Chapter VII · Chapter 7

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

From this reading They had already eaten their frugal supper, and intended now to spend a quiet hour or two before bedtime.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading So they talked together about their garden, and their cow, and their bees, and their grapevine, which clambered over the cottage wall, and on which the grapes were beginning to turn purple.

in the past

From this reading THE MIRACULOUS PITCHER One evening, in times long ago, old Philemon and his old wife Baucis sat at their cottage door, enjoying the calm and beautiful sunset.

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

From this reading "Ah, wife," cried Philemon, "I fear some poor traveller is seeking hospitality among our neighbours yonder, and, instead of giving him food and lodging, they have set their dogs at him, as their custom is!"

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading They had already eaten their frugal supper, and intended now to spend a quiet hour or two before bedtime.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading "Ah, wife," cried Philemon, "I fear some poor traveller is seeking hospitality among our neighbours yonder, and, instead of giving him food and lodging, they have set their dogs at him, as their custom is!"

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

From this reading THE MIRACULOUS PITCHER One evening, in times long ago, old Philemon and his old wife Baucis sat at their cottage door, enjoying the calm and beautiful sunset.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading "Ah, wife," cried Philemon, "I fear some poor traveller is seeking hospitality among our neighbours yonder, and, instead of giving him food and lodging, they have set their dogs at him, as their custom is!"

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THE MIRACULOUS PITCHER One evening, in times long ago, old Philemon and his old wife Baucis sat at their cottage door, enjoying the calm and beautiful sunset.

-ing form of “bark” — speak in an unfriendly tone

From this reading But the rude shouts of children, and the fierce barking of dogs, in the village near at hand, grew louder and louder, until, at last, it was hardly possible for Baucis and Philemon to hear each other speak.

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

From this reading THE MIRACULOUS PITCHER One evening, in times long ago, old Philemon and his old wife Baucis sat at their cottage door, enjoying the calm and beautiful sunset.

delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration

From this reading THE MIRACULOUS PITCHER One evening, in times long ago, old Philemon and his old wife Baucis sat at their cottage door, enjoying the calm and beautiful sunset.

the time you go to bed

From this reading They had already eaten their frugal supper, and intended now to spend a quiet hour or two before bedtime.

plural of “bee” — any of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species

From this reading So they talked together about their garden, and their cow, and their bees, and their grapevine, which clambered over the cottage wall, and on which the grapes were beginning to turn purple.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading They had already eaten their frugal supper, and intended now to spend a quiet hour or two before bedtime.

the event consisting of the start of something

From this reading So they talked together about their garden, and their cow, and their bees, and their grapevine, which clambered over the cottage wall, and on which the grapes were beginning to turn purple.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But the rude shouts of children, and the fierce barking of dogs, in the village near at hand, grew louder and louder, until, at last, it was hardly possible for Baucis and Philemon to hear each other speak.

make calm or still

From this reading THE MIRACULOUS PITCHER One evening, in times long ago, old Philemon and his old wife Baucis sat at their cottage door, enjoying the calm and beautiful sunset.

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading But the rude shouts of children, and the fierce barking of dogs, in the village near at hand, grew louder and louder, until, at last, it was hardly possible for Baucis and Philemon to hear each other speak.

past form of “clamber” — climb awkwardly, as if by scrambling

From this reading So they talked together about their garden, and their cow, and their bees, and their grapevine, which clambered over the cottage wall, and on which the grapes were beginning to turn purple.

a small house with a single story

From this reading THE MIRACULOUS PITCHER One evening, in times long ago, old Philemon and his old wife Baucis sat at their cottage door, enjoying the calm and beautiful sunset.

female of domestic cattle: "“moo-cow” is a child's term"

From this reading So they talked together about their garden, and their cow, and their bees, and their grapevine, which clambered over the cottage wall, and on which the grapes were beginning to turn purple.

inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading "Ah, wife," cried Philemon, "I fear some poor traveller is seeking hospitality among our neighbours yonder, and, instead of giving him food and lodging, they have set their dogs at him, as their custom is!"

accepted or habitual practice

From this reading "Ah, wife," cried Philemon, "I fear some poor traveller is seeking hospitality among our neighbours yonder, and, instead of giving him food and lodging, they have set their dogs at him, as their custom is!"

plural of “dog” — a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds

From this reading But the rude shouts of children, and the fierce barking of dogs, in the village near at hand, grew louder and louder, until, at last, it was hardly possible for Baucis and Philemon to hear each other speak.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading THE MIRACULOUS PITCHER One evening, in times long ago, old Philemon and his old wife Baucis sat at their cottage door, enjoying the calm and beautiful sunset.

