used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Herrick decreed a retreat to the Western Hills.
agitatedadjectiveUS /ˈædʒəteɪtɪd/
troubled emotionally and usually deeply
From this reading The barking of mongrel dogs agitated him and made him restless at night.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He wished a place where he could think his troublesome problem to an issue, so his fancy turned to the solitude of the hills.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Seldom though he emerged from his dwelling, the man could not escape the hubbub of a city which slept and prattled out of doors.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The barking of mongrel dogs agitated him and made him restless at night.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He would carry off Kuei-lien like a bride, take Nancy and Edward and the old nurse, and leave the rest of the family to babble away the summer in Peking.
babbleverbUS /ˈbæbəl/
utter meaningless sounds, like a baby, or utter in an incoherent way
From this reading He would carry off Kuei-lien like a bride, take Nancy and Edward and the old nurse, and leave the rest of the family to babble away the summer in Peking.
barkingverbUS /ˈbɑːrkɪŋ/
-ing form of “bark” — speak in an unfriendly tone
From this reading The barking of mongrel dogs agitated him and made him restless at night.
a woman who has recently been married
From this reading He would carry off Kuei-lien like a bride, take Nancy and Edward and the old nurse, and leave the rest of the family to babble away the summer in Peking.
move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading He would carry off Kuei-lien like a bride, take Nancy and Edward and the old nurse, and leave the rest of the family to babble away the summer in Peking.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading Seldom though he emerged from his dwelling, the man could not escape the hubbub of a city which slept and prattled out of doors.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Seldom though he emerged from his dwelling, the man could not escape the hubbub of a city which slept and prattled out of doors.
decreedadjectiveUS /dɪˈkriːd/
fixed or established especially by order or command
From this reading Herrick decreed a retreat to the Western Hills.
plural of “dog” — a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading The barking of mongrel dogs agitated him and made him restless at night.
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Seldom though he emerged from his dwelling, the man could not escape the hubbub of a city which slept and prattled out of doors.
dwellingnounUS /ˈdwelɪŋ/
housing that someone is living in
From this reading Seldom though he emerged from his dwelling, the man could not escape the hubbub of a city which slept and prattled out of doors.
King of England and Ireland in 1936; his marriage to Wallis Warfield Simpson created a constitutional crisis leading to his abdication (1894-1972)
From this reading He would carry off Kuei-lien like a bride, take Nancy and Edward and the old nurse, and leave the rest of the family to babble away the summer in Peking.
emergedverbUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒd/
past form of “emerge” — come out into view, as from concealment
From this reading Seldom though he emerged from his dwelling, the man could not escape the hubbub of a city which slept and prattled out of doors.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading Seldom though he emerged from his dwelling, the man could not escape the hubbub of a city which slept and prattled out of doors.
a social unit living together
From this reading He would carry off Kuei-lien like a bride, take Nancy and Edward and the old nurse, and leave the rest of the family to babble away the summer in Peking.
something many people believe that is false
From this reading He wished a place where he could think his troublesome problem to an issue, so his fancy turned to the solitude of the hills.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Seldom though he emerged from his dwelling, the man could not escape the hubbub of a city which slept and prattled out of doors.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Seldom though he emerged from his dwelling, the man could not escape the hubbub of a city which slept and prattled out of doors.
HerricknounUS /ˈherɪk/
English lyric poet (1591-1674)
From this reading Herrick decreed a retreat to the Western Hills.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading Herrick decreed a retreat to the Western Hills.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The barking of mongrel dogs agitated him and made him restless at night.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Seldom though he emerged from his dwelling, the man could not escape the hubbub of a city which slept and prattled out of doors.
hubbubnounUS /ˈhʌbəb/
loud confused noise from many sources
From this reading Seldom though he emerged from his dwelling, the man could not escape the hubbub of a city which slept and prattled out of doors.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He would carry off Kuei-lien like a bride, take Nancy and Edward and the old nurse, and leave the rest of the family to babble away the summer in Peking.
issueverbUS /ˈɪʃuː/
prepare and issue for public distribution or sale
From this reading He wished a place where he could think his troublesome problem to an issue, so his fancy turned to the solitude of the hills.
Kuei-lien
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would carry off Kuei-lien like a bride, take Nancy and Edward and the old nurse, and leave the rest of the family to babble away the summer in Peking.
go away from a place
From this reading He would carry off Kuei-lien like a bride, take Nancy and Edward and the old nurse, and leave the rest of the family to babble away the summer in Peking.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading He would carry off Kuei-lien like a bride, take Nancy and Edward and the old nurse, and leave the rest of the family to babble away the summer in Peking.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The barking of mongrel dogs agitated him and made him restless at night.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Seldom though he emerged from his dwelling, the man could not escape the hubbub of a city which slept and prattled out of doors.
mongrelnoun
derogatory term for a variation that is not genuine; something irregular or inferior or of dubious origin
From this reading The barking of mongrel dogs agitated him and made him restless at night.
