used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The foxes have a little breathing-time--a little space in which to steal and eat three or four more fat capons and stubble-fed geese--before that evil day when their dappled foes shall tear their poor little red bodies limb from limb.
almsmen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With January the frost comes hurrying back; hanging great icicles on the house-eaves, throwing men out of work, and pressing with its iron finger the thin faint life out of half-a-dozen old almsmen and almswomen.
almswomen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With January the frost comes hurrying back; hanging great icicles on the house-eaves, throwing men out of work, and pressing with its iron finger the thin faint life out of half-a-dozen old almsmen and almswomen.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading This ancient distich proves true in the year I am speaking of.
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading This ancient distich proves true in the year I am speaking of.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading With January the frost comes hurrying back; hanging great icicles on the house-eaves, throwing men out of work, and pressing with its iron finger the thin faint life out of half-a-dozen old almsmen and almswomen.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading With January the frost comes hurrying back; hanging great icicles on the house-eaves, throwing men out of work, and pressing with its iron finger the thin faint life out of half-a-dozen old almsmen and almswomen.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The foxes have a little breathing-time--a little space in which to steal and eat three or four more fat capons and stubble-fed geese--before that evil day when their dappled foes shall tear their poor little red bodies limb from limb.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading "When the days begin to lengthen, Then the cold begins to strengthen."
beginsnounUS /bɪˈɡɪnz/
plural of “begin” — Israeli statesman (born in Russia) who (as prime minister of Israel) negotiated a peace treaty with Anwar Sadat (then the president of Egypt) (1913-1992)
From this reading "When the days begin to lengthen, Then the cold begins to strengthen."
plural of “body” — the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading The foxes have a little breathing-time--a little space in which to steal and eat three or four more fat capons and stubble-fed geese--before that evil day when their dappled foes shall tear their poor little red bodies limb from limb.
breathing-time
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The foxes have a little breathing-time--a little space in which to steal and eat three or four more fat capons and stubble-fed geese--before that evil day when their dappled foes shall tear their poor little red bodies limb from limb.
capons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The foxes have a little breathing-time--a little space in which to steal and eat three or four more fat capons and stubble-fed geese--before that evil day when their dappled foes shall tear their poor little red bodies limb from limb.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading Not later than Christmas does the moist mild weather last.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading "When the days begin to lengthen, Then the cold begins to strengthen."
plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract
From this reading With January the frost comes hurrying back; hanging great icicles on the house-eaves, throwing men out of work, and pressing with its iron finger the thin faint life out of half-a-dozen old almsmen and almswomen.
dappledadjective
having spots or patches of color
From this reading The foxes have a little breathing-time--a little space in which to steal and eat three or four more fat capons and stubble-fed geese--before that evil day when their dappled foes shall tear their poor little red bodies limb from limb.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The foxes have a little breathing-time--a little space in which to steal and eat three or four more fat capons and stubble-fed geese--before that evil day when their dappled foes shall tear their poor little red bodies limb from limb.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading "When the days begin to lengthen, Then the cold begins to strengthen."
distichnoun
two items of the same kind
From this reading This ancient distich proves true in the year I am speaking of.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Not later than Christmas does the moist mild weather last.
take in solid food
From this reading The foxes have a little breathing-time--a little space in which to steal and eat three or four more fat capons and stubble-fed geese--before that evil day when their dappled foes shall tear their poor little red bodies limb from limb.
morally objectionable behavior
From this reading The foxes have a little breathing-time--a little space in which to steal and eat three or four more fat capons and stubble-fed geese--before that evil day when their dappled foes shall tear their poor little red bodies limb from limb.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading With January the frost comes hurrying back; hanging great icicles on the house-eaves, throwing men out of work, and pressing with its iron finger the thin faint life out of half-a-dozen old almsmen and almswomen.
having an (over)abundance of flesh
From this reading The foxes have a little breathing-time--a little space in which to steal and eat three or four more fat capons and stubble-fed geese--before that evil day when their dappled foes shall tear their poor little red bodies limb from limb.
feel or handle with the fingers
From this reading With January the frost comes hurrying back; hanging great icicles on the house-eaves, throwing men out of work, and pressing with its iron finger the thin faint life out of half-a-dozen old almsmen and almswomen.
foesnounUS /foʊz/
plural of “foe” — an armed adversary (especially a member of an opposing military force)
From this reading The foxes have a little breathing-time--a little space in which to steal and eat three or four more fat capons and stubble-fed geese--before that evil day when their dappled foes shall tear their poor little red bodies limb from limb.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading The foxes have a little breathing-time--a little space in which to steal and eat three or four more fat capons and stubble-fed geese--before that evil day when their dappled foes shall tear their poor little red bodies limb from limb.
