Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading "A child of our grandmother Eve, a female; or, for thy more sweet understanding, a woman."--LOVE'S LABORS LOST.

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

From this reading When she has barely glanced at it, she says, "Ah!" in a tone of deep satisfaction, and running down the steps and over the gravel, turns the handle of the carriage door and looks anxiously at its occupant.

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading The horses, sniffing the air of home, fling up their heads and make still greater haste, until presently, rounding the curve, they draw up before the hall door.

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

From this reading THE gates are thrown wide open, and the carriage rolls smoothly down the long dark avenue, beneath the waving branches of the tall elms and the copper beeches, through which the dying sun is flinging its parting rays.

with anxiety or apprehension

From this reading When she has barely glanced at it, she says, "Ah!" in a tone of deep satisfaction, and running down the steps and over the gravel, turns the handle of the carriage door and looks anxiously at its occupant.

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

From this reading THE gates are thrown wide open, and the carriage rolls smoothly down the long dark avenue, beneath the waving branches of the tall elms and the copper beeches, through which the dying sun is flinging its parting rays.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading When she has barely glanced at it, she says, "Ah!" in a tone of deep satisfaction, and running down the steps and over the gravel, turns the handle of the carriage door and looks anxiously at its occupant.

a line of approach

From this reading THE gates are thrown wide open, and the carriage rolls smoothly down the long dark avenue, beneath the waving branches of the tall elms and the copper beeches, through which the dying sun is flinging its parting rays.

only a very short time before

From this reading When she has barely glanced at it, she says, "Ah!" in a tone of deep satisfaction, and running down the steps and over the gravel, turns the handle of the carriage door and looks anxiously at its occupant.

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

From this reading THE gates are thrown wide open, and the carriage rolls smoothly down the long dark avenue, beneath the waving branches of the tall elms and the copper beeches, through which the dying sun is flinging its parting rays.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading The horses, sniffing the air of home, fling up their heads and make still greater haste, until presently, rounding the curve, they draw up before the hall door.

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading THE gates are thrown wide open, and the carriage rolls smoothly down the long dark avenue, beneath the waving branches of the tall elms and the copper beeches, through which the dying sun is flinging its parting rays.

plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization

From this reading THE gates are thrown wide open, and the carriage rolls smoothly down the long dark avenue, beneath the waving branches of the tall elms and the copper beeches, through which the dying sun is flinging its parting rays.

a railcar where passengers ride

From this reading THE gates are thrown wide open, and the carriage rolls smoothly down the long dark avenue, beneath the waving branches of the tall elms and the copper beeches, through which the dying sun is flinging its parting rays.

a young person of either sex

From this reading "A child of our grandmother Eve, a female; or, for thy more sweet understanding, a woman."--LOVE'S LABORS LOST.

a ductile malleable reddish-brown corrosion-resistant diamagnetic metallic element; occurs in various minerals but is the only metal that occurs abundantly in large masses; used as an electrical and thermal conductor

From this reading THE gates are thrown wide open, and the carriage rolls smoothly down the long dark avenue, beneath the waving branches of the tall elms and the copper beeches, through which the dying sun is flinging its parting rays.

the trace of a point whose direction of motion changes

From this reading The horses, sniffing the air of home, fling up their heads and make still greater haste, until presently, rounding the curve, they draw up before the hall door.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading THE gates are thrown wide open, and the carriage rolls smoothly down the long dark avenue, beneath the waving branches of the tall elms and the copper beeches, through which the dying sun is flinging its parting rays.

relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply

From this reading When she has barely glanced at it, she says, "Ah!" in a tone of deep satisfaction, and running down the steps and over the gravel, turns the handle of the carriage door and looks anxiously at its occupant.

