Chapter XII

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Excuse, Mr. Bee, this epistle, to one Whose time, from the earliest gleam of the sun Till he sinks in the west, is so busily spent, That I fear I intrude;--but I write with intent To save your whole city from pillage and ruin, And to warn you in time of a plot that is brewing.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading "I know we can do it," said Jack with delight; "I can't come to-morrow; but s'pose the next night We both set about it, if you are inclined; And then we will halve all the honey we find?"

in the past

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

united by being of the same opinion

From this reading "Agreed," said the other, "but let us be gone."

experiencing a sudden sense of danger

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

(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 Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

Having no one else present.

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Excuse, Mr. Bee, this epistle, to one Whose time, from the earliest gleam of the sun Till he sinks in the west, is so busily spent, That I fear I intrude;--but I write with intent To save your whole city from pillage and ruin, And to warn you in time of a plot that is brewing.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

the event of one object coming closer to another

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

people who are frustrated and perplexed

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading "Agreed," said the other, "but let us be gone."

ornamentation with beads

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

any of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species

From this reading Excuse, Mr. Bee, this epistle, to one Whose time, from the earliest gleam of the sun Till he sinks in the west, is so busily spent, That I fear I intrude;--but I write with intent To save your whole city from pillage and ruin, And to warn you in time of a plot that is brewing.

plural of “bee” — any of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

inflected form of “behold” — see with attention

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

an authoritative direction or instruction to do something

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

United States linguist who adopted a behavioristic approach to linguistics (1887-1949)

From this reading _FROM THE GLOW-WORM TO THE HUMBLE-BEE._ (CHARLES BLOOMFIELD.)

inflected form of “bob” — move up and down repeatedly

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

the two together, not just one

From this reading "I know we can do it," said Jack with delight; "I can't come to-morrow; but s'pose the next night We both set about it, if you are inclined; And then we will halve all the honey we find?"

having the limits or boundaries established

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

plural of “brain” — that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

the production of malt beverages (as beer or ale) from malt and hops by grinding and boiling them and fermenting the result with yeast

From this reading Excuse, Mr. Bee, this epistle, to one Whose time, from the earliest gleam of the sun Till he sinks in the west, is so busily spent, That I fear I intrude;--but I write with intent To save your whole city from pillage and ruin, And to warn you in time of a plot that is brewing.

emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

an old name for sulfur

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

in a busy manner

From this reading Excuse, Mr. Bee, this epistle, to one Whose time, from the earliest gleam of the sun Till he sinks in the west, is so busily spent, That I fear I intrude;--but I write with intent To save your whole city from pillage and ruin, And to warn you in time of a plot that is brewing.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Excuse, Mr. Bee, this epistle, to one Whose time, from the earliest gleam of the sun Till he sinks in the west, is so busily spent, That I fear I intrude;--but I write with intent To save your whole city from pillage and ruin, And to warn you in time of a plot that is brewing.

make a buzzing sound

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading "I know we can do it," said Jack with delight; "I can't come to-morrow; but s'pose the next night We both set about it, if you are inclined; And then we will halve all the honey we find?"

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "I know we can do it," said Jack with delight; "I can't come to-morrow; but s'pose the next night We both set about it, if you are inclined; And then we will halve all the honey we find?"

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

King of France from 1560 to 1574 whose reign was dominated by his mother Catherine de Medicis (1550-1574)

From this reading _FROM THE GLOW-WORM TO THE HUMBLE-BEE._ (CHARLES BLOOMFIELD.)

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading Excuse, Mr. Bee, this epistle, to one Whose time, from the earliest gleam of the sun Till he sinks in the west, is so busily spent, That I fear I intrude;--but I write with intent To save your whole city from pillage and ruin, And to warn you in time of a plot that is brewing.

at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading "I know we can do it," said Jack with delight; "I can't come to-morrow; but s'pose the next night We both set about it, if you are inclined; And then we will halve all the honey we find?"

serenely self-possessed and free from agitation especially in times of stress

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

without stop or interruption

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

the total spent for goods or services including money and time and labor

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

an artistic form of nonverbal communication

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

give pleasure to or be pleasing to

From this reading "I know we can do it," said Jack with delight; "I can't come to-morrow; but s'pose the next night We both set about it, if you are inclined; And then we will halve all the honey we find?"

a drop of dew

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

turn up, loosen, or remove earth

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading "I know we can do it," said Jack with delight; "I can't come to-morrow; but s'pose the next night We both set about it, if you are inclined; And then we will halve all the honey we find?"

