used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She got along easily as far as the thatched roof of a big barn.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Freda crossed the courtyard to one of the ruined corner-towers, and finding the staircase still practicable, continued her wanderings, with cautious steps, along the top of the broken castle-wall.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Freda crossed the courtyard to one of the ruined corner-towers, and finding the staircase still practicable, continued her wanderings, with cautious steps, along the top of the broken castle-wall.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She got along easily as far as the thatched roof of a big barn.
in a state of sleep
From this reading Freda therefore could do nothing but look down into the hazy light of the barn below; and presently, nursed into a comfortable warmth by the hay, she fell asleep.
barnnounUS /bɑːrn/
an outlying farm building for storing grain or animal feed and housing farm animals
From this reading She got along easily as far as the thatched roof of a big barn.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Freda therefore could do nothing but look down into the hazy light of the barn below; and presently, nursed into a comfortable warmth by the hay, she fell asleep.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She got along easily as far as the thatched roof of a big barn.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading Freda crossed the courtyard to one of the ruined corner-towers, and finding the staircase still practicable, continued her wanderings, with cautious steps, along the top of the broken castle-wall.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But here her crutch slipped on the snow and went crashing through a tarpaulin-covered hole in the thatch, carrying its owner with it, into a loft half-filled with hay.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading There was no way of escape until somebody came by to rescue her.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading There was no way of escape until somebody came by to rescue her.
-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading But here her crutch slipped on the snow and went crashing through a tarpaulin-covered hole in the thatch, carrying its owner with it, into a loft half-filled with hay.
castle-wall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Freda crossed the courtyard to one of the ruined corner-towers, and finding the staircase still practicable, continued her wanderings, with cautious steps, along the top of the broken castle-wall.
cautiousadjectiveUS /ˈkɔːʃəs/
showing careful forethought
From this reading Freda crossed the courtyard to one of the ruined corner-towers, and finding the staircase still practicable, continued her wanderings, with cautious steps, along the top of the broken castle-wall.
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading Freda therefore could do nothing but look down into the hazy light of the barn below; and presently, nursed into a comfortable warmth by the hay, she fell asleep.
without stop or interruption
From this reading Freda crossed the courtyard to one of the ruined corner-towers, and finding the staircase still practicable, continued her wanderings, with cautious steps, along the top of the broken castle-wall.
corner-towers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Freda crossed the courtyard to one of the ruined corner-towers, and finding the staircase still practicable, continued her wanderings, with cautious steps, along the top of the broken castle-wall.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Freda therefore could do nothing but look down into the hazy light of the barn below; and presently, nursed into a comfortable warmth by the hay, she fell asleep.
courtyardnounUS /ˈkɔːrtjɑːrd/
an open area surrounded by the walls of a building
From this reading Freda crossed the courtyard to one of the ruined corner-towers, and finding the staircase still practicable, continued her wanderings, with cautious steps, along the top of the broken castle-wall.
crashingadjectiveUS /ˈkræʃɪŋ/
informal intensifiers
From this reading But here her crutch slipped on the snow and went crashing through a tarpaulin-covered hole in the thatch, carrying its owner with it, into a loft half-filled with hay.
placed crosswise
From this reading Freda crossed the courtyard to one of the ruined corner-towers, and finding the staircase still practicable, continued her wanderings, with cautious steps, along the top of the broken castle-wall.
crutchnounUS /krʌtʃ/
a wooden or metal staff that fits under the armpit and reaches to the ground; used by disabled person while walking
From this reading But here her crutch slipped on the snow and went crashing through a tarpaulin-covered hole in the thatch, carrying its owner with it, into a loft half-filled with hay.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Freda therefore could do nothing but look down into the hazy light of the barn below; and presently, nursed into a comfortable warmth by the hay, she fell asleep.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Freda therefore could do nothing but look down into the hazy light of the barn below; and presently, nursed into a comfortable warmth by the hay, she fell asleep.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading She got along easily as far as the thatched roof of a big barn.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading There was no way of escape until somebody came by to rescue her.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading She got along easily as far as the thatched roof of a big barn.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading Freda therefore could do nothing but look down into the hazy light of the barn below; and presently, nursed into a comfortable warmth by the hay, she fell asleep.
