used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading My master was dining with a planter in the neighbourhood; and as part of his road lay through a retired forest, we resolved to intercept him on his way home, lest his presence there should prove any hindrance to the success of our scheme.
AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading About eight in the evening we set fire to them, and then hastened to the wood, and stationed ourselves among the trees which bordered the road.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading About eight in the evening we set fire to them, and then hastened to the wood, and stationed ourselves among the trees which bordered the road.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading My master was dining with a planter in the neighbourhood; and as part of his road lay through a retired forest, we resolved to intercept him on his way home, lest his presence there should prove any hindrance to the success of our scheme.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading My master was dining with a planter in the neighbourhood; and as part of his road lay through a retired forest, we resolved to intercept him on his way home, lest his presence there should prove any hindrance to the success of our scheme.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading I gazed and listened with silent satisfaction till my master made his appearance.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading My master was dining with a planter in the neighbourhood; and as part of his road lay through a retired forest, we resolved to intercept him on his way home, lest his presence there should prove any hindrance to the success of our scheme.
ascendverbUS /əˈsend/
travel up
From this reading We had scarcely waited half-an-hour when we saw smoke beginning to ascend from the house, which was nearly a mile distant, and heard a tumultuous noise of voices.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "We had, at different times, placed combustibles in those parts of his house and offices that were least exposed to observation.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading We had scarcely waited half-an-hour when we saw smoke beginning to ascend from the house, which was nearly a mile distant, and heard a tumultuous noise of voices.
borderedadjectiveUS /ˈbɔːrdərd/
having a border especially of a specified kind; sometimes used as a combining term
From this reading About eight in the evening we set fire to them, and then hastened to the wood, and stationed ourselves among the trees which bordered the road.
combustibles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We had, at different times, placed combustibles in those parts of his house and offices that were least exposed to observation.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading "We had, at different times, placed combustibles in those parts of his house and offices that were least exposed to observation.
diningnounUS /ˈdaɪnɪŋ/
the act of eating dinner
From this reading My master was dining with a planter in the neighbourhood; and as part of his road lay through a retired forest, we resolved to intercept him on his way home, lest his presence there should prove any hindrance to the success of our scheme.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading We had scarcely waited half-an-hour when we saw smoke beginning to ascend from the house, which was nearly a mile distant, and heard a tumultuous noise of voices.
being one more than seven
From this reading About eight in the evening we set fire to them, and then hastened to the wood, and stationed ourselves among the trees which bordered the road.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading About eight in the evening we set fire to them, and then hastened to the wood, and stationed ourselves among the trees which bordered the road.
exposedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspoʊzd/
with no protection or shield
From this reading "We had, at different times, placed combustibles in those parts of his house and offices that were least exposed to observation.
start firing a weapon
From this reading About eight in the evening we set fire to them, and then hastened to the wood, and stationed ourselves among the trees which bordered the road.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading My master was dining with a planter in the neighbourhood; and as part of his road lay through a retired forest, we resolved to intercept him on his way home, lest his presence there should prove any hindrance to the success of our scheme.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading We had scarcely waited half-an-hour when we saw smoke beginning to ascend from the house, which was nearly a mile distant, and heard a tumultuous noise of voices.
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading I gazed and listened with silent satisfaction till my master made his appearance.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "We had, at different times, placed combustibles in those parts of his house and offices that were least exposed to observation.
half-an-hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had scarcely waited half-an-hour when we saw smoke beginning to ascend from the house, which was nearly a mile distant, and heard a tumultuous noise of voices.
past form of “hasten” — act or move at high speed
From this reading About eight in the evening we set fire to them, and then hastened to the wood, and stationed ourselves among the trees which bordered the road.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading We had scarcely waited half-an-hour when we saw smoke beginning to ascend from the house, which was nearly a mile distant, and heard a tumultuous noise of voices.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading My master was dining with a planter in the neighbourhood; and as part of his road lay through a retired forest, we resolved to intercept him on his way home, lest his presence there should prove any hindrance to the success of our scheme.
hindrancenounUS /ˈhɪndrəns/
something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress
From this reading My master was dining with a planter in the neighbourhood; and as part of his road lay through a retired forest, we resolved to intercept him on his way home, lest his presence there should prove any hindrance to the success of our scheme.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading My master was dining with a planter in the neighbourhood; and as part of his road lay through a retired forest, we resolved to intercept him on his way home, lest his presence there should prove any hindrance to the success of our scheme.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading My master was dining with a planter in the neighbourhood; and as part of his road lay through a retired forest, we resolved to intercept him on his way home, lest his presence there should prove any hindrance to the success of our scheme.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading "We had, at different times, placed combustibles in those parts of his house and offices that were least exposed to observation.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I gazed and listened with silent satisfaction till my master made his appearance.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading My master was dining with a planter in the neighbourhood; and as part of his road lay through a retired forest, we resolved to intercept him on his way home, lest his presence there should prove any hindrance to the success of our scheme.
