Chapter IV

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

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

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

From this reading Here C――nn――ing is laid, and, to tell you my mind, He has not left a brighter or better behind: His speeches were brilliant, resistless, and grand, His character cordial, attaching, and bland: Still born to improve us in every part, His wisdom our judgment, his genius our heart.

later than; following

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

(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 The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading No chaff, my son, the hermit cries, But walk your chalks along; Your path to the rotunda lies―― They’re going to sing a song.

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

From this reading Here C――nn――ing is laid, and, to tell you my mind, He has not left a brighter or better behind: His speeches were brilliant, resistless, and grand, His character cordial, attaching, and bland: Still born to improve us in every part, His wisdom our judgment, his genius our heart.

-ing form of “attach” — cause to be attached

From this reading Here C――nn――ing is laid, and, to tell you my mind, He has not left a brighter or better behind: His speeches were brilliant, resistless, and grand, His character cordial, attaching, and bland: Still born to improve us in every part, His wisdom our judgment, his genius our heart.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

a narrative song with a recurrent refrain

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading The place must be extremely damp―― Why don’t you wear a hat?

at or toward the back of something

From this reading Here C――nn――ing is laid, and, to tell you my mind, He has not left a brighter or better behind: His speeches were brilliant, resistless, and grand, His character cordial, attaching, and bland: Still born to improve us in every part, His wisdom our judgment, his genius our heart.

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading Here C――nn――ing is laid, and, to tell you my mind, He has not left a brighter or better behind: His speeches were brilliant, resistless, and grand, His character cordial, attaching, and bland: Still born to improve us in every part, His wisdom our judgment, his genius our heart.

lacking taste or flavor or tang

From this reading Here C――nn――ing is laid, and, to tell you my mind, He has not left a brighter or better behind: His speeches were brilliant, resistless, and grand, His character cordial, attaching, and bland: Still born to improve us in every part, His wisdom our judgment, his genius our heart.

plural of “blot” — a blemish made by dirt

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

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

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

brought into existence

From this reading Here C――nn――ing is laid, and, to tell you my mind, He has not left a brighter or better behind: His speeches were brilliant, resistless, and grand, His character cordial, attaching, and bland: Still born to improve us in every part, His wisdom our judgment, his genius our heart.

comparative of “bright” — emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts

From this reading Here C――nn――ing is laid, and, to tell you my mind, He has not left a brighter or better behind: His speeches were brilliant, resistless, and grand, His character cordial, attaching, and bland: Still born to improve us in every part, His wisdom our judgment, his genius our heart.

of surpassing excellence

From this reading Here C――nn――ing is laid, and, to tell you my mind, He has not left a brighter or better behind: His speeches were brilliant, resistless, and grand, His character cordial, attaching, and bland: Still born to improve us in every part, His wisdom our judgment, his genius our heart.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

a degree on the centigrade scale of temperature

From this reading Here C――nn――ing is laid, and, to tell you my mind, He has not left a brighter or better behind: His speeches were brilliant, resistless, and grand, His character cordial, attaching, and bland: Still born to improve us in every part, His wisdom our judgment, his genius our heart.

feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats

From this reading There’s nothing but a little lamp, A pitcher and a cat!

A large, vast underground cave, often filled with forgotten ancient treasures.

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

be silly or tease one another

From this reading No chaff, my son, the hermit cries, But walk your chalks along; Your path to the rotunda lies―― They’re going to sing a song.

plural of “chalk” — a soft whitish calcite

From this reading No chaff, my son, the hermit cries, But walk your chalks along; Your path to the rotunda lies―― They’re going to sing a song.

an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)

From this reading Here C――nn――ing is laid, and, to tell you my mind, He has not left a brighter or better behind: His speeches were brilliant, resistless, and grand, His character cordial, attaching, and bland: Still born to improve us in every part, His wisdom our judgment, his genius our heart.

diffusing warmth and friendliness

From this reading Here C――nn――ing is laid, and, to tell you my mind, He has not left a brighter or better behind: His speeches were brilliant, resistless, and grand, His character cordial, attaching, and bland: Still born to improve us in every part, His wisdom our judgment, his genius our heart.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

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

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

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

From this reading No chaff, my son, the hermit cries, But walk your chalks along; Your path to the rotunda lies―― They’re going to sing a song.

separate with or as if with an instrument

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

slightly wet

From this reading The place must be extremely damp―― Why don’t you wear a hat?