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

stingless male bee in a colony of social bees (especially honeybees) whose sole function is to mate with the queen

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

(comparative and superlative of “early”) more early than; most early

From this reading Excuse, Mr. Bee, this epistle, to one Whose time, from the earliest gleam of the sun Till he sinks in the west, is so busily spent, That I fear I intrude;--but I write with intent To save your whole city from pillage and ruin, And to warn you in time of a plot that is brewing.

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

-ing form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

past form of “enter” — to come or go into

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

a specially long, formal letter

From this reading Excuse, Mr. Bee, this epistle, to one Whose time, from the earliest gleam of the sun Till he sinks in the west, is so busily spent, That I fear I intrude;--but I write with intent To save your whole city from pillage and ruin, And to warn you in time of a plot that is brewing.

accept an excuse for

From this reading Excuse, Mr. Bee, this epistle, to one Whose time, from the earliest gleam of the sun Till he sinks in the west, is so busily spent, That I fear I intrude;--but I write with intent To save your whole city from pillage and ruin, And to warn you in time of a plot that is brewing.

of a conditioned response; caused to die out because of the absence or withdrawal of reinforcement

From this reading Farewell, Mr. Hum, I've extinguished my lamp, for the morning is come.

the organ of sight

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

plural of “fairy” — a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

an acknowledgment or expression of goodwill at parting

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event

From this reading Excuse, Mr. Bee, this epistle, to one Whose time, from the earliest gleam of the sun Till he sinks in the west, is so busily spent, That I fear I intrude;--but I write with intent To save your whole city from pillage and ruin, And to warn you in time of a plot that is brewing.

a ceremonial dinner party for many people

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading "I know we can do it," said Jack with delight; "I can't come to-morrow; but s'pose the next night We both set about it, if you are inclined; And then we will halve all the honey we find?"

inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

about to be mentioned or specified

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

set up or found

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading _FROM THE GLOW-WORM TO THE HUMBLE-BEE._ (CHARLES BLOOMFIELD.)

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

be shiny, as if wet

From this reading Excuse, Mr. Bee, this epistle, to one Whose time, from the earliest gleam of the sun Till he sinks in the west, is so busily spent, That I fear I intrude;--but I write with intent To save your whole city from pillage and ruin, And to warn you in time of a plot that is brewing.

the time of day immediately following sunset

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _FROM THE GLOW-WORM TO THE HUMBLE-BEE._ (CHARLES BLOOMFIELD.)

destroyed or killed

From this reading "Agreed," said the other, "but let us be gone."

shoot down, of birds

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

divide by two; divide into halves

From this reading "I know we can do it," said Jack with delight; "I can't come to-morrow; but s'pose the next night We both set about it, if you are inclined; And then we will halve all the honey we find?"

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Excuse, Mr. Bee, this epistle, to one Whose time, from the earliest gleam of the sun Till he sinks in the west, is so busily spent, That I fear I intrude;--but I write with intent To save your whole city from pillage and ruin, And to warn you in time of a plot that is brewing.

perceive (sound) via the auditory sense

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

(law) a proceeding (usually by a court) where evidence is taken for the purpose of determining an issue of fact and reaching a decision based on that evidence

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues)

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

inflected form of “hide” — prevent from being seen or discovered

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

a sweet yellow liquid produced by bees

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

sing with closed lips

From this reading Farewell, Mr. Hum, I've extinguished my lamp, for the morning is come.

characteristic of humanity

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _FROM THE GLOW-WORM TO THE HUMBLE-BEE._ (CHARLES BLOOMFIELD.)

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading Excuse, Mr. Bee, this epistle, to one Whose time, from the earliest gleam of the sun Till he sinks in the west, is so busily spent, That I fear I intrude;--but I write with intent To save your whole city from pillage and ruin, And to warn you in time of a plot that is brewing.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Farewell, Mr. Hum, I've extinguished my lamp, for the morning is come.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "I know we can do it," said Jack with delight; "I can't come to-morrow; but s'pose the next night We both set about it, if you are inclined; And then we will halve all the honey we find?"

the quality of being important and worthy of note

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Excuse, Mr. Bee, this epistle, to one Whose time, from the earliest gleam of the sun Till he sinks in the west, is so busily spent, That I fear I intrude;--but I write with intent To save your whole city from pillage and ruin, And to warn you in time of a plot that is brewing.