interceptverbUS /ˌɪntərˈsept/
seize on its way
From this reading My master was dining with a planter in the neighbourhood; and as part of his road lay through a retired forest, we resolved to intercept him on his way home, lest his presence there should prove any hindrance to the success of our scheme.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading My master was dining with a planter in the neighbourhood; and as part of his road lay through a retired forest, we resolved to intercept him on his way home, lest his presence there should prove any hindrance to the success of our scheme.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading "We had, at different times, placed combustibles in those parts of his house and offices that were least exposed to observation.
in order that something should not happen
From this reading My master was dining with a planter in the neighbourhood; and as part of his road lay through a retired forest, we resolved to intercept him on his way home, lest his presence there should prove any hindrance to the success of our scheme.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading I gazed and listened with silent satisfaction till my master made his appearance.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading I gazed and listened with silent satisfaction till my master made his appearance.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading My master was dining with a planter in the neighbourhood; and as part of his road lay through a retired forest, we resolved to intercept him on his way home, lest his presence there should prove any hindrance to the success of our scheme.
a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading We had scarcely waited half-an-hour when we saw smoke beginning to ascend from the house, which was nearly a mile distant, and heard a tumultuous noise of voices.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My master was dining with a planter in the neighbourhood; and as part of his road lay through a retired forest, we resolved to intercept him on his way home, lest his presence there should prove any hindrance to the success of our scheme.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading We had scarcely waited half-an-hour when we saw smoke beginning to ascend from the house, which was nearly a mile distant, and heard a tumultuous noise of voices.
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading My master was dining with a planter in the neighbourhood; and as part of his road lay through a retired forest, we resolved to intercept him on his way home, lest his presence there should prove any hindrance to the success of our scheme.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading We had scarcely waited half-an-hour when we saw smoke beginning to ascend from the house, which was nearly a mile distant, and heard a tumultuous noise of voices.
the act of making and recording a measurement
From this reading "We had, at different times, placed combustibles in those parts of his house and offices that were least exposed to observation.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading My master was dining with a planter in the neighbourhood; and as part of his road lay through a retired forest, we resolved to intercept him on his way home, lest his presence there should prove any hindrance to the success of our scheme.
officesnounUS /ˈɔːfəsəz/
plural of “office” — place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading "We had, at different times, placed combustibles in those parts of his house and offices that were least exposed to observation.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading My master was dining with a planter in the neighbourhood; and as part of his road lay through a retired forest, we resolved to intercept him on his way home, lest his presence there should prove any hindrance to the success of our scheme.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading My master was dining with a planter in the neighbourhood; and as part of his road lay through a retired forest, we resolved to intercept him on his way home, lest his presence there should prove any hindrance to the success of our scheme.
used when we are both doing the action and receiving it
From this reading About eight in the evening we set fire to them, and then hastened to the wood, and stationed ourselves among the trees which bordered the road.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading My master was dining with a planter in the neighbourhood; and as part of his road lay through a retired forest, we resolved to intercept him on his way home, lest his presence there should prove any hindrance to the success of our scheme.
the local environment
From this reading "We had, at different times, placed combustibles in those parts of his house and offices that were least exposed to observation.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading "We had, at different times, placed combustibles in those parts of his house and offices that were least exposed to observation.
planternounUS /ˈplæntər/
the owner or manager of a plantation
From this reading My master was dining with a planter in the neighbourhood; and as part of his road lay through a retired forest, we resolved to intercept him on his way home, lest his presence there should prove any hindrance to the success of our scheme.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading My master was dining with a planter in the neighbourhood; and as part of his road lay through a retired forest, we resolved to intercept him on his way home, lest his presence there should prove any hindrance to the success of our scheme.
be shown or be found to be
From this reading My master was dining with a planter in the neighbourhood; and as part of his road lay through a retired forest, we resolved to intercept him on his way home, lest his presence there should prove any hindrance to the success of our scheme.
determined
From this reading My master was dining with a planter in the neighbourhood; and as part of his road lay through a retired forest, we resolved to intercept him on his way home, lest his presence there should prove any hindrance to the success of our scheme.
no longer active in your work or profession
From this reading My master was dining with a planter in the neighbourhood; and as part of his road lay through a retired forest, we resolved to intercept him on his way home, lest his presence there should prove any hindrance to the success of our scheme.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading My master was dining with a planter in the neighbourhood; and as part of his road lay through a retired forest, we resolved to intercept him on his way home, lest his presence there should prove any hindrance to the success of our scheme.
the contentment one feels when one has fulfilled a desire, need, or expectation
From this reading I gazed and listened with silent satisfaction till my master made his appearance.
