/
possessive form of “day” — time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
devouredverbUS /dɪˈvaʊərd/
past form of “devour” — destroy completely
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
drawsnounUS /drɔːz/
plural of “draw” — a gully that is shallower than a ravine
From this reading A penny tract is the shoeing-horn of literature! it draws on a great many books, and some too tight to be very useful in walking.
derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
Fairfield
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading The butterflies were hovering over the belt of flowers which he had placed around his fountain, and the birds were singing overhead.
fountainnounUS /ˈfaʊntən/
a structure from which an artificially produced jet of water arises
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
death of a person
From this reading The penny tract quotes a celebrated writer--you long to read him; it props a startling assertion by a grave authority--you long to refer to it.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading A penny tract is the shoeing-horn of literature! it draws on a great many books, and some too tight to be very useful in walking.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The penny tract quotes a celebrated writer--you long to read him; it props a startling assertion by a grave authority--you long to refer to it.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The butterflies were hovering over the belt of flowers which he had placed around his fountain, and the birds were singing overhead.
hoveringverbUS /ˈhʌvərɪŋ/
-ing form of “hover” — be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action
From this reading The butterflies were hovering over the belt of flowers which he had placed around his fountain, and the birds were singing overhead.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A penny tract is the shoeing-horn of literature! it draws on a great many books, and some too tight to be very useful in walking.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A penny tract is the shoeing-horn of literature! it draws on a great many books, and some too tight to be very useful in walking.
keeneradjectiveUS /ˈkiːnər/
comparative of “keen” — having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
LeonardnounUS /ˈlenərd/
United States writer of thrillers (born in 1925)
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
creative writing of recognized artistic value
From this reading A penny tract is the shoeing-horn of literature! it draws on a great many books, and some too tight to be very useful in walking.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
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 The penny tract quotes a celebrated writer--you long to read him; it props a startling assertion by a grave authority--you long to refer to it.
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 A penny tract is the shoeing-horn of literature! it draws on a great many books, and some too tight to be very useful in walking.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
munchedverbUS /mʌntʃt/
past form of “munch” — chew noisily
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The butterflies were hovering over the belt of flowers which he had placed around his fountain, and the birds were singing overhead.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A penny tract is the shoeing-horn of literature! it draws on a great many books, and some too tight to be very useful in walking.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The butterflies were hovering over the belt of flowers which he had placed around his fountain, and the birds were singing overhead.
overheadadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhed/
above your head; in the sky
From this reading The butterflies were hovering over the belt of flowers which he had placed around his fountain, and the birds were singing overhead.
pennynounUS /ˈpeni/
a fractional monetary unit of Ireland and the United Kingdom; equal to one hundredth of a pound
From this reading A penny tract is the shoeing-horn of literature! it draws on a great many books, and some too tight to be very useful in walking.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading The butterflies were hovering over the belt of flowers which he had placed around his fountain, and the birds were singing overhead.
participate in games or sport
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
propsnounUS /prɑːps/
proper respect
From this reading The penny tract quotes a celebrated writer--you long to read him; it props a startling assertion by a grave authority--you long to refer to it.
quotesnounUS /kwoʊts/
plural of “quote” — a punctuation mark used to attribute the enclosed text to someone else
From this reading The penny tract quotes a celebrated writer--you long to read him; it props a startling assertion by a grave authority--you long to refer to it.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading The penny tract quotes a celebrated writer--you long to read him; it props a startling assertion by a grave authority--you long to refer to it.
referverbUS /rəˈfɜːr/
make reference to
From this reading The penny tract quotes a celebrated writer--you long to read him; it props a startling assertion by a grave authority--you long to refer to it.
-ing form of “rest” — not move; be in a resting position
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
shoeing-horn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A penny tract is the shoeing-horn of literature! it draws on a great many books, and some too tight to be very useful in walking.
the act of singing vocal music
From this reading The butterflies were hovering over the belt of flowers which he had placed around his fountain, and the birds were singing overhead.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading A penny tract is the shoeing-horn of literature! it draws on a great many books, and some too tight to be very useful in walking.
sparklingadjectiveUS /ˈspɑːrklɪŋ/
shining with brilliant points of light like stars
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
the season of growth
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
startlingadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading The penny tract quotes a celebrated writer--you long to read him; it props a startling assertion by a grave authority--you long to refer to it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
tightadjectiveUS /taɪt/
closely constrained or constricted or constricting
From this reading A penny tract is the shoeing-horn of literature! it draws on a great many books, and some too tight to be very useful in walking.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading A penny tract is the shoeing-horn of literature! it draws on a great many books, and some too tight to be very useful in walking.
tractnounUS /trækt/
an extended area of land
From this reading A penny tract is the shoeing-horn of literature! it draws on a great many books, and some too tight to be very useful in walking.
being of use or service
From this reading A penny tract is the shoeing-horn of literature! it draws on a great many books, and some too tight to be very useful in walking.
precisely as stated
From this reading A penny tract is the shoeing-horn of literature! it draws on a great many books, and some too tight to be very useful in walking.
close enough to be walked to
From this reading A penny tract is the shoeing-horn of literature! it draws on a great many books, and some too tight to be very useful in walking.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The butterflies were hovering over the belt of flowers which he had placed around his fountain, and the birds were singing overhead.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading The penny tract quotes a celebrated writer--you long to read him; it props a startling assertion by a grave authority--you long to refer to it.
but in spite of that
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading The penny tract quotes a celebrated writer--you long to read him; it props a startling assertion by a grave authority--you long to refer to it.