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

From this reading The place must be extremely damp―― Why don’t you wear a hat?

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Here C――nn――ing is laid, and, to tell you my mind, He has not left a brighter or better behind: His speeches were brilliant, resistless, and grand, His character cordial, attaching, and bland: Still born to improve us in every part, His wisdom our judgment, his genius our heart.

to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect

From this reading The place must be extremely damp―― Why don’t you wear a hat?

someone who has exceptional intellectual ability and originality

From this reading Here C――nn――ing is laid, and, to tell you my mind, He has not left a brighter or better behind: His speeches were brilliant, resistless, and grand, His character cordial, attaching, and bland: Still born to improve us in every part, His wisdom our judgment, his genius our heart.

soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

the act of departing

From this reading No chaff, my son, the hermit cries, But walk your chalks along; Your path to the rotunda lies―― They’re going to sing a song.

an artisan who makes jewelry and other objects out of gold

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

of behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope

From this reading Here C――nn――ing is laid, and, to tell you my mind, He has not left a brighter or better behind: His speeches were brilliant, resistless, and grand, His character cordial, attaching, and bland: Still born to improve us in every part, His wisdom our judgment, his genius our heart.

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

From this reading Here C――nn――ing is laid, and, to tell you my mind, He has not left a brighter or better behind: His speeches were brilliant, resistless, and grand, His character cordial, attaching, and bland: Still born to improve us in every part, His wisdom our judgment, his genius our heart.

headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim

From this reading The place must be extremely damp―― Why don’t you wear a hat?

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Here C――nn――ing is laid, and, to tell you my mind, He has not left a brighter or better behind: His speeches were brilliant, resistless, and grand, His character cordial, attaching, and bland: Still born to improve us in every part, His wisdom our judgment, his genius our heart.

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading Here C――nn――ing is laid, and, to tell you my mind, He has not left a brighter or better behind: His speeches were brilliant, resistless, and grand, His character cordial, attaching, and bland: Still born to improve us in every part, His wisdom our judgment, his genius our heart.

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading Here C――nn――ing is laid, and, to tell you my mind, He has not left a brighter or better behind: His speeches were brilliant, resistless, and grand, His character cordial, attaching, and bland: Still born to improve us in every part, His wisdom our judgment, his genius our heart.

one retired from society for religious reasons

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

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

From this reading Here C――nn――ing is laid, and, to tell you my mind, He has not left a brighter or better behind: His speeches were brilliant, resistless, and grand, His character cordial, attaching, and bland: Still born to improve us in every part, His wisdom our judgment, his genius our heart.

cause to move by striking

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

plural of “hit” — (baseball) a successful stroke in an athletic contest (especially in baseball)

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

to make better

From this reading Here C――nn――ing is laid, and, to tell you my mind, He has not left a brighter or better behind: His speeches were brilliant, resistless, and grand, His character cordial, attaching, and bland: Still born to improve us in every part, His wisdom our judgment, his genius our heart.

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

From this reading Here C――nn――ing is laid, and, to tell you my mind, He has not left a brighter or better behind: His speeches were brilliant, resistless, and grand, His character cordial, attaching, and bland: Still born to improve us in every part, His wisdom our judgment, his genius our heart.

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

From this reading Here C――nn――ing is laid, and, to tell you my mind, He has not left a brighter or better behind: His speeches were brilliant, resistless, and grand, His character cordial, attaching, and bland: Still born to improve us in every part, His wisdom our judgment, his genius our heart.