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading But the rude shouts of children, and the fierce barking of dogs, in the village near at hand, grew louder and louder, until, at last, it was hardly possible for Baucis and Philemon to hear each other speak.

inflected form of “eat” — take in solid food

From this reading They had already eaten their frugal supper, and intended now to spend a quiet hour or two before bedtime.

-ing form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in

From this reading THE MIRACULOUS PITCHER One evening, in times long ago, old Philemon and his old wife Baucis sat at their cottage door, enjoying the calm and beautiful sunset.

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading THE MIRACULOUS PITCHER One evening, in times long ago, old Philemon and his old wife Baucis sat at their cottage door, enjoying the calm and beautiful sunset.

be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event

From this reading "Ah, wife," cried Philemon, "I fear some poor traveller is seeking hospitality among our neighbours yonder, and, instead of giving him food and lodging, they have set their dogs at him, as their custom is!"

marked by extreme and violent energy

From this reading But the rude shouts of children, and the fierce barking of dogs, in the village near at hand, grew louder and louder, until, at last, it was hardly possible for Baucis and Philemon to hear each other speak.

any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue

From this reading "Ah, wife," cried Philemon, "I fear some poor traveller is seeking hospitality among our neighbours yonder, and, instead of giving him food and lodging, they have set their dogs at him, as their custom is!"

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading But the rude shouts of children, and the fierce barking of dogs, in the village near at hand, grew louder and louder, until, at last, it was hardly possible for Baucis and Philemon to hear each other speak.

avoiding waste

From this reading They had already eaten their frugal supper, and intended now to spend a quiet hour or two before bedtime.

a plot of ground where plants are cultivated

From this reading So they talked together about their garden, and their cow, and their bees, and their grapevine, which clambered over the cottage wall, and on which the grapes were beginning to turn purple.

the act of giving

From this reading "Ah, wife," cried Philemon, "I fear some poor traveller is seeking hospitality among our neighbours yonder, and, instead of giving him food and lodging, they have set their dogs at him, as their custom is!"

plural of “grape” — any of various juicy fruit of the genus Vitis with green or purple skins; grow in clusters

From this reading So they talked together about their garden, and their cow, and their bees, and their grapevine, which clambered over the cottage wall, and on which the grapes were beginning to turn purple.

gossip spread by spoken communication

From this reading So they talked together about their garden, and their cow, and their bees, and their grapevine, which clambered over the cottage wall, and on which the grapes were beginning to turn purple.

inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading But the rude shouts of children, and the fierce barking of dogs, in the village near at hand, grew louder and louder, until, at last, it was hardly possible for Baucis and Philemon to hear each other speak.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading They had already eaten their frugal supper, and intended now to spend a quiet hour or two before bedtime.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading But the rude shouts of children, and the fierce barking of dogs, in the village near at hand, grew louder and louder, until, at last, it was hardly possible for Baucis and Philemon to hear each other speak.

only a very short time before

From this reading But the rude shouts of children, and the fierce barking of dogs, in the village near at hand, grew louder and louder, until, at last, it was hardly possible for Baucis and Philemon to hear each other speak.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "Ah, wife," cried Philemon, "I fear some poor traveller is seeking hospitality among our neighbours yonder, and, instead of giving him food and lodging, they have set their dogs at him, as their custom is!"

perceive (sound) via the auditory sense

From this reading But the rude shouts of children, and the fierce barking of dogs, in the village near at hand, grew louder and louder, until, at last, it was hardly possible for Baucis and Philemon to hear each other speak.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "Ah, wife," cried Philemon, "I fear some poor traveller is seeking hospitality among our neighbours yonder, and, instead of giving him food and lodging, they have set their dogs at him, as their custom is!"

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading THE MIRACULOUS PITCHER One evening, in times long ago, old Philemon and his old wife Baucis sat at their cottage door, enjoying the calm and beautiful sunset.

kindness in welcoming guests or strangers

From this reading "Ah, wife," cried Philemon, "I fear some poor traveller is seeking hospitality among our neighbours yonder, and, instead of giving him food and lodging, they have set their dogs at him, as their custom is!"

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading They had already eaten their frugal supper, and intended now to spend a quiet hour or two before bedtime.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading "Ah, wife," cried Philemon, "I fear some poor traveller is seeking hospitality among our neighbours yonder, and, instead of giving him food and lodging, they have set their dogs at him, as their custom is!"

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

From this reading THE MIRACULOUS PITCHER One evening, in times long ago, old Philemon and his old wife Baucis sat at their cottage door, enjoying the calm and beautiful sunset.

in place of, or as an alternative to

From this reading "Ah, wife," cried Philemon, "I fear some poor traveller is seeking hospitality among our neighbours yonder, and, instead of giving him food and lodging, they have set their dogs at him, as their custom is!"

resulting from one's intentions

From this reading They had already eaten their frugal supper, and intended now to spend a quiet hour or two before bedtime.