NancynounUS /ˈnænsi/
a city in northeastern France in Lorraine
From this reading He would carry off Kuei-lien like a bride, take Nancy and Edward and the old nurse, and leave the rest of the family to babble away the summer in Peking.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The barking of mongrel dogs agitated him and made him restless at night.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Seldom though he emerged from his dwelling, the man could not escape the hubbub of a city which slept and prattled out of doors.
try to cure by special care of treatment, of an illness or injury
From this reading He would carry off Kuei-lien like a bride, take Nancy and Edward and the old nurse, and leave the rest of the family to babble away the summer in Peking.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Seldom though he emerged from his dwelling, the man could not escape the hubbub of a city which slept and prattled out of doors.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He would carry off Kuei-lien like a bride, take Nancy and Edward and the old nurse, and leave the rest of the family to babble away the summer in Peking.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading He would carry off Kuei-lien like a bride, take Nancy and Edward and the old nurse, and leave the rest of the family to babble away the summer in Peking.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Seldom though he emerged from his dwelling, the man could not escape the hubbub of a city which slept and prattled out of doors.
PekingnounUS /ˈpiːˈkɪŋ/
capital of the People's Republic of China in the Hebei province in northeastern China; 2nd largest Chinese city
From this reading He would carry off Kuei-lien like a bride, take Nancy and Edward and the old nurse, and leave the rest of the family to babble away the summer in Peking.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading He wished a place where he could think his troublesome problem to an issue, so his fancy turned to the solitude of the hills.
prattledverbUS /ˈprætəld/
past form of “prattle” — speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly
From this reading Seldom though he emerged from his dwelling, the man could not escape the hubbub of a city which slept and prattled out of doors.
a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
From this reading He wished a place where he could think his troublesome problem to an issue, so his fancy turned to the solitude of the hills.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading He would carry off Kuei-lien like a bride, take Nancy and Edward and the old nurse, and leave the rest of the family to babble away the summer in Peking.
restlessadjectiveUS /ˈrestləs/
worried and uneasy
From this reading The barking of mongrel dogs agitated him and made him restless at night.
(military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat
From this reading Herrick decreed a retreat to the Western Hills.
not often
From this reading Seldom though he emerged from his dwelling, the man could not escape the hubbub of a city which slept and prattled out of doors.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading Seldom though he emerged from his dwelling, the man could not escape the hubbub of a city which slept and prattled out of doors.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He wished a place where he could think his troublesome problem to an issue, so his fancy turned to the solitude of the hills.
solitudenounUS /ˈsɑːlətuːd/
a state of social isolation
From this reading He wished a place where he could think his troublesome problem to an issue, so his fancy turned to the solitude of the hills.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading He would carry off Kuei-lien like a bride, take Nancy and Edward and the old nurse, and leave the rest of the family to babble away the summer in Peking.
carry out
From this reading He would carry off Kuei-lien like a bride, take Nancy and Edward and the old nurse, and leave the rest of the family to babble away the summer in Peking.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Herrick decreed a retreat to the Western Hills.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading He wished a place where he could think his troublesome problem to an issue, so his fancy turned to the solitude of the hills.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Seldom though he emerged from his dwelling, the man could not escape the hubbub of a city which slept and prattled out of doors.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Herrick decreed a retreat to the Western Hills.
troublesomeadjectiveUS /ˈtrʌbəlsəm/
causing difficulty or annoyance
From this reading He wished a place where he could think his troublesome problem to an issue, so his fancy turned to the solitude of the hills.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading He wished a place where he could think his troublesome problem to an issue, so his fancy turned to the solitude of the hills.
relating to or characteristic of the western parts of the world or the West as opposed to the eastern or oriental parts
From this reading Herrick decreed a retreat to the Western Hills.
in or at the place that
From this reading He wished a place where he could think his troublesome problem to an issue, so his fancy turned to the solitude of the hills.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Seldom though he emerged from his dwelling, the man could not escape the hubbub of a city which slept and prattled out of doors.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading He wished a place where he could think his troublesome problem to an issue, so his fancy turned to the solitude of the hills.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He would carry off Kuei-lien like a bride, take Nancy and Edward and the old nurse, and leave the rest of the family to babble away the summer in Peking.