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

From this reading Here C――nn――ing is laid, and, to tell you my mind, He has not left a brighter or better behind: His speeches were brilliant, resistless, and grand, His character cordial, attaching, and bland: Still born to improve us in every part, His wisdom our judgment, his genius our heart.

an opinion formed by judging something

From this reading Here C――nn――ing is laid, and, to tell you my mind, He has not left a brighter or better behind: His speeches were brilliant, resistless, and grand, His character cordial, attaching, and bland: Still born to improve us in every part, His wisdom our judgment, his genius our heart.

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

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

set down according to a plan

From this reading Here C――nn――ing is laid, and, to tell you my mind, He has not left a brighter or better behind: His speeches were brilliant, resistless, and grand, His character cordial, attaching, and bland: Still born to improve us in every part, His wisdom our judgment, his genius our heart.

an artificial source of visible illumination

From this reading There’s nothing but a little lamp, A pitcher and a cat!

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading Here C――nn――ing is laid, and, to tell you my mind, He has not left a brighter or better behind: His speeches were brilliant, resistless, and grand, His character cordial, attaching, and bland: Still born to improve us in every part, His wisdom our judgment, his genius our heart.

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

plural of “lie” — a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth

From this reading No chaff, my son, the hermit cries, But walk your chalks along; Your path to the rotunda lies―― They’re going to sing a song.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading There’s nothing but a little lamp, A pitcher and a cat!

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading Here C――nn――ing is laid, and, to tell you my mind, He has not left a brighter or better behind: His speeches were brilliant, resistless, and grand, His character cordial, attaching, and bland: Still born to improve us in every part, His wisdom our judgment, his genius our heart.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading The place must be extremely damp―― Why don’t you wear a hat?

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Here C――nn――ing is laid, and, to tell you my mind, He has not left a brighter or better behind: His speeches were brilliant, resistless, and grand, His character cordial, attaching, and bland: Still born to improve us in every part, His wisdom our judgment, his genius our heart.

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

From this reading Here C――nn――ing is laid, and, to tell you my mind, He has not left a brighter or better behind: His speeches were brilliant, resistless, and grand, His character cordial, attaching, and bland: Still born to improve us in every part, His wisdom our judgment, his genius our heart.

not any; not one

From this reading No chaff, my son, the hermit cries, But walk your chalks along; Your path to the rotunda lies―― They’re going to sing a song.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Here C――nn――ing is laid, and, to tell you my mind, He has not left a brighter or better behind: His speeches were brilliant, resistless, and grand, His character cordial, attaching, and bland: Still born to improve us in every part, His wisdom our judgment, his genius our heart.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading There’s nothing but a little lamp, A pitcher and a cat!

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

United States jazz musician who influenced the style of Louis Armstrong (1885-1938)

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Here C――nn――ing is laid, and, to tell you my mind, He has not left a brighter or better behind: His speeches were brilliant, resistless, and grand, His character cordial, attaching, and bland: Still born to improve us in every part, His wisdom our judgment, his genius our heart.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Here C――nn――ing is laid, and, to tell you my mind, He has not left a brighter or better behind: His speeches were brilliant, resistless, and grand, His character cordial, attaching, and bland: Still born to improve us in every part, His wisdom our judgment, his genius our heart.

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading Here C――nn――ing is laid, and, to tell you my mind, He has not left a brighter or better behind: His speeches were brilliant, resistless, and grand, His character cordial, attaching, and bland: Still born to improve us in every part, His wisdom our judgment, his genius our heart.

go across or through

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

a course of conduct

From this reading No chaff, my son, the hermit cries, But walk your chalks along; Your path to the rotunda lies―― They’re going to sing a song.

(baseball) the person who does the pitching

From this reading There’s nothing but a little lamp, A pitcher and a cat!

