used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It struck me at the time as a remarkable coincidence that after walking about fifty yards we should come across a droschki, into which we all stepped, being driven away without a word of explanation to the driver, unless a peculiar, thrice-repeated nod by Ivan be considered sufficient explanation.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It struck me at the time as a remarkable coincidence that after walking about fifty yards we should come across a droschki, into which we all stepped, being driven away without a word of explanation to the driver, unless a peculiar, thrice-repeated nod by Ivan be considered sufficient explanation.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading It struck me at the time as a remarkable coincidence that after walking about fifty yards we should come across a droschki, into which we all stepped, being driven away without a word of explanation to the driver, unless a peculiar, thrice-repeated nod by Ivan be considered sufficient explanation.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It struck me at the time as a remarkable coincidence that after walking about fifty yards we should come across a droschki, into which we all stepped, being driven away without a word of explanation to the driver, unless a peculiar, thrice-repeated nod by Ivan be considered sufficient explanation.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading It struck me at the time as a remarkable coincidence that after walking about fifty yards we should come across a droschki, into which we all stepped, being driven away without a word of explanation to the driver, unless a peculiar, thrice-repeated nod by Ivan be considered sufficient explanation.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And it was so shaky that we had to hold on to each other to avoid turning a somersault on to the roadway.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “How fain are we to turn our backs on that which likes us not.”
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It struck me at the time as a remarkable coincidence that after walking about fifty yards we should come across a droschki, into which we all stepped, being driven away without a word of explanation to the driver, unless a peculiar, thrice-repeated nod by Ivan be considered sufficient explanation.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It struck me at the time as a remarkable coincidence that after walking about fifty yards we should come across a droschki, into which we all stepped, being driven away without a word of explanation to the driver, unless a peculiar, thrice-repeated nod by Ivan be considered sufficient explanation.
stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
From this reading And it was so shaky that we had to hold on to each other to avoid turning a somersault on to the roadway.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading It struck me at the time as a remarkable coincidence that after walking about fifty yards we should come across a droschki, into which we all stepped, being driven away without a word of explanation to the driver, unless a peculiar, thrice-repeated nod by Ivan be considered sufficient explanation.
backsnounUS /bæks/
plural of “back” — the posterior part of a human (or animal) body from the neck to the end of the spine
From this reading “How fain are we to turn our backs on that which likes us not.”
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It struck me at the time as a remarkable coincidence that after walking about fifty yards we should come across a droschki, into which we all stepped, being driven away without a word of explanation to the driver, unless a peculiar, thrice-repeated nod by Ivan be considered sufficient explanation.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading It struck me at the time as a remarkable coincidence that after walking about fifty yards we should come across a droschki, into which we all stepped, being driven away without a word of explanation to the driver, unless a peculiar, thrice-repeated nod by Ivan be considered sufficient explanation.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It struck me at the time as a remarkable coincidence that after walking about fifty yards we should come across a droschki, into which we all stepped, being driven away without a word of explanation to the driver, unless a peculiar, thrice-repeated nod by Ivan be considered sufficient explanation.
coincidencenounUS /koʊˈɪnsɪdəns/
an event that might have been arranged although it was really accidental
From this reading It struck me at the time as a remarkable coincidence that after walking about fifty yards we should come across a droschki, into which we all stepped, being driven away without a word of explanation to the driver, unless a peculiar, thrice-repeated nod by Ivan be considered sufficient explanation.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading It struck me at the time as a remarkable coincidence that after walking about fifty yards we should come across a droschki, into which we all stepped, being driven away without a word of explanation to the driver, unless a peculiar, thrice-repeated nod by Ivan be considered sufficient explanation.
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading It would be useless to pretend that our drive was in every respect a comfortable one.
carefully weighed
From this reading It struck me at the time as a remarkable coincidence that after walking about fifty yards we should come across a droschki, into which we all stepped, being driven away without a word of explanation to the driver, unless a peculiar, thrice-repeated nod by Ivan be considered sufficient explanation.
operate or control a vehicle
From this reading It would be useless to pretend that our drive was in every respect a comfortable one.
compelled forcibly by an outside agency
From this reading It struck me at the time as a remarkable coincidence that after walking about fifty yards we should come across a droschki, into which we all stepped, being driven away without a word of explanation to the driver, unless a peculiar, thrice-repeated nod by Ivan be considered sufficient explanation.
