used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Even the longest lane has a turning, though the path trodden by some people is so long and so straight that it seems less like a lane than 'a permanent way.'"--ELLEN THORNEYCROFT FOWLER.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Time moves imperceptibly at Riff, as imperceptibly as the Rieben among its reeds.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Even the longest lane has a turning, though the path trodden by some people is so long and so straight that it seems less like a lane than 'a permanent way.'"--ELLEN THORNEYCROFT FOWLER.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Time moves imperceptibly at Riff, as imperceptibly as the Rieben among its reeds.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Time moves imperceptibly at Riff, as imperceptibly as the Rieben among its reeds.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading The hay was long since in, standing in high ricks in the farmyards, or built up into stacks in lonely fields with a hurdle round them to keep off the cattle.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "Even the longest lane has a turning, though the path trodden by some people is so long and so straight that it seems less like a lane than 'a permanent way.'"--ELLEN THORNEYCROFT FOWLER.
domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age
From this reading The hay was long since in, standing in high ricks in the farmyards, or built up into stacks in lonely fields with a hurdle round them to keep off the cattle.
ELLEN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Even the longest lane has a turning, though the path trodden by some people is so long and so straight that it seems less like a lane than 'a permanent way.'"--ELLEN THORNEYCROFT FOWLER.
divisible by two
From this reading "Even the longest lane has a turning, though the path trodden by some people is so long and so straight that it seems less like a lane than 'a permanent way.'"--ELLEN THORNEYCROFT FOWLER.
farmyards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hay was long since in, standing in high ricks in the farmyards, or built up into stacks in lonely fields with a hurdle round them to keep off the cattle.
United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)
From this reading The hay was long since in, standing in high ricks in the farmyards, or built up into stacks in lonely fields with a hurdle round them to keep off the cattle.
FOWLERnounUS /ˈfaʊlər/
English lexicographer who wrote a well-known book on English usage (1858-1933)
From this reading "Even the longest lane has a turning, though the path trodden by some people is so long and so straight that it seems less like a lane than 'a permanent way.'"--ELLEN THORNEYCROFT FOWLER.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Even the longest lane has a turning, though the path trodden by some people is so long and so straight that it seems less like a lane than 'a permanent way.'"--ELLEN THORNEYCROFT FOWLER.
haynounUS /heɪ/
grass mowed and cured for use as fodder
From this reading The hay was long since in, standing in high ricks in the farmyards, or built up into stacks in lonely fields with a hurdle round them to keep off the cattle.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The hay was long since in, standing in high ricks in the farmyards, or built up into stacks in lonely fields with a hurdle round them to keep off the cattle.
hurdlenounUS /ˈhɜːrdəl/
a light movable barrier that competitors must leap over in certain races
From this reading The hay was long since in, standing in high ricks in the farmyards, or built up into stacks in lonely fields with a hurdle round them to keep off the cattle.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading To Janey it seemed as if life stood stock-still.
imperceptiblyadverbUS /ˌɪmpərˈseptɪbli/
in an imperceptible manner or to an imperceptible degree
From this reading Time moves imperceptibly at Riff, as imperceptibly as the Rieben among its reeds.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The hay was long since in, standing in high ricks in the farmyards, or built up into stacks in lonely fields with a hurdle round them to keep off the cattle.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The hay was long since in, standing in high ricks in the farmyards, or built up into stacks in lonely fields with a hurdle round them to keep off the cattle.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Even the longest lane has a turning, though the path trodden by some people is so long and so straight that it seems less like a lane than 'a permanent way.'"--ELLEN THORNEYCROFT FOWLER.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Even the longest lane has a turning, though the path trodden by some people is so long and so straight that it seems less like a lane than 'a permanent way.'"--ELLEN THORNEYCROFT FOWLER.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Time moves imperceptibly at Riff, as imperceptibly as the Rieben among its reeds.
Janey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To Janey it seemed as if life stood stock-still.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading The hay was long since in, standing in high ricks in the farmyards, or built up into stacks in lonely fields with a hurdle round them to keep off the cattle.
a narrow way or road
From this reading "Even the longest lane has a turning, though the path trodden by some people is so long and so straight that it seems less like a lane than 'a permanent way.'"--ELLEN THORNEYCROFT FOWLER.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading "Even the longest lane has a turning, though the path trodden by some people is so long and so straight that it seems less like a lane than 'a permanent way.'"--ELLEN THORNEYCROFT FOWLER.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading To Janey it seemed as if life stood stock-still.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "Even the longest lane has a turning, though the path trodden by some people is so long and so straight that it seems less like a lane than 'a permanent way.'"--ELLEN THORNEYCROFT FOWLER.
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading The hay was long since in, standing in high ricks in the farmyards, or built up into stacks in lonely fields with a hurdle round them to keep off the cattle.
