used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The two were on the outskirts of a great bog, to the south of which extensive woods filled the horizon.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading They were not alone.
in addition
From this reading The lapwings screaming overhead, the redshanks wailing as they flew right away, knew also that their eggs were in danger.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A little distance away two gipsies, a man and a boy, were following the edge of the bog, striding from tussock to tussock and probing with their sticks for bad places which might let them in.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The lapwings screaming overhead, the redshanks wailing as they flew right away, knew also that their eggs were in danger.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading A little distance away two gipsies, a man and a boy, were following the edge of the bog, striding from tussock to tussock and probing with their sticks for bad places which might let them in.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading A little distance away two gipsies, a man and a boy, were following the edge of the bog, striding from tussock to tussock and probing with their sticks for bad places which might let them in.
bogverbUS /bɑːɡ/
cause to slow down or get stuck
From this reading The two were on the outskirts of a great bog, to the south of which extensive woods filled the horizon.
a youthful male person
From this reading A little distance away two gipsies, a man and a boy, were following the edge of the bog, striding from tussock to tussock and probing with their sticks for bad places which might let them in.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading The lapwings screaming overhead, the redshanks wailing as they flew right away, knew also that their eggs were in danger.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading There was no difficulty in divining what _they_ wanted.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading A little distance away two gipsies, a man and a boy, were following the edge of the bog, striding from tussock to tussock and probing with their sticks for bad places which might let them in.
diviningverbUS /dəˈvaɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “divine” — perceive intuitively or through some inexplicable perceptive powers
From this reading There was no difficulty in divining what _they_ wanted.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading A little distance away two gipsies, a man and a boy, were following the edge of the bog, striding from tussock to tussock and probing with their sticks for bad places which might let them in.
oval reproductive body of a fowl (especially a hen) used as food
From this reading The lapwings screaming overhead, the redshanks wailing as they flew right away, knew also that their eggs were in danger.
extensiveadjectiveUS /ɪkˈstensɪv/
large in spatial extent or range or scope or quantity
From this reading The two were on the outskirts of a great bog, to the south of which extensive woods filled the horizon.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading The two were on the outskirts of a great bog, to the south of which extensive woods filled the horizon.
inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading The lapwings screaming overhead, the redshanks wailing as they flew right away, knew also that their eggs were in danger.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading A little distance away two gipsies, a man and a boy, were following the edge of the bog, striding from tussock to tussock and probing with their sticks for bad places which might let them in.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A little distance away two gipsies, a man and a boy, were following the edge of the bog, striding from tussock to tussock and probing with their sticks for bad places which might let them in.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A little distance away two gipsies, a man and a boy, were following the edge of the bog, striding from tussock to tussock and probing with their sticks for bad places which might let them in.
gipsies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A little distance away two gipsies, a man and a boy, were following the edge of the bog, striding from tussock to tussock and probing with their sticks for bad places which might let them in.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The two were on the outskirts of a great bog, to the south of which extensive woods filled the horizon.
the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet
From this reading The two were on the outskirts of a great bog, to the south of which extensive woods filled the horizon.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A little distance away two gipsies, a man and a boy, were following the edge of the bog, striding from tussock to tussock and probing with their sticks for bad places which might let them in.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading The lapwings screaming overhead, the redshanks wailing as they flew right away, knew also that their eggs were in danger.
lapwings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The lapwings screaming overhead, the redshanks wailing as they flew right away, knew also that their eggs were in danger.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading A little distance away two gipsies, a man and a boy, were following the edge of the bog, striding from tussock to tussock and probing with their sticks for bad places which might let them in.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A little distance away two gipsies, a man and a boy, were following the edge of the bog, striding from tussock to tussock and probing with their sticks for bad places which might let them in.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A little distance away two gipsies, a man and a boy, were following the edge of the bog, striding from tussock to tussock and probing with their sticks for bad places which might let them in.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading A little distance away two gipsies, a man and a boy, were following the edge of the bog, striding from tussock to tussock and probing with their sticks for bad places which might let them in.