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

From this reading The horses, sniffing the air of home, fling up their heads and make still greater haste, until presently, rounding the curve, they draw up before the hall door.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading THE gates are thrown wide open, and the carriage rolls smoothly down the long dark avenue, beneath the waving branches of the tall elms and the copper beeches, through which the dying sun is flinging its parting rays.

cause to move by pulling

From this reading The horses, sniffing the air of home, fling up their heads and make still greater haste, until presently, rounding the curve, they draw up before the hall door.

in or associated with the process of passing from life or ceasing to be

From this reading THE gates are thrown wide open, and the carriage rolls smoothly down the long dark avenue, beneath the waving branches of the tall elms and the copper beeches, through which the dying sun is flinging its parting rays.

having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy

From this reading It stands open, and on the high, stone steps that lead to it, a very pretty girl looks down upon the carriage from under her palm, with a face eager and expectant.

plural of “elm” — any of various trees of the genus Ulmus: important timber or shade trees

From this reading THE gates are thrown wide open, and the carriage rolls smoothly down the long dark avenue, beneath the waving branches of the tall elms and the copper beeches, through which the dying sun is flinging its parting rays.

(Old Testament) Adam's wife in Judeo-Christian mythology: the first woman and mother of the human race; God created Eve from Adam's rib and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden

From this reading "A child of our grandmother Eve, a female; or, for thy more sweet understanding, a woman."--LOVE'S LABORS LOST.

marked by eager anticipation

From this reading It stands open, and on the high, stone steps that lead to it, a very pretty girl looks down upon the carriage from under her palm, with a face eager and expectant.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading It stands open, and on the high, stone steps that lead to it, a very pretty girl looks down upon the carriage from under her palm, with a face eager and expectant.

being the sex (of plant or animal) that produces fertilizable gametes (ova) from which offspring develop

From this reading "A child of our grandmother Eve, a female; or, for thy more sweet understanding, a woman."--LOVE'S LABORS LOST.

throw with force or recklessness

From this reading The horses, sniffing the air of home, fling up their heads and make still greater haste, until presently, rounding the curve, they draw up before the hall door.

-ing form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness

From this reading THE gates are thrown wide open, and the carriage rolls smoothly down the long dark avenue, beneath the waving branches of the tall elms and the copper beeches, through which the dying sun is flinging its parting rays.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "A child of our grandmother Eve, a female; or, for thy more sweet understanding, a woman."--LOVE'S LABORS LOST.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading It stands open, and on the high, stone steps that lead to it, a very pretty girl looks down upon the carriage from under her palm, with a face eager and expectant.

United States computer entrepreneur whose software company made him the youngest multi-billionaire in the history of the United States (born in 1955)

From this reading THE gates are thrown wide open, and the carriage rolls smoothly down the long dark avenue, beneath the waving branches of the tall elms and the copper beeches, through which the dying sun is flinging its parting rays.

a young female

From this reading It stands open, and on the high, stone steps that lead to it, a very pretty girl looks down upon the carriage from under her palm, with a face eager and expectant.

past form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at

From this reading When she has barely glanced at it, she says, "Ah!" in a tone of deep satisfaction, and running down the steps and over the gravel, turns the handle of the carriage door and looks anxiously at its occupant.

the mother of your father or mother

From this reading "A child of our grandmother Eve, a female; or, for thy more sweet understanding, a woman."--LOVE'S LABORS LOST.

rock fragments and pebbles

From this reading When she has barely glanced at it, she says, "Ah!" in a tone of deep satisfaction, and running down the steps and over the gravel, turns the handle of the carriage door and looks anxiously at its occupant.

greater in size or importance or degree

From this reading The horses, sniffing the air of home, fling up their heads and make still greater haste, until presently, rounding the curve, they draw up before the hall door.

an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

From this reading The horses, sniffing the air of home, fling up their heads and make still greater haste, until presently, rounding the curve, they draw up before the hall door.

be in charge of, act on, or dispose of

From this reading When she has barely glanced at it, she says, "Ah!" in a tone of deep satisfaction, and running down the steps and over the gravel, turns the handle of the carriage door and looks anxiously at its occupant.

