used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Francis stayed with the rector and met the caretaker of the school and church, the rector's and the people's wardens, and a few earnest men who examined him with hard, curious eyes.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading They asked after his family and how many children he had, and one of them whistled when he said he had eight.
Ah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They asked how he liked the church, and he told them very well, and the rector's warden, Mr. Parsons, said: "Ah! you should see it at 'Arvest Festival."
surrounded by; in the company of
From this reading Francis wanted to like them, but he felt a stranger amongst them and could not be at his ease.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Francis stayed with the rector and met the caretaker of the school and church, the rector's and the people's wardens, and a few earnest men who examined him with hard, curious eyes.
Arvest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They asked how he liked the church, and he told them very well, and the rector's warden, Mr. Parsons, said: "Ah! you should see it at 'Arvest Festival."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Their speech sounded uncouth and harsh after the soft drawl of his Cornish peasants, and it was this that Francis felt as the strongest barrier between them.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading They asked after his family and how many children he had, and one of them whistled when he said he had eight.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Francis wanted to like them, but he felt a stranger amongst them and could not be at his ease.
barriernounUS /ˈbæriər/
a structure or object that impedes free movement
From this reading Their speech sounded uncouth and harsh after the soft drawl of his Cornish peasants, and it was this that Francis felt as the strongest barrier between them.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Francis wanted to like them, but he felt a stranger amongst them and could not be at his ease.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Their speech sounded uncouth and harsh after the soft drawl of his Cornish peasants, and it was this that Francis felt as the strongest barrier between them.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Francis wanted to like them, but he felt a stranger amongst them and could not be at his ease.
caretakernounUS /ˈkerteɪkər/
a custodian who is hired to take care of something (property or a person)
From this reading Francis stayed with the rector and met the caretaker of the school and church, the rector's and the people's wardens, and a few earnest men who examined him with hard, curious eyes.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading They asked after his family and how many children he had, and one of them whistled when he said he had eight.
one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship
From this reading Francis stayed with the rector and met the caretaker of the school and church, the rector's and the people's wardens, and a few earnest men who examined him with hard, curious eyes.
CornishnounUS /ˈkɔːrnɪʃ/
a Celtic language spoken in Cornwall
From this reading Their speech sounded uncouth and harsh after the soft drawl of his Cornish peasants, and it was this that Francis felt as the strongest barrier between them.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Francis wanted to like them, but he felt a stranger amongst them and could not be at his ease.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading Francis stayed with the rector and met the caretaker of the school and church, the rector's and the people's wardens, and a few earnest men who examined him with hard, curious eyes.
drawlnounUS /drɔːl/
a slow speech pattern with prolonged vowels
From this reading Their speech sounded uncouth and harsh after the soft drawl of his Cornish peasants, and it was this that Francis felt as the strongest barrier between them.
characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions
From this reading Francis stayed with the rector and met the caretaker of the school and church, the rector's and the people's wardens, and a few earnest men who examined him with hard, curious eyes.
move gently or carefully
From this reading Francis wanted to like them, but he felt a stranger amongst them and could not be at his ease.
being one more than seven
From this reading They asked after his family and how many children he had, and one of them whistled when he said he had eight.
past form of “examine” — consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
From this reading Francis stayed with the rector and met the caretaker of the school and church, the rector's and the people's wardens, and a few earnest men who examined him with hard, curious eyes.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Francis stayed with the rector and met the caretaker of the school and church, the rector's and the people's wardens, and a few earnest men who examined him with hard, curious eyes.
a social unit living together
From this reading They asked after his family and how many children he had, and one of them whistled when he said he had eight.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Francis wanted to like them, but he felt a stranger amongst them and could not be at his ease.
FestivalnounUS /ˈfestəvəl/
a day or period of time set aside for feasting and celebration
From this reading They asked how he liked the church, and he told them very well, and the rector's warden, Mr. Parsons, said: "Ah! you should see it at 'Arvest Festival."