not any; not one
From this reading There was no difficulty in divining what _they_ wanted.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They were not alone.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The two were on the outskirts of a great bog, to the south of which extensive woods filled the horizon.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The two were on the outskirts of a great bog, to the south of which extensive woods filled the horizon.
outskirtsnounUS /ˈaʊtskɜːrts/
outlying areas (as of a city or town)
From this reading The two were on the outskirts of a great bog, to the south of which extensive woods filled the horizon.
overheadadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhed/
above your head; in the sky
From this reading The lapwings screaming overhead, the redshanks wailing as they flew right away, knew also that their eggs were in danger.
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading A little distance away two gipsies, a man and a boy, were following the edge of the bog, striding from tussock to tussock and probing with their sticks for bad places which might let them in.
probingadjectiveUS /ˈproʊbɪŋ/
diligent and thorough in inquiry or investigation
From this reading A little distance away two gipsies, a man and a boy, were following the edge of the bog, striding from tussock to tussock and probing with their sticks for bad places which might let them in.
redshanks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The lapwings screaming overhead, the redshanks wailing as they flew right away, knew also that their eggs were in danger.
precisely, exactly
From this reading The lapwings screaming overhead, the redshanks wailing as they flew right away, knew also that their eggs were in danger.
screamingadjectiveUS /ˈskriːmɪŋ/
so extremely intense as to evoke screams
From this reading The lapwings screaming overhead, the redshanks wailing as they flew right away, knew also that their eggs were in danger.
the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading The two were on the outskirts of a great bog, to the south of which extensive woods filled the horizon.
sticksnounUS /stɪks/
plural of “stick” — an implement consisting of a length of wood
From this reading A little distance away two gipsies, a man and a boy, were following the edge of the bog, striding from tussock to tussock and probing with their sticks for bad places which might let them in.
stridingverbUS /ˈstraɪdɪŋ/
-ing form of “stride” — walk with long steps
From this reading A little distance away two gipsies, a man and a boy, were following the edge of the bog, striding from tussock to tussock and probing with their sticks for bad places which might let them in.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The lapwings screaming overhead, the redshanks wailing as they flew right away, knew also that their eggs were in danger.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The two were on the outskirts of a great bog, to the south of which extensive woods filled the horizon.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading A little distance away two gipsies, a man and a boy, were following the edge of the bog, striding from tussock to tussock and probing with their sticks for bad places which might let them in.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading A little distance away two gipsies, a man and a boy, were following the edge of the bog, striding from tussock to tussock and probing with their sticks for bad places which might let them in.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was no difficulty in divining what _they_ wanted.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were not alone.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The two were on the outskirts of a great bog, to the south of which extensive woods filled the horizon.
tussocknoun
a bunch of hair or feathers or growing grass
From this reading A little distance away two gipsies, a man and a boy, were following the edge of the bog, striding from tussock to tussock and probing with their sticks for bad places which might let them in.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The two were on the outskirts of a great bog, to the south of which extensive woods filled the horizon.
wailingnounUS /ˈweɪlɪŋ/
loud cries made while weeping
From this reading The lapwings screaming overhead, the redshanks wailing as they flew right away, knew also that their eggs were in danger.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading There was no difficulty in divining what _they_ wanted.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was no difficulty in divining what _they_ wanted.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The two were on the outskirts of a great bog, to the south of which extensive woods filled the horizon.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading There was no difficulty in divining what _they_ wanted.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The two were on the outskirts of a great bog, to the south of which extensive woods filled the horizon.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A little distance away two gipsies, a man and a boy, were following the edge of the bog, striding from tussock to tussock and probing with their sticks for bad places which might let them in.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading The two were on the outskirts of a great bog, to the south of which extensive woods filled the horizon.