(often followed by “to”) having a preference, disposition, or tendency

From this reading "I know we can do it," said Jack with delight; "I can't come to-morrow; but s'pose the next night We both set about it, if you are inclined; And then we will halve all the honey we find?"

an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions

From this reading Excuse, Mr. Bee, this epistle, to one Whose time, from the earliest gleam of the sun Till he sinks in the west, is so busily spent, That I fear I intrude;--but I write with intent To save your whole city from pillage and ruin, And to warn you in time of a plot that is brewing.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

enter uninvited

From this reading Excuse, Mr. Bee, this epistle, to one Whose time, from the earliest gleam of the sun Till he sinks in the west, is so busily spent, That I fear I intrude;--but I write with intent To save your whole city from pillage and ruin, And to warn you in time of a plot that is brewing.

plural of “intruder” — someone who intrudes on the privacy or property of another without permission

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Excuse, Mr. Bee, this epistle, to one Whose time, from the earliest gleam of the sun Till he sinks in the west, is so busily spent, That I fear I intrude;--but I write with intent To save your whole city from pillage and ruin, And to warn you in time of a plot that is brewing.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

a small worthless amount

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading "I know we can do it," said Jack with delight; "I can't come to-morrow; but s'pose the next night We both set about it, if you are inclined; And then we will halve all the honey we find?"

an artificial source of visible illumination

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

immediately past

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

past form of “lavish” — expend profusely; also used with abstract nouns

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

go away from a place

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading "Agreed," said the other, "but let us be gone."

a written message addressed to a person or organization

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

past form of “listen” — hear with intention

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

possessing or using or characteristic of or appropriate to supernatural powers

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

a field where grass or alfalfa are grown to be made into hay

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

a particular point in time

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

the natural satellite of the Earth

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading Farewell, Mr. Hum, I've extinguished my lamp, for the morning is come.

a form of address for a man

From this reading Excuse, Mr. Bee, this epistle, to one Whose time, from the earliest gleam of the sun Till he sinks in the west, is so busily spent, That I fear I intrude;--but I write with intent To save your whole city from pillage and ruin, And to warn you in time of a plot that is brewing.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

immediately following in time or order

From this reading "I know we can do it," said Jack with delight; "I can't come to-morrow; but s'pose the next night We both set about it, if you are inclined; And then we will halve all the honey we find?"

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Excuse, Mr. Bee, this epistle, to one Whose time, from the earliest gleam of the sun Till he sinks in the west, is so busily spent, That I fear I intrude;--but I write with intent To save your whole city from pillage and ruin, And to warn you in time of a plot that is brewing.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Excuse, Mr. Bee, this epistle, to one Whose time, from the earliest gleam of the sun Till he sinks in the west, is so busily spent, That I fear I intrude;--but I write with intent To save your whole city from pillage and ruin, And to warn you in time of a plot that is brewing.

forward in time or order or degree

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

being directly across from each other; facing

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading "Agreed," said the other, "but let us be gone."

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

above your head; in the sky

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

liver or meat or fowl finely minced or ground and variously seasoned

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

give money, usually in exchange for goods or services

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

goods or money obtained illegally

From this reading Excuse, Mr. Bee, this epistle, to one Whose time, from the earliest gleam of the sun Till he sinks in the west, is so busily spent, That I fear I intrude;--but I write with intent To save your whole city from pillage and ruin, And to warn you in time of a plot that is brewing.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

a secret scheme to do something (especially something underhand or illegal)

From this reading Excuse, Mr. Bee, this epistle, to one Whose time, from the earliest gleam of the sun Till he sinks in the west, is so busily spent, That I fear I intrude;--but I write with intent To save your whole city from pillage and ruin, And to warn you in time of a plot that is brewing.

affix in a public place or for public notice

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

in the near future

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

with pride; in a proud manner

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

with low volume

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

on the contrary

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

a column of light (as from a beacon)

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

plural of “ray” — a column of light (as from a beacon)

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

causing reflection or having a device that reflects

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

(physics) opposition to magnetic flux (analogous to electric resistance)

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

not move; be in a resting position

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

plural of “revel” — unrestrained merrymaking

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction

From this reading Excuse, Mr. Bee, this epistle, to one Whose time, from the earliest gleam of the sun Till he sinks in the west, is so busily spent, That I fear I intrude;--but I write with intent To save your whole city from pillage and ruin, And to warn you in time of a plot that is brewing.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "I know we can do it," said Jack with delight; "I can't come to-morrow; but s'pose the next night We both set about it, if you are inclined; And then we will halve all the honey we find?"