foxesnounUS /ˈfɑːksəz/
plural of “fox” — alert carnivorous mammal with pointed muzzle and ears and a bushy tail; most are predators that do not hunt in packs
From this reading The foxes have a little breathing-time--a little space in which to steal and eat three or four more fat capons and stubble-fed geese--before that evil day when their dappled foes shall tear their poor little red bodies limb from limb.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The foxes have a little breathing-time--a little space in which to steal and eat three or four more fat capons and stubble-fed geese--before that evil day when their dappled foes shall tear their poor little red bodies limb from limb.
frostnounUS /frɔːst/
ice crystals forming a white deposit (especially on objects outside)
From this reading With January the frost comes hurrying back; hanging great icicles on the house-eaves, throwing men out of work, and pressing with its iron finger the thin faint life out of half-a-dozen old almsmen and almswomen.
geesenounUS /ɡiːs/
plural of “goose” — web-footed long-necked typically gregarious migratory aquatic birds usually larger and less aquatic than ducks
From this reading The foxes have a little breathing-time--a little space in which to steal and eat three or four more fat capons and stubble-fed geese--before that evil day when their dappled foes shall tear their poor little red bodies limb from limb.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading With January the frost comes hurrying back; hanging great icicles on the house-eaves, throwing men out of work, and pressing with its iron finger the thin faint life out of half-a-dozen old almsmen and almswomen.
half-a-dozen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With January the frost comes hurrying back; hanging great icicles on the house-eaves, throwing men out of work, and pressing with its iron finger the thin faint life out of half-a-dozen old almsmen and almswomen.
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading With January the frost comes hurrying back; hanging great icicles on the house-eaves, throwing men out of work, and pressing with its iron finger the thin faint life out of half-a-dozen old almsmen and almswomen.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The foxes have a little breathing-time--a little space in which to steal and eat three or four more fat capons and stubble-fed geese--before that evil day when their dappled foes shall tear their poor little red bodies limb from limb.
house-eaves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With January the frost comes hurrying back; hanging great icicles on the house-eaves, throwing men out of work, and pressing with its iron finger the thin faint life out of half-a-dozen old almsmen and almswomen.
hurryingadjectiveUS /ˈhɜːriɪŋ/
moving with great haste
From this reading With January the frost comes hurrying back; hanging great icicles on the house-eaves, throwing men out of work, and pressing with its iron finger the thin faint life out of half-a-dozen old almsmen and almswomen.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading This ancient distich proves true in the year I am speaking of.
iciclesnounUS /ˈaɪsɪkəlz/
plural of “icicle” — ice resembling a pendent spear, formed by the freezing of dripping water
From this reading With January the frost comes hurrying back; hanging great icicles on the house-eaves, throwing men out of work, and pressing with its iron finger the thin faint life out of half-a-dozen old almsmen and almswomen.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading This ancient distich proves true in the year I am speaking of.
a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
From this reading With January the frost comes hurrying back; hanging great icicles on the house-eaves, throwing men out of work, and pressing with its iron finger the thin faint life out of half-a-dozen old almsmen and almswomen.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading With January the frost comes hurrying back; hanging great icicles on the house-eaves, throwing men out of work, and pressing with its iron finger the thin faint life out of half-a-dozen old almsmen and almswomen.
JanuarynounUS /ˈdʒænjuːeri/
the first month of the year; begins 10 days after the winter solstice
From this reading With January the frost comes hurrying back; hanging great icicles on the house-eaves, throwing men out of work, and pressing with its iron finger the thin faint life out of half-a-dozen old almsmen and almswomen.
immediately past
From this reading Not later than Christmas does the moist mild weather last.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Not later than Christmas does the moist mild weather last.
lengthenverbUS /ˈleŋθən/
make longer
From this reading "When the days begin to lengthen, Then the cold begins to strengthen."
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading With January the frost comes hurrying back; hanging great icicles on the house-eaves, throwing men out of work, and pressing with its iron finger the thin faint life out of half-a-dozen old almsmen and almswomen.
limbnounUS /lɪm/
one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper
From this reading The foxes have a little breathing-time--a little space in which to steal and eat three or four more fat capons and stubble-fed geese--before that evil day when their dappled foes shall tear their poor little red bodies limb from limb.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The foxes have a little breathing-time--a little space in which to steal and eat three or four more fat capons and stubble-fed geese--before that evil day when their dappled foes shall tear their poor little red bodies limb from limb.
the force of workers available
From this reading With January the frost comes hurrying back; hanging great icicles on the house-eaves, throwing men out of work, and pressing with its iron finger the thin faint life out of half-a-dozen old almsmen and almswomen.
mildadjectiveUS /maɪld/
moderate in type or degree or effect or force; far from extreme
From this reading Not later than Christmas does the moist mild weather last.