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

From this reading "Ah, wife," cried Philemon, "I fear some poor traveller is seeking hospitality among our neighbours yonder, and, instead of giving him food and lodging, they have set their dogs at him, as their custom is!"

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading But the rude shouts of children, and the fierce barking of dogs, in the village near at hand, grew louder and louder, until, at last, it was hardly possible for Baucis and Philemon to hear each other speak.

immediately past

From this reading But the rude shouts of children, and the fierce barking of dogs, in the village near at hand, grew louder and louder, until, at last, it was hardly possible for Baucis and Philemon to hear each other speak.

structures collectively in which people are housed

From this reading "Ah, wife," cried Philemon, "I fear some poor traveller is seeking hospitality among our neighbours yonder, and, instead of giving him food and lodging, they have set their dogs at him, as their custom is!"

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 MIRACULOUS PITCHER One evening, in times long ago, old Philemon and his old wife Baucis sat at their cottage door, enjoying the calm and beautiful sunset.

comparative of “loud” — characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity

From this reading But the rude shouts of children, and the fierce barking of dogs, in the village near at hand, grew louder and louder, until, at last, it was hardly possible for Baucis and Philemon to hear each other speak.

being or having the character of a miracle

From this reading THE MIRACULOUS PITCHER One evening, in times long ago, old Philemon and his old wife Baucis sat at their cottage door, enjoying the calm and beautiful sunset.

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading But the rude shouts of children, and the fierce barking of dogs, in the village near at hand, grew louder and louder, until, at last, it was hardly possible for Baucis and Philemon to hear each other speak.

plural of “neighbour” — a person who lives (or is located) near another

From this reading "Ah, wife," cried Philemon, "I fear some poor traveller is seeking hospitality among our neighbours yonder, and, instead of giving him food and lodging, they have set their dogs at him, as their custom is!"

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading They had already eaten their frugal supper, and intended now to spend a quiet hour or two before bedtime.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading But the rude shouts of children, and the fierce barking of dogs, in the village near at hand, grew louder and louder, until, at last, it was hardly possible for Baucis and Philemon to hear each other speak.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading THE MIRACULOUS PITCHER One evening, in times long ago, old Philemon and his old wife Baucis sat at their cottage door, enjoying the calm and beautiful sunset.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading So they talked together about their garden, and their cow, and their bees, and their grapevine, which clambered over the cottage wall, and on which the grapes were beginning to turn purple.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading THE MIRACULOUS PITCHER One evening, in times long ago, old Philemon and his old wife Baucis sat at their cottage door, enjoying the calm and beautiful sunset.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading They had already eaten their frugal supper, and intended now to spend a quiet hour or two before bedtime.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading But the rude shouts of children, and the fierce barking of dogs, in the village near at hand, grew louder and louder, until, at last, it was hardly possible for Baucis and Philemon to hear each other speak.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading "Ah, wife," cried Philemon, "I fear some poor traveller is seeking hospitality among our neighbours yonder, and, instead of giving him food and lodging, they have set their dogs at him, as their custom is!"

above and across; more than

From this reading So they talked together about their garden, and their cow, and their bees, and their grapevine, which clambered over the cottage wall, and on which the grapes were beginning to turn purple.

(Greek mythology) a simple countryman who offered hospitality to Zeus and Hermes when they came to earth without revealing their identities in order to test people's piety

From this reading THE MIRACULOUS PITCHER One evening, in times long ago, old Philemon and his old wife Baucis sat at their cottage door, enjoying the calm and beautiful sunset.

(baseball) the person who does the pitching

From this reading THE MIRACULOUS PITCHER One evening, in times long ago, old Philemon and his old wife Baucis sat at their cottage door, enjoying the calm and beautiful sunset.

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading "Ah, wife," cried Philemon, "I fear some poor traveller is seeking hospitality among our neighbours yonder, and, instead of giving him food and lodging, they have set their dogs at him, as their custom is!"

capable of happening or existing

From this reading But the rude shouts of children, and the fierce barking of dogs, in the village near at hand, grew louder and louder, until, at last, it was hardly possible for Baucis and Philemon to hear each other speak.

a purple color or pigment

From this reading So they talked together about their garden, and their cow, and their bees, and their grapevine, which clambered over the cottage wall, and on which the grapes were beginning to turn purple.

characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity

From this reading They had already eaten their frugal supper, and intended now to spend a quiet hour or two before bedtime.

socially incorrect in behavior

From this reading But the rude shouts of children, and the fierce barking of dogs, in the village near at hand, grew louder and louder, until, at last, it was hardly possible for Baucis and Philemon to hear each other speak.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading THE MIRACULOUS PITCHER One evening, in times long ago, old Philemon and his old wife Baucis sat at their cottage door, enjoying the calm and beautiful sunset.

the act of searching for something

From this reading "Ah, wife," cried Philemon, "I fear some poor traveller is seeking hospitality among our neighbours yonder, and, instead of giving him food and lodging, they have set their dogs at him, as their custom is!"