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Francis stayed with the rector and met the caretaker of the school and church, the rector's and the people's wardens, and a few earnest men who examined him with hard, curious eyes.
Francis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Francis stayed with the rector and met the caretaker of the school and church, the rector's and the people's wardens, and a few earnest men who examined him with hard, curious eyes.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They asked after his family and how many children he had, and one of them whistled when he said he had eight.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Francis stayed with the rector and met the caretaker of the school and church, the rector's and the people's wardens, and a few earnest men who examined him with hard, curious eyes.
harshadjectiveUS /hɑːrʃ/
unpleasantly stern
From this reading Their speech sounded uncouth and harsh after the soft drawl of his Cornish peasants, and it was this that Francis felt as the strongest barrier between them.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They asked after his family and how many children he had, and one of them whistled when he said he had eight.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Francis stayed with the rector and met the caretaker of the school and church, the rector's and the people's wardens, and a few earnest men who examined him with hard, curious eyes.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading They asked after his family and how many children he had, and one of them whistled when he said he had eight.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They asked after his family and how many children he had, and one of them whistled when he said he had eight.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading They asked how he liked the church, and he told them very well, and the rector's warden, Mr. Parsons, said: "Ah! you should see it at 'Arvest Festival."
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Francis wanted to like them, but he felt a stranger amongst them and could not be at his ease.
found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form
From this reading They asked how he liked the church, and he told them very well, and the rector's warden, Mr. Parsons, said: "Ah! you should see it at 'Arvest Festival."
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading They asked after his family and how many children he had, and one of them whistled when he said he had eight.
the force of workers available
From this reading Francis stayed with the rector and met the caretaker of the school and church, the rector's and the people's wardens, and a few earnest men who examined him with hard, curious eyes.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading Francis stayed with the rector and met the caretaker of the school and church, the rector's and the people's wardens, and a few earnest men who examined him with hard, curious eyes.
a form of address for a man
From this reading They asked how he liked the church, and he told them very well, and the rector's warden, Mr. Parsons, said: "Ah! you should see it at 'Arvest Festival."
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Francis wanted to like them, but he felt a stranger amongst them and could not be at his ease.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Francis stayed with the rector and met the caretaker of the school and church, the rector's and the people's wardens, and a few earnest men who examined him with hard, curious eyes.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading They asked after his family and how many children he had, and one of them whistled when he said he had eight.
ParsonsnounUS /ˈpɑːrsənz/
United States sociologist (1902-1979)
From this reading They asked how he liked the church, and he told them very well, and the rector's warden, Mr. Parsons, said: "Ah! you should see it at 'Arvest Festival."
peasantsnounUS /ˈpezənts/
plural of “peasant” — a country person
From this reading Their speech sounded uncouth and harsh after the soft drawl of his Cornish peasants, and it was this that Francis felt as the strongest barrier between them.
people'snounUS /ˈpiːpəlz/
possessive form of “people” — (plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Francis stayed with the rector and met the caretaker of the school and church, the rector's and the people's wardens, and a few earnest men who examined him with hard, curious eyes.
rectornounUS /ˈrektər/
a person authorized to conduct religious worship
From this reading Francis stayed with the rector and met the caretaker of the school and church, the rector's and the people's wardens, and a few earnest men who examined him with hard, curious eyes.
rector's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Francis stayed with the rector and met the caretaker of the school and church, the rector's and the people's wardens, and a few earnest men who examined him with hard, curious eyes.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading They asked after his family and how many children he had, and one of them whistled when he said he had eight.
an educational institution
From this reading Francis stayed with the rector and met the caretaker of the school and church, the rector's and the people's wardens, and a few earnest men who examined him with hard, curious eyes.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading They asked how he liked the church, and he told them very well, and the rector's warden, Mr. Parsons, said: "Ah! you should see it at 'Arvest Festival."
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading They asked how he liked the church, and he told them very well, and the rector's warden, Mr. Parsons, said: "Ah! you should see it at 'Arvest Festival."