cut with a saw
From this reading We had scarcely waited half-an-hour when we saw smoke beginning to ascend from the house, which was nearly a mile distant, and heard a tumultuous noise of voices.
only a very short time before
From this reading We had scarcely waited half-an-hour when we saw smoke beginning to ascend from the house, which was nearly a mile distant, and heard a tumultuous noise of voices.
an elaborate and systematic plan of action
From this reading My master was dining with a planter in the neighbourhood; and as part of his road lay through a retired forest, we resolved to intercept him on his way home, lest his presence there should prove any hindrance to the success of our scheme.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading About eight in the evening we set fire to them, and then hastened to the wood, and stationed ourselves among the trees which bordered the road.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading My master was dining with a planter in the neighbourhood; and as part of his road lay through a retired forest, we resolved to intercept him on his way home, lest his presence there should prove any hindrance to the success of our scheme.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading I gazed and listened with silent satisfaction till my master made his appearance.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading We had scarcely waited half-an-hour when we saw smoke beginning to ascend from the house, which was nearly a mile distant, and heard a tumultuous noise of voices.
stationedverbUS /ˈsteɪʃənd/
past form of “station” — assign to a station
From this reading About eight in the evening we set fire to them, and then hastened to the wood, and stationed ourselves among the trees which bordered the road.
an event that accomplishes its intended purpose
From this reading My master was dining with a planter in the neighbourhood; and as part of his road lay through a retired forest, we resolved to intercept him on his way home, lest his presence there should prove any hindrance to the success of our scheme.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "We had, at different times, placed combustibles in those parts of his house and offices that were least exposed to observation.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading My master was dining with a planter in the neighbourhood; and as part of his road lay through a retired forest, we resolved to intercept him on his way home, lest his presence there should prove any hindrance to the success of our scheme.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading About eight in the evening we set fire to them, and then hastened to the wood, and stationed ourselves among the trees which bordered the road.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading About eight in the evening we set fire to them, and then hastened to the wood, and stationed ourselves among the trees which bordered the road.
in or at that place or location
From this reading My master was dining with a planter in the neighbourhood; and as part of his road lay through a retired forest, we resolved to intercept him on his way home, lest his presence there should prove any hindrance to the success of our scheme.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading "We had, at different times, placed combustibles in those parts of his house and offices that were least exposed to observation.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading My master was dining with a planter in the neighbourhood; and as part of his road lay through a retired forest, we resolved to intercept him on his way home, lest his presence there should prove any hindrance to the success of our scheme.
up to a particular time
From this reading I gazed and listened with silent satisfaction till my master made his appearance.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading "We had, at different times, placed combustibles in those parts of his house and offices that were least exposed to observation.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading My master was dining with a planter in the neighbourhood; and as part of his road lay through a retired forest, we resolved to intercept him on his way home, lest his presence there should prove any hindrance to the success of our scheme.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading About eight in the evening we set fire to them, and then hastened to the wood, and stationed ourselves among the trees which bordered the road.
tumultuousadjectiveUS /ˌtuːˈmʌltʃuːəs/
characterized by unrest or disorder or insubordination
From this reading We had scarcely waited half-an-hour when we saw smoke beginning to ascend from the house, which was nearly a mile distant, and heard a tumultuous noise of voices.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading We had scarcely waited half-an-hour when we saw smoke beginning to ascend from the house, which was nearly a mile distant, and heard a tumultuous noise of voices.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading We had scarcely waited half-an-hour when we saw smoke beginning to ascend from the house, which was nearly a mile distant, and heard a tumultuous noise of voices.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading My master was dining with a planter in the neighbourhood; and as part of his road lay through a retired forest, we resolved to intercept him on his way home, lest his presence there should prove any hindrance to the success of our scheme.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading My master was dining with a planter in the neighbourhood; and as part of his road lay through a retired forest, we resolved to intercept him on his way home, lest his presence there should prove any hindrance to the success of our scheme.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading My master was dining with a planter in the neighbourhood; and as part of his road lay through a retired forest, we resolved to intercept him on his way home, lest his presence there should prove any hindrance to the success of our scheme.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "We had, at different times, placed combustibles in those parts of his house and offices that were least exposed to observation.
at the time that
From this reading We had scarcely waited half-an-hour when we saw smoke beginning to ascend from the house, which was nearly a mile distant, and heard a tumultuous noise of voices.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading About eight in the evening we set fire to them, and then hastened to the wood, and stationed ourselves among the trees which bordered the road.
in the company of; together with
From this reading My master was dining with a planter in the neighbourhood; and as part of his road lay through a retired forest, we resolved to intercept him on his way home, lest his presence there should prove any hindrance to the success of our scheme.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading About eight in the evening we set fire to them, and then hastened to the wood, and stationed ourselves among the trees which bordered the road.