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading "Ah, wife," cried Philemon, "I fear some poor traveller is seeking hospitality among our neighbours yonder, and, instead of giving him food and lodging, they have set their dogs at him, as their custom is!"

plural of “shout” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition

From this reading But the rude shouts of children, and the fierce barking of dogs, in the village near at hand, grew louder and louder, until, at last, it was hardly possible for Baucis and Philemon to hear each other speak.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So they talked together about their garden, and their cow, and their bees, and their grapevine, which clambered over the cottage wall, and on which the grapes were beginning to turn purple.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading "Ah, wife," cried Philemon, "I fear some poor traveller is seeking hospitality among our neighbours yonder, and, instead of giving him food and lodging, they have set their dogs at him, as their custom is!"

express in speech

From this reading But the rude shouts of children, and the fierce barking of dogs, in the village near at hand, grew louder and louder, until, at last, it was hardly possible for Baucis and Philemon to hear each other speak.

use up a period of time in a specific way

From this reading They had already eaten their frugal supper, and intended now to spend a quiet hour or two before bedtime.

the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon

From this reading THE MIRACULOUS PITCHER One evening, in times long ago, old Philemon and his old wife Baucis sat at their cottage door, enjoying the calm and beautiful sunset.

a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime

From this reading They had already eaten their frugal supper, and intended now to spend a quiet hour or two before bedtime.

past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading So they talked together about their garden, and their cow, and their bees, and their grapevine, which clambered over the cottage wall, and on which the grapes were beginning to turn purple.

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

From this reading THE MIRACULOUS PITCHER One evening, in times long ago, old Philemon and his old wife Baucis sat at their cottage door, enjoying the calm and beautiful sunset.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading THE MIRACULOUS PITCHER One evening, in times long ago, old Philemon and his old wife Baucis sat at their cottage door, enjoying the calm and beautiful sunset.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They had already eaten their frugal supper, and intended now to spend a quiet hour or two before bedtime.

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading THE MIRACULOUS PITCHER One evening, in times long ago, old Philemon and his old wife Baucis sat at their cottage door, enjoying the calm and beautiful sunset.

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

From this reading They had already eaten their frugal supper, and intended now to spend a quiet hour or two before bedtime.

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading So they talked together about their garden, and their cow, and their bees, and their grapevine, which clambered over the cottage wall, and on which the grapes were beginning to turn purple.

a person who changes location

From this reading "Ah, wife," cried Philemon, "I fear some poor traveller is seeking hospitality among our neighbours yonder, and, instead of giving him food and lodging, they have set their dogs at him, as their custom is!"

change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense

From this reading So they talked together about their garden, and their cow, and their bees, and their grapevine, which clambered over the cottage wall, and on which the grapes were beginning to turn purple.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading They had already eaten their frugal supper, and intended now to spend a quiet hour or two before bedtime.

up to a particular time

From this reading But the rude shouts of children, and the fierce barking of dogs, in the village near at hand, grew louder and louder, until, at last, it was hardly possible for Baucis and Philemon to hear each other speak.

a community of people smaller than a town

From this reading But the rude shouts of children, and the fierce barking of dogs, in the village near at hand, grew louder and louder, until, at last, it was hardly possible for Baucis and Philemon to hear each other speak.

an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading So they talked together about their garden, and their cow, and their bees, and their grapevine, which clambered over the cottage wall, and on which the grapes were beginning to turn purple.

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

From this reading But the rude shouts of children, and the fierce barking of dogs, in the village near at hand, grew louder and louder, until, at last, it was hardly possible for Baucis and Philemon to hear each other speak.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading So they talked together about their garden, and their cow, and their bees, and their grapevine, which clambered over the cottage wall, and on which the grapes were beginning to turn purple.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading So they talked together about their garden, and their cow, and their bees, and their grapevine, which clambered over the cottage wall, and on which the grapes were beginning to turn purple.

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading THE MIRACULOUS PITCHER One evening, in times long ago, old Philemon and his old wife Baucis sat at their cottage door, enjoying the calm and beautiful sunset.

distant but within sight (“yon” is dialectal)

From this reading "Ah, wife," cried Philemon, "I fear some poor traveller is seeking hospitality among our neighbours yonder, and, instead of giving him food and lodging, they have set their dogs at him, as their custom is!"