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "I know we can do it," said Jack with delight; "I can't come to-morrow; but s'pose the next night We both set about it, if you are inclined; And then we will halve all the honey we find?"

Identical; not different.

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

except for; apart from

From this reading Excuse, Mr. Bee, this epistle, to one Whose time, from the earliest gleam of the sun Till he sinks in the west, is so busily spent, That I fear I intrude;--but I write with intent To save your whole city from pillage and ruin, And to warn you in time of a plot that is brewing.

rescued; especially from the power and consequences of sin

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

an elaborate and systematic plan of action

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

cause to go somewhere

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading "I know we can do it," said Jack with delight; "I can't come to-morrow; but s'pose the next night We both set about it, if you are inclined; And then we will halve all the honey we find?"

protected from danger or bad weather

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

a plumbing fixture that sprays water over you

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

without speaking

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

resembling or reminiscent of silver

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

plural of “sink” — plumbing fixture consisting of a water basin fixed to a wall or floor and having a drainpipe

From this reading Excuse, Mr. Bee, this epistle, to one Whose time, from the earliest gleam of the sun Till he sinks in the west, is so busily spent, That I fear I intrude;--but I write with intent To save your whole city from pillage and ruin, And to warn you in time of a plot that is brewing.

envelop completely

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Excuse, Mr. Bee, this epistle, to one Whose time, from the earliest gleam of the sun Till he sinks in the west, is so busily spent, That I fear I intrude;--but I write with intent To save your whole city from pillage and ruin, And to warn you in time of a plot that is brewing.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

a playing card in the major suit that has one or more black figures on it

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

glitter as if covered with spangles

From this reading SPANGLE.

express in speech

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

depleted of energy, force, or strength

From this reading Excuse, Mr. Bee, this epistle, to one Whose time, from the earliest gleam of the sun Till he sinks in the west, is so busily spent, That I fear I intrude;--but I write with intent To save your whole city from pillage and ruin, And to warn you in time of a plot that is brewing.

a quality that outshines the usual

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

distribute or disperse widely

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system

From this reading Excuse, Mr. Bee, this epistle, to one Whose time, from the earliest gleam of the sun Till he sinks in the west, is so busily spent, That I fear I intrude;--but I write with intent To save your whole city from pillage and ruin, And to warn you in time of a plot that is brewing.

express a supposition

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Excuse, Mr. Bee, this epistle, to one Whose time, from the earliest gleam of the sun Till he sinks in the west, is so busily spent, That I fear I intrude;--but I write with intent To save your whole city from pillage and ruin, And to warn you in time of a plot that is brewing.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading _FROM THE GLOW-WORM TO THE HUMBLE-BEE._ (CHARLES BLOOMFIELD.)

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

in or at that place or location

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Excuse, Mr. Bee, this epistle, to one Whose time, from the earliest gleam of the sun Till he sinks in the west, is so busily spent, That I fear I intrude;--but I write with intent To save your whole city from pillage and ruin, And to warn you in time of a plot that is brewing.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

up to a particular time

From this reading Excuse, Mr. Bee, this epistle, to one Whose time, from the earliest gleam of the sun Till he sinks in the west, is so busily spent, That I fear I intrude;--but I write with intent To save your whole city from pillage and ruin, And to warn you in time of a plot that is brewing.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Excuse, Mr. Bee, this epistle, to one Whose time, from the earliest gleam of the sun Till he sinks in the west, is so busily spent, That I fear I intrude;--but I write with intent To save your whole city from pillage and ruin, And to warn you in time of a plot that is brewing.

past form of “tinge” — affect as in thought or feeling

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

plural of “ti” — a light strong grey lustrous corrosion-resistant metallic element used in strong lightweight alloys (as for airplane parts); the main sources are rutile and ilmenite

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading _FROM THE GLOW-WORM TO THE HUMBLE-BEE._ (CHARLES BLOOMFIELD.)

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "I know we can do it," said Jack with delight; "I can't come to-morrow; but s'pose the next night We both set about it, if you are inclined; And then we will halve all the honey we find?"

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

-ing form of “trickle” — run or flow slowly, as in drops or in an unsteady stream

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

a journey for some purpose (usually including the return)

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

make an effort or attempt

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

not seen or perceived

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

up to a particular time

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

precisely as stated

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

a way of regarding situations or topics etc.