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading The place must be extremely damp―― Why don’t you wear a hat?

more quickly

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

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

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

impossible to resist; overpowering

From this reading Here C――nn――ing is laid, and, to tell you my mind, He has not left a brighter or better behind: His speeches were brilliant, resistless, and grand, His character cordial, attaching, and bland: Still born to improve us in every part, His wisdom our judgment, his genius our heart.

a building having a circular plan and a dome

From this reading No chaff, my son, the hermit cries, But walk your chalks along; Your path to the rotunda lies―― They’re going to sing a song.

deliver by singing

From this reading No chaff, my son, the hermit cries, But walk your chalks along; Your path to the rotunda lies―― They’re going to sing a song.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

past form of “smart” — be the source of pain

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

a male human offspring

From this reading No chaff, my son, the hermit cries, But walk your chalks along; Your path to the rotunda lies―― They’re going to sing a song.

a short musical composition with words

From this reading No chaff, my son, the hermit cries, But walk your chalks along; Your path to the rotunda lies―― They’re going to sing a song.

plural of “speech” — the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience

From this reading Here C――nn――ing is laid, and, to tell you my mind, He has not left a brighter or better behind: His speeches were brilliant, resistless, and grand, His character cordial, attaching, and bland: Still born to improve us in every part, His wisdom our judgment, his genius our heart.

not in physical motion

From this reading Here C――nn――ing is laid, and, to tell you my mind, He has not left a brighter or better behind: His speeches were brilliant, resistless, and grand, His character cordial, attaching, and bland: Still born to improve us in every part, His wisdom our judgment, his genius our heart.

inflected form of “swear” — utter obscenities or profanities

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

express in words

From this reading Here C――nn――ing is laid, and, to tell you my mind, He has not left a brighter or better behind: His speeches were brilliant, resistless, and grand, His character cordial, attaching, and bland: Still born to improve us in every part, His wisdom our judgment, his genius our heart.

an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

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

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

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

From this reading There’s nothing but a little lamp, A pitcher and a cat!

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

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

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

From this reading No chaff, my son, the hermit cries, But walk your chalks along; Your path to the rotunda lies―― They’re going to sing a song.

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

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

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

From this reading Here C――nn――ing is laid, and, to tell you my mind, He has not left a brighter or better behind: His speeches were brilliant, resistless, and grand, His character cordial, attaching, and bland: Still born to improve us in every part, His wisdom our judgment, his genius our heart.

change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Here C――nn――ing is laid, and, to tell you my mind, He has not left a brighter or better behind: His speeches were brilliant, resistless, and grand, His character cordial, attaching, and bland: Still born to improve us in every part, His wisdom our judgment, his genius our heart.

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

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

the act of traveling by foot

From this reading No chaff, my son, the hermit cries, But walk your chalks along; Your path to the rotunda lies―― They’re going to sing a song.

a person who is under the protection or in the custody of another

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

be dressed in

From this reading The place must be extremely damp―― Why don’t you wear a hat?

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

From this reading Here C――nn――ing is laid, and, to tell you my mind, He has not left a brighter or better behind: His speeches were brilliant, resistless, and grand, His character cordial, attaching, and bland: Still born to improve us in every part, His wisdom our judgment, his genius our heart.

at the time that

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

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

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading The place must be extremely damp―― Why don’t you wear a hat?

accumulated knowledge or erudition or enlightenment

From this reading Here C――nn――ing is laid, and, to tell you my mind, He has not left a brighter or better behind: His speeches were brilliant, resistless, and grand, His character cordial, attaching, and bland: Still born to improve us in every part, His wisdom our judgment, his genius our heart.

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

the basic human power of intelligent thought and perception

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Here C――nn――ing is laid, and, to tell you my mind, He has not left a brighter or better behind: His speeches were brilliant, resistless, and grand, His character cordial, attaching, and bland: Still born to improve us in every part, His wisdom our judgment, his genius our heart.

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading The terror of coxcombs, the wonder of wits, He could hit all their blots, he could ward all their hits; When they blunder’d, and thunder’d, and smarted, and swore, He but quizz’d them the quicker, and cut them the more!―― THE HERMIT OF VAUXHALL.[15] (_A Ballad after Oliver Goldsmith._) Turn, gentle hermit of Vauxhall, And let me know the way In which, within that cavern small, You pass your time away.