the operator of a motor vehicle
From this reading It struck me at the time as a remarkable coincidence that after walking about fifty yards we should come across a droschki, into which we all stepped, being driven away without a word of explanation to the driver, unless a peculiar, thrice-repeated nod by Ivan be considered sufficient explanation.
droschki
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It struck me at the time as a remarkable coincidence that after walking about fifty yards we should come across a droschki, into which we all stepped, being driven away without a word of explanation to the driver, unless a peculiar, thrice-repeated nod by Ivan be considered sufficient explanation.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading The droschki was, in the first place, so small that we had to sit on each other’s knees.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading It would be useless to pretend that our drive was in every respect a comfortable one.
a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
From this reading It struck me at the time as a remarkable coincidence that after walking about fifty yards we should come across a droschki, into which we all stepped, being driven away without a word of explanation to the driver, unless a peculiar, thrice-repeated nod by Ivan be considered sufficient explanation.
fainadjectiveUS /feɪn/
having made preparations
From this reading “How fain are we to turn our backs on that which likes us not.”
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and five
From this reading It struck me at the time as a remarkable coincidence that after walking about fifty yards we should come across a droschki, into which we all stepped, being driven away without a word of explanation to the driver, unless a peculiar, thrice-repeated nod by Ivan be considered sufficient explanation.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The droschki was, in the first place, so small that we had to sit on each other’s knees.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The droschki was, in the first place, so small that we had to sit on each other’s knees.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading And it was so shaky that we had to hold on to each other to avoid turning a somersault on to the roadway.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “How fain are we to turn our backs on that which likes us not.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It would be useless to pretend that our drive was in every respect a comfortable one.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading It struck me at the time as a remarkable coincidence that after walking about fifty yards we should come across a droschki, into which we all stepped, being driven away without a word of explanation to the driver, unless a peculiar, thrice-repeated nod by Ivan be considered sufficient explanation.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It struck me at the time as a remarkable coincidence that after walking about fifty yards we should come across a droschki, into which we all stepped, being driven away without a word of explanation to the driver, unless a peculiar, thrice-repeated nod by Ivan be considered sufficient explanation.
Ivan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It struck me at the time as a remarkable coincidence that after walking about fifty yards we should come across a droschki, into which we all stepped, being driven away without a word of explanation to the driver, unless a peculiar, thrice-repeated nod by Ivan be considered sufficient explanation.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading The droschki was, in the first place, so small that we had to sit on each other’s knees.
plural of “like” — a similar kind
From this reading “How fain are we to turn our backs on that which likes us not.”
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It struck me at the time as a remarkable coincidence that after walking about fifty yards we should come across a droschki, into which we all stepped, being driven away without a word of explanation to the driver, unless a peculiar, thrice-repeated nod by Ivan be considered sufficient explanation.
nodverbUS /nɑːd/
express or signify by nodding
From this reading It struck me at the time as a remarkable coincidence that after walking about fifty yards we should come across a droschki, into which we all stepped, being driven away without a word of explanation to the driver, unless a peculiar, thrice-repeated nod by Ivan be considered sufficient explanation.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “How fain are we to turn our backs on that which likes us not.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It struck me at the time as a remarkable coincidence that after walking about fifty yards we should come across a droschki, into which we all stepped, being driven away without a word of explanation to the driver, unless a peculiar, thrice-repeated nod by Ivan be considered sufficient explanation.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “How fain are we to turn our backs on that which likes us not.”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It would be useless to pretend that our drive was in every respect a comfortable one.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading And it was so shaky that we had to hold on to each other to avoid turning a somersault on to the roadway.
other's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The droschki was, in the first place, so small that we had to sit on each other’s knees.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading “How fain are we to turn our backs on that which likes us not.”
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading It struck me at the time as a remarkable coincidence that after walking about fifty yards we should come across a droschki, into which we all stepped, being driven away without a word of explanation to the driver, unless a peculiar, thrice-repeated nod by Ivan be considered sufficient explanation.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The droschki was, in the first place, so small that we had to sit on each other’s knees.
pretendverbUS /priˈtend/
make believe with the intent to deceive
From this reading It would be useless to pretend that our drive was in every respect a comfortable one.
unusual or striking
From this reading It struck me at the time as a remarkable coincidence that after walking about fifty yards we should come across a droschki, into which we all stepped, being driven away without a word of explanation to the driver, unless a peculiar, thrice-repeated nod by Ivan be considered sufficient explanation.