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

From this reading When she has barely glanced at it, she says, "Ah!" in a tone of deep satisfaction, and running down the steps and over the gravel, turns the handle of the carriage door and looks anxiously at its occupant.

overly eager speed (and possible carelessness)

From this reading The horses, sniffing the air of home, fling up their heads and make still greater haste, until presently, rounding the curve, they draw up before the hall door.

plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading The horses, sniffing the air of home, fling up their heads and make still greater haste, until presently, rounding the curve, they draw up before the hall door.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading It stands open, and on the high, stone steps that lead to it, a very pretty girl looks down upon the carriage from under her palm, with a face eager and expectant.

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading It stands open, and on the high, stone steps that lead to it, a very pretty girl looks down upon the carriage from under her palm, with a face eager and expectant.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading The horses, sniffing the air of home, fling up their heads and make still greater haste, until presently, rounding the curve, they draw up before the hall door.

plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times

From this reading The horses, sniffing the air of home, fling up their heads and make still greater haste, until presently, rounding the curve, they draw up before the hall door.

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

From this reading When she has barely glanced at it, she says, "Ah!" in a tone of deep satisfaction, and running down the steps and over the gravel, turns the handle of the carriage door and looks anxiously at its occupant.

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

From this reading THE gates are thrown wide open, and the carriage rolls smoothly down the long dark avenue, beneath the waving branches of the tall elms and the copper beeches, through which the dying sun is flinging its parting rays.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It stands open, and on the high, stone steps that lead to it, a very pretty girl looks down upon the carriage from under her palm, with a face eager and expectant.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading THE gates are thrown wide open, and the carriage rolls smoothly down the long dark avenue, beneath the waving branches of the tall elms and the copper beeches, through which the dying sun is flinging its parting rays.

plural of “labor” — a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages

From this reading "A child of our grandmother Eve, a female; or, for thy more sweet understanding, a woman."--LOVE'S LABORS LOST.

take somebody somewhere

From this reading It stands open, and on the high, stone steps that lead to it, a very pretty girl looks down upon the carriage from under her palm, with a face eager and expectant.

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 gates are thrown wide open, and the carriage rolls smoothly down the long dark avenue, beneath the waving branches of the tall elms and the copper beeches, through which the dying sun is flinging its parting rays.

plural of “look” — the feelings expressed on a person's face

From this reading It stands open, and on the high, stone steps that lead to it, a very pretty girl looks down upon the carriage from under her palm, with a face eager and expectant.

no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered

From this reading "A child of our grandmother Eve, a female; or, for thy more sweet understanding, a woman."--LOVE'S LABORS LOST.

possessive form of “love” — a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading "A child of our grandmother Eve, a female; or, for thy more sweet understanding, a woman."--LOVE'S LABORS LOST.

engage in

From this reading The horses, sniffing the air of home, fling up their heads and make still greater haste, until presently, rounding the curve, they draw up before the hall door.

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

From this reading "A child of our grandmother Eve, a female; or, for thy more sweet understanding, a woman."--LOVE'S LABORS LOST.

someone who lives at a particular place for a prolonged period or who was born there

From this reading When she has barely glanced at it, she says, "Ah!" in a tone of deep satisfaction, and running down the steps and over the gravel, turns the handle of the carriage door and looks anxiously at its occupant.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "A child of our grandmother Eve, a female; or, for thy more sweet understanding, a woman."--LOVE'S LABORS LOST.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It stands open, and on the high, stone steps that lead to it, a very pretty girl looks down upon the carriage from under her palm, with a face eager and expectant.

To move from a closed position.