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading Freda crossed the courtyard to one of the ruined corner-towers, and finding the staircase still practicable, continued her wanderings, with cautious steps, along the top of the broken castle-wall.
Freda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Freda crossed the courtyard to one of the ruined corner-towers, and finding the staircase still practicable, continued her wanderings, with cautious steps, along the top of the broken castle-wall.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading She got along easily as far as the thatched roof of a big barn.
half-filled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But here her crutch slipped on the snow and went crashing through a tarpaulin-covered hole in the thatch, carrying its owner with it, into a loft half-filled with hay.
haynounUS /heɪ/
grass mowed and cured for use as fodder
From this reading But here her crutch slipped on the snow and went crashing through a tarpaulin-covered hole in the thatch, carrying its owner with it, into a loft half-filled with hay.
hazyadjectiveUS /ˈheɪzi/
filled or abounding with fog or mist
From this reading Freda therefore could do nothing but look down into the hazy light of the barn below; and presently, nursed into a comfortable warmth by the hay, she fell asleep.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Freda crossed the courtyard to one of the ruined corner-towers, and finding the staircase still practicable, continued her wanderings, with cautious steps, along the top of the broken castle-wall.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading But here her crutch slipped on the snow and went crashing through a tarpaulin-covered hole in the thatch, carrying its owner with it, into a loft half-filled with hay.
an opening into or through something
From this reading But here her crutch slipped on the snow and went crashing through a tarpaulin-covered hole in the thatch, carrying its owner with it, into a loft half-filled with hay.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But here her crutch slipped on the snow and went crashing through a tarpaulin-covered hole in the thatch, carrying its owner with it, into a loft half-filled with hay.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading But here her crutch slipped on the snow and went crashing through a tarpaulin-covered hole in the thatch, carrying its owner with it, into a loft half-filled with hay.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But here her crutch slipped on the snow and went crashing through a tarpaulin-covered hole in the thatch, carrying its owner with it, into a loft half-filled with hay.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading But here her crutch slipped on the snow and went crashing through a tarpaulin-covered hole in the thatch, carrying its owner with it, into a loft half-filled with hay.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Freda therefore could do nothing but look down into the hazy light of the barn below; and presently, nursed into a comfortable warmth by the hay, she fell asleep.
loftnounUS /lɔːft/
floor consisting of a large unpartitioned space over a factory or warehouse or other commercial space
From this reading But here her crutch slipped on the snow and went crashing through a tarpaulin-covered hole in the thatch, carrying its owner with it, into a loft half-filled with hay.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Freda therefore could do nothing but look down into the hazy light of the barn below; and presently, nursed into a comfortable warmth by the hay, she fell asleep.
not any; not one
From this reading There was no way of escape until somebody came by to rescue her.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Freda therefore could do nothing but look down into the hazy light of the barn below; and presently, nursed into a comfortable warmth by the hay, she fell asleep.
nursedadjectiveUS /nɜːrst/
(of an infant) breast-fed
From this reading Freda therefore could do nothing but look down into the hazy light of the barn below; and presently, nursed into a comfortable warmth by the hay, she fell asleep.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Freda crossed the courtyard to one of the ruined corner-towers, and finding the staircase still practicable, continued her wanderings, with cautious steps, along the top of the broken castle-wall.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But here her crutch slipped on the snow and went crashing through a tarpaulin-covered hole in the thatch, carrying its owner with it, into a loft half-filled with hay.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Freda crossed the courtyard to one of the ruined corner-towers, and finding the staircase still practicable, continued her wanderings, with cautious steps, along the top of the broken castle-wall.