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading It would be useless to pretend that our drive was in every respect a comfortable one.
roadwaynounUS /ˈroʊdweɪ/
a road (especially that part of a road) over which vehicles travel
From this reading And it was so shaky that we had to hold on to each other to avoid turning a somersault on to the roadway.
shakyadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪki/
inclined to shake as from weakness or defect
From this reading And it was so shaky that we had to hold on to each other to avoid turning a somersault on to the roadway.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading It struck me at the time as a remarkable coincidence that after walking about fifty yards we should come across a droschki, into which we all stepped, being driven away without a word of explanation to the driver, unless a peculiar, thrice-repeated nod by Ivan be considered sufficient explanation.
be seated
From this reading The droschki was, in the first place, so small that we had to sit on each other’s knees.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The droschki was, in the first place, so small that we had to sit on each other’s knees.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The droschki was, in the first place, so small that we had to sit on each other’s knees.
somersaultnounUS /ˈsʌmərsɔːlt/
an acrobatic feat in which the feet roll over the head (either forward or backward) and return
From this reading And it was so shaky that we had to hold on to each other to avoid turning a somersault on to the roadway.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading It struck me at the time as a remarkable coincidence that after walking about fifty yards we should come across a droschki, into which we all stepped, being driven away without a word of explanation to the driver, unless a peculiar, thrice-repeated nod by Ivan be considered sufficient explanation.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading It struck me at the time as a remarkable coincidence that after walking about fifty yards we should come across a droschki, into which we all stepped, being driven away without a word of explanation to the driver, unless a peculiar, thrice-repeated nod by Ivan be considered sufficient explanation.
of a quantity that can fulfill a need or requirement but without being abundant
From this reading It struck me at the time as a remarkable coincidence that after walking about fifty yards we should come across a droschki, into which we all stepped, being driven away without a word of explanation to the driver, unless a peculiar, thrice-repeated nod by Ivan be considered sufficient explanation.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “How fain are we to turn our backs on that which likes us not.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It struck me at the time as a remarkable coincidence that after walking about fifty yards we should come across a droschki, into which we all stepped, being driven away without a word of explanation to the driver, unless a peculiar, thrice-repeated nod by Ivan be considered sufficient explanation.
thrice-repeated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It struck me at the time as a remarkable coincidence that after walking about fifty yards we should come across a droschki, into which we all stepped, being driven away without a word of explanation to the driver, unless a peculiar, thrice-repeated nod by Ivan be considered sufficient explanation.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It struck me at the time as a remarkable coincidence that after walking about fifty yards we should come across a droschki, into which we all stepped, being driven away without a word of explanation to the driver, unless a peculiar, thrice-repeated nod by Ivan be considered sufficient explanation.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “How fain are we to turn our backs on that which likes us not.”
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading “How fain are we to turn our backs on that which likes us not.”
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading And it was so shaky that we had to hold on to each other to avoid turning a somersault on to the roadway.
except if; if not
From this reading It struck me at the time as a remarkable coincidence that after walking about fifty yards we should come across a droschki, into which we all stepped, being driven away without a word of explanation to the driver, unless a peculiar, thrice-repeated nod by Ivan be considered sufficient explanation.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “How fain are we to turn our backs on that which likes us not.”
having no beneficial use or incapable of functioning usefully
From this reading It would be useless to pretend that our drive was in every respect a comfortable one.
close enough to be walked to
From this reading It struck me at the time as a remarkable coincidence that after walking about fifty yards we should come across a droschki, into which we all stepped, being driven away without a word of explanation to the driver, unless a peculiar, thrice-repeated nod by Ivan be considered sufficient explanation.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It would be useless to pretend that our drive was in every respect a comfortable one.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “How fain are we to turn our backs on that which likes us not.”
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading “How fain are we to turn our backs on that which likes us not.”
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading It struck me at the time as a remarkable coincidence that after walking about fifty yards we should come across a droschki, into which we all stepped, being driven away without a word of explanation to the driver, unless a peculiar, thrice-repeated nod by Ivan be considered sufficient explanation.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading It struck me at the time as a remarkable coincidence that after walking about fifty yards we should come across a droschki, into which we all stepped, being driven away without a word of explanation to the driver, unless a peculiar, thrice-repeated nod by Ivan be considered sufficient explanation.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It would be useless to pretend that our drive was in every respect a comfortable one.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading It struck me at the time as a remarkable coincidence that after walking about fifty yards we should come across a droschki, into which we all stepped, being driven away without a word of explanation to the driver, unless a peculiar, thrice-repeated nod by Ivan be considered sufficient explanation.