From this reading THE gates are thrown wide open, and the carriage rolls smoothly down the long dark avenue, beneath the waving branches of the tall elms and the copper beeches, through which the dying sun is flinging its parting rays.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading "A child of our grandmother Eve, a female; or, for thy more sweet understanding, a woman."--LOVE'S LABORS LOST.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading "A child of our grandmother Eve, a female; or, for thy more sweet understanding, a woman."--LOVE'S LABORS LOST.

above and across; more than

From this reading When she has barely glanced at it, she says, "Ah!" in a tone of deep satisfaction, and running down the steps and over the gravel, turns the handle of the carriage door and looks anxiously at its occupant.

the inner surface of the hand from the wrist to the base of the fingers

From this reading It stands open, and on the high, stone steps that lead to it, a very pretty girl looks down upon the carriage from under her palm, with a face eager and expectant.

the act of departing politely

From this reading THE gates are thrown wide open, and the carriage rolls smoothly down the long dark avenue, beneath the waving branches of the tall elms and the copper beeches, through which the dying sun is flinging its parting rays.

in the near future

From this reading The horses, sniffing the air of home, fling up their heads and make still greater haste, until presently, rounding the curve, they draw up before the hall door.

pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing

From this reading It stands open, and on the high, stone steps that lead to it, a very pretty girl looks down upon the carriage from under her palm, with a face eager and expectant.

plural of “ray” — a column of light (as from a beacon)

From this reading THE gates are thrown wide open, and the carriage rolls smoothly down the long dark avenue, beneath the waving branches of the tall elms and the copper beeches, through which the dying sun is flinging its parting rays.

plural of “roll” — rotary motion of an object around its own axis

From this reading THE gates are thrown wide open, and the carriage rolls smoothly down the long dark avenue, beneath the waving branches of the tall elms and the copper beeches, through which the dying sun is flinging its parting rays.

(mathematics) a miscalculation that results from rounding off numbers to a convenient number of decimals

From this reading The horses, sniffing the air of home, fling up their heads and make still greater haste, until presently, rounding the curve, they draw up before the hall door.

(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream

From this reading When she has barely glanced at it, she says, "Ah!" in a tone of deep satisfaction, and running down the steps and over the gravel, turns the handle of the carriage door and looks anxiously at its occupant.

the contentment one feels when one has fulfilled a desire, need, or expectation

From this reading When she has barely glanced at it, she says, "Ah!" in a tone of deep satisfaction, and running down the steps and over the gravel, turns the handle of the carriage door and looks anxiously at its occupant.

plural of “say” — the chance to speak

From this reading When she has barely glanced at it, she says, "Ah!" in a tone of deep satisfaction, and running down the steps and over the gravel, turns the handle of the carriage door and looks anxiously at its occupant.

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

From this reading When she has barely glanced at it, she says, "Ah!" in a tone of deep satisfaction, and running down the steps and over the gravel, turns the handle of the carriage door and looks anxiously at its occupant.

with no problems or difficulties

From this reading THE gates are thrown wide open, and the carriage rolls smoothly down the long dark avenue, beneath the waving branches of the tall elms and the copper beeches, through which the dying sun is flinging its parting rays.

-ing form of “sniff” — perceive by inhaling through the nose

From this reading The horses, sniffing the air of home, fling up their heads and make still greater haste, until presently, rounding the curve, they draw up before the hall door.

plural of “stand” — a support or foundation

From this reading It stands open, and on the high, stone steps that lead to it, a very pretty girl looks down upon the carriage from under her palm, with a face eager and expectant.

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading It stands open, and on the high, stone steps that lead to it, a very pretty girl looks down upon the carriage from under her palm, with a face eager and expectant.

not in physical motion

From this reading The horses, sniffing the air of home, fling up their heads and make still greater haste, until presently, rounding the curve, they draw up before the hall door.

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading It stands open, and on the high, stone steps that lead to it, a very pretty girl looks down upon the carriage from under her palm, with a face eager and expectant.

the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system

From this reading THE gates are thrown wide open, and the carriage rolls smoothly down the long dark avenue, beneath the waving branches of the tall elms and the copper beeches, through which the dying sun is flinging its parting rays.

having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar

From this reading "A child of our grandmother Eve, a female; or, for thy more sweet understanding, a woman."--LOVE'S LABORS LOST.