(law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business
From this reading But here her crutch slipped on the snow and went crashing through a tarpaulin-covered hole in the thatch, carrying its owner with it, into a loft half-filled with hay.
practicableadjectiveUS /ˈpræktəkəbəl/
usable for a specific purpose
From this reading Freda crossed the courtyard to one of the ruined corner-towers, and finding the staircase still practicable, continued her wanderings, with cautious steps, along the top of the broken castle-wall.
in the near future
From this reading Freda therefore could do nothing but look down into the hazy light of the barn below; and presently, nursed into a comfortable warmth by the hay, she fell asleep.
free from harm or evil
From this reading There was no way of escape until somebody came by to rescue her.
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading She got along easily as far as the thatched roof of a big barn.
destroyed physically or morally
From this reading Freda crossed the courtyard to one of the ruined corner-towers, and finding the staircase still practicable, continued her wanderings, with cautious steps, along the top of the broken castle-wall.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She got along easily as far as the thatched roof of a big barn.
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading But here her crutch slipped on the snow and went crashing through a tarpaulin-covered hole in the thatch, carrying its owner with it, into a loft half-filled with hay.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading But here her crutch slipped on the snow and went crashing through a tarpaulin-covered hole in the thatch, carrying its owner with it, into a loft half-filled with hay.
a person, without saying who
From this reading There was no way of escape until somebody came by to rescue her.
staircasenounUS /ˈsterkeɪs/
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading Freda crossed the courtyard to one of the ruined corner-towers, and finding the staircase still practicable, continued her wanderings, with cautious steps, along the top of the broken castle-wall.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Freda crossed the courtyard to one of the ruined corner-towers, and finding the staircase still practicable, continued her wanderings, with cautious steps, along the top of the broken castle-wall.
not in physical motion
From this reading Freda crossed the courtyard to one of the ruined corner-towers, and finding the staircase still practicable, continued her wanderings, with cautious steps, along the top of the broken castle-wall.
tarpaulin-covered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But here her crutch slipped on the snow and went crashing through a tarpaulin-covered hole in the thatch, carrying its owner with it, into a loft half-filled with hay.
thatchnounUS /θætʃ/
hair resembling thatched roofing material
From this reading But here her crutch slipped on the snow and went crashing through a tarpaulin-covered hole in the thatch, carrying its owner with it, into a loft half-filled with hay.
thatchedverbUS /θætʃt/
past form of “thatch” — cover with thatch
From this reading She got along easily as far as the thatched roof of a big barn.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Freda crossed the courtyard to one of the ruined corner-towers, and finding the staircase still practicable, continued her wanderings, with cautious steps, along the top of the broken castle-wall.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was no way of escape until somebody came by to rescue her.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading Freda therefore could do nothing but look down into the hazy light of the barn below; and presently, nursed into a comfortable warmth by the hay, she fell asleep.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading But here her crutch slipped on the snow and went crashing through a tarpaulin-covered hole in the thatch, carrying its owner with it, into a loft half-filled with hay.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Freda crossed the courtyard to one of the ruined corner-towers, and finding the staircase still practicable, continued her wanderings, with cautious steps, along the top of the broken castle-wall.
the upper part of anything
From this reading Freda crossed the courtyard to one of the ruined corner-towers, and finding the staircase still practicable, continued her wanderings, with cautious steps, along the top of the broken castle-wall.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading There was no way of escape until somebody came by to rescue her.
wanderingsnounUS /ˈwɑːndərɪŋz/
plural of “wandering” — travelling about without any clear destination
From this reading Freda crossed the courtyard to one of the ruined corner-towers, and finding the staircase still practicable, continued her wanderings, with cautious steps, along the top of the broken castle-wall.
warmthnounUS /wɔːrmθ/
the sensation caused by heat energy
From this reading Freda therefore could do nothing but look down into the hazy light of the barn below; and presently, nursed into a comfortable warmth by the hay, she fell asleep.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was no way of escape until somebody came by to rescue her.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading There was no way of escape until somebody came by to rescue her.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading But here her crutch slipped on the snow and went crashing through a tarpaulin-covered hole in the thatch, carrying its owner with it, into a loft half-filled with hay.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Freda crossed the courtyard to one of the ruined corner-towers, and finding the staircase still practicable, continued her wanderings, with cautious steps, along the top of the broken castle-wall.
