used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The yard is a large one, the trees that hem it in are old and planted close together.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading One can hardly see the straggling, thatched buildings from the road; and I walked round the place without being able to satisfy my curiosity.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading She lives there, I was told, with an old woman, her godmother, about whom the people of the countryside tell stories of murder and debauchery.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She lives there, I was told, with an old woman, her godmother, about whom the people of the countryside tell stories of murder and debauchery.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The yard is a large one, the trees that hem it in are old and planted close together.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The yard is a large one, the trees that hem it in are old and planted close together.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I took the road leading to the farm at which she lives.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading One can hardly see the straggling, thatched buildings from the road; and I walked round the place without being able to satisfy my curiosity.
buildingsnounUS /ˈbɪldɪŋz/
plural of “building” — a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading One can hardly see the straggling, thatched buildings from the road; and I walked round the place without being able to satisfy my curiosity.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading One can hardly see the straggling, thatched buildings from the road; and I walked round the place without being able to satisfy my curiosity.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading The yard is a large one, the trees that hem it in are old and planted close together.
countrysidenounUS /ˈkʌntrisaɪd/
rural regions
From this reading She lives there, I was told, with an old woman, her godmother, about whom the people of the countryside tell stories of murder and debauchery.
a state in which you want to learn more about something
From this reading One can hardly see the straggling, thatched buildings from the road; and I walked round the place without being able to satisfy my curiosity.
debaucherynounUS /dəˈbɔːtʃəri/
a wild gathering involving excessive drinking and promiscuity
From this reading She lives there, I was told, with an old woman, her godmother, about whom the people of the countryside tell stories of murder and debauchery.
be a farmer; work as a farmer
From this reading I took the road leading to the farm at which she lives.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading One can hardly see the straggling, thatched buildings from the road; and I walked round the place without being able to satisfy my curiosity.
godmothernounUS /ˈɡɑːdmʌðər/
any woman who serves as a sponsor for a child at baptism
From this reading She lives there, I was told, with an old woman, her godmother, about whom the people of the countryside tell stories of murder and debauchery.
only a very short time before
From this reading One can hardly see the straggling, thatched buildings from the road; and I walked round the place without being able to satisfy my curiosity.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I have seen her sometimes.
hemnounUS /hem/
the edge of a piece of cloth; especially the finished edge that has been doubled under and stitched down
From this reading The yard is a large one, the trees that hem it in are old and planted close together.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She lives there, I was told, with an old woman, her godmother, about whom the people of the countryside tell stories of murder and debauchery.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I took the road leading to the farm at which she lives.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The yard is a large one, the trees that hem it in are old and planted close together.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The yard is a large one, the trees that hem it in are old and planted close together.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The yard is a large one, the trees that hem it in are old and planted close together.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The yard is a large one, the trees that hem it in are old and planted close together.
indicating the most important performer or role
From this reading I took the road leading to the farm at which she lives.
plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading I took the road leading to the farm at which she lives.
kill intentionally and with premeditation
From this reading She lives there, I was told, with an old woman, her godmother, about whom the people of the countryside tell stories of murder and debauchery.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading One can hardly see the straggling, thatched buildings from the road; and I walked round the place without being able to satisfy my curiosity.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She lives there, I was told, with an old woman, her godmother, about whom the people of the countryside tell stories of murder and debauchery.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The yard is a large one, the trees that hem it in are old and planted close together.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The yard is a large one, the trees that hem it in are old and planted close together.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading She lives there, I was told, with an old woman, her godmother, about whom the people of the countryside tell stories of murder and debauchery.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading One can hardly see the straggling, thatched buildings from the road; and I walked round the place without being able to satisfy my curiosity.
plantedadjectiveUS /ˈplæntɪd/
(used especially of ideas or principles) deeply rooted; firmly fixed or held
From this reading The yard is a large one, the trees that hem it in are old and planted close together.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading I took the road leading to the farm at which she lives.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading One can hardly see the straggling, thatched buildings from the road; and I walked round the place without being able to satisfy my curiosity.
satisfyverbUS /ˈsætəsfaɪ/
meet the requirements or expectations of
From this reading One can hardly see the straggling, thatched buildings from the road; and I walked round the place without being able to satisfy my curiosity.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading One can hardly see the straggling, thatched buildings from the road; and I walked round the place without being able to satisfy my curiosity.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading I have seen her sometimes.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I took the road leading to the farm at which she lives.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading I have seen her sometimes.
plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading She lives there, I was told, with an old woman, her godmother, about whom the people of the countryside tell stories of murder and debauchery.
stragglingadjective
spreading out in different directions or distributed irregularly
From this reading One can hardly see the straggling, thatched buildings from the road; and I walked round the place without being able to satisfy my curiosity.
express in words
From this reading She lives there, I was told, with an old woman, her godmother, about whom the people of the countryside tell stories of murder and debauchery.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The yard is a large one, the trees that hem it in are old and planted close together.
thatchedverbUS /θætʃt/
past form of “thatch” — cover with thatch
From this reading One can hardly see the straggling, thatched buildings from the road; and I walked round the place without being able to satisfy my curiosity.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I took the road leading to the farm at which she lives.
in or at that place or location
From this reading She lives there, I was told, with an old woman, her godmother, about whom the people of the countryside tell stories of murder and debauchery.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I took the road leading to the farm at which she lives.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading The yard is a large one, the trees that hem it in are old and planted close together.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading She lives there, I was told, with an old woman, her godmother, about whom the people of the countryside tell stories of murder and debauchery.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading I took the road leading to the farm at which she lives.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading The yard is a large one, the trees that hem it in are old and planted close together.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading One can hardly see the straggling, thatched buildings from the road; and I walked round the place without being able to satisfy my curiosity.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She lives there, I was told, with an old woman, her godmother, about whom the people of the countryside tell stories of murder and debauchery.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I took the road leading to the farm at which she lives.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She lives there, I was told, with an old woman, her godmother, about whom the people of the countryside tell stories of murder and debauchery.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She lives there, I was told, with an old woman, her godmother, about whom the people of the countryside tell stories of murder and debauchery.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading One can hardly see the straggling, thatched buildings from the road; and I walked round the place without being able to satisfy my curiosity.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading She lives there, I was told, with an old woman, her godmother, about whom the people of the countryside tell stories of murder and debauchery.
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading The yard is a large one, the trees that hem it in are old and planted close together.