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading THE gates are thrown wide open, and the carriage rolls smoothly down the long dark avenue, beneath the waving branches of the tall elms and the copper beeches, through which the dying sun is flinging its parting rays.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It stands open, and on the high, stone steps that lead to it, a very pretty girl looks down upon the carriage from under her palm, with a face eager and expectant.

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

From this reading THE gates are thrown wide open, and the carriage rolls smoothly down the long dark avenue, beneath the waving branches of the tall elms and the copper beeches, through which the dying sun is flinging its parting rays.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The horses, sniffing the air of home, fling up their heads and make still greater haste, until presently, rounding the curve, they draw up before the hall door.

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

From this reading The horses, sniffing the air of home, fling up their heads and make still greater haste, until presently, rounding the curve, they draw up before the hall door.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading THE gates are thrown wide open, and the carriage rolls smoothly down the long dark avenue, beneath the waving branches of the tall elms and the copper beeches, through which the dying sun is flinging its parting rays.

caused to fall to the ground

From this reading THE gates are thrown wide open, and the carriage rolls smoothly down the long dark avenue, beneath the waving branches of the tall elms and the copper beeches, through which the dying sun is flinging its parting rays.

an old word for “your”, speaking to one person

From this reading "A child of our grandmother Eve, a female; or, for thy more sweet understanding, a woman."--LOVE'S LABORS LOST.

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

From this reading It stands open, and on the high, stone steps that lead to it, a very pretty girl looks down upon the carriage from under her palm, with a face eager and expectant.

the quality of a person's voice

From this reading When she has barely glanced at it, she says, "Ah!" in a tone of deep satisfaction, and running down the steps and over the gravel, turns the handle of the carriage door and looks anxiously at its occupant.

plural of “turn” — a circular segment of a curve

From this reading When she has barely glanced at it, she says, "Ah!" in a tone of deep satisfaction, and running down the steps and over the gravel, turns the handle of the carriage door and looks anxiously at its occupant.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading It stands open, and on the high, stone steps that lead to it, a very pretty girl looks down upon the carriage from under her palm, with a face eager and expectant.

the cognitive condition of someone who understands

From this reading "A child of our grandmother Eve, a female; or, for thy more sweet understanding, a woman."--LOVE'S LABORS LOST.

up to a particular time

From this reading The horses, sniffing the air of home, fling up their heads and make still greater haste, until presently, rounding the curve, they draw up before the hall door.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading The horses, sniffing the air of home, fling up their heads and make still greater haste, until presently, rounding the curve, they draw up before the hall door.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading It stands open, and on the high, stone steps that lead to it, a very pretty girl looks down upon the carriage from under her palm, with a face eager and expectant.

precisely as stated

From this reading It stands open, and on the high, stone steps that lead to it, a very pretty girl looks down upon the carriage from under her palm, with a face eager and expectant.

the act of signaling by a movement of the hand

From this reading THE gates are thrown wide open, and the carriage rolls smoothly down the long dark avenue, beneath the waving branches of the tall elms and the copper beeches, through which the dying sun is flinging its parting rays.

at the time that

From this reading When she has barely glanced at it, she says, "Ah!" in a tone of deep satisfaction, and running down the steps and over the gravel, turns the handle of the carriage door and looks anxiously at its occupant.

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

From this reading THE gates are thrown wide open, and the carriage rolls smoothly down the long dark avenue, beneath the waving branches of the tall elms and the copper beeches, through which the dying sun is flinging its parting rays.

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading THE gates are thrown wide open, and the carriage rolls smoothly down the long dark avenue, beneath the waving branches of the tall elms and the copper beeches, through which the dying sun is flinging its parting rays.

in the company of; together with

From this reading It stands open, and on the high, stone steps that lead to it, a very pretty girl looks down upon the carriage from under her palm, with a face eager and expectant.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading "A child of our grandmother Eve, a female; or, for thy more sweet understanding, a woman."--LOVE'S LABORS LOST.