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading Their speech sounded uncouth and harsh after the soft drawl of his Cornish peasants, and it was this that Francis felt as the strongest barrier between them.
past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way
From this reading Their speech sounded uncouth and harsh after the soft drawl of his Cornish peasants, and it was this that Francis felt as the strongest barrier between them.
the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience
From this reading Their speech sounded uncouth and harsh after the soft drawl of his Cornish peasants, and it was this that Francis felt as the strongest barrier between them.
past form of “stay” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Francis stayed with the rector and met the caretaker of the school and church, the rector's and the people's wardens, and a few earnest men who examined him with hard, curious eyes.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading Francis wanted to like them, but he felt a stranger amongst them and could not be at his ease.
strongestadjectiveUS /ˈstrɔːŋɡəst/
superlative of “strong” — having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading Their speech sounded uncouth and harsh after the soft drawl of his Cornish peasants, and it was this that Francis felt as the strongest barrier between them.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Their speech sounded uncouth and harsh after the soft drawl of his Cornish peasants, and it was this that Francis felt as the strongest barrier between them.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Francis stayed with the rector and met the caretaker of the school and church, the rector's and the people's wardens, and a few earnest men who examined him with hard, curious eyes.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Their speech sounded uncouth and harsh after the soft drawl of his Cornish peasants, and it was this that Francis felt as the strongest barrier between them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They asked after his family and how many children he had, and one of them whistled when he said he had eight.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They asked after his family and how many children he had, and one of them whistled when he said he had eight.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Their speech sounded uncouth and harsh after the soft drawl of his Cornish peasants, and it was this that Francis felt as the strongest barrier between them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Francis wanted to like them, but he felt a stranger amongst them and could not be at his ease.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading They asked how he liked the church, and he told them very well, and the rector's warden, Mr. Parsons, said: "Ah! you should see it at 'Arvest Festival."
uncouthadjectiveUS /ˈʌnˈkuːθ/
lacking refinement or cultivation or taste
From this reading Their speech sounded uncouth and harsh after the soft drawl of his Cornish peasants, and it was this that Francis felt as the strongest barrier between them.
precisely as stated
From this reading They asked how he liked the church, and he told them very well, and the rector's warden, Mr. Parsons, said: "Ah! you should see it at 'Arvest Festival."
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading Francis wanted to like them, but he felt a stranger amongst them and could not be at his ease.
wardennounUS /ˈwɔːr.dən/
The chief official or governor in charge of a prison institution.
From this reading They asked how he liked the church, and he told them very well, and the rector's warden, Mr. Parsons, said: "Ah! you should see it at 'Arvest Festival."
wardensnounUS /ˈwɔːrdənz/
plural of “warden” — the chief official in charge of a prison
From this reading Francis stayed with the rector and met the caretaker of the school and church, the rector's and the people's wardens, and a few earnest men who examined him with hard, curious eyes.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Their speech sounded uncouth and harsh after the soft drawl of his Cornish peasants, and it was this that Francis felt as the strongest barrier between them.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading They asked how he liked the church, and he told them very well, and the rector's warden, Mr. Parsons, said: "Ah! you should see it at 'Arvest Festival."
at the time that
From this reading They asked after his family and how many children he had, and one of them whistled when he said he had eight.
whistledverbUS /ˈwɪsəld/
past form of “whistle” — make whistling sounds
From this reading They asked after his family and how many children he had, and one of them whistled when he said he had eight.
which person or people
From this reading Francis stayed with the rector and met the caretaker of the school and church, the rector's and the people's wardens, and a few earnest men who examined him with hard, curious eyes.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Francis stayed with the rector and met the caretaker of the school and church, the rector's and the people's wardens, and a few earnest men who examined him with hard, curious eyes.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading They asked how he liked the church, and he told them very well, and the rector's warden, Mr. Parsons, said: "Ah! you should see it at 'Arvest Festival."