moistadjectiveUS /mɔɪst/
slightly wet
From this reading Not later than Christmas does the moist mild weather last.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The foxes have a little breathing-time--a little space in which to steal and eat three or four more fat capons and stubble-fed geese--before that evil day when their dappled foes shall tear their poor little red bodies limb from limb.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not later than Christmas does the moist mild weather last.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading This ancient distich proves true in the year I am speaking of.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading With January the frost comes hurrying back; hanging great icicles on the house-eaves, throwing men out of work, and pressing with its iron finger the thin faint life out of half-a-dozen old almsmen and almswomen.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading With January the frost comes hurrying back; hanging great icicles on the house-eaves, throwing men out of work, and pressing with its iron finger the thin faint life out of half-a-dozen old almsmen and almswomen.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The foxes have a little breathing-time--a little space in which to steal and eat three or four more fat capons and stubble-fed geese--before that evil day when their dappled foes shall tear their poor little red bodies limb from limb.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading With January the frost comes hurrying back; hanging great icicles on the house-eaves, throwing men out of work, and pressing with its iron finger the thin faint life out of half-a-dozen old almsmen and almswomen.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading The foxes have a little breathing-time--a little space in which to steal and eat three or four more fat capons and stubble-fed geese--before that evil day when their dappled foes shall tear their poor little red bodies limb from limb.
pressingnounUS /ˈpresɪŋ/
the act of pressing; the exertion of pressure
From this reading With January the frost comes hurrying back; hanging great icicles on the house-eaves, throwing men out of work, and pressing with its iron finger the thin faint life out of half-a-dozen old almsmen and almswomen.
provesverbUS /pruːvz/
third-person singular of “prove” — be shown or be found to be
From this reading This ancient distich proves true in the year I am speaking of.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading The foxes have a little breathing-time--a little space in which to steal and eat three or four more fat capons and stubble-fed geese--before that evil day when their dappled foes shall tear their poor little red bodies limb from limb.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading The foxes have a little breathing-time--a little space in which to steal and eat three or four more fat capons and stubble-fed geese--before that evil day when their dappled foes shall tear their poor little red bodies limb from limb.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading The foxes have a little breathing-time--a little space in which to steal and eat three or four more fat capons and stubble-fed geese--before that evil day when their dappled foes shall tear their poor little red bodies limb from limb.
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading This ancient distich proves true in the year I am speaking of.
stealverbUS /stiːl/
take without the owner's consent
From this reading The foxes have a little breathing-time--a little space in which to steal and eat three or four more fat capons and stubble-fed geese--before that evil day when their dappled foes shall tear their poor little red bodies limb from limb.
strengthenverbUS /ˈstreŋθən/
make strong or stronger
From this reading "When the days begin to lengthen, Then the cold begins to strengthen."
stubble-fed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The foxes have a little breathing-time--a little space in which to steal and eat three or four more fat capons and stubble-fed geese--before that evil day when their dappled foes shall tear their poor little red bodies limb from limb.
separate or cause to separate abruptly
From this reading The foxes have a little breathing-time--a little space in which to steal and eat three or four more fat capons and stubble-fed geese--before that evil day when their dappled foes shall tear their poor little red bodies limb from limb.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Not later than Christmas does the moist mild weather last.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The foxes have a little breathing-time--a little space in which to steal and eat three or four more fat capons and stubble-fed geese--before that evil day when their dappled foes shall tear their poor little red bodies limb from limb.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "When the days begin to lengthen, Then the cold begins to strengthen."
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The foxes have a little breathing-time--a little space in which to steal and eat three or four more fat capons and stubble-fed geese--before that evil day when their dappled foes shall tear their poor little red bodies limb from limb.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading "When the days begin to lengthen, Then the cold begins to strengthen."
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading With January the frost comes hurrying back; hanging great icicles on the house-eaves, throwing men out of work, and pressing with its iron finger the thin faint life out of half-a-dozen old almsmen and almswomen.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This ancient distich proves true in the year I am speaking of.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The foxes have a little breathing-time--a little space in which to steal and eat three or four more fat capons and stubble-fed geese--before that evil day when their dappled foes shall tear their poor little red bodies limb from limb.
-ing form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading With January the frost comes hurrying back; hanging great icicles on the house-eaves, throwing men out of work, and pressing with its iron finger the thin faint life out of half-a-dozen old almsmen and almswomen.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "When the days begin to lengthen, Then the cold begins to strengthen."
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading This ancient distich proves true in the year I am speaking of.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading Not later than Christmas does the moist mild weather last.
at the time that
From this reading "When the days begin to lengthen, Then the cold begins to strengthen."
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The foxes have a little breathing-time--a little space in which to steal and eat three or four more fat capons and stubble-fed geese--before that evil day when their dappled foes shall tear their poor little red bodies limb from limb.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With January the frost comes hurrying back; hanging great icicles on the house-eaves, throwing men out of work, and pressing with its iron finger the thin faint life out of half-a-dozen old almsmen and almswomen.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading With January the frost comes hurrying back; hanging great icicles on the house-eaves, throwing men out of work, and pressing with its iron finger the thin faint life out of half-a-dozen old almsmen and almswomen.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading This ancient distich proves true in the year I am speaking of.