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

extremely wicked

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

a vivid mental image

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

go to see a place, as for entertainment

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

notify of danger, potential harm, or risk

From this reading Excuse, Mr. Bee, this epistle, to one Whose time, from the earliest gleam of the sun Till he sinks in the west, is so busily spent, That I fear I intrude;--but I write with intent To save your whole city from pillage and ruin, And to warn you in time of a plot that is brewing.

a message informing of danger

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading "I know we can do it," said Jack with delight; "I can't come to-morrow; but s'pose the next night We both set about it, if you are inclined; And then we will halve all the honey we find?"

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America

From this reading Excuse, Mr. Bee, this epistle, to one Whose time, from the earliest gleam of the sun Till he sinks in the west, is so busily spent, That I fear I intrude;--but I write with intent To save your whole city from pillage and ruin, And to warn you in time of a plot that is brewing.

at the time that

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

From this reading Excuse, Mr. Bee, this epistle, to one Whose time, from the earliest gleam of the sun Till he sinks in the west, is so busily spent, That I fear I intrude;--but I write with intent To save your whole city from pillage and ruin, And to warn you in time of a plot that is brewing.

belonging to which person

From this reading Excuse, Mr. Bee, this epistle, to one Whose time, from the earliest gleam of the sun Till he sinks in the west, is so busily spent, That I fear I intrude;--but I write with intent To save your whole city from pillage and ruin, And to warn you in time of a plot that is brewing.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading "I know we can do it," said Jack with delight; "I can't come to-morrow; but s'pose the next night We both set about it, if you are inclined; And then we will halve all the honey we find?"

in the company of; together with

From this reading Excuse, Mr. Bee, this epistle, to one Whose time, from the earliest gleam of the sun Till he sinks in the west, is so busily spent, That I fear I intrude;--but I write with intent To save your whole city from pillage and ruin, And to warn you in time of a plot that is brewing.

the words that are spoken

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

love unquestioningly and uncritically or to excess; venerate as an idol

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

produce a literary work

From this reading Excuse, Mr. Bee, this epistle, to one Whose time, from the earliest gleam of the sun Till he sinks in the west, is so busily spent, That I fear I intrude;--but I write with intent To save your whole city from pillage and ruin, And to warn you in time of a plot that is brewing.

but in spite of that

From this reading And they left me in thought until early this morn; When I certainly meant, if your worship had stay'd But a minute or two, till my speech I had made, To have saved you the reading, as well as the cost Of a letter by post--but my words were all lost; For though they were lavished each time you came near, Or was close overhead, and I thought you _should_ hear, Yet the buzz of importance, as onward you flew, Bobbing into each flower the whole meadow through, So baffled your brains that I let you alone, For I found that I might as well speak to a drone: Yet, rather than quietly leave you to fate (Such a villainous thought never entered my pate), I send you this letter, composed by the light Of my silvery lamp in the dead of the night, And about the same time, and the very same place, That a few nights ago, when the moon hid her face, I beheld, nearly hid in the grass as I lay, And my lamp in full splendour reflecting its ray In the eye of each dewdrop, the fairies unseen To all human vision, trip here with their Queen, To pay me a visit, to dance and to feast; And their revels continued, till full in the east The sun tinged the clouds for another bright day, When each took the warning and bounded away: 'Tis the same at this moment.

distant but within sight (“yon” is dialectal)

From this reading Last night, when, as usual, enjoying the hour When the gloaming had spread, and a trickling shower Was beading the grass as it silently fell, And day with reluctance was bidding farewell; When down by yon hedge, nearly opposite you, And your City of Honey, as proudly I threw The rays from my lamp in a magical round; I listened, alarmed upon hearing the sound Of human intruders approaching more near; But I presently found _I_ had nothing to fear, For the hedge was between us, and I and my gleam Lay hid from their view: when the following scheme I heard, as they sheltered beneath the old tree, And send you each creature's own words, Mr. Bee:-- "See, Jack, there it is; now suppose you and I, With a spade and some brimstone, should each of us try Some night, when we're sure all the bees are at rest, To smother them all, and then dig out the nest."

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Excuse, Mr. Bee, this epistle, to one Whose time, from the earliest gleam of the sun Till he sinks in the west, is so busily spent, That I fear I intrude;--but I write with intent To save your whole city from pillage and ruin, And to warn you in time of a plot that is brewing.

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Excuse, Mr. Bee, this epistle, to one Whose time, from the earliest gleam of the sun Till he sinks in the west, is so busily spent, That I fear I intrude;--but I write with intent To save your whole city from pillage and ruin, And to warn you in time of a plot that is brewing.