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 "Even the longest lane has a turning, though the path trodden by some people is so long and so straight that it seems less like a lane than 'a permanent way.'"--ELLEN THORNEYCROFT FOWLER.
longestadverbUS /ˈlɔːŋɡəst/
for the most time
From this reading "Even the longest lane has a turning, though the path trodden by some people is so long and so straight that it seems less like a lane than 'a permanent way.'"--ELLEN THORNEYCROFT FOWLER.
movesnounUS /muːvz/
plural of “move” — the act of deciding to do something
From this reading Time moves imperceptibly at Riff, as imperceptibly as the Rieben among its reeds.
in spite of what has just been said
From this reading Nevertheless, the slow wheel of the year was turning.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Nevertheless, the slow wheel of the year was turning.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The hay was long since in, standing in high ricks in the farmyards, or built up into stacks in lonely fields with a hurdle round them to keep off the cattle.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The hay was long since in, standing in high ricks in the farmyards, or built up into stacks in lonely fields with a hurdle round them to keep off the cattle.
a course of conduct
From this reading "Even the longest lane has a turning, though the path trodden by some people is so long and so straight that it seems less like a lane than 'a permanent way.'"--ELLEN THORNEYCROFT FOWLER.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading "Even the longest lane has a turning, though the path trodden by some people is so long and so straight that it seems less like a lane than 'a permanent way.'"--ELLEN THORNEYCROFT FOWLER.
permanentadjectiveUS /ˈpɜːrmənənt/
continuing or enduring without marked change in status or condition or place
From this reading "Even the longest lane has a turning, though the path trodden by some people is so long and so straight that it seems less like a lane than 'a permanent way.'"--ELLEN THORNEYCROFT FOWLER.
reedsnounUS /riːdz/
plural of “reed” — tall woody perennial grasses with hollow slender stems especially of the genera Arundo and Phragmites
From this reading Time moves imperceptibly at Riff, as imperceptibly as the Rieben among its reeds.
ricksnounUS /rɪks/
plural of “rick” — a painful muscle spasm especially in the neck or back (“rick” and “wrick” are British)
From this reading The hay was long since in, standing in high ricks in the farmyards, or built up into stacks in lonely fields with a hurdle round them to keep off the cattle.
Rieben
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Time moves imperceptibly at Riff, as imperceptibly as the Rieben among its reeds.
RiffnounUS /rɪf/
a Berber living in northern Morocco
From this reading Time moves imperceptibly at Riff, as imperceptibly as the Rieben among its reeds.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading The hay was long since in, standing in high ricks in the farmyards, or built up into stacks in lonely fields with a hurdle round them to keep off the cattle.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading To Janey it seemed as if life stood stock-still.
third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading "Even the longest lane has a turning, though the path trodden by some people is so long and so straight that it seems less like a lane than 'a permanent way.'"--ELLEN THORNEYCROFT FOWLER.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading The hay was long since in, standing in high ricks in the farmyards, or built up into stacks in lonely fields with a hurdle round them to keep off the cattle.
not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time
From this reading Nevertheless, the slow wheel of the year was turning.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "Even the longest lane has a turning, though the path trodden by some people is so long and so straight that it seems less like a lane than 'a permanent way.'"--ELLEN THORNEYCROFT FOWLER.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading "Even the longest lane has a turning, though the path trodden by some people is so long and so straight that it seems less like a lane than 'a permanent way.'"--ELLEN THORNEYCROFT FOWLER.
stacksnounUS /stæks/
a large number or amount
From this reading The hay was long since in, standing in high ricks in the farmyards, or built up into stacks in lonely fields with a hurdle round them to keep off the cattle.
having a supporting base
From this reading The hay was long since in, standing in high ricks in the farmyards, or built up into stacks in lonely fields with a hurdle round them to keep off the cattle.
stock-stilladjective
absolutely still
From this reading To Janey it seemed as if life stood stock-still.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading To Janey it seemed as if life stood stock-still.
successive (without a break)
From this reading "Even the longest lane has a turning, though the path trodden by some people is so long and so straight that it seems less like a lane than 'a permanent way.'"--ELLEN THORNEYCROFT FOWLER.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading "Even the longest lane has a turning, though the path trodden by some people is so long and so straight that it seems less like a lane than 'a permanent way.'"--ELLEN THORNEYCROFT FOWLER.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Even the longest lane has a turning, though the path trodden by some people is so long and so straight that it seems less like a lane than 'a permanent way.'"--ELLEN THORNEYCROFT FOWLER.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Even the longest lane has a turning, though the path trodden by some people is so long and so straight that it seems less like a lane than 'a permanent way.'"--ELLEN THORNEYCROFT FOWLER.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The hay was long since in, standing in high ricks in the farmyards, or built up into stacks in lonely fields with a hurdle round them to keep off the cattle.
THORNEYCROFT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Even the longest lane has a turning, though the path trodden by some people is so long and so straight that it seems less like a lane than 'a permanent way.'"--ELLEN THORNEYCROFT FOWLER.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading "Even the longest lane has a turning, though the path trodden by some people is so long and so straight that it seems less like a lane than 'a permanent way.'"--ELLEN THORNEYCROFT FOWLER.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Time moves imperceptibly at Riff, as imperceptibly as the Rieben among its reeds.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To Janey it seemed as if life stood stock-still.
troddenverbUS /ˈtrɑːdən/
inflected form of “tread” — put down or press the foot, place the foot
From this reading "Even the longest lane has a turning, though the path trodden by some people is so long and so straight that it seems less like a lane than 'a permanent way.'"--ELLEN THORNEYCROFT FOWLER.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading "Even the longest lane has a turning, though the path trodden by some people is so long and so straight that it seems less like a lane than 'a permanent way.'"--ELLEN THORNEYCROFT FOWLER.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The hay was long since in, standing in high ricks in the farmyards, or built up into stacks in lonely fields with a hurdle round them to keep off the cattle.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Nevertheless, the slow wheel of the year was turning.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading "Even the longest lane has a turning, though the path trodden by some people is so long and so straight that it seems less like a lane than 'a permanent way.'"--ELLEN THORNEYCROFT FOWLER.
change directions as if revolving on a pivot
From this reading Nevertheless, the slow wheel of the year was turning.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The hay was long since in, standing in high ricks in the farmyards, or built up into stacks in lonely fields with a hurdle round them to keep off the cattle.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading Nevertheless, the slow wheel of the year was turning.
